It has got to be a really tough time to open a business. With restrictions on occupancy and high standards for sanitization, the hurdles that come along with opening a new business are now tenfold. 



When The Board Room in South Charleston opened up, I wanted to go check them out as soon as possible to give them some support - and see what they're all about!



First off, they don't really have food. They have a few pepperoni rolls (from Rogers & Mazza's), bags of chips and candy bars, but you're probably not going to cobble together a full dinner here.



What they do have, however, is an impressive beer list. Bottles, cans, draft, they have a nice assortment and local collection, too. 



In particular, I was so excited to see the Parkersburg Brewing Company's seltzer line. They have black cherry, blood orange, green apple and hibiscus punch. 



I went for the hibiscus punch, which was delish. It was refreshing but not overly sweet. I'm always seeking out fresh flavors during the winter.



So, The Board Room is a really fun concept. In addition to some great beer, they have a ton of games available to play. And, they have board games - as well as card and other fandom pieces - for purchase. 



We played a few different things - like Jenga of course. Do you have a rule about how far down the tower you can begin pulling pieces? 



I don't remember the name of this last game, but it was funny to try to get these little balls to go in the opponents' corner. 



I don't know that any of us were particularly good at it, but we definitely had fun. And, I think that's saying a lot because there aren't always a ton of places for young adults to go that aren't bars. "



Have you been?

Grade: A

Cali Tacos, originally based in Nitro, has opened a location in South Charleston. They have this bold, red decor with calaveras and graffiti-esque art. 



We went when it was empty to try to stay as safe as we could. That meant we had plenty of space to dine and feel comfortable.



The menu is the same, I believe. I searched until I found something covered in cheese dip - so a chimichanga it was! I went for the "Santa Cruz," which is a chimichanga with shrimp, crab meat, bell peppers and onions, deep-fried and topped with queso and a side of rice, beans and salad.



It's hard to not find something fried and covered in cheese delicious. There's no way around it. It was tasty. I was excited for the tamale, but it was disappointing. It didn't have a lot of flavor and was kinda mushy instead of crumbly. Overall, a decent meal. 



Grade: B

Do you ever just love people-watching? I could just people-watch all day long, observing and looking for trends. The Eagle's Nest Restaurant in South Charleston, located at Little Creek Golf Course, overlooks the golf course so you can get a bite to eat while also having a show.



My friend Alex and I met up here to catch up. The dining space is lovely, with tall ceilings and huge glass windows that overlook the golf course. And, you do not need to be golfing or a member to enjoy the restaurant.



My understanding is that they usually have a buffet, but not during this time. The menu is fairly simple with hot dogs, burgers, and some sandwiches. They do also have daily specials.



I opted for the signature Kanawha Burger with American cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato, mayo and ketchup. 



But let's first talk about these fries. They're like extra battered and fried, making them super crispy. If I order fries, this is how I want them to be.



The burger was a little over for my liking, but it was thick and had that beautiful processed slice of cheese on top (nostalgia!). It's one of those burgers that's a bit too tall to fit in my mouth so I went the fork-and-knife route. Decent burger, decent flavor. Pretty straightforward.



Grade: B

There is something fun and quirky about a restaurant that focuses on carnival fare. Those sickeningly sweet treats are only available at these special events, and when all these events have been canceled due to the pandemic, this restaurant can be that outlet to still dig into sinful sweets.



Carnival Eats, a new restaurant in South Charleston, is serving up corndogs, cotton candy, funnel cake, and a bevy of other deep-fried snacks. Since they opened, they've been slammed - hourlong waits, not-so-positive reviews and service issues have plagued the restaurant.



But, Dawn and I were interested in giving it a go. We got lucky and went right as they opened on a Saturday so we were the only ones in there. The interior is small, but vibrant with murals on the walls and a very extensive menu hanging above the counter. Like, very extensive.



The deep-fried desserts make sense to me ... but then there's bubble tea... and there are salads ... and there is hummus. I like variety as much as anyone, but I know this can wreak havoc in the kitchen and lead to long wait times, which is one of the biggest complaints I've heard.



Nonetheless, I put in an order for a few different things. Let's start with the pepperoni grilled cheese. I love an elevated comfort food - so take a grilled cheese, add mozzarella, pepperoni and sauce, and it's like those pizza sandwiches I made growing up. Nothing I couldn't make at home - but I still love it.



Next up was a side of pretzels. Dawn loves a pretzel, and I don't mind them. I liked these little bite-sized guys. They didn't have a nacho cheese, which surprised me. Instead, they shared a white cheese - which would've been good, but it was just like a melted cheese so it hardened up and became plastic pretty quickly.



Then, I ordered a s'more churro. According to the photo on their website, I thought I would get a s'more with churros for the graham cracker. Instead, it was a platter of small, tough churros with some mini marshmallows and chocolate sauce. Not exactly what I was expecting and not a huge fan.



Dawn tried a corn dog, which she was very excited about but did not totally love.



Finally, we split a cotton candy burrito. These are one of those Instagram food trends right now, so I was excited to check it out. The execution, however, needs work. Instead of being this bright, colorful beauty, it kind of all meshed together, melted and just turned into a giant blob of sugar. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing - it tasted like, well, sugar - but it wasn't that beautiful sight I wanted to see.



Overall, I think the concept is fun for a once-in-awhile treat, but an extensive menu has led to some service weakness and food quality issues.



Time will tell! Have you been? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!



Grade: C

There's a new Chinese buffet in town, and it's already making waves.

China King, located in South Charleston's Riverwalk Plaza, faces the main road, but there's parking around back and the entrance is off to the side.

The buffet features classics like General Tso's, Beef & Broccoli, and American favorites. There's also a sushi bar and hibachi, too.

One item that stood out to me was an egg tart of sorts - not something you usually see on the buffet!

What's your favorite thing here?

Gino's is a West Virginia institution - maybe not quite as much as Tudors - but you can find them in many West Virginia towns.

Gino's features pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and other appetizers.

The menus do tend to change a little bit from location to location, and while I was here, I wanted to try a few different items.

First, I went with cheesy breadsticks (and extra marinara!). These are garlicky and buttery and delish.

Then, I tried their lasagna for the first time. This thing is packed with cheese - mozzarella and ricotta. For fast food pasta, it's not bad.

Movies $4 Less at the LaBelle Theatre Movie Theater isn't a restaurant, no. BUT, I went with my friend Sara recently, and we got some snacks that I wanted to share.

This historic theater has recently taken on a new life as a discount movie theater. Movies that have just left the theater are played here at a steep discount - just $4 a ticket - and the concessions are all $3. Those snacks include unlimited popcorn, unlimited fountain drinks, candy, pepperoni rolls and pizza.

I went with a combo of drink, popcorn, and candy for $8. Plus my ticket at $4 - so this was a $12 visit! Sara went with some pepperoni rolls, too. I was under the impression these were regular pepperoni rolls from Gino's next door, but they're a bit more special.

They're made specifically for the theater and come in a set of four pinwheels. So, they have a nice crisp to them. Have you been yet?