Farmhouse Sweets & Treats is a small, nostalgic-style candy and dessert shop tucked inside Oglebay Park. "Step into a world of whimsy at Farmhouse Sweets & Treats, Oglebay’s delightful sweet shop brimming with hand-crafted chocolates, locally made ice cream, and a colorful candy buffet sure to spark joy in guests of all ages," reads the website. Highlights include: Kirke's Homemade Ice-Cream, $5 Candy Buffet, Hand-crafted Chocolates and Novelty Gifts. It’s a gift shop-meets-sweet shop built around that old-fashioned candy store vibe — bright, family-friendly, and geared toward browsing and impulse treats. You’ll also find things like jams and locally inspired sweets, which lean into that “Appalachian farmhouse” theme. When I walked in, I first noticed the fudge in rotating flavors, hand-dipped chocolates behind a case, and a mix of ice cream options. I selected a few chocolates that spoke ro me - primarily caramels. They were lovely but I dont believe made on site? Correct me if I'm wrong here. I also picked up a few items for gifts, so they will remain a secret here. For now. Have you been? Grade: A

El Zocalo is a Medican restaurant in Wheeling that I checked out recently with mom and grandma. El Zocalo features all the familiar American-Mexican favorites, like tacos, burritos, chimichangas, and sizzling fajitas — along with a full bar featuring margaritas and other cocktails. I started with a watermelon margarita - salt rim - because some days, you just gotta get the margarita. Light, juicy and super refreshing. The salsa leans thin and smooth, more pourable than scoopable, with a mild tomato base and just a hint of heat that fades quickly. The queso follows suit — light, a little runny and consistently warm, with a mild cheesy flavor that coats the chips with a bit of richness. I ordered the tostones - crisp flattened fried plantains, topped with shredded chicken, shredded cheese and pico de gallo. The chicken adds some heft and a savory, seasoned layer to the dish. The fresh tomato, onion and lime cut through the starchiness of the plantains and the richness of the chicken. It is the key to adding brightness and a bit of acidity. Grade: B

While I've been slowly checking off all the restaurants at Oglebay, I have never attended one of their specialty holiday buffets. Rather than being set in a restaurant, these buffets are set in an auditorium. And for good reason: We were joined by no less than 200 other attendees for the Easter brunch. I treated my mom and grandma to a tasty meal to celebrate family with good food. The first station consisted of all the salad options: Traditional Caesar Salad with Romaine, Shaved Parmesan, Croutons & Caesar Dressing; Garden Salad with Spring Greens, Carrots, Spring Onions, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Ranch Dressing or White Balsamic Vinaigrette; and Spring Salad with Spring Greens, Strawberries, Portobello Mushrooms, Red Onions & Raspberry Vinaigrette. Afterward, there was a carving station that featured Slow-Roasted Prime Rib with Au Jus or Horseradish Cream Sauce, as well as Oven-Roasted Bone-In Ham. The next station consisted of Shrimp Cocktail with Eastern Shore Steamed Shrimp, Classic Cocktail Sauce and Lemon, in addition to Smoked Salmon Tartare Toast Points. The Easter-Style Deviled Eggs were dyed vibrant blues, purples, pinks, yellows and greens. They were topped with shrimp or mustard or cheese crisps. I looped back around to dig into the Charcuterie boards, which had Artisan Meats and Cheeses, Assorted Breads and Crackers. There was a huge variety, and I loved fishing for unique bites. Finally, the main entrees and sides consisted of farmer-style green beans with onions. Rosemary & Garlic Fingerling Potatoes. Tuscan Chicken with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Spinach, Onions, Artichokes & Light Herb Cream Sauce. Garlic Roasted Lamb Chops with Root Vegetables and Pan Jus. Potato Crusted Salmon with Julienne Vegetables and Carrot Ginger Broth. Hearty Vegetable Soup with Parsley Gremolata. Dessert consisted of the Chef's Pastry Table - A Rotating Selection of Chef-Prepared Desserts. There was everything from carrot cake and eclairs to chocolate silk pie and cakes. It was all lovely. Have you been?

Tucked inside the historic Centre Market district at 2207 Market Street in Wheeling, Wheeling Noods Ramen Bar is bringing a build-your-own concept to the local noodle scene. You can choose your broth, noodle type and toppings. My choice was chicken‑broth ramen with wheat noodles, shrimp, mushrooms, and baby corn. The noodles have a pleasant chew, and the shrimp are firm and light, while the mushrooms add some earthy depth and the baby corn a crisp, slight crunch. The broth could use more seasoning or umami punch to fully elevate the bowl. Grade: B

Euphoric Doughnuts is a stylish artisan doughnut shop located at 167 16th Street in Wheeling, WV, offering a curated selection of gourmet doughnuts paired with small-batch, craft coffee. Open Thursday through Sunday from early morning, they’ve earned a loyal local following thanks to inventive flavors like Cookie Butter and S’mores that elevate the classic treat experience. On this particular visit, I scoped out a raspberry cheesecake donut, a s'mores donut, a strawberry mascarpone donut and a Ferrero Rocher donut. Wow. These blew my socks off. Which is saying a lot considering donuts are not my go-to sweet treat. Euphoric Doughnuts delivers on its name with every bite. The raspberry cheesecake donut bursts with tangy fruit and rich cream cheese filling, balanced by a light, pillowy dough. The s’mores donut is pure nostalgia - gooey marshmallow, chocolate drizzle, and a graham cracker crunch. The strawberry mascarpone is delicate and dreamy, with a smooth, not-too-sweet filling that’s perfect for summer. The Ferrero Rocher donut is the showstopper -decadent, chocolatey, and packed with hazelnut flavor that mimics the candy flawlessly. Which is your favorite? Grade: A

Pickles Eatery is a cozy pub in Wheeling that serves up standard bar fare -- most notably, the wings, which have won numerous local awards. Wings were not on the menu for this trip, though. Instead, the star was "The Famous Fulton Philly" thinly sliced beef, grilled onions, peppers, and mushrooms with provolone cheese on a fresh hoagie bun. Next was buffalo chicken dip with tortilla chips. My mom LOVED this! Finally, we had a side of slaw and also hot pepper cheese balls with ranch. It's like a greatest hits of bar food. All in all, I thought it met expectations. Each dish was satisfactory and just as it should be. If you're looking for straightforward pub food, this is your spot. Grade: B