“The preparation of good food is merely another expression of art, one of the joys of civilized living,” 20th-century English chef Dione Lucas once said. Food, like art, has the power to bind communities together.
The Art Bar of Morgantown embodies that concept. Originally called Morgantown Food Party, The Art Bar took over the space on High Street formerly occupied by Buffalo Wild Wings. It shed the corporate uniformity of BW3, taking on an alternative ambiance that befits its unique identity and mission.
The 600-square-foot commercial kitchen, licensed and fully equipped, is available to local food trucks and caterers to prepare their gastronomical masterpieces. The space hosts an eclectic mix of events like cooking classes, Paint and Sips, arts and crafts workshops, stand-up comedy, and restaurant takeovers.
The Art Bar hosts community nights from 5-9 p.m. Wednesday evenings. These are all-ages events with live music, $6 kids meals, and free arts and crafts with local artists. Taco Tuesday Summer Sessions, held biweekly, combine tacos and house music by area DJs. Club music isn’t my favorite, but $2 made-from-scratch street tacos are pretty tempting.
The walls in the dining area display the work of local artists. There is also an art supply station for patrons of all ages who feel their own creative juices flowing during their visit.
I visited The Art Bar recently for brunch (served from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday). I ordered the stuffed French toast with a cream cheese and blueberry topping. The serving size was smaller than the typical chain restaurant brunch, but the French toast was so enjoyable that I ordered it again to satisfy the Denny’s-sized appetite I was packing that morning.
The Art Bar draws people, food and art together in unique and surprising ways. The website states, “We believe food is art, and nothing brings communities together like food.” Whether you find joy in a quiet brunch with a friend or dancing in a club filled with tacos, The Art Bar has it on the menu.
EVA MURPHY is a freelance business writer for The Dominion Post. She writes a column on businesses, churches and other entities in the city. To suggest a topic, email her at Newsroom@DominionPost.com.
