This was only the second time we've been to The local, but it's because the first experience with…read morethe service & amazing food was so amazing that we had to make the drive back! I ordered the shrimp & grits and it's been all I thought about since the first time I had it! The flavors blend beautifully and the grits are amazing! My daughter got their Stuffed French Toast (peaches & cream) with fresh fruit! Looked fantastic! We love the outdoor seating which allows us to bring the dog, but the indoor ambiance is wonderful! Highly recommend if you're in the area! We can't wait to go back!

I was visiting my son in Boone, as we move him into college... Ordered the wings, I had what I…read morebelieve was a blackened goat cheese, and fig burger with caramelized onions, which was off the charts, my son had the Salmon. Ratings- He gave the salmon a seven I give my Burger a nine, and the wings were about a seven(dry rub). That said, sitting at the bar was absolutely a treat... Erin was fantastic. Will 100% return and this is definitely a spot not to be missed. Also fantastic beer selection!!!

Classie place, from the decor to the great menu choices and the great service. I Highly recommend…read moreyou come in and enjoy a delicious meal. My wife and I enjoyed a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, the broccoli salad was amazing. The beef Wellington was mouthwatering. And we topped it off with the crème brûlée. Thank you for the great experience!

I wish I could give more stars…read more We were in town for our son's track meet which happened to fall on my husband's birthday. We wanted a nice place to eat that was casual because we were in track clothes. Everyone was super friendly, from the call about my reservation to the hostesses who greeted us and especially, Ethan, our server. I'm the kind of person who looks at the menu online before I go anywhere and already have in mind what I want. Shrimp burger. Need I say more? I had mine without the tomato and onion. Think crab cake but with shrimp. I assumed (and we know what that gets you) the shrimp would be minced and unrecognizable. Nope! There were like whole shrimp in this "burger"! The flavor was amazing. I think the lemon aioli added such a richness. I tried not to eat all of the amazing fries but the fries won. A complimentary shot of bourbon with peach schnapps was a kind gesture for the Birthday Boy. Can't wait to go back!

Fine dining in the mountains, and some of the best dishes and food at this elevation!…read more This place hits on all levels if you're in the mood for a great evening out. Elegant inside and out, friendly service and top notch food. We sat at the bar and our bartender took care of us all evening. Had one of the best old fashioned's in the area. He knows his stuff! The food was fine dining at its best. A garlic buttered escargot with puff pastry just melts in your mouth. Lobster bisque full of flavor and full of, well, lobster, and a ton of it. I have to say, the extra touch to the tasty French onion soup was a talking point all evening...it came with dedicated scissors so you could cut the cheese. What an amazing touch. And they sure did help lol. The center cut medium rare filet mignon paired with some frites was definitely the showstopper this evening. Thick, tender and juicy...one of the best steaks on all levels. Whenever we're in town and want an elegant evening out, this is the spot!

Stonewalls Restaurant was one of the more pleasant surprises during my time in Banner Elk. It's a…read morebeautiful restaurant, and I had been looking forward to dining there for quite some time. From the moment we arrived, the staff was warm, welcoming, and attentive. The atmosphere, however, felt a little mixed. The restaurant seemed to have two distinct personalities. The newer side, where the bar is located, felt polished and cohesive, while the older dining room--where we were seated because it had more availability--felt like it hadn't quite received the same attention. The lighting on that side of the restaurant was particularly harsh, which made the dining room feel less intimate than it could have been. Since it's also the larger and busier dining space, I think small touches like candles on the tables or softer lighting would go a long way toward creating a warmer, more personal atmosphere. I also noticed an interesting contrast between the beautiful leather-bound menus and some of the furniture and wall décor, which felt more reminiscent of a hotel dining room than the upscale mountain restaurant the food suggested. Thankfully, the meal more than made up for those observations. I ordered the wild mushroom pasta with lobster, and it was the standout dish of the evening. The pasta was rich without feeling heavy, the mushrooms added wonderful depth, and the lobster was cooked beautifully. It's a dish I'd gladly order again. My boyfriend ordered a steak, which he thoroughly enjoyed. We also started with the escargot and the crab cakes. The escargot, while not quite on the level of some traditional French restaurants I've visited, was still very well prepared and enjoyable. The crab cakes were outstanding--full of crab, nicely seasoned, and easily one of the best appetizers of the meal. Our only complaint was that there was only one crab cake on the plate; we both found ourselves wishing there had been another. Overall, Stonewalls Restaurant delivered an excellent meal with genuinely welcoming service. While I'd love to see the older dining room updated to better match the quality of the cuisine, the food alone makes it well worth a visit if you're in Banner Elk.

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.

Food is great here came for a burger didn't disappoint at all had a side of home made chips. Sat…read moreon the back porch nice area. Service was very good. Will be back.

Our first visit to Americano Steakhouse over a year ago was a positive one, and we looked forward…read moreto dining there again. Last night we ate there with the same couple who dined with us the first time...and we all were quite disappointed, unfortunately. My husband and I shared the NY strip steak. There was a surprising amount of fat for this cut of meat, and the steak also had none of that delicious char you expect. It was a bit underdone for the medium we'd requested, but not too far off. Our friends fared worse. The husband ordered a rib eye and deemed it "just ok." The wife ordered a filet cooked medium and it came out completely rare. She tried eating around the edges but left most of her steak untouched (I would have sent mine back to the kitchen if I were her, but my friend is wary of sending meat back; she said she was afraid it would then be overcooked). Her broccolini side dish was so undercooked that it was basically raw, so she didn't eat that either. The french fries and baked potato were fine, and our server was capable and pleasant. However, given the overall experience, we won't be back. That type of meal is handled much better by Stonewall's in Banner Elk.

Sad..... I have eaten here many times and am happy that our little town has a nice restaurant…read more.... tonight was different. We usually go through the week and have never encountered a busy night. The older lady hostess tonight was exceptionally rude. Meaner than anyone I have ever encountered working in a restaurant. It was very busy. The restaurant was very loud tonight and you couldn't even talk to the person beside you. Out of baked potatoes, bread and the drink refills were extremely slow. We had taken some guests and were embarrassed. The kids steak is consistently better than the adult steaks. Calamari was covered in a sweet sauce. The menu says only salt and pepper on the calamari. Positives: There is a great waitress there that we have had every time but tonight. She usually does a fantastic job. The chef is nice and comes out to greet guests, but I never have the heart to tell him that his steaks aren't good. We will be back...... all of this can be dealt with except the horrible hostess. If we go in again and she is there, we will probably walk right back out. Many people commented on her attitude.

After a hike in Graystone Mountain we can in for lunch. We were a party of 7 and the waitress was…read morevery nice. We order 5 appetizers and they came out quick and hot. They have Pepsi products and which are not my favorite but the chili cheese fries made up for it. Dont pass this little mom and pop restaurant. It worth the stop

Cute place in remote area. Good food and fast service. I had the veggie omelet. Veggies were fresh…read more Also had biscuit and gravy. Yummy. Jim had the double deal. He said everything was great. Would stop in again.

First time trying this place, and I would certainly return when back in the area. I can see why…read moreit's a local favorite, as there wasn't a single bad bite of food, first of all. Even the kids cheeseburger was nicely done, and I really enjoyed my chicken sandwich, fried green tomatoes, my wife's coconut shrimp, and all the cakes too! Prices were pretty fair, and service was friendly and fast. The restaurant is cozy and with a diner/dive aesthetic that is inviting for sitting in a tin garage, anyway!

Delicious food, great atmosphere, perfect location. Food was amazing. We shared a carrot cake that…read moreI think of to this day. Such a great pit stop while exploring the area.

We ate lunch here on Monday and went inside. Ordered our…read morefood on the kiosk with no issues. They alert you on your phone when it's ready. Every thought was very good. We will be back.

Come Back Shack is a fast food restaurant. But it is different than what you think of fast food…read more The original Boone location has a drive-thru and both indoor and outdoor seating. My burger was delicious and above and beyond any fast-food burger I have had before, at comparable prices. They serve grass-fed beef, chuck, round and sirloin. It is fresh, not frozen, and the meats are without hormones. My portion of fries was large, and I couldn't finish them. A smaller portion option would have been nice. I found the setup here confusing, as I wasn't sure where to enter from the parking lot, and then I wasn't sure where to order. Ordering is done at the kiosk or via a QR code. So expect a wait for the kiosk. I use kiosks and apps often, but this particular system was not smooth. I found the kiosk not as easy to use as it should have been; after I selected what I wanted, there was no way to get to the next screen to check out. I went with the build-your-own and was also disappointed that tomatoes weren't an option to add to the burger, but maybe they were out. They are a cashless business. When your order is ready, it is placed on a front cart, while drinks and sauces are self-serve. If I return, I will likely stick to the drive-thru, as that seems to be a much smoother ordering experience. Having a real person take your order and hand you everything you need at the window beats fighting with the kiosk inside.

Recently vacationed on the North Fork of the New River. Stumbled on this place about 10 miles from…read moreour VRBO. Grabbed sandwiches and were informed by the proprietor that we should come back for Friday night smoked prime rib. He cautioned us that we should make a reservation. We did, for our entire family of 6. I can honestly say that the food and atmosphere were top 5 of all the places I have ever eaten in 62 years. The puttanesca! Oh my goodness! Smoked ribeye same! Eat here or miss out!

CLOSED AND FOR SALE. Hate to see Sarah's gone, but things happen. Hope they fare well.read more

Wonderful, delicious seafood, and a good value. The nicest staff you can imagine. Just a friendly,…read moregood place to eat. Very similar to the quality and preparations of dishes you get at the North Carolina coast (but in the mountains!) Service here is warm and excellent. Very highly recommended! A local favorite.

A hidden gem in Boone for great seafood taste, service, nautical restaurant. First time going…read morethere and now a beginning of a destination routine . Everything had flavors. Down to the green beans. If you don't like it, that just means more for me and family and friends.