Railyard Restaurant now open
By Wayne Sheets, Contributing Business WriterArticle Photos
The Railyard Restaurant in Elkins opened on Nov. 12 ending a long period of anticipation as to when it would become available to serve the public.
"We are happy to finally be able to serve the citizens of our community," owner Kathy Smith said. "We wanted to open sooner but we didn't have the staff to serve our visitors that came to ride the train and to attend the American Mountain Theater and the public, too. Now that the summer tourist season has ended, we are ready and able to concentrate on serving the public in the manner in which they have for so long anticipated. And, to make sure everyone understands, we will be open to the public next year throughout the tourist season."
Smith said she and her husband, John, came up with the "great idea" that they needed a place large enough to serve the groups of tourist coming to Elkins to ride the trains and to enjoy an evening of entertainment at the American Mountain Theater.
"In order to serve our visitors better, we purchased this beautiful facility from Harold and Julia Elbon, owners of Prime Properties, who had the foresight to build at such a great location," Smith said. "Located adjacent to the American Mountain Theater, the Elkins Railroad Depot, the Town Square and the Holiday Inn Express, it is convenient to everything our traveling guests need for an enjoyable and convenient visit to Elkins and the surrounding community."
Smith said her staff of chefs and servers are looking forward to providing "fine upscale, as well as convenient and economical, dining.
"We have an interesting and varied menu that will provide an enjoyable meal for everyone during the day's working hours and early evening, and for those who wish to enjoy a leisure evening of quiet upscale dining in the Vista Dome with friends and family."
Smith said she hopes people will follow the suggestion of the restaurant's slogan, "The Railyard Restaurant - Take the track to the place with exceptional taste and come join us for an enjoyable and memorable dining experience."
Chef Billy Davis will oversee the cuisine preparation for diners in the Vista Dome and will help on the lower level as well. Davis comes to the newly opened restaurant with more than 20 years of culinary experience.
"I attended the Pittsburg Culinary Institute for a while, but I had to quit and come back home to help take care of my family," Davis said. "I received most of my early training and education at home under the watchful and demanding eye of my mother. She was an excellent teacher because she expected that no small detail be overlooked.
"I look forward to a long and exciting career here at the Railyard Restaurant," Davis said. "I was born and raised in the Canaan Valley and have found the nearly perfect place to work close to home. John and Kathy Smith are wonderful people to work for and all the employees are great to work with. I hope our customers will enjoy their dining experience here as much as I enjoy working to make their dining experience a pleasant and memorable one."
Paul Dascanio will be supervising the lower level culinary operations. He hails from Pittsburgh, Pa., and graduated from the Pittsburgh Institute of Culinary Arts "longer ago than I like to remember," he said. He brings with him more than 30 years of culinary experience.
"I came to Elkins to visit a friend while I was in Pittsburgh and fell in love with the place," Dascanio said. "I love the scenery and to hunt and fish.
According to Dascanio, the restaurant's cuisine is always fresh and homemade. The breakfast menu includes scrapple and fried apples, but the feature is the jumbo homemade cinnamon roll.
"This beauty covers your entire plate piled high with cream cheese icing," he said.
The lunch menu features hand-cut sweet potato fries, and for a dinner special treat, the restaurant has brought back the old-time cabbage roll.
"We are excited about our homemade zeppoles," Dascanio said. "This tasty little donut hole-style sugar-coated Italian treat will be a complimentary feature for every diner at every meal. I'm sure everyone will enjoy it."
Tonya Smith completes the chef roster. She came to Buckhannon, where she worked for the Old Mill Restaurant for 18 years, from Mesquite, Texas.
"When I learned about this new restaurant, I couldn't wait to get here," she said. "I left my old job to come here because I feel that I have a much better opportunity for advancement than I have ever had. I've been associated with Kathy Smith's operations for over a year and a half now and have really enjoyed working for her and with the other employees. Elkins is growing community and I'm happy and excited to be able to be a part of it."
In addition to the usual fare, the menu features some dishes that were popular on dining cars when travel by rail was in vogue. Dinner in the Vista Dome, the restaurant's upper level, features a wide variety of dishes including beef, pork, chicken, seafood, pasta and a wide selection of fine wines and cocktails. The lower level menu offers, in addition to a wide selection of tasty entrees, a variety of sandwiches, hamburgers and desserts. A large selection of foreign and domestic beer is available on the lower level. A menu that includes burgers, hotdogs, spaghetti and their every-favorite mac-n-cheese is available for the youngsters.
Lower level dining is available from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Wednesdays through Sundays. Fine upscale dining in the Vista Dome is open from 4 p.m. until 10 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays.
"We are fortunate to have found the 19 wonderful and hard working employees that make up our serving staff," Smith said. "They are capable, dedicated and hard working people. I hope or customers enjoy their dining experience as much as they enjoy preparing the meals and attending to their every dining wish."
The Rails and Trails Gift Shop, adjacent to the lower level dining room, is open during dining hours for browsing any time.
For information and to make reservations, call 304-635-0108.
