West Virginia Travel Guide 2009 - (Page 28) wild & wonderful > Let’s Eat UNBEATABLE AMBIANCE LOCAL FOOD, If you really want to enjoy dining out in West Virginia, put these two items at the top of your list when picking a place to eat: local food and great ambiance. The only thing that tastes better than locally grown food is enjoying it in a place where the people and atmosphere combine for an unforgettable evening. Clockwise from top: Cathedral Café The Ember , Bluegrass Kitchen . By Ellen Hoffman g b h, a glowing orange bar at When it comes to great atmosphere, these unique restaurants fit the bill Fayetteville’s Cathedral Café, near the famed New River Gorge and its mighty bridge, is a former church with stained-glass windows still intact that now houses hundreds of books, a café and coffee bar, Internet access and an eclectic mix of regulars – from suits to outdoor guides. » Cathedral Café, 304-574-0202, www.cathedralcafe.com Just a few miles from Blackwater Falls State Park in the tiny town of Thomas, The Purple Fiddle serves up a variety of organic soups, wraps and sandwiches – such as peanut butter with organic jelly and tortilla chips – in truly unique surroundings. Locals and visitors alike love to gather here for great live music year ‘round. » The Purple Fiddle, 304-463-4040, www.purplefiddle.com The Bluegrass Kitchen in Charleston is a tin-ceiling artists’ hangout where the walls are bedazzled with original paintings, color and coolness are in abundance, and the menu offers a variety of West Virginia grown and raised food. » Bluegrass Kitchen, 304-346-2871, www.bluegrasswv.com The Blue Moose Cafe in Morgantown attracts nearby West Virginia University students and patrons of just about any age with its college hangout atmosphere. The walls are papered with flyers for yoga classes, concerts and rooms to rent, and the menu offers everything from a tofu scramble to numerous omelets, bagel items, sandwiches and coffees. » Blue Moose Café, 304-292-8999, www.thebluemoosecafe.com APPALACHIAN CHIC Local is good – great, in fact. But if you are so citified that you must have an occasional dose of urban, cosmopolitan ambiance and food, rest assured that you can find it at Snowshoe Mountain Resort, where The Ember restaurant wows patrons with its glowing orange bar and a menu featuring sushi and Asian fusion dishes. And then there is Charleston’s Bridge Road Bistro. Owned by decorated chef Robert Wong, the restaurant serves fare that’s mostly American, 28 1-800-CALL WVA http://www.cathedralcafe.com http://www.purplefiddle.com http://www.bluegrasswv.com http://www.thebluemoosecafe.com
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