Morgantown’s first gastropub finds success in the now-popular Wharf District.
You hear it all the time in the real estate business: location, location, location. But the success of a great restaurant can hinge on where it hangs its shingle, too. In the case of Table 9 in Morgantown, that decision was a gamble that is paying off.
Originally from Oakland, Maryland, chef and owner Mark Tasker says he “moved all over the place” before going back to Oakland with a dream of opening his own restaurant. “But that was when the housing market was crashing and the economy was tanking, and starting a business seemed like a bad idea.”
His wife, however, worked at Ruby Memorial Hospital in Morgantown, “and that city was kind of rocking,” he recalls. It made more sense to take the leap there, so he did just that by securing an interesting space in Morgantown’s Wharf District on the Monongahela River—which wasn’t very rocking at the time.
“I spent everything I had and took a full year to open this place, and people thought I was crazy. ‘That place is cursed,’ they said. ‘You’re doomed.’” That was back in 2013. “But here we are 10 years later, and people are now like, ‘How did you ever get this cool space?’”
That cool space became Morgantown’s first gastropub and boasts big windows beside the rail-trail and one of the city’s few decks overlooking the river, making it a perfect spot to dine outside in the summertime. With hikers, bikers, and paddlers zipping by, you can enjoy seasonal apps and entrees, like grilled octopus with sambal aioli and Spanish chorizo; green curry mussels with saffron oil; bacon-wrapped halibut with lemon beurre blanc; and fried branzino with miso, jalapeno cilantro rice, and ponzu.
Crowd favorites include the scallops with sundried tomato risotto, lamb rack with spiced yellow rice and green tzatziki, and the classic ribeye with demi-glace and bone marrow butter—plus, Tasker adds, some of the best burgers around. “We started Burger Night soon after we opened, and it’s been a hit ever since,” he says of the Tuesday night special where you get a gourmet burger paired with a craft beer and a shot of bourbon for one price. “It’s just a really chill vibe, and people love it.”
The popular weekend brunch offers chicken and waffles with bourbon maple syrup; sous vide eggs Benedict with ham or avocado; and French toast with macerated berries. The classics also make an appearance, such as steak and eggs, sausage gravy, biscuits, omelets, sandwiches, and salads—and there are plenty of brunch libations.
Tasker’s culinary talent comes from years in the restaurant business. He started at age 16 in Deep Creek Lake, Maryland, before leaving to hone his skills at top spots in California, New York, and Washington, D.C. But those roads eventually led him to Morgantown, where the city has welcomed him with open arms.
“Table 9 has done so well that I’m toying around with opening another restaurant,” he says. “I love to create and cook, but I’m finding that I really love being a business owner. I’d like to start helping other people who want to open their own restaurant, being right there beside them from start to finish. That’s the really hard and tedious part, but it’s the really exciting part for me.”
40 Donley Street, dinetable9.com, @table9morgantown on FB
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SUMMER 2024 ISSUE
This story was updated from the version in our Summer 2024 print edition to correct that Table 9 is one of few restaurants in Morgantown with a deck overlooking the Monongahela River.
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