There's usually no contest for pizza when I go home: It's DiCarlo's every time.



Well, except for this time.



Santina's is a pizza place in Follansbee that also tops their pizzas with cheese after the crust and sauce had baked. And, my father suggested it's nearly as good as DiCarlos.



So, we got 20 pieces with extra cheese and mushrooms.The restaurant itself has a few booths that you could dine-in, but I took mine home so by the time I got there, the cheese was lightly melted.

It's very similar, but my heart always belongs to DiCarlos. Have you tried it?

So, I have a soft spot for Americanized Chinese food -- I always will. That first bite of an eggroll in Pittsburgh as a kid opened my eyes to a whole different world of food ... one that didn't exist in Wellsburg at the time.

So when nearby Follansbee got New Hong Kong, I was ecstatic that some sweet & sour chicken, eggrolls and General Tso's chicken were at my fingertips. And, yes, I understand there are other dishes besides these ultra artificial ones -- but let's be honest, we're not going for authentic here. We're going for tasty. It's sweet, sticky, comforting and makes me happy.

They have your typical dishes: chow mein, foo young, sweet & sour chicken, lo mein, beef & broccoli, General Tso's, Sesame Chicken, etc. You know, what you'd expect from a standard Chinese joint.

They have a dine-in area, as well. This came in handy when I wanted to meet up with Kaitlynn on Christmas Eve to exchange presents. We came in, browsed the menu overhead, and I decided on one of their specials: honey chicken.

And, it sounds overly sweet, salty and everything I wanted. Perfect. We walked around to the back, sat at one of the booths and awaited the food. A few minutes later, we were presented with tasty dinners - and this is perhaps the first time I've seen their food on real dishes and not just the plastic take-out containers.

Fried hunks of chicken tossed in a sweet sauce? I mean, it doesn't take much to make me happy. It essentially tasted like a diluted honey was coating the dish. I'm not complaining; it hit all the right spots. The eggroll on the side was just fine - a bit too crunchy on the outside, and no real exciting filling inside, but fine.

So, no, this is definitely not the best Chinese food I've had. However, bonus points for the fact that it's the only game in town. Also, I got exactly what I wanted, so how can I complain? Plus, I got to spend a portion of my Christmas Eve at a Chinese restaurant. It only seems fitting.

Grade: B

Growing up, we never went out to eat. We couldn't really afford it, and there weren't a ton of options nearby. That, in part, I think fueled my desire to explore and experience new things. But, it also left me without really trying many of the places near my hometown.

Each time I go home, I try to remedy that. There are a few stalwart restaurants in the Wellsburg-Follansbee-Weirton area that date back many, many years. And, I'm slowly trying to tick them off my list as I get the opportunity.

When I was recently in town to see BFF Kaitlynn (!), we went to Vito's Restaurant in Follansbee. This brick building right on the main drag of town doesn't especially stand out, but it does give off the ~Italian~ vibe that is strong through the town.

The first thing I was perplexed by was whatever "AYCE pasta" is. I saw it was their special for the day, and I thought maybe that was named after someone? Nope, I'm just an idiot. It's All You Can Eat pasta.

After we were seated, I looked over the menu. Wings are a big seller, and the pasta looked good, so I went for the gnocchi, which was described as potato dumplings topped with sauce and a meatball. I opted for the marinara, but I was presented with the meat sauce. Oh well.

First, a bit of garlic bread was fine. Nothing too extravagant here.

Then, a house salad. Again, nothing too exciting. Basic.

I also had a lobster bisque, which I thought was actually pretty good. Creamy and rich, if not a bit settled. Definitely sweeter. A light film covered the top from sitting, but the flavor was good.

The main course presented, though, was at least five portions of pasta. See that photo up there? Not bad - a pretty sweet sauce, and the meatball left something to be desired. But overall, not bad. The gnocchi had a little chew to it - which I love. The sauce was fine, if a touch too sweet. But, pretty decent overall.

I think this is a decent local option. I think it lacks a bit of refinement I've come to expect when dining out. The service was a bit too informal, and there were flies buzzing around. Cheap basics like iceberg lettuce or a single piece of once-frozen garlic bread aren't the touches of a fine establishment (not fine dining, just a good meal out). But, was it cozy and filled the tummy? For sure. I liked the pasta sauce, though I know others would find it far too sweet. And I liked that bisque, though I wish it was void of that film on top. So, little things I think could help make it just a touch nicer. Still, not bad.

Grade: B

At my "home" home in Wellsburg, there are few restaurants. There are even fewer that deliver to the giant hill I grew up on. And, sometimes, when it's a nice evening and you're visiting with family, it's good to just get dinner delivered right to you.



DeFelice Bros. Pizza is one of the few options available. Now, they are no DiCarlo's. But, they do deliver and offer entrees besides just pizza: salads, sandwiches, wings, calzones and pasta. That was perfect for this evening when my dad wanted a salad, mom wanted a philly cheesesteak, and I was salivating over a meatball sub.



There are four DeFelice locations in West Virginia: Follansbee (which we ordered from), Bethlehem, Moundsville and Wheeling. There are also four right over the border in Ohio: Martin's Ferry, Shadyside, St. Clairsville and Wintersville.



After a little bit of a wait, our food arriving hot. Dad sang praises of his salad (complete with extra chicken), which came with a side of bambino bread. Mom's cheesesteak has a ton of meat, cheese, peppers and onions. She was a happy camper.



And my meatball sub was pretty killer. I know you probably can't tell from the photo, but the soft, lightly toasted bun housed a half dozen perfectly seasoned meatballs. The sauce is slightly sweet, but it has a good flavor. I think it was probably a perfect marriage of my desperate craving and a solid sandwich that fulfilled that. Whatever it was, I know I left wit ha happy tummy that night.

Grade: A

The second-closest DiCarlo's to my home is the Follansbee location. Located in Hooverson Heights, DiCarlo's is open daily and serves the pizza I love so much, as well as oven-baked hoagies, calzones, wings, pepperoni rolls, and specialty pizzas (like buffalo and white).

This location has pieces for just .90. I ordered 5 regular for me and 5 without pepperoni for my parents. I waited for maybe a half hour or so, as there were a few people in front of me. And those poor workers must be dying because it was blazing in there.

But it was all worth it when I was handed a square box full of Italian gold. When I got home and opened the box, the shreds of cheese had melted from the steamed box.

One of the best parts about DiCarlo's Pizza is the cold provolone atop the hot sauced pizza. But if you wait too long, it melts just like the other regular plebe pizzas.

I noticed there is a good bit less cheese on these cuts than some of the other DiCarlo's locations. But it was enough.

The sauce was not quite as flavorful as, say, Wellsburg's. It's still delicious, but if I have to compare to other locations, I think it could use a little more seasoning.

The crust was thin and crisper. Other locations tend to be thicker, but this one was definitely on the thinner side.

It's no secret I love DiCarlo's Pizza, and Follansbee's location is no different. Is it my preferred? No. It isn't as good as Wellsburg's, but it is close and has better hours. And, nothing beats DiCarlo's - except the Wellsburg DiCarlo's.

Grade: A

When those boards come down from the front of Howdy's Dari-Owl, you know summer has officially begun. That's the local sign of summer, at least. (They close right before Labor Day for the summer)

It's located along the main drag in Follansbee, so it was usually a little too far for my family to travel, but once in a blue moon, I'd get a sweet treat from here. Each summer, a bunch of young girls work here for some pocket money, and it has become a staple in town.

Across the road is a mill, which always smells terrible. That's part of the charm of Follansbee, But if you can handle that, there are some picnic tables near the gambling area (fairly new). If not, you can simply eat in your car or head out.

It only has two windows, and you can look over all the options: ice cream cones, hand-dipped cones, flurries, sundaes, and apparently they even have some food like hoagies, hotdogs and burgers. I've never had the latter, though.

I went for a caramel sundae, large. They only take cash here, so be sure you have some on hand. After a minute or so, my sundae was delivered to me in all its enormous glory. This was indeed a tower, a TOWER, of ice cream. So much so that it was kind of difficult to eat.

That's a good problem to have.

Soft-serve vanilla, topped with whipped cream, some nuts and caramel made up a good sundae. I only wish the caramel was more decadent, thick and rich. It was more like the Smuckers kind you can get at Kroger - but that's splitting hairs. Caramel is delicious in all its forms. I'm always a fan of supporting local businesses, and this is the only one of its kind in the area. If you're looking for a cool treat during a blistering summer day, stop by.

Grade: B