The Korner Shop Cafe is a beloved little restaurant in Franklin. But, because I don't get to this part of the state as much as I'd like, I just recently was able to go check it out.



The restaurant has a drive-up window, which is a nice bonus during these pandemic times. So, I didn't get to check out the interior, but I did park out front to get a good look at the menu before calling in an order.



They feature a lot of homestyle dishes like omelets, burgers, steak, bbq and shrimp. I ordered my two favorite parts of a meal, an appetizer and dessert. 



Breaded mushrooms are always a favorite, and these were solid - a thick coating of batter on them made them more bread than mushroom, I think. Haha. But I think that's part of the fun.



And then the dessert was a brownie with ice cream and whipped topping - a perfect combo. It may look like a mess in the photo, but it was tasty.

Grade: B

I'm always strategically planning when it comes to restaurants. Some are only open on weekdays. Some are only open on weekdays during lunch. That's the case with The Beak Cafe in Huntington, so I had to plan carefully to catch them when they were open.



The restaurant has a sort-of summery vibe with greenery, flamingos and bright pink accent decor. 



The menu is fairly small, featuring just salads, sandwiches. hot dogs and desserts regularly. They do also have daily specials that tend to sell out quickly. 



I ordered a turkey and cheese sandwich, with red onion, tomato and mayo to go. After a little bit of a wait, I was on my way with lunch in my bag. 



This sucker is piled high with turkey on white bread, so it reminded me of turkey sandwiches of my youth (maybe minus the onion). But creamy with the mayo, crunchy with the onions, the sort of unctuous fattiness of the cheese - all in a simple sandwich. It's a simple, standard combo that is common for a reason.



It's tasty, and it's a good, straightforward sandwich. Would I love some exciting toppings or even side dishes? Yes, but if a simple sandwich is what you're here for, you can't go wrong.



Grade: B

I came across Mindy's Kountry Delights on a list of locally made products. The cottage food business is based in St. Albans and features a variety of sweets like baked goods, candies, jellies, jams and other snacks. I found her on Facebook and asked to place an order. 

She makes a little bit of everything, so I just let her know what kinds of things I like - milk chocolate, caramel, etc., and asked her to make up a platter for me. And, she did just that. She delivered it to my door (contactless!) and it was full of milk chocolates, soft caramels, chocolate-covered peanut butter balls and these O'Henry bars that have peanut butter and chocolate and like oats? Just delishhh.

If you haven't checked out her tasty treats, give her a try!

Gourmet Fast recently opened on the East End without much fanfare. But when I saw it available on a delivery site, I hit "add to cart" real fast.

Located on Ruffner Avenue, Gourmet Fast features a variety of "gourmet" dishes that have that homecooked vibe. Think oxtail, crab cakes, curry chicken and wings. There are also sandwiches, salads and desserts. 



This hidden gem has some really tasty dishes. I went for a variety of snacks so I could try a little bit of everything. First, the shrimp and grits because I can never NOT order these. Maybe a tad soupier than I prefer, but the flavor was on point.



Next, the garlic and parmesan mashed potatoes. Personally, I think all mashed potatoes should have garlic and parmesan, and these are the reason why. The potatoes are delicious with the slight sharpness of parmesan and the depth of the garlic. Yum.



Then, I tried the sweet mac & cheese. I looove a sweet mac & cheese, and it's hard to find locally. This is a solid version, but I wouldn't have hated some more cream to make it that more luscious.



Potato salad is often reserved for picnics, but I'm happy to have it any time - especially versions that have egg, chive and mustard. Yum.



Finally, I had ordered a banana pudding, but they were out. So, an apple cobbler was subbed instead. It was tasty - heavy on the cinnamon but perfect for a fall treat.

Grade: B

Soul Food Twist is one of Huntington's newest restaurants and has been pretty active on social media about all restaurant's ups and downs. So, it's been fun to watch their journey. 



They first entered my radar when I saw they were crowdfunding to open the restaurant. Soul food?! Caught my attention real fast - we need more of these in West Virginia - and specifically the Metro Valley area. After a series of false starts, the restaurant finally opened to customers lined up around the building. Constantly. Until they were sold out.



I had to make plans to arrive at the restaurant right around opening time to get in line to make sure I got a plate. On this particular day, I ended up here about 45 minutes after they opened, and they were already sold out of a lot of items. But, I ended up with southern string beans, mac attack, and bbq pork chop. Plus, I got a piece of a tasty cinnamon cake with buttercream icing. 



Now, I had asked for a double portion of mac, but they had just the one I received left. And, I wanted to go with meatballs - the other entree option - but they were out of that too. But, someone must've been looking out for me because this plate was bangin'. A Pork chop might be one of the last things I'd order on a menu. But this was so tender, topped with a sweet and tangy BBQ that I kept coming back to. The mac & cheese - or mac attack - was tasty, and I'm glad I got some greens on my plate. I can't wait to try another meal.

Grade: A