Charlie Graingers is a small chain located in North Carolina, Georgia, South Carolina - and one in Huntington.

They are known for their hot dogs, as well as brisket and BBQ. So I made my way to downtown Huntington to check it out.

They have a bunch of different kinds, but I went with the "RAY'S WAY" - Housemade Pimento Cheese and Chili Charlie's Way.

The bun was pretty big and fluffy, but the chili had some depth and smokey flavor, and the pimento cheese paired perfectly. A pretty tasty dog overall.

Grade: B

Down Home Salads in Huntington is less about fresh salads and more about a prepared salad - think pasta salads, potato salad, etc.

Located in Huntington, Down Home Salads is a shop that serves up those salads, as well as pickles, jams and peppers.


So I pulled up and walked in. Music was blaring but no one was around. A few moments later, a kid came running to the front and turned the music off. I looked at the shelves - and they are a bit haphazardly filled.

Some are full of product, others have different labels, and others looked not totally full.

But I searched through to find some neat options: caramelized paw paw jam with bourbon and then these candied banana peppers.


It looks like they have a good variety to choose from if you order in advance.

But on the day of, they had coleslaw, potato salad and pasta salad in bags in the refrigerator.

They were mostly these giant bags, so I asked if I could get some in a smaller quantity - like 1 lb.

Fortunately, they can. So I ordered a 1 lb. container of the rotini pasta salad.

And, I like my pasta salad on the zesty side so I added some more Italian dressing.

What's your favorite thing from here?


I think that paw paw jam could make for a delicious dessert.
 
And I'm told their cole slaw is sold to some of the local hot dog joints, so that might be one to try in the future!

A new, beautiful Mediterranean restaurant opened in St. Albans. And, wouldn't you know, I found myself there the very first day they were open.

Mediterranean Breeze is a family-owned restaurant serving authentic Mediterranean food along with brick oven pizzas, burgers and other American dishes. They have a full bar, seasonal outdoor seating and access for boaters for to-go orders.

The menu is pretty varied. So, it's perfect for families who might have picky eaters. Because while there are some great Mediterranean dishes like shawarma and falafel, you can still get pizza, burgers and sandwiches.


I actually ordered a Sicilian Roll as an appetizer. It has homemade dough stuffed with pepperoni and cheese, topped with garlic parmesan and served with marinara sauce. Plus onion rings on the side. The sandwich was a bit heavy on the dough, but flavors were there.

Then, I ordered the Manaeesh Pie, which is a cheese pie with herbs. I've never heard of it, so I was excited to try something new. And, it was essentially like a pie of cheese sticks. I maybe, sorta dipped the slices into my leftover marinara. And it was, chef's kiss, perfecto.

Gino's has a bazillion locations throughout West Virginia, and just like Tudor's, I'll eventually visit all the locations. Maybe.

Well, I found myself in Dunbar so I called in an order at Gino's. The interesting thing is that the menus at each of the Gino's vary just a bit.

One of my favorite items I've discovered on some of the menus is the calzone. And Dunbar offers it!

So I ordered a calzone with sauce, cheese and mushrooms.

These are quite the hefty size, but they are full of ingredients. And, I really like the sauce they use. They do get a bit soggy, but still worth it.



Grade: B

Logan's Roadhouse is a larger national steakhouse chain. But it only has a handful of locations in West Virginia, and I just made my first visit.


"It’s a welcome rest for the hardworking rooted in American tradition. A laidback, “come as you are” kind of place where you can crack open a cold one, throw your peanut shells on the floor and enjoy steakhouse quality meat in the comfort of jeans and a t-shirt. It’s where the atmosphere is lively, beer is served ice cold, rolls are made-from-scratch and are endless, steak is grilled over real mesquite wood… the way it was meant to be and genuine hospitality is part of the DNA. There are no strangers at a Roadhouse, only friends."

This steakhouse seems similar to others - the whole peanuts on the floor thing - and Western-themed decor decorate the walls. 

First, rolls with a sweet butter. Very good.  Then, I had a sirloin cooked medium, with a horseradish sauce. 

And with sides of macaroni and cheese and loaded mashed potatoes.



All in all, not bad. Especially since I got it to go.


The steak had a bit of gristle, and the mashed potatoes were underwhelming.


For dessert though, I got these campfire s'mores that were fun and tasty, too.