Once you make it past marveling at how much the facility has changed brace yourself for a menu that has no resembelence to the buildings former fare. Out went the tex-mex and in came the jerk chicken, fish tacos, and my personal favorite, the Rajun Cajun Burger.

The prices are pretty middle of the road with a burger and fries setting you back about $8 before tax. However, the quality of the food is quite a bit better than average. I’ve yet to have a poorly cooked dish and, in fact, the cook always gets my meat orders to just the right temperature. You’ll also be happy to know that no matter how “done” you want your beef it will still come out juicy.

The only real drawback to the place is it can be slow for a weekday lunch so don’t go there if you don’t have a flexible lunch schedule. However, it’s great for dinner or a weekend change of pace.

Finally, make sure you ask for the Cajun Sauce if you choose the Rajun Cajun Burger – that stuff is amazing and really makes their burger the best in town.

841 4th Ave
Huntington, WV 25701
(304) 781-5000

http://www.francoispastryshop.com/

It was this juxtaposition that captured my attention the last time I dined at the restaurant. The piece, like many other works adorning the walls of the restaurant, are simply decorative in nature. Yet, somehow the picture’s combination of casual and confrontational seemed to encapsulate what Rio Grande is to the welcome diner.

The casual atmosphere is clear the minute one enters the restaurant, as an initial entry illustrates a softly lit dining area supplied with ample seating. In my many returns to the restaurant, there has always been a number of fellow patrons, but I have yet to feel cramped in the spacious accommodations.

Likewise, the staff is efficient with both orders and follow up. Almost immediately upon arriving at our table, we were presented with a basket of warm and crisp tortilla chips and zesty salsa. The chips are sturdy, not flimsy like the ones you may encounter exiting a plastic bag from your local grocer and “snap” with each bite, offering a nice counter-melody to the conversation at hand.

The salsa has a blended-thin consistency, coating chips with each dunking. The hints of onion and cilantro are present with every bite. Still, larger chunks of tomato can be found, making it a handsome reward for repeated dippers.

The portions are large, served on piping-hot plates. Obvious mexican fare like tacos and nachos are common; with the chicken or beef-stuffed Jumbo Burrito (despite it’s oxymoronic literal translation as ‘jumbo little burro’) standing out among the rest. House specials also dot the menu, such as the delightful triple chicken enchilada “Special Pollo.” Beef, chicken, seafood, and vegetarian menu items are all available and quite large in portion size at reasonable prices, most falling well below $10.

Rio Grande is also renowned for their drink selections. The 4th avenue location is also home to a fully-stocked bar. Margaritas are standard-issue to most patrons; well-crafted concoctions both on ice or frozen, with a good blend of lime. The restaurant also features a hardy selection of domestic and foreign beers, with the later leaning heavily on Latin American favorites like Dos Equis, Corona, and Negra Modelo.

Despite the excellent combination of surroundings, service, food and spirits, what makes Rio Grande a premier Huntington destination is its rather temporal qualities. A visit to Rio Grande has a way of slowing down the quickened pace of even the most harried Huntingtonian. Conversations linger, bounding from subject to subject. Laughter rolls and grows, cracking like distant thunder, while drinks seemingly multiply from one to two or three.

When one leaves the restaurant, their lives haven’t been changed; just injected with the warmth of a Monterrey evening. A little San Angel in the Appalachia.

Just like the portrait above the booth; a blend of serenity and spice.

With that in mind, we love 21 at the Frederick.  With funky elephant foot, leather bar stools, dim lights, and jazz in the background, the bar feels like what (I imagine) a midtown Manhattan club felt like in the 50′s. The restaurant’s wood paneled walls are highlighted with oil paintings; and the tables and booths are arranged so that a couple or small group can have an intimate dinner.

While the meal and service are always outstanding, the restaurant never feels stuffy. The staff are warm and friendly, and know regulars by name, drink, and dinner preferences. You will often be personally greeted by the owners, Mark and Izzy Cross.

The chef, Jason Oesterreicher, formerly from the Greenbrier, prepares outstanding continental and fusion dishes such as braised short ribs, lobster egg rolls, paella and seared ahi tuna; classic dishes like chicken provencal and tenderloin; and a dinner they accurately call, “The Man Meal.” Appetizers and light meals, which include delights such as empenadas, gnocchi, and hand made pizzas range from $5 to $15 (or so). Dinner portions are enormous and range in price from $20 – $40+. The very good wine list includes California, South American, and European wines, ranging from $20 and up.

At the risk of stirring much debate I will gladly pronounce that when my wife and I want to go out to dinner, not just to get some food, our first choice is always 21 at the Frederick.

For information, go to: www.21Frederick.com.

My personal favorites are the Cobb Salad, the blue cheese burger, and the fish & chips, a.k.a., Codzilla. My wife likes the burgers so much that she passes by the Reuben, one of her favorite sandwiches! We also go for the Guinness draught, a rarity here in Huntington.

So for a family diner out, girls’/guys’ night, or a date, you can’t beat Fat Patty’s for a “burger and a beer”!

The facility itself has been completely remodeled and the new atmosphere is really great. The building used to house an all you an eat Chinese buffet that felt like a large cavernous cafeteria. Now each table is intimately arranged and the warm wood tones throughout the dining room really add a touch of class. When you first enter the restaurant you can see off to your left a sleek and modern black topped bar and off to the right is a fully staffed sushi bar. The rest of the dining area is broken down into small tables or booths for casual dining where diners can select between Chinese, Japanese, and Thai dishes. While the food is disparate the decor seems to settle on a mostly modern urban Japanese thanks to the mixed wood and stainless steel finish.

In my lunch party today we each tried a different lunch special and we were pleased with both the quality and the presentation of the food. The egg rolls, something I generally don’t care for, were even very good. Combined with the tasty food was impeccable service ranging from our friendly waitress to the quiet support staff that made sure our glasses were never more than half empty. We didn’t have a chance to sample their sushi, desserts, or the more formal and entertaining Hibachi Steak House though they all promise to be very good if our lunch was any indication.

The Taste of Asia is on 3rd ave near the corner of 8th street so you can find plenty of parking nearby thanks to the Pullman Square parking garages as well as the parking complex near the Huntington Big Sandy Superstore Arena which is just across the street. The Taste of Asia would be a great first course for a night out enjoying dinner and a movie at Pullman Cinemas.

Taste of Asia Hibachi Japanese Steak House & Grill
821 3rd Ave Huntington, WV
304-781-2222