Heartwood Coffee is a small coffee shop tucked inside the lobby of New Heights Church in downtown Milton. It opened in 2020 and operates with limited daytime hours, primarily serving morning and early afternoon traffic. The vibe leans simple and friendly. It’s understated and functional — but still cute. On the menu, you’ll find the expected lineup of espresso drinks — lattes, flavored coffees and seasonal specials. If you're looking for food options, they offer muffins, brownies, cookies and the like. I enjoyed a caramel frappe, which had a nice balance of boldness and sweetness. For me. A savory biscuit sealed the deal. Have you been? Grade: B

Mellow Mushroom began in 1974 in Atlanta, where three college friends opened a small pizza shop near Georgia Tech with a counterculture vibe. Over time, it grew into a national chain, with each location being locally owned and designed with local art to create an almost '70s retro vibe. While in Asheville, my friends and I ordered delivery:

Buffalo Chicken – Chicken tossed in buffalo sauce with mozzarella, bacon and onions, finished with a ranch drizzle.

Great White – No red sauce; instead uses garlic and olive oil with ricotta, mozzarella, feta, onions and tomatoes.

Pepperoni Mellow Rollz - Dough stuffed with pepperoni and melted mozzarella, then brushed with garlic butter and topped with Parmesan and chives Tangy buffalo sauce leads with mild heat while tender chicken, smoky bacon and a cooling ranch drizzle balance it all out.

A garlic and olive oil base lets creamy ricotta, salty feta and fresh tomato carry a lighter, more subtle mix of flavors and textures. I only wish some of the slices weren't overtaken with giant air bubbles.

Soft, cheesy and brushed with garlic butter, these eat much like my beloved pepperoni rolls. A marinara dipper takes it over the top. Grade: B

Downtown Flavortown is one of Guy Fieri's restaurant, named after his signature catchphrase. Located in Pigeon Forge, the restaurant is more like an entertainment complex, which includes a gaming area, gift shop and huge bar. The menu keeps things big and bold with loaded nachos, wings and fries. Plus, plenty of milkshakes and desserts follow suit. I knew I wanted the trash can nachos, because I've seen viral videos of tbe presentation. They’re built and served inside a metal cylinder, which is lifted at the table so the nachos spill out in a stacked tower. What’s underneath is a layered mix — tortilla chips, queso, seasoned meat, beans, crema and jalapeños. It’s messy, heavy and meant for sharing. I did the BBQ pork version, which lends itself to a nice sweet and savory profile. My favorite part, really, is picking around through crunchy bites, sweet notes, refreshing crema and making the perfect mix of flavors. But the draw here is the larger-than-life experience. The food is fine - it's fun - but it's a background character. Have you been? Grade: B

Mochi Ring in is a popular spot for unique, chewy mochi donuts with a wide variety of rotating flavors like Oreo, Matcha and Fruity Pebbles. "As its an ingredient that’s delicate in its flavor yet rich in its structure, mochi is a Japanese rice cake made from glutinous rice, commonly found in many east Asian cuisines. The mochi donut was created to give the classic, traditional donut a new twist to its taste and name. In other words, mochi donut is a unique creation of ingredients found commonly in the east that perfectly matches those from the west," reads the website. The strawberry was chewy and sweet and fun, above all else! Maybe just a bit dry, though.

Grade: B

Frescos Food Truck just reopened for the season in the Kanawha City Piggly Wiggly parking lot. The Mexican/Tex-Mex food truck features a broad menu, including burritos, bowls, quesadillas, nachos, tacos and loaded waffle fries. First up: A Mangonada. It's a cold Mexican drink made with mango, layered with chamoy, and topped with Tajín. And, it's one of my all-time favorite drinks since first experiencing it in Arizona. For my entree, I had a steak quesadilla, which was a 14" tortilla filled with cheese, veggies, and topped with lettuce, pico and sour cream. It delivered what you’d expect, without anything particularly memorable but nothing bad, either. A small queso and chips complemented my quesadilla. The queso is warm and velvety and creamy. Paired with salty chips, it made for a good bite. Elote is Mexican street corn -- grilled corn on the cob coated in mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime, creating a mix of smoky, creamy and tangy flavors. This version was coated in Cool Ranch Doritos. YES. For dessert, we had tres leches. Tres leches is a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk -- evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream. It was soft and very moist, with a lightly sweet, milky flavor, and topped with whipped cream. Grade: B

Bluebird Bakery is a cottage bakery in Fairmont specializing in artisan sourdough and handcrafted baked goods. Specialties offered include sourdough bread in original, flavored and herb & cheese, scones, and seasonal baked goods such as pumpkin whoopie pies and ramp cheddar biscuits. I chose both sweet and savory options: chocolate strawberries, fruity pebble rice krispie, pepperoni roll, lemon bar and cheddar biscuits. I appreciate the range and variety. The lemon bar was my favorite - perfectly tangy yet sweet. Some of the other baked goods ate a bit dry. Grade: B

Fiddler’s Restaurant in Abingdon is a Southern-style comfort food buffet that serves a mix of breakfast, lunch, and dinner all day. It’s located just off I-81, which makes it a frequent stop for travelers through Southwest Virginia. "The Young family has been operating restaurants in Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee for over fifty years. They are committed to providing classic American favorites with outstanding customer service in a relaxed family atmosphere. Fiddler's menu offers a wide variety of appetizer, burgers, sandwiches, steaks and BBQ plus our famous all-you-can eat buffet," reads the website. They do have a menu, which offers options like burgers, fried green tomatoes and wings. But, it seemed like the buffet was far and away the most popular option. The first section of the buffet that I encountered featured broccoli, chicken fritters, potatoes, fish, carrots and fried okra. Following that, we had some mixed veggies, rolls, mac & cheese, green beans, mashed potatoes and BBQ. There were some desserts and salad options intermixed with everything else. Rather than all the hot main entrees together and then all the sides together, it was a bit more freeform. So, each section was a whole new surprise. That certainly kept it interesting. As is often the case with buffet food, heat and air exposure dry things out a little bit. Things get a little tougher. And, well, there's the general cleanliness of a handle making its way into the food itself. Overall, not a bad stop. A decent fill-up with a comfort food angle. But nothing to go out of your way for. Grade: B

The Fort is a popular restaurant in Sistersville known for its pizza, subs, wings and the like. Handmade, hand-tossed style pies are the centerpiece so I ordered my go-to: cheese & mushrooms. It had a nice tomato base, and plenty of cheese and mushrooms. My only suggestion is to bring those toppings closer toward the edge to not end up with such large crust pieces. Grade: B