Parkersburg, West Virginia, is a city that continues to grow and improve its tourism offerings. On a recent trip, I sank my teeth into six excellent meals. While many places are closed on Mondays, I did okay tasting my way through the town. Here are six Parkersburg restaurants with tasty eats I would definitely eat at again.
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Unity Cafe
Downtown Parkersburg’sUnity Cafe International Restaurant & Creperieoffers flavorful and authentic international dishes. I knew I would like it just from the looks of the outside. Inside is colorful local artwork for sale and a counter-serve area for ordering your food and drinks.
I went for breakfast, so a crepe was in my sight. Unity Cafe has an excellent representation of sweet and savory creations, available all day, plus salads, sandwiches, and waffles. I chose the Avocado Sunrise, with tomato, grilled chicken, and Swiss cheese. It was excellent!
I paired my perfectly prepared breakfast with an iced matcha. Yum! Other drink choices are smoothies, teas, frappes, and protein shakes.
Vegan and gluten-free food items are available at Unity Cafe. You can also get your food delivered via Grubhub.
Are you heading to Charleston anytime soon? Here are the best restaurants in West Virginia’s capital city.
J.P. Henry’s
J.P. Henry’sis known for its rustic and inviting atmosphere and exquisite dishes like the Smothered Chicken and the Beef Stuffed Ravioli. It reminds me of Bennigan’s, which I worked at for five years many moons ago. J.P. Henry’s ambiance is relaxed and welcoming, with a vast area of several dining rooms for guests. The bar also has attractive seating.
Menu options range from gourmet burgers to pizza. I had the chicken fingers, which satisfied my craving, while my friend had a three-course dinner. Join in on the trivia fun Wednesday evenings at 7:30 PM and live music many weekends.
The Blennerhassett Restaurant
We all know theBlennerhassett Restauranthas impeccable lodging and storied history (and even ghosts!), but did you know they also have a first-class restaurant? Enjoy indoor or outdoor dining, sip co*cktails, or enjoy your meal at the lounge bar. Regardless of where you choose, your service and meal are sure to be memorable.
Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus brunch (hello, Monte Cristo sandwiches!) on weekends starting at 9 AM, Blennerhassett Hotel’s restaurant has palate-pleasing menus featuring elevated contemporary American cuisine.
Build your own breakfast plates, a huge list of sandwiches and salads for lunch, and a wide range of desirable dishes for dinner make up the Blennerhassett menus. The iceberg wedge salad is sensational, with Applewood smoked bacon, red onion, blue cheese crumbles, and house balsamic; available in side or dinner sizes.
Two recommended plates for your main course are the Steak Au Poivre with a creamy brandy, green peppercorn, garlic Demi-glace and the Eastern Maryland crab cake. You choose two sides with each meal — I can’t cheer loud enough for the creamed jalapeño spinach and the mushroom risotto.
The Blennerhassett pie selection or vanilla bean creme brûlée is the “icing on the cake.” Reservations are suggested.
The Pizza Place
Luckily, a friend in town went to Parkersburg High and introduced us to the legendary pizza atThe Pizza Place. This restaurant, in a low-key setting, also features salads, grinders, and calzones. Go for the square NYC-style pizza with scratch-made ingredients.
I had a slice of the Italian sausage Neopolitan pizza, while my husband and friend went with pepperoni. It had been a long time since I’d had pizza like this, plus this good and greasy. It worked and was really tasty. The garlic cheese rolls are pretty superb, too.
Colombo’s Restaurant
Date night, family night, or a fancy celebration are just some reasons to visit JimmieColombo’s ItalianRestauranton 7th Street in Parkersburg. You’ll find some of the best pasta dishes in the state under this roof, where 300+ guests can comfortably be seated.
Colombo’s family-owned restaurant includes old-school favorites, or request a mix of half portions if they will do it.
On my last visit, I got lucky to try spaghetti with meat sauce and fettuccine Alfredo. They were both sensational! Another great dish I’ve had at Colombo’s is the Spaghetti Deluxe, with Italian peppers, mushrooms, meat sauce, pepperoni, and melted cheese. Entrées include garlic bread and house salad, but you can upgrade to an antipasto salad for a nominal fee.
Colombo’s is closed on Mondays.
Southern Craft
Imagine my surprise when I found a cajun/creole-based restaurant in Parkersburg. I knew I had to try it! My husband and I stopped in Southern Craft Restaurant and Bar for heavy appetizers. The restaurant is aesthetically pleasing and has a diverse clientele.
We ended up with Tchoupitoulas crab cakes, jambalaya, red beans, rice, and a nice slice of cornbread. Kudos to the chef for the red pepper aioli and remoulade sauce topping the crab cakes —it was terrific.
While I was too full to try Southern Craft’s Bananas Foster Glazed Doughnut Bread Pudding, I’m still drooling at the thought of it. Please note they are closed Sundays and Mondays.
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