On a recent trip to the Eastern Panhandle, I stopped in Berkeley Springs for lunch. Panorama at the Peak was rated as one of the most 101 unique places to dine in West Virginia, so it seemed like a good option.
Once we got to Berkeley Springs, we began ascending a hill - and passed this cool castle! It wasn't a far drive, and all of a sudden, the trees started to open up, and I could see a nice view off to the right. We parked and took a look at the panoramic views. From this spot, you can see West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. How cool!
We parked right in front, crossed the road and entered Panorama at the Peak. We were seated near a window. The views are nice, though you can only really see the tips of the hills from inside, and there is a road that separates the restaurant from the parking area, so you have to contend with traffic, as well as people parking in front of the view.
The really cool thing about this restaurant is that the menu changes weekly. There is a huge emphasis on local foods, so they create by what is in season.
To us, it’s simple – the fresher the food, the better it tastes!Entrees aren't available until after 2 p.m., but the soups, salads and sandwiches on the back page were fair game. Options included Dad's Perfect Reuben, French Dip, Black Bean Veggie Burger, Paleo Burger, All American Burger, Lamb Burger and Crab Cake Sandwich.
Our priority is – local. When we can get local provisions, that’s what we buy. When we can’t get local – we buy USA organic. If we can’t get local and can’t get USA organic – we don’t serve it. Count on it.
The farm-to-table restaurant has been around for 10 years, so they must be doing something right. I'm sure any of the menu items would have been tasty, but I went with the French Dip: local top round of beef on toasted French bread topped with melted provolone cheese. Served au jus with horseradish cream sauce and a side of rosemary and garlic roasted potatoes.
I was excited to see my plate also came with a side of corn on the cob! What a treat. I love corn on the cob. The potatoes were OK. And the sandwich had good flavor, but it was a bit tough. I kept trying to bite down and rip the pieces away, but I kept making a mess. That led to me dipping it into more and more au jus - which isn't a bad thing! The horseradish was also pretty good. I should have tried more bites of the two together.
Overall, I liked it. It wasn't my favorite of all time, but I do absolutely love the idea of this restaurant. Local food? Paired with a beautiful view of West Virginia? You can't really go wrong.Grade: B
