Mountain State Creamery is a nostalgic ice cream shop in Vienna, West Virginia, known for its premium hard-packed ice cream, old-fashioned candy and bright decor. They offer a sweet escape into the past with options like ice cream flights, waffles and over-the-top shakes. "The shop emphasizes memorable experiences and community connection. It often teams up with local businesses for themed events and contests—earning accolades including consideration as one of West Virginia’s top ice cream spots," reads the website. There were so many yummy sounding flavors that I had a difficult time choosing. Fortunately, they've developed an option for those like me. "Flight of Junior Scoops - Can't Pick Just One? Try a Flight! Mix, match, and explore with a flight of 6 junior scoops-perfect for sampling our rotating homemade flavors. Share it (or don't!) and find your new favorite scoop." I chose a variety - from carrot mango Italian ice (Non-dairy, non-fat and bursting with sweet, tangy flavor with real carrot (yes, we said carrot!) and fruit juices) to "Yippee Skippee," which is creamy peanut butter ice cream loaded with salted caramel ripples, soft brownie chunks and crispy chocolate-covered pretzels. Of course I added a scoop of "Cookie Dough" - Sweet cookie-flavored ice cream with heaps of soft chocolate chip cookie dough and tons of rich chocolate chips. And another Italian ice: Electric Watermelon - Refreshing watermelon Italian ice with a jolt of sour to leave you feeling electric. I love the rich, indulgent options, as well as the tangy, refreshing bites. And each scoop keeps things interesting. Now, time to try the remaining flavors. Have you been? Grade: A

D'Paulo's Pizzeria is a hometown pizza joint know for its square pizza with California tomatoes, provolone cheese and crispy crust.



This location previously was home to a DiCarlo's Pizza, and the mark of Ohio Valley pizza seems to have influenced D'Paulo's offerings.



But you know I'm not mad about this. The crispy crust pizza provides a solid foundation for a layer of perfectly spiced sauce and shredded provolone. if I had my way, the cheese would've been added at the very end. But, still a pretty tasty square of pizza.



Grade: A

304 Inferno was a wood-fired Neopolitan-style pizza restaurant in Parkersburg that unfortunately shuttered before it got too much attention.



I stopped here and placed a to-go order since I was short on time. I know the to-go order is a bit different from dining in, but I still got to peek at the interior, which was nice and welcoming.



They were out of some menu items and also some containers, so it was a bit of a mish-mash. But I did end up with a simple house salad that was fine.



My entree was ravioli a la vodka with spinach. Usually this is right up my alley, and the flavors are indeed - but it was cool. Cold even. And temperature doesn't usually bother me too much, but it definitely affected the flavor here.



Grade: B

Koba Cafe in Vienna offers Vietnamese and Korean food, in addition to bubble tea.



They have a little bit of everything - from fish cakes and wings to pho and kalbi.



I started with pork belly bao buns. They were served with jalapenos, cilantro and house sauce. I will always order these when I see them on a menu, because I love the bun itself. it is what I imagine biting into a cloud would taste like. But these had a bright, punchy flavor.



My bubble tea was the brown sugar flavor with boba - my favorite. It was very creamy.



Finally, I'm always searching for the high of a homemade bulgogi I once enjoyed with a friend's family. Koba Cafe's version had a nice sweet and salty flavor, but it wasn't quite as tender as I would have liked. I enjoyed it with rice and kimchi, nonetheless.



Grade: B

Lock No. 4 is an Ohio-based coffee shop with specialty drinks and snacks. They recently opened a Vienna location, complete with drive-thru.



I ordered a frozen hot chocolate because when I had one from Tim Horton's, I was a big fan. I can't say I was as crazy about this one; I don't think it was blended as finely as it should have been, and it needed more flavor to combat the ice watering it down.



The featured donut was OK. A donut has to be pretty special for me to get excited. This was fine - probably better paired with hot coffee.



Grade: B

Based in Vienna, West Virginia, this Napoli's is one of the last locations in the area that hadn't I visited.



The menu features pizza, burgers, pasta, and more.



I put in an order in advance, but it was not ready when I arrived, unfortunately. So I ended up waiting for quite a while before my meal was finished.  



I went with a simple spaghetti - not usually my go-to, but sometimes a super simple meal is what hits the spot. 



It also came with breadsticks. Overall, this was an average meal. The service was below average; the spaghetti was a lackluster pile of noodles and mildly flavorful tomato sauce. Not bad, but not notable. Average all in all. 

Grade: C

You know when you ask someone where they want to go to dinner and they say "I Don't Care"? Well, one restaurant has capitalized on that.



I Don't Care Eatery & Spirits in Vienna is like a painted cinderblock building without many windows. It's a bit odd at first. But, inside, it is a bit more inviting. The menu features salads, sandwiches, burgers, wraps and a few dinners. On this day, they had a crab cake dinner special, so I took them up on it. The cakes themselves didn't have much crab, but I didn't mind the overall flavoring. The brussels on the side were soaking in an odd sweet brine. The baked potato would've been better if loaded. But, each individual part of the dinner was fine on its own.



Grade: B

I recently went to check out Boo & Brew held just outside the Gand Central Mall in Vienna. 



In the parking lot, there were a number of activities - like music, make & take activities, and a beer garden for those of age. 



What I was most excited about, of course, was the food trucks. 



In particular, I wanted to check out Jimmy Avocado's, a tex-mex food truck based in the Parkersburg area.



Their menu is pretty simple: You can get a fish, chicken, pork or beef taco, nachos or burrito. The toppings are all fairly similar.



I went with a chicken taco (with cheese blend, lettuce roasted onions, peppers and sweet chipotle sauce), a carnita taco (pork, cheese blend, pico de gallo, pineapple and sweet chipotle sauce) and beef (queso, lettuce, pico de gallo and sweet chipotle sauce). 



The texture of the tortilla was a bit chewy in a kinda stale way. Not my favorite - but I did enjoy the ingredients inside more. They were cool - but refreshing. The chipotle sauce was mild but added a little sweetness and spice.

Grade: B

The Cardinal Market in the Grand Central Mall in Vienna hosts a variety of local artisans, crafters, and business owners who sell their wares in this space. 



There are a bunch of West Virginia-themed gifts, as well as some tasty goodies, too!



Now, you know I can't get enough of West Virginia goodies. Take a look at these cute notecards! 



I also purchased some woodsy-scented candles. Mmm.



And I feel like bar soaps are becoming so popular. I know they've become like an artisan good, but I didn't realize that many folks actually used bar soap! 



I digress. Let's talk about some of the tasty treats you can get here, like Tiff's Magical Cookie Creations.  My cookie from here was so cute and tasty! 



Then, there is also Granny's Kitchen fudge, which I've written about before. It's so good.



And, there are some other odds and ends from Ohio, like Mrs. Miller's and Jason & Mary's. What have you purchased from here?