by Brooke Buchanan
Although the WVU Parkersburg’s cafeteria has decent food, eating here everyday can become boring.
In addition to the college cafeteria, many students flock to Burger King, located right down the road in the GoMart, to get something different than what the college cafeteria has to offer.
Just past the college, located at 3970 Staunton Turnpike Parkersburg, Cheryl’s Country Diner is sure to please anyone looking for a delicious home-cooked meal at a reasonable price.
The establishment is decorated with country decor and gives guests the feel of eating at home, without having to go through the trouble of preparing the meal themselves. The staff is incredibly friendly and makes you feel at home the minute you walk through the door.
Here, I ordered baked steak with mashed potatoes, gravy and cheese fries. Every dinner meal is served with the best rolls a local Mid-Ohio Valley restaurant has to offer. The baked steak with two sides and a roll is priced at $8, with an additional $1.65 to $3.39 for beverages, depending on what you get.
The baked steak was delicious and nearly fell apart as soon as I touched the fork to it; no hard cutting required. The mashed potatoes paired with the baked steak is the perfect combination. Although the gravy that covered the mashed potatoes and baked steak tasted like it was Heinz Homestyle Gravy, it still made the perfect dressing for the meal.
In addition to their dinner meals, the diner serves homemade pies. Although I did not have a piece myself, I was told they are incredible.
Cheryl’s Country Diner is open Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., and Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m..
For the menu, contact information and more, check out their Facebook page.
In addition to Cheryl’s Country Kitchen, The Hideout on 47, located at 1141 Staunton Turnpike, is a good place to eat as well.
Rather than the country cuisine Cheryl’s offers, the Hideout serves guests with some incredible American staples.
This establishment surrounds guests with a traditional small restaurant atmosphere and a bar to please the of-age guests. In addition to the bar, the Hideout is equipped with a pool table and a jukebox.
With the menu being filled with American staples, such as hamburgers, hotdogs and pizza, I ordered a simple hotdog with cheese. The meal, priced at $4.49, was also topped with my choice of chips, beer battered fries or crinkle fries.
This hotdog was as good as a hotdog could be. It tasted as if it was boiled, but it was really good. The Hideout makes their own bread, and this bun was one of a kind: very tasty.
My father, who also accompanied me to the Hideout, ordered a philly cheesesteak, priced at $7.99. He described his meal as pretty average. Just like my meal, his came with a choice of side as well.
He thought the steak was good. Despite finding it a little tough, he still thought it made for a good sandwich.
Although he found the made from scratch daily bread to be good, he said that it would’ve been better on a different bread, perhaps something Italian. This bread would be better used for a grilled cheese or as a side dish topped with butter.
Overall our bill came to a total a little over $20, and the food, as well as the friendly staff, was worth the price.
The Hideout is open from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Monday – Thursday and 11 a.m. – 12 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, while being closed on Sundays.
In addition to their food, the Hideout also has karaoke and comedy nights throughout the week. For a listing of their events, menus and contact information, check out their Facebook page.
Despite these two restaurants offering different type of cuisine, one thing is for sure: they both have great food. If you’re looking for a different place to eat other than the cafeteria, or just want to try something new, check out the Hideout and Cheryl’s Country Kitchen.
The Chronicle 