Mama Roma Pizzeria and Restaurant in Buckhannon is an Italian-American restaurant complete with a character tossing pizza on the window and red/white checkered tablecloths inside. 



"Mama Roma Pizzeria and Restaurant is a place where you can simply relax and enjoy the company of your favorite people while enjoying traditional Italian food at its best. Our team is pleased to welcome you – and honored to serve you. We know many of you by name and view all of our customers as family. Nothing brings us greater joy than sharing the tradition of good food and hospitality with our guests while sharing experiences and making memories!"



The menu features pizza, pasta, subs and a whole host of entrees categorized by their protein. The menu is pretty huge, and I can't imagine someone not finding something that caught their fancy - chicken marsala, sausage cacciatore, veal scallopine piccata, eggplant rollatini, and so many more. 



If pressed, I think one of my favorite pasta shapes is rigatoni, which is what I was drawn to on the menu. I went with the rigatoni with vodka sauce - their house pink sauce (which is usually their red marinara and white combined). 



So, I was loaded up with my entree, a soup and a side of garlic bread.



First, I enjoyed a simple soup - a minestrone with carrots, onion and more.



Not bad - nothing too notable, but not offensive either.



The garlic bread was tasty - I loved the soft rolls, though they did get a biiit too dark on some portions.



And now for the main attraction - the largest portion of rigatoni I've ever been served. I enjoyed the sauce - a little sweet, a little acidic, lots of good flavor. The rigatoni were a nice al dente, so not so soft they just lost all texture. But, regarding texture, I would've loved maybe some veggies or something to break up the carbs. I could've added chicken or sausage, but I wasn't feeling it on this day. In retrospect, it would help with that mouthfeel. 



All in all, a fairly decent meal that is comforting and filling. 

Grade: B

Casa D'Amici is well-known for being the downtown pizza joint open late at night. And while you could dismiss it as drunk college food, Casa actually serves up a pretty decent pie. So, I was pleased to see them expand beyond downtown and into the Cheat Lake area.



The Cheat Lake location 1) has plenty of parking and 2) seems so big and open. I think because the ceilings are so high. They offer pizza, subs, pasta, calzones and baked rolls. I went with a variety platter to take home for dinner. 



I always enjoy their baked rolls because it's not something you see at all pizza shops - and hey, it's close to a pepperoni roll, what can I say?



I ordered a spinach, mozzarella and ricotta; I only wish I could've added mushrooms. Always love this flavor combination, and it was just enrobed in a perfectly golden brown crust. 



We ordered a few slices to try - a pepperoni and mushrooms, as well as a Hawaiian slice. Both were good - large, thin slices that could be crisper on the bottom, but not bad. 



Finally, we had a vodka penne dish with garlic bread. I liked the flavor, though there wasn't really a ton of sauce. It just coated the pasta, so there were some bites that had virtually no sauce. I also think some meatballs or other protein would help the texture.



Overall, though, I enjoyed my meal. I like the variety offered for what it is, and I've not had a bad dish here. It's consistently good, fast pizza and pizza-adjacent items.

Grade: A

Based in Vienna, West Virginia, this Napoli's is one of the last locations in the area that hadn't I visited.



The menu features pizza, burgers, pasta, and more.



I put in an order in advance, but it was not ready when I arrived, unfortunately. So I ended up waiting for quite a while before my meal was finished.  



I went with a simple spaghetti - not usually my go-to, but sometimes a super simple meal is what hits the spot. 



It also came with breadsticks. Overall, this was an average meal. The service was below average; the spaghetti was a lackluster pile of noodles and mildly flavorful tomato sauce. Not bad, but not notable. Average all in all. 

Grade: C

Casablanca Italian Restaurant in Beaver is a local favorite that hits all the hometown Italian restaurant marks: red, white and green theme; a variety of pasta shapes in marinara sauce; and diehard fans.



Italian is probably my most eaten cuisine. Pasta + sauce is easy, cheap and delicious. But it's always a job to enjoy it out at a restaurant, too, where it's often much more lovingly prepared than it is in my home kitchen.



Casablanca had checkerboard floors, booths and no people to speak of when I visited. During a pandemic, I'm not complaining. 



The menu is a bit all over the place. I was first greeted with hummus, kabobs and yogurt and cucumber dishes. I flipped forward to find the carbs. 



But, first, some pepperoni rolls. I really liked their version. They're rolled up, sliced and fried, plus topped with cheese and served with marinara. Traditional? No. Delicious? Absolutely. 



Next up, we have a small house salad that accompanies the entree. I was happy to have French dressing - my favorite. The rest was standard - some iceberg, shredded lettuce, green peppers and red onion. 



And then there was some garlic bread, which was not notable. But the entree was better.



The penne pasta with spicy chicken in a rose cream sauce dish was good. The herbs and cheese on top added some extra fresh flavor on top of the rich, creamy dish. I didn't love the chicken itself - a bit blah. But overall, a decent dish.



Grade: B

While I love all food and new food, Italian food has a special place in my heart - or tummy. It's comfort food - and is especially comforting in cold temperatures. 



Unfortunately - or maybe fortunately - I've tried all the Italian restaurants nearby. But I was in the mood for a new place, so I ventured just across the border into Gallipolis, Ohio, to dine at Tuscany's.



Tuscany's is a sister restaurant to Fratelli's in Barboursville. The branding is similar, and the menu items are similar, too. My goal was to find the richest, most indulgent dish, and I landed on the lobster and shrimp ravioli: ravioli stuffed with shrimp and lobster tail, blended with ricotta, romano, parmesan cheese, Italian herbs and spices, and topped with a blend of their creamy lobster bisque and their signature alfredo sauce.



First, though, I had some simple breadsticks. They are pretty thing and just lightly dusted with parmesan. Not a ton of flavor, but something to whet your appetite. 



Then, a simple salad was served. Some crunchy lettuce, slivers of red onion, tomatoes, a few croutons and a side of French dressing for me.



Finally, that entree. It may not photograph beautifully, but it tastes great. The lobster meat gives a slight sweetness to a heavy, rich creamy sauce. It is all comfort in one bite. Some more herbs could have added some brightness, but the flavor was still great.

Grade: A

North Central West Virginia is no stranger to good Italian food.



Italians immigrated to the area to work in the coal mines, and we are better for it. 



Morgantown has a new Italian restaurant to add under the "delicious" category.



Nonno Carlo, located in the Suncrest Towne Center, is an Italian deli with imported goods, fresh deli goods and a menu of made-to-order items like sandwiches and pizzas.



From their website: Lifetime Morgantown family plants roots at Suncrest Town Center. Local resident Nick DeMedici announces the opening of “Nonno Carlo“ in the Suncrest Town Center, March 2021. DeMedici, whose family immigrated to North Central West Virginia from Collelongo, Italy in the early 1900’s, has always had a passion for honoring his heritage through family and food.



Specializing in Italian American deli fare, this “fast casual-up” spot will feature delicious Italian staple foods rooted in the Italian American traditions of North Central West Virginia and Italy alike. With wide selection of cold and hot sandwiches, Wood-fired Neapolitan Pizzas, select pasta dishes and soups, Nonno Carlo will offer items you will not find anywhere else. In addition to the menu, Nonno Carlo will offer fresh wood-fired bread, house-made mozzarella cheese, and a selection of high-quality imported foods.



“My family story is like so many others in this area and I want to hear all of them”, said DeMedici. “The story of the Italian immigrant is a fascinating one full of dedication, uncertainty, and overcoming obstacles. I consider myself fortunate to be a very small part of it”. Named after DeMedici’s Grandfather Carlo “Carl” DeMedici, Nonno Carlo will feature a large wall space where people can hang old photos and tell their family story along with a map of Italy for people to place their names in the area their ancestors came from.



Nonno Carlo is the concept of Nick DeMedici and Bron Kayal, founder and CEO of HARMA Hospitality “In addition to being a great friend and great member in our community Bron and HARMA bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise from the food industry to our operation” says DeMedici."



When I walked in, I looked over the products for sale on the wall and picked up this coined-shaped pasta. They were fun. Then, I placed an order for Calabrian pepper dip (calabrian peppers, roasted red pepper, ricotta and bread), as well as the funghi pizza (tomato, marinated portabellas, olive oil, fresh parmesan, basil). And, I got some caprese salad from the deli. 



The pepper dip was spicy, but I kept plying it with the ricotta to make it more palatable. It was good, and I could totally see this working on top of pasta. 



The pizza was delish. I loved that there were long pieces of the mushrooms, which you don't see often. I mean, just look at this beauty.



And finally, the caprese salad!



The fresh mozzarella was not was loose and creamy as I thought it might be; and I suspect it's because it had already soaked up some of the oils and herbs to make it more solid.



Overall, lots of tasty options here that I can't wait to try more of.



Grade: A