Cacapon Mountain Brewing is one of the newest breweries in the state - and I might say, it's also one of the most beautiful.



Located in Berkeley Springs, this space has sky-high ceilings, tabletops, metal accents and lovely greenery all throughout. It is clean, modern, yet cozy. 



When I went, it was not too busy - but that's also because we're in the middle of a pandemic. I put in an order for pork carnitas, which were garnished with white onion, cilantro, a lime wedge and came with a side of green or red salsa. These were more in a traditional vein and were tasty. I prefer mine with a heavy spritz of the lime.



Their tap list includes a helles, dry Irish stout, session IPA, hazy pale ale, Czech pilsner, Belgian pale ale and English pub ale. I went home with a growler of the Poor Tom - English Pub Ale - Brewed with Golden Promise malt and Goldings, Fuggle and Celeia hops for a light yet deeply malty ale with earthy and fruity notes from the hops and yeast. This was good - light and more malty than hoppy (which is my preference). 



Have you been? What has been your favorite?

Grade: A

While passing through Ansted, I approached Dixie's Drive-In. This drive-in restaurant is named after the owners' late golden retriever. While the name "Dixie" is often associated with the Confederacy, I was happy to see cute drawings of the pup, rather than flags, adorning the building.



When I pulled into a parking space, it seemed like the restaurant was pretty busy - there were lines of people at the ordering and pick-up windows. It didn't appear they were offering carside service, which is a bummer because I think that's part of the charm of a "drive in" restaurant.



But as I approached the window to order, it was clear the restaurant is still "drive in" in concept - with milkshakes, sundaes, cones, and sandwiches, hot dogs, and burgers. I ordered a cookie dough sundae and after a bit of a wait, my number was called and the "Dixie Blast" (aka Blizzard) was in my hands.



They don't skimp, that's for sure. My cup was filled to the brim, and on this hot day, it hit the spot. It was melty before I left the lot, but you can't really go wrong with ice cream. Overall, a nice treat.

Grade: B

When I think of White Sulphur Springs, I tend to think of The Greenbrier.



But, lately, there have been some new businesses opening that are helping to set White Sulphur Springs apart from that standard association.



There's a block of buildings on Main Street that is now home to a couple restaurants, an event space, and a brewery with an outdoor beer garden.



My first stop at this complex was at The Local Cafe. This coffee shop has ice cream, as well as some grab-and-go sandwiches and salads. 



I ordered the Appalachian Affogato, which is a scoop of your choice of ice cream and a shot of hot espresso over top. Typically, you'd eat this with a spoon, but since we were heading out of town, I got mine in a to-go cup and enjoyed this sort-of coffee milkshake. I like my coffee on the sweet side, so I was all about this combination.



I also tried an apple coffee cake pastry, which was okay. I arrived at the end of the day, so it was a bit more dry than I'd love. But, it would be perfect for dipping into coffee. If my coffee wasn't already floating in ice cream.



Have you been here yet?



Grade: A

There are quite a few Sam's Hot Dog Stand locations in southern West Virginia that serve up steamed buns, all-beef hot dogs, chili and slaw to make the iconic West Virginia hot dog. The most recent Sam's location that I discovered is in Point Pleasant. It's located in a small strip with a few other businesses. I actually didn't go inside, but rather went through the drive through. It was odd, though, that there wasn't a menu posted outside to order from. 



I knew what I wanted anyway - the traditional WV slawdog. The bun was less steamed and more hard. Maybe stale? Maybe a previous toast? Either way, I like the steamed bun, and this one had a bit more slaw than I'd love. Overall, though, still a good version of a slawdog. Flavorful chili, good slaw consistency, not bad.

Grade: B

Main Street Grill in is a hidden gem in Romney. The Romney location is actually the second branch of the restaurant Main Street Diner, with the original being in Slanesville - but I haven't had a chance to visit that one, yet. 



This space is really cool. From the outside, it looks like five different buildings that abut one another and have a specialty: soda shoppe, seafood, grill, steaks, pasta. 



When you arrive inside, it's one large space. But the menu does reflect those various options - and even more than that, including "China Town Bowls," "Skillet Sensations," wings, wraps, etc. 



We got started with a fresh mini loaf of bread and a dab of butter. Mmm-mmm. Buttery, full of gluten and just a hint of sweetness.



Then, my milkshake was delivered. This caramel milkshake was everything. Why isn't this in the standard lineup along with chocolate, vanilla and strawberry everywhere?



I ordered a crab cake so I could try something from the seafood section. It had some decent flavor, though I tend to love mine with a nice crisp crust on the outside. And giant chunks of white crab meat. The remoulade had a slight kick, which was nice.



For my entree, I went with "General Tso's Chicken" - Everything's on Main Street... Boneless breaded chicken breast tossed in General Tso Sauce with broccoli and rice. It's not every day you find a Chinese-American dish at a place that doesn't focus on that cuisine, so I was interested. And, it was very good. The meat was white and moist - no stringy or gristley bits. I also love long bites of broccoli. And then that sauce drips down in the white rice, creating my favorite part. Overall, a very tasty meal.

Grade: A