The Local Exchange Market is a new Milton monthly pop-up that features farmers, food producers, artisans, herbalists, bakers and makers. This year's markets are scheduled for May 28, June 25, July 30, August 27 and September 24. I would love to make all of them if I can! I was able to check out one of the events last year with the following vendors: Temp Tatts Henna, Bethlehem Pottery, Mrs. Mel's, Lyss & Rae Crochet, Kirk Collins Art, Halfway Market LLC, Mud River Pottery, WVU Research Corp, Dunlap Ridge Crafts, Country Flowers of Milton, The Local Exchange, Petals and Pots, MurMades Handmade Jewelry, Vibrant Mountain Lady, The Rock Scent Co., Cabell County Master Gardeners & Debi's Delites.

Norris Roots & Recipes Almost Heaven Naturals The Potager Amandus Family Farm Hunt's Farm Crago Country Farm - pepperoni roll Almost Heaven Lemonade The Honey Spot Front Porch Gifts Have you been?

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

Buddy’s All American Bar-B-Que is a barbecue restaurant that began in Huntington around 2000 and expanded to Milton. The latter location has since shuttered. But the concept is the same - a focus on smoked meats like pulled pork, brisket, ribs, and wings, paired with sides such as mac and cheese and coleslaw.

I went for the Bootanavan (Boo-tan-a-van), which is a garlic-herb tortilla filled with ground beet, fries, tomatoes, lettuce, jalapenos, cheddar cheese and ranch dressing. This one’s messy, filling, and honestly pretty fun to eat. The garlic-herb tortilla gives it a little extra flavor, and the combo of beef and fries makes it super hearty, while the lettuce, tomato, and jalapeños keep it from feeling too heavy. The cheddar and ranch kind of melt everything together into a creamy, slightly over-the-top bite. Grade: B

Vicky's in Milton is a long-running party supply and candy-making shop that’s become a local staple. Known for its wide selection of baking ingredients, candy molds, balloons, banners, and event décor, it has become a go-to spot for everything from birthday parties to weddings. Have you been?

La Banca is an Italian restaurant and bar housed in the historic former City Bank of Milton building. The name “La Banca” means “The Bank” in Italian, and the restaurant blends home‑style Italian cooking with craft cocktails. It opened in late 2024 and is locally and veteran‑owned. The menu features a wide variety of classic and elevated Italian fare, including handmade pastas, artisan pizzas, grinders (Italian‑style sandwiches), salads and soups, seafood, and hearty entrées like lasagna, chicken piccata, and steak. I enjoyed a pappardelle bolognese, which had a hearty, comforting feel, with tender noodles that held the sauce well, but the flavor came across a little flat — missing that rich, meaty punch you hope for in a bolognese. The texture was spot-on, though, and a sprinkle of cheese added a nice touch, even if the overall sauce could use a bit more depth. It’s satisfying, just not quite as bold as I expected. Grade: B

Luigi’s is a family-friendly Italian restaurant in Milton, known for classic Italian fare at reasonable prices. It’s a casual dine-in or takeout spot where locals go for hearty pastas, pizzas, subs and more. This is the first Luigi's location I have visited, though there are now 2 additional ones in Huntington. There was a simple, but clean, dining area. I was just passing through, so I chose to place a takeout order. I started with a small house salad with French dressing - my favorite. it had a healthy base of lettuce, and was topped with green pepper, banana pepper, red onion, carrots, cucumbers, tomatoes, tons of mozzarella cheese and croutons. it was a really solid start to the meal. For my entrée, I chose stuffed shells with marinara sauce. This dish was good - it was baked so there was a layer of melted mozzarella cheese over everything. The stuffed shells did get a bit dried out, but they were swimming in a pool of sauce, which helped balance it a bit. Some more seasoning in the filling would've taken this over the top. Grade: B

Mi Pueblito in Milton is an orange building with a red roof that sticks out a bit on the main drag.



I've spent more time in Milton recently, as my favorite local baker operates there. 



Inside the restaurant, it's bright and colorful with depictions of scenery on booths and tables. 



I placed a call to pick up an order that included chips & salsa, camaron con arroz, and burrito superior.



The chips & salsa were pretty straight forward - standard Mexican restaurant fare. The camaron con arroz - shrimp, rice and cheese - was tasty, but a bit on the dry side. I wouldve loved some more fresh cheese dip to drizzle and mix in to freshen it all up. The burrito - which was more of the same but with chicken instead of shrimp - fared better with some fresh cheese dip and sour cream to perk it up.

Grade: B