There's a new restaurant in Nitro that is serving up some monster portions. 1st Place Cafe is a small spot at the corner of 1st and 2nd avenues with dark windows with a handful of parking spots out front.



The interior has maybe a dozen tables sprinkled throughout the space, a couple TVs and the singular neon menu board that lists the options for the day. 



As soon as I walked in, the kinda gentleman running the show that day came out to explain each individual menu item to me - and he did so for each group that walked in. The menu boiled down to burgers, a chicken sandwich and a hot dog that all came with a heaping pile of fries. Drinks are extra.



I went with a cheeseburger, which he had explained is not just ground chuck - but sirloin. I also added a side of the blue cheese sauce he mentioned was developed as part of the chicken sandwich. But, I thought it could be a great dipping sauce for those fries. 



After a short wait, my order was up, and I whisked it away to the car to hurriedly unwrap my meal. The burger was wrapped in paper with a pick in the center to keep it all together. I'm not joking when I say I think this is the largest burger I've ever had in my life. Initially, I thought I could eat it while driving to my next errand. But upon seeing the size, there was no physical way that was going to happen.



Let me try to break it down - the burger is very wide. It's a two-handed experience at best, a fork-and-knife experience more likely. It has a large fluffy bun and a salad's worth of lettuce, tomato, onion and fresh pickle atop a hefty burger patty. There's cheese and mayo and mustard and ketchup and they are not skimpy on any of those ingredients. They combine to make a tangy sauce that just dripped with every bite. It was fresh and flavorful and like a tasty backyard BBQ burger on steroids. 



The fries are softer with a ton of seasonings - including a cajun spice that gives it a little kick. I wouldn't hate mine being more crisp, but the flavor is still good. I enjoyed dipping mine in the blue cheese dressing. This could easily be two meals - but I'm not judging if it's one.



Grade: A

I've been hearing really good things about Guadalajara Modern Mexican in Nitro, so I was looking over the menu when I discovered the description for their shrimp fajitas: "12 jumbo shrimp caught fresh from the Kanawha River grilled with fajita veggies. Served with rice, beans, cema salad and tortillas."



They ultimately said it was a joke...  At the very least, it turned me off from that item. So I opted to try a different dish instead. I ordered the "Enchilada Supremas," which is ground beef, shredded chicken, tinga chicken, and potato enchiladas. They're topped with a mole sauce, lettuce, crema, tomatoes and cheese. Plus a side of queso.



The space was bright and busy, but super quick with my order. First, I dug into the queso dip, which is much thicker and has more heat than other quesos I've had. You can see bits of pepper and spices, which is often absent from otherwise very thin, cream quesos. I did enjoy this rendition with a bit more kick!



The enchiladas were good, except instead of a potato one, I received a pork one. I was weirdly looking forward to the potato one because it's different. But they were all tasty, and I'm enjoying learning about and trying different types of mole. This dish is beautiful - colorful - and certainly filling. The chicken tinga enchilada was my favorite because it was full of flavor.

Grade: B 

Two longtime chili cookoffs came together today - and I was lucky enough to be able to help judge once again.



Wagging Tails and Nitro Ales is an official ICS chili cookoff for Dog Bless, a dog rescue group in WV. And Smoke on the Water is usually held in the summer during FestivALL and raises money for HospiceCare.



Today was the first really chilly day that I've spent outside this season, but that's perfect for chili.



The event had both hot chili and cold beer, as well as a nod to Cassie Johnson, the Charleston Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty last December.



I was tasked with helping to judge the homestyle category. So while waiting for that round to start, I purchased some sample tickets to try some of the other versions.



For example, I checked out some of the verde chilis. Usually these are not my favorite, but the ones I had today were delish! They had great balanced flavors but didn't feel super heavy.



I also didn't get judge the traditional red this year, which is much more standard in terms of ingredients and flavors.



So, my favorite is always homestyle. I think it gives the cooks more leeway to explore their creativity. 



I love getting a chili that has some heat, but also some sweetness and a perfect medium consistency with a variety of ingredients like meat, beans, etc. 



How do you take your chili?

Nitro is home to the 24-hour Tudor's Biscuit World, so I had high hopes for its Gino's location. And, while it's not open 24 hours, it did not disappoint. 



On the menu for this day was a small pizza with mushrooms - which was great. The crust had some crisp on it - and not the soft, soggy bottom that often happens. 



And the wings! The golden BBQ with a homemade blue cheese was delicious. This was one of the best renditions I've had. A little tang, a little sweet, and then that zip with the blue cheese. Delish.

Grade: A

Some time ago, the Kanawha Valley was blessed with "yum yum balls." Yes, you read that correctly. A food truck-turned-restaurant called Island Teriyaki was a local favorite, and they dished out their signature meal - yum yum balls. They are these delicious fried rice balls covered in teriyaki and a yum yum sauce.



Good news, dear reader, they're back as Island Teriyaki 2. 



Island Teriyaki started off as a food truck that then turned into a brick-and-mortar location in Hurricane. They then switched locations again. And then, it seemed like they went off the radar for some time.  Now, they've reemerged in yet a different form - as the food component at a bar in Nitro called "Rebar." 



Let's get into it. First off, parking is a little strange and tight right outside the bar, but there is an open lot across the road. This bar seems like a local's joint with one bartender and a space that is well-worn. It's an odd match for the Island-themed food, but who am I to judge? My order took a good bit longer than the quoted wait time, but once it came out from behind the tiny curtain to the kitchen, I was ready to go. 



These yum yum balls are mostly like I remember. They have grilled teriyaki chicken, veggies, white rice, cheddar cheese all panko crusted, fried and served on a bed of rice. These ones are teriyaki, drizzled with yum yum and topped with green onions. I may have built them up in my mind a bit more as absence makes the heart grow fonder. They were a bit dry inside, which put me off just a bit. But, they're still very tasty. I also tried The Dude Dry, which had all kinds of delicious fry toppings - chicken, cheese, spicy pineapple sauce - and they were also great. Of course, you'll need to eat these fast to avoid the sog. Overall, though, good food.

Grade: B

If you're like me, you may be familiar with Rocas in Charleston, but did you know Nitro has a location too (and Virginia, too!)?



I am a fan of the Rocas location in Charleston, so I was interested in trying the Nitro location with my friend Sara. One thing I have really come to enjoy is the creamy white sauce they bring out along with the salsa and chips. It's sweet, creamy, a little tangy, and wholly unexpected. 



Here's my strategy for most things in life: search out the cheese dip. So, when I came across "Arroz con Camarones" with grilled shrimp, bell peppers, onions, tomatoes and rice ALL topped with cheese dip, I ordered it before I finished reading the remainder of the menu. 



Listen, you can't really go wrong in my book if the dish is covered in queso - yes, even seafood. Creamy, salty, savory delicious. Little crunch with the bell peppers and soft rice. Makes for a tasty meal.

Grade: A

Roadrunners Grill is a small restaurant in Nitro that specializes in American food, like soups, salads, sandwiches and burgers.



Dawn and I went to check it out, after I had heard some good reviews of the food. The restaurant is attached to an antique store and has a similar feel itself - lots of old decor on the walls and a random collection of Nascar, religious symbols and tools.



The menu is pretty straightforward. Dawn went with a burger, fries and mozzarella sticks.



And I went with soup and a sandwich.



Sweet beefy cabbage soup is not a combination of words I typically see together, but it piqued my interest. And, it tasted like a cabbage roll in soup form - with just a hint of sweetness, which really just tapered down the acidic nature of the tomato.



The sub had ham, pepperoni, provolone, tomato, onion, lettuce and served with a side of what seemed to me to be a mix of ranch and Italian. Definitely interesting.

Grade: B

Dream Day Cafe is a new restaurant in Nitro, which also specializes in catering and events. They serve lunch during weekdays, so during a free day, I made my way over there.



The interior is cute, with a slightly industrial meets country vibe. There are just about a dozen or so tables inside, and they were all full on the day I visited.



But I was able to snag one and take a look at the menu. They serve up breakfast options like eggs and French toast. For lunch, there are Philly cheesesteaks, burgers and wraps.



One of the more unique menu options was the "monte cristo" - not something you find on every menu. That with a side of macaroni & cheese was calling my name.



The sandwich had a lot, a lot of breading which made it a bit soggy. The flavors were all there, but I think it could use about half the amount of breading. But I love the ooey cheese, ham and sweet preserves.



The macaroni & cheese was solid and freshly made. And, it came with a generous amount of bacon. I think there are probably a few kinks to work out - with service, too - but this was good, as is.



Grade: B

The Cold Spot is a wing & beer spot with three locations in West Virginia.

There's one in Charleston, one in Glen Jean and one in Nitro. The last is the only one I hadn't been to, so I gathered up some of my friends to go check it out.


It's a bit rough around the edges - with some awkward parking and a convenience store looking as though it's the entrance - but once inside, it's like any other bar and grill.

They are known for their wings, so my eyes went directly to that section.

Of course, there are spicy sauces like "toxic." But I went with 6 boneless "BBQ gold" and six boneless "Sweet BBQ."

Now, usually a "sweet BBQ" is a safe choice. But this one was just OK - their sweet bbq sauce doesn't have a ton of flavor to me.

But the BBQ gold was fantastic.

It had some sweetness and some tang. Definitely a keeper.

Oh, and the giant beers don't hurt. What's your favorite wing flavor here?