The Lox Bagel Shop in Columbus, Ohio, hand-rolls, boils and then bakes their bagels - which has helped them earn spots on lists such as: Bon Appétit Magazine's "The Very Best Bagels in the US (yes, outside New York)" and Food & Wine Magazine's "The Best Bagels in America."



The trendy spot is a bit off the beaten path, but not far. They are known for their hybrid-style bagel - a beautiful blend between nice crunch exterior and soft interior. You can get them as plain, sesame, sea salt and herb, or everything. you can also add a spread or go for a bagel sandwich.



"Our bagels are a cross between a New York and Montreal style, boiled and fired in a live fire oven. We pride ourselves on sourcing the highest quality ingredients as well as sound technique to produce a delicious and enjoyable bagel or bagel sandwich," reads the website.



I had to try their namesake sandwich, the Lox, which has capers, onion, cucumber, and cream cheese. I made mine a sea salt and herb bagel with chive cream cheese.



I loved the sandwich so much. There was a perfect mixture of textures. There was some sweetness from the pickled red onion. There was lots of savory from the herbs and chives. Delicious.



Grade: A

Plaza Azteca is a chain of Mexican restaurants in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachussetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and one singular location in West Virginia: Morgantown.



This space in Suncrest Towne Centre has been home to a number of restaurants over the years, but I do think the bright blue and vibrant yellow hues on the outside of the building make it one of the most welcoming and exciting options this location has seen. I visited with my friend Kayla and her two kids.



The menu features many of the same offerings you'd find at comparable restaurants in the region: tacos, burritos, nachos, fajitas, chimichangas and the like.



It was something else that caught my eye, though.

FRESH TABLE-SIDE CEVICHE ** Citrus-marinated fish, shrimp, avocados, jalapeño, tomato, onion, lime, orange, salt, cilantro.



"Ceviche is a seafood dish where diced cubes of raw fish, marinated in a lemon or lime juice mixture, react with the citrus juices to cure the fish protein and causes it to become opaque and firm while absorbing flavor," according to Southern Living. It is South American/Peruvian traditionally.



I love a tableside preparation, and there are really aren't too many places to get ceviche locally. Food just tastes much more fresh when watching it be prepared right in front of you.



And I enjoyed the flavors - bright, light, fresh, punchy. While it is typically served as an appetizer, I indulged in it as my main meal. I think the only addition that would have made this meal better is a margarita.



Grade: A

Rock Hill Creamery is a Shepherdstown ice cream shop that keeps it simple: "We make our ice cream right here in the shop using only milk, sugar, and heavy cream as our base."



In 2021, the local paper wrote: "Founded by Gary Miller in Martinsburg in 1996, Rock Hill Creamery was officially closed six years ago. One of Miller’s longtime employees, however, lived in Shepherdstown and realized she wanted to bring the creamery back to life in her town."



I kept it pretty simple with salted caramel, but it was the most silky, luxurious salted caramel I've had in recent memory. maybe because of the simplicity, the flavors really popped. I know next time I want to try a waffle cone, if available.



Grade: A

Some of the tastiest Mexican food I have had in the state is in Spencer. La Finca, a roadside restaurant with a small lot, could be mistaken for a house. And the food inside is as good as home-cooking.



With a menu full of options like chilaquiles, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, chimichangas, and the like, I narrowed down my options by finding a meal covered in queso. The burrito filled with shredded pork was moist and flavorful and juicy. The cheese sauce drenched the tortilla, creating a perfectly cheesy, meaty bite. Simple, but made with care.



Grade: A

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

Cambodia is a southeast Asian country that borders Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. If you're like me, you may not be familiar with Cambodian cuisine, so I took to Wikipedia for a briefing:



"The cuisine of Cambodia contains tropical fruits, soups and noodles. Key ingredients are kaffir lime, lemon grass, garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, tamarind, ginger, oyster sauce, coconut milk and black pepper. Some delicacies are num banhchok, fish amok and aping. The country also boasts various distinct local street foods," the website reads.



While passing through Eureka, California, on a national parks road trip, my friends and I stopped at Annie's Cambodian Cuisine and were excited to try this new-to-us cuisine.



I started with a strawberry smoothie with tapioca boba. It was just like a strawberry milkshake and boba tea had a baby with all the best features of each. I also ordered Annie's Cheese Puffs, which are wonton wrappers filled with cream cheese and green onion, fried to a golden brown and served with housemade sweet and sour sauce. These were essentially like the crab rangoons that I order anywhere I can. And yes, the fried cream cheese is as delicious as ever.



I ordered pad thai with shrimp, which is rice noodles stir fried with egg, bean sprouts, lime and peanuts in a peanut sauce. This is one of my favorite dishes of all time, and this version is a great example. It was moist and flavorful and had some nice variation in texture.



Grade: A

"When Guy was growing up, his family would stop at Granzella’s Deli on road trips for the best muffuletta ever. Stop in and try one of their 30 different sandwiches," reads the restaurant description on foodnetwork.com.



In January 1976, Jim and Beverly Granzella opened Granzella's Deli. Through hard work seven days a week, years of increasing popularity, and the help of the Granzella children, Granzella's expanded into a full-service delicatessen and ultimately a restaurant, according to the website.



Today, Granzella's Deli offers a wide selection of prime lunch meats, domestic and imported cheeses, a wide selection of olives and specialty items, a massive selection of 150 brands of imported and micro- brewed beers, assorted coffee drinks, fresh-baked pies, and Italian gelato made with real Italian gelato base.



And for the restaurant portion: Granzella's breakfast specialties include items off the griddle, omelets, country fried steaks, and much more! Granzella's also has an extensive lunch and dinner menu, with items that will satisfy the hungriest at an affordable, family-friendly price. Items include a long list of appetizers, specialty soups and salads, sandwiches, pastas, charbroiled specialties, prime rub, pizza and more.



I started my meal with a bowl of minestrone, which was a huge portion, and I love the generosity with the pasta noodles. That's always my favorite part.



I had to try the New Orleans Muffuletta sandwich with genoa salami, mortadella, provolone cheese, and their famous muffuletta olive salad served on a sourdough roll.



This was really quite good, without the overwhelming size that the original muffaletta brings. It's the best part of an Italian sandwich with the punchiness of that additional olive salad.



I also finished with some gelato, which was sweet and satisfying. Creamy and indulgent.



Plus, there is a huge shop that includes some of the ingredients from the menu and much more.



Have you been?



Grade: A

Super Duper Burger is a San Francisco-based burger chain that is a step up from others: It boasts organic, locally sourced, humanely raised ingredients, including vegetarian-fed beef with an 80 to 20 protein to fat blend.



"From our famous (free) house-made pickles to the hand-painted signage, to our cheerful staff, we build our restaurants like we build our burgers—sustainably, locally, and with an unwavering commitment to quality. We work with local designers, sign painters, and artisans because it reduces our carbon footprint, and, frankly, because they’re some of the best in the world," reads the website.



The space definitely has a West Coast vibe, with some indoor-outdoor spaces and bright colors. The furniture is pretty modular and not exactly exactly cozy so you're not sticking around too long. There is a pickle jar, but I was a bit hesitant to test the communal waters.



I ordered the mini burger: One 1/4 lb daily ground, all-natural, vegetarian-fed Brandt Beef patty - cooked medium and served on a freshly baked bun with lettuce, tomato, red onion, and Super Sauce.



Plus a side of garlic fries: Fresh Garlic & 6 Month Aged Cheddar



Add in 3 dips: Homemade Super Sauce, Mayo & Chipotle Aioli.



The fresh strawberry shake is not skimping on the fresh strawberry - which had a heaping helping on the top.



The burger not only tasted great, but it also was presented in a lovely way. Certainly a step up from other burger joints. just a bit fresher, cleaner, and more succinct flavors. I think all fries should be garlic and/or truffle fries, so this also receives top marks from me. The shake was great. All in all, an elevated burger experience that is still quick but without cutting corners.



Grade: A