By Jean Hardiman
Whether you are looking for European-inspired fine dining, rustic outdoorsy meals to fuel up for a day of adventure, beautiful views, creative cuisine or all of the above, West Virginia’s resort restaurants have it covered.
The state’s resorts work tremendously hard to give their guests—whether from just across town or from out of the state—a meal and an experience to savor. They have created menus and crafted beer and wine lists that match their ambience, excite the palate and make their resorts an array of wonderfully memorable destinations in the Mountain State. Also, the variety in their offerings makes it worth hopping in the car and trekking across the state to try something delectable and entirely new.
A handful of the state’s resort restaurants shared what they offer and how they hope to enhance their guests’ stay. Their descriptions just may leave your mouth watering.
Adventures on the Gorge’s Smokey’s Cast Iron Grill
Those who book a stay at Adventures On the Gorge (AOTG) in Lansing, WV, likely have some highly active days planned in the fun-filled outdoors, and Smokey’s Cast Iron Grill has a menu for the sizable appetite they’ll have both before and after their days of adventuring.
Popular menu items include salmon, salads and a variety of smoked meats, all of which come in sizable portions to satisfy the appetite of the adventure seekers who come through the door. Entrees at Smokey’s are cooked and served in cast iron dishes.
“We have steaks, venison, pulled pork, ribs and a hearty complement of desserts,” Brian Campbell, AOTG’s chief resort operations officer, says of the Appalachian-themed restaurant. “We also offer a hearty breakfast buffet. We want to make it convenient for our guests to come in and get a good breakfast before they go out.”
The restaurant’s beer offerings are extensive as well, and it’s all served in an atmosphere that celebrates the outdoors. Smokey’s is housed in a large timber-framed structure and features large windows and decks that overlook the greenery of the gorge.
“We are an adventure resort, and our restaurant is designed to continue the adventure experience throughout the day,” says Campbell. “It’s a beautiful, rustic atmosphere.”
Bavarian Inn Resort’s Potomac Room
The Bavarian Inn began in 1977 as a small, stand-alone German restaurant situated along the Potomac River in Shepherdstown, WV. Today, it’s expanded to a 73-room, 11-acre European-inspired boutique resort, and the Potomac Room is its featured centerpiece.
“The inn is known for its traditional German fare such as the jaegerschnitzel and sauerbraten,” says Christian Asam, president of the Bavarian Inn Resort and Brewing Company. “However, guests come far and wide for the famous Bavarian Inn crab cakes and in the fall and winter months for the popular Wild Game Festival menu.”
The Potomac Room’s menu is a balance of German and European favorites with seasonal features that focus on what is available locally. Earning the AAA Four Diamond Award for the past 20 years, it also boasts a wine cellar with 500 selections, for which it has also received Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence.
Although the Bavarian Inn has expanded to include new amenities and dining options, the elegant Potomac Room has remained the genuine Bavarian Inn fine-dining experience.
Oglebay’s Garden Bistro
While Oglebay in Wheeling, WV, is well-known for its 300-acre holiday lights display in the wintertime, visitors in the milder months can enjoy this four-season resort’s lovely outdoor eating experience at the Garden Bistro.
“Our Garden Bistro features a light and relaxing outdoor dining experience overlooking the Terrace Gardens where many of the ingredients from our fresh, seasonal menu are grown,” says Herb Faulkenberry, vice president of sales and marketing for Oglebay. “The unique menu features regionally sourced produce, free-range chicken and eggs, grass-fed beef and handcrafted bread.”
Dining while looking out on the gardens is a tradition that was started by the property’s original owner, Earl Oglebay, and is one of the most beloved experiences at the historic resort.
The tradition of generous hospitality began over a century ago at the summer home of Earl Oglebay. The picturesque property now includes 2,000 acres of year-round recreational activities and exceptional overnight accommodations, including additional dining options, four golf courses, swimming pools, a full-service spa, walking and hiking trails, tennis courts and, for the history enthusiast, the Mansion Museum and Carriage Works Glass Museum.
Stonewall Resort’s Stillwaters
There’s a fresh take on the Appalachian menu that has become popular at Stillwaters, Stonewall Resort’s signature and most popular restaurant, and it’s called Appalachian fusion.
“Our executive chef, Nevil Bar, specializes in French, Creole and Italian cuisine, and you’ll see—and taste—that influence in his seasonally rotating menus and specials,” says Chris Audia, area director of marketing for Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, WV.
The chef also caters to a variety of special dietary needs.
“We prefer to get creative and take those requests as opportunities to create a custom and incredible dish that’s equally delicious and beautiful in presentation,” says Audia.
In addition to an eclectic array of choices on the buffet and a relaxing menu-only experience, Stillwaters offers guests peaceful lake views and both indoor seating as well as al fresco dining under the bistro lights on the patio.
Just off Interstate 79, Stonewall Resort overlooks Stonewall Jackson Lake, the surrounding hills and the resort’s popular golf course. Dining on-site at Stillwaters or the resort’s other two restaurants—Lightburn’s and TJ Muskies Bar & Grill—allows both daytime and overnight guests to enjoy their favorite activities at the resort without having to leave the grounds to find a variety of incredible dining options, which Audia says means more time for golf, lake activities, relaxation by the pool and creating memories.
