The Coffeehouse in Weston was quite the pleasant surprise.



When I was coming to town, I wasn't searching for coffee. But I stumbled upon this shop and had to check it out.



The building houses more than just the coffee shop, I think. So, when walking inside, veer to the right to see a wide open space with some sweet country-chic decor.



They serve specialty coffees, cold coffees, drip coffee, cider, hot cocoa and tea. 



They even have chocolate-covered espresso beans and whole bean coffee for sale. 



While I'm a sucker for hot cocoa, and the peach cider sounded really good, I went for a caramel latte instead. 



For me, it was a perfect amount of sweetness and bitter. It was soothing and gave me a little extra pep in my step.



Have you been?



Grade: A

Casa D'Amici is well-known for being the downtown pizza joint open late at night. And while you could dismiss it as drunk college food, Casa actually serves up a pretty decent pie. So, I was pleased to see them expand beyond downtown and into the Cheat Lake area.



The Cheat Lake location 1) has plenty of parking and 2) seems so big and open. I think because the ceilings are so high. They offer pizza, subs, pasta, calzones and baked rolls. I went with a variety platter to take home for dinner. 



I always enjoy their baked rolls because it's not something you see at all pizza shops - and hey, it's close to a pepperoni roll, what can I say?



I ordered a spinach, mozzarella and ricotta; I only wish I could've added mushrooms. Always love this flavor combination, and it was just enrobed in a perfectly golden brown crust. 



We ordered a few slices to try - a pepperoni and mushrooms, as well as a Hawaiian slice. Both were good - large, thin slices that could be crisper on the bottom, but not bad. 



Finally, we had a vodka penne dish with garlic bread. I liked the flavor, though there wasn't really a ton of sauce. It just coated the pasta, so there were some bites that had virtually no sauce. I also think some meatballs or other protein would help the texture.



Overall, though, I enjoyed my meal. I like the variety offered for what it is, and I've not had a bad dish here. It's consistently good, fast pizza and pizza-adjacent items.

Grade: A

Every good college town is going to have at least one good pizza place. In Athens, Avalanche Pizza was recommended to me. They serve up standard pies, but also some specialty ones that may even require a dictionary. Take a look at some of these unique pies:

The Wheels on Fire: Our fabulous hand-tossed crust, with savory Gorgonzola cream sauce, bake with fresh-sliced Red Onion and King Family Farms Chicken that is gently coated with our spicy Ninja Sauce. After the oven we apply spokes of Creamy Ranch Dressing and shaved Celery with a garnish of Roasted Red Pepper in the middle.

Hot Tuna: Tuna, artichoke hearts, fresh mushrooms, tomatoes, asiago, and spicy ninja sauce using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our creamy béchamel sauce and crispy thin crust.

Loaded Baked Potato: Potatoes, crispy bacon, broccoli and cheddar using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our creamy béchamel sauce and signature hand-tossed dough.

Crouching Kimchi, Hidden Chicken: Teriyaki-tossed roasted chicken, crunchy cashews, mandarin oranges and Korean kimchi using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our house marinara sauce and signature hand-tossed dough.



But The Godzilla has won the "Best Pizza in the U.S.A." - Velvety Blanched Spinach atop our Delicious Marinara Blend with Melting Feta Cheese, Fresh Golden Roasted Chicken and finished with Sweet Sun-dried Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Provolone. And it won Best Pizza in the U.S.A. at the World Pizza Championship in Salsomaggiore, Italy!

This was a really tasty pizza. The flavor combinations are not all that crazy - sundried tomatoes, spinach, feta - those are great together. And covered in mozzarella and provolone brings it all together. A pretty good pizza, all in all.

Grade: A

This rainy day has me reminiscing about a comforting meal I had recently in Huntington at the Gumbo Stop Cafe.



The cajun and creole restaurant is located at Heritage Station and helps fill a gap in our culinary scene, which I really appreciate. Serving po'boys, jambalaya, etouffee and more, the restaurant has so many tempting offerings that it's tough to choose just one.



It's a really small space, but bright with color and smiling faces. There are only a handful of tables in here, so takeout is a safe bet. I went with the muffuletta sandwich, which has layers of pistachio-mortadella, spicy capicola, genoa salami, mozzarella, provolone, house olive salad, on sesame seed Gambino's Italian bread. 



When I had the original sandwich in New Orleans, I fell in love. So I was excited to get a version locally. And, I think it holds up pretty well! The original version was almost like compressed - there's no empty space in that sandwich. Every bit is smashed down and full of flavor. This sandwich was a touch fluffier, which makes it a bit more difficult to get a bite of all the flavors at once. BUT, that's an easily solved problem: unhinge your jaw. Quality meats, ample olive salad and a good bread make this sandwich sing. I was happy. 



I also ordered some jambalaya. The top was much soupier than I expected, but once I dug my spoon down below the surface to get some of the rice and andouille sausage, mmm-mmm was it flavorful. I mixed it all up so all those juices helped moisten the rice. Scallions make everything better. 



They even have delicious desserts. No banana pudding on this day - but an incredible (pineapple?) cake with strawberries and whipped cream was juuuust delish. 



Go, and go now.

Grade: A

Casa Nuevo in Athens is a worker-owned restaurant dishing out Mexican-inspired food. 



The fact that it's worker-owned was super interesting to me. What does that mean? 



"A worker-owned co-op is a business where the workers of the cooperative have joined together to produce goods and/or services for sale. The workers, being the only members of the cooperative, elect the Board of Directors and share whatever profits are earned by the business."



They also don't allow tipping - instead, they pay their "Casatrons" a liveable wage (what they call their servers). They just have a very cool, progressive way of running their business - from how they support their employees to how they source their food and everything inbetween. 



Because I visited during the era of COVID19, it was takeout only. So after perusing the menu full of burritos, tacos, quesadillas, and enchiladas, I went with the Albondigas: pork meatballs simmered in the house BBQ salsa and served on a bed of jasmine rice. 



These were really tasty! I was so full from our mini food tour of Athens, but I kept sneaking bites of these meatballs. They were moist and had some sweetness and some spice. And I loved how there was plenty of the salsa to soak into the jasmine rice, which is sometime my most favorite part of a meal. 



Grade: A

Prior to my ever visiting Athens, Ohio, folks would always tell me I need to check out Jackie O's.



We're not just talking OU alums; we're talking everyone who has ever spent any time in Athens recommends Jackie O's. 



And for good reason.



Jackie O's brews their own beer - and lots of it. They have 50 available at all times, and they span from IPAs to sours and all styles inbetween.



"Jackie O’s owner, Andrew Arthur Oestrike, known by most as Art, went to Ohio University in Athens, Ohio as an undergraduate and again as a graduate student after teaching English overseas in South Korea.
In 2005, Art purchased O’Hooley’s. Shortly before this new venture, his mother, Jackie Oestrike, was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. Jackie passed away in June of 2006, but not before her son let her know he had plans to change the name “O’Hooley’s” to “Jackie O’s” in her honor. Her reaction was a classic motherly reaction, “a bar?!” Art’s reply, “it's going to be so much more than a f*@%ing bar, mom!” has been what continues to inspire and grow the business to this day. " In January of 2007, the name of O’Hooley’s officially changed to Jackie O’s Brewpub. The original Brewpub became a pillar of the Athens community by focusing on locally inspired and produced products. At Jackie O’s inception, the decision was made to brew specific beer that would only be available in Athens, create barrel-aging and sour programs, and commit to using locally sourced products whenever possible."



We dined outside, and I ordered a sour beer, which I remember enjoying but do not remember which one specifically. 



We also ordered a pizza with red marinara sauce, provolone, a balsamic glaze - rich, fatty, delicious.



They often have specials and new beers, so I want to go back soon to check out some new drinks and food.



Because from my experience, what they have to offer is great.



What's your favorite order here?



Grade: A

Larry's Dawg House is a beloved local restaurant in Athens that serves up both hot dogs and ice cream sundaes.



"What’s better than a delicious hot dog washed down with an ice cream sundae? Absolutely nothing! That’s why, we’ve been serving up hearty combos to the good people of Athens since 1972, and we don’t plan on stopping any time soon. Whether you prefer a standard dog or want to go all out with a fried one dressed with all the toppings, we’ve got you covered. We know that good flavor and amazing service are what keep you coming back, which is why we’re always doing our very best to make sure you leave us with a smile."



At this point in the day, I had eaten my way through Athens, but I could manage a drink.  I ordered a banana split arctic swirl. I'm not usually a banana split girl, but the freshness of the fruit was calling my name. Can a milkshake be healthy? Maybe kinda if it's made with fruit, right? In that case, this was sweet, a little bit healthy and a lot delicious.

Grade: A

I love, love, love a good bagel. And the cool college town of Athens, Ohio, had the perfect place for me: Bagel Street Deli.



This shop has an online ordering system, which made it super easy for me to take some time to look over the menu. It is quite extensive. From breakfast bagels and blts to bbq tofu and pizza bagels - there's a little bit of everything.



I opted for their Larry David bagel, which has lox, cream cheese, capers, onions, and tomato all on an onion bagel. After placing my order online, I picked it up at the shop and went on my way - super easy peasy. And the bagel was delicious. Sometimes a lox bagel has way too much cream cheese - or even way too much lox. Or not a good quality lox. This one checked all the boxes with the silky lox, the briney pop of the capers and the creaminess of the cheese all matched perfectly with a touch of sweetness from the onion. All in all, v good.

Grade: A 

Amy Cakes Catering has made Sunday evenings an exciting event in my household.



I hold my breath as I await the post detailing what the week's offering will be. Will this week be meatloaf? Tacos? A casserole?



Amy Cakes Catering is a caterer, of course, but they also offer dinners to go. I love this, because I may not have an event to cater at the moment, but it gives me an opportunity to try a meal there and keep them in mind for the future. 



The process is simple - just look for the post on Sunday, message the page to reserve a meal, and then show up at the South Charleston church on Wednesday during their pick-up time.



I couldn't wait to check it out, so rather than wait until the *perfect* meal to try, I went with the first one I saw - which was still good! The meal was chicken and dumplings served with mashed potatoes, seasonal salad with apples, cranberries and golden raisins; cheddar biscuits; and a mini banana pudding - all for $15. I paid at the window in the auditorium and went on my merry way.



The salad was so surprisingly good! It's not the main attraction, of course, but it was fresh and a little different, and I enjoyed it. It was needed before the heavy, tummy-filling meal of chicken & biscuits. I used my side of a cheddar biscuit as an extra dipping vessel to give some more texture in the mashed potato and chicken gravy trough. I'm glad no one watched as a I ate every last bite. And finally, banana pudding - which I've really developed a healthy love for recently - was delish. The lovely gentleman who packed my dinner said he "hooked it up" with a GOOD banana pudding, and you, sir, are the GOAT.

Grade: A