Ok, once again we strike GOLD! After last year coming many times for lunch we went today for…read moredinner. Wow, the food was fabulous both the wife and I had their Tuscan Chicken and I top it off with a Space Pegasus. The staff was very friendly especially "Morgan". I highly recommend you give it a try

Staying at the lodge and dropped in for a midday snack and wow. Got some sweet potato fries and…read morethey are excellent. Also, what a bourbon selection absolute hidden gem, no need to drive to town with a selection like this.

We happened upon the Six Pence Pub on our stop in Blowing Rock. Everything was great from the food…read moreto the service to management. Portions were generous. Our server Josh was attentive and kept the refills coming. The general manager ,Tyler , stopped by to make sure we had a good experience and was very personable. Would highly recommend!

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!

Delicious food, lovely service…read more I was visiting the area and this place and the menu caught my attention. 'The Gamekeeper', what name could be more intriguing for a unique dining experience? I was not disappointed in the food. All selections were ideally prepared, seasonally balanced, and well paired. What I was really pleased about was the service. The staff elevate the entire experience. To name one or two would leave out what was an incredibly welcoming, knowledgeable, and cohesive Team. I would certainly recommend The Gamekeeper to anyone looking for the complete dining experience.

Let's just start out with the obvious. The service, meal options and atmosphere are tops. Our…read moreparty of 6 was fortunate to have Allan G as our server. The wine and cocktails assistance was great and the mixed grill appetizers were perfect. The bison short ribs are killer. A very enjoyable evening. Everyone in the party raved about the meal and service. Bravo to the chef, staff and management. Our first trip to the area proved challenging on a rainy night in the mountains. We opted for transport via uber and Lyft services. FYI it's almost impossible to confirm service in Blowing Rock. With no show transportation at 9:30 pm the staff jumped into action. Lucky for us the one driver that did show agreed make 2 trips.

Eclectic top shelf dining in the heart of Banner Elk downtown. Love the downtown square here with…read morenumerous restaurants, walking, live music, coffee, dessert, you name it. And Chef's Table here is outstanding. Sorrento's is the Italian restaurant downstairs, while Chef's Table is the restaurant upstairs. One entry, two restaurants with completely separate kitchens and chefs. We started with a beef carpaccio, tomato bread and the Saluna specialty sushi roll. Everything was prepared to perfection. The main event was my sea bass. This was one of the best fish dishes I've had in a while. Perfectly cooked, tender and melted in your mouth. The buttery sauce lifted it to another level. If you're in the area, definitely try this place!

This place is amazing! Upstairs hidden gem. Food is 5 star, great wine selection. The best part is…read morethe bananas foster made right at your table. Fantastic service!

Our first time visiting the Blowing Rock area in 35+ years. I went to school in Boone many years…read moreago. In town for a few days for my birthday. We chose this restaurant for my birthday dinner - based on reviews. Reservations seemed to be required at least 10-14 days in advance and we still could only get 8:30. That's OK for us as we tend to eat later most of the time. It seemed we may have been the last party to arrive as the restaurant was clearing out shortly after we were seated. The Good: beautiful place and great views, at least for me. And although there was a table open at the window where we could both see views, we were placed at table closest to lounge area where my husband's back was to the window. The server was very nice, knowledgeable and mostly attentive. My husband's mentioned he would have liked a 2nd drink but after all the food was served (see below) we didn't see her again until the end. She did acknowledge my birthday when she initially greeted us. She recommended we each order a plate from each the appetizer, salad and entree menus and described one from each in great detail. The menu is very pricey and she is likely trained to make these suggestions. For example, on the appetizer menu, one scallop was $22. This is the one she recommended. Our garden salads and entree's were good - but not extraordinary. Husband ordered the tuna but was able to substitute scallops for the tuna ($55). I ordered the pork tenderloin ($48). I received it barely warm. The server promptly returned it to the kitchen to be heated. She was very kind about it. Once it was warm it was tasty. Was served with carrot puree that was excellent (seemed to have some brown butter and warm spices). Will likely try to recreate this at home. The Bad: There were 3 other tables being served in our area while we were there. I might guess they were locals based on the major difference in the level of service we received vs what the other 3 received. Don't get me wrong, as previously mentioned our server was very kind, knowledgeable and helpful. There was also a young man (dark curly hair) dressed in all black that spent a considerable amount of time at all 3 of the other tables when he brought their food out. He seemed to offer extensive explanations and have general conversations. He also brought out food, dropped them and was gone before we could even say thank you. There was a lady (straight dark hair in a sleeveless green dress with a name tag - (seemed to be a manager) that spent significant time at each of the other three tables as well as in the lounge area next to us with 2 couples there. Even after I had to return my cold food, she never stopped by to even say welcome/hello and make sure the plate was now satisfactory. My husband was a chef/proprietor/manager in restaurants for 35-40 years. He couldn't believe there was no check in after having to return a plate. One other table had a birthday and they brought her a dessert with a candle. I wasn't offered anything like that. Not sure if it is complimentary. We were only asked if we wanted to see a dessert menu and there was no other mention of my birthday except when we were first greeted. For the prices on the menu, I would think everyone would get great service and the manager would check on every table. Just left a bad taste in our mouths, not because the food was bad, but since we received average service when all around us received over the top service, I don't foresee returning and don't recommend them.

Absolutely outstanding! Gideon Ridge exceeded every expectation. The food was exceptional, the…read moreservice was warm and attentive, and the mountain views made the experience even more memorable. Every dish was beautifully prepared and full of flavor. A perfect spot for a special occasion or an unforgettable dinner. Can't wait to come back! A special thank you to the young gentleman valet who walked me to my car in the rain and lightning. He was exceptional!!

Really a 4.5 and maybe a 5.0 for this area. And be quite honest a huge surprise given where it's…read morelocated. My son had the roasted chicken and I the primary New York strip... Both were off the charts as well as the grilled Caesar salad. Excellent wine selection albeit, small very well curated. Our sugar was Michael her who is attractive, personable, and been working there for sometime and offered tremendous value throughout the meal from his knowledge of the menu to the surrounding area. Looking forward my next visit! Next up there for me to try all the pasta and homemade sauce

The decor and ambiance are top notch!! Awesome big roaring fireplace, good bourbon selection (and…read moreI'm a bit of a snob) and the ribeye was KILLER! My second dinner in Boone (week long stay), and The Beacon takes the cake as best restaurant I've eaten at! Broccolini was damn good!! Well done y'all!!

Went back to Mary's Kitchen this past weekend and I'm glad I did. Nothing fancy just a good Ole…read moredown home country breakfast which is getting harder to find these days. The service is always fast and friendly and they genuinely act like they appreciate your business. Skip the busy restaurants with a wait list and give Mary's a try next time you're in Boone.

I heard about Mary's kitchen from FB and wanted to try it out. It is small but definitely cooks…read morejust like Mom used to make. I had an old country favorite of mine, liver mush, scrambled eggs, grits and biscuit. They kept my coffee cup full and I really enjoyed the hometown ambiance where no one is a stranger, just friends they haven't met yet. They have been there for over thirty years and I never knew it was there. If you're looking for a great casual breakfast, go where the locals go to Mary's Kitchen.

My husband and I have been to Vidalia a few times in the past few years and enjoyed it. We went for…read moredinner last night, the food and service was incredible but the my husband and I noticed kitchen cooks/staff speaking rather disrespectfully to the waiter and waitresses at our table in the dining room. It was rather busy due to the concert, but our server was working very hard and we hope to see a more positive environment!

Food tasted freshly cooked. Good quality flavor was on point…read more Attentive service. Quiet ambience, good for dates.