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
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
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