Smokin' J's Rib and Brewhouse opened a new location in Morgantown recently at the Holiday Inn on Pineview Road. It is a large and modern space with a central bar and plenty of seating. But, I think because it is in the hotel, the restaurant fades to the background sometimes. When I visited recently with a friend, it wasn't very busy inside. The menu features ribs and other barbecue dinners, as well as beer-battered dinners.

"Smokin' J's uses a unique slow-smoking and cooking process. Our process tends to leave our Meats - Ribs, Chicken, Pork and Beef pinkish or reddish in color even though they are completely and thoroughly cooked. When you see this coloring it is the flavor of our Meats and why they taste so good," reads the website.

I ordered a half rack of ribs plus macaroni and cheese and broccoli salad.

"Our ribs, imported from Denmark, are the highest grade available. Our Ribs are selected by weight, age and meat content. Ribs, like all animals, vary in size and shape. We try very hard to make each portion correct in weight even though they may visually vary in size and shape. Mother Nature created these differences and we work with them the best we can."

The mac & cheese was drowning in a sauce that tasted overly processed. The broccoli salad could've marinated a bit more. But the ribs were tasty. I liked the tangy sauce, and the ribs pulled away from the bone fairly easily. Grade: B

Koba Cafe in Vienna offers Vietnamese and Korean food, in addition to bubble tea.



They have a little bit of everything - from fish cakes and wings to pho and kalbi.



I started with pork belly bao buns. They were served with jalapenos, cilantro and house sauce. I will always order these when I see them on a menu, because I love the bun itself. it is what I imagine biting into a cloud would taste like. But these had a bright, punchy flavor.



My bubble tea was the brown sugar flavor with boba - my favorite. It was very creamy.



Finally, I'm always searching for the high of a homemade bulgogi I once enjoyed with a friend's family. Koba Cafe's version had a nice sweet and salty flavor, but it wasn't quite as tender as I would have liked. I enjoyed it with rice and kimchi, nonetheless.



Grade: B

The Grill on Third is a steakhouse in Huntington that opened in the last year or so.



They offer brunch, soups, salads, handhelds, pasta, chicken, seafood and, of course, steak.



I started with the "Cremini-Boursin Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms" basted in herb-garlic butter and topped with toasted panko breadcrumbs. Give me a juicy mushroom stuffed with cheese any day.



Next was Steak Diane - prime angus sirloin medallions with brandy cream reduction, cremini mushrooms, caramlized onions and served with brussel sprouts with bacon, caramelized onions and balsamic reduction. Plus a side of fresb herb creamy risotto with shaved parmesan. Because it was a to-go order, it's not the most beautiful presentation. But it was very flavorful.



Grade: A

Cosmo was a high-end lounge in Morgantown that I visited just before it closed.



It certainly catered more to the nightlife vibe, with dim lights and a giant colorful bar. But the food is what drew us in.



My friend Kayla and I visited for a very early dinner and split a few appetizers. There was a good selection - from nibbles and small plates to entrées and desserts.



We tried the crab artichoke toast, which was tasty but I wanted it even creamier. The truffle fries had a trio of yummy sauces: curry ketchup, salsa brava and roasted garlic aïoli.



The cheesesteak eggrolls were not bad. They came with shaved ribeye, caramelized onions, peppers, provolone cheese, and a horseradish sour cream.



But the undisputed winner of the evening was by far the General Tso's cauliflower. I had very little interest in this, but once I took a bite of the super crunchy cauliflower and that delicious sweet and sour sauce, I was sold. I realize the sauce is really what I love about this dish, and the chicken is more of a vehicle, and it's often not that great of a texture. The crunchy cauliflower texture is perfection.



Grade: B

Drive-in restaurants are a relic of a bygone era. West Virginia is home to several in southern West Virginia. Maria's Drive In in Delbarton has been around since 2017 and is known for their hotdogs.

So, I pulled up to the building, lightly tapped my horn, and a cheerful server popped out to take my order. I ordered a classic chili, slaw, mustard and onion hotdog. this was a good hotdog. I liked that the chili had a bit of substance to it, though mild. And the slaw was fairly fine so there was a good bit of everything in every bite. Grade: B