Casa D'Amici is well-known for being the downtown pizza joint open late at night. And while you could dismiss it as drunk college food, Casa actually serves up a pretty decent pie. So, I was pleased to see them expand beyond downtown and into the Cheat Lake area.



The Cheat Lake location 1) has plenty of parking and 2) seems so big and open. I think because the ceilings are so high. They offer pizza, subs, pasta, calzones and baked rolls. I went with a variety platter to take home for dinner. 



I always enjoy their baked rolls because it's not something you see at all pizza shops - and hey, it's close to a pepperoni roll, what can I say?



I ordered a spinach, mozzarella and ricotta; I only wish I could've added mushrooms. Always love this flavor combination, and it was just enrobed in a perfectly golden brown crust. 



We ordered a few slices to try - a pepperoni and mushrooms, as well as a Hawaiian slice. Both were good - large, thin slices that could be crisper on the bottom, but not bad. 



Finally, we had a vodka penne dish with garlic bread. I liked the flavor, though there wasn't really a ton of sauce. It just coated the pasta, so there were some bites that had virtually no sauce. I also think some meatballs or other protein would help the texture.



Overall, though, I enjoyed my meal. I like the variety offered for what it is, and I've not had a bad dish here. It's consistently good, fast pizza and pizza-adjacent items.

Grade: A

Hangover Easy - or HOE - is a tongue-in-cheek Columbus eatery that also has locations in other Ohio college towns. I didn't have a whole lot of time on this trip, so I just did a carryout order. I went with an eggs benedict on English muffin with two over-medium eggs and a chipotle queso sauce. Add a side of sweet potato tots. 



It's a heavy breakfast with a bit of spice, but it was filling and flavorful. The tots were nice and crisp, even after being in a styrofoam container for a few minutes. And the benedict was lacking a little finesse with some garnish and whatnot, but the sauce was tasty, and the eggs were cooked well.

Grade: B

Here's my latest goodie box from J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile.



Have you tried any of these products?

Every good college town is going to have at least one good pizza place. In Athens, Avalanche Pizza was recommended to me. They serve up standard pies, but also some specialty ones that may even require a dictionary. Take a look at some of these unique pies:

The Wheels on Fire: Our fabulous hand-tossed crust, with savory Gorgonzola cream sauce, bake with fresh-sliced Red Onion and King Family Farms Chicken that is gently coated with our spicy Ninja Sauce. After the oven we apply spokes of Creamy Ranch Dressing and shaved Celery with a garnish of Roasted Red Pepper in the middle.

Hot Tuna: Tuna, artichoke hearts, fresh mushrooms, tomatoes, asiago, and spicy ninja sauce using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our creamy béchamel sauce and crispy thin crust.

Loaded Baked Potato: Potatoes, crispy bacon, broccoli and cheddar using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our creamy béchamel sauce and signature hand-tossed dough.

Crouching Kimchi, Hidden Chicken: Teriyaki-tossed roasted chicken, crunchy cashews, mandarin oranges and Korean kimchi using our aged mozzarella and provolone blend on our house marinara sauce and signature hand-tossed dough.



But The Godzilla has won the "Best Pizza in the U.S.A." - Velvety Blanched Spinach atop our Delicious Marinara Blend with Melting Feta Cheese, Fresh Golden Roasted Chicken and finished with Sweet Sun-dried Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Provolone. And it won Best Pizza in the U.S.A. at the World Pizza Championship in Salsomaggiore, Italy!

This was a really tasty pizza. The flavor combinations are not all that crazy - sundried tomatoes, spinach, feta - those are great together. And covered in mozzarella and provolone brings it all together. A pretty good pizza, all in all.

Grade: A

Little Fish Brewing is "locally sourced, meticulously crafted, with love" in Athens, Ohio.



"We brew with a farmhouse mentality, deriving inspiration from locally sourced ingredients. While saisons and barrel aged sours are close to our hearts, we also love to brew and drink a hop-forward pale ale or a subtly crafted lager. Nothing is off the table, as long as it pairs well with friends and family!



We strive to make our brewery a reflection of our beliefs. We source the majority of our grain and a portion of our hops in-state. Our electricity is generated by our solar panels and wind power credits. We are 100% independently owned. Every little bit helps."



They're a really cool little brewery with a nice outdoor space. I started with their "Honey Bruin," which is a sour brown ale was aged 22 months in used French oak wine barrels & neutral American oak bourbon barrels, and refermented on raw buckwheat honey, which adds an earthy, caramelly flavor and mouthfeel. It was refreshing, light and super drinkable. Just a really nice enjoyable beer.



I also ordered this beautiful plate of homemade linguine pasta with a beautiful flower garnish. It had a umami base with some parmesan and a kick from chili peppers. I love, love the chewiness of homemade noodles. So yummy. 

Grade: A