Unique Eats

Sure, we all know Chicago-style pizza, or New York-style pizza, but if you’re a true pizza aficionado, you’ll want to try Ohio Valley-style pizza. This square pie is served simultaneously hot and cold, with chilled cheese and pepperoni placed atop cooked dough and savory tomato sauce. A traditional slice is topped with grated provolone and two pepperoni slices per square piece, but other toppings can be added as well.

The original purveyor of Ohio Valley-style pizza is family-owned DiCarlo’s Pizza, where the owners’ son, Primo, returned from World War II with the idea to add pizza, a popular dish he’d sampled in Italy, to the offerings at the family’s bakery. You’ll find a few different variations on the theme in the Ohio Valley area, including places that cook a thin layer of cheese along with the dough and sauce before adding more cheese. Speaking of sauce, Ohio Valley-style isn’t sweet — DiCarlo’s pizza sauce is famously super savory.

No matter what you love to eat — whether savory or sweet — Belmont County is the place for any palate. Here’s a roundup of a few local favorites. Use this as a starter kit and find your favorite foods in Belmont County!

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The Pike 40

The Pike 40, located in an original U.S. Route 40 roadhouse, is a culinary tribute to the traditions and crops of the Ohio Valley. They offer locally sourced ingredients and tastes, including burgers made from Akaushi Wagyu beef from Dutton Cattle Co. in Flushing, Ohio.

Belmont Brewerks

Belmont Brewerks opened in 2020 in the nearly 150-year-old Belmont Brewing Company building. Housebrewed beers pay homage to the now fully renovated building’s history, and customers can enjoy family-friendly vibes, a full menu and specialty cocktails. Try the Purple Elephant, made with their Belmont Wheat beer and a shot of house-made blueberry flavoring, and a delectable flatbread or brisket-blend burger.