128 Pecan in Abingdon, Virginia, is a "local, quirky, fun little restaurant with simple good food and friendly professional service," according to its website.



I ordered the crab sandwich, which was served with lettuce, tomato, tartar and lemon. I added a side of mac & cheese. I would have loved a harder sear on the outside of the crabcake to give it some texture, but the flavor was fine. The tartar traditionally would have been swapped for a remoulade. All in all, decent.



Grade: B

Cold-pressed juices, smoothies and light bites are the name of the game at White Birch Kitchen & Juice Bar. I'm typically not a green juice or wheat grass shot fan, but I can always get down with a smoothie. So, I ordered a tropical sunset smoothie. It has mango, strawberries, pineapple, banana, oat milk and orange juice. It was light and fairly sweet. The consistency was pretty thin, which is not my personal preference. Not bad overall.



Grade: B

Smokey Row Coffee Co. is located in and around the Iowa capital city of Des Moines.



They have the standard coffee offerings, plus specialty drinks and a soda fountain. I went with a caramel milkshake. I think caramel should be a more standard option for milkshakes, to join the big three: chocolate, vanilla, & strawberry. It's sweet, but has those deep rich flavors.



To go along with that icy, cold milkshake, I ordered a bowl of hot cheeseburger chowder: "our signature soup with a hearty cheese flavor, featuring ground beef and shredded potatoes." Warm, comforting and very flavorful.



Grade: A

New China Garden, a Steubenville, Ohio, Chinese restarant, delivers all the way to Wellsburg so it was perfect for a cozy dinner at home. I got crab cheese wontons, honey chicken and beef lo mein.



Honey chicken was good; the crab wontons were good; and beef lo mein was OK. The first two were pretty par for the course, but the lo mein seemed like it had been sitting for a while.



Grade: B

Kita is a creative Asian fusion restaurant in Charleston.



I've been there several times and enjoyed their regular menu.



But, did you know they have a secret lounge?



It is hidden behind a bookcase, and it has its very own menu only available there.



I ordered the "shrimp in a jacket," which is the cutest name. It was shrimp fried in a spring roll wrapper. Crunchy, and that sweet chili sauce is crucial to balance it all out.



Steamed pork buns are one of my favs. The texture of the bun is pillowy soft, and it gives way to this sweet and sour pork.



It's the experience here that stands out to me. It feels special and exclusive. The decor is unique, and it's like private dining at no extra cost.



Grade: A