Plaza Maya II, located at the end of Kanawha City, is the second branch of the popular Plaza Maya restaurant, which is on the other side of town.



Known for its authentic Mexican food, the restaurant serves a wide variety of dishes, with favorites like tamale-stuffed chile relleno and chicken soup, alongside complimentary homemade chips and salsa. The chips were crisp and the salsa fresh with a mild kick.



My main dish was "SEAFOOD CHIMICHANGA - One flour tortilla filled with crab meat and shrimp cooked with vegetables and covered with melted cheese. Served with rice." The seafood chimichanga was satisfying, with tender crab and shrimp tucked into a soft tortilla, balanced by gooey melted cheese and a side of fluffy, spiced rice.



Grade: B

Known for its train-themed décor and casual, hometown vibe, the Whistle Stop Bar and Grill in Buckhannon serves up classic bar and grill fare like juicy burgers, wings, BBQ, pulled pork, and hearty sandwiches. The spot doubles as a bar, offering drink specials and occasionally live music. It has even earned recognition in Upshur County as “Best Bar & Grill, Wings & BBQ." I ordered buffalo chicken wonton nachos with drizzle of ranch & buffalo sauce. This ginormous portion was delicious, even aa the bottom chips began to get soggy. The "railyard stacks" were a bit messy to look at but undoubtedly divine. Five fried green tomatoes loaded with bacon, pimento cheese, ranch & sweet sauce drizzle. A bit of a struggle to eat, but worth it. Grade: B

Boba Tea & TCG in Oak Hill is a unique shop that combines bubble tea with trading card games like Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and Disney Lorcana. Bright displays of trading cards and collectibles set the tone for the big, open gathering space. Walking past all of this, I approached the Boba counter and perused the menu of fruity and milky tea options, plus tapioca or popping boba. The West Virginia Sunset is a blend of lemonade and sweet tea with peach and lemon popping boba. I do not enjoy sweet tea, but my boba-rista said that she doesn't either, but enjoys this drink when it's heavier on the lemonade side. So, she made mine how she likes hers. And it was delightful. Sweet, a little tart, and all delicious. I took it uo go, but if the setting was a bit more cozy, I would have enjoyed it there. Grade: B

ABC Coffee Shop is located on the campus of Appalachian Bible College in Mount Hope. The shop serves up coffee - hot, iced or frozen - with a variety of flavored syrups and limited snack options. I ordered a hot chocolate, which was rich and velvetty in all the best ways. I also ordered a sugar cookie cake cup from Bloomy Baker. This one had pumpkin buttercream, which wasn't bad. I would have loved some exciting flavor options. Grade: B

Mizu Sushi & Hibachi, located at 102 Lakeview Drive in Parkersburg, is a Japanese restaurant offering sushi, sashimi, hibachi, and other kitchen entrées. One unique feature is their "All You Can Eat Sushi & Hibachi - $22.99 per person." Like a buffet concept, but made to order. I ordered a deep-fried sushi roll filled with crab and egg, as well as some General Tso's chicken. The deep-fried sushi roll was a bit soggy on the outside, but I enjoyed the rich, savory filling of crab and egg. The General Tso’s chicken was sweet and tangy with a sticky sauce that clung well to the pieces, though it leaned slightly on the sugary side. Grade: B