The Hollow Restaurant is one of the newer ones in Franklin and focuses on burgers, pasta, sandwiches and homestyle dishes.



So, there are a lot of standard items, like hot dogs, Italian hoagies, reubens, but then I saw one thing I've never seen before: "Pack Lunch Panini." This is jam, peanut butter, bacon, chips and banana on grilled panini bread. 

I ordered my meal to go in these COVID19 times and sat outside the local drive-in movie theater to dig in. Bonus points for creativity, but I wish I could've tasted all the components. I needed the jam to come through to get the sweet and salty, but it was mostly just salty. Still love the idea for something different, and I think just a bit more attention to the proportions could kick it up a notch. 

Grade: B

If you told me that I would have some of the best shrimp and grits I've ever had in a small community in Pocahontas County, I would never believe you. Alas, meet Dean's Den.



Dean's Den is really mostly convenience store where you can get road trip necessities. Their standard menu includes pizzas, salads, burger, hot dog, mac & cheese and chili. But, I think the specials are where it's at. 



For example, in recent weeks they've had specials such as stuffed pork chops with gruyere risotto, Thai lamb curry and shepherd's pie. 



It just so happened that when I happened to stumble upon this hidden gem, they were serving up shrimp & grits - one of my favorites. As a takeout dinner, my expectations were low. But they were completely blown out of the water.



First of all, it was a beautiful plate with green scallions, yellow corn, perfectly seared sausage and not overly cooked shrimp (I was complaining recently about how so many places overcook shrimp and a chef friend called them little hard caterpillars, and that's the perfect descriptor -- but not here!).

And then the flavor - like a beautiful, fresh symphony of flavors. So many fresh components plus the cheesy, hearty grits. The sweetness of the corn helped cut through some of the heaviness. I only wish this was on the regular menu - but I can't wait to try another special.

Grade: A

Here are the goodies from this month's J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile Box. The hot chocolate is less sweet than, say, Swiss Miss, but the flavor is good. I love this little stash box for salt. And that goat soap will make a great gift this holiday season! 

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