The best burger I've had in Boone. Pricy, but if you catch their specials it's great. Service was a little slow but we went at a busy time. I got a double cheeseburger with egg and avocado with sweet potato tots on the side. Would definitely go again. read more

The Cardinal - Cheeseburger with egg and avocado. Sweet potato tots on the side. - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Try the 50/50 it's great! Love this place...great food and great people. I will definitely come back

Atmosphere is nice. Service was good but the food was great! I got the fried chicken sandwich and it was so juicy! The only issue lol was having to use your napkin everytime. It's the best chicken sandwich I've had in a long time. The chips at first I was worried about because they looked burnt, but they were cooked to perfection, salted perfectly and a nice crunch to it! read more

The Cardinal - Chicken sandwich and chips - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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First time eating here. Dog in tow. Patio was a great experience. Food was good. Will definitely come back.

We came here for our friends 40th birthday (see photo) with our combined five kids and 4 adults. We had eaten here one other time when we stayed in Boone in a cabin and I still remembered the good times we had so we decided to give it another go. With 9 people it only took about 10 minutes for us to be sat which was perfect timing because the other family was trailing behind. We ordered the hot damn ham dip with pecans with crusty toast for dipping. The kids all got burgers dogs and chicken sandwiches which came out before the adult food. Birthday girl got the gringo what she ate bunless, my wife got the farm burger and my buddy and I both decided separately to try the 50/50 burger with emu (think smaller ostrich) and chorizo with jalapeños lettuce, tomato and spicy sauce. All the food was out of this world. This place will remain on my short list of Boone favorites!! Thank you for making the 40th birthday party an enjoyable good time!! 6.5 stars!! read more

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The Cardinal is open and is as wonderful as ever. Their staff are amazing and the food is farm to take delicious. read more

The Cardinal - Bar is open - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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We came with a large group on a busy Saturday night. The staff at the Cardinal was very accommodating. They seated us in a pretty short amount of time, which was great because we had two babies in our group. I couldn't eat many of the apps because I have dozens of allergies. My group really raced about the hush puppies. They smelled amazing! I wasn't able to try them, but I have to assume theY were really good because my group ordered more. I had a grilled chicken sandwich and a side salad with ranch. It was all very simple and fresh. Big fan of a plain grilled chicken sandwich. There was an avocado mash on top of it with a nice spice. It was a litTle much for my liking, but was easy to scrape oFf. Prices are pretty fair for a deluxe burger place. This is a fun place to hang with friEnds and get some casual food. I have eaten from tHeir food truck before, as well! A fun adDition to a wedding. read more

The Cardinal - Grilled chicken sandwich - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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All the praise you read about this place is warranted. Great burgers, outstanding staff, overall excellent experience.

Amazing burgers. Love that they have a turkey burger. The sweet potato tater tots are so yummy

This place was amazing! The food and service were fantastic. I got the fried chicken sandwich tossed in buffalo sauce, and it was the best chicken sandwich I've ever had. Highly recommend!! read more

Food was great- my wife and I both ate burgers and we cannot complain. In fact, my wife says it was the best burger she has ever eaten. Cocktails were very tasty too. Even better than the food was the service. Everyone was very friendly and service was quick. I highly recommend. read more

The vibe, the staff, the decor, the space and food create an awesome space to hangout and enjoy it all. Full bar and alll kinds of local beers on tap and available for flights. Came on the suggestion of 1/2 burgers on Thursdays, and Sarah thank you for steering us just where we needed to be for a fuel up! The burgers are Fantastic. No doubt I'd be here most of the week if I lived here. Check out our singles, double, and triple burgers! Also we haven't gotten heartburn so even more praise there!! read more

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This might not be a fair review because I think I have an addiction. I mean they are on my "Favorites" phone call list. Oh and it's not just me, my husband also has the same addiction. During the midst of the pandemic he was known to sit in the parking lot, drink a beer and eat a double. Family from out of state just didn't understand. Burgers are also used as bribes, we will order on our way up to Beech and lord a burger over our college aged son's head to get him to walk the dogs. But Vegetarians rejoice they have plenty for you too and not just lame salads, the Beet Burger is Da Bomb! read more

The Cardinal - Triple! - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

I've lived in boone for 5 years and the Cardinal continues to be a staple of my college experience. It is great to go and grab a drink, some good burgers (their kids chicken nuggets are a well kept secret), or just drink and catch up with a buddy. Definitely come here if you have not already. The service is pretty good, and the vibe of the building is totally boone. read more

Solid burger in a great location. Great place after a hike or some other outdoors activity!

We have passed by so many times and finally stopped in and we're thoroughly impressed. Fantastic bison burger! Great casual atmosphere with unique decor. Kids loved the game area, adults loved the cocktails and we all loved the food! Update: they removed some of the games, which was disappointing. But the food, beverages, outdoor area and service continue to be solid! Tonight I tried the fried chicken sandwich for the first time. WOW. Delicious. Can't believe I haven't had it before now. Fantastic. The batter has a bit of spice and kick to it that gives it a special flavor while the chicken is juicy and not greasy at all. They may have created the perfect chicken sandwich. read more

The Cardinal - The most Amazing chicken sandwich around - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

My family stopped at the cardinal for a late lunch on Saturday and had excellent service. All of our food came out within a short time and everything was delicious. I especially loved the veggie burger which was made with squash, corn and black beans. This is the best veggie burger I've had in quite some time. read more

The atmosphere is trendy and intimate. I was told to sit wherever I want by one of the staff members after awkwardly standing for about three minutes... I came specifically to try their bison burger, but they had already ran out of them by 9pm. I ended up settling on the farm burger (medium rare) instead with jalapeño cheddar hushpuppies and corn dog (because why not). Farm Burger - rather bland, but kudos for cooking it correctly. Jalapeño Cheddar Hushpuppies - AMAZING Corn Dog - better than the burger As for the service, my waitress was very nice and attentive. Moreover, I did not have to wait long to get my food. read more

The Cardinal - Farm Burger, Jalapeño Cheddar Hushpuppies, Corndog - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Stopped in with 4 adults and 9 kids on a random Tuesday afternoon on a whim. Incredible experience, tbh. Everything was...perfect. The ambiance is quaint but trendy; the service staff is intentional, friendly, and thorough. Byron, our server, never broke a sweat AND is literally flawless- our drinks were never less than half full; every single order came out in a timely manner and exactly as we requested. The menu has a burger for anyone- three different veggie burger opportunities was a first for me; I went with the house veggie burger. It was the best veggie burger I've ever had in a restaurant; black bean-based and perfectly charred. If you're looking for an inclusive, safe, delicious spot in Boone, THIS is it. read more

Famous for their burgers, you cannot go wrong with their seasonal cocktails either. Dine inside or outside on the picnic tables. I prefer the wild game burger, while my husband indulges in the 50/50 burger. The old fashioned was shaken, so if you're more traditional than ask for it not stirred with their house brown sugar simple syrup. read more

The Cardinal - Toasty socks - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Exceeded expectations! Found this little burger joint while in town just for one night.... cute and quaint! I am always interested in trying a new place, especially when they have non-beef burger options! (I don't eat red meat) I had the turkey burger which was delicious and different... topped with goat cheese and some kind of compote and onion frizzles.... YUM! Paired it with a cold beer (huge selection for $3!!!) I opted for a side salad instead of fries and I have to say the salad was huge! My parents were with me and their food looked amazing as well.... double cheeseburger was enjoyed by mom and a salad by dad... and the salad was a never ending bowl! Great service, fun atmosphere... if I'm ever in Boone, NC again I will definitely be back! read more

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The Cardinal is a great restaurant and bar, with great offerings in variety and quality of food and drink. Well designed and decorated and hqs a fun atmosphere. As such, the serving staff are bound to be busy and preoccupied with a large customer crowd. The lsrge workload was apparent from the service I have reguarly received. However, that is not a criticism on the staff because I could observe a resolve in their service. Regardless I believe the quality of the experience, fueled mostly by the food to be worth 5 stars a recommendation to others and a thank you to the Cardinal read more

The Cardinal - Wild Game Burger, fries and side salad - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Burger time! No matter if you are looking for wild game, beer, or traditional, this small spot scratches the itch. Grab a drink, catch up with friends, and go home happy. Local favorite Come Back Shack isn't far off, both in location and product (burgers), but the Cardinal caters to a different price point and experience. This is more a place to be social and they could easily fill a space twice their current size. Liked what I saw of their tap list and ordered a local hoppy offering. Wild game burger special was delicious and I should have been more adventurous with the side options. Looked like I could work my way through most of the menu and enjoy many meals. Seasonal cocktail menu also caught my attention and made me want to return. Not so hidden gem in Boone hat was full at 2pm on a Saturday in early June. This place is dialed in. Well done. read more

The Cardinal - Wild game burger and fries - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Totally overrated. The house burger is a thin patty, nothing special. They so have fun game burgers. They were all out of lettuce, so they only had kale salad. I felt like going out and buying some for them. Ridiculous. And no turkey burgers either. Plastic cups and horrid service. What a disappointment. . read more

I loved their outdoor patio and drinks. They have some vegan-friendly items on the menu featuring tempeh. Tempeh isn't my favorite mock meat, but it was pretty good. If you're a tempeh fan, you might love it. Next time I want to try their beet burger. That sounds more up my alley. Service was great. read more

Great selection of burgers from beef to wild game to vegan. Local draft beer selection is solid with many choices from lite beer to stout. Decor is creative and fun, but the best part of this visit was the super friendly service. Will visit again on this vacation trip. read more

Had the best experience at The Cardinal!! Our server, Hunter, was personable with a great bubbly personality. He executed the order perfectly and kept checking on us, which is not the easiest task with a 10 top. The food was incredible and you can taste that everything is from scratch and carefully put together. The place as a whole is warm and cozy, and a great place to chat and hang out. The bartender was also super sweet and her drinks were delicious!! If I'm ever in the Boone area again, I'll be sure to stop by The Cardinal!! read more

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Great restaurant! Kids and adults loved their meal! The grilled chicken sandwich was tasty and perfectly cooked! Kids loved their hot dog and cheeseburger. We enjoyed sitting out on the patio. Also, our waiter was awesome as well. We loved it so much we came back for a second round during our vacation. read more

Super delicious salad. Sweet potato tots are delicious Service was fast and ambiance gave small town cozy vibes. Really cool unique spot with vegan options read more

Very unexpected that this place was so good! When you walk in, you feel like it's a typical college sports bar with cardinals all over. Don't judge book by its cover because this places food was spectacular. Dare I say the best damn turkey burger I've ever had: topped with tomato jame, goat cheese, and local fresh greens. I got the side salad, who could have known that a side salad could be so good! It was filled with fresh greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers. The dressing on the salad, both figuratively and literally, was the incredible rich and homemade blue cheese dressing. Wow! So freaking good, I wish I could have gone there for every meal the whole weekend. read more

The Cardinal - Side Salad - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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Another gem in Boone, The Cardinal delivered above expectations on every level. We were seated right away and promptly greeted by multiple servers. My two young sons immediatly b-lined for the 2 video games and found kids toys underneath the pinball machine. I love restaurants that go the extra mile to ensure all guests have a good time. Something as simple as having a bin full of kids toys go's a long way for parents sanity during a nice dinner out. My wife and I ordered burgers while my youngest got the Cardinal nuggets. Everyone really enjoyed their meals! I got the Cardinal burger: single patty, Carolina style with cheese. It was all cooked just right and the bread was fresh. The team at The Cardinal knows what they're doing. Keep kickin' ass! We will be back for sure. read more

The Cardinal - Cardinal burger Carolina style - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Hands down the best burger in Boone! Not just the burger, try any of the apps. They are all made locally, nothing prepackaged about the food here. The service is fantastic, very friendly and attentive. The design and space makes you feel like eating at a rustic joint you would hand out with your friends. This place has a great warmth you don't find at many places anymore! read more

Fantastic burgers! We also had the hot ham dip that was really great too! Great outdoor seating for dogs. Will be coming back! read more

The Cardinal - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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Awesome Bison burger with salsa verde and avocado mash! Creative cocktails. So good! Will def be back! read more

The Cardinal - Cocktail & Late Night Menu. I recommend the "Aunt Marge" & the "Carolina Classic #3". - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Great food. Would recommend to anyone in the area or traveling though like myself. Had the farm burger and a sour beer. Burger cook great to the med rare asked for. And could have had many more of the sour beer but had to drive read more

The Cardinal - Tripping animals sour - Burgers Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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Never had a Carolina burger with pickles.??? The fried okra was VERY greasy. Was doing takeout so had a good conversation with the hostess while waiting for my food. read more

We were passing through and had tried to go to a place in downtown Boone on a pretty Sunday. If you're from out of town, don't do that! Downtown was a madhouse with no parking so after a few loops and a ridiculous amount of traffic, we found cardinal which isn't in downtown. It's very busy but we went to the covered outdoor area and had some drinks. Amazing specialty cocktails and so creative. I had Endless Summer which was fantastic - a blend of different types of rum, guava, lime, light muscovado and clarified coconut milk. I had another called Sky Miles that sounded intriguing with Japanese whiskey, lemongrass, Thai basil..also good but not as fantastic as the first one. A+ for creativity, quality and presentation of cocktails! Service was very nice. It was quite busy so we waited about 20 minutes. Food was tasty and hot. Great burger and fries. Definitely recommend. read more

This is a very busy place and I can understand why! The food is very good, just depending on what you get. I had the 50/50 burger and it was fantastic! My girlfriend got the game burger which happened to be lamb that day and she didn't enjoy it at all and it made her feel nauseous afterward. So depending on what you order, you'll love it or hate it. read more

Have food allergies and called ahead to make sure menu would work. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Had the beet burger on a gluten free bun and it was excellent! Fries are cooked in a separate fryer. Cool outdoor seating area. Will definitely be back. read more

terrible. waited ten minutes to be acknowledged that we were going to spend our money at their establishment. Four other parties left due to the non response by the restaurant. finally a guy came out and would not tell us how long the wait was. he simply said "substantial ". we said forget it abs left. service is key!! bad service does not get my business and it should not get yours read more