Jeff's Curbside is a takeout restaurant located in North Charleston that also offers some delivery.



I visited this restaurant a year or two ago when it was located on the East End in a shop. But now, they have a dedicated space and are open Monday through Saturday evenings.



He is known for his cajun chicken pasta, which has received rave reviews across the internet. But one of my favorite dishes is meatloaf, and on Mondays, guess what his special is? Meatloaf.  



The meal came with garlic bread, a small salad, and two sides. After a little bit of wait, I got my to-go bag and headed out the door - armoas of a hot, fresh meal filling my car. The garlic bread was fine, and the salad for me was a bit different with the fruit and onion together. 



But the meatloaf - wow. It was super moist, full of onions and peppers to give it some flavor, and had a sweet tomato sauce on top, which is my favorite. The twice baked potato was like a special treat that I don't see often, and it was cheesy baked perfection. And the carrots were even delish - slightly sweet and a perfect balance to the rest of the meal. 

Grade: A

The Trail Kitchen, located off the beaten path near Clendenin, got a lot of attention when it opened for its "pay what you want" scale. 



It has since made the rounds for its location, its open or closed status, and its specials. I couldn't wait to check it out.



Because it isn't quite "along the way" for anyone, really, I had to make a special trip out here - and I'm glad I did before they closed for the season. 



Let's start with getting here because that's half the battle. I have a Subaru for a reason; I like to be able to go just about anywhere. But if you have a vehicle with a low clearance or are not comfortable driving on unpaved roads, this may not be the road for you. I made it fine - nice and slow on the dirt roads - but know that you're going to see mostly ATVs and trucks in the parking area. 



The building has a nice outdoor deck area, as well as indoor seating. You order at the walk-up window, which has a menu listed - but no prices. It is a little awkward - without even a suggested price - because money is such a weird, taboo topic in our culture and looking at someone and telling them what you think their work, their effort, their staff are worth. Here's the restaurant's explanation on why they do it:

Our way to "Be the Change we wish to see in the world" ... We have decided to use a business model we have not seen before in any other restaurant. There will be NO prices on our menu! Our customers will decide how much they will pay for their meal. Here will be your 3 options ...

1. Pay only what you can afford
2. Pay what the meal is worth to you
3. "Pay it forward" to help someone who is quietly suffering financially

You will be handed an envelope when you order. Deposit your money into the envelope, the amount will be based on the 3 choices above, then put that envelope into a mail slot near the takeout window to pay for your meal, it will be completely private. OR you can choose to pay with a credit card and the amount will be between you and your cashier. WHY WOULD WE DO SUCH A CRAZY THING???? Please read to the end. Sometimes God whispers and idea in your ear that challenges your way of thinking. We did not do this lightly or on whim. Much thought and prayer went into this decision.

1. Someone who can't afford a meal, gets a meal while keeping their pride and dignity intact.
2. Someone who can afford a meal gets a great meal and pays what it's worth to them.
3. It gives those who can pay a little extra the opportunity to "pay it forward" to someone who is quietly suffering.

This prolonged pandemic and polarized political divide is creating a toxic environment in our country. When you're overwhelmed with fear and frustration, the best answer is to respond with fearlessness, and faith. We have faith in ...
God
Our community
We the people
Americans
and especially West Virginians

Anyone can fall on hard times and this pandemic has only amplified the problem for many families. Imagine if you couldn't take your daughter to a special birthday dinner, or celebrate a special event, or just needed a real meal that didn't come from a microwave. We will offer delicious meals made with quality ingredients, this is a real restaurant and we take pride in our food. We are not rich people, we are not a non-profit, we are not a "soup kitchen". We have built a first class commercial kitchen with an enormous deck on our property with our life savings and months of hard work.

We are a family owned small business that operates on old fashioned American values...
Faith in God
Hard Work
Quality product
Service to others
Strong Community

Life is more than the mindless pursuit of money and material things. We still have to pay bills, buy food, maintain the restaurant equipment and stay complaint with the health dept.. This bold move to operate solely on an honor system is scary, but we believe you must. "Be the change you wish to see in the world" and we believe this is the right thing to do. This is our preferred business model. If for some reason we are unable to continue operations in this manner, we will adjust our pricing plan but only if the original plan proves to be unsustainable. The founding fathers of our country had faith in "We the people" when they wrote our constitution. So, we will have faith in the people as well.

The Markers
The Trail Kitchen LLC "In God We Trust"



So I walked up to the window and put in an order for their "Trail Dipper," which is grilled sourdough with pepperjack cheese, american cheese, turkey, lettuce, tomato, onion and homemade ranch to dip it in. They also had homemade french onion dip that I added - I figured it could be fun to try that as a dip for the sandwich, too. 



After I placed my order, I walked inside the little breezeway area that has restrooms, as well as a small complimentary coffee bar. How nice that is for those who have been traveling! A little pick-me-up. After just a few minutes, my food was ready and I left to enjoy it. 



The sandwich is stacked. The bread is beautifully grilled, the cheese was perfectly melted, and there's a substantial amount of deli turkey, without it being unwieldy. The one thing I would change is the stringy shredded lettuce. I don't love that texture when glopped with a sauce. So I scooped out the bulk of it and enjoy the remainder of my sandwich.

If you want a one-of-a-kind West Virginia experience, the Trail Kitchen can provide that. I appreciate what they're doing and providing, and it's something different we can enjoy.

Grade: A

Dancing Dog is a new ice cream shop on the West Side of Charleston. I personally am always a fan of ice cream, and I think it's the perfect addition to the West Side. 



Their soft opening was during Oktoberwest, and it may or may not have been the highlight of my day. I made my way through a crowd of people to this beautiful, sweet oasis.



The space is long and narrow and has some really cool artwork on the walls that bring in some color. As of now, they're just serving homemade ice cream, but it seems like more food options may be on the way in the future.



The menu for this day included chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, lemon chiffon, oreo, brownie brittle, milk chocolate, raspberry, mint chocolate chip and chocolate chip.



Me - being me - I couldn't choose between chocolately or fruity, so I went with both. I got one scoop of oreo and one scoop of strawberry. 



These flavors were both so smooth. The oreo has big chunks of cookie, and the ice cream was the perfect temperature of cool. It made the texture perfect. Go get you some local scoops and taste the difference.



Grade: A

Phat Daddy's on Da Tracks is an open-air BBQ joint located on the West Side of Charleston that is Black owned. They're still in their opening phase, but they are serving consistently so my friend and coworker Hannah and I went to check it out.



The restaurant has been sharing their progress vis their Facebook page - from a simple structure to a more sprawling space brightly colored in red and yellow. 



At the register, there is a menu, which consists of items like philly cheesesteak (chopped cheese), fried fish sandwiches, steak or shrimp bowls (which have a baked potato and broccoli), plus more traditional BBQ items like brisket and ribs are coming soon.



I ordered a "chopped cheese," macaroni & cheese, and tater tots. I usually don't got for a philly cheesesteak, because I've had many that are full of fat or gristle or lack flavor and are full of grease. Let me be clear: This "chopped cheese" is one of the best I've had. Every single bite was full of flavor - tender meat, creamy cheese, perfect bread, and some texture from peppers and onions. You have got to try it.



The mac & cheese was good - it was more like milky, rather than cheesy? So very creamy and peppery. Different, but tasty. And the tater tots were standard - I'd love to kick them up with a cheese sauce or something.



Go support them and fill your belly with yummy food.

Grade: A

Mugshots is a new coffee shop in downtown Wheeling that has a fun, quirky theme. 



You may have guessed it - but their decor features mugshots of celebrities on the tables, menus and countertops.



While heading back to Charleston from Wellsburg, I stopped here for a little caffeine boost. Okay, okay, and a snack.



I love the historical space. The architecture of the building is lovely, even if there are more modern touches inside.



The menu has a nice variety of coffee drinks, including cold brew, French press, espresso, latte, red eye, breve, frozen, and more. I ordered a frozen honey nut latte, which has honey, hazelnut, espresso and steamed milk. It was delicious - a treat with just a bit of espresso. 



I also ordered a smoked salmon wrap, which has dill cream cheese, capers, balsamic vinegar and mixed greens on a spinach wrap. It was so good.



It's so filling but is light and fresh, and the dill cream cheese pulls it all together and the balsamic adds that acid. It's just an easy, smart dish that I could eat all the time. Plus a side of hummus and pita? Yes, please. All day long.



Grade: A

Mountaineer Roasting Co. has been producing coffee for some time, but they recently opened up a cafe where they serve it, along with other tasty treats. 



It's located in a new build along with other businesses. It has large windows that let lots of natural light stream inside. 



The design is lovely - trendy with light wooden shelves, dark metal brackets, chalkboards, marble-esque countertops and a minimalist vibe. 



I kept it simple with a latte and a blueberry muffin - a beautiful pairing.



If I'm getting a stronger coffee, I like to pair it with a sweet treat. If I'm just having a coffee, I'll add cream and sugar to it. 



The coffee is good - robust and strong. And look at that cute latte art! I alternate taking a bite of muffin and siping on the latte for some sweet and bitter flavors together.



The blueberry muffin (always one of my favorites) was extra sweet with an icing topping. But still moist and made for a perfect complement to the coffee.



Grade: A

The Embassy Suites in Charleston is home to Brasserie 1863, a restaurant in the atrium area of the hotel.



Previously, the hotel was home to a sports bar, but I was excited to check out the rebrand especially because it pays homage to West Virginia by including 1863 in the name. 



I went with a few friends, and we looked over the menu. It's not huge, but it has enough variety to supply the standards and have something for everyone. 



I decided to keep it simple with a cheeseburger - the 1863 Burger, which is a custom blend of sirloin and brisket with cheddar on brioche. 



The burger was pretty solid. I dressed mine up with ketchup and mayo to suit my preferences, bit it was a good slate upon which you could build. Fries were good. AND, one of the amazing managers Meagan even gave us some dessert on the house - which always tastes better. Great service, good food and fun friends.


Grade: A

Have you heard of Von Blaze Sandwiches?



The current food truck and soon-to-be restaurant is dishing out some super creative sandwiches, wings and fries. 



I happened to get lucky and found Von Blaze out and about while in town. You may recognize Chris McDonald as the former chef at Stefano's who has been recognized for the incredible food he put out. So, I had high standards.



The first thing on the menu that stuck out to be was the "lobster dog." This housemade lobster and shrimp "hot dog" has napa slaw, fingerling potato chips, brown butter mayo, on a toasted New England style bun. 



That sounds weird, which is right up my alley. First of all, take a look at this beautiful specimen. It's not a regular hot dog. The potato chips on top are like these beautiful waves of crunchy, salty goodness. 



And it really is like seafood in a hot dog, but it works. It's more like seafood with a hint of salt and crunch and cream with the mayo. It all works for a weird Appalachian twist on a lobster roll. 



Grade: A