Mountain Creek | Fine Dining — Restaurant in Hinton

5 stars for one of a kind setting. Desperately want this place to be a smash, and love to support and promote local. So disappointed. 1 star for tables, chairs and restaurant layout, 1.5 stars for food.Awesome evening, perfect spring weather. Ride ski lift type tram into the gorge. Spectacular view, floor to ceiling windows. Perfect start for a One of a kind evening not possible in the big city.

Enter through a deserted, unfurnished unsightly and messy bar area. (Such potential) At first I thought it might be closed for renovation. Mop streaked tile floors, highlighted by bright lights, sticky tabletop. Gone are table cloths or linens. Cheap, I mean ultra cheap uncomfortable chairs. Noise level for 2/3 empty place deafening. Conversation nearly impossible. Tables, layout and cleanliness reminds one of fast food court at a low class, failing mall.

Except.... Floor to high ceiling windows overlooking stream... spectacular! One of a kind breathtaking view.

Menu prices significant lower than prior chef. Back to reality. Menu full of great sounding Signature smoked entrees. What arrived was dry, almost inedible. Left most of my entree. Extensive wine list, of which only 2 (1 red, 1 white) available. Full bar, but no bartender. Understaffed, completely inexperienced servers. Slow service despite small number of tables only partially full. Forgot meal 1 of the 4 at the table, did get a substitute entree out quickly.. Dirty dishes piled up on table next to us when we were seated, still there when we left. Ugh.

We brought a couple for a special treat. They were polite, we were...

Wow. Has this place went downhill this season or what?!? I have been going to Mountain Creek Lodge countless times every season since I can remember. I even got engaged to my husband here years ago!! We went this weekend and I honestly could not believe it. In the past few years, they have seemed short staffed. However, this weekend REALLY took the cake. We walked in having a reservation, and they have removed the check in desk- most likely because they didn’t gave enough staff to work it. We stood there, with two other parties without being helped, for well over 10 minutes. When we finally got someone’s attention and were seated, our poor waiter was so busy and flustered, he didn’t ask us for our drink order. He forgot our bread, forgot the sorbet, forgot some desserts from our table and make no doubt about it- NONE of this was his fault. He was running around frantic trying to help and service all of his tables. After we ate and left, there were three other parties standing out in the lobby complaining and stating they wouldn’t be back. Plus, whoever decided on the new tile floor obviously didn’t take into consideration the acoustics of a room with tile floor, wood and window falls and ceiling. It is so LOUD in there you can’t even hear your company at the same table. They have taken an intimate, fine dining experience and ruined it. While I will absolutely give Mountain Creek and Pipestem another chance as I have grown up here- this is supposed to represent the state of WV. Surely, they can do so...

So disappointed. Use to be one of our favorites when staying at Pipestem . The only good thing was the drinks and we needed them. The bartender was great. Once seated we had to ask for a waitress who was overwhelmed. The onion soup was puréed -tasted good but not what we expected. And the prime rib was very poorly cooked. The park system has made this fine dining experience into a poor dining experience. The tram ride down is great and the creek view is very nice. Hopefully the dining experience will be re evaluated soon Hopefully they will change it...