Honey Baked Ham has always been an afterthought for me. I don't think I have ever intentionally sought out this restaurant; I have only had it as part of a catering order or because it was the only option. But that all changed recently.



Maybe Gen Z is more hip to hidden gems, because several younger coworkers have proclaimed their enjoyment of said restaurant. So, I made an intentional decision to check out the Charleston location.

While it is a chain, there aren't many locations in West Virginia. They are best known for their full-size hams, which are ideal for holiday dinners. But they also serve sandwiches for lunch.



I ordered a ham salad sandwich with a side of the broccoli bliss salad and potato salad. The sandwich comes with lettuce and tomato on multigrain bread.



The sandwich was actually really tasty. The ham salad is sweet, but in a complementary, salty, porky way. The broccoli salad added some nice crunch, but, of course, was also sweet. And the potato salad was a nice salty, creamy addition.

Honestly, I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this meal. It is a bit on the pricier side for a chain, but it is something different, and I appreciate that.



Grade: A

Stephanie’s is a classic Boston restaurant with an outpost at the local airport. "Stephanie’s has been serving award-winning “sophisticated comfort food” in a relaxed, inviting atmosphere since 1994," according to the website. While I couldn't visit the original location this trip, I got a taste of the experience at the airport. I ordered the skirt steak with chimichurri and truffle parmesan fries. While I wish the steak had a harder sear on the outside, I did enjoy the flavor. The fries needed some oil to adhere that parmesan so you dont inhale it while trying to eat. Again, though, solid meal for an airport.

Grade: B

Paschal's is an iconic Atlanta restaurant known for its fried chicken. The restaurant has an outpost at the Atlanta airport, which has been named one of the best airport dining spots in the country by Food & Wine Magazine.



I opted for a chicken tender meal with sweet potatoes and macaroni & cheese, which were all options on the hot bar. This was a pretty good lunch - especially considering it is airport food. On the whole, the flavor was good, but the texture suffered a bit. The crunchy exterior of the chicken seemed to have been steamed a bit, making it softer. All in all, not bad.



Grade: B

On this day, I learned that Marie Callender's was more than just a grocery store frozen food line. It was actually first a chain of restaurants out west.



"In the 1940s, Marie started selling the pies she made in her home kitchen to local restaurants in Orange, California. Her son, Don, delivered her signature creations on his bicycle. In 1948, Marie sold the family car, giving her the means to turn her at-home bakery into a bona fide business. She baked more than 100 pies with wholesome ingredients every day. In 1964, Marie’s family opened their first pie and coffee shop. Her loyal customers savored the comforting, homemade touches in each and every serving. Her shop expanded into a chain - and into the meals and desserts found in grocery stores today," reads the website.



The restaurant had a very all Americana feel, with a huge display case of pies and a menu with comfort food classics.



Those include:

Braised and Slow-Roasted Pot Roast - Tender chunks of chuck roast slow-simmered for full flavor and tenderness, topped with a cabernet beef reduction. Served with fresh mashed potatoes and fresh seasonal vegetables.

Marie's Meatloaf - Slow-baked with Angus ground beef, onions, green peppers, carrots and special seasonings. Topped with mushroom cabernet gravy.

Heartland Chicken Pot Pie - Loaded with tender chunks of chicken with seasonings and vegetables, and topped with our famous hand-pressed flaky crust.



I went with Home-Style Beef Stroganoff - Tender beef sautéed with fresh mushrooms in a demi-glace red wine beef sauce, with caramelized onions and a hint of Grey Poupon® Dijon. Served over fettuccine noodles with a dollop of sour cream.



It was hot and rich and comforting. Pasta is always a personal favorite, though I rarely go for the deep brown gravy. Sometimes I think that flavor is too concentrated, but not here. I do still think there was too much sauce on this dish, but the sour cream rounded it out a bit.



I added a slice of lemon cream cheese pie. It's like a lemon curd pie and cheesecake had a baby in a graham cracker crust. Very tasty.



Grade: B

"Situated smack-dab in the middle of 'downtown' Pioche’s Main Street, the family-run Historic Silver Café has been filling the bellies of locals and visitors alike with hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners for more than a century. And after a day exploring eastern Nevada parks and wandering through the Wild Western past of 'Nevada’s Liveliest Ghost Town,' that’s exactly what you’re going to deserve," reads the Travel Nevada website.



Classic diner fare fills the menu here: french toast, omelets, country fried steaks, breakfast burritos, burgers, pulled pork sandwiches, ribeye steaks, pizzas and fried sides.



I ordered the Meatball Sub - Homemade Meatballs and Marinara Sauce on a toasted French Roll topped with Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese. AND a side of fried mushrooms.



This sub is a monster of a sandwich. The roll is toasted hard, and the hearty meatballs are in a chunky sauce. I typically like meatballs ground a bit smoother and same for the sauce. I'll take all that cheese, though, all day, every day.

The side of fried mushrooms were more rustic, with the frying a bit uneven and in need of some salt. Overall, a standard diner with homestyle favorites.



Grade: B