Rabble Coffee is an independent coffee shop on Indianapolis' Near Eastside that has built a reputation for specialty coffee, eclectic decor and a strong commitment to community. Located along East 10th Street, the cafe opened in August 2015 under founder Josie Hunckler, who envisioned a neighborhood gathering place where people could connect over quality coffee. Rabble has a casual, colorful atmosphere with mismatched furniture, comfortable seating and artwork. Rather than a polished, minimalist coffee bar, the space has the character of a neighborhood hangout. The menu includes espresso drinks, lattes, cold brew, chai, tea and creative seasonal beverages. Rabble is particularly known for its house-made flavored syrups, which tend to be less sweet than those at many chain coffee shops. Food options have included breakfast burritos, quiche, pastries and grilled sandwiches, with vegan and dairy-free selections available. I enjoyed a hot chocolate and muffin. Truly, both were simple and not overly sweet, which made for a good pairing. Grade: B

Mandabee's Eatery is a locally owned restaurant in downtown Oak Hill, specializing in American comfort food. It's a casual, full-service restaurant that emphasizes its Appalachian roots and welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant's menu includes several house specialties, including cheeseburger sliders, sautéed onions and homemade sauce, along with "O'Kill" chicken prepared with the restaurant's barbecue sauce. Other offerings include Reuben sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, burgers and pepperoni rolls. The interior has a casual, welcoming atmosphere, with local artwork and a prayer-and-praise wall adding personal touches to the dining space. I ordered the sliders with blue cheese and bacon, which offered a twist on the traditional cheeseburger. The blue cheese added a sharp, tangy flavor that contrasted with the smoky, salty bacon. And because they're sliders, they were even more fun to eat. I also ordered a side of mac and cheese, a classic comfort food addition to the meal. The pasta was coated in a creamy cheese sauce, making it a rich, hearty complement to the bacon and blue cheese sliders. Have you been? Grade: B

Rio Grande #9 is a casual Mexican restaurant in Hurricane's Putnam Village shopping area. The restaurant offers an extensive menu of Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes, ranging from tacos and enchiladas to fajitas, burritos and specialty platters. In addition to familiar combination dinners, the menu features dishes such as quesa-birria tacos, chorizo-filled burritos and molcajete, along with a selection of seafood and vegetarian options. I ordered the "Special Melisa," which includes one cheese quesadilla with shredded chicken served with rice and sour cream salad. The quesadilla was filled with shredded chicken and melted cheese, making for a fairly standard dish that was satisfying but not particularly memorable. Grade: B

Kountry Korner is a longtime, locally owned deli and country store in Oak Hill. It combines homemade comfort food with a small retail shop selling crafts, gifts and country-style merchandise. Rather than operating as a traditional sit-down restaurant, Kountry Korner is a casual stop for quick lunches, prepared foods and takeout. The food selection includes hot dogs topped with homemade chili and slaw, barbecue, chicken salad, ham salad and pepperoni rolls. I ordered a pepperomi roll, which was pretty good. There was an actual chunk of cheese inside, which you don't typically see. Just another slice of pepperoni or two would've moved this up in the rankings for me. Have you been? Grade: B

Danny’s BBQ Stand is a barbecue restaurant at 1019 Quarrier Street in downtown Charleston, founded by former Charleston Mayor Danny Jones. The restaurant has a history tied to Jones’ decades of experience in the restaurant industry, dating back to the 1960s. The restaurant specializes in traditional barbecue, including ribs, pulled pork sandwiches and chicken, prepared with Jones’ signature barbecue sauce. Other menu favorites have included smoked chicken salad, homemade chili, baked beans, coleslaw and smoked potato salad. The dining room features newspaper clippings, photographs and memorabilia documenting Jones’ years in Charleston, giving the restaurant a personal connection to the city's history. My pulled pork was drippy, which is not my favorite adjective to describe this type of sandwich. I didn't mind the savory & slightly sweet flavor, though the texture left something to be desired.

Grade: B

Kel’s Tavern is an American restaurant in Charleston’s Elk City district on the West Side. It opened in September 2025 at 222 West Washington Street, taking over the former Sergio’s Italian restaurant space, which had previously housed Books & Brews. The restaurant is connected to another Kel’s Tavern in Ashland, Kentucky, and focuses on elevated tavern food at relatively approachable prices. Its menu combines familiar American comfort food with some more creative appetizers and entrees. The dining room retains much of the layout from its previous occupants, with high ceilings, an open seating area and a prominent turquoise accent wall. A stage was also added to accommodate live music. The menu includes items like ribeye, bourbon-glazed salmon, fried chicken, fish and chips, pork chops and traditional sides such as broccoli casserole and baked macaroni and cheese. The Big Bang Shrimp ($13) featured Captain Morgan-battered fried shrimp tossed in a sweet, warm, tangy sauce and topped with fresh scallions. The shrimp had a golden fried coating beneath the generous layer of creamy orange sauce, combining sweetness and tanginess with the crunch of the batter. The Buffalo Chicken Empanadas ($13) were filled with spicy Buffalo chicken, fried until golden brown and drizzled with Kel’s house ranch dressing. The crispy pastry pockets combined the heat of Buffalo chicken with the cool, creamy ranch sauce. Pimento Cheese Fries: A generous serving of french fries topped with creamy pimento cheese. The Southern-inspired appetizer combines crispy, salty fries with rich, tangy cheese and the mild sweetness of pimentos. Meatloaf: A hearty serving of homestyle meatloaf accompanied by sides of Kel’s Corn and broccoli casserole. The meatloaf had an OK flavor, but I wish it was more moist. Kel's corn is whole-kernel corn served in a seasoned sauce, which was different. And the broccoli casserole was less ooey-gooey casserole-like than it was a mushier broccoli with crunchies on top. Points for effort, another visit to determine execution. Grade: B

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