You almost drive right past it, and that would have been a real shame. Out on a quiet road in the West Virginia hills sits a small country store that looks like a spot for a soda and a bag of chips.
Step inside, though, and the smell of smoked brisket tells a very different story. It is the kind of find that turns a simple pit stop into a meal you keep talking about for weeks.
A Country Store With a Smoky Secret
Picture a little roadside building where you expect to grab a snack and keep moving. That is the first impression most folks get of The Market and Drinkery, a cozy country store paired with a small kitchen that turns out serious barbecue.
Locals and travelers alike describe it as a hidden gem tucked far from the busy highways.
Part grocery stop, part eatery, the place wears both hats comfortably. Shelves hold locally made products, while the kitchen sends out brisket, pulled pork, loaded potatoes, and mac and cheese bowls.
You can shop, eat, or do both, and plenty of visitors end up doing both before they leave.
Plenty of small West Virginia towns used to have a spot like this, the kind of corner store where everybody stopped in and the owner knew your order. Many of those places faded over the years, which makes finding one that still feels this welcoming a genuine treat.
Here, the old country store spirit is alive and well.
The menu leans on comfort food done with care. Visitors often call the cooking homemade, and that word fits.
It tastes like somebody in the back really wants you to enjoy your lunch, and that feeling sets the tone for everything else.
Shelves Stocked With Local Treasures
Before the food even arrives, the market shelves pull you in. Rows of locally made goods fill the store, and visitors repeatedly mention how much fun it is to browse while waiting on an order.
Some people stop in only to shop and never sit down to eat at all.
One shopper reportedly walked out with a bath set, a bag of cornbread mix, and an old-fashioned glass bottle soda. That mix sums up the variety pretty well.
You might find something for the kitchen, something for a gift, and something cold to sip on the drive home.
Fresh, locally sourced items are a big part of the appeal. Regulars like knowing their money stays close to home, supporting makers from the surrounding area rather than some far-off warehouse.
It feels like a small way to keep West Virginia communities strong.
Grocery basics show up too, so the store can work as a handy stop if you are staying nearby. Prices get praise as fair and friendly to the wallet, which matters to anyone watching a fixed income.
Grabbing a little taste of the area to carry home is half the fun of the visit.
Brisket That Steals the Show
Ask around about what to order, and the answer usually starts with one word: brisket. Visitors rave about it in nearly every form the kitchen serves it, from simple sandwiches to cheesy bowls.
For a tiny store in the hills, that is quite a reputation to carry.
Good brisket takes patience, and diners say it shows. The meat comes out tender and full of flavor, the kind of bite that makes you slow down and pay attention.
Guests often call it outstanding, and several say it alone is reason enough to make the trip.
Brisket sandwiches are a popular way to try it straight up. If you want to judge the meat on its own merits, that is probably the smartest place to begin.
Add a side, find a seat, and see what all the fuss is about.
What makes it special is the surprise factor. Nobody pulling off a country road expects barbecue this good from a place that also sells soap and cornbread mix.
That gap between expectation and reality is exactly why so many first-timers turn into repeat customers, telling friends back home about the little store with the big brisket.
Pulled Pork and a Wall of Sauces
Brisket may get top billing, but pulled pork has its own loyal fan club. Visitors pair the two as favorites, and some say both are simply unforgettable.
If you cannot decide, bringing a friend and splitting plates is a time-honored solution.
The pork shows up in several ways, including a much-loved barbecue pork and mac and cheese bowl. One guest who first came only to shop eventually tried that bowl and called it terrific, adding that the price was right.
That kind of praise from a careful shopper means something.
Then there are the sauces. The store carries a selection of barbecue and hot sauces that visitors say are seriously good.
Spice lovers can test a little heat, while folks who like things sweet and mild have choices too.
Better still, the sauce selection doubles as a souvenir opportunity. Taking a bottle home lets you bring a bit of the experience back to your own kitchen, whether you are grilling burgers on a summer evening or warming up leftovers on a chilly night.
Few road trip keepsakes are quite as useful, or as tasty, as a good bottle of sauce from a mountain country store.
Brisket Mac and the Comfort Bowl Lineup
Mac and cheese might be the most comforting food in all of Appalachia, and this kitchen treats it with respect. The brisket mac comes up again and again when visitors talk about their favorite orders.
Creamy noodles topped with tender smoked beef is about as hearty as lunch gets.
One traveler stopping on a road trip specifically thanked the staff for their hospitality and that brisket mac and cheese. Another called the plain mac and cheese excellent, especially alongside jalapeno cornbread.
Clearly, the base recipe holds up even without the meat.
Variety keeps things interesting. There is a Buffalo chicken mac and cheese for anyone who likes a little tang and heat, plus the barbecue pork version mentioned by happy regulars.
Each one takes a familiar favorite and gives it a different personality.
Bowls like these remind a lot of West Virginians of church suppers and family reunions, where a big dish of mac and cheese always disappeared first. The difference is that here, you do not have to fight your cousins for the last spoonful.
You get a whole bowl to yourself, which might be the best kind of comfort food there is.
Loaded Potatoes Built for Big Appetites
Hungry travelers, take note: the baked potato bowls here are not a light snack. Guests describe them as super filling, loaded up and served as a full meal.
They are one of the most talked-about items on the menu after the brisket itself.
A chili cheese potato earned special praise as fabulous from one happy diner. Other visitors mention loaded baked potatoes alongside grilled cheese and brisket mac as standouts on a single lunch stop.
It seems the kitchen knows how to turn a humble spud into something memorable.
Potatoes have always held a special spot in mountain cooking. They were cheap, filling, and grew well in hillside gardens, so generations of West Virginia families relied on them.
Seeing them dressed up with smoked meats and cheese feels like a nod to that practical heritage.
For anyone on a budget, a potato bowl can be a smart pick. It packs a lot of food into one order, and visitors consistently describe prices as fair.
Pair one with a cold soda from the cooler and you have a satisfying lunch that will easily carry you through an afternoon of driving the winding back roads.
Mt Lookout, a Quiet Corner of Nicholas County
So where exactly is this place hiding? The answer is Mt Lookout, a small rural community in the hills of Nicholas County, West Virginia.
It is the sort of spot where the roads curve, the trees crowd close, and the pace of life slows down in the best way.
One traveler summed it up by calling the store a hidden jewel in the middle of nowhere. Locals might smile at that description, since home never feels like nowhere.
Still, it captures the sense of discovery visitors feel when they pull in for the first time.
Communities like this one represent the heart of the Mountain State. Small, tight-knit, and proud, they often lack the big chain restaurants found along the interstates.
That makes a welcoming local eatery even more valuable, serving as a gathering spot for neighbors and a friendly surprise for strangers.
Travelers headed north have stopped in on their way to bigger cities, and nearby residents make regular trips. One fan reportedly drives about 30 miles each way and says it is worth it every time.
In hill country, a half-hour drive for good brisket is just an ordinary Saturday adventure.
Quesadillas, Sliders, and Lunchtime Surprises
Here is a tip worth remembering: get the barbecue brisket quesadilla. A recent visitor called it incredible, and it pops up more than once in conversations about the menu.
Smoky beef tucked into a crispy tortilla with melted cheese is a fun twist you might not expect in a mountain country store.
Lighter appetites have options too. Chicken salad sliders win compliments as delicious, making them a nice pick for a quick bite between errands.
They pair well with a side if you want to round things out.
Then there is the grilled cheese, a simple classic that one road-tripping group listed among their favorites. Sometimes the plainest foods reveal the most about a kitchen.
If the grilled cheese is great, you can bet the cooks care about the details.
The menu offers lots of options, according to regulars, so picky eaters and adventurous ones can both find something. Kids who are not ready for barbecue might go for grilled cheese, while Grandpa heads straight for the brisket.
Everybody leaves happy, which is exactly how a family lunch stop ought to work out on a long day of exploring the hills.
Cornbread Worth Carrying Home
Cornbread is practically a love language in West Virginia, and this store speaks it fluently. Jalapeno cornbread earns praise as a perfect partner for the mac and cheese.
That little kick of pepper cuts through the creamy richness in a way that keeps you reaching for another bite.
Fans who want to recreate the magic can grab cornbread mix right off the shelf. It shows up in visitor conversations as one of the market items worth buying.
Baking a pan at home becomes a sweet reminder of your trip.
Generations of mountain families grew up with cornbread on the table, often baked in a well-seasoned cast iron skillet. Many folks still remember a grandmother who made it without ever measuring a thing.
Finding good cornbread on a menu tends to stir up those warm kitchen memories.
Picking up a bag of mix also makes a thoughtful, inexpensive gift. Bring one to a neighbor, add a jar of local sauce, and you have a small taste of the hills wrapped up for someone special.
Do you have a family cornbread recipe of your own? Plenty of readers surely do, and they will want to compare.
Furry Friends Out Back
Few lunch spots come with a petting area, but this one does. Visitors mention a little spot out back where you can feed the animals, and it adds a charming farm-like touch to the visit.
Children especially tend to love it, though plenty of grown-ups enjoy it just as much.
Your own four-legged companion is welcome too. Guests note the outdoor area is dog friendly, which is a big plus for anyone traveling with a pup.
Nobody wants to leave a dog waiting in a warm car while they eat.
Seating works both inside and outside, so you can pick based on the weather and your mood. On a pleasant day, sitting outdoors with a plate of barbecue and the hills all around feels downright relaxing.
Visitors describe the atmosphere as a great place to sit back and simply enjoy.
These little extras turn a meal into an outing. Grandkids get to visit the animals, the dog gets some fresh air, and the adults get brisket.
It is the kind of simple, wholesome stop that brings to mind old-fashioned Sunday drives, when the journey mattered as much as the destination.
Kind Hearts Behind the Counter
Great food brings people in once, but warm people bring them back. Friendly staff is the single most mentioned trait among visitors, coming up far more than any menu item.
Guests describe the folks here as lovely, super nice, and genuinely welcoming.
One visitor put it simply: these ladies know how to cook, and they are among the kindest people you will meet. That combination of skill and kindness is rarer than it should be.
It explains why so many guests talk about hospitality right alongside the brisket.
Service gets called exceptional by diners who stop in for a quick lunch. Travelers passing through say they plan to come back the next time they are in the area.
That kind of loyalty from people who live far away says a lot.
Mountain hospitality has always been a point of pride across West Virginia. Neighbors bring casseroles, strangers wave from porches, and a visitor rarely leaves hungry.
Walking into this store feels like a continuation of that tradition, where you are treated less like a customer and more like someone who stopped by for a friendly visit and a good meal.
Who Will Feel Right at Home
Road trippers looking for something better than fast food will feel like they struck gold. Travelers headed to far-off cities have pulled over for lunch and left delighted.
It makes a fine break from long stretches of winding highway.
Retirees and locals who love a good, affordable meal will appreciate the fair prices and generous portions. Folks on a fixed income often have to be choosy about dining out.
Here, visitors say you get real value without sacrificing flavor or friendliness.
Families fit in nicely too, thanks to the animals out back and a menu with something for every age. Dog owners can bring their pets to the outdoor area.
Shoppers who just want local goods are equally welcome, no meal required.
The vibe is small and relaxed, more front porch than fancy dining room. If you want white tablecloths and hushed conversation, this may not be your scene.
But if you enjoy cozy, quaint spots where the cooks know their craft and the staff remembers to smile, you will probably feel right at home within minutes of walking through the door and catching that first whiff of smoked meat.
Hours, Prices, and Directions
Timing your visit matters, because the store keeps a short weekly schedule. Doors open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 7 PM.
The store is closed on Sundays and Mondays, so plan any weekend trip for Saturday.
You will find it at 45 W Mt Lookout Rd, Mt Lookout, WV 26678. The roads out this way can be curvy and quiet, so give yourself a little extra time and enjoy the scenery.
A GPS should get you there, but keep an eye out, since small country stores are easy to miss.
Exact menu prices are not listed here, but visitors consistently describe them as fair. Shoppers call the market prices great, and diners say the cost of a hearty bowl feels right.
That makes it a comfortable choice for budget-minded travelers and families alike.
Arriving earlier in the day may be wise if you have your heart set on a specific dish, since small kitchens can sell out of popular items. For the latest updates, the store shares news on its Facebook page.
Checking before a long drive is always a smart move in rural West Virginia.
The Final Word on a Hill Country Find
Some places earn a spot on your regular route without even trying. The Market and Drinkery feels like one of them.
Tender brisket, comforting bowls, and genuinely kind people add up to a stop that sticks in your memory.
Would it be worth a special trip? Plenty of visitors seem to think so, including one who happily drives about 30 miles each way.
Others swing by while passing through and promise to return, which may be the best compliment a small business can get.
Beyond the food, the store captures something many West Virginians miss about the old days. It brings back the feeling of a neighborhood market where the shelves held local goods and the folks behind the counter actually cared.
That spirit is worth supporting whenever you get the chance.
So next time you find yourself near Mt Lookout on a Tuesday through Saturday, follow the smell of smoke. Order the brisket, grab a bag of cornbread mix, and say hello to the animals out back.
Then come tell us about it, because we would love to hear your favorite dish and the memories it stirred up along the way.
