Inside one of West Virginia’s most famous resorts, a distinctive steakhouse combines fine dining with basketball history. The number 44 honors a legendary West Virginia-born NBA star, whose career is celebrated through more than 100 pieces of memorabilia displayed throughout the restaurant.
The menu is equally memorable, featuring a massive 44-ounce porterhouse, tableside Caesar salad made from a family recipe, and acclaimed Lobster Mashed Potatoes. It’s a unique dining experience where championship history and classic steakhouse favorites come together.
Where You Will Find It: The Address and Resort Setting
Not every steakhouse comes with a 200-year-old resort as its backdrop, but Prime 44 West is not every steakhouse. The restaurant is located on the Upper Lobby level of The Greenbrier, at 300 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986, nestled in the Allegheny Mountains of Greenbrier County.
The Greenbrier itself is a National Historic Landmark that has hosted American presidents and royalty alike, so arriving here already feels like an occasion. Guests walk through grand hallways decorated in bold patterns before reaching the entrance of the restaurant, which sets the tone immediately.
The contrast between the resort’s colorful, whimsical interior design and the warm, dark-wood sophistication of the steakhouse is striking in the best possible way. You go from bold florals to rich burgundy leather in just a few steps.
It is a transition that signals you are about to experience something genuinely special.
The Man Behind the Name: Jerry West and the Number 44
Most steakhouses name themselves after their chef or their city. This one is named after a basketball legend.
Jerry West, born in Chelyan, West Virginia, wore the number 44 during his professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers, and it is that jersey number that gives the restaurant its distinctive identity.
Known widely as “Mr. Clutch” for his ability to deliver in high-pressure moments, West was also the inspiration for the NBA’s official logo silhouette, though the league has never officially confirmed it. His legacy runs deep in West Virginia, where he is considered a hometown hero of the highest order.
Jerry West and his family attended the grand opening of the restaurant in the fall of 2009, lending the occasion a personal warmth that went far beyond a typical ribbon-cutting ceremony. The connection between the man and this place is genuine, and you feel that authenticity the moment you walk through the door.
Keep reading to see what he left behind.
A Museum Hidden Inside a Steakhouse: The Memorabilia Collection
The walls of Prime 44 West do more than hold up the ceiling. They house the largest public collection of Jerry West memorabilia in existence, with over 100 pieces on display that trace his career from high school to the professional stage.
Among the highlights is his 1960 Summer Olympics gold medal, earned as part of the U.S. men’s basketball team. All-Star jerseys, college mementos from his time at West Virginia University, and personal keepsakes are all part of the collection, making the dining room feel more like a curated sports museum than a typical restaurant.
Even his diploma from East Bank High School is on display, which gives the collection a personal, almost intimate quality that pure sports trophies alone could never achieve. Guests who arrive early for their reservation often spend time moving from case to case before being seated.
The food is excellent, but the memorabilia alone is worth the visit.
The Atmosphere That Makes You Want to Linger Longer
There is a reason people describe dining here as a “diners club” experience. The interior of Prime 44 West wraps you in dark natural woods, bold traditional fabrics, and a color palette of rich burgundy, royal blue, and chocolate brown leather that feels simultaneously classic and cozy.
Chandeliers fitted with small red lampshades cast a soft glow across the room, while tables dressed in pristine white linens, black napkins, and red water glasses add a layer of ceremony to every meal. Square red oil-burning candle holders flicker at each table, completing the intimate atmosphere.
Piped-in music hums quietly beneath the conversation without ever overpowering it, and the overall effect is one of relaxed elegance rather than stiff formality. For warmer evenings, an outdoor patio is available for cocktail receptions or more casual dining under the open sky.
The glassware, custom-made by Masterpiece Crystal, a West Virginia company, is one of those small details that quietly speaks volumes about the attention to craft here.
The 44-Ounce Porterhouse: A Steak With a Nickname
A steak with a nickname is either a gimmick or a legend, and the Jerry West 44 Ounce Prime Porterhouse falls firmly into the second category. Called “Nothing But Net” on the menu, this behemoth cut is typically recommended for two diners and arrives with a char that guests consistently describe as the kind you can cut with a fork.
The char is not just cosmetic. It adds a layer of flavor that complements the natural richness of the aged beef, and the kitchen’s ability to cook such a large cut evenly is a testament to the skill behind the line.
For guests who prefer smaller portions, the menu also offers a Prime Bone-in Rib-Eye at 20 ounces, a Prime New York Strip at 14 ounces, a Prime Kansas City Strip at 18 ounces, a Prime T-Bone at 24 ounces, and a Prime Filet Mignon at 8 ounces.
Note that the 44-ounce porterhouse and Wagyu dishes may carry an additional charge beyond standard dining plan packages.
Lobster Mashed Potatoes: The Dish That Made the Food Network
Some side dishes are polite additions to a plate. The Lobster Mashed Potatoes at Prime 44 West are the reason people come back.
Rich, buttery, and packed with generous chunks of lobster meat, this dish earned a feature on Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate,” which is about as strong an endorsement as a side dish can receive.
The texture is smooth without being heavy, and the lobster is present in every bite rather than scattered as a garnish. It pairs naturally with any of the steaks on the menu, though guests who have ordered it alongside the 44-ounce porterhouse report that the combination is particularly satisfying.
Among the most mentioned dishes in guest feedback, the Lobster Mashed Potatoes appear in conversations again and again as a highlight that surprises even skeptical first-timers. If you are the kind of person who usually treats side dishes as an afterthought, this one will change your perspective entirely.
The tableside preparations coming up next are equally worth knowing about.
Tableside Theater: Caesar Salad, Dover Sole, and Bananas Foster
There is something genuinely theatrical about watching your food come together at the table, and Prime 44 West leans into this tradition with confidence. Three dishes receive the tableside treatment: the Caesar salad, the fresh Dover Sole, and the Bananas Foster dessert.
Karen’s Caesar Salad is prepared using Jerry West’s wife’s personal recipe, which includes chives and sea salt for a flavor profile that is bright and distinctive. The fresh Dover Sole is flown in daily and finished tableside with lemon and brown butter, making it one of the more elegant presentations on the menu.
The Bananas Foster arrives as a flambé performance that draws eyes from neighboring tables, and the caramelized result earns its reputation as one of the most praised desserts in the restaurant. Not every tableside dish lands perfectly on every visit, as some guests have found the Dover Sole inconsistent, so the Caesar salad and Bananas Foster are the safer bets for a guaranteed crowd-pleasing moment.
Cathy’s Cornbread and Karen’s Cake: Two Dishes With a Story
Not all of the most talked-about items at Prime 44 West come from the grill. Two dishes with personal backstories have become quiet fan favorites that regular guests specifically plan their meals around.
Cathy Justice’s “Best of Show” Blue Ribbon Cornbread arrives in a cast-iron skillet and carries the distinction of being a prize winner at the West Virginia State Fair. The recipe is sometimes printed on the back of the ribbon itself, which is a charming touch that gives the dish a storybook quality.
It is sweet, dense, and deeply satisfying as a starter.
Karen’s Italian Cream Cake, named after Jerry West’s wife, is the dessert equivalent of a standing ovation. Light, not overly sweet, and finished with care, it represents the kind of dessert that does not try too hard but still manages to be the last thing you think about on the drive home.
These two dishes quietly tell the personal story of the people behind the restaurant’s identity.
Beyond Steak: Seafood, Wagyu, and Other Menu Highlights
The name says steakhouse, but the menu at Prime 44 West reaches considerably further. The raw bar features Kumamoto Oysters and a chilled shellfish platter, while appetizers include Lobster Popcorn, Oysters Rockefeller, Sautéed Escargot, Chesapeake Bay Crab Cake Cigars, and Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail that arrives cold, fresh, and precisely seasoned.
For those who want something beyond beef, the kitchen offers a Pennsylvania Veal Chop, Colorado Lamb Chops, a Hickory Wood Smoked Pork Chop, and Peach Tea Chicken. The Wagyu Trio brings a different dimension of beef quality to the table, though some guests have noted that portion sizes on this dish have varied over the years.
Side dishes extend well beyond the Lobster Mashed Potatoes, with options including Sweet Potato Casserole, Creamed Spinach, Cauliflower Gratin, Grilled Corn with Truffle and Bacon, and Asparagus with Prosciutto and Parm. The produce comes directly from The Greenbrier Farm, which supplies the resort’s restaurants with locally grown ingredients throughout the season.
Desserts That Deserve Their Own Conversation
Dessert at Prime 44 West is not an afterthought. The menu offers a genuinely impressive lineup that includes Sticky Toffee Pudding, Vanilla Creme Brulee, Classic Chocolate Mousse, Strawberry Cheesecake, Grand Marnier or Chocolate Soufflé, and Gourmet Ice Creams and Sorbets alongside Karen’s Italian Cream Cake.
The Grand Marnier Soufflé, when it arrives properly executed, is one of those desserts that demands you eat it immediately before it deflates. Some guests have reported inconsistency with the soufflé on certain visits, so arriving with flexible dessert expectations is wise.
The Bananas Foster, prepared tableside, remains the most reliably crowd-pleasing finish to a meal here.
For guests celebrating birthdays or anniversaries, the kitchen has been known to prepare small personalized cakes that arrive light and unfussy rather than over-decorated. The restaurant handles special occasions with genuine attentiveness, and the dessert course tends to be where that care shows most clearly.
If you have room after the Lobster Mashed Potatoes, the Creme Brulee is a quiet triumph.
Recognition, Reservations, and What to Know Before You Go
Southern Living named Prime 44 West West Virginia’s best restaurant in 2019, which is the kind of recognition that tends to fill reservation books quickly. The restaurant operates Monday through Saturday from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM and is closed on Sundays, so planning ahead is essential rather than optional.
Reservations are required, and the cancellation policy carries a $50 per person fee for cancellations made less than 24 hours in advance. That policy reflects the level of preparation the kitchen puts into each service.
A children’s menu is available, making it accessible for families staying at the resort who want to include younger diners in the experience.
The custom glassware, made by Masterpiece Crystal of West Virginia, is one of those details that you might not notice immediately but that registers as part of why everything feels considered and intentional. The restaurant can be reached at 800-453-4858, and reservations can also be made through The Greenbrier’s website.
The wine list, which deserves its own spotlight, is coming up next.
The Wine List and the Broader Service Experience
A wine list with approximately 150 selections is not uncommon at a restaurant of this caliber, but the range at Prime 44 West goes beyond volume. The list draws from artisanal producers across multiple regions and includes sustainable, organic, and biodynamically grown options alongside more traditional highly acclaimed labels.
Service at Prime 44 West has earned consistent praise for being attentive without being intrusive, which is a balance that fine dining restaurants often struggle to maintain. Water glasses are refilled before they empty, dietary restrictions are noted carefully, and the staff demonstrates genuine knowledge of the menu rather than scripted recitation.
The rating of 4.3 stars across 172 reviews on Google Maps reflects a restaurant where the majority of guests leave genuinely impressed, though occasional inconsistencies in food execution do surface in feedback. The overall consensus points to a place that delivers a memorable experience most of the time, and where the combination of history, atmosphere, and culinary ambition makes it the standout dining destination at The Greenbrier Resort.
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