Fayetteville’s tremendous food scene was one of the major reasons we created Lafayette Flat Boutique Vacation Rentals a decade ago this year. For a town of less than 3,000 people, the number of outstanding locally-owned eateries defies explanation, except that – like us – people who come to New River Gorge National Park to hike, bike, climb and paddle love good food. Here are our favorites.

Brussel Sprouts at Wanderlust Creativefoods

Just down the street from Lafayette Flats is an unassuming little restaurant where the artistry of the food belies the modest surroundings. The Brussels sprouts here are delicately fried, drizzled with a white balsamic reduction and garnished with Parmesan-Reggiano. Pair them with the pork belly entrée or the lamb burger and get ready to have your mind blown!

Tuscan Chicken and Gnocchi at the Gaines Estate

The newest and most upscale restaurant in Fayetteville is located in an historic mansion just a short walk from downtown. We recently had the Tuscan Chicken and Gnocchi (perfectly seasoned chicken, hand-made gnocchi, sundried tomatoes, spinach, and baby bella mushrooms in a white sauce). It was absolutely scrumptious and we can’t wait to have it again.

The Van Buren at Secret Sandwich Society

To say Secret Sandwich Society is a Fayetteville institution is woefully inadequate. When it suffered a catastrophic fire a few years ago, the heartache was felt through the whole community. Now it’s back and better than ever with its signature sandwiches and salads. The Van Buren is a classic pastrami on rye and one of our favorites – in a place where it’s hard to pick a favorite.

Sushi Bowl at the Takeout

As the name implies, this unique restaurant specializes in food to go, and Amy’s favorite is the Sushi Bowl (rice, salmon, tuna, crab, carrot, avocado, scallions, sweet soy glaze, sriracha, aioli, and crispy fried onions). They also have a menu of flavor combinations you can try in a salad or a sandwich. Stop by their new location on Court St. for some healthy, colorful, yummy food.

Heirloom Tomato Pie at Pies and Pints

The best pizza on the planet. Unfortunately, it is only available late summer to early fall when tomatoes are fresh and full of flavor. Thankfully, many of the other special artisan pizzas they offer keep us satisfied from October to August. In addition to being delicious, Pies and Pints is rock solid with their hours of operation which we greatly appreciate.

Carrot Cake at Cathedral Cafe

Legendary. That’s the word for Cathedral’s carrot cake. Located in an old church just a block away from Lafayette Flats, Cathedral Cafe’s ambience is pretty great too. They’ve been closed for the past couple of months but their remodel is complete, and they are once again churning out carrot cake and other great breakfast, lunch and drink specialties.

Birria Tacos at Don Rizo

We love Mexican cuisine, and Don Rizo – a relative newcomer to the Fayetteville restaurant lineup – is one of our favorite places to visit for the usual dishes as well as some unique offerings. Shawn is particularly fond of Birria Tacos, and Don Rizo has some of the best we’ve found anywhere.

Belgian Waffle at Wood Iron Eatery

We love Wood Iron’s waffles, but who doesn’t? The maple drizzle is delish, but it’s the honeycomb butter that really takes it up a notch. They also serve one one of our favorite lunch sandwiches, the Rockfish. It is a twist on the classic fish sandwich with its brioche bun, greens, lemon tartar, and house made lemon vinaigrette.

Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich at Southside Junction Tap House

Southside is a lively spot to have a cold brew and they serve up some tasty eats too. Their specials are always on point, but our favorite menu item is the Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (fried chicken in house-made Nashville Hot Sauce topped with slaw and pickles).

West Virginia Hotdogs at Swiftwater General Store

While not geographically eligible to be included in a list of Fayetteville foods, we think the short drive across the big bridge is worth the exception to get West Virginia-style hot dogs at Swiftwater General Store. What’s a WV-style hotdog? Chili, slaw, mustard and onion.

Craving more data for your New River Gorge exploration? Read “What Makes Little Fayetteville, WV so Special?” and “Our 10 Favorite Things About Fayetteville, WV.”