Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Red Onion Cafe

    3.8 (243 reviews)
    ModerateDesserts, Salad, Pizza

    The Red Onion Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    THE RED ONION CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like The Red Onion Cafe

    Recommended Reviews - The Red Onion Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    BLT, French Onion Soup, Burger, Fries
    Steve-Pam B.

    Fantastic leisure lunch experience. Our waiter, Beck, was fabulous. The food was delicious, every bite.

    Artichoke Dip
    Glenn G.

    We spent the weekend in the Boone/Valle Crucis area and I asked someone who used to live here for some recommendations. This was one of the places he suggested. We weren't able to grab lunch so we were starving by 3 p.m. on a Sunday and made a reservation. We were promptly seated indoors, although there is outdoor seating is well. The artichoke dip was filling and delicious, and we appreciate that they didn't skimp on the bread like some places do. My wife enjoyed the Greek turkey burger and I enjoyed the tilapia sandwich, even though the seasoning was tiny bit salty for my taste. We'll take a local restaurant over a chain every time and were glad we stopped in.

    Low Country Salmon
    Brooke P.

    I think out of all the places we tried in Boone over the weekend, this spot surprised us the most in all the best ways. When you think of "cafe", sandwiches and small plates come to mind. This was anything but. We totally should have listened to our friend we were with who lived in Boone when she was talking it up because it was worth the hype. The low country salmon was hands down the best salmon I've ever had in my life for the crispy skin alone. Add that on top of a grit cake with andouille cream sauce and OMG! The ribeye was tender, juicy and delicious with a bourbon glaze and peppercorn dusting, of course accompanied with a good ol baked potato. We also had the chicken pesto pizza and Cajun chicken pasta at the table which was thoroughly enjoyed. Not pictured was the Horace cookie which is basically a blonde brownie with pecans (so good it was gone before I could get a pic ‍). Definitely a spot we plan to visit again the next time we are in Boone - and you should too!!

    Pimento Cheese Plate
    Nikki B.

    Came up for a weekend away and found this place on Yelp! The pimento cheese appetizer was really good. It comes with celery and carrots as well as bread slices. It's enough to share for at least three people but more than that I say get too! The cheddar is rich and delicious. My date had the Coffee Rubbed Sirloin with baked potato and the veg of the day which was green beans with pepper and onion. It was extraordinary. The flavor from the rub really compliments the veg choice and the meat was prepared perfectly. I had the Low Country Salmon. The sauce on this is decadent and delicious! It's so well done and seemed to be a house favorite. The salmon was perfectly seasoned and cooked. It's served over a cheesy polenta cake. The polenta was crisp and creamy, and with the sauces sooooo good. If you're a salmon lover like me you will really enjoy this dish. I can't wait to come back and try more items from the menu!

    Front patio view of Appalachian State University across the street.
    Ed D.

    This is a great find - thanks Yelp reviewers! Downtown Boone was busy this Saturday afternoon so we drove through and found that Red Onion Cafe had the best ratings and great views so we decided to check it out. We also had our big hound and were happy to see that they had a spacious outdoor patio. Everything on the menu look good and we both ordered the combo specials. These are large portions and an appetizer and one combo would have been sufficient though we both loved our individual meals, even after the large plate of onion rings. Our server Brandon S was very attentive but not intrusive. We highly recommend the Red Onion Cafe to others, and especially if you're dining with your furry family members.

    Turkey burger with pasta salad

    Not a fan of the food at all. The pimento cheese had a weird taste. I ordered the turkey burger. It was so salty I couldn't eat it. The pasta salad had absolutely zero taste. I mean literally zero taste. The drinks were good though. Our waiter was friendly and food came out in a timely manner. Place is outdated and almost looked a little dirty.

    Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie
    Alex T.

    Food was great and so was the service! We had a late lunch, and weren't that hungry so we just had an appetizer and desserts. The Artichoke dip was great, but the winners of the night were the desserts. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie was AMAZING! I told our waitress that I'd consider making the drive back up from Florida for it

    Koury K.

    Not bad of a restaurant, service is good, food is okay. Italian American menu. Not much to else to say. Just okay.

    Martini

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Amber L.
    0
    164
    52

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alex T.
    55
    36
    43

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Koury K.
    25
    325
    1061

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Great food. Enjoyed my burger immensely. Would highly recommend them. Will go back next time I'm in the area.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mat T.
    1
    36
    5

    2 years ago

    I have been here multiple times, and I have never had an issue. The food is always good and fresh. Their pizza's are AMAZING!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rafael R.
    138
    25
    0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Always consistent in food quality and service! It's been around forever and it's a great way to support local businesses.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Way overpriced for the small portion sizes. I'd highly recommend finding some here else to fill up!

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mavis D.
    124
    23
    6

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    The best red pepper soup I've ever had!!!! It's usually only served on saturdays but it's worth the wait

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Dan B.
    0
    83
    49

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 7

    The Red Onion Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Red Onion Cafe

    You might also consider

    The Local - The Boonie Burger

    The Local

    4.3(880 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    The Local - Bar area

    Bar area

    The Local - Pulled Pork & Smoked Gouda Nachos

    Pulled Pork & Smoked Gouda Nachos

    The Local - PULLED PORK & SMOKED GOUDA NACHOS

    See all

    PULLED PORK & SMOKED GOUDA NACHOS

    F A R M  Cafe - Lentil and kale soup, arroz con pollo, melon, cucumber, mint and rose water salad, broccoli and green salad

    F A R M Cafe

    4.9(49 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $

    love the purpose and mission behind the cafe, and that they have vegan and other options for those…read morewith dietary restrictions

    Okay, I have had a vacation house in Boone for over 23 years ..even one of my kids went to App…read moreState, and I really feel ashamed I have not noticed FARM over the thousands of times I have walked down King Street. Dori and I were looking for lunch one day while visiting Boone, and ended up in FARM, mainly due to visiting Boone Belles right next door. What was an accidental encounter turned in a fantastically spiritual experience. Like all my write ups, I am giving my opinion based on the type of restaurant, service level expectation and the price. The business model is to feed everyone who walks in whether you can pay for it or not. You can eat for free, pay $10 (or as much as you like), buy food tokens to leave in the token jar (passing on a meal) or work off your food in the kitchen or helping out... again as much or little as you want. The atmosphere is what your would expect in a cafeteria with folks servicing you off the line. The food is fresh farm to table and you only pay $10 for your meal, of which they have few options and basically tell what you can order. ... the food for the price was exceptional. There were folks from all walks of life from well off families to homeless folks off the street. The tables are tight and few in number, but not so much to be instructive. They are close enough to do one of my favorite things, meeting people and hearing their stories. So eat, meet and move on to make room for others. You really can miss it if you do not know it's there...look for it tucked away between Boone Belles and the Horton Hotel. In summary, if you are looking for a different dinner adventure, a good meal for services and price, and want to do some good in the world please check out the FARM Restaurant.

    Photos
    F A R M  Cafe
    F A R M  Cafe - Explanation of payment options / methods

    Explanation of payment options / methods

    F A R M  Cafe

    See all

    South End Brewing - House salad with chicken.

    South End Brewing

    4.2(49 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    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.

    Photos
    South End Brewing - Knocked it out of the park with clean and cold draft!!

    Knocked it out of the park with clean and cold draft!!

    South End Brewing
    South End Brewing

    See all

    Clean Eatz

    Clean Eatz

    3.9(21 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    Healthy dining
    Grab-and-go

    This was our first time ever eating here after seeing it online. I am sodium restricted and like to…read moreeat healthy in general, as anti-inflammatory as possible. This restaurant makes it possible.. I was told that they not add any salt to any of their items except to the vegetables and you can request it no salt and season it yourself. I had the create-your-own-bowl with the quinoa, kale and shredded beef, and it was so good. My husband had the turkey burned ends flatbread and his was equally good, I will order it next time. The ambience is nice, service is outstanding. I highly recommend. This was my birthday lunch and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

    I enjoy the food here from time to time. We used to order batches of their packaged frozen meals…read moreregularly. My favorite item on their menu is the ¨build your own¨ bowl. I think this place is worth a try if you are looking for a healthy lunch in Boone. The counter service at Clean Eatz used to be excellent, friendly, and helpful. Everyone here used to be on top of things. It has gone downhill recently. On my last visit, the person taking our order was distracted, inattentive, and not particularly helpful- seemingly more focused on flirting with the guy in line in front of us than paying any attention to other customers. I went to the counter after our meal to order more food to go and to get a to-go box. I was the first person in line. I was ignored by the fellow at the counter, who instead waited on two other people who came in after me and who were clearly behind me in line. This place caters to the gym crowd. It seems maybe the gym crowd are the only customers they want. There are two significantly better restaurants in the same shopping complex. Try MINT Indian and STICK BOY Kitchen for friendly service and delicious food as well.

    Photos
    Clean Eatz
    Clean Eatz - Healthy Lunch

    Healthy Lunch

    Clean Eatz - Wraps, Bowls, Burgers, and More!

    See all

    Wraps, Bowls, Burgers, and More!

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

    The Cardinal

    4.4(359 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    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.

    Photos
    The Cardinal - Dining area

    Dining area

    The Cardinal - Small single Cardinal lettuce wrap burger, very good, perfect size. Okra was killer.

    Small single Cardinal lettuce wrap burger, very good, perfect size. Okra was killer.

    The Cardinal - Inside bar

    See all

    Inside bar

    The Red Onion Cafe - desserts - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...