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.

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!

This was such a nice experience. We were able to snag some last minute items reservations which was…read morea win. Initially we were told we were going to sit in the bar area which was fine considering we booked late, however, when we got there, they seated us in the Cellar dinning area. We went down the stairs and a nice quaint and romantic space was waiting for us. They really had a nice ambiance, including soft music. On to the food. We ordered the starter sampler which was a special for the night including oysters Rocafella, shrimp cocktail and crab cake. The oysters were my favorite and the crab cake was my least. (I'm from MD so unless it's Maryland blue lump crab cake it's not good to me) For entree we both couldn't pass up the scallops. It came with red skinned potatoes and asparagus. The scallops were delicious and huge! The drinks are nice and strong. I would def go back to try the other entrees.

Limited German/french inspired menu but great food, wine/beer selection, service, and atmosphere…read more Outside patio overlooking the creek provides a great area to sit and enjoy this beautiful location and food. Only downside is if you have any food restrictions you best checkout the menu beforehand.

Come for the View of the Roaring River from the deck and the uniqueness of the restaurant and…read morelodging quarters. Although they ran out of many foods this Mother s Day which was a bit off puting the food in general was okay. We started with the charcuterie board which had pickles,olives, various flavorful cheeses, salami, prosciutto, salted nuts and glazed walnuts and 4 pieces of artisan bread. But there was no spreads such as mustard and no napkins or utensils other than a plate to enjoy our appetizer. They were brought once I asked for them. Restaurant wasn't full of patrons at that time I noted. Waitress was attentive when not too busy and friendly. I ordered a classic cheeseburger for my main course w a side of brussel sprouts in a champagne vinaigrette. They came quickly once I alerted the waitress we were ready to order our main course. The sprouts were under cooked and I had to saw at them w my knife and fork. My classic burger was good but they don't ask you how you want it cooked. We ordered desert but they were out of my selection as well as many other items I was interested in. So we just ordered coffee and they were out of cream just had a few creamers of French Vanilla and substitute sugar. But I would return for the Traminette wine and the deck views! Very nice! Plus they have live music occasionally. This place is off the beaten track but it is on Google Maps so you should be able to find the place but you will loose signal once you arrive but they have free wifi at the restaurant. So when you are looking for a casual, slightly romantic place to hang out, stop in. Everyone is friendly including the dogs! You can bring your dog if you plan on sitting on the deck just let restaurant know ahead of time. And if its Mother's Day you may receive a fresh rose to take home!

We went to this other French-American restaurant (Isa's Bistro), and they didn't have Creme…read moreBrulee...so, we ended up here afterward to order JUST the Creme Brulee. First of all, the place was very small, with this caved-in feel...a very grungy, dive-like ambiance. I felt quite claustrophic. Also, they didn't have the A/C on, so it was quite humid in there. Sadly, things didn't get any better. One of the best thing about the brulee is the glazed crust...and well, their version was just slack, in that only about a third of the top was glazed! HUH?!? Plus, they used this thin slab of Orange instead of the usual Blueberries or Strawberries...making the dessert have this Yellow on Yellow type presentation. Not appealing at all...at least to me. Initially, I thought we'd wait...and get our waitress-bartender to send it back to the kitchen to get it glazed fully. However, we just couldn't get her attention...so we just ended up eating it. I did, however, decide to bring up this issue...after getting the hostess to literally grab our server! I just felt that something this slack should be pointed out. Since we did eat some of it, I didn't ask for a redo or anything like that...but simply telling her that I wanted my feedback to go to the kitchen and the manager. In any case, she didn't bill us for the dessert. I thought that was the right call. From the grungy ambiance (with no A/C), to their botched dessert, I just can't say this was a worthy experience in the least. I totally regretted not going to Crave dessert bar instead. Lesson learned!

Bouchon French Bistro is a solid spot for French food in the Asheville area. If you're looking for…read moresome classic, French bistro fare then Bouchon likely has it. I've never had a bad meal here. In my most recent visit to Bouchon, we had a reservation for the three of us on a Sunday evening for dinner. In fact, I recommend making a reservation if you're planning to dine here as Bouchon gets busy. Even for a Sunday, nearly every table was taken. The place is dark and romantic, but bustling and lively. As mentioned previously, Bouchon has classic, French plates that are timeless. From French onion soup to start with, to steak frites for your main, and profiteroles for dessert, there's something you're likely familiar with if you've had French food before. Plus, the large wine menu, including Bordeaux style reds are something to rave about. I ordered the Canard a L'Orange Chocolate for my entrée and we wanted to start with the escargots, but it never came. We had to remind our server that we ordered escargots, which we later received and was taken off the bill. That was nice. I did enjoy my canard/duck entrée, which was prepared with a rub from cocoa nibs and an orange glaze with broccolini and potato au gratin on the side. The duck was also a good portion, as it was half the size and cooked perfectly. Overall, if you like French food then Bouchon has some traditional dishes that you'll enjoy. Service was a little spotty, but not terrible. It's not my first choice for dining out in Asheville where the competition is fierce, but if I'm visiting on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday, then you best believe I'm down for the AYCE moules frites, which yes, I've totally done and definitely got my money's worth.

I have been visiting Black Mountain for years but haven't tried this interesting restaurant yet…read more Today was the day for me/us and marked the day the train returned on its route through Black Mountain. We were impressed by the interest and fanfare this post-Helene event created for the locals. Parking on the street, across the street or a short way up the street is town free parking. Shannon and Rain were our friendly and helpful servers. There are many seating options. We chose the sun room which was comfortable. Others were seated outside on the side porch and several people were inside. We shared a bowl of the delicious French onion soup. Eat it while it's hot for the best experience. The buckwheat crepes were the perfect consistency to handle the savory entrees. My Market crepe was packed full of goodies including the sausage add-on. Each ingredient stood well on its own. The pesto was a standout. My partner got the mushroom crepe with chicken. She enjoyed immensely. Both entrees came with a fresh greens and balsamic dressing. The servings were generous enough to bring two halves home for dinner. Sharing soup and a savory crepe is a reasonable strategy if leaving leftovers in your vehicle during the summer heat is a concern. We joined the servers on the patio to watch the return of the train through a nicely recovering town.

Third time eating here. Great concept and everything has been good. Empanadas, tamales, sweet and…read moresavory GF crepes have all been great. Service is nice and prompt. Ambiance is casual. Indoor and outdoor tables.

Cute ambiance, great for parties of 4 or smaller although I'm sure they can accommodate larger…read moreparties. The booth seats are a bit weird because you can kinda feel the ppl sitting behind you when they move around...no big deal but can be a a mood disruptor. Service was good, we were overall happy with our waiter. He was very friendly and polite. Food was overall good - especially for the price. Coming from LA - it made me really happy to see such great prices. Escargot had great flavor and a tiny flower shaped puff pastry on top - which was cute at first but I realized it soaked up a lot of the butter, which left none for dipping my bread. French onion soup - good nothing special Duck - THE PORTION WAS SO GENEROUS. YOU GET TWO BIG PIECES, that was amazing. It's basically two meals. Great sweet glaze sauce. The beouf bourguinoin seemed a bit lacking in flavor. They did not add bacon - which is fine but keep that in mind. My favorite thing was probably the pumpkin bread pudding a la mode. The pudding was not very sweet which is PERFECT for me. I wish I had two pieces. Honestly. If I lived in this area, I would definitely return.

I picked this restaurant because of the good reviews. THEY WERE NOT WRONG…read more The food is superb and the service outstanding. Cannot tell you much about the menue items as we both had mussels served in the most delicious sauces (there were 3 choices of sauce)

I don't get it. This place is great. Great food for a great price. It amazes me when people eat…read moreelsewhere and the food is subpar and expensive. This little place is wonderful. Wake up Abingdon to a gem.

Tiny place that can appear deceiving! Food is amazing. I've eaten here three times - breakfast and…read morelunch - and its always great!

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

Vidalia is one of the best restaurants in town (if not the best one)!…read moreOur food was very well prepared. Amazing taste and also great presentation. Service was impeccable! Highly recommend!!

I absolutely love this French restaurant, and I was thrilled to discover that Coquette is within…read morewalking distance of my home. Not having to deal with parking, traffic, or circling for a space is a luxury -- and being able to walk off dinner and dessert afterward might be the best part of all. I'm a total Francophile when it comes to French cuisine. From seafood towers to escargot, tartare, pâté, bone marrow, and soufflés -- you name it, I'm all in. And this restaurant does not disappoint. My very first visit was just for pastries, and I was blown away by how beautiful the restaurant is. It truly gives off all the vibes of Paris. If you haven't been, put it on your list -- and plan to eat your way through the city. This place captures that spirit beautifully right here in Charlotte. I've been here several times now and realized I failed to write a review earlier, so this is me catching up. I've worked my way through a good portion of the menu, and there are some clear standouts: * The Brussels (lardon) salad is outstanding -- rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced * The escargot in puff pastry is decadent and absolutely delicious * The mussels are consistently exquisite * The charcuterie and pâté selections are ideal for sharing * And the chicken confit -- oh my goodness -- sprinkled with flaky sea salt, shatteringly crisp on the outside, incredibly succulent on the inside. It's truly to die for. Don't be surprised if guests at the table start fighting over the last piece. One thing I especially appreciate is the value, even though the menu can appear pricey at first glance. This is a restaurant that really shines when you dine with a group. Sharing dishes family-style allows everyone to experience more of the menu without being stuck with just one entrée -- and without leaving with a mountain of leftovers. There's no fee for splitting dishes, and the staff are more than happy to accommodate sharing, which makes the experience feel welcoming and relaxed. That's exactly how I love to dine -- passing plates, tasting everything, and enjoying the meal together. The cocktail program is strong, and they have a full bar, plus an impressive dessert and espresso selection. The patisserie in the morning is a gem, and having a dedicated pastry chef really shows in the quality of the desserts. Favorites so far: * Apple Tarte Tatin * Crème brûlée * Canelés * And their birthday presentation -- a small plate with a candle -- is a lovely touch that makes celebrations feel special The restaurant itself is gorgeous, the waitstaff are knowledgeable and professional, and the service has been consistently excellent. I also appreciate the large outdoor patio -- I love dining al fresco, and the atmosphere here makes it easy to linger. Bottom line: This is one of my favorite restaurants in Charlotte. It's consistent, beautiful, and delivers a true French dining experience without pretense. Knock on wood, I've never had a bad meal here. Be curious about food. Get out there and eat your way through Charlotte. Explore it. Bon appétit.

Best brunch in Charlotte, no doubt! Was blown away by the quality, flavor, and artistry of this…read moremeal! Seriously one of the best overall meals in my 8 years of living in Charlotte. Overall feel was very similar to the restaurants I've experienced in Paris and the waitstaff was very pleasant and never made us feel rushed (very undervalued in a dining experience). Any dudes out there looking to impress your wife, girlfriend, or your date, this is the best brunch spot you're going to find around.

Steak Frites (5/5): The steak was well seasoned and well cooked. Lots of flavor but maybe just a…read morebit tough (that might've been because it was ordered medium though). The fries were battered and very crispy. These are the best kind! Complimentary Puff Pastry (4/5): These had the flavor of the bread at Brazilian steakhouses but with a different texture. The pastry was crumbly and there was a chilled gruyere mousse inside. Nice way to start the meal. French Onion Soup (3/5): Thick soup with lots of flavor. A little too sweet and tangy for me. I liked how much cheese there was on top. Duck A L'Orange (3/5): The duck wasn't that great. The skin wasn't crispy and it was a little too gamey. There was also very little meat in general. The orange sauce was runnier than I expected and very subtle. Good amount of potatoes and green beans which were solid. La Ricane (4/5): Reminded me of a Snickers ice cream bar but instead of ice cream it was a fluffy nougat. Good, but hard to justify the price when the ice cream version from the store is better and much cheaper haha Complimentary Madeleine (3/5): Nice that they gave these out at the end of the meal! Soft and bready with a light lemon flavor. RATING SYSTEM 5 - Great (Need to get this again) 4 - Good (Would get this again) 3 - Ok (Might give this another shot) 2 - Not Good (Won't get this again) 1 - Bad (Telling people to avoid this)

Went in for quick drinks before the game! We had a fabulous time with the sweetest bartender! We…read moreordered a Supernova and a L'erreuer de Perséphone. Both drinks were refreshing and well made! The L'erreuer de Perséphone is a tequila based drink that has grapefruit, lime, cinnamon, and pomegranate. The Supernova is a gin based drink with house made lemonade, butterfly pea tea, elderflower, and lavender. (It was fun to watch her add the elderflower/lavender purple syrup to the top of the drink). The sweet bartender realized I was taking pictures and gave me a rosemary garnish and lemon twirl. The attention to detail was so kind. The atmosphere cannot be beat here. So far, La Belle Helene is my favorite to visit. The grand ceilings, stunning light, florals, and clean environment truly transport you. It is an elevated and upscale experience that truly makes me feel so special that I get to spend time in their space. I look forward to visiting again!