Newest Local Restaurant Not Yet a Month Old, but is Getting Top Reviews with Fresh Menu at Familiar Site
By Jeff Toquinto on December 09, 2024
The restaurant business is not new to Brandon Ross. He has run chain restaurants, worked on the fairs and festivals circuit doing pop up restaurants, and most recently did what he has always wanted to do – own his own business.
Ross and co-owner Jason Snyder have opened up Kitchen and Spice Restaurant in Nutter Fort, right along U.S. Route 20. It is now 
occupying the space formerly held by its restaurant predecessor, Station Square.
occupying the space formerly held by its restaurant predecessor, Station Square.
The restaurant opened Nov. 15. Early business, said Ross, has been solid.
“It's going great. We’ve been well received,” said Ross. “Nutter Fort, Clarksburg, and the surrounding area has been kind to us. People have come in and tried us and we’re seeing a lot of familiar faces, which is good. We’re really happy with how things are going and are expecting to keep growing.”
Ross’ love for cooking began as a child. As a third-generation Italian immigrant, dinner time with a close family was about breaking bread, sharing life experiences, and showing family members and guests at the table love.
“That’s what got me into the cooking side of things,” he said.
As for training, it began at the Marion County Technical Center Pro Start where he began to learn about the culinary arts. At the same time, he was at Fairmont State University taking classes on the business front.
“That prepared me for getting started, and it has prepared me to run a business,” he said.
The current location did not happen by chance, but rather by being in the right place and learning about its availability. Ross and Snyder were at the Nutter Fort 100th-year celebration with their pop-up restaurant to allow the Farmington native to get a taste of the area.
“We kind of fell in love with the community because it has traditional small town feel that I’ve been associated with most of my life,” said 
Ross. “It’s a charming town in West Virginia that Jason (from Mount Clare) and I are used to.”
Ross. “It’s a charming town in West Virginia that Jason (from Mount Clare) and I are used to.”
While all involved liked the community and the thought of opening a restaurant was there, it all came together when Ross’ wife Lacey, a funeral director at Amos Carvelli, found out from Randy Amos that the restaurant site was available.
“Randy Amos frequented the previous restaurant and talked to the owners who told him they were ready to retire, and he passed that information along,” said Ross. “With us looking for a spot, it all fell into place.”
So, what’s cooking? The food is American style with a southern influence. There are hoagies, including a sausage hoagie and vegetable 
portabella mushroom hoagie, cheeseburgers, fresh cut fries, chicken sandwiches, soups, desserts, and homemade coleslaw. There is also a “grab and go” cooler with fresh salads and fruit, and even homemade chocolate mousse.
portabella mushroom hoagie, cheeseburgers, fresh cut fries, chicken sandwiches, soups, desserts, and homemade coleslaw. There is also a “grab and go” cooler with fresh salads and fruit, and even homemade chocolate mousse.
“We’ve had a lot of positive feedback, particularly on our burgers, which are made with fresh meat. We try to use everything with high quality and fresh ingredients and make the food from scratch with few exceptions,” said Ross. “Even then, we use a quality product. For our hoagies, we use buns from D’Annunzio’s.”
The business is located at 424 Buckhannon Pike, Nutter Fort. The phone number is 304-566-7238. Individuals can dine in or take out.
The business is open Monday through Saturday. The hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows owners Brandon Ross, left, and Jason Snyder. Bottom two photos shows some of what you can expect at the new restaurant.
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