Outback Steakhouse

This place was amazing I just back from a 12 hour shift and thought I would treat my family to…read moresomething nice well everyone except Derek that my exe if anyone is wondering anyways my family had a blessed time our waiter was amazing I tried setting him up with my daughter my daughter was embarrassed but I need some grandkids the place was a blessing # Have a blessed day

We went to dinner here while in the area. It was a cozy setting with a great atmosphere inside…read more However, they sat us on the closed-in patio by a window which ended up being a little too chilly. For my dinner I ordered the Wood Fried Brussels. The Brussel sprouts were not caramelized like I had at other places but it was very good and probably healthier. There were a lot of good flavors with the beets, candied pepitas, pickled peppers and the saffron aioli. I would recommend this dish. Others at the table ordered the Cobb Salad, classic wedge with salmon, & the Artisan pizza. Unfortunately, the salmon was not completely cooked so it went uneaten. Two people in our party ordered diet cokes which were fountain drinks. The diet cokes were not good because there was no carbonation. The pizza and Cobb salad were good. If you eat here during the colder months, I recommend asking for a seat inside. That seemed like it would have been a cozier experience.

The avocado was by request!

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The farmhouse Mac. Awesome

The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop

4.3(502 reviews)

4.5 stars. On our annual trip to Blowing Rock in May, we had to visit Speckled Trout first. We…read morelove their low-carb options combined with their custom crafted cocktails, this place is a must-visit for every trip to Blowing Rock. Their cocktails are crafted with homemade syrups, and change seasonally. I had the Garden in Tibet--a delicious drink with gin, Prosecco, sugar snap pea syrup (!), green elixir syrup, elderflower liquor, and lemon. You'd think this could be a too-sweet drink, but it was PERFECT. My husband had the Which Damascus? with rye whiskey, cherry basil syrup, hickory syrup, Amaro Montenegro, Tiki bitters, Peychaud bitters, and orange. He enjoyed it, but I thought it was definitely too sweet. We love their unique smoked trout deviled eggs as an appetizer. This dish has two eggs filled with smoked trout, and three filled with a deviled egg mixture. The accompanying house hot sauce is so good! For our entrees, we both had hickory-smoked trout. Mine was definitely saltier than his. We had three sides--collard greens, smoked Gouda grits (our favorite), and corn, hominy, yellow squash & chile hash (so fresh and delicious!). Service is always good at Speckled Trout, and I love that we can pay with ApplePay at the table via the Toast handheld. Despite the salty trout, we can't wait to return.

Went here for dinner based on several recommendations. I went for the blackened trout with 2…read moresides, by wife had a different prep. Food came quickly and was excellent. I saw a Wyagu burger come out and it looked delicious - wish i had ordered that, would choose it if I go again. FYI, this place is busy and you will need a reservation, best to make it well ahead of you want your time slot.

Dining room

The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop

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Outside of the speckled trout

Timberlake's Restaurant

3.5(111 reviews)

Went for Christmas lunch and it was AWFUL. Just AWFUL. Minimal offerings with a carving "station"…read morethat only offered bloody roast beef. Weird salad, of sorts. Cold popovers. Hard bread smeared with some cream cheese and topped with 2 whole red grapes. Scalloped potatoes cooked to mush, canned yams with some marshmallows melted on top, green bean something from cans, "creamed" spinach that was thawed frozen chopped spinach with breadcrumbs on top-- nothing "creamed" about it. Half the buffet was hours-old leftover breakfast items like rubbery scrambled eggs, dry grits, and -- the worst-- alarmingly undercooked quiche served refrigetator-cold. Thought of the quiche still makes me a little queasy. Dessert station was weirdly dominated by no fewer than five whole buttermilk pies -- the only pie offered. SHAME ON CHETOLA for even offering this, and at upwards of $100 per person. My fault for not checking recent reviews but it is hard to see how anything could go downhill as far as Timblerlake's has. Ugh. Just terrible.

My mother, grandmother, and I all came here for dinner during our overnight in Blowing Rock;…read moreunfortunately, the dining experience here was such a disappointment. Honestly, the only reason I'm not giving it a single star is because our server was generally somewhat attentive... but other than that? The visit felt disorganized, the food wasn't even remotely special, and the ambiance just missed the mark. When we arrived, I noted with the hostess (1 of 3 - even though the restaurant was probably 3/4 empty) that we had a reservation... and even then, even with soooooooooo many empty tables, it took probably 15 minutes for us to get seated. Is there a staffing issue? Hard to know. There did appear to be multiple servers tending tables though. I honestly have no idea what the issue was. Either way, of all the tables in the place, we got seated next to a larger room that had one of the only groups in the entire restaurant... and they managed to be so unexpectedly loud that it really ruined whatever sense of a charming experience we may have been able to have. We each ordered various items from the menu... but the "beast burger" that I ordered as part of my meal was really underwhelming. Also, proportions of the ingredients just seemed WAY off. It was called a "beast" burger because of the mixture of elk, beef, bison, and wild boar included... instead, it seemed like a beast because the slice of tomato on it was cut so thick that I felt like I was going to have to unhinge my jaw like a snake or something just so that I could take a bite. Why do restaurants make such TALL burgers? They feel impossible to eat... I don't get it. For my side on that dish, I had ordered the truffle mushroom risotto... and honestly? I didn't even get a slight hint of truffle... and it's hard to miss truffle when it's there! The risotto itself was also extremely gummy... almost like the consistency of paste. Just... no. TL;DR Just really disappointed in the overall experience here. Everything from being seated to quality of the food to ambiance? It all missed the mark. I wouldn't be able to recommend this place to anyone... there have got to be better options in and around Blowing Rock.

Entrance

Fried green tomato BLT

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Six Pence Pub

3.9(358 reviews)

0.5 mi

Not much beats some green beer, scotch eggs and Irish music on St Patty's in an Irish pub in…read moredowntown Blowing Rock. Great selection of beers, drinks, regular food items and of course Irish food at this fun spot right on Main St. I had an Irish ale turned green that was cold one tasty. They even turned my wife's cider green which was a nice addition to the day's celebration. The scotch eggs were delicious. Hard boiled eggs wrapped in flavorful sausage that are baked and then served chilled. The dressing and dipping sauce went perfectly with the dish. Really a fun spot all around with great service, fun and hip atmosphere whether it's St. Patrick's Day or not. We'll be back!

A group of us had an early dinner here and I have to say everyone's dish was absolutely wonderful…read morewith large portions! I ordered the fish and chips which was reasonably priced given how much I received in the order. See the pic. The fish consisted of 3 large pieces of fish! The picture doesn't do it justice. I had leftovers for the next day. My husband ordered the salmon with wild rice and collard greens. He said the salmon and rice were amazing. The collard greens were what you might expect for collard greens but still good and healthy. :-) This was one of our best meals while in Blowing Rock. You don't want to miss this place.

Fish and chips

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Parade day after thanksgiving

The Town Tavern of Blowing Rock

3.5(339 reviews)

0.5 mi

We stopped here on a beautiful spring Sunday morning, and it was the perfect way to start the day…read morebefore exploring Blowing Rock. There's so much to do in the area, and this was a great first stop. The food was excellent, the service was excellent, and the menu had a really nice variety. We sat outside on the patio, which made the whole experience even better on such a nice morning. I ordered the blackened shrimp salad, and it was outstanding. It was a very large salad loaded with fresh vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of blackened shrimp. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and well prepared.

Solid tavern in the downtown area of Blowing Rock…read more We popped in here as we were having a bit of a Sunday Funday and got beers and a round of shots. The service was friendly, and the pricing was cheap. While I noticed they did have food, we didn't eat. It seems to be loved by locals though, because it was packed on a Sunday afternoon.

Bar area

Buffalo Chicken side pasta salad

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Peddler Steak House

3.6(270 reviews)

4.9 mi

Full disclosure: our reservation was at 8pm after graduation…read more Unfortunately, we did not have the best experience. The Caesar salad was underwhelming. The mozzarella sticks had very little cheese. Two of our steaks were undercooked. One was ordered well and was given rare. The other was ordered medium and was given rare. They did fix them after requested. The steak did not have enough seasoning. About 5 or 6 different servers kept coming to our table every few minutes asking if we needed anything or if they could refill our water. The disruption of conversations from being constantly asked negatively affected our experience. While I understand our reservation was later in the night and that this could have been the reason for this poor experience, I had higher expectations for this steakhouse. Sadly, this was an enough to deter me from coming back. Every server was pleasant though.

Knowing that we only had a few hours to celebrate our anniversary, my father in law told my husband…read more"go take her to The Peddler". He followed those instructions and ended the night saying "that's the best steak I've had in a restaurant". Between the excellent service and food, this was one of the best anniversary meals I've had at a restaurant. We were told to make reservations, and fortunately with the local college in summer session, we were able to select our ideal time slot. Upon arrival, we were promptly seated in their area with a rounded glass wall/ceiling that allowed for a beautiful view of Boone. The restaurant has a warm interior with a mix of wood booths or tables. The rolls they serve at the table reminiscent of the Sister Schubert's yeast rolls, and I was not mad about that. We split the 12 ounce ribeye, and got a side of their French onion soup. It came out with a nicely bubbled and browned layer of cheese covering a piece of bread atop the soup. The entree comes with unlimited salad, and I loved how you got to select your salad on a piece of paper from one of their amazing ready-made selections or they had a create-your-own space. I opted for the Cobb salad. And even after all of that food, we still opted for dessert because why not? We split the Mountain Mama Cinnabun. The massive cinnabun comes out with a nice layer of icing on top and two scoops of vanilla bean ice cream. It was all we could do to eat "two spirals" of the cinnabun and one scoop of ice cream before we had to call it quits. With all of the beautiful scenery, wonderful salads, and expertly prepared entrees, I would say the wait staff equally provided to the excellent experience. We had our dedicated table host, but in addition to that was The Peddler who takes your food order specifically, additional folks who bring out your food, and other servers whose job it is to keep your glass full and table cleared of empty dishes. All of the wait staff were extremely polite and not overbearing. All in all, it was a delightful experience, and I hope to bring more of the family up next time so they can experience that level of service and food too.

Great for groups

Chipped plate..

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The bar

The Gamekeeper

4.5(292 reviews)

3.8 mi

•$$$

This place is awesome. The dining experience started with the Mixed Game starter including bison,…read moreelk, and antelope! It was amazing with the dipping sauces. We had the Bison Short Rib and Turkey Pot Pie. Both were perfect. Ending with the German Chocolate Cheesecake and Chocolate martini. Well worth the money!!

This was my first real experience at the gamekeeper which is one of the more well-known restaurants…read morein the Boone area. This was their special four course Thanksgiving Day event. We were greeted with a valet who parked our car and escorted to our table. The waitress was knowledgeable in all of the food options and helped us choose what we wanted. The four courses were soup, salad, entree, and dessert and everything was amazing. The owner came and spoke to us during our meal and was just super friendly. This was an amazing place and I cannot wait to go back! All of the food was perfectly cooked and just very delicious.

Bar Area Dining

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View of front of restaurant. Just ahead are stairs down to parking lot, to the immediate right is the entrance (not seen in photo).

The Embers

4.2(29 reviews)

Superb evening at this sleek and modern lounge and restaurant in the lobby area of The Embers…read moreHotel. We weren't expecting such a high level experience when we first booked a stay at this newly finished hotel. Classy cocktails, beers, plenty of wine variety, you name it. Went with the Old Smokey as a starter. An old fashioned kicked up a notch. The house smoked maple syrup and charred orange peal knocked his cocktail out of the park. I could smell that smoky flavor from the other end of the bar as it was being made. Bartender was super friendly and had some great mixology skills. We opted for apps all evening, but can't wait to come back and try some more of the menu. The homemade bread is a must. These puppies come out hot and steaming, with this amazing bacon butter to lather them in...outstanding! Our server also recommended the mushroom pate. Mushroom pate you say?! Yes, yes I do. One of the best pate's we've had in a long time. Super flavorful, creamy and smooth. And the homemade chips sticking out of it were the bomb! Then the goat cheese fritters...I had to battle my wife for these flavor bombs. This place is outstanding and not many people know about it...yet. Newly finished in 2024, this is going to be our go to when we want to be right in the heart of Blowing Rock.

Food: the orecchiette pasta was tasty. Had a squash base and pasta mixed with mushrooms. was a…read morelarge portion and shared it between two people. They have seasonal menus so this was the winter menu Service: waitress was incredibly nice and explained everything on menu and answered questions we had Ambiance: located inside the embers hotel next to the front lobby. Had plenty of seating and had an outdoor area too. Parking: since it is located inside the hotel, the parking is located around the hotel

The Embers Restaurant opens both to the inner and outer serenity of Blowing Rock

Lemon roasted chicken

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Smoked Trout dip

The Best Cellar

4.2(130 reviews)

0.5 mi

•$$$

Make reservations months in advance for this gem! Located in an old stone manor, the Best Cellar is…read morethe best restaurant in Blowing Rock! The rack of lamb and buttermilk chicken are some of my favorites. The staff are very professional and seem to continue working there for years. The renovated the gathering area to make a rustic, yet upscale bar. Parking is not a problem because they offer valet.

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!

Vacant been here since 5:15 it's now 6 still vacant

Jumbo shrimp cocktail, crab cakes, and oysters Rockefeller

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Great Wine List

Hellbender Bed & Beverage

Biscuits for breakfast at Hellbenders. Wrlcome, Good Morning, Do you need coffee? The bartenders…read moreand staff at Hellbenders bar are a blessing in Blowing Rock, NC.

Very cute and quaint place. We came in for dinner (recommended to have reservations) . The staff…read morewas friendly and welcoming. We sat in the front room which looks like what would have been a dining room since this is a repurposed house. It was a little dark in that section which is why I gave 4 instead of 5 stars. Most tables needed to bring out their phones for extra lighting. They had a nice selection on the menu.