I think I've been to about 100 Rio Grande restaurants in my lifetime so let's add one more in Huntington. I kid, but it is a pretty common name for Mexican-American restaurants, and I distinguish this Rio Grande by noting that it is on 5th Avenue.



I placed a take-out order for lunch, which included chips and salsa, and the enchiladas suizas, which came with grilled chicken, tomatillo sauce and queso.



It wasn't really a looker of a plate, but that could be in part because it was to go. it seemed pretty on par with other Mexican-American restaurants in the region. Salsa was thin, but I enjoyed the flavor, even though it could use a bit more spice. The texture of the enchiladas in the sauce left something to be desired, but they were full of grilled chicken that was seasoned well and it's hard to beat the cheese dip.



Grade: B

Carnival food at restaurants seems to be a popular trend lately. There was a Charleston restaurant that opened recently serving this kind of fare, and now Huntington has its own local establishment: Carnival Food Place.



They have all the good stuff: funnel cakes, cotton candy, deep-fried Oreo cookies and other carnival snacks like hot dogs, corn dogs, chili cheese fries and boneless BBQ wings.



The deep-fried Snickers bar was sinfully enticing so I put in an order for that as well as a cheeseburger because life is all about balance, right?



It's hard to say anything bad about a deep fried Snickers. truthfully, I'm not sure that the breading adds a whole lot, but it being warm and gooey makes it even more delicious. it sure was messy and a little misshapen so it's not visually perfect but your taste buds will tell you otherwise. The burger was average. It did not have a ton of flavor or texture. I prefer a hand-pattied, fresh, juicy burger. When I went, though, they were still working out some kinks, so I'd be curious to see how things have changed since.



Grade: C

Wild & Wonderful BBQ is a food truck that doles out pulled pork, smoked bologna & sausage, and brisket sandwiches in addition to a bevy of sides.



Based in Huntington, the truck can be found at events locally. I visited them to get my hands on some grub. First things first, I ordered the Mountaineer Cheesesteak with pork, sautéed peppers, and cheese on a hoagie roll. I liked this well enough, but I wish the cheese was cheesing more. I think the cheese sauce was a bit too thin, so it didn't lightly melt. It kinda got soaked up. I did enjoy the twist with the pork though; it added a nice flavor.



And while it might not be the most appealing visually, the smoked scalloped potatoes were pretty good. Scalloped potatoes are one of my preferred mediums of potato and, to have them cheesy and smoked, that took it up a notch.



Because the nature of the restaurant, the menu can change bit by bit. What have you had here? What's been your favorite?



Grade: B

Margaritas in Huntington is a Tex-Mex restaurant that offers a lot of the standard fare we've come to expect: fajitas, enchiladas, burritos, etc.



I've come to appreciate tex-mex cuisine in its own right, as opposed to lamenting its "authenticity." It's a cuisine in its own right - adapting to an American palate and making a living with their food.



I ordered the "Pollo Con Crema - Grilled chicken in our chipotle cream sauce. Served with rice, beans and flour tortillas." A bit more spice than my typical order. But I enjoyed the sauce - and the crema helped cool things down a bit. Good flavor overall.



Grade: B

There's something about a rooftop bar that drives people crazy.



And Huntington is home to one of the coolest ones in the area. LaFontaine's has Huntington’s first open-air rooftop lounge!



It's located above LaFontaine's Tobacco and Wine Shop in a really cool like retro space that gives off all the Gatsby vibes. I met my friend Alex for a drink and some snacks to check it out!     



We went with some pretzels and beer cheese, as well as Gigi's Pepperoni Rolls, which are from a local producer. There's both an indoor and outdoor space - both are great depending on the weather. But I love how much light comes in through the windows.



Both snacks were good and really the perfect accompaniment for a good beer. I love a little snacky snack with a drink. Most likely not going to have a whole meal here, but you can fill up on snacks, drinks and a good time with a unique view.




Grade: A

Square Slice Pizzeria is located inside an arcade in Huntington and features deep-dish pizza. Now, "deep dish" is a bit controversial, because we're not talking like a Chicago-style pizza that has layers of toppings. Instead, we're really talking about a thicker crust.



"It all starts with the dough. Each of our delicious deep dish pizzas feature an 8x10 focaccia that we make from scratch daily. Every pie is topped with generous portions of cheese that melt and form a crispy “crown” around the entire crust. Our signature sauce is crafted with whole plum tomatoes and a proprietary blend of herbs and spices. Select toppings such as Ezzo Pepperoni and Old World Sausage alongside fresh and ripe produce seal the deal before heading into our stone fired oven and finished with fresh shaved parmesan cheese. Add an optional hot honey drizzle for the full experience." 



I ordered a pizza with mushrooms, and I tried telling myself in my head to not expect Lefty's, which I desperately miss from Morgantown. It was tough to not compare the two though, as they ended up looking pretty similar. A large personal pizza or small to share. A beautiful caramelization crisp on the edges. Sauce on top of the cheese.



For the most part, this was a pretty good pizza. I like the flavor of the sauce and the extra-done edges. But, there was too much oil/grease that overtook a lot of the flavor. I don't know if the bread soaked up too much or it was old or what, but that cheese and sauce would've shined even more if not for that.



Still, it was an above average pizza for me - I just want it to punch me in the tastebuds next time.



Grade: B

Mountain Mama's Kitchen, located in Huntington, serves up homestyle food in a rustic environment. 



And, surprisingly, a lot of it now is seafood: homemade fried jumbo shrimp dinner, salmon nuggets, shrimp alfredo, etc. 



When I was there, I ordered an oxtail alfredo with sweet potatoes and mac & cheese. The kitchen was a little disorganized and running behind when I was there, but I was happy to wait for this unique dish. It's not a combo you see often - and I don't see oxtails in general anyway. Oxtail is rich and tender and can be quite delicious when done right.



This version was OK. I do like the bed of creamy pasta, though I think it needed some more punch of flavor to hold up to oxtail. The oxtail was good, but the greasiness leeched out which was not so pleasant coating everything. Both sides and the cornbread were solid. 

Grade: B

Luigi's is a new-ish restaurant in the Huntington area that serves Italian food.



I am a big fan of Italian food and grew up with lasagna, spaghetti, etc. In fact, my great-grandfather was an Italian immigrant.



In both the Northern Panhandle and North-Central West Virginia, there is a big Italian influence and lots of amazing Italian food.



But here in Charleston, not so much - so I alway think there's room for more. Especially in the Metro Valley.  



Luigi's is located along Route 60 in a plaza, so parking is easy. The interior was basic, but roomy. The menu is huge to accommodate all of the possible Italian dishes you might think of - and then some: pastas, pizza, strombolis, subs, seafood, salads, wings, fried appetizers, the list goes on.



I started with some garlic knots with cheese. These poppable bites were delish dunked in some marinara. These are familiar at many area restaurants, so nothing out of the ordinary. But a solid start.



My entree came with garlic bread, which is fine. I like mine more soft and just drenched in butter.



And a simple side salad was not skimpy on the croutons or cheese, so I can't complain.



My main entree was fettuccine carbonara. I have really high expectations for carbonara, because one of my all-time favorite meals is carbonara from Puglioni's in Morgantown. This wasn't quite as creamy and indulgent, but it wasn't bad. I wouldn't hate a bulb more of garlic, but that's just my own personal preference. If you're in the mood for some rich, satisfying pasta, this will still hit the spot.



Grade: B

The Goods is a convenience shop in downtown Huntington.



"Shop a modern kind of experience with convenient provisions where you will find an ample assortment of locally made and sourced products, essential grocery and lifestyle items, and on-the-go meals. We have brought together rural Appalachian flavors and urban culture to curate the perfect blend of goods for you."
 


"As proud Huntington natives we strive to celebrate local businesses and will offer an extensive list of new items as well as curated selections of everyday staples. We want to provide a place where you can pick up one-of-a-kind groceries and merchandise from local businesses who we’re partnering with from around the tri-state area. Our other passion is to provide healthy ready made items and order to go options to satisfy all your cravings. Our main goal is to bring a modern-day convenience store that will begin a new contemporary way of shopping and living in Huntington."



There are some bulk goods, fresh produce and ready-to-eat items.



I went with an orzo salad, as well as some macaroni & cheese. 



Both of these were tasty, and I was lucky to get some of the mac & cheese because it was actually a preorder item. 



Have you been here?



What's your favorite thing?