Wylde Berry Bakery was an allergen-friendly bakery in Fayetteville that unfortunately shuttered. Every item was gluten-free, vegan, and nut-free. They had everything from cinnamon rolls to lemon mini cakes. I had a berry muffin from the refrigerator, and while it wasn’t bad, it was fairly average for a gluten-free pastry. The crumb was a little denser and less tender than a traditional muffin, with modest berry flavor throughout. It’s a perfectly serviceable option if you’re looking for something gluten-free, but it didn’t particularly stand out in either flavor or texture. Grade: C

Growing up, I always thought Breezey Heights was one of the nicer restaurants in the area. I'm not sure if it's because it was just across the border in PA or because it had a driving range. But, we didn't make it that way very often. So, while heading to my hometown to visit family, I decided to stop here for a to-go order. Inside, the dining room features a collection of preserved wildlife displays, including large animals, along with a bit of a retro interior and individual booth-style seating along the walls. The bar is a separate area, which is where I went to pick up my order, and it still allows smoking -- for some reason. I had an order of cheese sticks to start, which were fairly average. Not bad, but not super exciting. The restaurant is known for its broasted chicken — pressure-fried chicken that comes out exceptionally crisp. The chicken has a golden browned exterior surrounding moist meat on both the chicken breasts and leg. Pretty tasty and more common in this region. Finally, we tried six honey garlic wing, which I enjoyed. Not a ton of meat on these wings, but I loved the flavor. Have you been? Grade: C

Roma Family Restaurant in Nitro is a casual family-friendly restaurant serving Italian American fare. The older building has received a bit of a remodel, but we were seated in an awkward half booth, which only had one side. They have a variety of options on the menu, including New York-style pizzas, baked pastas, calzones, stromboli, chicken Parmesan, wings, subs, burgers and salads. We ordered bruschetta for an appetizer, but it actuslly ended up coming out after the entrees. I like my bruschetta fresh and simple, so I was a bit disappointed to see essentially a hoagie bun split with some mediocre tomatoes and melted cheese. My house salad was fine; it must have been chilled for a bot because the croutons had softened, and the cheese became limp. My entree of stuffed shells in a creamy pink sauce was the highlight of the dinner. Admittedly, this is one of my favorite meals anywhere. There's just something about the creamy cheese and pasta and tangy marinara. This was s bit creamier than others I've had, so I'm not mad at it. Grade: C

Copper Horse Restaurant is a full-service restaurant inside the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport that has large windows that overlook the Bridger Mountains and the airfield. Breakfast options include dishes like the Gallatin Benedict, Big Sky Breakfast Burrito, Chicken Fried Steak and The Bridger Breakfast with pancakes or French toast.

Gallatin Benedict - Traditional Canadian Bacon and two poached eggs on a toasted Thomas English muffin, covered with hollandaise sauce and served with breakfast potatoes.

It desperately needed some freshness - herbs, fruit, something. Otherwise, it was fairly average. Grade: C

On my way to Glacier National Park (which is in Montana - not to be confused with Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska), my friend and I stopped at Curly Bear Cafe. It's a casual counter-service café known for oversized deli-style sandwiches, milkshakes, ice cream, and quick meals before or after exploring the park. I ordered a huckleberry lemonade. Huckleberries are related to blueberries and cranberries and kinda taste like a mix of the two. I ordered The Ptarmigan, which had turkey, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, mayo and avocado. All in all, it was an average sandwich. Fine if you need something quick, but not super special. Grade: C

Did you know there are only 6 Rax locations left in the country?

At its peak in the 1980s, Rax had grown to 504 locations across 38 states.

West Virginia was once one of its strongest territories, but the last location — Parkersburg — closed in 2016. Now, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois are home to the remaining locations. I visited the Circleville, Ohio, location on my trip back from Columbus. Rax is best known for its roast beef sandwiches. The restaurant’s signature offerings include thin-sliced roast beef sandwiches such as the Regular Rax, King Rax, and Beef & Cheddar. In addition to roast beef, Rax serves a variety of chicken, turkey, ham, and fish sandwiches, as well as sides such as fries, baked potatoes, and fried snack items. Milkshakes and desserts round out the menu. I ordered a Beef N Cheddar, because I panicked, really. I didn't know what else to get, wasn't really hungry and knew Arby's had something comparable -- even if I don't love it. In general, I'm just not a fan of a nacho cheese-esqie sauce. It just tastes too synthetic to me. This sandwich was fine for a fast food sandwich. I wouldn't be excited to order it again, but it filled the belly. Grade: C

Big Bowl is an Asian restaurant located in the Denver International Airport that offers a build-your-own stir-fry concept with Chinese and Thai-inspired options. I ordered sesame chicken with jasmine white rice and rangoons. Typically, this is a comfort food go-to. But I was disappointed. The sauce was standard, but the quality of the meat was stringy and mushy. I would pass on this. Grade: C

Margaritaville in Pigeon Forge is a small world dedicated to Jimmy Buffett, and at the center is a full-service restaurant with: seafood, burgers, sandwiches, and tropical cocktails; a big outdoor deck overlooking the Little Pigeon River; and live music and a lively bar scene. Margaritaville is an escapism lifestyle built around the laidback, beachy world created by Jimmy Buffett. It takes its name from his 1977 hit song Margaritaville, which romanticized an easygoing life of tropical drinks, sandy beaches and not taking things too seriously. Bright tropical decor, neon signage and a steady soundtrack of Jimmy Buffett blares through the space. It’s casual, with guests in flip-flops, drinks front and center, and the experience driven more by atmosphere than the food itself. I ordered the Teriyaki Chicken & Shrimp - Grilled & basted, seasonal vegetables, basmati rice, grilled pineapple, sesame seeds. It may have been a mistake not getting the Cheeseburger in Paradise. The dish was OK. Something crunchy or creamy would have made the dish more well-rounded and exciting. But it is more of a healthier option that still had some flavor - so kudos for that. Grade: C

This Belle restaurant was having an identity crisis. On the outside, the sign said Las Cazuelas Mexican Restaurant. Inside, the menu said Los Habaneros Mexican Restaurant. And, now, both of those are closed and have been replaced with Guadalajara Modern Mexican, which I've not yet been to.



Some basic chips & salsa were served to the table. Simple. Serviceable.



For my entree, I ordered a "California Burrito," which I tend to think of as a giant cylinder full of ingredients. This was a flattened flour tortilla filled with grilled chicken, rice, beans and grilled vegetables. It was topped with queso and sour cream.



The dish landed more in the realm of routine than memorable. The grilled chicken was tender but lightly seasoned, blending into the rice, beans and vegetables without any one component really standing out. It was fine.



Grade: C

Munchies Eats & Sweets is an odd little spot featuring breakfast, paninis, fried snacks and desserts all in a shared space with Rita's Italian Ice in White Hall.



I ordered the "mac & cheese bites" for a snack, as it didn't look like they had many freshly made items on hand that day.



These were fine; my guess is they were frozen and deep-fried. That's not necessarily bad, though a housemade sauce or some fresh toppings would have elevated this for me. Otherwise, it's a bit one-note and predominantly tastes of breading.



Grade: C

Albuquerque Southwest Bar & Grill was a short-lived Mexican–Southwest restaurant located on Charleston’s West Side at 207 W. Washington Street. It was founded by restaurateur Sergio Lugo-Mata, who had opened the Guadalajara and Sergio’s eateries. The restaurant replaced the former Gonzoburger and Elk City Bistro sites, retaining the classic bar area of the historic Chris’ Hot Dogs space. Albuquerque’s menu featured burritos, enchiladas, fajitas, and house specialties such as red pozole, chile rellenos, tamales, and stuffed sopapillas. Signature items included the ribeye quesadilla. We started with some chips & salsa. The salsa was a bit watery, and it pooled, so not great for dipping. Flavor was average. For my entree, I ordered a "Medallion Burrito" filled with filet, rice, fries, pico de gallo and topped with queso. The idea here is fine, but the execution was just very average. Not enough seasoning, fries were not crisp, and it was just a bit underwhelming overall. Grade: C