We took a day off from work to spend some good quality time together. We were headed straight for one of our favorite restaurants in Blowing Rock and then on the way I said, nope, starting now we are venturing out more like we used to. New experiences this next year and starting now! I searched online while the hubby drove and came up with this spot. I ordered the three-meat plate which included two sides and hushpuppies, and my husband ordered the fish and chips (shocker-Brit!), which also included two sides of his choice. He raved about the piece of fish and after taking a bite, I had to agree. A nice thick piece and the breading was just right. Nice fries as well. I didn't try the beans but my husband enjoyed them. I wasn't as enamored with the meats I received. They were just ok as Q goes, lacking any smoke flavor or crunchy bits like I prefer. The sauces were delicious though and while I'm not usually much of a sauce person I enjoyed them and as a result enjoyed the meats. The slaw and collards I had were again just ok. Points for being house-made, but I adore cole slaw and this slaw is a bit dry and needs some oomph. A little Duke's and ACV would make this amazing. A nice crunch and chop is already there but I would tweak it a bit. The collards were cooked perfectly and tasty but again, ACV is needed. Maybe even just add it to the sauce mixes on the table, so folks can doctor their dishes if desired? Why a photo of the silverware you ask? I was so happy to get real silverware and heavy, substantial pieces! It elevates my experience, just me maybe. As I was grabbing a few more photos of the bistro I noticed a nice bourbon selection, and being a bourbon aficionado I had to get closer. I had a nice chat with the owner, who explained a special weekly event he does for folks to try some premium grade liquors at cost and even went on to explain that he makes most of his infusions and mixes in house. Big points for that. I only wish we didn't live over an hour away, but maybe we can get back for some cocktail events at some point. I would/will definitely return and try some other menu items. Service was great, cleanliness is clearly high on their list, and everyone was just super nice. read more

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The Brisket was tender and not chewy. I loved it ! The wedge salad was excellent and the Banana pudding was a 10 out of 10. The drinks are so good . This would be my first stop for food in this area! read more

Service here is spectacular. Cherry, friendly, knowledgeable and we were checked in on multiple times. 11/10 for service. read more

Cinder Bistro - Bootlegger Burger with yummy baked beans - Barbeque Near Me - North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

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Followed our noses and the smell of bbq drifted through the air. What a great find. Started out with the wedge salad with burnt ends. Gobbled it up before I could take a pic. But so good! We are from Kansas City Missouri so we had our hearts set on some great brisket like we get in kc... and Cinder Bistro didn't disappoint! Wonderful Mac and cheese too! Had a great waiter who recently moved to the area from Colorado. Super nice and took some time to chat! read more

Cinder Bistro - Cheeseburger and Fries - Barbeque Near Me - North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

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Service,food great beer selection is fantastic. But what will bring me back is how friendly everyone is! Wish I could give Cinder more than 5 stars. Cool vibe, laid back atmosphere. Give it a try. read more

I had the cowboy wedge salad with burnt ends, and it was delicious! Owners were there, very friendly and engaging with the customers. cute little spot in the downtown area in a freestanding wooden building that looks like it should be a saloon in downtown Dodge City Kansas read more

A Hidden Gem Worth Every Bite. Cinder Cafe blew me away with its exceptional service and mouthwatering food. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm, relaxed, and inviting. The restaurant itself was spotless, which added to the overall pleasant dining experience. The real highlight, though, was the service. My server was incredibly polite, professional, and friendly--striking that perfect balance between attentive and respectful. It's rare to find someone so genuinely welcoming, and their service truly elevated the entire experience. Huge respect and appreciation to them! I ordered the brisket with beans and coleslaw, and wow--just wow. The brisket was cooked and smoked to absolute perfection--tender, flavorful, and clearly made with care. The sides were just as impressive: the beans were rich and savory, and the coleslaw was fresh, crisp, and perfectly balanced. Every bite was full of flavor and clearly made from scratch. If you're looking for a place that gets everything right--from food to service to ambiance--Cinder Cafe is it. I highly recommend this spot and will absolutely be returning. Five stars aren't enough! read more

Just WOW!! I had no idea how good the food is here. I got the Brisket Quesadilla and baked beans. SOOO GOOD!!!

Very nice wait staff, said they were understaffed and it may take a while but I thought the timing was just right. Food was good. Pork bbq had very smoky flavor. Burger was very good. Mac n chz and fired okra were mid. Overall an excellent choice for an inexpensive meal in Wilkes since there are limited choices. Comfortable atmosphere. read more

The food is always amazing! We LOVE the pulled chicken. The meats have a great smoked taste you cannot find anywhere else. The service is always great as well! The atmosphere is very warm & cozy. The owners are awesome people who truly care about their guests dining experience. This place is truly a hidden gem located in downtown north wilkesboro! 10/10!!! Check them out!! read more

Cinder Bistro - The food is always amazing! We LOVE the pulled chicken. The service is always great as well! The atmosphere and is very warm & cozy. - Barbeque Near Me - North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

Great food, friendly staff and an awesome atmosphere! My husband and I enjoy it! I recommend the bootlegger nachos or either bbq! Going to try the brisket soon! read more

My family and I decided to have a late lunch here on Mother's Day. After being greeted and seated at a table, we quickly realized they were just 20 minutes from closing. Most places would have turned us away, but not this establishment. Our server, Jeffrey, made us feel welcomed from the start. Not once did he rush us or make us feel time-restricted. The food was fantastic, but I have to give our deepest appreciation to Jeffrey. You, sir, made our Mother's Day a treat with your kind words and patience. Jeffrey even took the time to get down to my son's level when taking his order, making the experience extra special for him. I only wish we could have left a bigger tip for this exceptional service. Thank you for this great experience. I will share my experience with anyone looking for a humble place to eat great food. read more

Cinder Bistro - Plain Cheese Burger with Fries - Barbeque Near Me - North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

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Ok, I was in town for the peach festival and on my way out of town I made a stop at a really cute antique mall. Well my nose led me to the Copper Barrel Brew Haus and they did not disappoint! I would take a drive just to come back here. The food was really good but what stood out the most is the prices and the service. They were both extraordinary and I don't use that word lightly. I don't want to take away from the food because it was really good, but lately it is hard to get great service and we all know in this economy it must be difficult for restaurants to survive so the prices have really gotten out of control. This place has managed to keep the prices affordable. Shout out to our server Lauren. She was so friendly and obviously loved her job! Brew Haus y'all have a keeper! My only regret is I don't live closer. read more

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Great stop after a long hike. The Cattleman's Wedge Salad hit the spot and the staff was super friendly.

The Brisket sandwich was one of the best I've ever had! We had fried Okra and corn nuggets for the side and they did not disappoint. Can't wait to come here again and explore more of the menu. read more

I have eaten at Cinder Bistro a handful of times now, and each and every time has not only been delicious, but the service has also been excellent. The Forager's Smash Burger (mushroom swiss) is my personal favorite and their dry rub wings are a close second. Tonight, we also tried the fried pickles appetizer, and I highly recommend them. As for pricing, my family of 4 would spend just a bit less for drive thru fast food, so it's nice to have a place with such great food at good prices. We will most definitely be making Cinder Bistro a go to spot for us. read more

This restaurant popped up in my Facebook page and we decided to give it a try. Cute restaurant, clean and very friendly staff. Food was hot delicious and good portions. We had pulled pork plate and brisket. We would definitely return next time we're in the area. read more

Best barbecue in the area. Service is hit or miss. Some just basic but others go the extra mile. Love eating here regardless of service. And let me be clear, service is not bad but at times it is slow even though peace is less than half full. read more

We stumbled upon this great place and were so glad we did! First of all, the service was amazing. Everyone is so friendly and helpful. Also, everything that we ordered was delicious! I highly recommend the pulled chicken. I've never had anything like it. So much flavor and so moist. The moonshine drinks are really good, too. Different from anything I'd had before. I also loved the collard dip. And it's a very nicely decorated and a very clean place. We felt very comfortable there. Please check it out! You won't be disappointed! read more

Decent. Heavy bbq smoke smell and taste, which is good I guess if you like that. Makes everything taste the same to us.

Delicious bbq and a friendly staff make this a guaranteed stop for my family during our annual mountain trip.

As always, food was amazing! Hadn't went for dinner before and loved that they change the ambiance around. Give it a try if you haven't, prices are amazing for the quality of food! read more

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Food is great. Portion is small. They have umbrella area that you can sit with your dogs.

The BBQ was excellent and the staff were really nice. They could tell we were visiting and went out of their way to explain options and make sure we were happy. We went on a trivia night- which was also a lot of fun. I wish they had a couple more options on the menu (like BBQ chicken or sausage) but what we got was amazing and makes Cinder the best place for BBQ in the area read more

Great Great service. We had a party of around 20 and our servers were overwhelmed but they still got everything right and got the food out in a timely manner for the size of our party. The food was good! It was some classic North Carolina BBQ. There are a couple of TV's that just play fire but other than that the walls are pretty bare. It's the people that make this place good! read more

All of the employees and management from City Florist is so thankful for a wonderful meal! It was our favorite meal this Valentines week! The service was wonderful and our to go order was on point. We appreciate the delicious food we got. Thank you again. We will definitely be back! read more

This is the best kept secret in Wilkes County but SHOULDN'T be! We have never had a bad meal there! Awesome wings, burgers & brisket and a great selection of COLD draft beer. read more

I just walked outside from my dining experience. Food was good. Very good. But here's the problem. We have five adults and one child. Four of the entrées came of the kitchen but inconsistently. Two entrées the first time. The third entrée five minutes later the fourth entrée 10 minutes after that. The fifth entrée never appeared. Here's the worst part. The chicken nuggets were for the child in our party never came out. Unacceptable. I don't know who's running the kitchen. I don't know if there's a manager here--or not. But on a night when they're relatively uncrowded, the fact that food came out in this slow--or not all--is unacceptable. read more

I don't know what was wrong with the other two reviews but we did not experience anything like that. Pulled pork was delicious. Ribs did not need any sauce. Service was prompt and acceptable. Fried okra, bake beans, Banana pudding and Potato Salad were fine. They were not my mother's, but they weren't "nasty". Not everyone is going to agree with your religious or personal beliefs. It is called tolerance, on both sides. Grace goes a long way. read more

We had delicious food and a waitress who knocked all the others out of the water considering she was the only one during dinner rush and did it all alone. The waitress alone earned 4 stars the food wasn't bad after they finally got us the right order of course the kitchen sent out the wrong order a couple of times but it got fixed and was delicious in its own right. read more

Awesome service. Food was very good, TripleQue. Mac n Cheese was good. Nice place. Would recommend it to anyone.

My family and I had dinner here. Service and food was great. My son is on the spectrum and has sensory issues. He didn't like his food ( no fault of the restaurant). The server brought him something else just trying to help. It really means a lot to a parent and my son when people try to understand his struggles. read more

A friend and I met here for lunch and both of us gave it a thumbs up. We had the brisket and will definitely come back. The portions aren't big, yet we were full. read more

Great food and extraordinarily good service. A great lunch experience. Will definitely return soon.

Both pork and brisket were delicious and very tender. Good assortment of sauces. Fries were hot, crispy, and seasoned to perfection. Service was excellent and food came out quickly. Beer and wine were both good. Atmosphere was rustic and pleasant. We enjoyed it so much we decided to get a pound of brisket to go! Prices were very reasonable. read more

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Below average BBQ. No flavor, meat looks old. When you walk into a BBQ it's should have a tleast an aroma of smell. Was told mac and cheese is house made. It had cold cheese shredded on top of what tastes like Kraft kids mac. The hush puppy's were little grease bombs .. terrible..don't waste your money here. read more

My husband and I loved to eat at Copper Barrel Brew Haus to the point we were regulars. We loved them so much we wanted them to cater our wedding. We agreed to $1868 for 130 people and ended up with 75-85 guests. We ordered meat, green beans, slaw, and rolls along with water and sweet tea. Based on phone calls and common sense the leftover food we paid for should have remained with us. We provided Kathleen with the venue information so she could discuss the location and set up a game plan. The day of the wedding, they showed up very late, missing slaw, rolls, and water. My Mother-In-Law saw them packing up the food after everyone had 1 plate and when asked about leftovers, she was told that we paid per plate, which is not accurate. Multiple emails were sent to Kathleen and went unanswered. I finally got her on the phone and said they were not "contractually obligated" to leave leftovers even though the food was paid for. We asked for a refund of $500 and was told that was too much money to refund. After additional emails over multiple weeks, I finally got a text from Kathleen stating "CEO George" would contact me and he never has. I asked for his information and still no response. This whole situation left a sour taste in my mouth with the unprofessional manner and negligence. I strongly recommend you stay away from this place. read more

Food was good. Kind of insane that you get a to-go meal with three different meats and it didn't come with any BBQ sauce.

Amazing food!!! I saw the food truck driving by many times and decided to stop for a bit. DELICIOUS!! The ribs & rib tips were tender, the potato salad & beans were amazing! My husband loves the pulled pork! Will definitely follow and go again. read more

A good BBQ joint, this place doesn't deserve the 1 star reviews it got so I'm giving a 5 star to counteract them. Overall the food was above average for a small town restaurant, pulled pork was tender and very tasty. Service was prompt, would recommend this place to my friends. read more