Great and largeselection of burgers, chicken sandwiches, hotdogs salads wings. Good selection of…read morelocal brews and hard ciders too. Wings great, had a dry rub flavor with sauce on side. Regular fries and sweet potato fries both crispy and fresh. Good service and got seated promptly. Definitely worth it and recommend it if you're visiting or live locally!

I arrived at Blue 42 for dinner on a Wednesday night and the restaurant was busy. I was alone so I…read morechose one of the high seats across from the bar so larger parties could take any other open spots. I didn't realize that this meant that the bartender would also be my server. She was really busy and I felt like some of the other servers could have helped out. I ended up waiting a bit before she was able to get away from the bar to take my drink order. I was there for a hot dog and they had some good options. I ended up choose the Rueben dog which had sauerkraut, swiss cheese, thousand island dressing. I also went with the Dipper fries (after asking what they were). It didn't take long for the food to arrive and I, admittedly, enjoyed eavesdropping on some of the conversations around me. :) It looked like the dog had been sitting under a warmer cause the thousand island was....dry?...looking. I went to pick up the bun and it was already coming apart. Not a great sign. On the bottom of the bun there was a small black spot. My suspicion was mold but I don't know that for sure. I cut it off. The whole hot dog fell apart after the first bite. Lots of wet toppings will do that to an untoasted bun. The hot dog itself was ok but I wanted more thousand island dressing. The Dipper fries were great. They are essentially Fritos scoops but as fries, fries that are cut in a scoop shape, and they are served with cheese sauce. What's not to like? I'd be interested in trying other items on the menu but probably wouldn't go out of my way to return.

2nd visit and it didn't disappoint. Grace was a fantastic server and made sure we had everything we…read moreneeded. The food and drinks were fantastic! Visit this charming, local restaurant for fresh food and great service!

Great atmosphere, service and food. Limited menu, but every item was excellent... will return often.read more

Friendly and fast service, delicious food choices including a full healthy salad bar option;…read moreincludes weekly live music, an Open Mic, and trivia sure to entertain. There is a variety of seating options including a lounge/TV room and an outdoor, streetfront seating area. Nice roomy bar area with craft beer, Cider, and wine options everyday. Open 7 days a week. Perfect hideaway in a quaint town with a small-town feel. ​

Cute little wine shop. Friendly employees. Nice wine selection. We went on taco Tuesday, was worth…read morethe 6 bucks. Specials on other nights too. We will go back

First time here, sat at the bar. great time, amazing food, great service! all around an amazing…read moredinner! our bartender was very informative, he recommended a pumpkin spice espresso martini, which was literally the best one I've ever had in my life!!!! the we split a bottle of mascato (so reasonably priced, $22). The vibe was a guy playing piano who sang so well! we enjoyed the dimmed lights and the lowkey vibe atmosphere with it being classy. overall great dinner!

Disorganized and Disappointing…read more We had high hopes for Duke's, especially with its upscale vibe and menu, but the reality fell far short. From the moment we sat down, things started going sideways. First red flag? The water left on our table had bugs floating in it. Not a great start. The waitress, while friendly, seemed completely overwhelmed--she forgot our orders multiple times, asked the same questions repeatedly, and left us waiting far too long between check-ins. It took 40 minutes just to get our soups, and the entrees didn't arrive until over an hour after we ordered. The entire experience felt chaotic. At one point, another server brought two dishes and a drink to our table that weren't even ours. Total confusion. Now let's talk about pricing--specifically, a $12 charge to split a 24 oz ribeye. How does that make sense when one person might not even be able to finish it? It felt like a greedy upcharge for no real reason. Menu clarity was another issue. The sides weren't listed clearly, and no one explained that the "loaded potato" option was actually a soup--not an actual potato. The clam chowder? It's a tomato-based red soup, which is definitely not what most people would expect when ordering chowder. A simple explanation from the staff would've gone a long way. The duck was actually fantastic, the crab cakes not so much. Dessert was also oddly handled. They offer a brownie, but ask, "Is that okay?" as if there are other options (there aren't). Then they bring one brownie split four ways--literally bite-sized portions on a single plate for a group of four. It felt more like a sampler than a real dessert. When it came time to pay, we were asked if we were ready for the check, but then they came back later and had to double-check everyone's order just to get the bill right. And instead of bringing the check, you're told to scan a QR code to pay--likely a move to avoid credit card processing fees, though it puts the burden on the customer to complete the transaction. Overall, Duke's tries to present itself as upscale, but the execution just isn't there. Sloppy service, confusing policies, and unnecessary upcharges make it hard to justify a return visit. Definitely not the dining experience we were hoping for.

Great service, wings, and sauces at the Olde Tavern! I came for a late lunch/early dinner with some…read morefriends. We shared the fried pickles as an appetizer and they were delicious with and without ranch. I got my chicken wings fried and my favorite sauces were the Golden BBQ and Thai Chili. The prices were fair and and the tavern has a chill vibe. I think this is a great place to come for drinks and some bar food!

The cheese curds have changed, but not for the better. They taste as if this restaurant has moved…read moreaway from actual fried cheese curds and moved toward just frying cheese similar to a small mozzarella stick. The inside is very melty now and a more oily. They have also moved away from dusting with Parmesan which was a really nice touch to the flavor profile. The wings are still good here. There were a little dry, possibly overcooked. The staff were great and very friendly. The ambiance is still relaxed while being a little elevated.

My friends and I stopped here for a random drink. We had some time to use and stumbled upon this…read moredraft house. It was interesting because we found out that the name recently changed and there was a membership fee. I never knew that places like this existed in Hickory. We weren't charged for the membership fee since we were just passing through for a drink. The bartender was kind and made us feel at home. I live in the city so I've seen this concept many times before -- walk up, scan your bracelet and drink to your hearts desire. It was quite affordable! We didn't drink much but the tab came up to be about $20 for 3-light drinkers. I loved the local beers and variety! I look forward to coming back again in the near future.

I am excited by the concept: Help yourself and pay for what you pour. Yummy yummy choices make it…read morefun to sample little shots of lots of flavors. Jalapeno Lager, German Chocolate Stout, or Strawberry Cider, where do you start! There are a few wine choices too if the beers and ciders don't do it for you.

Don't pass this place up! Entertainment for days!…read more There's a trout pond where you can catch trout and they'll clean it and cook it up for you. All kinds of fun games and activities for kids while you have a drink. There's putput, homemade arcade basketball, mini climbing wall, and lots of space to hang around. The food truck that cooked our trout was excellent. They have really good homemade sangrias, fresh squeezed juices, beer and cider on tap.

Whats not to like about this awesome place. We ordered a hotdog plate from the truck and it was…read moreone of the best dogs I've ever had. The cherry on top was the orange dreamsicle tea the owner made with his family recipe. There's lots of seating on rustic tables and little table top games to play while just hanging out with friends or family. The building sits way back in the woods with a beautiful drive back to the place. There's a child's playground too. Porches to sit on and watch people fish. The owner was very nice and friendly. I only wish my whole family was here to enjoy it. Definitely coming back when in the area.

. Reserve your window view table around sunset for beautiful dining experience. The restaurant has…read morea beautiful, romantic ambience. The menu has a large range of options. I enjoyed the braised ribs. The cocktail menu is very good. (chocolate martini with dessert) The service was so friendly. Just an enjoyable dinner I would recommend while you are staying at the Inn or passing thru. Make sure you make a reservation for this popular restaurant.

This is my favorite place to eat in this area. I suggest the low country seafood boil. It's listed…read moreas an appetizer, but really needs to be listed as an entree. It was a full meal! Very good! Stephanie makes the service even better!

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.