Get Old-Fashioned at Top Pot Doughnuts

What: Doughnuts, pastries, coffee and tea

Where: Top Pot Doughnuts in downtown Seattle, WA.

Must Order: Old fashioned doughnuts, including glazed and pumpkin; ovaltine latte

The Verdict: So what? They're just doughnuts. Ah, but often, it's the simpler foods that catch our eye. Certainly, unusual foods pique my interest, but when I hear about an ordinary dish that's served up in a memorable way, I do a double-take.

You may have heard of Top Pot Doughnuts in the news recently; President Barack Obama stopped by in October and treated himself (and, I assume, his sizable entourage) to a few dozen doughnuts. The friendly staff at Top Pot revealed that the president himself enjoyed the Pumpkin Old-Fashioned Doughnut. That, indeed, was one of the establishment's better doughnuts, but my personal favorite was Old-Fashioned Glazed. It was simple, it was sweet and best of all, it packed that ever so slight resistance when I bit down.

Sweet treats aside, another must-order is the Ovaltine Latte. I'm a big fan of both hot chocolate (when it's made correctly) and lattes. Top Pot fuses them together with this drink. With the sweetness of the chocolate and the kick of the coffee, you get the best of both worlds in this velvety drink.

The Cheesiest Grilled Cheese at Dahlia Lounge

What: American and Italian food; lunch/dinner; appetizers; brunch

Where: Dahlia Lounge in downtown Seattle, WA.

Must Order: Grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup; coconut cream pie

The Verdict: I first heard about this restaurant a few months ago from The Best Thing I Ever Ate on The Food Network. The moment Giada De Laurentiis named the Lemon Scallion Dungeness Crab Cakes as her go-to crab cake fix I made it my mission to someday visit Dahlia Lounge. So when I took a weekend trip to Seattle, WA, the Tom Douglas establishment was first on my list of restaurants. As much as it pains me to say this, the crab cakes were just average. I appreciated the quality crab meat but overall I found the cakes to be dry -- they were breaded too heavily. $29 is too much to pay for mediocre crab cakes. But enough about those cakes. Let's talk about what truly is delish megish at Dahlia Lounge.

It's the grilled cheese sandwich. Simple as that.

In between two slices of potato bread is thick, gooey cheddar cheese. But what they don't specify about the Dahlia Potato Loaf Grilled Cheese and Tom's Tasty Tomato Soup on the menu is that they lovingly crust the outsides of the bread with parmesan cheese, a salty bite that complements the sharp cheddar. Munch on this with the accompanying side of tasty tomato soup, a thick yet brothy concoction, and you immediately forget the rainy dreary weather outside. For $12 this filling duo is a good deal.

But save room for dessert! The foodie adventure isn't over yet. Be sure to order a slice of the Coconut Cream Pie. It's soft and fluffy, creamy yet light -- truly a decadent treat and well worth the $9.

Gourmet S'mores at Luna Park

What: American and Italian food; lunch/dinner; appetizers; brunch Where: Luna Park in LA, near Miracle Mile

Must Order: S'mores

The Verdict: I've been on a perpetual search for the perfect go-to, moderately-priced, date-friendly, girls'-night-out restaurant for several years. Naturally, I've stumbled upon many great places but none hold a candle to Luna Park in Los Angeles. It's cozy and kitschy, the staff is friendly, the cocktails are tasty and there's a dish for every occasion. What more could you ask for in a restaurant?

Come here for happy hour form 4-7pm and enjoy two appetizers for the price of one, or take your girl friends out for brunch with bottomless mimosas (or sangria) for $11. Not sure what to order for tapas or dinner? You can't go wrong with the Warm Goat Cheese Fondue with Grilled Bread and Sliced Apples (for $8.50) and the Mussels with Stella Atrois, Bacon, Cilantro, Fresno Chiles and Limes with Frites (for $11.25) And for brunch? Try Le Cafe for all your favorite breakfast foods -- eggs, bacon, house made sausage, home fried potatoes, regular toast, cinnamon french toast -- packed onto one plate for $13.50. No other french toast comes close to the Cinnamon French Toast ($10.50 for a hefty helping of just the toast) and Luna Park is one of the (surprisingly) few establishments that knows how to cook bacon -- extra crispy.

But the one item you absolutely must order is the S'mores, a make-your-own dish with molten marshmallow, bittersweet chocolate, and house-made graham crackers. For $8.25 you can enjoy the best part of a campout (and not have to sit through your friend butchering your favorite Beatles songs on his acoustic guitar). Dip a delicate graham cracker into the soft, stick marshmallow, and top it off with a hearty dunk of velvety chocolate whose sweetness doesn't overpower the other flavors.

Must-Have Macarons at Paulette Beverly Hills

What: Macarons Where: Paulette Beverly Hills

Must Order: Rose; caramel

The Verdict: I'll start out by saying that I'll never post a negative review on this site. I figure, if it's not delish, it's not worth writing about. But just how delish are Paulette Koumetz's and Christophe Michalak's macarons? Delish megish, indeed. These little masterpieces had me raving that macarons are the new cupcake.

I didn't know much about macarons before I tasted several different kinds at Paulette, but it was definitely love at first bite. Though they're pretty pricey (individual macarons are $1.60 each; 1 dozen is $19) they're well worth the occasional splurge. These kosher dairy delights are light and airy with the right amount of richness. The exterior has the slightest crunch and the center is perfectly gooey.

I haven't tasted a single one I didn't like but my favorite one was the rose macaron. Fluffy and floury, these little puffs are made with a little bit of rosewater for that unique flavor. Chocolate lovers will enjoy chocolate-stuffed chocolate shells and pistachio aficionados will marvel at the soft, smooth centers of the green macarons. If you want an even sweeter treat, try the caramel, which has a sugary, sticky filling.