Beckley, WV (WOAY) – Restaurant Week is underway across southern West Virginia as part of the Appalachian Festival, put on by the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce. Participating restaurants are featuring special menus that pay tribute to Appalachian cuisine through Saturday, Aug. 8.
In Beckley, Uptown Dish at 113 Main St. is leaning on fresh, local ingredients for the week. Bella Rotellini, general manager of Uptown Dish, said the kitchen sources as close to home as possible and is always after new flavors.
“Appalachian Restaurant Week is the perfect week to kind of showcase where we come from,” Rotellini said. Alongside pepperoni rolls, the restaurant is offering a different special each day, including Appalachian barbecue tacos, a bacon onion smashburger and a fried green tomato BLT.
A short drive away at 1318 Harper Road, Black Circle Bistro is also sourcing locally and putting fresh takes on regional favorites. Jamie Tabor, general manager of Black Circle Bistro, said most of the menu is Appalachian based, with ingredients sourced in West Virginia or from surrounding states.
Standouts this week include cornbread cookies drizzled with honey and a soup bean hummus. “This is made with soup beans, which everybody that lives here knows that that is something that is near and dear to everyone’s heart,” Tabor said.
While most of Restaurant Week’s locations sit in the greater Beckley area, The Gaines Estate brings Fayette County into the mix. The Fayetteville restaurant is set inside the historic Gaines Mansion on the property’s scenic grounds. Owner Bill Wells said chef Glen Ellison put together a special menu offering an upscale take on Appalachian favorites in a casual setting.
“So we’ll have a seared trout. It’s going to be over scalded greens with vinegar and bacon,” Wells said. “We also have crab fried green tomatoes with the rémoulade sauce.” The estate also serves Sunday brunch, including biscuits and sausage gravy and a country breakfast.
Uptown Dish, Black Circle Bistro and The Gaines Estate are just three of the restaurants taking part. A full list of participating spots is available at appalachianfestival.net/restaurant-week
