The great thing about having a friend who reviews restaurants is that you get to join them when they try new restaurants. So, when I told my friend Candace that I was going to be visiting my hometown for my sister's graduation and that we should hang out, she immediately had a list of places we should grab food from while we caught up.
Most of the places we went were actually inside Centre Market. Centre Market is in Wheeling, WV. It was built in 1853 and is made up of locally owned stores, cafes, and eateries. I'd say restaurants, but they're more like little delis or stands that you can buy food from and enjoy the ambiance of the market while you enjoy your food.
Valley Cheese - Low Carb Friendly
When trying to stay low carb, a stand that sells meat and cheese seems like an obvious and safe choice. I did not regret it. You could buy a block of cheese or meat and call it a day - no judgment - or you could do what I did and buy one of their samplers. They had a few options. I went with the Baby Swiss, Colby, salami, pepperoni, and hot pepper cheese trail bologna sampler. They will ask if you want honey mustard, but they also have Dijon mustard or regular if you ask for it.
The staff was very friendly and helpful. They were willing to answer any question I had about their products and find the best options to help me stay low carb.
Centre Market Bakery - Not Low Carb Friendly
This shouldn't really surprise anyone, but I figured I'd take a look anyway. There was nothing there you could even pretend or in the biggest stretch imaginable convince yourself that even just one bite would be low carb friendly.
Did you know, according to the American Diabetes Association 15.3% of adults West Virginia have diabetes and 35.9% have pre-diabetes? So, if a bakery did open that offered low carb and low/no sugar options, then I'd think it'd do pretty well. I know I would buy from a bakery like that.
The Soup Shack - Low Carb Friendly
We got to meet the owner, Frank. He was a very pleasant guy and willing to tell me exactly what he put in his soups to accommodate any dietary restriction I may have and to make sure I didn't eat anything I didn't want to. I first asked about the lobster bisque. Sadly, there is flour in that. So I asked about the basil tomato soup. It was a simple recipe with the carbiest item being the tomatoes themselves.
So, I ordered myself a cup (literally) of tomato soup and joined Candace at the table. The soup was pretty delicious. It was creamy, and you could taste the different flavor profiles of the ingredients. I'd definitely recommend it. I actually ended up dipping some of my cheese in the soup when I ran out of mustard. It reminded me of when I was a kid and would dip my grilled cheese sandwiches into my tomato soup.
Coleman's Fish Market - Low Carb Friendly
I should point out I didn't actually get to eat here. Although, we walked by all the delicious looking fish 5 or 6 times while in the Centre Market. Their menu is made up of A LOT of carbie and fried fish options. However, if you just want to be a bear, get a slab of salmon or tuna and go to town as if you're eating sashimi, then go for it! YOU DO YOU. I was very tempted to do so while I was there. They also have shrimp you could buy, and a few options on their menu looked to be low carb at a glance.
These are just a few of the places in and near Centre Market in Wheeling, WV. Overall, I'd have to say that Centre Market is low carb friendly. There's also local artwork inside the Centre Market House and antique shops and little boutiques sprinkled around the area. If you're looking for a fast bite or an interesting place for food and a stroll, check it out.