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    Proper

    4.4 (421 reviews)
    ModerateSouthern, American

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    PROPER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Reviews With Photos

    Buffalo chicken sandwich with Mac and cheese
    Liz A.

    Cute restaurant with a cozy enclosed front porch. We had the chicken with jasmine rice, Mac and cheese, home fries, corn bread, and the buffalo chicken sandwich. Everything was fresh, home cooked flavor. The chicken was tangy but not too spicy. The home fries were amazing! The Mac and cheese and corn bread were a little bland for me. I think the corn bread could be sweeter. One other negative, the buffalo chicken wasn't made with buffalo sauce. It was a spicy sauce but definitely not buffalo. We had a chocolate chip bread pudding for dessert that was amazing! I would recommend if you like good southern cooking.

    Mushroom burger
    Marie P.

    I was really excited to try this place and genuinely enjoyed my experience. Right now they are operating by reservation only and seating only outside and on the porch. They are a really tiny restaurant, so we were lucky to snag one of the two porch tables. Even in the covered porch, it was pretty chilly on the unseasonably cold day. The server shut the door to outside when we asked, and that really helped. We got the potato cakes to start and they came out quickly. The one appetizer was more than enough for three people. They were expertly fried and topped with pimento cheese. I got the vegetarian mushroom burger and absolutely loved it. As a vegetarian, I'm used to having my food be an afterthought. However, the patty on this burger was huge and absolutely perfect. The side I got was home fries. Needless to say, the home fries didn't last long. There also wasn't a drop of their homemade ketchup left when I was done with my food. My two dining companions didn't love their meatloaf, but that may have been because it was in a different style than they were accustomed. It did take much longer than expected for our food to arrive, so the combo of the chilly porch and waiting a while added a challenging element to our experience. This is really a must-eat for vegetarians. I was extremely happy with my food.

    Fried green tomatoes with pimiento cheese
    Beth S.

    This historic building has been the first jail, a frat house (Appalachian State), and now a fabulous restaurant for the last 14 years. We started with fried green tomatoes and pimiento cheese--perfectly crisp and tangy! Next we shared lemon thyme chicken (grilled) over jasmine rice with delicious biscuits and butter, fresh mixed green salad, and the sweet potato casserole was light and fluffy with a crunchy topping--heaven on earth! Our waiter accommodated our garlic allergy and gave us good advice on our order. Very pleasant and just friendly enough! We will have to come back for dessert (chocolate chess pie or key lime) when we have more room in our tummies. Angela, the chef, makes everything from scratch. At 7, they had already sold out of Chicken & Limas and most nights sell out of the sweet potato casserole.

    Tomato Pie & Mac n cheese
    Danielle J.

    This place has a lot of charm. The front seating area is romantic, even dining solo. Indulged in the tomato pie, and it did not disappoint. Packed with flavor. The Mac & cheese side is a must try. Cheesy velvety deliciousness. Service was great too.

    Pintos and rice, sweet potato soup, cabbage, and corn muffin.
    Marty M.

    Proper. Now I know why it's called that. My meal was properly fabulous. I got the pintos and rice, which was topped with a sort of coleslaw that was delicious. The beans and the rice were both cooked to perfection; tender, but not mushy. Hot sauce was provided which made it even better. I got the sweet potato soup and cabbage as sides. Both of these were superb. Cabbage was cooked perfectly, and seasoned well. And the sweet potato soup was flavorful and spiced wonderfully. I chose the corn muffin, which was very unusual, and probably one of the best I've ever had. It was made with white cornmeal, but it was very finely ground and had an incredibly good flavor. All in all it would be hard to beat this meal. The portions were reasonable size, the flavors of what I got complimented each other nicely. Service was polite, helpful, fast and provided by someone who knew both the menu and details about the food. The location is in an old house, which makes it charming and cozy. Would be a great place for a romantic dinner or to go with a small group. I will be back.

    Alinna M.

    My girlfriends and I had an amazing dinner at Proper during a college reunion trip back to Boone. The quaint setting inside the old house was so charming and the service we received was top notch. Everything we ate was delicious. I highly recommend the fried chicken and I'm still thinking about that crispy outside, soft inside biscuit.

    Meatloaf
    Ginger M.

    First time eating at Proper and it didn't disappoint. Not only was everything we had good, but the portions were very generous too! We will definitely come again!

    Meatloaf , mashed potatoes and gravy , Mac n cheese
    Stephany M.

    The staff was sweet ! This place is small and cute , reservations only . They were able to seat me and I appreciated it so much . The food was delicious. The corn bread was not sweet and dry .

    Outside of Proper
    Abigail M.

    My husband and I love this place. It has all the southern comforts you're looking for! From the ambiance, food, and kind service. Do keep in mind it's a small restaurant so I recommend getting there as soon as they open to snag a spot. The best is on the patio outside on summer days!

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    2 years ago

    Awesome food and the service was very accommodating. We didn't have a reservation and they got us right in at a quaint table for 2!!!

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    3 years ago

    Wow!! Fried chicken, meatloaf, greens, everything was amazing. Loved the intimate ambiance and attention to detail service. Loved the place.

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    Page 1 of 11

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    The Local - The Boonie Burger

    The Local

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    We tried to get a table here almost every day of our 5-day trip, but it was packed! We finally…read moresmartened up and called a day ahead for a reservation. It might have just been the holiday rush, but I always figure "busy means good," so my expectations were high--and The Local didn't disappoint. We started with the nachos; they were delicious, though I do wish they came with a bit more meat. For mains, the burger was outstanding--probably one of the best we've had in the entire area. We also ordered the Brazilian steak, which was cooked perfectly and came with great plantains. The quinoa with tofu was good, too, though it was a little dry and would have been perfect with a sauce. The service really stood out. Our waitress was incredibly attentive and refilled my water at least four times without me asking. Great ambiance and an all-around good experience. Definitely worth the wait!

    Stopped in here to grab a bite to wrap up our day of exploring. There was a very long wait, but we…read morewere table to get seats at the bar. Bar tender provided menus, and checked back on us after a few minutes to take order. They've got a good menu with pizza, sandwiches, burgers, and a good variety of entrees (seafood, steak, chicken, pasta), basically, they've got something for everyone. Not being too hungry, but knowing we needed something, we decided to just split an order of the pulled pork nachos. The food came out fairly quickly, looked and tasted great. They did not skimp on toppings. Staff was friendly, food was good, only complaint is it was very dark inside, and surprisingly loud in the restaurant, I can't imagine being there with live music, I assume it would be impossible to have a conversation.

    South End Brewing - House salad with chicken.

    South End Brewing

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    Boone is such a charming little mountain town with a great mix of shops, restaurants, and…read moresmall-town character. We stopped at South End Brewing for lunch and loved the cozy, laid-back vibe. I tried a pumpkin beer while Steve went for an espresso martini--both were fantastic choices for a fall afternoon. Since portions are usually huge when traveling and we don't like carrying leftovers, we decided to share the Tuna Poke Power Bowl ($20). It came with quinoa and spring mix as the base, topped with edamame, cucumbers, guacamole, cabbage, crispy wontons, and fresh ahi tuna. It was flavorful and beautifully presented, though I honestly couldn't find much quinoa--it felt more like a salad than a grain bowl. Still, everything tasted fresh, the service was wonderful, and the prices were very reasonable. Definitely a great spot to stop if you're exploring Boone!

    The ambiance is exactly what you want from a place like this--great brewery vibes that make it a…read morecool spot to hang out. As a good local joint, the food had some real highlights. The Tuna Poke Nachos were incredible, almost comparable to the ones at Yard House, and the Flounder Sandwich was also a tasty choice. However, there were a couple of misses. The Smash Burger wasn't very flavorful and definitely needed a bit more sauce to bring it to life. I also grabbed a Caesar salad, but the croutons were a little weird and personally weren't my favorite. The service was standard and got the job done, but overall, it's a nice spot I'd visit again for the nachos alone.

    The Cardinal - Cowboy Burger (6/10) and Sweet Potato Tots

    The Cardinal

    (359 reviews)

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    Cute little spot with really unique cocktails and delicious burgers! Also highly recommend the…read morejalapeño cheddar hush puppies. Our server was friendly and helped me pick a cocktail after the one I wanted was out. Can't wait to go back and try another burger.

    Things seemed moderately busy at the Cardinal on the Sunday evening when I stopped by. There's not…read morea ton of parking, by the way, given the restaurant's roadside location. But I wiggled my vehicle into a tight spot and went in for a burger and a beer. I believe there were about 10 to 12 options available on tap, and I went with what was listed as an Irish stout from somewhere in the Northeast. It wasn't bad, though it seemed more like an imperial stout. My sandwich choice was the Cowboy, with ground elk at its core. It was a good choice too, and the accompanying fried onions and melted cheese complemented the meat well. I ordered the burger medium, but I think I'd go for medium rare if I could go back in time. The medium option wasn't bad, but I think a little less heat and a little more moisture would only make things better. I kept things simple with the side item, going for the fries which were of the thinly sliced McDonald's variety, not bad but nothing remarkable. The server covering my table was pleasant and prompt, though soft spoken so I occasionally had to ask her to repeat herself amidst the music and noise. I wouldn't call any of these selections a bargain, but the prices didn't veer too far from what you'll find in many burger joints. All in all, not an earthshaking experience, but a place I'd be willing to go back to. 3.5 stars.

    Proper - southern - Updated May 2026

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