Donkey Coffee and Espresso in Athens is a beloved local coffee shop.



This artsy and funky shop serves up coffee, as well as pastries and snacks.



Bright purple walls and little nooks make for great spots to sip on your drink. I went with a simple hot chocolate - my guilty pleasure. But perfect when homemade.



The drink was good, and I liked the vibe of the place.



Have you been?



Grade: A

I love, love, love a good bagel. And the cool college town of Athens, Ohio, had the perfect place for me: Bagel Street Deli.



This shop has an online ordering system, which made it super easy for me to take some time to look over the menu. It is quite extensive. From breakfast bagels and blts to bbq tofu and pizza bagels - there's a little bit of everything.



I opted for their Larry David bagel, which has lox, cream cheese, capers, onions, and tomato all on an onion bagel. After placing my order online, I picked it up at the shop and went on my way - super easy peasy. And the bagel was delicious. Sometimes a lox bagel has way too much cream cheese - or even way too much lox. Or not a good quality lox. This one checked all the boxes with the silky lox, the briney pop of the capers and the creaminess of the cheese all matched perfectly with a touch of sweetness from the onion. All in all, v good.

Grade: A 

Buns is a really cool-looking burger restaurant in Weston.



It has a modern look, and I actually thought it was maybe a new chain restaurant when I first passed it.



But rest assured, this local spot is one that you should check out.



The interior has sleek chairs, some dark floors and menu boards displayed on the wall. The menu has burgers, wings, pizza and wraps. 



I ordered the Buns Burger, which has lettuce, tomato, onions, cheese and house sauce. 



I didn't taste much of the house sauce on my burger, so I would've enjoyed more. But otherwise, it was a decent burger. It could be punched up a few notches with some heavy seasoning and more sauce or something to make it really outstanding.



Without that, though, it's still a good burger. The fries were OK - could definitely be crispier. The milkshake - delish. I don't know that I've ever met a milkshake I didn't like.



Grade: B

Hiro Japanese Express is a new-ish restaurant in Hurricane that I visited some time ago and am just now getting around to talking about it!



The restaurant is pretty small and features ramen, sushi, and hibachi. I almost think you have to be all things to all people when you're one of the few games in town.



Speaking of, they had bao buns that I was really excited about. I can count on one hand where you can find them in West Virginia, and I love the texture of that bun. This one had a tasty sweet and spicy pork belly, kimchi and some crisp pickled cucumber.



I would wager that most folks would order some crab rangoons because they're a crowd favorite. These little purse shapes are one of my favorites. They were creamy and tasty.

Finally, I did a simple Philly roll for something light and refreshing. All things were tasty and just a bit more creative than other offerings in the area. I regret not getting ramen on this visit, because there aren't many places who did it - fewer who do it well. Next time.

Grade: A

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