Butterscotch, coconut, cherry, banana, pumpkin and apple pie can all share one dessert bar here. That’s before anyone mentions the cookies and ice cream.
The buffet itself reportedly runs past 80 items. Baked steak, meatloaf, pot roast and fried fish keep showing up in the conversation.
I like how the whole spread reads like a church supper that never packed up.
Then there are the walls. Old photos of local people, river floods and town history fill the dining rooms.
A portrait of boxer Jack Dempsey even hangs there, tied to a 1940s visit.
I can’t imagine a better excuse for a drive across West Virginia. So where does a buffet like this still exist, and how has it held on for so long?
A Riverside Buffet Where Supper Never Went Out Of Style
Quinet’s Restaurant sits on Main Street in New Martinsville, right in the heart of Wetzel County. It’s a buffet restaurant built on home-style cooking, scratch-made sides and a famously loaded dessert bar.
The location is part of the charm. The restaurant sits across the street from the Wetzel County Courthouse, with the Ohio River just beyond.
You get small-town West Virginia scenery before you even pick up a plate.
The menu goes beyond the buffet, too. You can order from the regular menu, so a cheeseburger fan won’t feel left out.
Still, the buffet is the headliner, and it’s easy to see why.
Quinet’s leans hard into comfort food without apology. Think baked steak, fried chicken, meatloaf and mac and cheese sharing one long lineup.
Then add homemade pies that could make a church bake sale nervous.
I love that it feels rooted in its town rather than built for tourists. It’s the kind of spot where a lunch break can turn into a long, happy afternoon.
And it makes a strong case for a Main Street meal over another highway drive-thru.
Hungry yet? Good, because the story behind it is just as filling.
Eight Decades Of Feeding New Martinsville
Some restaurants count years. Quinet’s seems to count generations instead.
The restaurant has served home-cooked comfort food since 1941, according to its own history. Its roots as a local gathering spot reportedly reach back even earlier, into the early 1900s.
That’s a long run in any town.
Over the decades, the business grew well past its modest start. It now includes five private dining rooms, which says plenty about how often folks gather here.
Club meetings, family dinners and group lunches all have room to spread out.
The restaurant has long served as a meeting place for community groups. Some organizations even hold annual meetings there year after year.
In a small town, that kind of loyalty says more than any billboard could.
There’s a family-reunion feel to that history. People who grew up nearby often come back while visiting home.
For many, a stop here seems to be part of the trip itself.
I believe that’s the real secret of a place lasting since the 1940s. It keeps feeding the same community through good years and lean ones.
The food matters, but so does that steady sense of belonging.
Walls That Double As A Hometown Scrapbook
Bring your reading glasses, because the décor here tells stories. The dining rooms are lined with historical pictures of local people and events.
Those photos cover the city, its residents and the dramatic flooding of the Ohio River. For a river town like New Martinsville, those flood images carry real weight.
They show how much the community has weathered.
The star of the collection might surprise you. A portrait of legendary boxer Jack Dempsey hangs on the wall, honoring his visit to Quinet’s in the 1940s.
That’s a fun fact to drop between bites of pie.
Some visitors have even spotted their own relatives in the old photos. Imagine finding your great-grandfather staring back at you near the dessert bar.
That turns lunch into a genealogy field trip.
I like how the walls invite you to linger rather than rush. Kids can hunt for the boxer while parents point out old storefronts.
Grandparents may have the best stories of all.
For anyone who loves West Virginia history, this is a free museum with mashed potatoes. Take a slow lap before you sit down.
You’ll likely notice something new on every visit.
Over 80 Reasons To Grab Another Plate
Eighty-plus items. That’s the number attached to the Quinet’s buffet, and it’s a lot of real estate for one meal.
The spread covers hot entrées, classic sides, a salad bar, breads and desserts. Some days lean toward Sunday-dinner favorites.
Others feel like a county fair and a family reunion teamed up.
The value grabs attention too. The buffet is often described as fair-priced, especially given how much is offered.
For parents feeding a hungry crew, that matters as much as the menu.
Fair warning, though. The lineup has reportedly shrunk somewhat since the pandemic, with a few buffet bars and favorite dishes no longer offered.
Longtime fans have noticed, so check what’s out on the day you visit.
Even so, picky eaters rarely leave empty-handed. Meat lovers, salad fans and dessert-first people can all build their dream plate.
That’s the beauty of a big buffet done in home-style fashion.
My advice? Scout the entire lineup before committing.
Small portions of many things beat one mountain of mashed potatoes. Trust me, the pie section deserves room you saved on purpose.
Baked Steak, Meatloaf And Other Main-Event Comfort
Baked steak gets mentioned a lot when Quinet’s comes up. It’s a true Appalachian comfort classic, and it fits right at home on this buffet.
The hot lineup reaches well beyond one dish. Look for meatloaf, pot roast, roast beef, baked chicken and roasted turkey.
Ribs with sauerkraut and meatballs also appear among the favorites.
Fried food fans have options too. Fried chicken and fried fish show up regularly, and catfish has its own fan club.
Liver and onions has made appearances as well, for those who love the old-school stuff.
The restaurant says its food is prepared fresh daily. The motto is no preservatives, just like mom used to make.
That promise fits the whole home-kitchen feel.
The meatloaf seems to win people over in a big way. Pot roast also earns warm words, especially paired with mashed potatoes.
These are the dishes that taste like a Sunday table in West Virginia.
Not every dish lands for everyone, of course. Tastes vary, and buffets have good days and quieter ones.
Still, if comfort food is your thing, this lineup reads like a love letter to grandma’s recipe box.
The Side Dishes Deserve Their Own Fan Club
Mac and cheese might be the quiet hero here. It’s one of the most-mentioned dishes on the whole buffet.
The sides cover every comfort base you’d hope for. Mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans, corn and carrots all make regular appearances.
Homemade noodles are part of the tradition too.
Bread gets its own spotlight. Cornbread, yeast rolls and fresh-baked bread rolls round out the plate.
Some folks love the cornbread, while others prefer the rolls.
That mix of opinions is honest buffet life. Everyone has a favorite side and one dish they skip.
The good news is you can try a spoonful of each before deciding.
I like how these sides feel straight out of a church potluck. Nothing fussy, nothing trendy, just familiar food in generous variety.
Pair them with baked steak and you’ve got a classic West Virginia supper.
Here’s a tip for parents with picky kids. Mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and corn are easy wins at the table.
Meanwhile, you can load up on the green beans and pretend that balances out the pie.
A Salad Bar That Actually Earns Its Spot
Plenty of comfort-food buffets treat the salad bar like an afterthought. At Quinet’s, it’s one of the features people mention most.
The salad bar offers fresh greens and a range of toppings. Mixed fruit and pasta salad also show up for those who want something lighter.
It makes a crisp opener before the heavier dishes.
Diners often point out how fresh and fully stocked the bars stay. That’s no small feat when a busy dining room keeps pulling from them.
Clean, full trays make a buffet feel cared for.
Having a solid salad option helps groups with different appetites. One person can go big on fried chicken.
Another can keep things green and still feel well fed.
I believe a good salad bar quietly improves the whole meal. It gives your plate some color and your stomach a short break.
Then you’re ready for round two of meatloaf.
Think of it as a strategy, not a sacrifice. A light first plate leaves extra room for the real headliners.
And in this building, the real headliners are waiting on the dessert table.
Save Room, Because The Pie Lineup Is Serious
Ten different homemade pies on one visit. That’s the kind of count that makes dessert the main reason to go.
The flavors read like a grandmother’s holiday table. Butterscotch, pumpkin, banana, coconut, cherry and apple have all appeared.
Banana cream pie gets especially warm praise.
Pie isn’t the only sweet thing waiting. The dessert bar also includes cookies and ice cream.
Chocolate cake and fruit cobblers reportedly join the party too.
Pies are among the most talked-about items at Quinet’s Restaurant. Few buffets can say their desserts get as much attention as their entrées.
Here, the sweet finish nearly steals the show.
So how do you choose? A sliver of two or three pies is a perfectly reasonable plan.
Nobody is grading you on restraint.
I can’t imagine leaving without at least one slice. Grab a fork, find a cream pie and a fruit pie, then compare notes.
Call it research for your next trip back to West Virginia.
Honestly, it’s the closest thing to Sunday at grandma’s you’ll find in a restaurant. Just without having to wash the dishes afterward.
Friendly Service With A Hometown Feel
Smiles seem to come standard here. Friendly staff are one of the most common themes tied to Quinet’s.
Diners often describe being seated quickly and checked on often. Polite servers and helpful answers make a big buffet feel less overwhelming.
That matters when you’re new and staring at dozens of choices.
The atmosphere leans relaxed and laid back. Nobody’s rushing you through a meal or pushing a fancy dining vibe.
It’s simply a comfortable room for lunch or supper.
Who suits this spot best? Retirees, road-trippers, families and working folks all fit right in.
Even motorcyclists make it a regular ride from across the state.
Families visiting home often treat it like a reunion stop. Some longtime diners say they’ve been coming for decades.
That kind of history makes the room feel warm before the food arrives.
For parents, it’s an easy win. Kids can order from the menu while adults hit the buffet.
Everybody leaves full, and nobody had to cook, which is a vacation in itself.
That relaxed mood might be the restaurant’s quietest strength.
Catering Big Enough For Ten Thousand Guests
Ten thousand people. That’s how large an event Quinet’s says its catering can handle.
The restaurant is known as one of the largest caterers in the Ohio Valley. It’s a big claim for a Main Street eatery, and it shows how far the kitchen reaches.
The same home-style approach travels well beyond the dining room.
Catering covers everything from formal affairs to smaller private parties. Weddings, reunions, company picnics and community events all fit the model.
That’s useful for planners who want comfort food on a crowd scale.
The five private dining rooms help too. Groups can gather on site without renting a separate hall.
Annual meetings and club lunches are a natural fit.
I like how this side of the business connects back to community. A restaurant that feeds the town daily also feeds its biggest celebrations.
That’s a neat full-circle tradition.
If you’re planning a family event in West Virginia or nearby Ohio, keep this option in mind. Baked steak and homemade pie make a reception far more memorable.
Your guests will probably ask who catered before they ask for seconds.
Plan Your Plate Before You Hit The Road
Breakfast, lunch and supper are all on the table. Quinet’s opens at 8 a.m.
Monday through Saturday and stays open until 8 p.m.
Sunday hours run a little shorter, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. That makes an after-church supper easy to plan.
Just don’t arrive too late if pie is your priority.
You’ll find the restaurant at 215 Main St, New Martinsville, WV 26155. It sits across from the Wetzel County Courthouse, near the Ohio River.
Parking and a riverside stroll make it a pleasant stop.
Pricing is widely considered fair for the amount of food offered. Prices can change, so check before you go.
Either way, the buffet stretches a dollar further than most sit-down meals.
So is it worth the trip? For comfort-food lovers, history buffs and pie fans, I’d say absolutely.
It’s a slice of West Virginia tradition still going strong.
Pack your appetite and maybe a stretchy waistband. Take a lap past the old photos before you eat.
Then grab a slice of coconut cream and enjoy a meal that tastes like home.
