Updated this list to be current. You can always find it pinned on the Mountaineer Eats board.
Here's a list of local (i.e. non-chain) restaurants in Morgantown and my quick thoughts on them. Everyone has different preferences, so I'm sure some people will hate places I love and vice-versa. Note that some restaurants are grouped in multiple categories.
African
Cairo 2 Go - Casual place serving Egyptian food at the Suncrest Towne Center. I tried the chicken shawarma sandwich here once (more of a wrap, really), and it had a really good flavor.
American (Sitdown restaurants serving typical American fare)
Apple Annie's - A long time staple in Point Marion, they recently moved down to Pierpont Landing. Pretty cheap for a sitdown place, they have a lot of classic comfort food.
Atria's - At the Holiday Inn on Pineview Dr, one of eight locations for the restaurant based out of Pittsburgh. Nice place that features the usual steak, seafood, and Italian specialties.
The Bank - Restaurant located in the former Wesbanco location on High St. I haven't tried the place since they revamped their menu to be more casual, focusing on mac & cheese and melts.
Bartini Prime - Classic steakhouse menu (all prime steaks), that also has a sushi menu. For a nice touch, all the steaks are named after WVU coaches and admin. Outdoor seating is nice when the weather is good.
Boston Beanery - The Beanery is a Morgantown staple, though it's gone through changes in ownership recently. The old High St. location is gone, leaving the locations on Patteson Drive and at the Quality Inn near I68. It's a solid soup and sandwich type of place. I like eating here before basketball games at times. The French Dip has always been my go-to choice here.
Bourbon Prime - Steakhouse at the Marriott at the Waterfront. Despite the name, not all of their stakes are actually prime cut. They have a pepperoni roll appetizer served in a cast iron skillet that is pretty awesome.
Clubhouse Grill - At The Pines Country Club. Never tried it.
Iron Horse Tavern - A gastropub type of place on High St that features a great rotating selection of beers on tap from breweries around the state. They have a unique menu that they switch up pretty regularly. Be sure to order the tater tots as an appetizer
The Lakehouse - They have a pretty big crowd-pleasing menu. Nothing really exceptionally good or bad. The best part about this place is eating outside on the deck next to the lake.
Montmartre - Pretty standard steakhouse at the top of Hotel Morgan on High St. I think it's good but a little pricey for what you get.
Morgantown Brewing Company - Brewpub with a variety of burgers and sandwiches on the menu.
Morgantown Flour and Feed - Down on the Wharf District, they have a pretty huge/varied menu. Also have outdoor seating on the back deck. I've tried it a time or two and thought it was good but not mind blowing. My wife really loved the pasta dish she had there, though.
Smokin' Jacks - A long-time staple of the greater Reedsville metropolis, they recently opened their second location in Morgantown at the old Schmitt's Saloon location. I haven't tried it yet.
Table 9 - This is a neat little gastropub hidden back on the Mon River on the Waterfront. They have a nice atmosphere, and it's great when you can sit outside. Kind of like Iron Horse in that they have a quirky menu (I'd never heard of Devils on Horseback before coming here). Their dinner menu is a little different in that they offer appetizers, first courses, and second courses.
Tropics - Located in Cheat Lake, they have a Hawaiian themed menu. I've just been here once on a Wednesday and was a little weirded out since it seemed like I was there for dinner and everyone else was just there to drink at the time. It's a good alternative to the Lakehouse if you're in the area.
Whitetail Crossing - On Grafton Rd at the old Big Kahuna's location. Never tried it.
American - Casual (Mostly order at the counter restaurants with some diners mixed in)
Black Bear Burritos - Morgantown staple with locations downtown and in Suncrest. It has a bit of a hippy vibe, and both locations have live music. Don't be fooled by the name- you' won't be getting Mexican food here. They serve wraps, and they're awesome. Sgt Peppers with steak and the Rail Trail quesadilla are my favorites. Great beer selection as well. Good option for vegetarians.
Big Red's Shanty - Hamburger and hotdog stand out toward Cheat Lake.
Campus Canteen - Old Greasy Nick's. Cheap lunch place for students.
Classics - On Greenbag Rd in Sabraton. Never tried it.
Clutch Wing Shop - Pretty much a takeout place that features wings, tater tots, and melts. I like the food, but it's a little expensive for what you get. I would advise against getting takeout wings if you're not already downtown, because the skin inevitably loses its crispness when it's boxed up.
Dirty Bird - They do fried chicken and chicken sandwiches, and they do it well. The Vera Cruz is the best chicken sandwich I've ever had, and the Blue Ribbon is great as well. Their hours are limited, though, usually only open until 5 during the week.
The Grind - Small cafe attached to the Book Exchange downtown.
Haught Diggity Dogz - Hotdog joint in Westover. Never tried it.
Jersey's Subs - Standard sub shop on the Mileground, known for their cheesesteaks.
Mid-Atlantic Market - Not really a restaurant, but they have a nice deli counter with takeout sandwiches. I haven't tried it.
Morgan's High St. Diner - Classic diner fare for breakfast and lunch. Pretty cheap and attracts a student crowd. This place is probably worth stopping by once just to look at all the old Morgantown pictures/memorabilia hanging on the walls.
Ruby & Ketchy's - Diner in the Cheat Lake area. It's been around for ages, though to be honest I'm not the biggest fan of their food.
Tailpipes - Best pure burger joint in town. They have good fries and milkshakes as well.
The Tea Shoppe at Seneca Center - My wife loves this place. You'd go here for afternoon tea and a sandwich, though not a big meal. They have some nice little desserts.
Terra Cafe - They're big on the whole farm to table thing. They have some really good sandwiches with the Roast Beef Chimichurri and Thai Peanut Wrap being my favorites. If you can walk by their dessert case and not end up buying something, you are an incredibly strong-willed person. They're amazing.
Tudor's Biscuit World - This is a chain, but it's local to WV, so I included it anyhow. I've never tried their lunch/dinner menu.
Tutto Gelato - I've never tried the lunch menu. They have an assortment of paninis and salads. They also have pizza cones which look really good.
The Wine Bar at Vintner Valley - Located in Suncrest on Burroughs St. They have a smallish menu with sandwiches, salads, charcuterie, and pizza.
Asian
Asian Bistro - Located on Northpoint Plaza at the end of the Mileground. My favorite Asian place in town, they serve a variety of cuisines. I'm always impressed by the effort they put into presentation. The bulgogi is amazing, and I love their orange chicken as well.
Chaang Thai - Asian place located on High St, it used to be a traditional sit-down restaurant, but apparently they recently changed it to an order at the counter type of place. Good food if you're downtown, but I like Ta Khrai better.
China City - In Sabraton. Never tried it.
Green Tea Asian Fusion - New place at the old Nonna's Bakery location, across the road from the Wine Bar at Vintner Valley. Never tried it.
Lavender Cafe - Down on Beechurst. Never tried it. A friend of mine that works downtown loves to order from here for lunch.
Dragon Cafe - Chinese takeout in Cheat Lake.
Oryza Asian Grill - Casual spot in the little plaza across from the Suncrest Towne Centre. This is basically an Asian-style Chipotle. I'm a fan- good lunch spot.
Peking House - Chinese place on Van Voorhis that's been around for ages. Nothing really special about it. Probably a good lunch spot if you're in the area and in the mood for Chinese.
Pho Hung - A pho place (obviously) in Westover. I haven't tried it, though I've heard from one person who preferred it to Saigon Pho.
RocKa Poke Noodle Bar - Located on Chestnut St in the old Vintage Room location. Has an Asian/Hawaiian themed menu. Never tried it.
Saigon Pho Kitchen - The pho is great, though I was less impressed by the banh mi. This is owned by the same people as Chaang Thai. You order at a kiosk, and they bring the food to your table. This is on University Ave. near the old Hibachi.
Ta-Khrai Thai Cafe - Probably my favorite Asian place in Morgantown these days. It's located on University Ave. above Zenclay. The food and presentation are great. You may or may not have a bit of a language barrier with the servers. One downside to this place is the speed of service- it can be slow at times.
Bakeries
Apple Annie's - Located in Pierpont Plaza. Their bakery counter is off to the side of the dining room. They have loads of pies, cookies, cakes, and other pastries.
Phoenix Bakery - Located on Kingwood St. in South Park. Their biscotti is amazing. Several styles of fresh bread, cookies, scones, etc. as well.
Rising Creek Bakery - Up the road in Mt Morris. Salt rising bread is their specialty. They also have the usual assortment of pastries, cookies, donuts, pies, etc.
Barbeque
Atomic Grill - This is one of the restaurants I like to take out of town friends to when they visit. Their mainstays are pulled pork, brisket, pulled chicken, ribs, and burgers. They also have some really good bbq sauces. The WV bbq sauce is fantastic, and I love the mustard sauce on chicken. I seem to be ordering burgers more often when I visit here these days. Located at the intersection of Greenbag Rd and the Kingwood Pike.
Woodburn Shanks - Just moved in to a new location in Sabraton at the intersection of Route 7 and Green Bag Road. This is pretty much a takeout place. I haven't tried it enough to have a good opinion. The pulled pork sandwich I had was good, but the sides were average.
Bars
Apothecary Ale House & Cafe - On Chestnut St., they have a huge draft and bottled beer selection. I believe the food menu is fairly small, though. Never tried it.
Crockett's - Gotta love a place that has goal posts from the 84 Penn State game above the bar. They have great wings.
Fat Daddy's - On Chestnut St. Never tried it.
Frosted Mug - On Greenbag Rd. Never tried it.
Gene's Beer Garden - Hole in the wall type of place in South Park. Known for their chili dogs, but I've only been in here for a beer.
Gibbie's Pub - Gibbie's is the longest-lasting bar on High St I can think of. They serve pretty standard bar fare.
Kegler's - The best pure sportsbar in Morgantown. They're known for the wings, regularly winning the people's choice award in the local annual wing cookoff. The hot honey bbq sauce is my favorite. The New York strip hot melt is one of my favorite sandwiches in town.
The Lobby Bar - Located at Hotel Morgan on High St. Haven't tried it.
Mario's Fishbowl - The Fishbowl on Richwood Ave is the place your parents went to in college and want to stop by and revisit whenever they come back in town. Total dive bar with a great atmosphere. Pretty typical bar food. They recently opened up a new location (with a lot more space) in Suncrest.
McClafferty's - Irish Bar downtown. Never eaten here.
Mason Jar - Out in Granville. Never tried it.
Mountain Mama's - In Chelsea Square back behind Pug's. Never tried it.
Mountaineer Tap House - New place near the alumni center with a ton of brews on tap. Never tried it.
Playoffs Sports Bar - On Spruce St. in the former Brickyard Pub location. Never tried it.
Sabraton Station - At the old Archie's location. Never tried it.
Sports Page - Sports bar on High St that's been around for ages. I've never tried their food.
Tanner's Tavern - In Sabraton. I haven't tried it.
Town Hill Tavern - Known for their chili dogs. Never tried it.
Varsity Club - Right across the street from the stadium, they have a really good menu.
Whippoorwill Bar and Grill - At Edgewater Marina on Cheat Lake.
Breakfast
Apple Annie's - At Pierpont Landing. I haven't tried their breakfast yet.
Bourbon Prime - Located at the Marriott at the Waterfront. Never tried their breakfast.
Morgan's High St. Diner - Standard diner fare, breakfast all day long.
Rising Creek Bakery - Small joint up the road in Mt Morris. They have the typical bakery options, coffee bar, and breakfast menu. Had a great omellete here the one time I tried it.
Ruby & Ketchy's - Diner in the Cheat Lake area. Not the biggest fan.
Terra Cafe - They have a bit of a unique breakfast menu. I really like the Santa Fe Egg Wrap.
Tudor's Biscuit World - Local chain to WV. If you're looking for a heart attack on a biscuit, this is your place.
Coffee, Tea, Juice (Places you would go to just for a drink)
Blue Moose Cafe - Hippy hangout that's been around on Spruce St for ages.
The Grind - Small cafe attached to the Book Exchange downtown.
Quantum Bean Coffee - New coffee shop in South Park. Never tried it.
River Burch Cafe - Located at the Waterfront across from Table 9. I think this is mostly for people that work in the area.
Slight Indulgence - Neat little market on Collins Ferry that has a wide selection of wine, coffee, chocolates, cigars, and other specialty food items.
Terra Cafe - I'm not much of a coffee aficionado, but they made the best cappuccino I've ever had.
The Tea Shoppe at Seneca Center - If you want a pot of afternoon tea, this is your place. They literally have hundreds of varieties to choose from.
Tutto Gelato - Never had their coffee, but I tried the affogato at a charity event, and it was ridiculously good.
Fine Dining (Not necessarily "true" fine dining, but at least these are the types of places you'd go to for a fancy meal or to impress someone)
Hill & Hollow - New place at the Seneca Center, from the former chef at the Richwood Grille. They're huge on locally sourced ingredients prepared in unique ways. They change up their menu all the time, so it's hard to give specific recommendations. Some of my favorites in the past have been roasted corn with lobster butter appetizer, lamb chops, and lime/cilantro & habanero/peach sorbet.
Sargasso - One of the fanciest places in town, located on Don Knotts Blvd. They change up their menu monthly (usually some unique options) and put out consistently good food. The desserts are usually really good as well.
Stefano's - Located below Suburban Lanes, they probably have the most "froufrou" menu out there. The food is great but expensive. The atmosphere is a little on the stuffy side for my taste.
Tin 202 - Fairly new place on High St., this place has been growing on me lately. They have a fancy cocktail menu and a lot of tapas to go with their regular entrees. Be sure to try the tiramisu if you go here- it's stupid good.
Indian
Bombay Indian Grill - On University Ave near campus. Never tried it.
Saffron - Relocated to the old BW3s location on High St. I went here for lunch once, and it was an odd experience. They typically have a lunch buffet, but it was shut down that day. Probably why there were only 2 tables filled at noon on Friday. The food itself was excellent. There were several things on the menu they were out of, though, and our server was clearly new and very poorly trained.
Italian
Colasante's - Burned down back a while back, but they finally reopened. Colasante's has been around Westover for ages. More of a casual place, I put it well behind Oliverio's and Pug's in terms of food. Get a pizza or sandwich if you try it. My one experience with pasta since they reopened was pretty bad.
Oliverio's - My #2 Italian place in town, but great as well. I know it's a lot of people's fav. Really nice atmosphere down on the Waterfront with outdoor seating. They have more of a classical American-Italian menu. Try the angel hair crab ball appetizer. Good dessert selection as well.
Puglioni's - Pug's has always been one of my favorites in Morgantown. The first thing that you have to mention when it comes to Pug's is the bread. They give you your own loaf with dinner, drizzled with butter and oil. It's amazing- the best restaurant bread anywhere. My favorite entrees are the fettuccine carbonara and the chicken putanesca (you'd better like garlic if you order that). For lunch the hybrid hoagie with half meatballs, half sausages is perfect, and they have great fries as well. They also serve pizza and calzones, though I haven't tried them much. It's a small restaurant and they don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait a bit if you show up during dinner rush on Friday or Saturday.
Japanese / Sushi
Fusion Japanese Steakhouse - New place at the University Town Center. I'd give this place the nod over Fujiyama.
Fujiyama - Japanese steakhouse at the Glenmark Center- pretty standard fare for how these go.
Ogawa - If you're in Morgantown and want sushi, this is the place to go. Not sure what else to say about the place.
Volcano - Another sushi place that opened a couple years ago. I haven't tried it.
Yama - A little hole in the wall restaurant Fayette St. It's been around for ages, but somehow I've never been here. I know it has a devoted following.
Mediterranean
Ali Baba - Ali Baba has been around Morgantown in multiple locations for ages. They're in the Morgantown airport now. I really enjoyed the kebab the one time I went there in the current place. I just never think to go back, probably because of the awkward location.
Beity - New place on High St. Never tried it.
The Greeks - Never tried it. Located on ground level of an apartment complex on Beechurst. I don't know where you'd park if you wanted to go there.
Jasmine Grill - Been here once. Enjoyed the pita I had, but frozen crinkle-cut french fries didn't impress me.
Salam - Located on High St. Never tried it.
Mexican
Chico's Fat Burritos - A Chipotle style restaurant on High St. Never tried it.
Don Patron - At Pierpont Landing. I want to like this place since it's a quick drive for me, but the few times I've been there the food quality has been consistently lacking.
Garcia's Grill at the Cue - Located on High St, by the Dollar General. I've never tried the food here.
La Tapatia Market and Tacos - On Greenbag Rd. Never tried it.
Los Mariachi's - I don't think there are any great Mexican restaurants in Morgantown, but this is the best of the bunch. This place seems packed just about any time you're there since it's popular both with students and people working at the hospitals, Mylan, etc. Pretty standard Mexican fare at good prices. They're opening a new location at the University Town Center in the near future.
Mariachi Loco - If you're shopping at WalMart and are in the mood for generic Mexican, this is your place.
Rio Verde - Used to be Rio Grande, now it's Rio Verde. I know a lot of people prefer it over Los Mariachi's. I've only been here a time or two, but it doesn't seem like there's much difference between the two to me.
Wings Ole - Located in Suburban Plaza near Kegler's and by the Westover Bridge downtown. It's been around for ever. I really don't like the place. It's just bad Tex-Mex to me. My wife loves it. They certainly have their following.
Microbreweries
Chestnut Brew Works - Not really a place you'd go for a full meal. Just a place where you can get some snacks while hanging out and having a few local beers. I'm a fan of their South Park Porter.
Morgantown Brewing Company - They brew their beer on site and have a standard menu with burgers and sandwiches. The Zach Morgan IPA is my fav from their selections.
Mountain State Brewing Company - They brew their beer down in Thomas, but they have all of the selections on tap here. One of my favorite pizza places in town. Try the Miner's Daughter Oatmeal Stout.
Pizza
Casa D' Amici - A High St staple. They do a lot of business with the late night college crowd. It's been ages since I've tried it.
Cottrell's Country Store - Old country store that also has a bar and serves pizza and sandwiches. On Point Marion Rd.
Fat Angelo's - Probably not a place you'd bother trying unless you live in the Cheat Lake area.
Home Grown Pizza - Solid pizza joint on Earl Core Rd out toward Dellslow.
Lefty's Place - Detroit style pizza downtown on Walnut St. I'd never heard of Detroit style pizza before coming here, but it's basically a rectangular pan-style pizza with the sauce served on top. Good stuff- worth a shot if you're up for something a little different.
Lotsa Mozza - A design your own pizza place on High St. Quick, cheap, and good.
Milano's Pizza - Located on Greenbag Rd. Similar in style to Pizza Al's.
Mountain State Brewing Company - Really nice atmosphere with outdoor seating on the Waterfront. Their pizza has a thin-ish crust. Can't go wrong with the Fire on the Mountain pizza. They usually have a couple other local beers in addition to their own on tap.
Papa Allen's Pizza - At the University Place apartments near campus. Never tried it.
PeppeBroni's - In a plaza on 705 near Sheetz. Never tried it.
Pies & Pints - I give them the nod on food over Mountain State because their non-pizza menu is much better. The pulled pork nachos are amazing. The Chicken Gouda is my favorite pizza. They have a nice selection of beer as well.
Phoenix Bakery - Probably not the first pizza place that comes to mind, but worth a try if you want takeout. I had a fig/prosciutto pizza from here once that was great.
Pizza Al's - Locations on University Avenue, Sabraton, and at the University Town Center. Classic NY style thin crust pizza. Lots of people people swear by Al's as the best in town.
Seafood
Crab Shack Carriba - Formerly Called Coach's Crab Shack, it's located at Cheat Lake near the Ices Ferry Bridge. They recently opened a second location at the Suncrest Town Center as well. If you go to here, you'll want to get a steamer. They are awesome. My favorite is the Shack Classic which has crab legs, shrimp, clams, kielbasa, potatoes, corn, and hushpuppies. I usually get it with the garlic butter sauce. Their entrees aside from steamers are just average, though. Word of warning - service can be on the slow side sometimes.
Flying Fish - A neat little seafood market/restaurant at Pierpont Landing. I like getting takeout from here since it's pretty close to my house. I love their fish taco, which should probably just be called a fish burrito given how big the thing is. Their jerk chicken has a really nice flavor, and the fish and chips are solid as well.
Sunday Brunch
Morgantown Flour and Feed - Never tried their brunch.
Clubhouse Grill - Tried their brunch for the first time a few weeks ago after seeing a nice menu on their website, but turns out they have a buffet set up instead. Probably marginally higher quality than what you'd get at the breakfast buffet at a hotel restaurant.
Crab Shack Carriba - Shouldn't be too surprising that they have a crab cake eggs benedict on the menu. Also have a DIY bloody mary bar.
Iron Horse Tavern - Fried donut holes coated in cinnamon and sugar with a vanilla porter dipping sauce? Yes please. They're the only brunch place with huevos rancheros on their menu, and it's awesome. Make a reservation if you're planning on brunch here.
Sargasso - They have a fancier brunch menu, though it's not super expensive like their dinner. They switch things up a good bit. Their eggs benedict is very rich and has creamed spinach on it- I'm a fan. It may be a silly thing to mention, but their coffee is great as well. For something on the lunch side of thinks, their teriyaki salmon bowl is a good option.
Table 9 - They serve brunch on Saturday and Sunday. I think I've tried about everything on the brunch menu at some point, though I just about always order the devils on horseback as an appetizer., My wife likes their sous vide eggs benedict. They have chicken and waffles as well. Reservation recommended for brunch.
Terra Cafe - They recently started doing a served brunch instead of a buffet. Eggs benedict, quiche, waffles- their menu is more on the breakfast side of things than the lunch side.
Tropics - Only tried their brunch once- pretty typical brunch menu with a few Hawaiian twists. Outdoor seating is nice when the weather is good.
Sweets (Places you might go to just for a quick dessert)
The Cupcakerie - Downtown and in the the mood for a fancy cupcake? This is your place.
Peace, Love, and Little Donuts - At the Suncrest Towne Centre, a smallish chain originating out of Pittsburgh. They have tasty little donuts topped with about every type of sweet thing imaginable.
Tutto Gelato Cafe - Located at Suburban Plaza next to Kegler's, their gelato is awesome. They have 15-20 flavors at any given time.
Here's a list of local (i.e. non-chain) restaurants in Morgantown and my quick thoughts on them. Everyone has different preferences, so I'm sure some people will hate places I love and vice-versa. Note that some restaurants are grouped in multiple categories.
African
Cairo 2 Go - Casual place serving Egyptian food at the Suncrest Towne Center. I tried the chicken shawarma sandwich here once (more of a wrap, really), and it had a really good flavor.
American (Sitdown restaurants serving typical American fare)
Apple Annie's - A long time staple in Point Marion, they recently moved down to Pierpont Landing. Pretty cheap for a sitdown place, they have a lot of classic comfort food.
Atria's - At the Holiday Inn on Pineview Dr, one of eight locations for the restaurant based out of Pittsburgh. Nice place that features the usual steak, seafood, and Italian specialties.
The Bank - Restaurant located in the former Wesbanco location on High St. I haven't tried the place since they revamped their menu to be more casual, focusing on mac & cheese and melts.
Bartini Prime - Classic steakhouse menu (all prime steaks), that also has a sushi menu. For a nice touch, all the steaks are named after WVU coaches and admin. Outdoor seating is nice when the weather is good.
Boston Beanery - The Beanery is a Morgantown staple, though it's gone through changes in ownership recently. The old High St. location is gone, leaving the locations on Patteson Drive and at the Quality Inn near I68. It's a solid soup and sandwich type of place. I like eating here before basketball games at times. The French Dip has always been my go-to choice here.
Bourbon Prime - Steakhouse at the Marriott at the Waterfront. Despite the name, not all of their stakes are actually prime cut. They have a pepperoni roll appetizer served in a cast iron skillet that is pretty awesome.
Clubhouse Grill - At The Pines Country Club. Never tried it.
Iron Horse Tavern - A gastropub type of place on High St that features a great rotating selection of beers on tap from breweries around the state. They have a unique menu that they switch up pretty regularly. Be sure to order the tater tots as an appetizer
The Lakehouse - They have a pretty big crowd-pleasing menu. Nothing really exceptionally good or bad. The best part about this place is eating outside on the deck next to the lake.
Montmartre - Pretty standard steakhouse at the top of Hotel Morgan on High St. I think it's good but a little pricey for what you get.
Morgantown Brewing Company - Brewpub with a variety of burgers and sandwiches on the menu.
Morgantown Flour and Feed - Down on the Wharf District, they have a pretty huge/varied menu. Also have outdoor seating on the back deck. I've tried it a time or two and thought it was good but not mind blowing. My wife really loved the pasta dish she had there, though.
Smokin' Jacks - A long-time staple of the greater Reedsville metropolis, they recently opened their second location in Morgantown at the old Schmitt's Saloon location. I haven't tried it yet.
Table 9 - This is a neat little gastropub hidden back on the Mon River on the Waterfront. They have a nice atmosphere, and it's great when you can sit outside. Kind of like Iron Horse in that they have a quirky menu (I'd never heard of Devils on Horseback before coming here). Their dinner menu is a little different in that they offer appetizers, first courses, and second courses.
Tropics - Located in Cheat Lake, they have a Hawaiian themed menu. I've just been here once on a Wednesday and was a little weirded out since it seemed like I was there for dinner and everyone else was just there to drink at the time. It's a good alternative to the Lakehouse if you're in the area.
Whitetail Crossing - On Grafton Rd at the old Big Kahuna's location. Never tried it.
American - Casual (Mostly order at the counter restaurants with some diners mixed in)
Black Bear Burritos - Morgantown staple with locations downtown and in Suncrest. It has a bit of a hippy vibe, and both locations have live music. Don't be fooled by the name- you' won't be getting Mexican food here. They serve wraps, and they're awesome. Sgt Peppers with steak and the Rail Trail quesadilla are my favorites. Great beer selection as well. Good option for vegetarians.
Big Red's Shanty - Hamburger and hotdog stand out toward Cheat Lake.
Campus Canteen - Old Greasy Nick's. Cheap lunch place for students.
Classics - On Greenbag Rd in Sabraton. Never tried it.
Clutch Wing Shop - Pretty much a takeout place that features wings, tater tots, and melts. I like the food, but it's a little expensive for what you get. I would advise against getting takeout wings if you're not already downtown, because the skin inevitably loses its crispness when it's boxed up.
Dirty Bird - They do fried chicken and chicken sandwiches, and they do it well. The Vera Cruz is the best chicken sandwich I've ever had, and the Blue Ribbon is great as well. Their hours are limited, though, usually only open until 5 during the week.
The Grind - Small cafe attached to the Book Exchange downtown.
Haught Diggity Dogz - Hotdog joint in Westover. Never tried it.
Jersey's Subs - Standard sub shop on the Mileground, known for their cheesesteaks.
Mid-Atlantic Market - Not really a restaurant, but they have a nice deli counter with takeout sandwiches. I haven't tried it.
Morgan's High St. Diner - Classic diner fare for breakfast and lunch. Pretty cheap and attracts a student crowd. This place is probably worth stopping by once just to look at all the old Morgantown pictures/memorabilia hanging on the walls.
Ruby & Ketchy's - Diner in the Cheat Lake area. It's been around for ages, though to be honest I'm not the biggest fan of their food.
Tailpipes - Best pure burger joint in town. They have good fries and milkshakes as well.
The Tea Shoppe at Seneca Center - My wife loves this place. You'd go here for afternoon tea and a sandwich, though not a big meal. They have some nice little desserts.
Terra Cafe - They're big on the whole farm to table thing. They have some really good sandwiches with the Roast Beef Chimichurri and Thai Peanut Wrap being my favorites. If you can walk by their dessert case and not end up buying something, you are an incredibly strong-willed person. They're amazing.
Tudor's Biscuit World - This is a chain, but it's local to WV, so I included it anyhow. I've never tried their lunch/dinner menu.
Tutto Gelato - I've never tried the lunch menu. They have an assortment of paninis and salads. They also have pizza cones which look really good.
The Wine Bar at Vintner Valley - Located in Suncrest on Burroughs St. They have a smallish menu with sandwiches, salads, charcuterie, and pizza.
Asian
Asian Bistro - Located on Northpoint Plaza at the end of the Mileground. My favorite Asian place in town, they serve a variety of cuisines. I'm always impressed by the effort they put into presentation. The bulgogi is amazing, and I love their orange chicken as well.
Chaang Thai - Asian place located on High St, it used to be a traditional sit-down restaurant, but apparently they recently changed it to an order at the counter type of place. Good food if you're downtown, but I like Ta Khrai better.
China City - In Sabraton. Never tried it.
Green Tea Asian Fusion - New place at the old Nonna's Bakery location, across the road from the Wine Bar at Vintner Valley. Never tried it.
Lavender Cafe - Down on Beechurst. Never tried it. A friend of mine that works downtown loves to order from here for lunch.
Dragon Cafe - Chinese takeout in Cheat Lake.
Oryza Asian Grill - Casual spot in the little plaza across from the Suncrest Towne Centre. This is basically an Asian-style Chipotle. I'm a fan- good lunch spot.
Peking House - Chinese place on Van Voorhis that's been around for ages. Nothing really special about it. Probably a good lunch spot if you're in the area and in the mood for Chinese.
Pho Hung - A pho place (obviously) in Westover. I haven't tried it, though I've heard from one person who preferred it to Saigon Pho.
RocKa Poke Noodle Bar - Located on Chestnut St in the old Vintage Room location. Has an Asian/Hawaiian themed menu. Never tried it.
Saigon Pho Kitchen - The pho is great, though I was less impressed by the banh mi. This is owned by the same people as Chaang Thai. You order at a kiosk, and they bring the food to your table. This is on University Ave. near the old Hibachi.
Ta-Khrai Thai Cafe - Probably my favorite Asian place in Morgantown these days. It's located on University Ave. above Zenclay. The food and presentation are great. You may or may not have a bit of a language barrier with the servers. One downside to this place is the speed of service- it can be slow at times.
Bakeries
Apple Annie's - Located in Pierpont Plaza. Their bakery counter is off to the side of the dining room. They have loads of pies, cookies, cakes, and other pastries.
Phoenix Bakery - Located on Kingwood St. in South Park. Their biscotti is amazing. Several styles of fresh bread, cookies, scones, etc. as well.
Rising Creek Bakery - Up the road in Mt Morris. Salt rising bread is their specialty. They also have the usual assortment of pastries, cookies, donuts, pies, etc.
Barbeque
Atomic Grill - This is one of the restaurants I like to take out of town friends to when they visit. Their mainstays are pulled pork, brisket, pulled chicken, ribs, and burgers. They also have some really good bbq sauces. The WV bbq sauce is fantastic, and I love the mustard sauce on chicken. I seem to be ordering burgers more often when I visit here these days. Located at the intersection of Greenbag Rd and the Kingwood Pike.
Woodburn Shanks - Just moved in to a new location in Sabraton at the intersection of Route 7 and Green Bag Road. This is pretty much a takeout place. I haven't tried it enough to have a good opinion. The pulled pork sandwich I had was good, but the sides were average.
Bars
Apothecary Ale House & Cafe - On Chestnut St., they have a huge draft and bottled beer selection. I believe the food menu is fairly small, though. Never tried it.
Crockett's - Gotta love a place that has goal posts from the 84 Penn State game above the bar. They have great wings.
Fat Daddy's - On Chestnut St. Never tried it.
Frosted Mug - On Greenbag Rd. Never tried it.
Gene's Beer Garden - Hole in the wall type of place in South Park. Known for their chili dogs, but I've only been in here for a beer.
Gibbie's Pub - Gibbie's is the longest-lasting bar on High St I can think of. They serve pretty standard bar fare.
Kegler's - The best pure sportsbar in Morgantown. They're known for the wings, regularly winning the people's choice award in the local annual wing cookoff. The hot honey bbq sauce is my favorite. The New York strip hot melt is one of my favorite sandwiches in town.
The Lobby Bar - Located at Hotel Morgan on High St. Haven't tried it.
Mario's Fishbowl - The Fishbowl on Richwood Ave is the place your parents went to in college and want to stop by and revisit whenever they come back in town. Total dive bar with a great atmosphere. Pretty typical bar food. They recently opened up a new location (with a lot more space) in Suncrest.
McClafferty's - Irish Bar downtown. Never eaten here.
Mason Jar - Out in Granville. Never tried it.
Mountain Mama's - In Chelsea Square back behind Pug's. Never tried it.
Mountaineer Tap House - New place near the alumni center with a ton of brews on tap. Never tried it.
Playoffs Sports Bar - On Spruce St. in the former Brickyard Pub location. Never tried it.
Sabraton Station - At the old Archie's location. Never tried it.
Sports Page - Sports bar on High St that's been around for ages. I've never tried their food.
Tanner's Tavern - In Sabraton. I haven't tried it.
Town Hill Tavern - Known for their chili dogs. Never tried it.
Varsity Club - Right across the street from the stadium, they have a really good menu.
Whippoorwill Bar and Grill - At Edgewater Marina on Cheat Lake.
Breakfast
Apple Annie's - At Pierpont Landing. I haven't tried their breakfast yet.
Bourbon Prime - Located at the Marriott at the Waterfront. Never tried their breakfast.
Morgan's High St. Diner - Standard diner fare, breakfast all day long.
Rising Creek Bakery - Small joint up the road in Mt Morris. They have the typical bakery options, coffee bar, and breakfast menu. Had a great omellete here the one time I tried it.
Ruby & Ketchy's - Diner in the Cheat Lake area. Not the biggest fan.
Terra Cafe - They have a bit of a unique breakfast menu. I really like the Santa Fe Egg Wrap.
Tudor's Biscuit World - Local chain to WV. If you're looking for a heart attack on a biscuit, this is your place.
Coffee, Tea, Juice (Places you would go to just for a drink)
Blue Moose Cafe - Hippy hangout that's been around on Spruce St for ages.
The Grind - Small cafe attached to the Book Exchange downtown.
Quantum Bean Coffee - New coffee shop in South Park. Never tried it.
River Burch Cafe - Located at the Waterfront across from Table 9. I think this is mostly for people that work in the area.
Slight Indulgence - Neat little market on Collins Ferry that has a wide selection of wine, coffee, chocolates, cigars, and other specialty food items.
Terra Cafe - I'm not much of a coffee aficionado, but they made the best cappuccino I've ever had.
The Tea Shoppe at Seneca Center - If you want a pot of afternoon tea, this is your place. They literally have hundreds of varieties to choose from.
Tutto Gelato - Never had their coffee, but I tried the affogato at a charity event, and it was ridiculously good.
Fine Dining (Not necessarily "true" fine dining, but at least these are the types of places you'd go to for a fancy meal or to impress someone)
Hill & Hollow - New place at the Seneca Center, from the former chef at the Richwood Grille. They're huge on locally sourced ingredients prepared in unique ways. They change up their menu all the time, so it's hard to give specific recommendations. Some of my favorites in the past have been roasted corn with lobster butter appetizer, lamb chops, and lime/cilantro & habanero/peach sorbet.
Sargasso - One of the fanciest places in town, located on Don Knotts Blvd. They change up their menu monthly (usually some unique options) and put out consistently good food. The desserts are usually really good as well.
Stefano's - Located below Suburban Lanes, they probably have the most "froufrou" menu out there. The food is great but expensive. The atmosphere is a little on the stuffy side for my taste.
Tin 202 - Fairly new place on High St., this place has been growing on me lately. They have a fancy cocktail menu and a lot of tapas to go with their regular entrees. Be sure to try the tiramisu if you go here- it's stupid good.
Indian
Bombay Indian Grill - On University Ave near campus. Never tried it.
Saffron - Relocated to the old BW3s location on High St. I went here for lunch once, and it was an odd experience. They typically have a lunch buffet, but it was shut down that day. Probably why there were only 2 tables filled at noon on Friday. The food itself was excellent. There were several things on the menu they were out of, though, and our server was clearly new and very poorly trained.
Italian
Colasante's - Burned down back a while back, but they finally reopened. Colasante's has been around Westover for ages. More of a casual place, I put it well behind Oliverio's and Pug's in terms of food. Get a pizza or sandwich if you try it. My one experience with pasta since they reopened was pretty bad.
Oliverio's - My #2 Italian place in town, but great as well. I know it's a lot of people's fav. Really nice atmosphere down on the Waterfront with outdoor seating. They have more of a classical American-Italian menu. Try the angel hair crab ball appetizer. Good dessert selection as well.
Puglioni's - Pug's has always been one of my favorites in Morgantown. The first thing that you have to mention when it comes to Pug's is the bread. They give you your own loaf with dinner, drizzled with butter and oil. It's amazing- the best restaurant bread anywhere. My favorite entrees are the fettuccine carbonara and the chicken putanesca (you'd better like garlic if you order that). For lunch the hybrid hoagie with half meatballs, half sausages is perfect, and they have great fries as well. They also serve pizza and calzones, though I haven't tried them much. It's a small restaurant and they don't take reservations, so be prepared to wait a bit if you show up during dinner rush on Friday or Saturday.
Japanese / Sushi
Fusion Japanese Steakhouse - New place at the University Town Center. I'd give this place the nod over Fujiyama.
Fujiyama - Japanese steakhouse at the Glenmark Center- pretty standard fare for how these go.
Ogawa - If you're in Morgantown and want sushi, this is the place to go. Not sure what else to say about the place.
Volcano - Another sushi place that opened a couple years ago. I haven't tried it.
Yama - A little hole in the wall restaurant Fayette St. It's been around for ages, but somehow I've never been here. I know it has a devoted following.
Mediterranean
Ali Baba - Ali Baba has been around Morgantown in multiple locations for ages. They're in the Morgantown airport now. I really enjoyed the kebab the one time I went there in the current place. I just never think to go back, probably because of the awkward location.
Beity - New place on High St. Never tried it.
The Greeks - Never tried it. Located on ground level of an apartment complex on Beechurst. I don't know where you'd park if you wanted to go there.
Jasmine Grill - Been here once. Enjoyed the pita I had, but frozen crinkle-cut french fries didn't impress me.
Salam - Located on High St. Never tried it.
Mexican
Chico's Fat Burritos - A Chipotle style restaurant on High St. Never tried it.
Don Patron - At Pierpont Landing. I want to like this place since it's a quick drive for me, but the few times I've been there the food quality has been consistently lacking.
Garcia's Grill at the Cue - Located on High St, by the Dollar General. I've never tried the food here.
La Tapatia Market and Tacos - On Greenbag Rd. Never tried it.
Los Mariachi's - I don't think there are any great Mexican restaurants in Morgantown, but this is the best of the bunch. This place seems packed just about any time you're there since it's popular both with students and people working at the hospitals, Mylan, etc. Pretty standard Mexican fare at good prices. They're opening a new location at the University Town Center in the near future.
Mariachi Loco - If you're shopping at WalMart and are in the mood for generic Mexican, this is your place.
Rio Verde - Used to be Rio Grande, now it's Rio Verde. I know a lot of people prefer it over Los Mariachi's. I've only been here a time or two, but it doesn't seem like there's much difference between the two to me.
Wings Ole - Located in Suburban Plaza near Kegler's and by the Westover Bridge downtown. It's been around for ever. I really don't like the place. It's just bad Tex-Mex to me. My wife loves it. They certainly have their following.
Microbreweries
Chestnut Brew Works - Not really a place you'd go for a full meal. Just a place where you can get some snacks while hanging out and having a few local beers. I'm a fan of their South Park Porter.
Morgantown Brewing Company - They brew their beer on site and have a standard menu with burgers and sandwiches. The Zach Morgan IPA is my fav from their selections.
Mountain State Brewing Company - They brew their beer down in Thomas, but they have all of the selections on tap here. One of my favorite pizza places in town. Try the Miner's Daughter Oatmeal Stout.
Pizza
Casa D' Amici - A High St staple. They do a lot of business with the late night college crowd. It's been ages since I've tried it.
Cottrell's Country Store - Old country store that also has a bar and serves pizza and sandwiches. On Point Marion Rd.
Fat Angelo's - Probably not a place you'd bother trying unless you live in the Cheat Lake area.
Home Grown Pizza - Solid pizza joint on Earl Core Rd out toward Dellslow.
Lefty's Place - Detroit style pizza downtown on Walnut St. I'd never heard of Detroit style pizza before coming here, but it's basically a rectangular pan-style pizza with the sauce served on top. Good stuff- worth a shot if you're up for something a little different.
Lotsa Mozza - A design your own pizza place on High St. Quick, cheap, and good.
Milano's Pizza - Located on Greenbag Rd. Similar in style to Pizza Al's.
Mountain State Brewing Company - Really nice atmosphere with outdoor seating on the Waterfront. Their pizza has a thin-ish crust. Can't go wrong with the Fire on the Mountain pizza. They usually have a couple other local beers in addition to their own on tap.
Papa Allen's Pizza - At the University Place apartments near campus. Never tried it.
PeppeBroni's - In a plaza on 705 near Sheetz. Never tried it.
Pies & Pints - I give them the nod on food over Mountain State because their non-pizza menu is much better. The pulled pork nachos are amazing. The Chicken Gouda is my favorite pizza. They have a nice selection of beer as well.
Phoenix Bakery - Probably not the first pizza place that comes to mind, but worth a try if you want takeout. I had a fig/prosciutto pizza from here once that was great.
Pizza Al's - Locations on University Avenue, Sabraton, and at the University Town Center. Classic NY style thin crust pizza. Lots of people people swear by Al's as the best in town.
Seafood
Crab Shack Carriba - Formerly Called Coach's Crab Shack, it's located at Cheat Lake near the Ices Ferry Bridge. They recently opened a second location at the Suncrest Town Center as well. If you go to here, you'll want to get a steamer. They are awesome. My favorite is the Shack Classic which has crab legs, shrimp, clams, kielbasa, potatoes, corn, and hushpuppies. I usually get it with the garlic butter sauce. Their entrees aside from steamers are just average, though. Word of warning - service can be on the slow side sometimes.
Flying Fish - A neat little seafood market/restaurant at Pierpont Landing. I like getting takeout from here since it's pretty close to my house. I love their fish taco, which should probably just be called a fish burrito given how big the thing is. Their jerk chicken has a really nice flavor, and the fish and chips are solid as well.
Sunday Brunch
Morgantown Flour and Feed - Never tried their brunch.
Clubhouse Grill - Tried their brunch for the first time a few weeks ago after seeing a nice menu on their website, but turns out they have a buffet set up instead. Probably marginally higher quality than what you'd get at the breakfast buffet at a hotel restaurant.
Crab Shack Carriba - Shouldn't be too surprising that they have a crab cake eggs benedict on the menu. Also have a DIY bloody mary bar.
Iron Horse Tavern - Fried donut holes coated in cinnamon and sugar with a vanilla porter dipping sauce? Yes please. They're the only brunch place with huevos rancheros on their menu, and it's awesome. Make a reservation if you're planning on brunch here.
Sargasso - They have a fancier brunch menu, though it's not super expensive like their dinner. They switch things up a good bit. Their eggs benedict is very rich and has creamed spinach on it- I'm a fan. It may be a silly thing to mention, but their coffee is great as well. For something on the lunch side of thinks, their teriyaki salmon bowl is a good option.
Table 9 - They serve brunch on Saturday and Sunday. I think I've tried about everything on the brunch menu at some point, though I just about always order the devils on horseback as an appetizer., My wife likes their sous vide eggs benedict. They have chicken and waffles as well. Reservation recommended for brunch.
Terra Cafe - They recently started doing a served brunch instead of a buffet. Eggs benedict, quiche, waffles- their menu is more on the breakfast side of things than the lunch side.
Tropics - Only tried their brunch once- pretty typical brunch menu with a few Hawaiian twists. Outdoor seating is nice when the weather is good.
Sweets (Places you might go to just for a quick dessert)
The Cupcakerie - Downtown and in the the mood for a fancy cupcake? This is your place.
Peace, Love, and Little Donuts - At the Suncrest Towne Centre, a smallish chain originating out of Pittsburgh. They have tasty little donuts topped with about every type of sweet thing imaginable.
Tutto Gelato Cafe - Located at Suburban Plaza next to Kegler's, their gelato is awesome. They have 15-20 flavors at any given time.
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