Barboursville has some really great little places.



Recently, they added to that lineup with 1861 Public House.



The pub is really cool; it has like a garage door-esque front window, a very sleek vibe and some mighty fine cocktails.



I had the Pink Elephant, which has blanco tequila, mezcal, simple syrup, lime, pineapple, and raspberry. It was a little strong, but still sweet, for a really nice balance.



I also had a buffalo chicken pizza. And, I know food really isn't their main draw - but this was pretty damn tasty. Sweet drink, tangy pizza = happy Candace. Plenty of toppings, nice mix of textures, a solid little lunch!



Grade: A

Gino's! This time we're in Wayne to check out the local pizza offerings.



I love that the western locations offer the pepperoni bites, "fresh dough wrapped around tasty pepperoni then seasoned with garlic butter and sprinkled with Romano cheese." So I definitely had to get those, and they are always delicious. I love the little bite-size pieces of pepperoni plus cheese and just tons of garlic and butter.



But I also ordered an Italian sandwich with mayo, and it was delicious. I don't love the warm lettuce, but other than that there was a lot of meat, cheese and veggies in a bun that was toasted. It was a tasty sandwich, and probably one of the best ones I've had from a Gino's location.



Grade: A

The Poca Gino's Pizza & Spaghetti House was next on my list, and, y'all, I'm really tired of Gino's. BUT, when I start a list, I have to complete it. So, we're going for it.



I think I've been sleeping on the actual pizza at Gino's. It's not bad, actually. I usually opt for something ~different~ but the pizza is pretty decent. I usually am a mushroom girl, but a friend recently ordered a supreme pizza, and it hit the spot. So, I went for a pizza with all the veggies and some meats on top, and it just really is a whole different flavor of pizza. Tons of texture and very veggie-forward, instead of mostly cheese. The only thing I didn't love is when I got a harder piece of pepper - like the core. Overall, though, this is a nice way to mix up my regular order.

Grade: B 

Z Brick Oven Pizza in Huntington offers salads, pasta, calzones, subs, and, of course, pizza. 



The Huntington pizza shop has some specialty pizzas that are fun: buffalo chicken, Hawaiian, Greek, taco, etc.



I ordered the "Loaded Potato Pizza," which had like a béchamel sauce, sliced potatoes, bacon and cheese, and it was so good! 



Think delicious scalloped potatoes - all on a pizza. I'm a fan.

Grade: A

I love DiCarlo's. If you've been here for a while, you probably know that I've visited every DiCarlo's location - most of which are centered around the Ohio Valley.



One of their newest locations, though, is located in Columbus - a bit further out from its dedicated following. And, it shows.



In the infamous Pizza Connoisseurs of Columbus Facebook group, people have slaughtered the "cold cheese" pizza - because apparently they haven't grasped the concept of freshly melted cheese.  



The thing about DiCarlo's is that it focuses on few really quality ingredients and treats them with care. That's not always the case at other pizza shops. They're slinging pizzas, throwing ingredients on, baking it all together and moving it out the door. 



At DiCarlo's, it's a beautiful dance. The crunchy crust is topped with hot sauce. At the end, fresh provolone lightly melts on top. It's not a greasy, congealed mess hastily slopped together.



Some people poo-poo it because they like to "yuck" other people's "yum." Or they just like to be contrary and can't stand the idea of challenging their perception of how pizza should be prepared. Hint: Not all pizza has to be cooked like Pizza Hut. 



The Columbus location is brand new, fresh, clean. It's modern, but has throwback touches. They serve pepperoni rolls in addition to the pizza. I went with 6 pieces with pepperoni. Crunchy crust, freshly melted provolone and a perfectly balance tomato sauce made for an absolutely delicious bite.

Grade: A

Every good college town is going to have at least one good pizza place. In Athens, Avalanche Pizza was recommended to me. They serve up standard pies, but also some specialty ones that may even require a dictionary. Take a look at some of these unique pies:

The Wheels on Fire: Our fabulous hand-tossed crust, with savory Gorgonzola cream sauce, bake with fresh-sliced Red Onion and King Family Farms Chicken that is gently coated with our spicy Ninja Sauce. After the oven we apply spokes of Creamy Ranch Dressing and shaved Celery with a garnish of Roasted Red Pepper in the middle.

Hot Tuna: Tuna, artichoke hearts, fresh mushrooms, tomatoes, asiago, and spicy ninja sauce using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our creamy béchamel sauce and crispy thin crust.

Loaded Baked Potato: Potatoes, crispy bacon, broccoli and cheddar using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our creamy béchamel sauce and signature hand-tossed dough.

Crouching Kimchi, Hidden Chicken: Teriyaki-tossed roasted chicken, crunchy cashews, mandarin oranges and Korean kimchi using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our house marinara sauce and signature hand-tossed dough.



But The Godzilla has won the "Best Pizza in the U.S.A." - Velvety Blanched Spinach atop our Delicious Marinara Blend with Melting Feta Cheese, Fresh Golden Roasted Chicken and finished with Sweet Sun-dried Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Provolone. And it won Best Pizza in the U.S.A. at the World Pizza Championship in Salsomaggiore, Italy!

This was a really tasty pizza. The flavor combinations are not all that crazy - sundried tomatoes, spinach, feta - those are great together. And covered in mozzarella and provolone brings it all together. A pretty good pizza, all in all.

Grade: A

There are still a couple more Gino's locations in Huntington that I need to try, but I recently marked "Walnut Hills" off my list. 



My favorite item is the pepperoni bites - so good. Topped with delicious garlic-parm and warm so the cheese oozes, these little bites are so poppable.



I was also excited to see they have breaded mushrooms - another favorite guilty pleasure. I waited a bit too long to eat these so they became a bit cool, but I still loved them - especially dipped in a horseradish saucee.

Grade: A

Guess how many Gino's locations I have left to visit? About a dozen. So, let's dig in to the Montgomery location.



If you're not familiar, Gino's is s local chain that specializes in pizza and pasta dishes. It is often found coupled with Tudor's Biscuit World locations - but doesn't have quite the same fan following. Alas, I decided during the pandemic that I wanted to try all the different locations, which are primarily located through southern West Virginia.  



I went with my favorite Gino's item this time: The Calzone. And as soon as I got it and it smelled of fresh baked bread, I knew we were in business. Look at that parmesan melting into the top? Heavenly. Tons of sauce (maybe a touch too much), tons of cheese and mushrooms - my perfect palate. And, enough for leftovers for the next day!

Grade: A

I recently discovered a small, but mighty, group of Al's New York Pizza loyalists.



Located in a Barboursville plaza, this restaurant was hard to catch while open.



But once I did,  I knew I had to try a straight-forward pizza. With mushrooms, of course. 



I can see why folks enjoy this pizza. They're pretty thin slices, a nice sweet sauce and a generous coating of cheese. I don't love the crunchy, dry crust at the edges, but I get the appeal. Overall, a pretty decent pizza that is maybe not my top, but I wouldn't be mad at it.

Grade: A

Did you know there are Gino's locations that do NOT have drive-throughs? Enter the Quincy Gino's.



Color me surprised when I pulled up after having placed an online order, in short pajama shorts, not realizing I would have to get up and walk out of my car to receive my cheesy breadsticks.   



Thankfully, they weren't busy and I didn't have to wait long for my order. And, I did check out the interior, which has that old-school Pizza Hut vaguely Italian feel with fake plants and domed overhead lights. Once I got back to my car, I opened the box to panic-eat my feelings. And fortunately, it was a pretty good batch of cheesy bread sticks. Lots of cheese, lots of oozy-stringy factor, and lots of sauce underneath to bring it all together. It was just a touch cool by the time I received it. But a good snack.

Grade: B

After trying just about everything on Gino's menu, I can easily declare that the pepperoni bites are my favorite item.



However, only the Huntington-area locations offer them. So when it was time to finally try out the Barboursville location, I was more than excited to order my pepperoni bites.



These poppable delights are full of pepperoni and topped with romano and garlic butter. They're so good... until they're not. Unfortunately, these ones were baked through the middle and I found myself chewing on raw dough. So, my tummy wasn't happy with that - and I threw the remainder away. Sometimes it's just an off night - or even just an off hour - but this wasn't my favorite rendition. Off to the next location. 



Grade: C

Another day, another Gino's. This time - we're in Marmet.



Marmet is actually not all that far from me, so this is one of my "local" Gino's spots. Like most others, it's attached to a Tudor's Biscuit World, and I was thankful to see this one had a drive-thru (I've discovered a few that haven't!). 



First up is an antipasto salad. Under that generous layer of mozzarella is some cold iceberg, cold cuts, peppers and olives. It was so cold - maybe in the fridge for a while? - that I actually let it set out for a bit before digging in. I do like the assortment of different toppings.



And the pizza - it's growing on me! The small makes a nice single-serving, and I like the slightly sweet sauce. I just wish I could get the bottom crisper. Otherwise, not too shabby.

Grade: B

This trip to Gino's in Cross Lanes was quick and simple. All I wanted was some cheesy breadsticks.



This can sometimes be a tall task depending on where you're going - they can be too dry, not enough cheese, or worse yet, forget the marinara sauce. 



I'm happy to report none of those were the case in Cross Lanes. It was a perfectly satisfactory batch of cheesy breadsticks. There is even a nice layer of buttery garlic that keeps things moist and cheesy. An overall decent batch

Grade: B

I've eaten more Gino's Pizza in the last year than I have in my entire life. As I work my way through the various locations, I discovered there is some slight variation - but not a ton, really.  



In Point Pleasant, I placed an order for a small pizza loaded with toppings. If you've read any of my blog posts about pizza, you likely know I'm a mushroom topping-only person. But a friend recently shared a supreme-topping pizza, and it hit my adult tastebuds differently. 



So I ordered a pizza with mushrooms, black olives, onions, banana peppers and sausage. I gotta say - those toppings with a bit sweeter sauce than usual - was a good combo.

Grade: B