"Scroll through any major food delivery app and you’re likely to come across restaurants that seem to only exist online. Chances are, they’re ghost kitchens — virtual brands that use delivery platforms like Grubhub [or DoorDash or Uber Eats] to reach hungry diners," according to GrubHub.

Often times, if you find a restaurant on a delivery app that you've never heard of, it is a restaurant with an already established brick-and-mortar location that has an additional "ghost" kitchen on the side that offers totally different food. But it's only available through delivery on the app. So, let's take a look at some ghost kitchens in the Charleston area and which restaurant they're actually operating out of.





Ember Smoked BBQ | Logan's Roadhouse

Available now for third-party delivery in 19 states, Ember Smoked BBQ operates out of Logan’s Roadhouse’s kitchens. The new virtual barbecue brand joins SPB Hospitality’s expanding portfolio of delivery-only concepts run out of its full-service dining restaurants. In the last six months, SPB Hospitality has introduced four other unique virtual brands: Twisted Tenders, Roadies, Logan’s on the Road and OC on the Go.



It's Just Wings | Chili's

"It's Just Wings is available for pickup, delivery and now dine-in at your local Chili's Grill & Bar. Now there is no excuse not to get wings for the big game. Our chefs took the best ways to cook wings and combined them with 10 (and counting!) sauces and rubs so you’ll never get bored of the same old choices. And we gave you the choice to pick them up or get them delivered. Top it all off with fries and ranch with every order. See, we promised you killer wings full of unmatched flavor."
Catfish Kitchen | Captain D's

A user on TikTok is calling out food delivery services after claiming that she placed an order from a restaurant called “Catfish Kitchen”—but when the order was delivered, it was food from the fast-casual restaurant chain Captain D’s. Pasqually's | Chuck E. Cheese

According to Food & Wine, a user named u/KendallNeff placed a Grubhub order from a place called Pasqually's Pizza & Wings, believing that she was doing her part to support a local business. But when she received her food, she was slightly suspicious about where it really came from. "Just curious," she texted her Grubhub driver. "Was this food from Chuck E. Cheese?" The driver, Richard, responded that when he picked the order up, the Chuck E. Cheese had the logo for the "wing restaurant" on the windows. KendallNeff's husband did a bit of investigoogling and learned that not only was Pasqually P. Pieplate the name of the fictional chef in the Chuck E. Cheese universe, the Pasqually's "restaurant" had the same street address as Chuck E. Cheese. NY Deli Co. | Pepperoni Grill

New York Deli is a little taste of Manhattan, locally in Charleston WV. New York Deli Co. was created by Pepperoni Grill to bring you a fresh new take on our Manhattan Style Subs & Sandwiches! Order online on DoorDash for delivery or Pick Up at Pepperoni Grills Kanawha City Location. Making a New York Style sub is all about the ingredients. There is nothing quite like unfolding a parchment-wrapped Italian hero from a NY deli.
Leo's Italian Kitchen | Logan's Roadhouse

Welcome to Leo’s Italian Kitchen, where we’re serving up big family-style flavor, and even bigger laughs. Leo’s is built around generations of pasta lovers, with recipes handed down from our great, great grandparents…all the way to Leo himself, the youngest in a long line of pasta-makers (and eaters!). In our family, dinner has always been a time to get together, laugh, and tell stories, and it’s our mission to deliver that same joy to you. So go ahead, slurp your spaghetti, try out your Italian phrases, poach all the garlic bread, and make your Dad jokes–it’s dinner time, and we’ve got the deliciousness covered, so you can focus on all the pastabilities for fun.



Conviction Chicken | TGIFridays

Home to criminally good chicken. Crafting dangerously addictive chicken into sinfully good sandwiches, wings, and crispy fingers is our vice. From our most wanted sandwich, “The Slammer” to criminally delicious wings and sauces that should be illegal. We’re not afraid to break the rules to lock you in!



Wow Bao | TGIFridays

Wow Bao offers fast Asian street food—bao, pan-seared potstickers, steamed dumplings, rice & noodle bowls, hearty soups, fresh salads, and specialty drinks such as our fresh ginger ale. We believe that life’s too short for uninspired food. We’re here to transform the fast-casual experience from everyday and expected to extraordinary and inventive. We promise to put a “wow” in our guests’ day with an incomparable food experience that engages, excites, and exceeds expectations.

Others:
Tender Shack | Outback Steakhouse
Burger Den, Melt Down | Denny's
Cosmic Wings, Neighborhood Wings | Applebee's
Dockside Charlie's, Coop & Run, Underground Chucks | O'Charley's
Maggiano's Italian Classics | Chili's
Libby's BBQ | Ruby Tuesday
Thrilled Cheese, Super Mega Dilla, Pardon My Cheesesteak, Tender Fix | IHOP
Wing Nut | Primanti Bros

Sugar Life is a giant candy store for adults and kids alike. Two main features are the ice cream bar and self-serve candy station. There are giant containers of candy all over the store with everything from gummies and jawbreakers to chocolates and taffy. I picked up a plastic bag and made my way around the store to see what I wanted to fill it with. Pizza-shaped gummies. Chocolate covered caramels. Hawaiian punch fruity chews. I threw all types of flavors and textures all in the one bag. They also have giant versions of lollipops and gummy bears. Remember the astronaut food from when we were kids? And super sour Warheads to prove how tough you were? Both there. Plus a full-on jelly bean wall with all sorts of flavors - from Snapple mix to s'mores. Of course, there's a bit of risk with a billion hands likely reaching into the containers and touching every single candy. Grade: B

7 Brew Coffee has entered West Virginia, and its ground zero is Beckley.

"7 Brew was born from a desire to change drive-thru coffee into a fun, mind-blowing experience for everyone. We dreamed of serving premium coffee in record time and making new friends while we’re at it. The dream came alive with our first “stand” in Rogers, AR and our 7 original coffees. Today, we’re cranking out all kinds of custom-hand crafted drinks in different locations throughout the country. 7 Brew is so much more than just a coffee stand. It’s the concept of cultivating kindness and joy with every drink – through our service, speed, quality, energy and atmosphere. It’s contagious and it’s changing the drive-thru coffee industry," according to the website.

I ordered a blueberry pomegranate smoothie, which was light and fresh and refreshing. Not too thick or overly sweet. It could even do with a bit bolder flavor. That would be OK in my book. Grade: B

No matter where you go in the state, somebody claims to know who has the best pepperoni rolls. Many times, that place is their home. A business that no longer exists. Or a gas station. Over the years, I've heard several times that the Exxon in Glen Jean has some standout pepperoni rolls. Whilst in the area, I made a pit-stop to pick one up. They did not have any hot ones available, so I settled for a premade one with pepperjack. It was fairly dry, which may be the style or may be due to it not being fresh. Flavor was average. Melty cheese would have changed the game. Grade: B

Main Street Creamery is a '50s themed diner in Hurricane that serves up burgers, shakes and more. Inside, it is decorated like an old-fashioned diner, complete with themed decor on the walls. Their version of an ice cream blended with candy pieces is called a hurricane. I thought it was funny to have a hurricane in Hurricane. So I went with the pecan pie hurricane, which include pecans, caramel and graham cracker. I fully believe that graham cracker is an underrated ice cream topping, so I certainly enjoyed this. It was definitely on the thick side though. I also tried their Smashburger, which comes with a half-pound patty, lettuce, pickle, and smash sauce. Plus, a side of onion rings. The meal was good. The burger, I wish, was a bit thinner so it got crispy on the edges. But not bad. The onion rings are homemade and huge, and that can be hard to find. Grade: B

I recently attended an event that was catered by Hungry Bear Catering in Fayetteville. While the offerings were fairly simple - a sandwich, salad and cookie - I was impressed with the freshness of the components. Simple, but enjoyable. The salad had a base of cabbage, which I was a huge fan of. The cookie could have used more love, as it was a bit dry. Grade: B

Dave & Buster's is like a Chuck E. Cheese for adults. There are arcade games, large TVs, food, and drinks. it marks the first location in West Virginia and, they have some decent food options. "THE STORY OF DAVE & BUSTER - Yes, they're real guys! Back in the late 1970s, Buster opened a restaurant known for its tasty food and friendly service. A few doors down, Dave opened an outrageous place for entertainment and games where adults were irresistibly drawn for fun. The two young entrepreneurs noticed people rotating between their establishments, and an idea started to form: What if they put both under one roof?" according to the website. "FIRST STORE OPENS IN DALLAS, 1982 The two young men headed to "Restaurant Row" in Dallas where they found an empty 40,000 square-foot warehouse. Having been proclaimed certifiably crazy by many in the restaurant industry, Dave and Buster dove headlong into construction. With Dave’s name first because he won a coin toss, they opened the first Dave & Buster’s in December 1982." "OVER 140 D&B LOCATIONS. Each store has more state of the art games than ever, more mouthwatering menu items and the most innovative drinks anywhere. From wings to steaks, we’ve got whatever suits your appetite and our premium bar assures we’re stocked to satisfy! Plus, you can watch your game on one of our massive HDTVs with epic stadium sound." They have tons of shareable apps, wings, flatbreads, burgers, entrees and desserts. I went for the cali caesar chicken bowl but subbed steak for the chicken. It was supposed to come with guacamole, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, cucumbers, croutons and bacon. I was missing the guacamole, which was my main draw for the salad, so that was a bit of a bummer. But it was still huge and not bad. Have you eaten here before? What's the best thing?

Located in a gas station travel plaza, Mabel's Family Restaurant is a sit-down restaurant in Mt. Nebo. It gives off retro diner vibes, and the food follows suit. There is a wide selection of breakfast staples, plus a variety of lunch and dinner options. I ordered a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit to go. While the sausage and egg were average, the biscuit was thick and clearly freshly made. next time, I would just get one of those fresh biscuits with some butter and jelly and call it win. Grade: B

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Salem Apple Butter Festival. And, it was my very first in attendance. "The Salem Apple Butter Festival, founded in 1984, provides live demonstrations of old fashion apple butter making. You will see the process done outdoors using copper kettles suspended over wood fire with the tasty product and canned on the spot for visitors to purchase. Other attractions include entertainment daily, grand parade, food, crafts, celebrity auction and many contests including quilt show, the Sam Warner Memorial 5k Run, bicycle poker ride, pet show-off, talent show, car show, and corn hole tournament. The festival is a drug and alcohol free event providing family fun for all ages. There is no admission charge and all entertainment is free, as well," reads the website. Dorie's Concessions, The Sister Hibachi, Glen Elk Boys and Papa's Belly were all food vendors I would like to try! Plus many more. I'm not fully sure what the greased pig contest is, but I would love to check that out next time. My favorite part was watching folks stir the apple butter in the huge kettles. And, it's right along the rail trail so it's pretty scenic. Can't forget the dancers performing Country Roads. Have you been?

Here is my latest column for the Charleston Gazette-Mail:

Few drinks are as symbolic of southern culture as the burgundy soda found in convenience stores and gas stations across the region.

Cheerwine, a cherry-flavored soft drink, has been a staple in the Appalachian south for more than a century. Born in Salisbury, North Carolina, in 1917, the soda was created by general store owner L.D. Peeler amid a sugar shortage. He discovered he could use less sugar with the punchy cherry flavor and still deliver a delicious drink.

The effervescent beverage stood out amongst the more common colas and root beer sodas at the time. Though Cheerwine is named for its cherry hue and not for any alcoholic content, it gained immediate popularity as a refreshing, non-alcoholic alternative.

Cheerwine slowly expanded across the Appalachian region, spreading its cherry goodness into Virginia, Tennessee, West Virginia, and beyond. And in doing so, it evolved into more than just a sweet and slightly tangy drink. It became a representation of place and a point of pride.

And, its application evolved as well.

“In addition to being great on its own, Cheerwine is the most versatile soft drink around,” reads the website. “Our unique cherry taste does wonders for all types of food and drink recipes. From smoothing out hot wings to adding that great cherry flavor to brownies, the possibilities are endless”

Cheerwine’s signature sweetness and subtle tang complement a wide variety of dishes, from glazed ham to baked beans. In some parts of Appalachia, you’ll even find recipes passed down through generations that incorporate the soda, with cooks using it to marinate meats, sweeten sauces or even add to desserts.

But perhaps the most famous Cheerwine-inspired dish is barbecue sauce. The deep cherry notes are sweet, tangy, and rich; it’s a perfect match for many of the region’s traditional foods like slow-cooked pork, fried chicken and more. The barbecue sauce has gained a cult following and can be found in local restaurants as a wing flavor or paired with jalapeño poppers.

Cheerwine’s distinct flavor, history, and deep roots in the region make it a beloved icon in the region. For many in Appalachia, Cheerwine represents more than just a soft drink—it’s a connection to the past. Whether it’s sipping a bottle of Cheerwine on a front porch or passing down family recipes that incorporate the soda, there’s a sense of pride and tradition that surrounds it.