In downtown Parkersburg, Maka Mia replaced my beloved DiCarlo's. I won't hold it against the pizza restaurant; instead, I'll go in with an open mind - and stomach.



I didn't realize they have more than a handful of restaurants, though I have been to the Ripley location. Some background:

"In 2006, an independent grocery store owner in Kentucky had an idea. He was looking to attract new customers and increase sales to current ones, while staying ahead of the larger supermarket chains. The plan was to use existing deli facilities and staff to create a unique food destination. The concept didn’t come together overnight. It took months of experimenting, baking dough, creating the best tasting sauce, and never settling for anything but the highest quality ingredients. This was important to the concept, because everyone wants a great tasting product and fresh ingredients, with the option to customize it. The next step included branding and marketing, which took more than five years of work, research and design. Today, Máka Mia is a fully registered, trademarked company. From full color counter fronts and outdoor signage to professionally designed digital menus and online ordering, the Máka Mia Team created a package ready to deliver big results in a few short set-up days. The final product is a signature pizza and hoagie concept with over 40 stores in five states, proving the Máka Mia concept a success. Check it out for yourself and see if you don’t agree that Máka Mia is the best tasting pizza you’ve ever had!?"



So, it's a franchise and by looking at the locations, it seems the product is available in grocery stores, food marts and grocery stores - plus a few restaurants dedicated to the name. 

The space has limited indoor dining - whether that's by design or due to COVID19 - but I had placed an order online so I was just picking up anyway. The space has some wood panel flooring, corrugated steel and basic decor. 



The pizza is above average. I like that the pizza sauce was a little bit sweet, and the dough was toothsome - not cracker thin but could actually get some bite from it. 



I also order pretzel bites with cheese, and these were decent, too. I don't see these on menus as often as I'd like, so it was nice little treat. Overall, decent flavors - nothing too different - but still a reliably good slice.

Grade: B

I don't know about you, but my favorite kinds of salads are the ones with tons of toppings. I'm talking egg, tomato, cheese, something crunchy, maybe some beets, I don't know. Something delicious. But, of course, that comes at a hefty price. That's why - sometimes - it's nice to go to a place where they assemble it for you.



If you're like me, then Rubi's Salad Haus may be right up your alley. This counter-service restaurant allows you to build salads exactly to your specifications. You can choose as many or as few ingredients as you would like from a very long list of options.



And, if you're not feeling a salad, they do also have soup, flatbreads, avocado toast and more. 



Their variety of toppings numbers more than 60. Peppers, carrots, onions, egg, olives, peas, mushrooms, beets, broccoli, cabbage, chickpeas, corn, tomatoes, cheese, cucumbers, nuts, fruit and other proteins.



For my salad, I went with a base of spring greens topped with egg, tomato, cheese, mushrooms, olives and some other things I'm probably forgetting. 



And, to top it all off, I went with Rubi's Haus dressing, which is like a sweeter vinaigrette. 

It's so fresh; I felt totally safe, and. I was excited to get to try something new. To make a salad like this at home, I would've spent a fortune in ingredients and would have to eat nothing but salad for a week so the vegetables didn't go bad. 



So, this is a cool option when you're in the mood.



Have you tried it? 

Grade: A

Broadway Sandwich Shop, located in Parkersburg, takes you back to a simpler time. 



From the outside weathered awnings and simple sign to the letterboard menu and cash-only signs, Broadway Sandwich Shop puts on no facade. 



And, the service - like the space - is a little rough around the edges. They don't want to wait, they want you to know what you want and they want you to move on. 



When I got to the front of the line, I recited the order I had been repeating in my head - one cheeseburger.



Almost as soon as I ordered, my burger was ready. It was small - maybe the size of my palm - and was wrapped in a cellophane paper. 



It didn't even really have time to melt the cheese, but I really enjoyed it. The experience was fun - though a bit intimidating - and the burger was a good pre-game to the bigger lunch I would have later in the day. It was just a few bites really - but it's also only a little over a buck - so well-worth it. Fresh flavors, no frills and a simple meal.



Grade: A

The 19th Street Meat Market in Parkersburg is quite the find. 



Let's hear a little bit about their story: 



"One thing we all know in this day and age is that fresh cut meat markets are very rare and hard to come by. The 19th Street Meat Market previously known as Paynes or A-1 Meat Market is locally owned and operated by Deborah Parton since 2002, who also resides in Parkersburg, WV. The meat market was established in the late 1930's. It is a family run business ran by Debbie's daughter's Mia McDaniel and Amy Nichols with her husband Gary, daughter Cidney and son Alec.



We have two fully trained meat cutters, Gary Nichols and Eddie Mason, both from Parkersburg .. They will be happy to cut any type of steaks or meat we carry to your satisfaction. If you don't see something you are looking for just ask us and we'll try our best to accommodate you! If we don't have it, we can usually get it.



I'm sure we all remember John Payne and his late wife, Jenny who were previous owners of the meat market for over 17 years and hold a lot of history to our community. John still likes to stop in from time to time to check in and make sure we are keeping up on the famous recipes that have made the store what it is today! We have not changed any of the traditional recipes that have become quite popular over the years, such as the "Chunky" or smooth chicken, ham, and cheese salads made daily.



On that note... To all of our dedicated customers whom we have come to call family over the years, we sincerely thank you and appreciate your loyalty and hope you continue to enjoy the unbeatable flavor of fresh cut meats and good ol' home cooked foods. For those of you that have never stopped in please feel welcome and enjoy our large variety of fresh meats and ready to cook meals."



This market swears by unbeatable flavor of fresh cut meats and good ol' homecooked foods. 



I really love delis. I love ham salads and pimento cheese and prepared mac & cheese - and, of course, fresh meat. Since I was just passing through, I didn't go for any of the fresh meat this time.



But, I did opt for a pepperoni roll and some pimento cheese dip.



I was tempted by the soups, enchiladas, shepherd's pie... everything really!



But my selections were good. The pepperoni wasn't as moist as I would like, but the pimento cheese... made for a perfect complement. Is there anybody making pepperoni rolls WITH pimento cheese? Because if not, they should.



Grade: A

West Virginia's version of a 24-hour diner is The Omelet Shoppe, which has locations in Virginia, Beckley, Parkersburg and, at one point, Princeton. Parkersburg was the only West Virginia located I hadn't yet been to, so while driving through the area in search of breakfast, I found myself here.



I placed an order online (who knew they had that capability?!) for bologna cheese bagel. Typically, I'd stroll in, find an uncomfortable seat amongst the rest of the late-nighters turned to early-morningers. 



There's certainly a vibe to the place, but on this occasion, I actually had to stand outside in the breezeway before being greeted due to occupancy limits. They already assumed I was the online to-go order and handed me my bag. I'm glad I remembered the drink because that was almost forgotten. 



Once I had my food, I got back in my car and continued on my journey. At this moment, let's reflect on The Omelet Shoppe. It serves a crucial role in the landscape of restaurants. It's not high-end, and it's not trying to be. It is quick, easy diner food that you can likely make at home. But it's cheap and often the perfect place after a long night out, shift workers, truck drivers and others looking for a warm meal in a no-frills joint. 



The bagel sandwich was perfect for a one-handed breakfast. I added both cheddar and swiss and mayo to give me all those comforting flavors. Side note: I am sad McDonald's no longer has bagel sandwiches. They're like a guilty pleasure. This bagel sandwich hit the spot, though. Points off for it being lopsided, making it more difficult to eat and the bagels on the dry side. Overall, though, simple, quick and tasty.



Grade: B

Forgive me for not getting a photo of the outside of the building - because it's one of those places that you've probably driven by in Parkersburg but may have not set food inside. George's Place is located near the mall in Parkersburg and is a family-friendly bar that features some Mediterranean dishes. 



The interior looked pretty standard for a bar & grill, though I was only inside for a few minutes to pick up my to-go order. Let's dive in, shall we? We are starting with grape leaves stuffed with rice and ground beef and served with a side of yogurt. Grape leaves definitely have a bit of a sour flavor that I have come to love - but paired with that yogurt? Delish.



Then, I went to another extreme for dinner - stuffed shells. But first, a quick salad with fresh spring greens, cut tomatoes and red onion. Solid for a complimentary salad.



And then there is some garlic bread that was a bit sad, but it tasted fine nonetheless. 



Now, the entree. This was a bit different from what I am used to. The shells were stuffed with chicken, veggies, tomatoes, onion, mozzarella and marinara. I typically have some sort of ricotta and mozzarella mixture inside, but this was okay. I would've loved some more punches of flavor - maybe something like fresh herbs and getting that creaminess from the cheese. Still a decent dish for a bit different take on it.

Grade: B

I think it's important that every town has at least one solid pizza joint.



And, it's usually the tiny, little, hidden pizza joint that has the best pizza.



So, I'm always on the hunt for good pizza when traveling.



Parkersburg is no stranger to pizza, but now that I've hit up the most popular places, it's time to check out some of the more off-the-radar spots, like DM's Pizza Shop. Which, I think, stands for Donnie Mozzarella's.