Southern Craft Restaurant & Bar in Parkersburg, West Virginia, offers a refined take on Southern and Cajun cuisine inspired by the owners’ years spent living in Louisiana The menu highlights made-from-scratch dishes such as gumbo, shrimp and grits, Cajun red snapper, and lobster mac and cheese, alongside decadent desserts like bread pudding with homemade rum sauce. The fettuccine arrives in a glossy, rich cream-sauce base, lush with lobster-bisque-like warmth but grounded by a subtle Cajun heat that lingers on the tongue. Generous lumps of crab meat are interspersed through the wide ribbons of pasta, offering pockets of sweet shellfish that contrast nicely with the velvety sauce. The texture hits well: the pasta is al dente, the crab firm but tender, and the sauce coats everything without feeling too heavy—just enough richness to satisfy without overwhelming. The jambalaya has a bold Cajun heat that lingers just enough to remind you it’s Southern-Creole, but it never overwhelms the other elements. The sausage adds a savory, slightly spicy punch, while the tender proteins and vegetables contribute mellow warmth and color. The dish is hearty and comforting — think home-style with a refined twist. Have you been? Grade: A

Gustard’s Bistro, located at 759 E Main Street in White Sulphur Springs, is a locally owned restaurant led by chef Stephen Gustard and partner Delphine Houssin. Gustard, a Johnson & Wales University graduate and former Greenbrier Resort chef, opened the restaurant as part of the town’s growing downtown dining scene. The bistro features a menu influenced by French cuisine and built around locally sourced ingredients from farms such as Arbaugh Farm and Mountain Steer. Menu offerings include dishes such as steak frites, chicken pot pie, fish and chips, and house-made fettuccine with meatballs. I ordered the Grilled Coulotte Steak, which comes with brown butter gnocchi, smoked gouda, baby arugula and red pepper relish. The grilled Coulotte steak was well-cooked, tender, and full of flavor, pairing nicely with the nutty brown butter gnocchi. However, the gnocchi could have benefited from more sauce to bring the elements together. The smoked gouda, served in large chunks, added strong flavor but overpowered the balance at times. The baby arugula and red pepper relish provided a fresh contrast, helping to lighten the richness of the dish.

Grade: B

Mountain Charm in Alum Creek is a boutique-style vendor marketplace that features more than 45 local vendors under one roof. They offer a mix of handmade and upscale goods, including jewelry, candles, sweets, home décor and artisan crafts. Some of the food ones include: Pauley's Homemade Creative Queen Boutique Heaven View Farms Erin’s Magic Mountain Blissful Bites Kara’s Treats & Sweets Heaven View Bakery Sunrise Bakery Sugar Maple Buddies

Big Bite Restaurant in Princeton, West Virginia, is located at 1210 Stafford Drive and opened in April 2023 with the goal of bringing a “big city feel” to the area. Owned by Tarek Abdelwahed, the restaurant offers a wide-ranging menu influenced by Mediterranean flavors, featuring everything from pasta and seafood to burgers, subs and pitas. The shrimp scampi is a generous portion of fettuccine tangled with sautéed onions and bell peppers, all in a little bit of buttery garlic scampi sauce. It’s a comforting meal that's basic and could use some zhuzh. A side crab cake delivered a mild seafood sweetness with subtle seasoning - all in a thick, fried breading. Grade: C

Rivertown Café in Marlinton, West Virginia, is a cozy eatery located at 309 8th Street in the historic C.J. Richardson Hardware building. The space retains the charm of its hardware-store past, with original wood shelving, high ceilings, and a welcoming atmosphere complete with couches, a fireplace, and a free library corner. The menu features fresh, creatively prepared sandwiches like chicken salad, shrimp burgers, and pulled-chicken barbecue, often served with popcorn or plantain chips, along with global-inspired weekly specials. Homemade baked goods include cookies, mini cheesecakes, and flan that are all local favorites, and the coffee is roasted nearby in Hillsboro. I enjoyed an opossum sugar cookie and their Bagels and Lox - Toasted Bagel with Butter or Cream Cheese, Smoked Salmon, Capers, and Red Onions. This was flavorful, with silky salmon and tangy cream cheese, though the bagel is a bit too toasted, adding more crunch than ideal. Grade: B