We were at Mica Brewery and wanted to grab dinner. We saw McDowell Local on the map and it looked super cute. We were greeted upon entry and told to sit where we liked. There were four brews on tap on the night we went. I did Homeplace's Biscuit and Gravy and Hubs had Kiss My Grits from a Boone brewery. Both were fun flavors. We ordered pork rinds and pimento for appetizers. Hubs ordered the Hot Marion with tots and I ordered the veggie on sourdough with fries. When the pork rinds arrived I was shocked at the size! It's plenty of food!! The pork rinds are crispy and flavorful. Given the amount of pork rinds we snacked on both of us ate half our sandwiches. It's so much food! The Hot Marion is very mild but tasty. The veggie sandwich had fresh veggies and was quite refreshing. The goat cheese complemented the sandwich well. Great service and great food. Definitely stop in! There is street parking and a public lot nearby. read more

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Wandered downtown a little with a friend. Had never been to this place so dropped in for a beer and a snack. Cozy, clean decor that felt spacious. The hanging white light lanterns were charming but strange (in Asian culture they're hung for funerals). Only 2 beers on tap but a great selection of bottles/cans. Went for something different... Tucher Heffe Weizen! Didn't want another burger so went with something novel... the Gochujang Pork Belly sandwich. Gochujang is like a Korean food condiment, a combination fermented soybean and red chili pepper. Has some umami with a zing to it. Sadly, you could barely taste the gochujang, which really ended up being some chopped pork belly in a bun. The tater tots were great though, golden and crispy. Service was friendly. Will probably come back to try something different next time. read more

This place was a nice surprise. Great service, food and beer! It doesn't look like much when you walk in, more like a diner, but the food is a step above and our server was great. I had the Local Burger, jalapenos, salsa, mayo and cheese. It was really juicy - I asked for medium well. It comes with a plateful of fries, which are hand cut, not frozen. Really good and not too salty. They have a variety of local micro brewed beer. We had some IPAs from Green Man and Boo Jum breweries. Some of the best beer we had on our trip. read more

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Fried pickle plate was good, had okra, beets, onion, and pickles. So we're the homemade pork rinds. I got the Marion hot chicken sandwich and enjoyed it. Service was great and attentive. All in all it's good place to grab a burger/sandwich. read more

The restaurant is a sit down and order establishment which we like. The building inside is nice and clean. We ordered fish dip and it was way too salty, and we eat fish dip a lot, the server acted like we were crazy basically saying that everyone else likes it (in her way) Which was not the right thing to say. But the food we ordered was very good (except the fish dip of course). We did have to call our server down to get refills. So the food was good but that day the service was not. We were passing through so probably won't go back again. read more

McDowell Local - Dining - American Near Me - Marion, North Carolina

I needed to grab a quick bite to eat and decided to stop here, since it was one of the few places opened on a snow day. The space is huge and beautiful with natural light. I was given a menu, ordered and had to wait a good 20-25 minutes for my food. I didn't mind it since there were already many people dining in. The service was fantastic, very classy and kind. The burger was quite delicious. The patty was juicy. The poutine fries was good. It cost a dollar and a few cents to "poutine" your fries. Overall, a great place to dine if you are ever in the area. read more

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Food is great. Cute atmosphere in downtown too. Have not had great success with their bar/cocktails though. Went once and sat at the bar, one of our group members ordered a drink and around 10 minutes later, with no update we were asked if we even wanted the drink at that point. Decided to close our tab. Last time I went there was a note on the door they would be closing early, however around 6/630 we got drinks and when they came to the table we were told the bartender left so we could only do beer/wine. I'm not too picky about this stuff but know some people are. read more

As a foodie from a big city, we decided to come by here on the way to Sugar Mountain as they were rated pretty well. There was plenty of free street parking close by and we found a spot with ease. On a Friday night, expect some wait because this place was packed. We waited maybe 15-20 mins for a table for two. Bar had people, but plates were sitting there as they were not bussed yet, so we didn't want to move them. The place is so nicely decorated and I loved the interior. There was so much thought put into it with a school house-esque vibe with the chairs and decor. The "booth" seats are actually old pews from a church which were so neat. We knew exactly what we wanted to eat by the time we sat down. I ordered the Classic burger with pork rinds ($11) and my boyfriend ordered the North Shore Pizza ($13) and we split the Garlic Knots ($4). The Garlic Knots came out first and from first look they looked pretty toasty. Picked one up to eat and the bottoms were BURNT to a crisp. There was no denying it. It was not "hm a little char". It was "we left this in too long black burnt." Honestly it was insulting to be served blatantly burnt food and we picked it all off. Garlic Knots literally had no garlic flavor at all as the only telling sign was the garlic powder on top that was pretty charred as well. It was also on the drier side. Bread tasted like nothing and needed salt. Butter was on par and marinara sauce was also flavorless and I used it only to moisten the dryness of the knots. Classic Burger brought the meal up though. The pork rinds are SOO SOOO GOOD. The redeeming part of this meal or this place would have been a 1 star for me. The plate was overflowing with pork rinds that could feed 2 people easily. The seasoning was so good! The classic burger had nice toppings and I loved the pickles on it. I ordered my burger medium well, but it did come out pretty well done and dry. It happens. If the burger wasn't dried out, it would be pretty solid tbh. My boyfriend was pretty displeased with his North Shore Pizza. He could easily devour the entire thing but only had 2 slices. The pizza was overcooked with more browned bits than he would prefer. The slice was perfectly straight when held out and had no 'limp' to it like pizza should towards the tip. He liked the amount of meat on the pizza, but he wished there was more pineapple on it. I'm not as much of a pizza critic as he is, but I would have preferred Papa John'sZ All in all, meh. Maybe it was an off night for them, but having been served burnt food? I won't be back. I would order those pork rinds to-go asap if possible and only that. read more

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We went in a little later on a quiet Saturday night. Our waitress was wonderful and the food was great! Highly recommend the Cuban and the pork belly sandwich. Poutine was also amazing. A great little place that supports local. read more

McDowell Local - Poutine, Cuban, side salad - American Near Me - Marion, North Carolina

This place is out of control good... the portion sizes are enormous and the food is local grown fantastic... the hamburger may be the best I've ever eaten... and I've eaten a lot of great burgers... it's that good. The hand cut fries were perfect and plentiful (had to stuff myself because I can't stand throwing away delicious food). Even the salt they use here is good. That leads me into the salsa/ queso and chips... perfecto... or should I say delicioso! Might also be the best chips I've ever eaten lol. So good and the salting again was perfect. The app costs $5... .50 more to add salsa... the queso at a Mexican joint would cost $5 alone... unreal quality and bargain here. Homemade ranch is very good... wife got the enormous plate of chicken fingers and loved them. Wish I had this place where I lived. read more

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Ordered The Firecracker. Took 30+ minutes to come out of the kitchen when it wasn't that full inside. Then when I got my sandwich, it all fell apart within two bites. I know that can't really be helped but it's a good amount of food on one bun. For a BBQ chicken sandwich there wasn't much bbq sauce on it. On top of that, my fries had A TON of salt on them. I've never eaten somewhere where in the middle of dinner I felt as though I'd have to brush my teeth right then and there. That being said they took off one of the items on my receipt, so that was good customer service. Wish I had a better experience. read more

Amazing appetizers and sandwiches served in a large schoolroom vibe. Service is always prompt and friendly. We enjoy the pimento cheese and pork rinds, as well as the hummus. Excellent and unique sandwiches make for a great meal. read more

We were seated right away. Service and the food were great. The hamburger was my favorite thing but everything was very good. read more

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Absolutely great find. In town for the weekend and this was fun, good flavors, friendly staff, fast kitchen and we got to try a bunch of new things. Would return !! read more

The food and service was really good. I would highly recommend. Atmosphere was great not too loud.

Cute little restaurant. I had the burger and while good, it was a bit on the heavy side for me. Service was good. The soda had a weird taste. All in all, not an amazing experience but not awful either. read more

I enjoyed the Tapas snack plate of local cheeses and house made humus. My husband had the burger and it was good. Good selection of local beer. Too few staff. They were trying but tables left with food on them made the atmosphere unpleasant. Would be nice if tables were bussed. read more

The food was absolutely amazing! We loved the fact that it was locally sourced and was top notch quality. The service was great, could not ask for a better experience! read more

Great service and really good food sourced locally. I had the pulled pork sandwich and fell in love. Get the Tater Tots! They are delicious!

My son is is a plant based eater and a bit of a foodie . He came home unexpectedly and we went to McDowell Local for dinner. He loved all the pickled and locally Sourced foods !!! Most of this went back to Boone because I had to have him sample things. So happy we have this place in Marion. I think we will visiting A LOT more often . Love seeing more choices and quality food in Marion . read more

On our way home from Asheville we took a detour based on reviews of McDowell Local. We called ahead to ensure our friends emotional support dog could accompany us, which they confirmed she could. Upon arrival, the first words were "oh you can't bring that dog in with you." We mentioned that we called ahead and they you said it was fine. After the discussion, although there were two large tables available, there was a 1 hour wait out of the blue with several parties ahead of us. Mind you, there was no one waiting! We then changed gears and said we would just do take out. The staff member went on to say "oh, unfortunately that will take over an hour!" Needless to say we left feeling unwelcome despite our attempts to call ahead and be considerate of the business. It would have been nice for the same courtesy in return as the dog is a service animal. The Spillway gladly accepted our business. read more

This one is a struggle for me. I opted for their take on a classic party melt. Listen...the onions were grilled perfectly. And the meat...ya'll, the meat is hands down the best ground beef I've EVER had in my life...but...so damn dry. The sauce that comes on it is delicious. The cheese spread is so friggin good. This patty melt should easily be a party in your mouth. But it was so dry I downed my water and requested extra sauce. Disappointing to say the least. I absolutely love that everything is locally sourced. I love the quality of the ingredients. And I love the flavors. What a shame that it was so damn DRY. My boyfriends chicken sandwich concoction was similar; great flavor and fresh plentiful ingredients, but bone dry meat underneath it all. The portions are great and the fries were a decent side. Id love to get back there in hopes that this was just a fluke. At the end of the day I vote that you check them out. I think, at some point, we'll make our way back. The atmosphere is super simple, casual and cozy. Theyve definitely got a unique appeal overall. read more

McDowell Local - Patty melt - American Near Me - Marion, North Carolina

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Located in the cute town of Marion, TN. During a road trip was looking for a restaurant which had an open dining room and observing COVID-19 recommendations. This place was doing a pretty good job with seating spread way apart, offering hand sanitizer, wearing masks and cleaning a lot. Was seated and order taken promptly. This location prepares all items with locally sourced products. My wife order the pulled pork sandwich that was prepared like a brisket sandwich, no vinager or spicy sauce. She enjoyed it very much. I ordered the Local Burger that was cooked to perfection and the fixin's were a great compliment. I ordered the house tatar tots which I highly recommend. They are tossed in what I believe is season salt and a hint of sugar and then baked. These are served with a side of ranch dressing. Service was great, checking on us several times. read more

10/10 highly recommend. We are always in search of new places to try as we travel. This was easy to find on Apple Maps while on a road trip. I'm so glad we did. Excellent atmosphere. Extraordinary menu. Great merchandise. Friendly staff & reasonably priced for quality food. When the sign on the door spotlights the liver mush, you try just that. It did not disappoint. Tater tots, pimento cheese, fries, and chicken tenders were all wonderful. Highly recommend if you are looking for excellent food & service. read more

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I have nothing but great things to say about this establishment. It's amazing. Great burger! Service was fantastic- and very patient with my very indecisive little boy. I hope this place is around for many, many years! read more

Food and service was great. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants a great breakfast. read more

Smash-style burger is a good option with hand cut fries. Crispy edges on the burger add a slightly charred flavor which I enjoyed. However the fries were overcooked and might have been rewarmed. Pickled onions are the best and worth a stop in. read more

I've been past here plenty of times but decided to stop in for dinner. All I can say is wow. Waitstaff was so amazing and sweet. Food came out very fast and you could tell everything was locally sourced and absolutely delicious! Will definitely be back soon! read more

McDowell Local - Apple butter Moscow mule - American Near Me - Marion, North Carolina

Such a cute place to eat! Very relaxed, great customer service, large portions, and FANTASTIC food! What's even better is they get their products from locally owned businesses as well. Prices are awesome for what you get! read more

McDowell Local - This was the front page of the menu - American Near Me - Marion, North Carolina

I've lived here for three years now and this is hands down the best food in town. The service can be a little slow at times and it can be hot inside in the summer, but the food is very fairly priced and you're just not going to get anything nearly as good around here. read more

I thought I was ordering potato soup, but it was mashed potatoes with cheese & bacon. I asked about the soup, and I was told it was potato soup. Not a fan. read more

McDowell's is surely a local staple. I was visiting from out of town and our Airbnb hosts recommended we stop by for a meal. We ordered for takeout-a burger, sandwich and two sides. The restaurant is very forward right now that there's a $1 surcharge on all burgers, no problem. Signs clearly remind all customers masks are required except when eating. I feel good about businesses that try to promote what they are doing to protect their employees and reduce the spread. It's and older restaurant with a dinner mixed with local market feel. The shelves behind the cash register have some produce bins and the decor is simple overall. The food was incredibly fresh. Every vegetable on our vegetable delight sandwich was premium quality and the burger was cooked perfectly. We also got fried pickles veggies but unfortunately they didn't travel well back to our Airbnb. I would get the unfried next time. Overall highly recommend, not sure if it can be beat for local hometown food read more

Everything was amazing. It is great to have breakfast options in Marion. Keep up the amazing work. read more

Great vibe, great service and great food. What else could you ask for? They have a full bar and beers on tap. Food is fresh and somewhat unique. Highly recommend!! read more

I ordered the steak and frites. I ordered my steak medium and was mistakenly given a steak for someone else at the table that had ordered theirs well done. When I told the waitress she did not offer to do anything to remedy the issue. I will not go back to this restaurant. read more

Really nice spot that sources as many local ingredients as they can resulting in super fresh tasty food. Nice selection of beers and cocktails. Gluten free offerings too! I'd like to see them up their gluten free bread game (ie: griddle the buns with a bit of olive oil, it helps them stay together if they're cooked that way, as gluten free bread can easily become crumbly or soggy). But this certainly isn't enough to deter me from coming back. The customer service is good to adequate depending on how busy they are. This is a wonderful staple to Marion and I look forward to seeing what sort of creations hit their menu next. read more

This was our first trip here. It's a small very cute place! Right in downtown I got the special.... I homemade pimento cheese with pulled pork sandwich with poutine fries!!! Wow!!!! It was a flavor explosion!!! I recommend trying it! And the service was amazing!!! read more

McDowell Local - Pimento cheese with pulled pork sandwich with poutine fries - American Near Me - Marion, North Carolina

SO DELICIOUS!! And GREAT pricing for how much you get and it's LOCAL! The servers were great. I didn't personally talk to the owner but my advisor did and it seemed like he was a nice fellow. The servers were also super great, understandably a bit flustered with our group of 23 but they handled it well! read more

McDowell Local - The local as a veggie patty, house salad (with cheese curds comparable to Wisconsin!) and tempeh - American Near Me - Marion, North Carolina

I was in town for work and this place was highly suggested to me by multiple people. They were right! The food is delicious and they serve good portions. We came in for lunch and most of us got sandwiches and burgers - they were really really good. Get the tots. I would also highly suggest getting a cupcake because we got a few for the table and they were a perfect ending to a really good lunch. Highly suggest! read more

I hadn't eaten here till this year. Hate I waited. Love their food. Burgers are cooked to order and although I haven't tasted the pizza kids love it. Use of local food sources makes it that much better. read more