5 Best Restaurants in West Virginia, USA

A great spot to stop for a beer and an inexpensive, healthy bite to eat, this bohemian café offers a menu built around salads, burgers, and relatively nutritious pub fare—think hummus plates and artichoke dips. There are tons of vegetarian options and a decent selection of gluten-free items, all of which are clearly marked. If you visit in the summer, try to get a seat on the back patio—it overlooks a pretty garden with a stream running through. Not that sitting inside is so bad: the interiors are interestingly done up with whimsical art and an array of differently shaped blue glass bottles.

If you want hearty, authentic German fare, but don’t want to deal with jet lag or expensive plane tickets, the Bavarian Inn is as good as it gets this side of the Atlantic. There are four dining rooms at the inn, each of which serves American and German dishes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Popular pan-German dishes include Wiener schnitzel, sauerkraut, and sausages; it also has dishes specific to Bavaria, including schweinebraten (roast pork) and sauerbraten (marinated beef). Every autumn sees the inn’s wild-game festival, during which special meats such as wild boar and antelope are served.

The dining is formal in this large, elegant hall with crystal chandeliers and exquisite artwork and drapery. Breakfast is served buffet style and includes pancakes, fresh fruit, and a variety of regional specialties. Dinner is served in two cycles; mains include wild mushroom Wellington and lemon sole and lobster paupiette. For dessert, try the coconut pound cake served with vanilla ice cream and hot fudge or peaches with whipped cream and raspberry coulis. Overnight guests on a breakfast-and-dinner dining package take their meals here.

One of the swankier spots in town, the Press Room adds a modern touch to traditional American and Italian fare. While specials change throughout the year depending on the availability of fresh ingredients, you can generally expect to find pasta, pâté, and a selection of seafood options on the menu at any given time. The restaurant is housed in an 18th-century redbrick building and features sunny interiors with lots of booth seating. It’s very popular with visitors from nearby Washington, D.C., and it’s a good idea to reserve your table well in advance, especially if you’re coming on a weekend.

Named after former NBA superstar and native West Virginian Jerry West, the Greenbrier’s Prime 44 West features fine dining against a backdrop of dark wood and basketball memorabilia. The dinner menu here focuses heavily on steaks and chops, but there are plenty of options for those who want something lighter. The chef’s specials include lobster tail, trout, peach, tea-rubbed chicken breast, and homemade gnocchi; chicken fingers and roasted chicken feature on the kids’ menu. For dessert, you can choose between Grand Marnier crème brûlée, house-made ice cream, or Italian cream cake with coconut icing, a special recipe shared with the restaurant by Jerry West’s wife Karen.