Taste of WV

If this is your first trip to WV, then you're in for a treat when it comes to unique local foods. While there are plenty of chain restaurants (Olive Garden, Texas Roadhouse, Chili’s, etc.), we’re providing choices that are unique to the area. There's too much to try if you're only in for the day, but we urge you to try at least one thing from the list and get a taste of West Virginia fare. 

Italian Heritage

Before we jump into the list, here’s a quick note about WV and its great Italian dining.  Many people in North Central West Virginia have Italian lineage, some estimate as much as 20% of the local population. The reason stems from Italian Americans relocating to WV for coal mining opportunities in the 1800s. As a result, many families created their own versions of Italian dishes that have become regional to North Central West Virginia. 

Without further ado, we present our list of the best things to eat and drink in and around Morgantown:

10. Local Upscale Dining

Have a little extra cash to spend? Check out some of Morgantown’ pricier restaurants for great quality and service.

Regatta Bar and Grill

Stefano’s Restaurant

The Vintage Room

Sargasso

Heritage Room at the Ramada

Café Bacchus

Madeline’s

Synergy Chophouse

Maxwell’s (Not as pricey, but interesting menu).

9. Varsity Club

The Varsity Club is a sports bar located close to the stadium that has a large menu and an even larger selection of beer. Deemed "The Home of the MountainBeers”.

Dairy Cream Corner, Fairmont WV

8. Dairy Cream Corner

Dairy Cream Corner, just down I-79 in Fairmont, is a little dive that has not only excellent value desserts, but also some very tasty grub (including most of the items on this list that are unique to WV). Stop by and ask for a large ice cream if you dare. Disclaimer: it will likely melt before you finish it—yes, it’s that large.

7. The CID-wich

You'll find this monstrosity at Colasante’s Ristorante. Not for the faint of heart, this ridiculous “sandwich” is a choice of sirloin steak, grilled chicken, or ham stuffed between two slices of pizza bread with lettuce, tomato, and mayo served with fries, all for $6.49. Very unique and very delicious!

6. Colasessano's Pizza

Colasessano's Pizza

Think you’ve had thick pizza? Not if you haven’t tried Colasessano’s. We’ve had a lot of pizza, but never any like this. In fact, their boxes say “The secret is in the dough”. We don’t know the secret, but we know that this is one unique place you won’t want to pass over. They have locations in Morgantown and Fairmont. And, there’s another delectable menu item at Colasessano’s that shows up later on the list…(hint, it starts with "pepper")

5. Black Bear

Black Bear is a very unique local restaurant that serves fresh, affordable food with a wonderful atmosphere in downtown Morgantown.  They also have microbrews.  When possible, they use ingredients grown in WV. From the website:

“We are an innovative small business providing a wide range of ethnic cuisines prepared using the freshest ingredients served in a unique Appalachian atmosphere that embraces the cultures, arts and music of West Virginia as well as Morgantown.”

4. Hot dogs with "sauce"

Yann's hot dogs

It’s not chili; it’s hot dog sauce. It is native to Fairmont, and the best is at Yann’s—a small shack in downtown Fairmont that seats about half a dozen people. If you’ve ever been to Geno’s in Philly to order an original cheese steak, then you know there are rules to ordering. Well, there are rules here too, but it’s not that complicated. Just don’t ask for ketchup, slaw, sauerkraut, or cheese--the owner has been compared to the Soup Nazi, and will kick you out! Southern West Virginians can't believe the absence of coleslaw (a classic WV topping), but this is the way it's done locally in Mountaineer country.
The hotdogs are 85 cents and come with mustard, onions, and sauce. Warning: the sauce is HOT.  The sauce is what makes North Central WV hot dogs unique. Other places have chili, but nowhere else has sauce like this. If you can’t make it to Yann’s, there are several other places (like Dairy Cream Corner) that have sauce as well. Wherever you go, make sure to order two hot dogs with chocolate milk to drink—that’s how the locals do it.

3. Beer and drinks.

Morgantown is known for its beer brewing and drinking. If you want to find a great local brew, have a cold one and wings, or drink a cocktail or two, check out some of the places below:

Mario's Fish Bowl

Morgantown Brewing Company

Morgantown Brewing Company. Local beer brewery with a food menu too. This beer is also served in the stadium.

Mario’s Fishbowl: Beer the size of a fishbowl. ‘Nuff said.  People usually leave notes on the wall when they first visit, including some local legends…Holgorsen, ahem.

Kegler’s Sports Bar & Lounge : Good beer and wings. Connected to a bowling alley.
Vintner Valley : Is wine more of your thing? Head over here for some wine and apps.

Get a beer at the stadium. Why? Because you can!

Morgantown Bars. There are plenty of bars and clubs offering nightlife, beer, and drinks.

2. Italian

You’re not going to find restaurants as expensive as those in the Little Italy sections of larger cities, but what you will find is a unique blend of Italian cuisine created by the Italian population in North Central WV over the past century. Everyone has their favorite when it comes to Italian, but here is our list of the best:

Muriale’s Italian Restaurant and Catering, Fairmont, WV. Only about 20 minutes south of Morgantown, this restaurant is the best of the pack and well worth the drive. Everything from authenticity to atmosphere and service to value is top notch. The owner, Rocco Muriale, is almost always on hand. As a total WV Italian dining experience, it can’t be beat. While everything is great, you’ll be surprised by just how good the basics are: spaghetti and meatballs, salad with house dressing, Italian bread made in-house. 

Oliverio’s Ristorante, Morgantown and Bridgeport, WV

Puglioni’s Pasta & Pizza, Morgantown, WV

Minard’s Spaghetti Inn, Clarksburg, WV

1. Pepperoni Rolls

The number one, absolute must-try dish for visiting fans is the Fairmont, WV original pepperoni roll.  There’s no food that is more uniquely West Virginian, and you can’t say you’ve experience a trip to WVU without one. And before you say "been there, done that", many people erroneously mistake a pepperoni roll for a calzone or stromboli. This is a huge mistake! Pepperoni rolls never contain pizza sauce, and they never contain any Italian meat other than pepperoni. 

So, what is it then? Well, it’s essentially pepperoni baked into homemade bread dough with optional toppings including cheese, sauces, and Italian peppers. Its sounds simple, and it is. But it packs huge flavor and is great for a practically any type of meal: snack, lunch, or casual dinner. If you opt for the original with no toppings, it’s a great portable snack that can be carried with you throughout the day (which by the way is how they got their start—coal miners needed an easy, long-lasting lunch food). But as simple as it sounds, the pepperoni roll can vary in so many ways from the type of pepperoni (stick, slice, ground) to the toppings and level of spiciness. A little change can make a big difference, and each variation creates a multitude of combinations. Remember the hot dog sauce? Several local restaurants put that on as well.

The original

With so many varieties and places that serve these delights, it’s hard to say which is the best. Try any you want (this is all you need to know), but here’s our suggestion:

Birthplace of the pepperoni roll

The original. Of course, with anything, you should always try the original. In this case, that’s the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont, WV. You can pick these up in area grocery stores, but if you want to best experience, stop by the bakery and pick up a fresh batch.

Colasessano’s Pepperoni Roll. On the opposite end of the pepperoni roll spectrum, is Colasessano’s variety loaded with everything (meat sauce, provolone, and Italian peppers). This hoagie-sized roll is larger than most, so come hungry.

Colasessano's with everything
(note the chocolate milk)

We feel that if you try the two varieties above, you’ll have a good indication of the kinds of pepperoni rolls that are out there. But don’t stop there! Check out grocery stores and gas stations for different varieties, including some that have pepper jack cheese or sourdough bread.

One last tip: try Oliverio's Italian peppers (made in Clarksburg, WV) on your pepperoni roll to add even more flavor. They are also a very tasty addition to pasta sauce or on a hamburger fresh off the grill. 

Up next: Home Away From Home, where to stay while you're in town.

Or back to the guide.