LP on Main is one of those spots that just feels good the moment you walk in. It's warm, it's charming, it's got that little mountain-town magic going on, and on the night of the annual Banner Elk Christmas parade, it was packed. Honestly, it looked exactly the way a restaurant wishes it looked every night in December. And that wine list is impressive. They've curated it well. We started strong. The BBQ shrimp over grits was the star of round one. The grits were phenomenal, silky and flavorful, the kind of grits that make you pause and appreciate how simple things can be done exceptionally well. The fries were perfect, crisp and hot, and the beet salad was fresh and bright. And then... the lull. There was a noticeably long gap between appetizers and mains, you could see the food flow from the kitchen just stop. Our server mentioned a chef was out sick, which we totally understood, especially on a night when the whole town seemed to be out celebrating. But the wait was long enough that it changed the rhythm of the meal. When the entrées arrived, mine had clearly been living under a heat lamp a little too long. I ordered the bison meatloaf. The meatloaf itself was good, nothing to complain about but nothing to rave about. The mac and cheese, though -- gummy, sticky, just not its best moment. My husband ordered the cioppino, and the flavor was really good, but it was served in such an oversized bowl that you practically had to tip it to get to the broth -- and cioppino is all about the broth. Still, even with the hiccups, I'd absolutely go back. The charm of the spot, the genuinely excellent starters, the thoughtful wine list, and the overall warmth of the place far outweigh the blip we hit -- and on a wildly busy parade night with a short-staffed kitchen, it's understandable. LP on Main is worth another visit, and I'm confident that on a normal night, the kitchen timing would match the quality of the food they're capable of putting out. read more

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The food was delicious. Our party of 5 all loved their meals. Even our kids loved their pasta dish. The staff was super friendly! The atmosphere was cozy and inviting. A perfect evening for our first night in Banner Elk. I had read all reviews ahead of time and I feel that those that gave bad reviews didn't understand not to ask for substitutions. It says It right on the menu so I personally think this restaurant deserves 5 star compared to some others we tried while there. read more

Delicious food! Would definitely come back. The short ribs with the corn and collards are amazing. The shrimp was very good too. Best place to eat in Banner Elk! read more

LP on Main was great all around. It is a black exterior on the corner, with ample parking. We arrived right at 530- the only weird thing that happened all night is the place was literally closed at 530 upon arriving and many people were waiting outside. We were confused as we had a 530 reservation. 532 the restaurant opened and we were seating right away and the rest of the evening was wonderful. The decor and ambiance was updated, trendy, and earthy with lots of live plants and personal touches. I loved the clipping of rosemary on my silverware roll (others had flowers). My husband and I met my parents here for dinner so we tried a lot of the menu. The Caesar salad was awesome, and dressing tasted fresh. Sorry no picture because we devoured it!!! It did have a ton of Parmesan on it which was a plus for me, but if you don't like cheese then make sure to ask for it either light or on the side. Collard greens- order these. $11 for a side looks like a lot but my mom and I shared the side and couldn't finish them and we tried to!!!! They were maybe one of the best collards we've ever had. I mean, every bite melted in my mouth and I don't eat collard greens many places. I often let my mom order them and I will try them, but OMG these were AMAZING. BBQ shrimp- I'll say it, not sure at all what was bbq about this, but they were so good. The shrimp were in a roux with garlic and herbs and it was so delicious, but just don't expect bbq sauce or anything here! Cheese grits also were great. I ate every bite of this meal. Short rib- I personally don't eat meat, but my husband loved it. He said the meat was so tender and described it to be like a fancy pot roast type dish (in the best way, please don't take this as a negative because it was a high quality piece of meat). The corn was so fresh and not heavy at all. I kept stealing bites of this Fish dishes- Both fish were great, simple flavors with stronger flavors on the vegetables. Sticky toffee pudding- This dessert was incredible. It's a cake with a glaze and side of cream. Super light cake with an awesome cozy feeling and flavoring. 10/10. read more

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The staff were great, and the food was pretty good. I ordered the lobster poutine, the scallops, and a pink pony club cocktail. The poutine tasted nice but it had huge clumps of pure cheese at the bottom, the lobster gravy had nice flavor. The scallops tasted alright but for the price I don't recommend since it comes with 3 medium size scallops. The cocktail was great and the bartender was very nice and bubbly. read more

LP On Main - Scallops - Seafood Near Me - Banner Elk, North Carolina

Went with friends that used to be fans of LP but hadn't been in a while due to previous unpleasant experience. They thought they'd give it another chance. BIG mistake! When we arrived the owner came over and chatted with the couple we were with. We were the only table occupied and a few people at the bar. So we ordered drinks and looked over the limited menu. I chose the meatloaf that came with broccolini. Not being a broccoli fan, I asked to substitute with collard greens. I was told that wasn't possible. I told the waitress that seemed unreasonable and to leave the broccolini off and bring me an extra side of collard greens. I was informed that leaving the unwanted broccolini off wasn't possible either. I informed the waitress I felt they were unreasonable and wouldn't be back. Our mediocre food arrived and we began to eat and everything was just OK. The waitress came by and asked how everything was and I stated I was surprised the owner didn't come by and at least try to remedy the situation. I was told with a snarky attitude "I hope you enjoy your meatloaf. " Maybe the attitude of you need us instead of we need you is the reason for the empty restuarant. They definitely lost 4 patrons that night. Banner Elk has many great establishments that offer better food and are accommodating. If in the area definitely try Primo, Stonewalls or Highland Provisions. read more

Excellent service and quality of food. Over priced though. I got three scallops for $22.

The food and service are constantly great. So nice to have at least one other good restaurant in the area.

The food, although it was good, was very overpriced. And the service was extremely slow. The inside dining room was completely empty because it was 2 o'clock in the afternoon when we sat down at our table. The outside area did have occupied tables, but not enough for a 35 minute wait on our meal. read more

I've been to LP on Main a few times now. My previous review was great because the experience was just that. However now I would highly recommend avoiding this restaurant on the weekends. They can't keep up with a full restaurant and you will have to wait over an hour for your food. Good food but poorly managed. read more

LP On Main - Sticky Toffee Pudding - Seafood Near Me - Banner Elk, North Carolina

Great, kind and inclusive service! Delicious poutine. Kids meals are also great. One of our favorites.

Food, service, cocktails/beer never disappoint! The bison burger was amazing! So was the crab cake and scallops! read more

LP On Main - Local Pilsner! - Seafood Near Me - Banner Elk, North Carolina

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Our first time and the food was really good. Service was excellent. We ordered the short rib with creamed corn and collard greens, the salmon with tomatoes and cucumbers, and the bison meatloaf with smoked Mac and cheese with roasted broccolini. We were seated inside by the fireplace, which was a nice location. Our only drawback was the food was served warm, not hot. And the atmosphere of the dining area felt like a diner, not a fine dining establishment. It was loud, not intimate. Next time we will ask to be seated on the deck outside. The decor is upscale farmhouse with high-end art on display. We really enjoyed it and we will be back. Hopefully the food will be served steaming hot as we like it. read more

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Went back with my family this past weekend for my dad and his wife's one year anniversary since we had their rehearsal dinner here last year! They treated us amazing, and from the moment we got there continued to make us feel special and to say congrats to my dad and his wife. The food was even better this time than I remember! We all loved everything we ordered. The cocktails are great as well! If you're in the area you MUST go here! read more

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Change the menu once in a while, add specials and be more open to substitutes! Also, get into the 21st century, and add a way to make reservations online! You are always losing reservations! This is all constructive criticism... your food is beyond delicious, but you guys need change! read more

Great food, space and service. The menu is small but special. Don't be discouraged by the reviews with low ratings...most are about a no-substitution menu or the fact that you may have to wait for a table in a tourist town with limited restaurants. Make a reservation and enjoy! I always get the LP salad and the tartare if they're on the menu or the steak! Their steaks are the best. Last night, we had the LP salad, the crab cake and the short rib. It is a beautiful space filled with art and plants and has an amazing wine cellar. read more

Such a wonderful ambiance. Wait staff service was impeccable. The food is some of the best food I've ate in a long time. The plating was gorgeous. We are every single bite. We will be back. One of the best restaurants in town. read more

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This restaurant is supposed to be a farm to table. They haven't changed their menu in 3 years same dated menu. Which keeps us and many from visiting this very limited hours of operation restaurant To bad it could be a really nice option read more

Beautiful building, amazing customer service and DELICIOUS food! The BBQ shrimp with grits and sweet potato crisps is my favorite dish but everything g is so good! read more

LP On Main - BBQ shrimp! - Seafood Near Me - Banner Elk, North Carolina

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Great food, atmosphere and service. The owner was polite and checked in on us just enough without being too engaged. We tried many of the menu items and none of them disappointed. The meatloaf and Mac and cheese were rockstars. read more

Attentive staff, warm inviting owners......the food is elevated. We have hosted numerous friends and they all leave impressed. Oh and yes, great wine selection. You won't be disappointed! read more

Fairly disappointing experience. We've been to most restaurants in Banner Elk and they have various merits and weaknesses, but finally had time to get to LP on Main and it was merely "meh". The dining area was very clean, but the atmosphere didn't quite to fit any particular mold and therefore felt lost. Super clean though - like a showroom or photo shoot set. We ordered BBQ shrimp as an appetizer and were disappointed that it had a sauce that was oddly flavored and generally unappealing. My wife was not a fan and I was underwhelmed. For the main course my wife ordered the salmon and I ordered the chops. Mine was fine, but nothing special. My wife's salmon was on the underdone side and we asked the server if she could take it back and have it placed on the grill a little longer. She said, "No - we don't do that." I understand from other reviews that the chef is unwilling to make substitutions, and that's fine. But to be unwilling to cook a dish to a level that the customer requests (and is paying for) is unacceptable. Pretty pedestrian place masquerading as upmarket. Go elsewhere. read more

Beautiful restaurant inside but let's talk food. Hanger steak is great tasting, portion was like an appetizer. My husband could have eaten 3 of these portions. My Husbands meal of Bison meatloaf was good, larger portion but not like most restaurants. Mojito needed sweetening and was $18. A bit of a shocker. We barely could hear the waiter that was pleasant but through the mask was very difficult to hear him. We ordered bread because we knew we would be hungry after seeing portion size. It came after we were done because it didn't take long with a few bites. Hope they work in this as they have potential. read more

LP On Main - A few quartered mini potatoes, 4 bites steak, arugula. A bite taken. - Seafood Near Me - Banner Elk, North Carolina

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We had an awesome date night experience here! The crab cakes and mac and cheese are both rich and creamy, good wine selection, and the short rib melted in your mouth. The hostess, bartender, and our server were attentive and kind. read more

Wonderful atmosphere, delicious food, 5 out of 5, fantastic. Friendly, attentive staff. Definitely recommend coming here! read more

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I would pick this restaurant up and plop it back home in Orlando if I could! Louisiana Purchase is like no other restaurant I've been to in NC. It's classy, swanky, and the food is delicious. You will not get your average bistro/diner meal here, and that's what I like! The inside is simple but very modern. They did not have reservations available for dinner (peak season so they fill up fast) so I managed to get there right as they opened the doors for lunch. Everything I had was flavorful. I went on a whim and tried the quail with oyster gravy, I literally ate everything basically besides the bones. Best of all was the signature blackberry old fashioned cocktail. Good thing my in-laws were with me to bat an eye at me for ordering booze before noon or I would have had several more! read more

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LP on Main is such a great find while visiting Sugar Mountain. Just a short drive to Banner Elk from the resort. The restaurant's atmosphere is the perfect mix of rustic mountain and upscale. LP offers incredible signature cocktails and great apps to start the meal. We ordered the poutine with lobster gravy and beef tartar. Both were absolutely delicious! The entree's were equally delicious. I would highly recommend the bison meatloaf. Surprisingly enough one of the best bites was the grilled broccolini. Be sure to make reservations for your next trip to the NC High Country. read more

LP On Main - Poutine with Lobster Gravy and beef tartar - Seafood Near Me - Banner Elk, North Carolina

Everything was excellent. Fantastic drinks. Meal was cooked perfectly. Bartender was great.

Food and service was excellent. Upscale ambience without being too stuffy.

5 star! Service, food and drink were great! Started w a couple of signature cocktails and then had the poutine w lobster (actual lobster bites), charred octopus and scallops. All delicious! Will definitely be back... read more

Unfortunately did not come close to expectations. Super expensive food and wine and a great menu, but they don't allow any substitutions or modifications (even for an ALLERGY) to the menu. I ordered the shortrib and asked for no collared greens. The waitress let me know that she would ask the chef, but never reported back. When the food came, the dish was smothered in collared greens - looked like a high school cafeteria-sized scoop, right on top of the dish. I would understand if the collared greens were incorporated into a sauce or a vegetable mix, but they were by themselves scooped on top and "couldn't be taken off". The manager and our waitress seemed terrified of the chef -- I feel very bad for them. Our bill for 3 people was $229 -- for this price, I should absolutely be allowed to ask for the scoop of collared greens on the side. The chef clearly does not give a crap about his customers. Really unfortunate, because this would have been a five star experience had it not been for the chef's actions. read more

Such a shame what's happened to this fine restaurant. New owners. Food still excellent, but the customer service was so bad. When one of our party requested a change is sides due to a food allergy, the woman in charge flat out refused and told him to order another dish. It was so obvious that she couldn't care less if he enjoyed his meal. Later I noticed the side he requested was on the side dish menu. So all she had to do was suggest he order the side he could eat. The switch and her attitude ruined our meal. Our favorite restaurant just dropped to one we will never visit again. So sad. read more

While visiting a "foodie" friend who's lived in Banner Elk for the last 6 years, she recommended eating at LP on Main - a resto at which she used to eat but hadn't since it moved to it's new location. We were so excited. We arrived and we're ignored for the first 5 minutes. We stood... waiting. We were finally acknowledged and seated at a table in the middle of a large room with the worst acoustics I've ever experienced. It was like having cotton stuffed in your ears and wind swirling all around you. I was sitting a foot away from my friend and "What?" I can't hear you," was 98% of the conversation. Good times! The menu was slashed - there was NOTHING to eat. (See menu for proof). We settled on the Octopus and a Caesar salad to start; salmon and I ordered a scallop appetizer for my main. Sounds good? Ha! Not so much. Once the first course came, we knew we had to run. The octopus was TINY - both the overall dish and the size of the few pieces of actual octopus in it. As I watched my friend try to take reasonable size bites, I knew she was not happy. Small, flavorless and lacking the main ingredient ... hmmm. The Caesar was big enough - but the limp greens literally drowning in cheese and garlic would make anyone sick. At that time, we looked at each other and knew that we had to get outta there before they tried to make us eat the main course. To make a long story short, we shared our thoughts with our waiter, who promptly brought us a check (we were charged for $35 for 2 iced teas, an inedible salad and a tiny little plate). He did offer his apologies and did his job reasonably well. We paid and got up to leave. No manager no owner ... really?! How do you let people leave your restaurant without as much as a word? Not good business. We left and will NEVER return. With so many other great choices here in Banner Elk, I highly recommend you skip LP on Main. read more

Ambiance is beautiful-very artsy and chic with just a touch of quirkiness. Service is very wonderful-my bartender Jessica was very helpful and kind and just easy to talk to-also her recommendation was amazing for my meal. Food-I've never had a bad meal here. Always worth it and worth the price. If I could lick my plate I would've. Get the shrimp and grits if you go for lunch-never tasted anything like that special sauce they put over the shrimp and grits. If you go for dinner the arugula salad and steak absolutely premium. And their strawberry pâte is delicious (if you like key lime pie you're sure to like this). read more

This was a strange restaurant experience. FIRST, my wife asked if she could have the chicken salad on anythig other than the described bread. She was immediately told that there were no substitutions. So, she went with what was offered. SECOND, I ordered the shrimp po'boy. I was told that the bread might not be ready. She would check. She came back and told us that the bread was not yet ready (12:30), so I said just bring it to me without the bread. "I can't. No substitutions." You can't just leave off the bread? No. No substitutions. THIRD, I asked for some salt. The waitperson brought out a large salt mill and asked where I would like the salt. I said I wasn't quite sure yet, could she just leave the mill. "They don't like us to do that. Can I just put some salt in (this small plate)?" No saltshakers. She did. And it worked. But what restaurant doesn't have a saltshaker, won't serve you a sandwich without the bread, and doesn't offer ANY option for a bun on a sandwich. Clearly we will not be back. We don't want to inconvenience them. The food was pretty good in spite of the issues, but they clearly are not focused on customer satisfaction. I don't know whether this was strict policies or the waitstaff. The lady that served (?) us did a nice job of seeing if we needed anything, but we were too frustrated to ask! It's too bad you can't separate the tip for the restaurant from the tip for the waitstaff. The restaurant would have gotten $0. read more

The most pretentious experience I have ever had at a restaurant. Our son is lactose intolerant and when we asked them to bring the shrimp and grits appetizer separated (just on the plate), the server said we don't modify anything . I was floored. The menu itself is disjointed and lacking in so many ways. I worked in the business as did my husband for 30 years and I can tell you this place is one of the worst restaurant experiences I have ever had and we have traveled the world ! Don't eat your money or time! Give that to a place that deserves it. read more

LP On Main is THE best meal in the High Country. It's one of those meals that you'll remember for years. We got the BBQ shrimp, lobster poutine, hanger steak, salmon... Everything was perfect. Be sure to order the toffee pudding dessert - seriously, it is out of this world. Excellent service, too - our waitress had great recommendations and was super knowledgeable. The wine list is fantastic. Their new location is also gorgeous. 5/5 stars for this family-owned gem!! Can't wait to visit next time we are back. read more

We have been 2 times in a week! The fried oysters, lobster poutine and Caesar salad are fantastic! Ambience is modern, casual & rustic all at once. Our server Julia & all the staff are delightful & very attentive. Highly recommend!!!! read more

We decided on dinner due to how the restaurant looked so inviting from the outside. We were greeted promptly and showed right to a table in the corner with the best view of the entire restaurant. Silverware was rolled and a sprig if rosemary and bay leaf was tied with a small price of twine. The server brought us water, promptly took our drink order. Martini was made perfectly. The presentation of the food was exquisite! The taste to die for! We had beets with bluecheese and pecans and 5 fried oysters. The flavors went together perfectly! For dinner we had hanger steak with arugala and bison meatloaf. Both dishes were beautiful and tasted exquisite! We got peanut butter cookies with chocolate gamache to go. Excellent late night snack. If you're in Banner Elk, this is a must visit restaurant experience! read more

I'm shocked this restaurant does not have a 5 Star Rating. Seriously fantastic and unique food, great service and staff culture, and the environment feels trendy and relevant. If you want to visit a cute mountain town but experience a meal and drinks like you would in a youthful and lively city this is the place to visit. You need reservations or you could hope to find a spot at the bar. We hope to return! read more

LP On Main - Delicious chocolate stuffed peanut butter cookie dessert - Seafood Near Me - Banner Elk, North Carolina