First time in North Wilkesboro and decided to try The Lost Wombat. So glad I did! I loved the…read moreambiance and was warmly greeted by a friendly server. I also had the pleasure of speaking with the owner, who was a great guy. I ordered the 12 oz ribeye, and it was cooked and seasoned perfectly. An excellent experience all around. Highly recommend!

We loved our burgers and sweet potato fries. I just wish the burger had been larger. It was small…read morefor the size of the bun (which was not a large bun). We had a great seat in the window, and enjoyed some craft beers. They don't have an extensive beer selection, but we found some beers we enjoyed. Service was great. The restaurant isn't fancy, but we enjoyed our meal.

Highlands Butchery delivers an excellent dining experience overall, earning a solid 4.5 out of 5…read morefor the visit described. The combination of attentive service, high-quality steaks, and a standout bourbon selection makes it a spot worth seeking out in Valdese.[1][2][3] ## Service and Hospitality Austin provided friendly, knowledgeable service, with spot-on recommendations and consistent follow-up throughout the meal, which really elevated the evening. The staff quickly seated the party of four and acknowledged the celebration for the wife's birthday, helping the night feel special from the start. When one filet needed a bit more sear, the owner personally stepped in, oversaw the re-fire, and had it returned to the table cooked perfectly. That level of ownership and responsiveness showed real commitment to **hospitality**. ## Food and Preparation Entrées arrived beautifully plated and cooked to appropriate temperatures, which is especially important at a butcher-driven concept known for its meats. The corrected filet came back with the ideal sear and doneness, reinforcing confidence in the kitchen's skill.[2][1] Portioning and presentation aligned with expectations for a farm-to-table steakhouse, highlighting the quality of their locally sourced meats.[3][1] ## Bourbon Library The bourbon library is a major highlight, offering an impressive selection of hard-to-find bottles that adds a distinctive draw for whiskey lovers. It pairs perfectly with their meat-focused menu and makes Highlands Butchery feel like a destination, not just a neighborhood spot.[4][1][2] Having such depth behind the bar also supports Austin's recommendations, allowing guests to explore pours they may not encounter elsewhere. ## Atmosphere and Noise The only real drawback of the evening was the room volume, which made conversation a bit challenging at times. Given how popular and lively the space can be, some additional noise baffles or acoustic treatments could help deaden the sound and make the dining room more comfortable without losing the energetic vibe. With that one improvement, this experience would easily move from a 4.5 to a full 5 out of 5, especially given the strength of the service, food, and bourbon program!

Highlands Butchery Restaurant is top notch! Food is wonderful, fresh, and delicious! Service is…read moregreat and the ambiance is so comforting and relaxing. We've been customers of the meat store for years, just had lunch today and it was amazing.

First and foremost the prices on the menu are not correct and they never want to give a receipt I…read moreguess so you don't realize it. $7.16 for a sausage biscuit with cheese and a large sweet tea! insane! Next, the wait time for only one person ahead of me who was parked at the window when I entered the parking lot was a bit long (I'd say around 6 minutes) Next, the biscuit was cold to the touch when I got it out of the bag and when I tasted it. The cheese was melted, but looks like it was submerged in grease so I can only assume they tried to melt the cheese on the grill maybe since the biscuit was cold? not real sure on that one. Overall, the last few visits have been increasingly disappointing and with the discrepancies in pricing and what's being charged partnered with the lack of good experience we will probably limit our visits greatly.

I'm not sure if they sold us lunch leftovers but it was bad. It was only the 2 time to eat here…read more The bread was hard the burger was very tough. Nobody ate the food. We will not be going back ever. $ 40 dollars for food we couldn't eat.

It's a great place to be to feel welcomed and to eat great food along with talk to great people who…read moreserve you.

This local hamburger shop, which has been open since 2010, was named the best burger in North…read moreCarolina by Reader's Digest in 2021. They offer dine-in and takeout, with a drive-thru available for orders placed by phone or online. Their menu includes traditional diner options such as burgers, chicken/ pork sandwiches, hot dogs, BLTs, house-made chips, fries, onion rings, and ice cream. Their service was amazing, the cashier was incredibly friendly and provided suggestions on what to order. They quoted a 20-25 minute lead time for our order, but it was ready in less than 10 minutes. It came out hot, fresh, and delicious. They offer indoor and outdoor seating, with an indoor/outdoor intercom so you can hear when your order is ready, regardless of where you sit. I ordered their Big Nick Mac, a take on the Big Mac with seasoned fries, house-made thousand-island dressing, lettuce, pickles, diced onions, and cheese. The chili-cheese hot dog and onion rings are also excellent. The cashier suggested adding their locally made pimento cheese to the hot dog, a phenomenal addition to an already delicious hot dog.

I won't eat a burger anywhere else. I've tried a few times, but they don't even come close to the…read moretaste and quality of Eddie Hollar's burgers. I started out just dining there. Then. I begged him for a job. He and Shanna are absolute awesome. They have a lot of love for people. They always try to give everyone a great meal when they come in. Our day cook, Mary, wow. She works very hard to make sure customers get their food as quickly as she can. She usually knows what our regular customers like. She's the bomb. Dawn, our weekend server works very hard to provide excellent service. I can't say enough about the owners and staff.

This place is NEVER open or they just won't answer their phone ! Been by there several times and…read moreit's always closed .

A small spot for a big appetite!…read more I hope you get to meet Allison because she made this experience worth it. I would have been lost without her and our Mountaineer son to guide us. You can order from a kiosk, the QR code at your table or Allison can help you. I had a bacon cheeseburger and my guys had burgers with seasoned fries. The food arrived very quickly and was cooked to perfection. Be warned: the seasoned fries are VERY seasoned fries. I snuck a few of my hubby's to taste but I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to eat an entire order of my own. I wish I had room for a shake because they looked incredible. Maybe next time!

Well true to its name we will be coming back! Burgers were fresh and spot on. The local burger has…read morebeef from a source just a few minutes from the restaurant. Fries are fresh cut and tasty. Only opportunity is the order can be a bit clunky. Either through the app at the table or a kiosk. However, the gentleman that helped direct us explained everything and made the experience awesome. When in Boone, hit the Come Back!!! Good Selling!!!

Alright this place was 10/10! Great food! Great environment and great customer service. We're in…read moreTraphill for a few days visiting families and were in the mood for burgers and hotdogs. This was the spot! I got a double cheeseburger and it was cooked perfectly medium rare. Just enough pink without being 'undercooked'. It was delicious. I also got a hot dog, a Carolina dog it was called. The coleslaw on top was crispy and delicious! The other ingredients on it were perfectly portioned so nothing overpowered the hotdog at all; everything on it complimented the dog so very well. My wife got a Cuban burrito and absolutely loved it! Our party got some other hotdogs and burgers; all happy campers! Along with the burritos they brought chips; which tasted homemade. They were crispy and fresh. Now this place is know for bringing some heat on their offerings; and we did not order anything hot or spicy like that. Maybe next time! Other than that - this place was a treat. For seven of us the tab was under 100$ - which lately - that is a bargain. (For comparison when we were on the road - we stopped at a WaffleHouse which brought the tab to $104; and their food is hot garbage). So in summary - a 10/10 dining experience which we'll be excited to come back to! I should have taken pictures; but, I think the ones online do a sufficient job. I'll take some photos next trip! Thank you FSBWB! We can't wait to come back!

The food was delicious!! The fries were my favorite! The…read moredecor is fun and quirky. The service was excellent!! What more can you ask for? Highly recommend!!

Great Food, Friendly Service Really Good Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. But the Best Item is their…read moreChicken Salad...Outstanding...

Best breakfest a man can eat. Always good, staff is great, not much else they could do better.read more

Things seemed moderately busy at the Cardinal on the Sunday evening when I stopped by. There's not…read morea ton of parking, by the way, given the restaurant's roadside location. But I wiggled my vehicle into a tight spot and went in for a burger and a beer. I believe there were about 10 to 12 options available on tap, and I went with what was listed as an Irish stout from somewhere in the Northeast. It wasn't bad, though it seemed more like an imperial stout. My sandwich choice was the Cowboy, with ground elk at its core. It was a good choice too, and the accompanying fried onions and melted cheese complemented the meat well. I ordered the burger medium, but I think I'd go for medium rare if I could go back in time. The medium option wasn't bad, but I think a little less heat and a little more moisture would only make things better. I kept things simple with the side item, going for the fries which were of the thinly sliced McDonald's variety, not bad but nothing remarkable. The server covering my table was pleasant and prompt, though soft spoken so I occasionally had to ask her to repeat herself amidst the music and noise. I wouldn't call any of these selections a bargain, but the prices didn't veer too far from what you'll find in many burger joints. All in all, not an earthshaking experience, but a place I'd be willing to go back to. 3.5 stars.

Such a cute, easy lunch spot in Boone and honestly, I loved it. My husband thought it was…read more"average," but in fairness, I ordered what he always calls girl food -- bright, fresh, crunchy, pickled, delicious -- and that's exactly what I got. We started with the pickled board, and it was just fun. A little bit of everything: pickled veggies, cucumbers with those pretty curls of onion, pimento cheese, bread, pork rinds, a little tomato jam. It felt like a Southern snack platter put together by someone who actually cares about balance and flavor. I ordered the pickled salad with chicken, and it was right up my alley. Fresh greens, great textures, pops of color, and the chicken was nicely seasoned and grilled. The dressing had that bright, tart thing going on that makes you want more of it. I would absolutely get this again. My husband got the Cassie salad, and while he said it was "fine," even he admitted everything was fresh and well done. The vibe here is relaxed, cozy, a little rustic, the kind of place that feels local in the best way. For a casual lunch in Boone, it hits the spot. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Passing through and thought we'd stop in for a burger. The actual burger was a decent size and a…read moregood value. The bun was a little dry, but we usually take the top off anyway. The place is definitely an "old hole in the wall" and very dingy. But the lady was friendly and service was great. We'd probably go back.

Great place to eat. Local atmosphere and great food. Staff was super sweet and eager to please…read more We will be back next time we are in the area.