The Dream Bean is an independent coffeehouse in Princeton where coffee, art, music and community come together. The shop opened on August 14, 2024, at 860 Mercer Street, replacing the former Wild Roots Coffee House. It was developed through the RiffRaff Arts Collective, led by Lori McKinney, as part of the organization's ongoing efforts to revitalize Princeton's downtown arts district. McKinney partnered with John Pounds of Appalachian Coffee House in Mount Nebo to help establish the business. Unlike a traditional grab-and-go coffee shop, The Dream Bean was designed as a neighborhood gathering place. Its interior features comfortable couches, local artwork, books and board games, while its programming includes live music, open mic nights, poetry readings and creative workshops. The menu includes espresso drinks, brewed coffee, teas, fruit smoothies, hot chocolate, sandwiches and baked goods. Early favorites included white chocolate mochas and strawberry-banana smoothies. The shop has also carried locally produced mushroom coffee and hot chocolate from Mercer County's E.B. Fungi. I ordered a peach-mango refresher (I'm on a kick with this flavor everywhere). Light, refreshing and slightly sweet - perfect for a summer day. I snuck around to see the back room area, which is super artsy and seems like the perfect space for an event. Grade: A

Mami Rica's Puerto Rican Island Kitchen is a home-based kitchen specializing in family recipes three generations in the making. And you've gotta try it. Abuela’s Puerto Rican Lasagna: Mami Rica’s signature dish features layers of seasoned meat, melted cheese, savory tomato sauce and traditional Puerto Rican flavors. The recipe has been passed down through three generations of family in Puerto Rico, bringing a taste of the island’s culinary heritage to West Virginia.

Puerto Rican Rice (Arroz con Gandules): A staple of Puerto Rican cuisine, this traditional island-style rice is cooked with gandules (pigeon peas), sofrito and aromatic seasonings. The result is a savory, flavorful side dish that complements the rich, cheesy lasagna. Grade: A

Latin Appalachian is a Welch-based restaurant operated by Roberto Diaz, affectionately known as "Taco Man." In February 2025, floods in McDowell County wreaked havoc on the restaurant, forcing it to close. Diaz had also used the restaurant to prepare thousands of free meals for flood victims and emergency responders. Afterward, he began hosting pop-ups around West Virginia to raise money for repairs and keep the business going. That's when I got a chance to try their food -- during one of these pop-ups. And at the time of this writing, Latin Appalachia is planning to host a grand re-opening Veterans Day weekend. Their menu features traditional Mexican dishes alongside creative Appalachian fusion specials, with an emphasis on fresh ingredients and scratch-made food. I ordered a flight of mini chimis with chicken, beef, pepperoni roll and chocolate. Love the ability to sample, to try traditional plus fusion. Of course a pepperoni roll chimichanga makes sense. Plus dessert. Each with a sauce! Fun, creative and delicious. Grade: A

A new food truck has been popping up in the Kanawha City area. Good Day Hibachi offers the standard hibachi options - chicken, steak or shrimp with veggies and either rice or noodles - just without the show. And there's actually a secondary menu featuring pho and some Chinese-American dishes like sesame chicken and beef & broccoli. I ordered the steak hibachi with fried rice, as well as an appetizer of crab rangoons. The steak was good quality for the most part, but I would have loved a sauce. The yum yum sauce was good for the veggies and rice, which would have been a bit dry without it. Next time, I'll ask for more. Crab rangoons were solid, but the dipping sauce here could use some love. Grade: B

Known primarily for its live music and longstanding place in Charleston’s entertainment scene, The Empty Glass gave me another reason to stop by: brunch. Located at 410 Elizabeth Street in Charleston’s East End, The Empty Glass has been a fixture in the city’s music community for decades. The venue has built its reputation on intimate performances, a steady rotation of local and touring musicians, and an atmosphere that favors authenticity over polish. Its history includes performances by musicians who went on to achieve national recognition, including Tyler Childers and Sierra Ferrell. For generations of Charleston residents, the bar has served as both a neighborhood gathering place and an important stop in West Virginia’s live music circuit. "“8 Bit Brunch” Bacon/eggs, biscuits/gravy, hashbrown casserole, all you can eat buffet! Plus today's Sunday Soup Special - beef & mushroom, and house smoked pulled pork is now on menu full time and included in brunch! $5 Bloody Marys & Mimosas on special. 5,000+ 80s & 90s arcade games on the big screen, and NFL football on the tubes!" It definitely felt homemade, but suffers a bit from drying out - like any buffet. But it's also a good reminder that they offer wings, pizza and a number of other fried appetizers. Mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, mac & cheese bites, mini corndogs, mac & cheese bites, pork egg rolls, shroom caps, pickle chips and cajun fries. Have you been? Grade: B