Photo by Adventures on the Gorge.
By Maggie Matsko
Smokey’s Steakhouse may have opened as an a la carte restaurant in 2017, but this memorable dining destination has a long-standing history nestled above the New River Gorge. The restaurant, which is part of Adventures on the Gorge (AOTG), was originally named after Dana “Smokey” Morton, bus driver extraordinaire, who came to Class-VI River Runners in 1979 when the company purchased a bus from Oak Hill City Lines. Morton passed away in 1988, but his legend lives on through this Fayetteville favorite, which is home to delicious food and breath-taking views.
At Smokey’s Steakhouse, patrons find a one-of-a-kind dining experience. The timber frame construction of the building gives guests a rustic feel while the seating available on the outside deck brings out the natural environment and laid-back atmosphere.
The views are not the only thing that draw a crowd to Smokey’s—the gourmet food combined with friendly service makes every meal remarkable. Smokey’s offers a large breakfast buffet with a house-baked bread display, make-your-own waffle station and vast selection of breakfast staples, sure to please even the pickiest of eaters.
Beginning at 5 p.m., patrons can make selections from Smokey’s dinner menu. To begin their meal, guests can choose from delectable appetizers such as the Lump Crab Spoon Bread and Fried Pork Lollipops. With popular entrees such as the Peach Tea Rubbed Quail, Corn and Sun-Dried Tomato Crusted Rainbow Trout and the restaurant’s signature bone-in ribeye steak, every guest will be sure to find something that satisfies their taste buds. Ending the evening on a sweet note, the dessert menu showcases a flourless chocolate torte, apple cobbler with vanilla bean ice cream and a cheesecake of the day. Guests can also enjoy a glass of wine from Smokey’s diverse wine list, a classic cocktail or a non-alcoholic beverage from the full bar.
Another great aspect of Smokey’s menu is that it caters to Appalachian cuisine while featuring locally sourced
ingredients such as ramps, morels, maple syrup and salt from JQ Dickinson Salt-Works. All steaks prepared at Smokey’s are Certified Angus Beef, as well.
The mastermind behind Smokey’s memorable menu is Steven Halliday, the executive chef at AOTG. Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Halliday was previously at The Greenbrier, where he was executive sous chef and chairman of the resort’s apprenticeship program. He has also held culinary positions at Prime 44 West, VOLT and Bedford Springs Resort.
Since his hiring, Halliday has been dedicated to improving the quality of the ingredients, the taste and the presentation of the food served at Smokey’s. That is why every dish is as fresh and locally sourced as possible. He is driven to perfection by his love for cooking and getting to see the guests’ reactions to his creations.
“Besides loving to cook and loving to teach others, I consider it a gift and an honor to see the look of pure joy when they have tasted something that came from the heart,” he says. “I believe cooking feeds the soul of the chef as well as the guests who are eating.”
Smokey’s Steakhouse is also available to accommodate weddings, meetings and conferences year-round. The restaurant is not open during the winter months, but during the off-season, it hosts a variety of themed events such as tastings, five-course dinner pairings, holiday brunches and parties. The most popular of these is the murder mystery dinners, for which guests register in advance and are assigned characters from the game. Arriving in costume, the guests work the room, gaining insight into the other players. Dinner is served as small-plate options throughout the night while the mystery is being solved.
Smokey’s Steakhouse holds its open season from May 15 to October 21. Breakfast is served from 7-10 a.m. while dinner hours are held 5-9 p.m. Reservations are strongly encouraged. To book a reservation or learn more about event opportunities, call (855) 379-8738 or visit www.adventuresonthegorge.com.
2 Comments
My name is Don Brown. I teach welding at Mercer County Technical Center. I live in Monroe County. My hobby is wood and iron. My latest project is something you may be interested in. I took the leaf springs from a ’57 Pontiac Super Chief. some rebar, scrap channel iron, A slab of raw edge ash, and turned it into a beautiful bar-height table that almost looks exactly like the gorge bridge. If you would be interested get hold of me for details. Thanks. I love your place. It’s fitting for this piece of work. My Phone is 304-646-9871. It’s a flip phone but my wife has one of the smart ones if you want pictures.
Hi, Don. Thank you for visiting West Virginia Executive’s website. This is a story we ran in our magazine. If you’d like to get in touch with someone from Adventures on the Gorge, you will need to visit their website: https://adventuresonthegorge.com/.