My good friend Tom and I were in the mood for some sushi, so we checked out Sakura in Cross Lanes for something different.



Sakura has a little bit of everything - hibachi, sushi, udon, etc.



They have about 30 specialty rolls, but I decided to go with the namesake Sakura: tempura shrimp, spicy tuna, cream cheese, avocado deep fried and topped with crunchies, eel sauce, mayo and spicy mayo.







Crab rangoons are a must everywhere I go. These were creamy!



Gyoza, on Tom's request.



Sakura Roll is totally deep-fried.



West Virginia Roll - tempura shrimp, avocado, cream cheese, topped with tempura crab meat, spicy mayo and eel sauce.

What's your favorite item on the menu?

Bellissimo is a fairly new restaurant in the Belle/Dupont City area that has gotten a lot of attention recently after having been featured in the local newspaper.



This small space has been packed lately, but we went after the crowd died down to try a few things.



The menu is pretty large - with everything from pizza and pasta to burgers and gyros.



Pepperoni roll









Medium pizza with half mushrooms, half pepperoni



Breadsticks

Who doesn't love a good Chinese buffet? This one, located in South Charleston, is large and commanding of attention with a bright orange facade.



You actually pay up front and take your receipt to the hostess, who then seats you.





Always a snake.



Honey chicken is always a go-to.



Crab cheese rangoons on the corner there.



Coconut chicken, stuffed mushrooms, and breaded clam shells always dominate my plate.



Sushi, too.





Have you been?

The Winter Blues Farmers Markets are always fun - there's now one in Morgantown and one in Charleston. Tons of vendors come together - everything from local fruits and vegetables to JQ Dickinson Salt-Works and maple cotton candy



The West Virginia Hot Dog promotion has always been cool to me. West Virginia hot dogs are chili, slaw, mustard and onions. And, this promotion aims to showcase the iconic hot dog by sourcing all local ingredients. I finally got a chance to try it, so I was super excited!

After a quick shopping trip at Southridge, I was looking around to see a locally owned restaurant for lunch and quickly found Pizza Barbarossa.



The restaurant was very busy on the day I went, but I was still in and out pretty quickly.



The menu features a good variety of pastas, pizzas, calzones and more.





Grilled bread



Pasta carbonara with fettuccine - baked with extra cheese on top

Have you been?