Tootsie's Place is a small bakery and coffee shop in White Sulphur Springs.



From mini cupcakes and muffins to Italian sodas and lattes, Tootsie's has a fairly small selection but hits all the favorites. 



That's evident from the traffic jam inside - lots of folks were excited to gets their hands on some caffeinated or sweet treats. 



I ordered a hot chocolate, as well as a mini strawberry cupcake, mini blueberry muffin and mini vanilla cupcake. There was a bit of a mix-up, so I ended up getting a mini chocolate cupcake, as well.



The hot chocolate was a regular hot chocolate - just like one from Swiss Miss. The cupcakes were good, though. They were moist, light in flavor, and the decor even gave some textural variation. The muffin had a nice little sugar crust. They were all good.



I hope to check them out again and find some different flavors! Something to spice things up.



Grade: B

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: White Sulphur Springs is a really cute town.



It's usually overshadowed by The Greenbrier's presence, but there is really a lovely downtown with a wine shop, brewery, bakery and nice shopping. 



I'm sad the small Jamaican restaurant is no more, but a new BBQ place has taken its spot. 



Road Hog's Barbeque, located at 687 Main Street East, has the moniker: Nothing to hide, sauce on the side. I think that's pretty cute. Like, yes, the BBQ may be good enough to not need sauce. But I still like the option. 



You'll find your standards on the menu: pulled pork, chicken, brisket, ribs and even turkey. And my favorite part of any BBQ restaurant is the sides. Here, you'll find okra, onion rings, baked beans, tater tots, mac & cheese and more.



On this visit, they were doing a special taste event where they were promoting three sister businesses. So I opted for their soft pretzel bites with Big Draft Brewing beer cheese dip. The beer cheese was thick and could make anything taste better.

Potato salad was straightforward. Mac & cheese was pretty tasty - a nice, thick white cheddar sauce. The brisket had a pretty thick fatty layer that I'm not a fan of. I like mine more lean - the texture of that fat cap is not my favorite. It wasn't bad, but I wish every single strip wasn't half fat. I did try each of the sauces; I like that the apple is reminiscent of apple butter in a way. Carolina is vinegary. I went middle of the road with "Bold Hog" for a bit of tang.

Grade: B

Hillbilly Grill in Buckhannon is a bit off the beaten track in town, but has great reviews so I had to check it out.



The first thing to note is that they are cash only, so make sure you hit the ATM before venturing out here. 



The restaurant is rustic - lots of wood, taxidermy and Bud Light signage. The menu has fried appetizers, burgers, sandwiches and homestyle dinners. 



I saw meatloaf on the menu, so I made up my mind quickly and added corn, mashed potatoes and macaroni & cheese as my sides. Plus a roll.



This meatloaf was a brown gravy version, as opposed to a sweeter tomato paste version, so I was a bit bummed about that. Everything was kind of one texture - soft. I like some crunch from peppers or onions in the meatloaf. This was pretty one note. 



My favorite part of the meal was the mac& cheese. It had little mini penne and shell shapes, which was the most texture of the meal. It was a white sauce, rather than a yellow cheddar. And, it was tasty. Next time, I'll go for a burger.

Grade: B

Mario's Fishbowl is a well-known institution in Morgantown that is famous for its wings and frosty fishbowls full of beer. 



But, they've been expanding from their Richwood location in recent years. They opened a spot in Suncrest a few years ago, and most recently, they opened a takeout spot in Westover. During this pandemic, I am all about takeout, so this is a great option to get your Fishbowl fix without the extra risk.

I placed an order online for some boneless cowboy ranch wings, which is a really tasty tangy flavor with a little heat. They were just as great as I remember - especially dipped in a side of homemade bleu cheese. You aren't getting the rich history and camaraderie at this location, but you're getting the delicious food.

Grade: A

The Bodimers Country Store is a locally owned deli and bakery that sells Amish food goods and local hand crafted goods.



They also take pie, cookie, and tart orders.



And, there is also a lunch special of your choice of a sandwich, pizza, or cheese fries.



I did a little bit of shopping to just pick up some quick snacks. 



The roasted red pepper dip I picked up was fab-u-lous. It was like whipped and had a nice red pepper flavor that was a bit earthy but also sweet. I had bagel chips with it, and it was great.



I also had a container of pasta salad, which was tasty. When I was visiting, they did not have a lunch special, but there were still lots of other grab-and-go items if you're looking for a quick bite - plus lots of other ingredients to make delicious meals.



Have you been?