Family style dining comes to Morgantown

A new restaurant offering a "family-style" dining experience has opened on High Street.

Lira Restaurant is currently in the middle of a soft opening with a grand opening this weekend.

Anthony Rizzo, manager of the restaurant, said the family experience was something missing from the area.

"We want everybody to be incorporated into the whole dining experience," he said.

The restaurant offers signature dishes, which can be ordered as either individual portions or "family-sized" dishes that serve three or four people.

"Instead of everybody ordering one single dish, you can order family-style and pass the bowl around so everyone can get a bit of everything," he said.

The American bistro also features European and Mediterranean dishes, Italian pasta dishes and pierogis.

The restaurant, which is located in the former WesBanco location on High Street, features up-scale dining decor and even makes use of some of the previous occupants' fixtures.

For a private dining experience, guests can reserve the private dining room in the bank's former vault, with walls lined with red velvet.

The restaurant will be open for Valentine's Day with reservations available.

For those who may not have a valentine this year, the restaurant will also be featuring "After-Valentine's Day."

"We're going to do a ‘shred your ex' party," he said. "If you come in with a picture of your ex, you get half off your first drink. If you bring a wedding photo, your first drink is free."

As for the picture?

"We'll shred it right there in front of you," he said.

Despite many dining options available in downtown Morgantown, Rizzo believes the restaurant's approach fills a gap in the area.

"You see so many chain restaurants in Morgantown, (the town) was in need of some of that uniqueness," he said. "Family-style is one of our signature characteristics. We don't only want people to come in and eat, but we want you to enjoy the whole dining experience."

Prices for the restaurant vary. Appetizers can cost from $5 to $10 and family-sized dishes for $12 to $17.

Family-sized platters are designed for two people at minimum, he said.

The restaurant is open weekdays for lunch from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dinner service begins at 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on weekends. For more information, search "Lira Morgantown" on Facebook or call 304-285-8245.