T&L Hot Dogs is a North-Central West Virginia chain of hot dogs joints.



"The Proprietors, Dave and Barbara Henderson along with their children Scott, Mike, Lori, and daughter-in-laws Joyce and Bev, began an adventure that is still going strong after a quarter of a century. Now, Third generation managers/owners and grandchildren Kristin, Corey and Troy are continuing that adventure in their parent’s footsteps. In the early 1990’s the Henderson’s added a new “twist” to their already popular restaurants. The Oldies Diners were created in an effort to re-create the happy and carefree lifestyle of days long gone by. The walls are covered with antique pictures, toys and memorabilia for customers viewing pleasure. You can listen to the sounds of the oldies as they play on the restored 1950’s juke box only 5 cents a play, and enjoy the great hot dogs, famous “fresh cut” fries, and fabulous specialty sandwiches. Don’t leave without looking at the restored antique gas pump with its unique glass dial. Welcome back to the 50s! “Being West Virginia’s #1 selling hot dog, we are grateful for our faithful customers and to the hundreds of employees, who over the years have been the secret to our success. Hot dogs are still our specialty and the original homemade chili sauce (prepared daily in our stores) continues to attract customers from all over the country. We invite you to visit any of our seven locations throughout Harrison, Taylor, Marion and Monongalia Counties. Bring the kids, but don’t be surprised if you’re asked to explain who “Howdy Doody” was!



The Buckhannon location looks like a new build and has a drive-thru with signs plastering all their offerings - sundaes, shakes, cones, mac & cheese, beans & cornbread, and more. 



I think it's only fitting to get a hot dog, though. So I got one with chili, plus a side of potato salad. 



Both of these were good. Sometimes a down and dirty hot dog is just what hits the spot. Nothing fancy. Just a few components, but all of them together make for a tasty bite. The potato salad was full of nice hunks of potato, and the mayo just held it together - rather than the other way around. I was happy with a quick, tasty meal.



Grade: A

The Ranch is one of my new favorites in West Virginia.



Located technically just outside of Summersville  in Canvas, The Ranch restaurant is located on the Good Evening Ranch, which also includes rustic cabins, campsites, a restaurant, bar, horse stables, riding arena, playground, hiking, biking, ATV trails and more.



It's a beautiful drive through the countryside, wrapping around hills and past pastures. But then you arrive at a building with a smoker going outside, and you know you're in the right place. 



The dining room looks out over part of the farm, so it's a nice view to enjoy while eating. The menu features BBQ entrees from the smoker, as well as steaks, pork chops, chicken, seafood, salads and some fried apps. 



To start, I received some biscuits with a variety of condiments. I love options. There was a butter, a cinnamon brown sugar butter, and a preserve. It was fun to try each. 



For my entree, I went with a fillet and a blue mushroom crust.



Oh, my goodness. 



The steak was cooked perfectly. The bleu cheese and mushrooms are some of my *bingo* words that I always order when I see them on the menu. I love the combination of earthy and funky and creamy. Then, there's a hasselback potato with flaky sea salt. And a mac & cheese with a short, thick rigatoni noodle topped with parmesan. Honestly, one of the best meals I've had in some time. Everything from the ambiance, to the view, to the food, was great. Next time, I just need to save room for dessert.



Grade: A

"The original Village Tavern opened its doors in 1984 in Winston Salem NC. The idea was simple, serve the best possible food, at affordable prices, using only the finest freshest ingredients, and to enrich the lives of each other, our guests, and our community. In other words to make a positive difference. Today, just as in 1984, we remain committed to our founding principles. Be a Great place to work, deliver Great Food, Great Service, and Great Value to our guests everyday. That's what we do, and we love what we do."

 
I stopped here on my way back home from Myrtle Beach, and I only did curbside, so I may not have gotten the full experience. But, honestly, it ranks pretty high up there for me even without the ambiance, service and general atmosphere.   



Clearly, I was still on a crab kick because I ordered the HOT CRAB DIP - Backfin crab meat, toasted garlic bread, and it did not disappoint. Huge chunks of crab, creaminess, and a nice warm component to the salad I ordered.



The beet salad is one I try to recreate at home, but I've not quite mastered it yet. This one came with: bibb lettuce, roasted red and golden beets, Tavern vinaigrette, goat cheese, balsamic reduction, crispy shallots, and it was just what the doctor ordered on this day. Light, fresh, earthy - and a nice foil to the fatty crab dish. This is what balance is, right? 

Grade: A

"Since 1995, Croissants Bistro and Bakery has been a local’s favorite serving quality comfort food at affordable prices. Offering everything from in-house freshly roasted coffee to homemade soups and sandwiches to baked delicacies and catering – Croissants is the one-stop shop for all of your dining needs. Honored as SC Restaurateur of the Year and SC Chef Ambassador, owner Heidi Vukov strives to blend the freshest ingredients with exceptional customer service in order to create an unforgettable experience for each and every guest."



This bakery was my last stop in Myrtle Beach before heading home - my first ever trip to Myrtle Beach. 



And, it may have presented me with one of my most difficult challenges here yet - what to order. Everything on the menu looked delicious, from quiche and shrimp & grits to chicken & waffles and French toast. 



We started with this beautiful little complimentary muffin that got my tastebuds going. It was a delicious little sweet bite - perfectly moist and loved the sugar texture.



My breakfast was a crab cake benedict - I can't help myself. The fatty, rich breakfast just hits all the "yum" points in my brain. Paired with sweet, fresh fruit and cheesy, crispy hashbrowns, it was perfection. AND, they serve a complimentary ambrosia salad - which I don't think I ever had before. But I enjoyed it. 



Grade: A

Sea Captain's House is one of the last restaurants I was able to hit up before leaving Myrtle Beach.



It's a beautiful, white house sitting right on the beach with a floral entryway that just felt light and airy and beachy.

 
"A Myrtle Beach restaurant was built in 1930 by Henry Taylor of High Point, NC. For 10 plus years the Taylor family vacationed at their oceanfront beach cottage. During the 1940s, Charles W. Angle purchased the cottage, enjoying the sound of the ocean’s tide until 1954, when Mrs. Nellie G. Howard purchased the cottage and began operating Howard’s Manor. With nine guestrooms and three home-cooked meals daily, the guesthouse was a forerunner in providing the warm southern hospitality Myrtle Beach is known for today. Howard’s Manor was advertised as a place where friends meet each year with the beach at their front door."



The decor inside has a nautical theme, though I was only in there for a few moments to pick up my order. First up was their award-winning she-crab soup: "Rich and creamy soup with blue crab and a touch of sherry." I am a fan. It was even better when I dunked the hush puppies in the soup. It's like a beach version of tomato soup and grilled cheese. Comforting and a beautiful blend of flavors and textures.



I also ordered shrimp tacos, which used their bang-bang shrimp topped with jicama slaw, pickled onions and homemade sweet and spicy sauce on flour tortillas. These are simple in concept - crunchy and creamy and sweet and sour - and so tasty. It was a really perfect beach lunch, which was reflected in the flavors.

Grade: A

If there's a time to indulge in seafood, it's at the beach. In this case, Myrtle Beach.



While walking along the beach, I stopped at Wicked Tuna, a sushi grille and bar. I sat at the bar, which has a great view of the ocean. It was light and breezy. The menu has salads, sandwiches and sushi - all looked tasty, really. 



As per usual when I go on vacation, I had been eating my way through the city the whole day, so I really wasn't looking for anything heavy. But there were a ton of things I wanted to try between the lobster roll, maki rolls and even the beet salad. 



Instead, I opted for a simple shrimp cocktail. A few jumbo shrimp were laid atop ice and served with a cocktail sauce. I really enjoy shrimp. Sometimes, though, it can be not the freshest at the grocery store, and a weird texture can totally ruin it. But these? They were perfect. They are fresh, the texture is firm, there's no sliminess or rubberiness or fishiness. They are slightly sweet, have a nice little snap when you bite in, and the cocktail - I love horseradish. It's my favorite spicy flavor, and there was plenty here. 



Grade: A

The name "Blueberry's Grill" alone conjures up images of tall stacks of pancakes studded with blueberries in my mind.



So, I already had my mind set on that. But when I opened the menu, I was instantly drawn to the crab cake benedict, which might be my favorite breakfast item of all time. Plus this one came with fried green tomato! All on an English muffin with remoulade on the side. 



What's a girl to do? Order both. I got one blueberry pancake, which by the way, was quite tasty, of course. Not too thin, not too thick, but generous with the blueberry both inside and sprinkled on top. Yes. 


And then the benedict - you just can't go wrong. It's the perfect vacation breakfast. The crab cake gave some nice texture and flavor to an otherwise ordinary egg dish. The remoulade adds some creaminess and just a bit of heat. Quite tasty.

Grade: A

Hook & Barrel is a noted seafood restaurant in Myrtle Beach that focuses on local food and  sustainability.



Chef Heidi Vukov started this restaurant and has won many awards, including the 2018 South Carolina Chef Ambassador. 



Hook & Barrel was one of the first places I knew I wanted to dine at when I decided to take a trip to Myrtle Beach because it had been recommended to me a few times. Vukov's other location, Croissants Bistro & Bakery, is also one we'll come back to later. 



The restaurant itself is beachy. Open, airy, light, a large wraparound porch - which is where I chose to have my meal. 



I started with the crackers and pimento cheese, which, wow, is quite the way to start a meal. Super crisp chips with a heavy scoop of cheese and mayo and pimento that is was just hitting all the right notes.



I ordered a crab cake before I knew of the delightful complimentary pimento cheese appetizer, but I always love a crab cake. These three mini ones were plump with a flavorful remoulade. The cakes had hunks of crab, perfect seasoning and just a delicious pairing with the creamy sauce. 



The menu spans from fresh oysters and she crab soup to smoked shrimp & grits and pan-seared scallops. The latter is the one I landed on, which came with celery root puree, sauteed kale and roasted mushrooms. A beautiful scallop is special thing. That nice sear gives way to a meaty scallop that is slightly sweet. Paired with the puree, kale and mushrooms - it really was a perfect dish.

Grade: A

I came across this mini donut truck in Barboursville recently, and I was excited to check out what they had to offer.



O Goodness Mini Donuts offers teeny tiny donuts by the dozen with both classic and specialty flavors: cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, glazed, peanut butter lovers, maple bacon and fruity pebbles. 



I threw caution to the wind and ordered a dozen. You can split the dozen into two flavors, so I went with peanut butter lovers and fruity pebbles. 



I actually really liked the texture of these little guys. They had an ever so slight chew that was really satisfying. And the toppings, of course, took them over the top. It's kind of a fun experience to eat a bowl of donuts with a fork - plus fruity cereal and peanut butter candies. It doesn't really get much better.

Grade: A