While I generally try to visit restaurants that are locally owned, I do get excited when I find a regional chain restaurant or even one that just isn't available locally so that I can try it out. That is the case with Del Taco.



Del taco can be found in many states, but West Virginia isn't one of them. They are in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, and Washington. So when I made a recent road trip and needed a quick bite to eat near a Del Taco, I stopped to get a Tex-Mex fix.



The menu is fairly similar to other restaurants of this type: soft tacos, quesadillas, nachos, burritos and hard tacos. I did not take the best photo here, but I was excited to see a crispy fish taco because that's not one common on the menu at Taco Bell or other local chains. So it had shredded cabbage beer battered fish, pico de gallo and a sauce. I don't need to do an official review here because many people are probably already familiar with this restaurant, but I did enjoy my taco. You can see here that there is not a ton of fish, but I do prefer cabbage to lettuce on a soft taco so that was great and the sauce added a little extra oomph. Not bad for a fast food taco especially one offering fish as an option.

The Poca Gino's Pizza & Spaghetti House was next on my list, and, y'all, I'm really tired of Gino's. BUT, when I start a list, I have to complete it. So, we're going for it.



I think I've been sleeping on the actual pizza at Gino's. It's not bad, actually. I usually opt for something ~different~ but the pizza is pretty decent. I usually am a mushroom girl, but a friend recently ordered a supreme pizza, and it hit the spot. So, I went for a pizza with all the veggies and some meats on top, and it just really is a whole different flavor of pizza. Tons of texture and very veggie-forward, instead of mostly cheese. The only thing I didn't love is when I got a harder piece of pepper - like the core. Overall, though, this is a nice way to mix up my regular order.

Grade: B 

There's a new charcuterie board in town - Huntington, that is.



Boujee Boards by Roz delivers charcuterie goods and more right to your door. Or, in my case, we met at the Aldi parking lot since I'm a little far away. 



I put in an order for a lil boujee. I told her to nix any dark chocolate or grapefruit, and we should be all good. 



The box had all the accoutrements, like bamboo cutlery, pretzels, crackers and moist towelettes. Some of my favorites from this box include macarons, the delicious little sweet and sour pickles, and an awesome mix of fresh fruit - raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, kiwis, blueberry, oranges. Some of the cheeses had some kick to them - like the jalapeno havarti and especially the ghost pepper gouda. I had to have some water nearby for that one! But, love these as per usual and always appreciate the creativity.

T&L Hot Dogs is a North-Central West Virginia chain of hot dogs joints.



"The Proprietors, Dave and Barbara Henderson along with their children Scott, Mike, Lori, and daughter-in-laws Joyce and Bev, began an adventure that is still going strong after a quarter of a century. Now, Third generation managers/owners and grandchildren Kristin, Corey and Troy are continuing that adventure in their parent’s footsteps. In the early 1990’s the Henderson’s added a new “twist” to their already popular restaurants. The Oldies Diners were created in an effort to re-create the happy and carefree lifestyle of days long gone by. The walls are covered with antique pictures, toys and memorabilia for customers viewing pleasure. You can listen to the sounds of the oldies as they play on the restored 1950’s juke box only 5 cents a play, and enjoy the great hot dogs, famous “fresh cut” fries, and fabulous specialty sandwiches. Don’t leave without looking at the restored antique gas pump with its unique glass dial. Welcome back to the 50s! “Being West Virginia’s #1 selling hot dog, we are grateful for our faithful customers and to the hundreds of employees, who over the years have been the secret to our success. Hot dogs are still our specialty and the original homemade chili sauce (prepared daily in our stores) continues to attract customers from all over the country. We invite you to visit any of our seven locations throughout Harrison, Taylor, Marion and Monongalia Counties. Bring the kids, but don’t be surprised if you’re asked to explain who “Howdy Doody” was!



The Buckhannon location looks like a new build and has a drive-thru with signs plastering all their offerings - sundaes, shakes, cones, mac & cheese, beans & cornbread, and more. 



I think it's only fitting to get a hot dog, though. So I got one with chili, plus a side of potato salad. 



Both of these were good. Sometimes a down and dirty hot dog is just what hits the spot. Nothing fancy. Just a few components, but all of them together make for a tasty bite. The potato salad was full of nice hunks of potato, and the mayo just held it together - rather than the other way around. I was happy with a quick, tasty meal.



Grade: A

Mama Roma Pizzeria and Restaurant in Buckhannon is an Italian-American restaurant complete with a character tossing pizza on the window and red/white checkered tablecloths inside. 



"Mama Roma Pizzeria and Restaurant is a place where you can simply relax and enjoy the company of your favorite people while enjoying traditional Italian food at its best. Our team is pleased to welcome you – and honored to serve you. We know many of you by name and view all of our customers as family. Nothing brings us greater joy than sharing the tradition of good food and hospitality with our guests while sharing experiences and making memories!"



The menu features pizza, pasta, subs and a whole host of entrees categorized by their protein. The menu is pretty huge, and I can't imagine someone not finding something that caught their fancy - chicken marsala, sausage cacciatore, veal scallopine piccata, eggplant rollatini, and so many more. 



If pressed, I think one of my favorite pasta shapes is rigatoni, which is what I was drawn to on the menu. I went with the rigatoni with vodka sauce - their house pink sauce (which is usually their red marinara and white combined). 



So, I was loaded up with my entree, a soup and a side of garlic bread.



First, I enjoyed a simple soup - a minestrone with carrots, onion and more.



Not bad - nothing too notable, but not offensive either.



The garlic bread was tasty - I loved the soft rolls, though they did get a biiit too dark on some portions.



And now for the main attraction - the largest portion of rigatoni I've ever been served. I enjoyed the sauce - a little sweet, a little acidic, lots of good flavor. The rigatoni were a nice al dente, so not so soft they just lost all texture. But, regarding texture, I would've loved maybe some veggies or something to break up the carbs. I could've added chicken or sausage, but I wasn't feeling it on this day. In retrospect, it would help with that mouthfeel. 



All in all, a fairly decent meal that is comforting and filling. 

Grade: B