Secret Sandwich Society

Though West Virginia has never been home to a U.S. President, some of our former commanders in chief are honored in Fayetteville — not through statues, but sandwiches. 

The Secret Sandwich Society got its name from its hidden-away entrance on the side of the early 1900s building where it opened in 2010, but the eatery is well-known locally. Although a fire decimated the place in 2020, the restaurant rebuilt and reopened in 2023 in the same space along Keller Avenue. The former building carried a unique look due to additions made over the years. In rebuilding, the aim was to make the exterior look as similar as possible to the original, while adding a modern interior and outdoor beer garden. 

Look at the menu and you’ll quickly realize the sandwiches are all named after U.S. presidents and other notable political figures, while the salads bear the names of first ladies and the burgers are identified by Secret Service code names.

The Kennedy sandwich is a take on a Cuban, with slow-cooked pork shoulder, ham, Swiss cheese, house-made pickles, roasted-garlic mayonnaise and mustard on a butter-toasted potato roll. The Hoover offers a crispy fried chicken breast topped with Swiss cheese, pickles, honey butter and greens. The salad menu features the Abigail (chopped kale, shaved Parmesan and buttered breadcrumbs tossed in lemon Caesar dressing) and the Lucy (mixed greens with apple slices, spiced cashews, red onions and blue cheese tossed in Green Goddess dressing). Burgers include the General (Thousand Island dressing, pickles, lettuce, tomato, red onions and choice of cheese) and the Timberwolf (American cheese, bacon, jalapeño, smoky barbecue sauce and crispy onions). 

The cocktails here are as inventive as the sandwiches with options that rotate seasonally, along with a wine list and local draft beers on tap. 103 Keller Ave., Fayetteville, West Virginia 25849, 304/574-4777, secretsandwichsociety.com