Larry's Dawg House is a beloved local restaurant in Athens that serves up both hot dogs and ice cream sundaes.



"What’s better than a delicious hot dog washed down with an ice cream sundae? Absolutely nothing! That’s why, we’ve been serving up hearty combos to the good people of Athens since 1972, and we don’t plan on stopping any time soon. Whether you prefer a standard dog or want to go all out with a fried one dressed with all the toppings, we’ve got you covered. We know that good flavor and amazing service are what keep you coming back, which is why we’re always doing our very best to make sure you leave us with a smile."



At this point in the day, I had eaten my way through Athens, but I could manage a drink.  I ordered a banana split arctic swirl. I'm not usually a banana split girl, but the freshness of the fruit was calling my name. Can a milkshake be healthy? Maybe kinda if it's made with fruit, right? In that case, this was sweet, a little bit healthy and a lot delicious.

Grade: A

Fluff Bakery in Athens wasn't open for me to go inside and visit. But, they did have a pick-up window that I took full advantage of. 



The bakery opened in 2010 "to fulfill a lifelong dessert and bakery obsession, and to showcase the talents of local farmers, producers, and entrepreneurs committed to making good food and drinks. Our Mission is to introduce our version of comfort food to the people of Athens, Ohio, and the surrounding region, and to support as many local people, businesses and non-profits in the process."



The bakery had a lineup of quite a few delicious goodies, like cannolis, pumpkin cookie with caramel icing and peanut butter bars with chocolate ganache. 



I went with just a couple desserts because the made-to-order sandwiches were a bit more difficult to come by.



The first was a cream cheese swirled brownie that was more of a dark chocolate. That's not my favorite, but the cream cheese topping was a perfect sweet touch to balance out any bitterness. 



The other was a much lighter dessert with some shaved almonds on top that I enjoyed. Just a few delights made for a nice morning.



Grade: B

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