Elender’s in Thomas, West Virginia, was a distinctive restaurant located along the Appalachian Highway that specialized in “global street food” — blending Appalachian comfort with international flavors. I'm thankful I was able to check it out before its recent closure. Known for its creative menu featuring everything from fusion-style dishes to hearty burgers, the restaurant has earned a reputation for bringing some flair to the mountain town’s dining scene. The space offered a full bar, outdoor seating and a cozy atmosphere that is perfect for both locals and travelers exploring Tucker County. I ordered the bibimbap - Korean marinated steak over mushroom fried rice, topped with house kimchi, toasted sesame seared vegetables, slivered almonds, soft boiled egg and gochujang mayonnaise. The bibimbop had a nice mix of textures and plenty of flavor from the marinated steak and gochujang mayonnaise. The mushrooms and kimchi gave it a rich, earthy tang, and the vegetables added freshness and crunch. Overall, it was well-made, though a touch of sweetness would have helped balance the salt and spice. Grade: B

Otter Café, located upstairs inside Otter & Oak at 302 Second Avenue in downtown Hinton, West Virginia, is a cozy spot that pairs perfectly with the boutique outdoor and lifestyle shop below. Its warm, inviting space overlooks the historic streets of Hinton, offering a comfortable place for locals and visitors to relax with a drink after shopping or exploring the nearby New River Gorge area. The café serves a full range of coffee and tea drinks, including lattes, cold brew, frappes, smoothies, and seasonal specialties like flavored mochas and loaded teas. Their hand-picked selection of individual milk and dark chocolates, each with an assorted filling, adds a decadent touch to the menu. Sugar-free options are also available for those who prefer them. The café lists these treats separately (priced from about $1.49 to $4.99). I enjoyed a large peanut butter cup, which is like an artisanal Reese's Peanut Butter Cup. And for a drink, I went with a sea salt caramel toffee frappe. that is like all of my favorite flavors all in one syrup. Both of these were simple, but lovely. I think what sets this place apart is the ambience and space. Where else can you perch above a local business full of unique goods while enjoying a sweet treat? Not many, that's for sure. Plus, Hinton is a cute town with even more to explore after finishing up at this shop. Have you been? Grade: B

Gustard’s Bistro, located at 759 E Main Street in White Sulphur Springs, is a locally owned restaurant led by chef Stephen Gustard and partner Delphine Houssin. Gustard, a Johnson & Wales University graduate and former Greenbrier Resort chef, opened the restaurant as part of the town’s growing downtown dining scene. The bistro features a menu influenced by French cuisine and built around locally sourced ingredients from farms such as Arbaugh Farm and Mountain Steer. Menu offerings include dishes such as steak frites, chicken pot pie, fish and chips, and house-made fettuccine with meatballs. I ordered the Grilled Coulotte Steak, which comes with brown butter gnocchi, smoked gouda, baby arugula and red pepper relish. The grilled Coulotte steak was well-cooked, tender, and full of flavor, pairing nicely with the nutty brown butter gnocchi. However, the gnocchi could have benefited from more sauce to bring the elements together. The smoked gouda, served in large chunks, added strong flavor but overpowered the balance at times. The baby arugula and red pepper relish provided a fresh contrast, helping to lighten the richness of the dish.

Grade: B

Rivertown Café in Marlinton, West Virginia, is a cozy eatery located at 309 8th Street in the historic C.J. Richardson Hardware building. The space retains the charm of its hardware-store past, with original wood shelving, high ceilings, and a welcoming atmosphere complete with couches, a fireplace, and a free library corner. The menu features fresh, creatively prepared sandwiches like chicken salad, shrimp burgers, and pulled-chicken barbecue, often served with popcorn or plantain chips, along with global-inspired weekly specials. Homemade baked goods include cookies, mini cheesecakes, and flan that are all local favorites, and the coffee is roasted nearby in Hillsboro. I enjoyed an opossum sugar cookie and their Bagels and Lox - Toasted Bagel with Butter or Cream Cheese, Smoked Salmon, Capers, and Red Onions. This was flavorful, with silky salmon and tangy cream cheese, though the bagel is a bit too toasted, adding more crunch than ideal. Grade: B

Tucked along East Main Street in Harrisville, Peking Chinese Restaurant serves all the quintessential Chinese-American dishes. When visiting a new restaurant, I usually start with the most common dish on the menu -- the one every Chinese restaurant should have mastered. Ordering something like General Tso’s Chicken or Sweet and Sour Chicken creates a benchmark for quality; if they can’t get that right, it’s hard to trust how they’ll handle the rest. These familiar favorites are simple in concept but easy to get wrong, making them the perfect test of a kitchen’s consistency, balance of flavor and freshness of ingredients. It’s the culinary equivalent of checking a band’s live sound before diving into the deep cuts. Naturally, this means I went with my favorites: eggrolls, crab cheese rangoons and General Tso's Chicken (this one indicated it was white meat only). The eggroll was standard, the crab rangoons were creamy enough to earn an above average training, and the General Tso's chicken with white meat was not breaded and fried nuggets like I expected. Rather, it waa velveted - and not too bad. Velveting is a classic Chinese technique where the meat is briefly marinated in a mixture of egg white, cornstarch and sometimes rice wine or oil. This coating helps seal in moisture and gives the chicken that silky, smooth texture. And, in this case, a better alternative to the sometimes chewy or rubbery texture that can often happen. Grade: B

Morristown Bagels & Deli, located at 121 Morris Street in Morristown, New Jersey, is a longtime local favorite known for its hand-rolled bagels and hearty breakfast sandwiches.



The shop has been family-owned for more than 75 years and prides itself on baking bagels fresh daily. Popular menu items include classic New Jersey combinations like Taylor ham (also known as pork roll), egg, and cheese on a bagel, along with a wide variety of cream cheese spreads, Boar’s Head deli sandwiches, and other breakfast and lunch options.



Morristown Bagels & Deli uses Taylor ham, which is the term most commonly used in northern New Jersey, including Morristown. While “Taylor ham” and “pork roll” refer to the same product -- a seasoned, cured pork product invented by John Taylor in Trenton in the 1850s—the name you hear depends on where you are in the state.

In northern New Jersey, it’s almost always called Taylor ham, after the original brand name, while in southern and central parts of the state, people say pork roll. I enjoyed my Taylor ham, egg, and cheese bagel, which is not unlike a good ol' fashioned bologna sandwich.



Grade: B

The Committed Pig is a beloved New Jersey restaurant known for its playful take on comfort food, and nothing captures that better than its tribute to the state’s most iconic breakfast meat — pork roll. True to its roots, the Committed Pig proudly calls it pork roll, not Taylor ham, and builds several of its signature brunch dishes around it.



The Pork Roll Egg and Cheese sandwich is a standout, featuring thick-cut slices of salty, crispy pork roll layered with gooey American cheese and a perfectly fried egg on a soft brioche bun. It’s simple, indulgent, and unmistakably Jersey. They also work pork roll into other creative menu items, like pancakes topped with pork roll or burgers that blend breakfast and lunch into one over-the-top plate.

Grade: B

Mystic Pizza is a pizzeria located in Mystic, Connecticut, established in 1973 by the Zelepos family. It quickly became a local favorite for its family-friendly atmosphere and “secret sauce” pizza, gaining international recognition when it inspired the 1988 romantic comedy-drama film Mystic Pizza, starring a young Julia Roberts.



The menu features a variety of pizzas, calzones, and pasta dishes. I ordered a small pizza with artichokes, ricotta and fresh garlic.



The ricotta and garlic combination is a classic pairing - creamy and aromatic. Artichokes add a subtle earthiness and texture, complementing the richness of the cheese and the pungency of the garlic. A powerful but tasty combo.



Grade: B

The Hitching Post Steakhouse & Saloon is a rustic dining destination nestled in the heart of Kingwood, West Virginia, within The Appalachian Hotel. Opened around three years ago, it was established by Beth Peddicord and her son Hunter, fulfilling a vision to provide the local community with a quality dining experience Upon entering, guests are greeted by Amish-built furniture and wagon wheel chandeliers, which evoke the spirit of the Old West. A warm, crackling fireplace adds to the cozy ambiance, making it an inviting spot for both casual meals and special occasions. The restaurant offers a diverse menu featuring prime aged beef, fresh seafood, and unique dishes like elk medallions with blackberry red wine sauce. Popular items include jumbo lump crab cakes and a variety of steaks. The salad was crisp and well-dressed, the French dressing adding a classic tang that complemented the fresh greens perfectly. The steak was cooked to the right temperature and had a rich, savory flavor, but the crab topping fell flat, tasting slightly off and detracting from an otherwise solid dish. Overall, the meal was enjoyable for the steak and salad, though the seafood component was disappointing.

Grade: B

Plaza Maya II, located at the end of Kanawha City, is the second branch of the popular Plaza Maya restaurant, which is on the other side of town.



Known for its authentic Mexican food, the restaurant serves a wide variety of dishes, with favorites like tamale-stuffed chile relleno and chicken soup, alongside complimentary homemade chips and salsa. The chips were crisp and the salsa fresh with a mild kick.



My main dish was "SEAFOOD CHIMICHANGA - One flour tortilla filled with crab meat and shrimp cooked with vegetables and covered with melted cheese. Served with rice." The seafood chimichanga was satisfying, with tender crab and shrimp tucked into a soft tortilla, balanced by gooey melted cheese and a side of fluffy, spiced rice.



Grade: B