Jim’s Steak and Spaghetti House in Huntington, West Virginia

In a cozy restaurant in downtown Huntington, steak and spaghetti have enough star power to draw presidents, boxers, and musicians.

The story began in 1938 when Jim Tweel opened a small restaurant serving cheeseburgers and milkshakes in an old dairy store. By 1962, Tweel merged the eatery with a local spaghetti house and, after a bit of remodeling and menu tweaking, christened the restaurant Jim’s Steak and Spaghetti House.

Even all these years later, retro touches abound, from the green vinyl booths to the servers in crisp uniforms to a menu that has changed very little over the years. The signature spaghetti sauce has been made with the same recipe since the 1930s, and the ribeye steak dinner, haddock sandwich, and classic homemade pies have become favorites among lifelong locals and even a few celebrities. Presidents John F. Kennedy, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton have dined here while campaigning, and Muhammad Ali and Billy Joel are among the famous faces captured in signed photos on the walls. 

The food may be simple comfort fare, but its exacting execution and the surrounding ambience have earned the restaurant some serious accolades. In 2019, Jim’s won a James Beard “America’s Classics” award, an honor reserved for regional eateries that reflect their community’s culinary heritage. 

Thanks to its renown, Jim’s can get a bit crowded at peak times. But it’s worth the wait to dine at a historic spot where nothing much has changed because nothing much needed fixing.