Cali Tacos, originally based in Nitro, has opened a location in South Charleston. They have this bold, red decor with calaveras and graffiti-esque art. 



We went when it was empty to try to stay as safe as we could. That meant we had plenty of space to dine and feel comfortable.



The menu is the same, I believe. I searched until I found something covered in cheese dip - so a chimichanga it was! I went for the "Santa Cruz," which is a chimichanga with shrimp, crab meat, bell peppers and onions, deep-fried and topped with queso and a side of rice, beans and salad.



It's hard to not find something fried and covered in cheese delicious. There's no way around it. It was tasty. I was excited for the tamale, but it was disappointing. It didn't have a lot of flavor and was kinda mushy instead of crumbly. Overall, a decent meal. 



Grade: B

When I saw Wild and Wonderful Kettle Corn in Kanawha City, I had to go check it out. They have a small food trailer, and they set up in the Piggly Wiggly parking lot on Fridays during the fall. I got a small bag of each: White cheddar, pumpkin spice, kettle corn and caramel. Some made for gifts, but my favorite was kettle corn. I think I discovered kettle corn too late in life. The sweet/salty combo has my name written all over it. Surprisingly, I don't love caramel corn. Kettle corn is the way to go here.

Do you ever just love people-watching? I could just people-watch all day long, observing and looking for trends. The Eagle's Nest Restaurant in South Charleston, located at Little Creek Golf Course, overlooks the golf course so you can get a bite to eat while also having a show.



My friend Alex and I met up here to catch up. The dining space is lovely, with tall ceilings and huge glass windows that overlook the golf course. And, you do not need to be golfing or a member to enjoy the restaurant.



My understanding is that they usually have a buffet, but not during this time. The menu is fairly simple with hot dogs, burgers, and some sandwiches. They do also have daily specials.



I opted for the signature Kanawha Burger with American cheese, onion, lettuce, tomato, mayo and ketchup. 



But let's first talk about these fries. They're like extra battered and fried, making them super crispy. If I order fries, this is how I want them to be.



The burger was a little over for my liking, but it was thick and had that beautiful processed slice of cheese on top (nostalgia!). It's one of those burgers that's a bit too tall to fit in my mouth so I went the fork-and-knife route. Decent burger, decent flavor. Pretty straightforward.



Grade: B

During COVID19, I've been trying to support local restaurants with takeout and delivery. Not too long ago, I found Island Fixx on Charleston 2 Go, and I wanted to order everything. Literally everything. 



So, I ordered justtt about everything to sample. Let's start first with the drink at the top: Strawberry Vaifala, which is a milk-based drink with strawberry. It was like an iced milkshake - light, creamy, delicious. Next up is the spam musubi, which is kinda like a spam sushi roll. And it's delicioussss - spam on top of rice with nori. Just so tasty. 



Next up, let's talk the "Nanakuli Special," which is fried noodles with fries and this honey mustard-esque delicious sauce. I'm not even the biggest French fry fan, but if you put this sauce on it, I will eat it. 



NEXT is Spam fried rice. I didn't even know I loved spam - or fried rice - that much until I had this dish. SO flavorful, so moist, so much depth of flavor. If you're used to that dry, old oil rice, do not let that turn you off. Because this is an entirely different beast. A delicious one.



Moving on... The main entree I ordered was teriyaki chicken with sides of Samoan Sapasui with corned beef and taro with coconut milk. Each component here was good, but the preceding dishes set the bar real, real high. I've never had taro like this before, so that was fun. The teriyaki and noodles were good. 



Then, we had a bunch of sides. Here is mac n cheese and "rasta pasta," which is like veggie rotini pasta in a mayo base. The mac was creamy and tasty. 



But wait, there's more: Curry Coconut Shrimp with mac salad. The shrimp was good - it was my fault that by the time I got around to trying this one, it was cold. But the bold flavor was still there.



AND dessert, of course. First of all, this pumpkin crunch pie was out. of. this. world. That crunch is addictive. 



Finally, we also got the banana cream cake - also delish. If you get the chance, get some delivery from these folks because it was unreal.

Grade: A

Rachel's on 16th in Wheeling is a small diner that focuses on homestyle breakfast & lunch favorites.



The menu features paninis, club sandwiches, reubens and even the Rachel, which I felt was fitting. The Reuben is a grilled sandwich traditionally made on rye bread with a filling of corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, and Russian dressing. Instead of the classic corned beef and sauerkraut, the Rachel is usually made with turkey or pastrami and coleslaw. Both sandwiches are made with Swiss cheese and rye bread.



Typically, this is not a route I would take, but that's why I wanted to try it. Something different. This sandwich is messssyyyy so get the napkins ready. It has a number of different - but complementary - flavors. The rye bread has a sort of earthy flavor, the slaw gives it some crunch and tang, and the swiss is a bit creamy. It hits on some savory, hearty notes.



And, I also went for a side of Kraft mac & cheese - not quite as thick and creamy as I'd want. But still nostalgic. 

Grade: B