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    El Lago

    4.0 (28 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 7:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Lee B.

    Very nice little "hidden" Mexican restaurant. I heard a lot of good things about this place so we had to try it while we were in the area. I ordered the ACP and a water. When it came out I was a little worried the chicken looked like it was really hot and spicy but I was pleasantly surprised to taste it. Excellent flavor and very little, if any, spice. It was very tasty and I cleaned my plate. They also have a really nice patio area that looks wonderful to use, but it was closed.

    Wendy R.

    Pretty drive to get there & when we parked! I think it's busier and tastes much better when when the beach is open and it's super busy. Tamales were tender and not dry . SOOOO FULL OF FLAVOR. I think they tried to heat the rice using butter, kinda didn't work but it was hot and edible. The chicken with cheese and mushrooms always amazing. The steak, chicken and shrimp dish was yummy too. A ton of food! Always taking some home. They have a salsa bar with 5 or 6 different salsas. Hot chips & their bean dip os great too.

    Chip and salsa
    Boon C.

    El Lago locate near the Lake Lure Inn at historic district. This Mexican restaurant is popular among the local people due to food and reasonable prices. They have patio and inside seating. Bar is available close to the kitchen. They have large margarita to share in the menu. We have order the carne Asada and the and the house fajitas. They good enough meat for the carne Asada. It come with yellow rice and re fried bean. The house fajitas has shrimp, chicken, and beef. It is multi meat and seafood combo. Shrimp is big considered this is inland restaurant. Food are well prepared. We also have the horchata. The rice drink. Refreshing. Service is good. Experience is great. Reasonable price. Good amount of food. No wonder local love it. The restaurant is near the prime lake area.

    Taco Salad and tacos
    Jesse L.

    We enjoyed this place. Seated right away. Our server Orlando was excellent. We were brought piping hot fresh Tortilla chips with bean dip right away. This is complementary as is the delicious Salsa bar! We got a couple chicken taco salads and a #1 lunch special. We definitely preferred their shredded chicken over the ground beef. Also good drinks. My wife got a pina colada. Which she loved.

    Burrito with refried beans
    Mandy D.

    We received a recommendation from a local and they didn't disappoint! The restaurant appearance isn't fancy, but the food is plentiful!! My son, who is picky, said it was the best rice ever! Both of my kids cleaned their plates. The fajita quesadilla was overflowing with chicken, onions and papers. It was delicious and not heavy at all. Highly recommend!

    David P.

    This place was great. Our server was nice and attentive. The food was also great. Between the 4 of us, there wasn't a negative comment. Definitely a place to hit when in Lake Lure

    Carne Asada plate! Absolutely delicious!

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    9 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Probably closed for the winter. I was looking forward to some great Mexican food at affordable prices.

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    3 years ago

    Food is overpriced and unseasoned. service is trash. Theres gnats all over the place. I don't recommend.

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Great selection, great food. Salsa bar, bean dip is awesome goodness. Staff is friendly, our weekly Mexican fix.

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    6 years ago

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    The Veranda Restaurant - Sunday Brunch 8/31/25

    The Veranda Restaurant

    3.5(24 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Went to this restaurant for the Brunch on Sunday. Wife and I arrived without reservations and we…read morewere told to wait a few minutes. The host came back and said there wouldn't be a problem as long as it was an inside table. When the waitress arrived with the water we asked her for two Bloody Marys and we went to serve ourselves from the buffet Food was delicious starting with the omelette station and the rest of the items including the prime rib. The drinks never arrived and the waitress never came back with water, she actually never came to our table, we had to ask for water to the busser same for the check. I am not sure what their system is but looks chaotic since you help yourself to the food it should be fairly easy to assign zones or tables to each server. We walked out to the veranda and came back in the building to seat in the lounge where a pianola was on auto play, really nice environment that takes you back a few decades. The Inn is called The 1927 Lake Lure Inn

    We came here for Sunday Brunch our reservation was for 12:00 PM, our party arrived on time and we…read morewere seated immediately. Margret was our server somehow I don't think this was by accident I had met her a few days earlier at the hotel bar - she has been here for years and years and some of our friends have been enjoying her amazing personality and high level service for a decade or more. Once seated she offered to put our drink orders in while we explored the feast laid out in the adjoining room, the drinks are made at the hotel bar but they have a table set up to allow you to customize your specialty drinks i.e. Bloody Mary's are amazing before any modifications. The food was simple but elegantly displayed, the quality of the product was exceptional and the preparation was very creative and professional. I started at the omelette station two burners and a limited selection of ingredients but all delicious and being I'm not a veggie guy the meats and cheese exceeded my expectations. The neighboring stations were both carving stations, beef and ham both cooked to the perfect temperature and very tender and flavorful - yes I made two trips. I tried a few of the other sides trying my best to stay away for the carbohydrates that most of the side dishes bring with them. Well as much will power and restraint that I have it all slowly eroded away each time I passed the dessert table. The chocolate fountain surround by sliced pineapple, strawberries and cubes of moist cake, lemon and chocolate pies, cheese cake, chocolate cake, cookies and omg peach cobbler - trust me you can gain a few pounds just by being close to this table. The service was spectacular and the total package price is ridiculously reasonable - I don't think you need to lower your expectations to throughly enjoy this brunch but you do need to keep things in perspective this is a small community and this nostalgic hotel / restaurant puts it all out there so enjoy...

    Photos
    The Veranda Restaurant - View from the Inn to the beach

    View from the Inn to the beach

    The Veranda Restaurant - Delicious Prime Rib

    Delicious Prime Rib

    The Veranda Restaurant - Facade of The 1927 Lake Lure Inn where the crew of DD stayed

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    Facade of The 1927 Lake Lure Inn where the crew of DD stayed

    Oak Steakhouse - Egg Frittata with salad

    Oak Steakhouse

    4.5(91 reviews)
    60.6 mi

    We live in Charleston so we are very familiar with the Oak Steakhouse that's located here but the…read moreone at the Skyline Lodge, really delivered!! Everything about the restaurant was so special, amazing location for a sunset dinner, perched high above the Blue Ridge Mountains - amazing views. The best thing is if you stay at the Skyline Lodge, it's just steps away from your room and that comes in super handy when it's brunch time! We were fortunate enough to enjoy these two meals; dinner & brunch with our kids (who are foodies too) and they are now huge fans of Oak Steakhouse. They said it was the best steak they ever had, you can't go wrong with the Filet! The menu is not huge but really has all of the dishes you would want for an amazing dinner. Plenty of options, even if you don't eat steak. Amazing sides to accompany each dish and you must start with the bread, which is made in-house. I went with a dish I have not tried before and it did not disappoint, Venison Wellington while my wife tried the trout. I will let the photos do the talking. They also pour an amazing espresso martini by the way and to finish you have to try the chocolate cake, trust me! We also want to give a shot out to all of the staff and servers; their attention to detail and overall service was outstanding! Seems to be the case at all Indigo Road establishments, they really know hospitality. We cannot recommend Oak Steakhouse enough, even if you're not staying there but in the Highlands of NC make sure you give them a visit.

    My wife and I had an excellent meal in our first visit to Oak this holiday season. It's a modern…read morerestaurant with a subtle mid-century vibe that nods to the Skyline Lodge that it is incorporated into. Our server was very friendly and (unprompted) comped our bread service after a lengthy delay. Once received, the bread was amazing and went nicely with my lettuce wedge salad. The entrees were excellent as well, with my wife loving her risotto and my steak frites being top notch with fork-tender beef and amazing truffle fries. The portions are generous so to-go bags are a common sight. Oak is not inexpensive, but clearly the value is there if you are looking for a proper steakhouse experience near Highlands.

    Photos
    Oak Steakhouse
    Oak Steakhouse - Very fresh filling, double eggs

    Very fresh filling, double eggs

    Oak Steakhouse - Espresso Martini

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    Espresso Martini

    Stonewalls - Complimentary bread

    Stonewalls

    4.3(782 reviews)
    54.4 mi
    $$$

    We got sat immediately despite there being no reservations online left. Our server quickly came…read moreover and filled our waters and took our drink order. My son's sprite came out quickly, and the bar drinks followed. I loved my holiday punch drink! The restaurant was still decorated for Christmas, but it made it more charming since we are in town to ski for the weekend. She brought out bread, but it wasn't warm, so that was odd. My son and husband still ate it; I did not. The escargot was ok ; not as good as other places we have had it. The fried deviled eggs were INSANE. We loved them so much. My son got the ribeye and a baked potato. He ordered it medium rare, and it was more on the rare side, but he still enjoyed it. As he kept eating, it cooked up a little bit. He ended the night with a cinnamon roll bread pudding with ice cream and caramel. The server lit a candle in it. Overall, we had a great time!

    Let me first say, Joel our server was phenomenal and professional. I was a little disappointed in…read morethe food though. Had the $8 salad bar and first glance arriving at the bar was.........where is everything. The majority of items were mostly gone or not well stocked. Lettuce had a different taste and ended up not eating it. The homemade pimento cheese was absolutely awesome, in which Joel said we needed to try. Our table order several things; escargot, trout with apparagus, alfredo with sauce, filet mignon, pan blackened chicken with maple brussel sprouts. We each tasted each others foods and the flavors just weren't there for me or our family. If anything, each dish needed salt or a just something. The one time will not deter me from trying again as the atmosphere and service were top notch.

    Photos
    Stonewalls - Inside

    Inside

    Stonewalls - Halibut special with grilled asparagus, and the mushroom pasta dish with shrimp added.

    Halibut special with grilled asparagus, and the mushroom pasta dish with shrimp added.

    Stonewalls - Nice outdoor waiting area

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    Nice outdoor waiting area

    Highlands Butchery - Raw meat that was supposed to be Medium Rare. Cold meat throughout.

    Highlands Butchery

    4.5(27 reviews)
    43.4 mi

    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!

    My husband got food poisoning that was severe after eating there on the evening of 4/24/2026.read more

    Photos
    Highlands Butchery
    Highlands Butchery - Specialty cut from butcher shop - Thor's hammer

    Specialty cut from butcher shop - Thor's hammer

    Highlands Butchery - Specialty cut, locally raised steaks

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    Specialty cut, locally raised steaks

    El Lago - mexican - Updated May 2026

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