Gran Robbie’s in Ansted is a locally owned café serving breakfast, lunch, coffee and baked goods along U.S. 60, just a few minutes from Hawks Nest State Park. The café has a casual, homey feel, with plants, local artwork and plenty of seating. The menu features reakfast options like frittata sandwiches, French toast and bagels, while lunch brings sandwiches, salads and rotating specials. "Gran Robbie’s choice for espresso is Coal River Coffee Company’s Almost Heaven, a dark-roasted blend of Tanzanian Peaberry, Nicaraguan, and Sumatran beans. Our very own Hawks Nest Roast, a collaboration between Gran Robbie’s and Coal River, is an amazingly smooth and dark combination of Guatemalan and Nicaraguan beans with notes of walnut, chocolate, and apricot. It’s the coffee that will convince you that you like your coffee black," reads the website. I started with a mango-peach smoothie, which I will order every time I see it. Sweet and cold and refreshing. I tried Tim’s Spicy Rice — jasmine rice with breakfast sausage, peppers and onions, seasoned with Southwest spices and topped with corn and black bean salsa, sour cream, green onions and cilantro. And Banh Mi — dry-rubbed, slow-cooked pork loin, thinly sliced and topped with a spicy Asian slaw.

These were both unexpected, but tasty. Each component in the rice dish tasted fresh. Simple. The sandwich was unlike other banh mi that I've had. It felt more like a regular sandwich based on the size and bread. I did love the pickled veggies. Grade: B

400 Degrees is a Nashville hot-chicken restaurant. Owner Aqui Hines, a Nashville native, grew up eating Prince’s Hot Chicken and developed her own version before opening 400 Degrees in 2006. It remains a Black-owned, locally rooted restaurant and is regularly grouped with Prince’s and Bolton’s among Nashville’s essential old-school hot-chicken destinations. The Cheesesteak Eggrolls were packed with chopped sirloin, melted cheese and onions inside a crisp fried wrapper. Though normally served with ketchup and mustard, I opted for a side of the beer cheese for dipping. The eggrolls were crispy, cheesy and packed with savory beef, and the beer cheese was a great addition. Grade: B

Ole Red Nashville Airport is the airport outpost of Blake Shelton-inspired Ole Red, the country-themed restaurant and live-music concept operated by Opry Entertainment Group. Located in Concourse C near Gate C-18 at Nashville International Airport, it essentially brings a scaled-down Nashville honky-tonk experience inside BNA, pairing Southern food and drinks with a stage for live country music. The menu leans heavily into Southern and Nashville comfort food, including Honey Bee Hot Chicken & Waffles, Redneck Nachos, smash burgers, pulled pork barbecue, ribs and a Stay Country Bar-B-Que Board with ribs, pulled pork, brisket links, mac and cheese, baked beans, corn, slaw and cornbread. I had Ma’s Meatloaf, a house-made beef-and-bison meatloaf with Ole Red barbecue sauce, cheddar smashed potatoes, house-made onion straws and Southern-glazed Brussels sprouts. I like my meatloaf with more of a tangy tomato sauce, but the BBQ wasn't bad. Grade: B

Roberto’s Taco Shop is one of the classic San Diego taco-shop-style Mexican fast-food spots -- the kind of place associated with big burritos, rolled tacos, carne asada fries and open late-night/24-hours. There are multiple Roberto’s locations, and menus/prices vary somewhat by location.

The California burrito is one of the foods that really captures the overlap between San Diego’s Mexican-American taco-shop culture and California’s fast-food culture: carne asada, a flour tortilla and Mexican flavors combined with something decidedly American—French fries.

At Roberto’s, the basic version is simple: Carne asada + French fries + cheese + flour tortilla. The combination of salty, savory, charred beef with a soft/starchy fry is made even better with melted cheese - all wrapped in a giant flour tortilla. Dipping it in a salsa adds a punch of flavor. I wouldn't mind some more inside.

Grade: B

Obrycki’s is a Baltimore crab-house brand that dates to 1944, originally associated with Fells Point. The BWI location is post-security in Concourse B, between Gates B-7 and B-9. The whole point is Chesapeake/Maryland food: crab cakes, crab soup, shrimp, Old Bay and other regional seafood dishes. I had to try Obrycki’s Famous Crab Cake - A Baltimore tradition since 1944. Made with the freshest jumbo lump crab meat. Served broiled or fried, with cocktail and tartar sauce. I added a side of cheesy grits and slaw. The sides were not much to write home about, but I did enjoy the crab cake. Small, but packed with crab meat. Grade: B

Captain Holstein’s Family Entertainment Center is a the pirate-themed indoor playground and family entertainment center located in Kanawha City. It bills itself as West Virginia’s largest indoor playground, with ball pits, trampolines, spiral slides, air cannons, arcade games, a toddler area and treasure digging. It also has a full café and a surprisingly substantial milkshake/ice cream operation. I ordered a Caramel Cowabunga Milkshake (made with Salted Caramel Swirl and Caramel Drizzle), Pepperoni Roll Bites & Mini Corn Dogs. The milkshake was delish, and they even make them "over the top" with tons of toppings -- like candies or pretzels or cotton candy -- if you order them in person. The other two apps were decent; the corn dogs get a little soft and transport. The pepperoni bites were different, though I'd love more of a crunch on the outside, as well. Grade: B

Penn Brewery at Pittsburgh International Airport feels like a pretty fitting place to start a Pittsburgh food adventure, even if the airport setting is a little less romantic than a neighborhood brewery. The menu leans into the city’s German heritage, with plenty of hearty, beer-hall-style food alongside more familiar breakfast options. I went with the potato cakes and eggs, which came with sour cream and applesauce and immediately made me think of large breakfast latkes. The combination of crispy potato cake, cool sour cream and sweet applesauce was actually pretty fun, although the potato cakes themselves were a little greasier than I would have liked. The eggs were perfectly fine. And, I opted for sausage, which made the plate even heartier and gave me plenty of salty, savory contrast. Grade: B

The Strip Market at Pittsburgh International Airport is basically a mini grab-and-go version of Pittsburgh’s Strip District. It’s post-security in the terminal near Concourse D/Level 3 and is designed like a small market rather than a traditional airport restaurant. The concept incorporates Pittsburgh-area products and vendors, with the design itself inspired by the Strip District’s industrial character. They offer snacks, treats and specialty goods from regional favorites like Betsy Ann Chocolates, Pittsburgh Pickle Company, Enrico Biscotti and Blume Honey Water. They also have freshly prepared sandwiches, wraps, salads, bakery items and coffee. I picked up a few small candies and snacks for the flight -- nothing major. Is it like the Strip District? In a sense, that you get a variety of things. But less character. Have you been? Grade: B

Noble Cafe & Bakery is a cafe and bakery located at 918 Chestnut Ridge Road in Morgantown, serving coffee, pastries, baked goods and other food items. The cafe was opened by Vince Duong and Huy Lam, with the owners describing the concept as a combination of craft drinks and pastries influenced by Vietnamese flavors, Portuguese baking and their personal experiences and travels. The interior is described as cozy and modern, with a bright, warm design intended to accommodate customers studying, meeting or stopping in for a drink. The menu includes coffee, tea, coconut drinks, refreshers, pastries, muffins, cookies, croissants, savory baked goods and desserts. The cherry pastry was light and sweet. My only qualm with pastries like this is that I wish the topping went edge to edge. The sparkling strawberry refresher was a carbonated strawberry drink that added a lighter, fruit-forward option alongside the bakery items. The ham and cheese croissant paired a flaky, layered croissant with a savory ham and cheese filling, making it one of the more substantial items in the bakery selection. The Dubai chocolate slice was by far the most indulgent item. Super rich and indulgent. Have you been? Grade: B

Mountain State Cakes Bakery is a bakery in Dunmore, West Virginia, with a little bit of everything from cookies and cupcakes to pepperoni rolls and other savory items. The bakery serves Dunmore as well as the surrounding areas, including Snowshoe and Green Bank, and offers custom cakes and cupcakes for weddings and special occasions. The bakery has a small, straightforward setup with display cases filled with freshly baked goods, including cakes, cookies and breads. The sweet selection includes cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, cookies, pies, donuts, scones and other baked desserts, with options that vary depending on what is available. On the savory side, the bakery offers pepperoni rolls, pizza rolls, chicken pot pies and other rotating items alongside its selection of breads and rolls. I went with a serving of cherry cheesecake, which had a creamy cheesecake base topped with cherry filling for a combination of tangy cream cheese and sweet fruit. The cherry topping added a bright, fruity contrast to the richer cheesecake underneath, while the slice itself had the dense, smooth texture expected from a baked cheesecake. Have you been? Grade: B