Bistro Roca

Not much beats some green beer, scotch eggs and Irish music on St Patty's in an Irish pub in…read moredowntown Blowing Rock. Great selection of beers, drinks, regular food items and of course Irish food at this fun spot right on Main St. I had an Irish ale turned green that was cold one tasty. They even turned my wife's cider green which was a nice addition to the day's celebration. The scotch eggs were delicious. Hard boiled eggs wrapped in flavorful sausage that are baked and then served chilled. The dressing and dipping sauce went perfectly with the dish. Really a fun spot all around with great service, fun and hip atmosphere whether it's St. Patrick's Day or not. We'll be back!

A group of us had an early dinner here and I have to say everyone's dish was absolutely wonderful…read morewith large portions! I ordered the fish and chips which was reasonably priced given how much I received in the order. See the pic. The fish consisted of 3 large pieces of fish! The picture doesn't do it justice. I had leftovers for the next day. My husband ordered the salmon with wild rice and collard greens. He said the salmon and rice were amazing. The collard greens were what you might expect for collard greens but still good and healthy. :-) This was one of our best meals while in Blowing Rock. You don't want to miss this place.

Fish and chips

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Parade day after thanksgiving

Blowing Rock Brewing

4.0(473 reviews)

0.3 mi

Great experience! We went on a Thursday night and they were quickly able to seat our large party!…read more They have lots of beer options and had a variety of food options. The southern fried chicken sandwich was really good! As far as sides- they only have 2 options- chips or green beans but the chips were homemade and delicious! The server was very quick and attentive and the vibes in the restaurant were fun! They also have plenty of outdoor seating.

After a long day hiking, we made our way down from Grandfather mountain, enjoyed the views along…read morethe Blue Ridge Parkway as we drove to Blowing Rock. We found parking on a side street near Blowing Rock Brewing, so decided to enjoy a drink and get some lunch. We were seated quickly, near a heater, which was nice to help us warm up after being on the mountain. A waiter came by with menus to take our order. We asked for some suggestions, but he was a little less than enthused to offer advise. They had a good variety of beers, so my wife and I each got one, and shared them. We got the Pina Colada Kolsch and the Cloud Rise Hazy Ipa. Both were tasty, the Pina Colada Kolsch had a much stronger pineapple flavor than I expected, but in a good way. For food we started with the white cheddar poblano, which I expected to be more of a liquid queso for some reason. It was instead for of a soft, spread, which was really good, and paired well with the chips. And then we split the Turkey Reuben, which I figured would be made with deli meat, instead, it was warm, cooked chunks of turkey, really great flavor, and hit the spot for us. The sides with the sandwiches were a bit lacking, only offering hot chips, and green beans....I've never gotten the whole hot chip craze, but green beans just seamed like too odd of a side option for a sandwich It was a good visit, and a good meal, to get us back on our feet. Overall, a nice space, with bar seating, a back room, a back and front patio, plenty of space to hang out, relax and enjoy their beer. Food and drink were both good and worth a visit if you're in the area.

Images on the walls

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The Town Tavern of Blowing Rock

3.5(340 reviews)

We stopped here on a beautiful spring Sunday morning, and it was the perfect way to start the day…read morebefore exploring Blowing Rock. There's so much to do in the area, and this was a great first stop. The food was excellent, the service was excellent, and the menu had a really nice variety. We sat outside on the patio, which made the whole experience even better on such a nice morning. I ordered the blackened shrimp salad, and it was outstanding. It was a very large salad loaded with fresh vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of blackened shrimp. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and well prepared.

Solid tavern in the downtown area of Blowing Rock…read more We popped in here as we were having a bit of a Sunday Funday and got beers and a round of shots. The service was friendly, and the pricing was cheap. While I noticed they did have food, we didn't eat. It seems to be loved by locals though, because it was packed on a Sunday afternoon.

Bar area

Buffalo Chicken side pasta salad

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The Embers

4.2(29 reviews)

0.3 mi

Superb evening at this sleek and modern lounge and restaurant in the lobby area of The Embers…read moreHotel. We weren't expecting such a high level experience when we first booked a stay at this newly finished hotel. Classy cocktails, beers, plenty of wine variety, you name it. Went with the Old Smokey as a starter. An old fashioned kicked up a notch. The house smoked maple syrup and charred orange peal knocked his cocktail out of the park. I could smell that smoky flavor from the other end of the bar as it was being made. Bartender was super friendly and had some great mixology skills. We opted for apps all evening, but can't wait to come back and try some more of the menu. The homemade bread is a must. These puppies come out hot and steaming, with this amazing bacon butter to lather them in...outstanding! Our server also recommended the mushroom pate. Mushroom pate you say?! Yes, yes I do. One of the best pate's we've had in a long time. Super flavorful, creamy and smooth. And the homemade chips sticking out of it were the bomb! Then the goat cheese fritters...I had to battle my wife for these flavor bombs. This place is outstanding and not many people know about it...yet. Newly finished in 2024, this is going to be our go to when we want to be right in the heart of Blowing Rock.

Food: the orecchiette pasta was tasty. Had a squash base and pasta mixed with mushrooms. was a…read morelarge portion and shared it between two people. They have seasonal menus so this was the winter menu Service: waitress was incredibly nice and explained everything on menu and answered questions we had Ambiance: located inside the embers hotel next to the front lobby. Had plenty of seating and had an outdoor area too. Parking: since it is located inside the hotel, the parking is located around the hotel

The Embers Restaurant opens both to the inner and outer serenity of Blowing Rock

Lemon roasted chicken

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Smoked Trout dip

Hellbender Bed & Beverage

Biscuits for breakfast at Hellbenders. Wrlcome, Good Morning, Do you need coffee? The bartenders…read moreand staff at Hellbenders bar are a blessing in Blowing Rock, NC.

Very cute and quaint place. We came in for dinner (recommended to have reservations) . The staff…read morewas friendly and welcoming. We sat in the front room which looks like what would have been a dining room since this is a repurposed house. It was a little dark in that section which is why I gave 4 instead of 5 stars. Most tables needed to bring out their phones for extra lighting. They had a nice selection on the menu.

Dining room

Trout

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Beverages

The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop

4.3(502 reviews)

0.3 mi

On our annual trip to Blowing Rock in May, we had to visit Speckled Trout twice. We love their…read morelow-carb options combined with their custom crafted cocktails, this place is a must-visit for every trip to Blowing Rock. Their cocktails are crafted with homemade syrups, and change seasonally. I had the Garden in Tibet--a delicious drink with gin, Prosecco, sugar snap pea syrup (!), green elixir syrup, elderflower liquor, and lemon. You'd think this could be a too-sweet drink, but it was PERFECT. My husband had the Which Damascus the first time, with rye whiskey, cherry basil syrup, hickory syrup, Amaro Montenegro, Tiki bitters, Peychaud bitters, and orange. He enjoyed it, but I thought it was definitely too sweet. He had a Garden in Tibet on our second visit, and preferred the Tibet to the Damascus drink. We love their unique smoked trout deviled eggs as an appetizer. This dish has two eggs filled with smoked trout, and three filled with a deviled egg mixture. The accompanying house hot sauce is so good! For our entrees, we both had hickory-smoked trout on the first visit Mine was definitely saltier than his. We had three sides--collard greens, smoked Gouda grits (our favorite), and corn, hominy, yellow squash & chile hash (so fresh and delicious!). On our second visit, I had the almond and cornmeal-crusted trout with the smoked Gouda grits, and my husband tried their fried chicken sandwich with slaw. He absolutely loved the sandwich--the chicken was thick, juicy, and very tender. He'll definitely get the sandwich again. Service is always good at Speckled Trout, and I love that we can pay with ApplePay at the table via the Toast handheld. We can't wait to return.

Went here for dinner based on several recommendations. I went for the blackened trout with 2…read moresides, by wife had a different prep. Food came quickly and was excellent. I saw a Wyagu burger come out and it looked delicious - wish i had ordered that, would choose it if I go again. FYI, this place is busy and you will need a reservation, best to make it well ahead of you want your time slot.

Dining room

The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop

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Outside of the speckled trout

The Best Cellar

4.2(130 reviews)

0.4 mi

•$$$

Make reservations months in advance for this gem! Located in an old stone manor, the Best Cellar is…read morethe best restaurant in Blowing Rock! The rack of lamb and buttermilk chicken are some of my favorites. The staff are very professional and seem to continue working there for years. The renovated the gathering area to make a rustic, yet upscale bar. Parking is not a problem because they offer valet.

First night in blowing rock we got a rez here. Such a beautiful inn and restaurant and great…read moreservice. I had the halibut and chose acorn squash (all entrees come with mashed potatoes too). Delicious! One got steak au poivre and it was highly peppered but so tasty. One got steak and crab cake. One got Parmesan crusted chicken. Everything was so good! We brought home their signature banana cream pie and a peanut butter pie. Both great!

Vacant been here since 5:15 it's now 6 still vacant

Jumbo shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, and oysters Rockefeller

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Cellar dining area

Storie Street Grille & Sidecar Bar

3.7(283 reviews)

Service was great. location and vibe was awesome. we ate on the back patio. The tomato bisque as a…read moreside was the best food there. Flawless actually. The monte cristo was good. The salmon stack was not. But that may be just personal preference. I felt they were under cooked and the fish taste stood out way more than I was hoping for. Would go back and try something else though.

Stopped by for a late lunch today. I had not been able to come in for a couple of years and was…read morehappy to see that even though they had updated and changed their menu, they still had the same upscale menu that has always kept my family coming back! I had the original Smashburger. It was delicious. The fries were nice and hot. Everything was cooked perfectly. My waiter was Lance. He was helpful with the menu and very attentive. I had a glass of the house Chardonnay. It hit just the right notes for my lunch. I love that they use locally sourced ingredients. It was nice to see that the kids menu was more than just your normal three or four choices. Still one of my very favorites!

Smashed burgers

Storie Street Grille & Sidecar Bar - Menu

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Mexican Rock

3.9(72 reviews)

0.6 mi

Fantastic, authentic Mexican food. This gem delivers a diverse combination of authentic Mexican and…read moreMexican-American food. We ordered a torta al pastor (extremely flavorful and massive size), sopa de pollo (rich and light), camarones al Diablo (perfect heat and flavor), and various tacos and a burrito de pollo. Whether you are looking for standard Mexican-American or real authentic Mexican cuisine, this is the place to go in the Boone/Blowing Rock area. The staff were very friendly and helpful and the ambience was fantastic! Give this place a try!

First off, go to Los Arcorisis in Boone. They don't screw up your order, and it's great!…read more So I called in a to-go meal at 2 PM. The woman on the phone spoke broken English (which only makes sense considering the current state of our border to the south). I ordered the lunch fajitas. I was specific about beef, and I specifically said Carne Asada. After I picked up my order, I had a few phone calls come in, so I did not witness my food until about 45 minutes later. The only part of the order that they got right was my small side of guacamole. Other than that, they completely botched the order! WTF?!?Mind you by the way, when I entered the restaurant, it was completely dead, aka EMPTY. There was absolutely zero reason for the kitchen to "F" this up. The only reason I gave two stars is because the food looks OK. I have not even tasted it yet. Oh yeah, they forgot the rice too! Seriously?!?!? I doubt this will occur, but TO THE OWNERS... you guys should have kept the original restaurant you had before this. Foggy Rock it was called?? It was great! The appetizer trout tar tar, or whatever it's called was amazing! Sucks that's gone now. Boone/BR already has enough quality Hispanic restaurants. Cut your losses and let this one go.

Mexican rock

Fajitas Carnitas

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Lovely margarita fresca. Sooo good.

Café Violette

4.6(61 reviews)

•$$$

Café Violette is pure culinary perfection in the heart of vibrant and spunky Blowing Rock. My wife…read moreand I came up for a quick getaway, and this spot turned out to be the highlight of our trip. We lucked out with a table on the cozy patio sitting on Main Street, where the town buzzes with life. The interior is beautiful and refined, but the outdoor setting, with the fresh mountain air and the hum of the town, created the perfect backdrop for a special evening. Service was impeccable. Gracious, attentive, and perfectly timed throughout the night. We began with a chilled French Chenin Blanc that paired beautifully with our appetizers. The escargot, bathed in a garlic cream and Gruyère sauce, was rich and mouth meltingly tasty. The braised and seared octopus was incredibly tender, deeply flavorful, and quite honestly, one of the best we've had anywhere. For mains, we shared the heirloom tomato burger, which was juicy, perfectly cooked, and packed with flavor. Alongside that, we split the mushroom burrata orecchiette, pillowy pasta coated in a creamy lemon pistachio pesto with locally sourced mushrooms. It was rich, bright, and beautifully composed. When dessert rolled around, we switched things up with cocktails. I had the old fashioned with a pistachio twist, complex and not overly sweet. My wife enjoyed a smooth and flavorful espresso martini. Both paired wonderfully with the finale: a creamy, light tiramisu and a house-made French éclair with fresh peaches. Each bite was the perfect ending to an already stunning meal. From start to finish, Café Violette delivered. The food, the service, the atmosphere, and the view all came together in the best possible way. This is French fine dining with soul, nestled in one of North Carolina's most charming towns. An absolute must-visit in Blowing Rock.

This restaurant is a must if you are in Blowing Rock. Planning ahead to make a reservation is a…read moremust as the restaurant is on the smaller side. Service (Ellen) was excellent, value was high and food was outstanding. The grouper was prepared perfectly. The scallops are rich and delicious and paired well with the pickled grape salad. Did someone say duck fat fries. These were the best fries ever.