Playa Bowls is a beach-themed restaurant chain known for its colorful and fruit-focused menu, featuring a variety of açai, pitaya, coconut, and green bowls topped with fresh fruits, granola, nut butters, and superfoods.
Founded by surfers in New Jersey, the fast-casual restaurant channels a laid-back coastal vibe, offering smoothies, juices, and cold brew in addition to its signature bowls. It focuses on fresh ingredients that make up nutritious meals.
While there are more than 300 locations, West Virginia just opened its first in Morgantown. And I, somehow, ended up there on opening day.
I joined the long line, which gave me ample time to peruse the menu. There are a bunch of different options depending on what fruits you like, how healthy you wanna be and how much energy you're looking for.
I ordered the Goldie Mango Bowl topped with blueberry flax granola, strawberry, banana and Nutella.
This was delicious. I've never had puréed mango as the basis for a bowl before. There was enough texture, though, to make it not like a soup texture. Plus all of the fruit on top made it seem like I was eating a fruit salad. and the granola added much needed texture. I couldn't afford to make these a regular habit, but I sure would love to.
Grade: A
Finger Foods is a takeout spot in Morgantown that caters to a late-night crowd with the munchies: wings, fries, melts, fried apps and more.
I ordered the Crab Fries - Lump Crab Meat with Cajun and crab seasonings and queso over fries. The lump crab was more like lil shreds of crab that didn't offer a ton of flavor. The fries held their crisp for a little bit, but overall, I thought the flavor was a bit bland. I wanted some kick from the queso and sweetness from the crab.
Grade: B
College towns and pizza joints go together like peanut butter and jelly. In Morgantown, another one entered the scenee: 2G Brothers Pizza.
Based in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, 2G Brothers Pizza opened their second location in Cheat Lake.
"2G Brothers Pizza comes from 45 years of experience starting from Italy to Brooklyn, to now Uniontown. Gio and Giuseppe Schiano's father is the reason they're the proud owners of 2G Brothers Pizza. The brothers started helping their dad as young as 5-years-old making pizza, fetching ice, and other odd jobs they could find. Now it's time for the boys to carry on their father's proud legacy," reads the website.
"The Schiano brothers pride themselves on authentic cuisine that isn't made by machines but with labor and love. At 2G Brothers Pizza nothing is frozen and everything is fresh. Enjoy food from an actual Italian kitchen, made the Schiano way for nearly 50 years."
Even though pizza is the namesake, 2G Brothers Pizza offers fried apps, wings, salads, strombolis, calzones, subs, sanndwiches, burgers, wraps, paninis, pasta, soup, and more. I ordered the hot pepper cheese balls (guilty pleasure - always delish) andn the gnocchi to try something different. I went with the oil & garlic sauce, which was less of a sauce and just more of a "coating." I loved the huge chunks of garlic though and a kick of chili pepper. It ate a bit dry because there wasn't much of a "sauce," but I did enjoy the flavor.
Grade: B
Whenever Morgantown hosts its Moonlight Markets, I try to attend because they have lots of small producers and makers. Here is who I was able to support on my last visit.
Hinerman Hill Farm - Hobby farm, farm vlog, small agribusiness, egg and poultry production, rabbit production.
Homestead Cookies - custom sugar cookies from a self-taught baker.
Mon Valley Mushrooms - a two-person indoor mushroom farm located in Morgantown, WV. We offer a variety of organically grown gourmet and medicinal mushrooms products including fresh, dried, powdered, tinctured mushrooms, and grow-at-home mushroom kits.
Sow Good Market - These little mothman candies were a highlight. They even have Big Foot onnes, too. Plus plenty of sauces, jellies and other goodies.
And plenty more!
But these were the ones new to me.
Have you been?
Who have you discovered?
Baker Cheese Company is a "gourmet grazing company that provides boxes, boards and tables for any event."
They also have an in-store cafe with a menu of larger size meals featuring the specialty meats, cheeses and spreads you'll find on their charcuterie boards.
Kitchen accessories, snacks, condiments, candles and more are also available to purchase. It was difficult for me to not buy one of everything.
I ordered the "Brie Mine" - Brie, Prosciutto, Fig Jam, Arugula, Mayo, Dijon on a Baguette.
This was a delightful sandwich. Light, but elevated. Artisanal. And a lovely blend of creamy, sweet, tangy and salty.
I have also had their charcuterie boxes before, and I was obsessed. They were so well-rounded, and I loved every bite.
The shop is really an extension of that. High-end products skillfully curated and expertly paired.
Have you been?
Grade: A
"At Eureka Café, our mission is to create a welcoming space and experiences that inspire community engagement, foster connection, promote healthy living, and encourage an appreciation for the natural world- whether gathered around the table, on a park bench, or at home," reads the website.
Eureka Cafe was opened in February by the Morgantown Board of Parks and Recreation.
They have a focus on whole grains and sourcing locally from farms, vendors, and more. Plus, the menu has vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.
I initially was a bit confused on how to get in, but once I found my way to the main entrance, I found the cafe.
It's bright and colorful with a display case full of pastries and other goodies. The spinach and artichoke pastry with microgreens caught my eye. All the filling was centered in the middle, but I spread it out so I can get a bit in every bite. Delish.
I also had the "Smoked Salmon Bagel" - Kettle-boiled Bagel topped with Smoked Norwegian Salmon, Whipped Cream Cheese, Cucumber, House Pickled Red Onion, Capers, & Olive Branch Farms Microgreens. Fresh & filling.
And I can't forget the beautiful, sparkling drink I had that was fruity and fabulous.
Grade: A
Smokin' J's Rib and Brewhouse opened a new location in Morgantown recently at the Holiday Inn on Pineview Road.
It is a large and modern space with a central bar and plenty of seating. But, I think because it is in the hotel, the restaurant fades to the background sometimes. When I visited recently with a friend, it wasn't very busy inside.
The menu features ribs and other barbecue dinners, as well as beer-battered dinners.
"Smokin' J's uses a unique slow-smoking and cooking process. Our process tends to leave our Meats - Ribs, Chicken, Pork and Beef pinkish or reddish in color even though they are completely and thoroughly cooked. When you see this coloring it is the flavor of our Meats and why they taste so good," reads the website.
I ordered a half rack of ribs plus macaroni and cheese and broccoli salad.
"Our ribs, imported from Denmark, are the highest grade available. Our Ribs are selected by weight, age and meat content. Ribs, like all animals, vary in size and shape. We try very hard to make each portion correct in weight even though they may visually vary in size and shape. Mother Nature created these differences and we work with them the best we can."
The mac & cheese was drowning in a sauce that tasted overly processed. The broccoli salad could've marinated a bit more. But the ribs were tasty. I liked the tangy sauce, and the ribs pulled away from the bone fairly easily.
Grade: B
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