Rise + Restore Coffee Co. is a family-owned coffee shop in Mineral Wells that also offers dine in and drive-thru service. Drink options include lattes, refreshers, smoothies, teas and more. I ordered a peach sunrise refresher, which features peach, pomegranate and orange juice. This had a great mix of sweet with tangy tartness. For snacks, they offer several kinds of bagel sandwiches: chicken salad, egg salad or buffalo chicken on an original, everything or jalapeno bagel from Box Bagels. My buffalo chicken everything bagel checked all the satisfactory boxes - some punchy sauce or crumbles of blue cheese would have pushed this into "exceeds expectations" range for me. Grade: B

Across the Board Game Café is a unique restaurant and game café where friends and families connect over delicious food, coffee, and hundreds of board games. They have over 500 games, which is more than I even knew existed. While gaming is not my particular brand of nerdy, I love that it's available for others. I was here for the food. It looks like they have a pretty extensive menu with coffees, ice creams, breakfast, flatbreads, salads, dips, sandwiches, soups, cake, pastries, dirty sodas, mocktails and more. In my eyes, though, I only saw ice cream. Ashby's Sterling Ice Cream is made in Michigan and hand-scooped here in White Sulphur Springs. I took one look at "Strawberry Pretzel Dessert" and knew it needed to be in my tummy. It's a premium, creamy, sweet-and-salty flavor featuring cheesecake ice cream mixed with strawberry puree and a crunchy, salty pretzel crust swirl. I need that ribbon of salty, crunchy contrast in every ice cream for the rest of my life. Grade: A

Toasted is a gourmet grilled cheese restaurant in Inwood that puts creative spins on a childhood favorite. In addition to their brick-and-mortar space, they have a food truck -- which seems like it will be the focus for them moving forward. I ordered the Hot Hen, which has Homemade Buffalo Chicken, Homemade Ranch & Pepper Jack on Sourdough. It delivers a satisfying kick, with tender shredded buffalo chicken bringing just the right level of heat balanced by cool, creamy ranch. Pepper jack melts smoothly into the filling, adding a subtle spice while the sourdough provides a crisp, buttery crunch. It’s a bold, messy-in-the-best-way sandwich. Grade: B

Gump’s IGA is a locally owned neighborhood grocery store in Grafton. It operates as part of the regional IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance) network, which allows independently owned stores to offer national brands while maintaining a small-town, community-focused feel. They off a full range of everyday grocery staples including fresh produce, meat and deli items, dairy, frozen foods, pantry essentials, and household necessities typical of a neighborhood supermarket. Their deli makes pepperoni rolls that are popular and have been recommended to me several times. So, it was time. They offer pepperoni rolls both individually wrapped and in six packs. There's mozzarella and hot pepper cheese, at least on the day that I visited. I grabbed a hot pepper cheese one, because I enjoy the little extra spice. And, it wasn't bad. Deli pepperoni rolls tend to have thicker, drier bread in my experience. I like mine to be pretty moist and the interior to be thick with filling. Grade: B

The WV Artisan Market in Jackson County, is a retail space featuring handmade goods from numerous local artisans, offering a diverse selection of art, jewelry, home decor, and more, alongside a cafe and event space for activities like live music and crafting classes. There were some local freeze-dried candies and jams. After some shopping, I settled in with a menu on the cafe side of the shop. I decided on a small portion of their daily special, spaghetti with meat sauce, as well as some southwestern nachos to go. Both were decent but fairly average: the spaghetti was comforting and filling, though the sauce lacked depth, while the nachos had good toppings but nothing that really stood out in flavor or texture. Overall, it was a satisfying, no-frills meal that did the job without leaving a strong impression. Have you been? Grade: B