Gino's is a West Virginia institution - maybe not quite as much as Tudors - but you can find them in many West Virginia towns.

Gino's features pizzas, pastas, sandwiches and other appetizers.

The menus do tend to change a little bit from location to location, and while I was here, I wanted to try a few different items.

First, I went with cheesy breadsticks (and extra marinara!). These are garlicky and buttery and delish.

Then, I tried their lasagna for the first time. This thing is packed with cheese - mozzarella and ricotta. For fast food pasta, it's not bad.

The Blennerhassett Hotel in Parkersburg is one of my favorite spots in the city. Not only does it have tales of hauntings, but it has boasted a delicious restaurant for years.

Recently, they changed it up a bit and introduced "Brunello." Brunello "features fresh ingredients, an open kitchen, pizza oven, and handmade pastas. This polished-casual dining experience is one you will not find anywhere else in the area."


"Brunello Bar features seating for up to 14 with an extensive wine list, six beers on tap, including brews from West Virginia and surrounding areas, and our drink menu, featuring classic cocktails and unique creations. Seasonally, the patio and courtyard provides an enjoyable atmosphere for dining, drinking, listening to live music, and sitting fireside at one of our new fire pits."


I was there for brunch and went with the "Smoke Salmon Bagel Platter," which had cold-smoked salmon, capers, onion, cream cheese, an everything bagel, and I opted out of the chopped egg.

And, I went for a yogurt granola parfait side.  Both of these were tasty for brunch. I'd love to go back during dinner hours and get a real feel for their Italian entrees, though.

There is a new Mediterranean restaurant in Parkersburg that is serving up gyros, shawarma, and even po' boys.

Gyro King is located on 7th Street and is a bright little space with geometric printed chairs and Mediterranean music playing.

Since gyro is in the name, I went for a gyro, as well as some hummus - two classics!

While waiting for it to finish up, I had a conversation with the owner, who is a renowned chef from Morocco who has worked all over. He's landed in West Virginia and looking to make a life for himself here.

The gyro had delicious strips of lamb with fresh lettuce, and a giant dollop of tzatziki. Easily one of the best gyros in recent memory. Fresh, flavorful and filling. The hummus was also phenomenal - it has a thicker texture (which I liked) and a bit of a kick. Flavorful and delicious.

Movies $4 Less at the LaBelle Theatre Movie Theater isn't a restaurant, no. BUT, I went with my friend Sara recently, and we got some snacks that I wanted to share.

This historic theater has recently taken on a new life as a discount movie theater. Movies that have just left the theater are played here at a steep discount - just $4 a ticket - and the concessions are all $3. Those snacks include unlimited popcorn, unlimited fountain drinks, candy, pepperoni rolls and pizza.

I went with a combo of drink, popcorn, and candy for $8. Plus my ticket at $4 - so this was a $12 visit! Sara went with some pepperoni rolls, too. I was under the impression these were regular pepperoni rolls from Gino's next door, but they're a bit more special.

They're made specifically for the theater and come in a set of four pinwheels. So, they have a nice crisp to them. Have you been yet?

It's always fun to discover a new restaurant - for me, at least. And on one of my most recent trips to Morgantown, I stumbled upon Uncle Mike's Bar-B-Que.

Located in Westover, this BBQ restaurant once started as a hot dog cart - called Summertime Hot Dogs - and has now expanded to include pulled pork, brisket, smoked kielbasa - and hot dogs.

While I do love pulled pork, I think you can almost get a better feel for a place by trying the brisket because it requires a certain finesse. So I went with a brisket platter with sides of Mike's Mountain Man Beans and potato salad (forgot my cornbread, so I'll have to try that next time).


The flavor of the brisket was great. There were some burnt end pieces of bark, which were nice. Admittedly, the owner said the trainees need a bit more work with slicing the brisket. But as long as it tastes good, I'm happy. And those pork & beans had a bit of heat, but they were good. The potato salad was tasty, too, though those carrots are a bit crunchier than I'd like. Overall, a good plate.