A mecca for all things Italian, the Humble Tomato is a new casual restaurant and bar nestled in historic downtown Lewisburg. Its ambiance is bright, open, and airy, making it a lovely space for pizza and cocktails with the squad or a lax afternoon soaking up some long-overdue sunshine.

With shaded outside patio seating overlooking Washington Street, you would be hard pressed to find a better place to sip on spirits on a clear summer day with your dog (yes, this patio is dog-friendly). Owners Ken and Emily Santmyer (pictured above) opened their doors this past February to offer the community with lunch, dinner, and Sunday brunch. Expect a patio that is quaint and surrounded by the perfect amount of greenery. For lunch, nosh on garlic knots, house-made gnocchi, or antipasto salad.

pictured above: Pizza Margherita at The Humble Tomato in Lewisburg, WV

“Great spot! Pizzas on point. Service impeccable. Will go back over and over again” – Denise Bowen, April 2019.

The lunch and dinner menu includes a variety of pastas, pizzas, sandwiches, calzones, salads, and desserts. A few offerings include the Shrimp Diavolo, a linguine dish tossed in spicy red sauce with crushed roma tomatoes, bell peppers, and basil; Chicken Pesto Sandwich with provolone, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes; Pepperoni Calzone; and Open-Faced Pizza Sub. A couple of creative pizzas are the Chuck Norris with a house bbq sauce, house cheese blend, grilled chicken, red onion, and bacon; Diana with house tomato sauce, house cheese blend, pepperoni, fennel sausage, mushrooms, red onions, Kalamata olives, and banana peppers. There’s even impeccable fare for Little Tomatoes including personal pizzas, spaghetti, linguini, and grilled chicken breast. Emily and Ken’s favorite menu items include the weekly pasta special, saying it is very popular with guests. They are also excited about their pizza because it’s all made from scratch and tell us it always shows in the final product. “We make pizza dough fresh daily along with sauce, mozzarella etc.” – Ken Santmyer.

The entire menu is available carry-out. No order is too large or too small. Emily and Ken say this is a great option for catering. For large catering orders, their team is happy to deliver the food to you. The restaurant also has a large room that can be reserved for private events.

The bar offers a variety of drinks including specialty cocktails. Ken and Emily love showcasing West Virginia spirits including Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company, Big Timber, and Smooth Ambler. Sundays are Bottomless Mimosas starting at 11am and don’t miss Margarita Monday, starting at 11am with $5 Margaritas and ½ price Margherita Pizzas. They also recently started a new lunch special offering a Slice and Salad for just $7.50.

pictured above: Italian Combo at The Humble Tomato

“WHOA! Absolutely blown away by the pop culture decor and super romantic patio. Spring sure is lovely on you, Tomato. HIGHLY recommend the meat and cheese board. GOLD STAR!” Whitney Wease, via facebook.

The restaurant occupies the former Tavern 1785, which is one of the oldest buildings in Lewisburg dating back to 1790. Since taking ownership of the building, Emily and Ken have made several renovations while preserving the structure’s past and modernizing the dining experience. Ken tells us he grew up in the restaurant industry and has always been inspired by his grandfather who opened his first pizzeria in 1961. This inspiration led him and Emily to the Italian concept for Lewisburg. The duo coined the name Humble Tomato seeing it represents being grounded, freshness (tomato), and always striving to do their best.

The pair say they opened this restaurant because they were drawn to the history of the Greenbrier Valley. They also appreciate the strong sense of community this area embraces. Emily says, “This is a very special place to live, unique in ways we have not felt in other places. We agreed this location was a great place to start a new business and would be welcomed by the residents of the area.” Emily is from Charleston. Her family has a farm in Monroe County that she regularly visits for 30 years and her parents are retired in Lewisburg. Ken is from Elkins.

“First time dining tonight and EVERYTHING was fantastic!! Service was great, food was out of this world! What a great addition to our small town. VERY excited to see what all will come out of this great place.” – Brandon Morgan, via facebook

Don’t miss out on this restaurant that offers a hip atmosphere, creative cuisine, plentiful brews and spirits, outdoor patio dining, excellent customer service, stylish interior, and a cozy atmosphere. Humble Tomato is located at 855 Washington Street, West, near Carnegie Hall and the North House Museum. They are open daily 11am-9pm and closed on Tuesdays. For more information, follow them @thehumbletomatowv on facebook and instagram or visit TheHumbleTomato.net. To order for pick-up, call 681-318-3788.

pictured above: Brussel Sprout Salad at The Humble Tomato

– HashtagWV #115. July 2019