El Gran Sabor — Restaurant in Elkins

There are few places I would say this about, but El Gran Sabor is truly worth an 1 hr+ trip to come enjoy a meal here. I discovered it with a coworker who was traveling from Pittsburgh, and he has made sure that his returning trips to Elkins include a stop here for dinner. This is my new go-to guest hosting spot, because they always leave impressed. As a little walk-through of your experience, you enter into a house that has been converted into a chic restaurant and bar. After seating yourself, the owner or a staff member (all of whom are kind, helpful, and courteous, so don't be afraid to admit you aren't sure how to pronounce a Venezuelan dish or need help deciding between a special and a classic) will come take your order. There is indoor and outside seating, though I have yet to try sitting outside. Then comes your food. THE FOOD. Listen, the food here is unlike anything I have ever had, and I have never, ever left disappointed or hungry. I recommend the appetizer tostones, which come with delectable house sauces. Your meal will definitely be filling, or enough to snack on some great leftovers if you aren't feeling too hungry. This week, I stopped by for a cachapa shrimp special, and I loved it so much, I recommended it to another friend. I'll update my review with some photos next time I'm there. I'm too focused on the food to think about...

Nestled inside a historic home in what appears to be a mostly residential street, this restaurant is a hidden surprise to first time visitors such as myself. The dining area is quaint and comfortable, and perfect for a romantic dinner if one chooses. The restaurant appeared clean and tastefully decorated with photography from Mexico and Guatemala. (Yeah, not sure why not Venezuela either.) The staff is very friendly. Most importantly, let me speak about the food. I have never personally traveled to Venezuela, or been to another restaurant of this genre, so I can not speak to the authenticity. However, the food was delicious. An order of yucca fries, the Capacha with beef, which itself was an intriguing marrying of flavors with the sweet corn exterior and the salty meat and cheese mixture inside. I will definitely return to try some other items. With the atmosphere and carefully crafted cuisine, it won't break the bank, but it is worth the cost. Expect to spend $40-50 for two meals and drinks.

Wait, there is more....take a walk past the dining area, down a narrow hallway, and you find yourself in another world. There is a full bar, several more tables, and a small stage and dance floor. I unfortunately was not there for a concert, but I can imagine it is an intimate and energetic scene when they have a live band. I'll be looking out for that in the...

I arrived just before 6:30 pm with three friends and didn’t get my food until 7:50. First, shared a coconut shrimp appetizer which was good. Also shared yucca fries, which I’ve had other places before, and this was the skimpiest order of yucca fries I’ve ever had. My friend counted seven fries and some were tiny. Tasted good, but disappointed in quantity. Each meal was served separately so we couldn’t really dine together in that regard. Waitress informed me they ran out of the slow-roasted crispy pork taco special but were making more. I asked how they could make more considering the pork is slow-roasted. She was very nice and patient with my questions and I agreed to wait, but it took way too long. Just as I told her to forget it, they were plating it so she graciously put it in a to-go container. I couldn’t wait to eat the delicious, tender, slow-roasted pork, but instead had chunks of tough pork. I suspect since they ran out they cooked pork chops, perhaps, and cut them in chunks. It was disappointing. The beans, however, were delicious as well as the fried tostones. I will go back at some point, but this was my first time there and it was a bummer. I’ll definitely order something else. The band, however,...