There are few things I love more than a giant bowl of pasta. I don't think I'm ever not in the mood for pasta.



Padrino's Italian Restaurant in Beaver came across my screen a little while ago while searching for restaurants in the area. Initially, I thought I had already been there because there is a Beckley restaurant with the same name. 



I later learned these two aren't related, but I didn't know that at the time. The interior had that general Italian restaurant flare - like painted windows with planter window boxes and cobblestone bricks. 



I ordered a pasta dish, which comes with garlic bread. These were a little on the hard side, but not overcooked. Maybe just a bit old. 



The dish, I believe, was a ziti, but made with penne noodles. Either way, it wasn't bad. The sauce was average - not super flavorful. And I would've loved some ricotta mixed throughout, instead of just the melted mozzarella on top. Not bad overall, though,

Grade: B

Hinton is a lovely little hidden gem in West Virginia.



There are stunning views, cute shops and a few tasty restaurants.



When I was there last, I checked out River City Grill & Pub.



The interior is wood paneled with pool tables and TVs. It definitely gives off a pub vibe.



But the outdoor space is where it's at. A large deck overseeing the water is the perfect place to enjoy a meal. If it's not too hot. 



I ordered a tomato appetizer, which was topped with cheese. Because they were packaged to-go, they got a little mooshy, but I still ate them.



Also had a hot dog. With ketchup and onions. Not bad. Overall, fine food - but the view is what you're here for.

Grade: B

I don't ever remember spending any time at the Highlands area of Wheeling growing up, but as an adult, I have visited a few times to check it out.



Mostly, as you could've guessed, to check out new restaurants. 



There are a number of chains, but there are also a handful of locally owned places - including a DiCarlo's, Mexican restaurant and a hibachi restaurant.



My parents and I went to Fusion Steakhouse, a hibachi restaurant that features a teppanyaki, which is a Japanese style of cooking on a griddle right in front of you. It's like a meal with a show. 



This location is connected to ones in Morgantown, Parkersburg, Washington PA, and Grove City, Ohio.



But we went a more low-key route and just dined in the main dining room. We started with some vegetable tempura, which I really liked the squash or pumpkin they had in there! 



We also tried their "Chicken Zingers," which were deep-fried bite-sized pieces of white meat chicken covered in their tari sweet & sour sauce. These were a classic sweet and sour dish that was a satisfying bite. 



My mom went with some hibachi steak, which she enjoyed and had leftovers for days.



And dad went with a General Tso's Chicken, which is always a classic. Crisp, tender, spicy, tangy sauce.

 
And I went with some cream cheese wontons and a sushi roll: a california roll topped with shrimp tempura and eel and spicy mayo sauce. So tasty. 



I like the comforting reliability of this hibachi chain, and they have enough of a variety to appease a number of appetites. On this day, everything was tasty and fresh, and I left happy and full.

Grade: A

In 2017, the United States produced 148 million pounds of honey. West Virginia totaled 240,000 pounds of honey in 2017, an increase of 80,000 pounds from the previous year. Honey has become a staple of the local food movement because its distinctive taste is based on  its origin. The focus on local foods and the role of restaurants in tourism have supported growth in the honey market. In addition, as health food trends supporting natural sweeteners have become more popular, the “pure” nature of honey has made it more of a mainstay in the sweetener market. Groups like the Appalachian Beekeeping Collective, which train new  beekeepers to become entrepreneurs, have been useful in getting coal miners back to work.



There are so many great honeys that come from the Mountain State that I want to try them all.



Do you know a producer who has product for sale? Who else do I need to add to this list? 

Big Draft Brewing is one of the newer breweries in the Mountain State. Say that five times fast.



My boyfriend and I went out this way not too long ago to check out sunflower fields, and we stopped by this brewery for some dinner. 



"Big Draft Brewing is a purpose-driven, community-centered brewery producing exceptional beer with integrity and artistry. Making beer is an art. Drinking beer is an event."



They're part of a larger revitalization of the community that encompasses a few different businesses, but let's focus here first. On the beer. And food. 



We ordered a sampler to check out a few different styles. I liked the saison and the sour wheat ale best. They were crisp and refreshing on a warm day. I see they have a "BELLINI BERLINERWEISSE," which I definitely want to try next. 



Next up was some grub, starting with beef short rib flat bread that had caramelized onions, mashed potatoes, horseradish and arugula. 



I'm pretty sure if you put horseradish on anytime at this point, I'll eat it. Mashed potatoes on a flat bread? I'm here for it. Give me something different, and it makes me happy. A nice meld of flavors.



For my entree, I went with a burger. 



The black & bleu burger has a seasoned 8oz mountain steer beef, blue cheese, caramelized onions, cajun aioli, pretzel bun. I ordered some beer cheese and sweet potato fries on the side. Yum, yum and yum. Not a bad bite in sight. 

Grade: A