Lizard’s Thicket is a classic Southern meat-and-three chain rooted in Columbia, South Carolina, known for comforting, down-home cooking served with no frills.



The mac & cheese is creamy and comforting, with elbow noodles nestled in a thick, cheesy sauce that leans more homestyle than sharp or gourmet - think baked casserole-style with a slightly firm top. The candied yams are soft and syrupy, almost dessert-like, coated in a brown sugar glaze that soaks through each bite. Together, they make the kind of sweet-and-savory pairing that feels like Sunday dinner at someone’s church-going aunt’s house.



Grade: B

Harold’s Chicken Shack #17 is a no-frills fried chicken joint that’s part of a beloved Chicago chain known for saucy, crispy chicken. This location, posted up on a busy stretch, keeps it simple—fluorescent lights, a bulletproof counter window, and that unmistakable scent of grease and spice.



The chicken skin stays crispy under that sticky, vinegary-sweet sauce, and the fries soak up all the extra in the best way. The bread’s mostly there to catch drips, but don’t sleep on it. It’s messy and iconic. That mild sauce was everything.



Grade: A

The Sheik has been around Jacksonville since the ‘70s, and its retro vibe is reflected in the architecture and red, white & blue color palette.



I went through the drive-thru at The Sheik and looked over their menu of pitas, which they are known for. I wanted to try two different ones.



"In 1972, brothers Samir 'Sam' and Munir 'Mike Senior' Salameh, along with their wives Suad 'Sue' and Basima, opened the first Sheik restaurant on the corner of 18th Street and Main Street in Jacksonville, Florida. That restaurant still operates today. From the very beginning the brothers knew that the keys to any successful restaurant are great service and great food. The Sheik became known for selling the best “Steak in a Sack” or steak pita and for its “Camel Rider,” or deli meat pita. The chain also originated the “Cherry Lime,” The Sheik’s version of a black cherry and lime soft drink. All three items have gone on to become ubiquitous throughout the South and synonymous with the Jacksonville dining scene — even garnering an article in The New York Times."



Steak Pita – Steak in a Sack – (Tender slices of steak cooked with onions in pita bread) - The steak was thin and tender, but didn’t have a ton of seasoning, and the onions got lost in the mix. The melted cheese and sauce did their best to pull it all together, but it could’ve used something extra—maybe a hit of spice or a sharper cheese. Not bad at all, just kind of middle-of-the-road.



The Camel Rider has Ham, Salami, Bologna, Cheese, Lettuce, Tomato, Mayo, Onions & Dressing. The pita was soft and held up well, and the mix of ham, salami, and cheese was fine -- salty, a little smoky --but nothing really popped. The white sauce helped, adding some creaminess and tang, but overall it felt like a decent sandwich that leaned more on nostalgia than flavor. The cherry lime drink is a classic for a reason.



Grade: B

Vito & Nick’s is a Chicago institution that’s been serving up thin-crust pizza since 1920.



There’s wood paneling on the walls, TVs tuned to whatever game’s on, and a no-frills attitude. It’s family-run, full of regulars and old-school.



The pizza here is legendary for a reason. It’s ultra-thin, almost cracker-like, with a crisp edge and just enough chew to keep things interesting. The sauce is zesty and slightly sweet, the cheese goes all the way to the edge, and the toppings get a good char from the old-school ovens.



Cut tavern-style, into little squares, my cheese pizza was simple but perfect—gooey mozzarella melted over a crisp, buttery crust with a tangy, well-balanced sauce that hit just right.



Grade: A

Janson’s Drive-In is a retro South Side gem in Chicago that’s been slinging burgers, dogs, and shakes since the 1960s.



It still looks the part too—chrome trim, neon signs, and that classic roadside vibe that feels like stepping into a time capsule. There’s no indoor seating, just a walk-up window and a few outdoor benches.



They have a beef pizza puff that is one of those greasy, indulgent Chicago specialties that you don’t really find outside the city.



The puff is golden and crispy on the outside, with a thick, chewy shell that holds up surprisingly well to the molten filling inside. The jalapeno poppers had the same crispy exterior but give way to cream cheese and the pepper, which were equally as delightful.



Grade: B

Girl & the Goat is a super popular spot in Chicago’s West Loop, started by Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard. It’s known for its fun, shareable plates with bold flavors -- think goat empanadas, crispy pig face, and lots of veggies done in creative ways. The vibe is lively and laid-back, and it’s been a go-to for food lovers since it opened in 2010.



Girl & the Goat has a warm, rustic-industrial vibe with wood beams, exposed brick, and quirky touches like vintage fireboxes and a big goat painting on the wall. The open kitchen and cozy booths make it feel like a fun dinner party in a stylish loft.



The name Girl & the Goat comes from chef Stephanie Izard’s last name, which refers to a type of mountain goat in French. She liked the playful sound of it and felt it was a fun, personal touch—especially after seeing a painting of a girl and a goat that inspired the final name.



There’s a tiny chef’s counter right next to the open kitchen at Girl & the Goat, and it’s one of the coolest spots in the whole place. It only seats a few people, but you get a front-row view of all the action and sometimes even little surprise bites handed over from the line -- perfect for solo dining.



The green beans at Girl & the Goat are a must-order—crisp, charred just right, and tossed in a bold mix of fish sauce vinaigrette, cashews, and chili. They hit that perfect balance of salty, tangy, and umami with just a bit of heat. It’s the kind of dish that turns a simple veggie into something craveable.



A gift from the kitchen - The chickpea fritters are crispy and dotted with crunchy chickpeas adding extra texture. They’re served with a rich, creamy goat yogurt that really brings the dish together. It’s a comforting bite with just the right mix of crispy and creamy.



The pig face at Girl & the Goat is surprisingly tender and packed with rich, smoky flavor. It’s served with crispy potato stix and a perfectly cooked sunnyside egg, adding a great mix of textures and a silky finish.



Every dish is packed with bold flavors and creative twists, making each bite exciting.



Grade: A

Egusi & fufu is a super popular West African dish that’s been blowing up on TikTok lately. It’s made with fufu -- a soft, stretchy dough usually from cassava -- and paired with egusi soup, a thick, hearty mix made from ground melon seeds, leafy greens, spices, and meat or fish. The soup is rich and flavorful, and you eat it by grabbing a bit of fufu with your fingers and dipping it in.



Theoo's African Cuisine serves up authentic African meals right from Dunbar. Egusi and fufu are on that lineup, as well as jollof rice and plantains. The egusi soup is thick and hearty, with ground melon seeds giving it a nutty depth, while tender chicken and leafy greens add layers of flavor. Watch for bones! The fufu, with its mashed potato-like texture, doesn’t have much flavor on its own - but that’s the point - it’s the perfect blank canvas to scoop up the soup and let those spices shine.

In Charleston, there is a home at the corner of Ruffner & Lee that will occasionally put out a sign that says they're selling empanadas. I've caught it a couple times but wasn't in the position to check it out - whether due to time or not having cash on hand.



But then I saw a post in the Charleston Area WV Restaurant Reviews, Promotions, and Discussions Facebook group:

"Peruvian food, takeaway. Big things coming this Thursday! What’s your favorite? If you haven't yet tried the sason, the Peruvian flavor, come this Thursday, We'll be serving in downtown Charleston. Pre-orders only. Choose whichever you'd like to try. We'll also have beef empanadas. Orders by chat. St. After 11:30am. To 2pm.😊"



I put two and two together and realized THIS is the place I've been wanting to try, so I messaged them to pre-prder: chicken paella $10, ají de gallina $10, crema volteada Peruvian dessert $5 and beef empanadas $5.



The empanada was my favorite because the dough was so lovely. Not greasy, a touch sweet, and the filling inside had peas, carrots and raisins.

Chicken Paella is a hearty rice dish originally from Spain, but this version has a Peruvian twist. It features seasoned rice cooked with chicken, peas, carrots and aromatic spices like cumin and paprika, creating a savory, slightly smoky flavor.

Ají de Gallina is a classic Peruvian comfort food made with shredded chicken in a creamy, mildly spicy sauce. The sauce is typically made with ají amarillo peppers, cheese, milk, and bread, resulting in a bright yellow sauce that was rich & velvety and served over potatoes with white rice.

The dessert was like a caramel flan, which had that custardy texture I love.

I enjoyed a lovely early farm-to-table dinner yesterday at Hudson Farms. Chef Matt Welsch of Vagabond Kitchen and West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition made an incredible dish featuring Sugar Bottom Farm honey.



White balsamic and honey marinated chicken breast seared in a cast iron skillet served over buttermilk biscuits with Autumn hash (carrots, butternut squash, beets, brussels, red onion, kale, sweet potato, cabbage, and roasted in honey), and topped with a creamy pan jus, sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, parmesan cheese, and sprinkled with some roasted pumpkin seeds.



You can learn more about it in the upcoming Recipes & Roadmaps episode. Stay tuned! And, in the meantime, check out Appalachian Cellar to get your own goodies to make tasty dishes.

Bonci in Chicago serves up Roman-style pizza that’s cut with scissors and sold by weight, making it a totally different experience from the city’s usual deep-dish fare.



The vibe inside is casual and a little quirky, with pizzas lined up behind glass and a laid-back crew keeping things moving.



The crust is light and airy, almost focaccia-like, with toppings that range from classic mozzarella and sausage to more creative combos like zucchini and ricotta or spicy eggplant.



These Bonci pizza slices show off the beauty of Roman-style crust—airy, bubbly, and crisp on the edges. The ricotta and zucchini slice is fresh and light, with creamy dollops of cheese playing against the charred, tender zucchini. The potato slice is all comfort, rich and savory with melted cheese and golden edges.



The Mushroom Rosa slice leans earthy and delicate, with tender mushrooms layered over a subtle tomato base that brings just enough brightness without overpowering. It’s a slice that feels balanced and comforting, especially when paired with Bonci’s pillowy crust. The Prosciutto Cotto is more indulgent—salty, savory ham melted into gooey cheese, creating a rich, almost buttery bite. Together, the four slices make for a great mix: light and fresh, hearty and warm, simple but full of character. Yum.



Grade: A

Superdawg Drive-In is a Chicago classic that’s been serving up all-beef hot dogs with a serious side of nostalgia since 1948. Located on the city’s Northwest Side, it still operates like a true old-school drive-in—complete with carhop service and your order delivered right to your window on a tray.



The star of the show is the Superdawg itself: a snappy, seasoned beef frank piled high with mustard, neon green relish, onions, sport peppers, a pickle spear, and a pickled green tomato, all tucked into a poppy seed bun and served with crinkle-cut fries.



The Superdawg is a full experience packed into a single bun. It’s loaded with toppings—mustard, neon relish, onions, sport peppers, a pickle spear, and even a pickled green tomato—creating a big, bold bite every time. It can be a little overwhelming if you’re used to a simpler dog, but the flavors somehow manage to work together, and the snap of the all-beef frank cuts through the chaos in the best way.



Crinkle fries at Superdawg are classic and generous, but like most crinkle cuts, they lean more soft than crispy. If you’re someone who craves a golden crunch, these might fall flat—more fluffy than crisp, especially if they steam in the box. They’re nostalgic, but not my go-to fry texture.



Grade: B