It’s been a little over a month since moving to Montgomery, and I’ve been an oven-less, range-less mess. We were in an Airbnb and then moved into a fixer-upper. It’s a whole thing. But while unpacking boxes and waiting on appliances, I’ve found that one of the best ways to start feeling at home in a new city is by sitting down at its tables and tasting the stories that make it unique.

But things are looking up: my new freestanding range is finally being installed today. To celebrate, here are a few of my favorite discoveries from the not-so-harrowing tale of my culinary survival in the Capital of Dreams.

AYA (Soul Food)

Before we moved, we let some local friends show us around town. They knew exactly where would make the best first impression: AYA. We enjoyed views of the city skyline from the comfort of stylish booths over warm food and smooth wine. We did have to wait a while for our food, but I relished the relaxed atmosphere of it all.

And may I say: the atmosphere of AYA is unmatched. Even if you stripped the hotel restaurant of its gorgeous décor and tasteful lighting, the staff’s warmth would’ve more than made up for it. And the food—soul food that leans heavily into its Caribbean and African roots—slams.

Now listen: I’m not even a soul food kinda person, and I loved AYA. Personally speaking, it’s a rare event when black-eyed peas or collard greens call my name, and I’m real picky about my banana pudding (soul food cornbread is objectively the best variant of the dish, however). But as my father-in-law said when he tried AYA’s fried chicken: “This is even better than Publix” (high praise, I assure you).

A word of advice: Get the biscuits. They come with a jam and butter flight that will make the whole experience worth it, if it wasn’t already.

MatkaBar (Indian Food)

Once we’d moved to Montgomery (still a period of transition—this was the Airbnb era), my husband took us here on a date. When they served the water in authentic copper glasses, I knew we were in for a treat. And we certainly were.

It turns out that Montgomery has a sizable Southeast Asian immigrant population, which in turn means there’s some amazing Southeast Asian food. Or in this case, amazing Indian food (technically South Asian, but all the same). And even better, amazing Indian waiters who charm your all-American husband into eating with his hands (no utensils!), the traditional way. Said waiter also refused to serve him butter chicken and put us both on a spice tolerance improvement plan. He gave us a couple months before we’d be eating “actually spicy” food.

MatkaBar’s food is fantastic, of course (make sure you try the puri; it’ll rock your world). But the cultural experience is even better.

That being said: if eating with your hands is a step too far, then you’ll be comforted to know that everyone else there ate with forks. Our waiter just got a bit excited when my husband mentioned that he wanted some help trying new things.

Chappy’s Deli (Americana)

Of course, we can’t adventure into the unknown all the time. Sometimes, when the scaries set in, you need an old friend: a classic, catch-all deli.

“Classic” might be the best description of Chappy’s. It feels like it was plucked out of a Hallmark movie set. A kind, older host led me across black-and-white checkered tiles to maroon pleather booths, where I ordered black coffee and a pastrami sandwich. Both were better than they had any right to be, and everything came with a free scoop of soft-serve. Later, a waiter unironically called me “sweetheart” when he wished me goodbye.

Chappy’s website promises “the best in Southern hospitality with New York flavor,” and it certainly delivers. They offer free kids’ meals, too, so it’s fun for the whole family. Though, if you take them to the Peppertree location, you might want to be prepared for some begging from the little ones. There’s a Gigi’s Cupcakes inside. Even as an adult, it took a lot of willpower to walk on by without scooping up a sweet treat.

All in all, I’ve only been here a month, but I’m feeling a little more settled. Admittedly, I didn’t know much about Montgomery before moving here, and leaving Tuscaloosa’s food scene (I still miss Southern Ale House’s sweet potato tots) felt like a gut punch. But Montgomery’s a bit bigger than Tuscaloosa, and I’ve been more than pleased with the range of experiences here.

AYA was sophisticated, MatkaBar was adventurous, and Chappy’s felt like a hug from my grandma. After exploring those three establishments, I knew I was going to be just fine here.

P.S.: If your coffeemaker is buried behind the couch, Prevail Union in downtown and Akay’s Coffee out east are both wonderful (and local, as are all of the above options!).