Went for Christmas lunch and it was AWFUL. Just AWFUL. Minimal offerings with a carving "station" that 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. read more

My mother, grandmother, and I all came here for dinner during our overnight in Blowing Rock; unfortunately, 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. read more

See all

My husband and I are staying at Chetola and originally came in for a couple afternoon drinks. Decided after a little bit we'd like to order a few starters. Even though I was told the baked goat cheese would take 15-20 mins (& was totally find with that wait), it took 40 mins for the wedge salad and baked goat cheese. The food was really great once it finally came. The delay really killed the experience which was unfortunate because our server was really sweet and friendly and the vibe was pretty laid back and nice. Would recommend keeping kids out of bar seats & sports on the TVs at the bar. read more

Timberlake's Restaurant - Wedge salad - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

See all

Food was amazing and service was top notch! We went with a large party and accommodations were great in a private area, food came out fairly fast and was all correct. Dessert drinks were a hit and so was the chocolate cake! read more

Timberlake's Restaurant - Menu - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

See all

I was very unhappy with our last visit here. We had a large family gathering here and were seated in a private room, which was convenient. However, things went downhill from there. Sparing many of the details, my two biggest complaints were 1) We waited 60 minutes from ordering our food to when it hit our table. I know we had a large party, but the restaurant was mostly empty, and, having worked in a restaurant, cannot fathom why it took that long. The kids in the party got restless (as did I) and we were told excuse after excuse about how things were "almost ready." How did my daughter's hot dog take an hour?? Secondly, and I attached a picture, the food was barely enough for a child. I ordered shrimp and grits and it was small and not filling in the least. In fact, I counted and I ate my meal in 9 bites. An hour waiting for food and I ate it in under 2. I got fast food afterwards because I was still hungry. Chetola is a beautiful resort and Timberlake's is a beautiful setting, but I am not eating again. read more

Timberlake's Restaurant - Shrimp and grits (VERY small portion) - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Fathers Day breakfast buffet was excellent with something for everyone from smoked salmon to frittata. Coffee was superb, several juices were served sausage bacon and scrambled eggs, fruit and cinnamon swirl. A bargain for $20 read more

This review reflects dinner over two nights during recent stay on the property. First night ordered the charcuterie which was lovey, the lamb bolognese and the filet. The filet was flavorful, very tender but a tad over the temp ordered. The lamb bolognese tasted good but wasn't the typical texture of a bolognese sauce and instead was more of a chunky sauce with lamb chunks, mushrooms, etc. so unusual but not bad. But a couple of things were off putting the first night. They were training new staff and the manager's voice giving the group instructions was distracting (took place in the servers area/kitchen but we could hear from our table). Second was when we asked if we could take two wine glasses to our room to go with the bottle of wine we had not finished, room was above restaurant, we were told no and were offered plastic cups, and that would had been fine but the explanation was an off putting tale that letting one couple would soon lead to 40 glasses missing. He didn't mean it but the interpretation was we would steal the glasses. When I stay at a resort at this price point and am paying for a special dinner this isn't what I expected. Second night was a totally different experience. Instead of dining room we ate in the bar area. Bartender was absolutely delightful. Had the burger which was excellent and the hot ham and havarti sandwich was spectacular. Loved the fries. So we would go again to eat bar food but skip the dining room until they get more settled in with new management and chef. I completely understand start of season new staff training just wish a couple of things had been handled differently the first night. The female server that first night did a great job. read more

See all

**Thorough details can be found on Timberlake's Facebook reviews (as I can't seem to fit it all here). We have been coming here for many years as a tradition, as our family has had our time share at Chetola at least 35 years. I wish I asked to speak to a manger, but decided to enjoy the rest of our trip and wait until I gave a review. We dined Saturday, November 29th. They have gone downhill and until that changes, I would not recommend. I hate to be so harsh, but we didn't even feel the added gratuity for our meal was an appropriate tip. I know the waitress knew we were disappointed and probably heard us, but said nothing at all. read more

Great food, good service, and wonderful ambience. The view of the lake makes it! I always enjoy being privileged to trout when I am in the High Country and they did not disappoint at Timberlake's. Had a great drink at the bar and sat by the roaring fire before I sat down by the window. Will definitely be back with a group. read more

I'm struggling with this review because I've been before (2018) and it was delicious. But we recently went for lunch for my sister in laws graduation and it was just .. meh. It wasn't bad, per se but it also was lacking and just wasn't really good. We got a variety of apps and then each got a meal. I don't think anyone was raving about the meal. I'm hoping they can figure things out and get back on track because in the past this was an incredible and delicious restaurant. read more

See all

The menu had one appetizer, one salad, and 4 entrees. When we asked the server if there were specials, she explained the chef focuses on these dishes, and by the way, all ingredients were chosen carefully to work together so no substitutions are allowed. She said the portions were generous. No bread service at all. We waited a long time for the starter (5 underseasoned shrimp for $22), then 5 minutes after it was served, our entrees turned up. Husband's pasta was a cereal bowl sized serving with no protein, and my well prepared filet sat on no more than 2 tablespoons of mashed potatoes. A garnish more than a side. Very expensive, very disappointing meal. We won't be back unless and until the menu improves. read more

I took a friend from out of town to eat at what used to be one of my favorite restaurants, promising her a really nice meal. Her salmon was "okay." I ordered the mushroom and arugula flatbread. It came with nothing on it but a pile of arugula and 2 thin slices of mushroom. I was so disappointed. The waitress tried to fix it, but the kitchen responded by giving her 8 more thin slices of mushroom. I left it all on the table. I will not eat at Timberlake's again unless I hear reports from friends that it has improved. This was a terribly disappointing dining experience. read more

What a beautiful experience it's been here at Chetola Resort in Blowing Rock, particularly at Timberlake's Restaurant. The staff is so friendly and accommodating, I've been greeted by a smiling face everywhere I've gone. From the Maintenance and Grounds team to the front desk, to the Restaurant and Bar. I've had a few meals on the resort and a few off the resort, they've all been really good. It does get busy in the restaurant at times. Breakfast starts at 7:30am, but most folks don't come down til after 8:30 or 9, so it was nice and peaceful. I'll definitely be back. read more

See all

This is one of the most beautiful restaurant settings in the high country, overlooking Chetola Lake. Unfortunately the quality of the restaurant's food and service doesn't match the scenery. I had the crab linguine ($43) which was OK, but uninspired. My wife had a salad with "grilled " chicken ($24). The salad was all greens with chopped boiled chicken on top. The menu is limited, entrees range from $35-64, salad not included. Our server was inexperienced and forgetful. In summary, the food is acceptable, the prices are unacceptable read more

Always an amazing dining experience at Timberlake's Restaurant! The views from the restaurant are just spectacular. I would choose to sit outside every single time just to have the view of the lake. The service has been consistently great. The servers are very friendly and attentive. One time, our entrees took a little longer to come out because the order had been overlooked. They were very apologetic and offered us a dessert on the house. All the entrees we have had were delicious! There's plenty of vegetarian options including the impossible meatloaf, impossible burger and numerous salads. They have a large variety of wines and craft cocktails. We'll certainly be back as regulars here. read more

See all

Price gouging for a Mothers day meal, a meal that should have cost $45 bucks but on today's special occasion they charged $85 for food that was barely edible, Croque Madame described as filled with thin sliced ham and Gueyere cheese turned out to be 1 wafer thin slice of ham no cheese, just 2 hunks of bread with eggs on top. Sad looking small portion of eggs benedict, a NY strip that was requested Medium Rare came out as well done. The tea was excellent though. read more

Delicious breakfast outdoors at Chetola! Loved my brunch salmon benedict. It included a side, potato wedges. It was yummy and generous portion. The view is beautiful of the lake! They give you options to sit outdoors and the patio is great! read more

Yummy yummy is all I can say. Well actually I can say a lot more because we stayed at the Inn and have eaten three meals here already. The first night I had a crispy fried Oyster Appetizer with a gigantic Berry Salad filled with greens, berries, pecans and sprinkled with feta. My hours and had a fantastic Trout Dish and it just melted in your mouth. I enjoyed a taste of it. The Buffet Breakfast was also enjoyable with its huge assortment of items. You could also order eggs or an omelet as well. The best part of the buffet was the Chocolate Scones. They also had Blueberry Scones and Banana Bread. There were many hot foods such as oatmeal, waffles, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon and grits. Bagels and colD salmon was also available. For second dinner meal my husband ordered a Cheeseburger with Fries. I had Tomato Soup with a side salad. Service was great during all our meals. read more

See all

Haven't been in a while and a lot has changed! I was there this past Thursday evening, had a cocktail at the bar and it was good but the food was substandard. There were limited items on the menu and the prices were not comparative to the quality36-40 $.I ordered the linguine with crab and sun dried tomatoes. The dish had a non distinct sauce with no flavor. The vegetable was an additional cost to add to the entree. My husband ordered the fish that was in a bowl of she crab soup. White on white with a bland flavor. Service was good but we were one of only three couple in the large restaurant and they seated us all together next to a crying baby. I was fine with the baby but the couple was anxious with the baby crying. Ambiance and music was the best aspect of our experience. read more

Well this was a really unique experience. We (various groupings of family from 2 of us up to 8) have been coming here for many years and have always enjoyed the service and delicious food. Until tonight. Tonight we had 8 of us and we were seated right away. Amanda was the server and she was very patient and kind. However a couple things went wrong from the start. My wife's wine pour looked to be about 4 oz. I asked for a Burgundy wine and a white wine was set in front of me. Amanda handled these issues well, brought out another 2 oz of wine for my wife and corrected my wine with the proper Burgundy. So far so good. We ordered wings for an appetizer and my father ordered a soup. The wings arrived an hour later and the soup 10 minutes after that! While waiting for the wings a manager, I think Matt, came out to proactively apologize for the long wait and said 5 more minutes. Ten minutes went by and we were all pretty irritated by now so I asked what was the wait and just at that time they showed up. They were pretty good. Ten minutes later we asked for my father's soup which showed up shortly after... some time passed and finally the entrees arrived. Myself and one other got the NC trout. It was overcooked, slightly fishy, lukewarm on a bed of very weird brown, earthy mashed potatoes. No one had ever seen potatoes like this. They were inedible. My mother's crab cakes she said were decent. My sister's salmon she said was average. My son had a steak that he enjoyed and I had a bite. It was good. When we were asked how things were I told the server honestly that the fish was not very good but the others were fine. My son and his friend asked for Mac and cheese because they couldn't eat the mashed potatoes. When a different server, a woman in a gray pants suit, brought out the new sides I asked her if something had changed in the restaurant because we'd been coming for years and always really enjoyed all aspects of the place. She said no, all was the same, and she was clearly unhappy that we were unhappy. I asked her some questions about the brown mashed potatoes and that was it. A few minutes later a bespectacled, bearded young man came out to apologize for the bad experience and tell us that dinner was on the house BUT that we would be asked to promptly leave for treating the staff poorly! We were all pretty shocked and I asked him how he had the audacity to ask us to leave because we spoke up about a very bad experience at a very expensive restaurant. Words were exchanged and we left the place in disbelief. DO NOT spend your time or money in this place until they are able to return to the excellent food and service of previous years. read more

The food and service are in stark contrast with the beautiful setting and great reputation this restaurant has. We will most likely not be back. The wait for the food was too long, for everyone around us, not just us; everyone was missing at least one thing out of what they ordered (I ordered no butter on the bagel as I am allergic to dairy, and it came soaked in butter, and an extra fruit cup that didn't come); I was really disappointed that a restaurant in the heart of the Blue Ridge offers just cantaloupe, honey dew and withered grapes in their fruit cup, with zero berries. Honestly, I have had better fruit selections at fast food places. Also the place was filthy! Tables stayed uncleaned with food and paper on the floor the entire time we were there. The whole experience left us very disappointed. read more

The worst dinner of all 2024. Slow inattentive service and absolutely awful food. They should be ashamed of themselves.

First off I would like to say the waitress was very kind. After that I have no good words for this establishment. Me and 3 of my buddy's came in for dinner and got some burgers. We heard some good things about this place and were expecting an enjoyable meal. But instead we waited an hour and eleven minutes to receive our food and when we finally did get it our orders didn't come out as requested. Our group had let Brandon know our issue and we were treated with disrespect and he made it seem like we were not welcome. We spoke with many employees and none of them helped. I will never be returning if your staying here take the drive to a better restaurant. read more

Overpriced for the quality of food. I took my family for Christmas Dinner buffet because this was the first Christmas since my husband passed away. read more

I was expecting a quiet , gastronomic experience- anything but!! It was loud with music blaring from an adjacent room and baby's crying. There was nothing to absorb the sound. My wife and I both ordered pan-seared trout which was heavily breaded and much better once the crust was removed. Plus the fact @ $41 for the entry was very overpriced! Fried green tomatoes with pimento cheese was a highlight , however. Service was okay but I have yet to figure out if the check is requested why it takes 10-15 minutes to bring it??!! Don't waste your time or money here. I am surprised that a gentleman of such high standards as Mr. Timberlake would have his name associated with something of this quality. read more

Please save yourself and go anywhere else in Blowing Rock! We just had Mother's Day dinner there and it was such a disappointment. Nothing was as desirable as it used to be - ambiance, service and food have all gone downhill. It was expensive with small portions. Our server was not very pleasant. The food was truly mediocre, and that might be too generous of a description. None of our entrees were a good temperature and we constantly went without water. A couple of us ordered a burger, as did my niece, and it was the exact same burger as the kids meal...but double the price. At this point it was just comical. I know the business manager will get on here and reply like he's done to other negative reviews ad act like they care but clearly they're not interested in what customers have to say. I really wish we had paid attention to previous reviews and skipped this place so please learn from us and go to any of the other amazing places nearby! read more

The food was significantly below expectations. Even the order taking was faulty. Four of us went for breakfast. I ordered an omelet with tomato, spinach, and ham. The tomatoes were so tiny, I could barely taste them. The spinach was neatly deposited in one place. And the ham was missing. I informed the server that they forgot the ham and she brought me a cup of overly salty, gristle laden ham. My stomach felt queasy after eating, as did those of two others in the group who got omelets. One of us ordered a quiche, which instead of a nice pie shaped piece was a tiny round thing that was 3/4 crust and 1/4 filling. read more

This place has some amazing food! We started out with the charcuterie board which was delicious. Then my wife got the herb roasted chicken which she loved and I got the Korean short ribs. Short ribs were so tender and literally cut like butter. The only reason this place isn't a 5 star because service was a tad slow but we are not complaining by any means. Super cozy feel with a high class dining experience. I would for sure come Back again when we visit Boone! read more

See all

Date day to Blowing Rock, NC took us to this beautiful location. It's a nice size dining room and plenty of patio seating too. The view of the lake is stunning. The menu is fairly limited and they were "out" of charcuterie which is our standby meal with a glass of wine. We ended up with a burger and a chicken Caesar salad. Both were delicious. The wait staff were wonderful, but there was a woman following around the staff as though she was paid to micromanage, but the wait staff were very good at what they did. The restaurant itself has a nice lodge feel, it's clean, but some of the furniture was dated with knicks and scratches, for character??? The prices were reasonable, but I'd probably try one of the smaller restaurants downtown, if I were to be in Blowing Rock again. read more

See all

This place was very welcoming. The sitting are is super warm and inviting. The NY strip is a most have and the charcuterie was definitely a plus! We had the brown sugar old fashioned read more

When I was looking for a place for us to eat and reading the reviews, I came across this one and made the decision to give it a try. The reviews were pretty good ... nothing special ... but the food ... WOW! I had my tastebuds tuned up for NC mountain trout and nothing else would suffice. I'm SO GLAD I found Timberlakes. Our server, Nick, was attentive but not overly so. Every course was served at the right temperature and in the correct manner (prepared properly) making the entire meal enjoyable. The only thing that I can comment on negatively is the batter on the fried green tomatoes was a bit heavy. When I reported this to Nick, he graciously accepted my comments as a way of making the experience better for everyone. I highly recommend this establishment. You will not be disappointed. read more

We ate outside overlooking the lake. It was lovely. Our server was so pleasant and helpful. Food was delicious. I had the fried green tomato caprese. Wonderful experience. read more

What a really cool place to have dinner it has a very relaxed atmosphere and the food is just great. Service by youngsters is hit and miss sometimes but on this evening it was spot on. I had the impossible burger which was very good and the wife had the shrimp and grits and she said she liked it very much, followed by Pretzel Blondie for dessert, and it too was very good. We sat near the fire place which was nice and the view out the window of the lake and gazebo was special. I Wanted to give this place 5 stars but there are 2 issues that prevent me from doing so. As is in most places like this they just seat you with no thought or consideration for your circumstances, for example on this evening the wife and I come in to a nice place like this and the Hostess sets us next to 2 tables with some not the best behaved kids, dont get me wrong I have grandkids and love them, but if we come to a nice restaurant like Timberlake's just err on the side of the couple and place them some place more personal, if families come in put them next to families etc. The other issue is the tables and the dining area itself, it is like inexpensive chairs and tables that are constantly moved around and then not put back in the position they were before so it ends up in a very awkward and not very friendly setup with one table blocking the view of the fireplace, or all of the tables put near each other uncomfortably close. It is almost like they really do not have a restaurant manager to make sure the best seating arrangement is made to accommodate the masses. So help me help you get 5 stars and put some thought and money into set up and class of furniture. Keep up the good work. All of this aside we will be back and hope it has gotten better. read more

See all

Absolutely delicious. We started with the tomato Gouda soup which had some sort of crunch in it (carrot? Garlic?). So good. I had the Korean braised short ribs with the brussel sprouts. The short ribs fell apart with the touch of a fork. My husband got the elk loin and the maple bacon jam was TO DIE FOR. Service was great, atmosphere is beautiful. Leaving very satisfied!! read more

Timberlake's Restaurant - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

The environment and service are very good. But my friends and I all agree that the quality of the food is just so so. Trout is too terrible，it has a bit of bitterness, and the dry and hard rice cannot even be eaten. Fried oysters are very salty. I don't think these foods are worth their high prices read more

Timberlake's Restaurant - trout - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Generally I do not write reviews I read them before committing to travel. However, I decided to give back as I use the reviews here so often. This is an accurate summery of our experience. Since the site allows only one selection I will outline our entire experience with the Timberlake's Pub and restaurant. My wife took me to the Chetola Resort for my 58th Birthday. After checking into the resort and unwinding in the room we decided to go to the pub and have a few drinks before diner. The pub area is rather small with a bar and a few tables. When we first walked into the pub the first thing to hit us was the noise level. The tables in the Pub were all occupied with families with young children toddler or younger. The atmosphere was loud and the children were allowed to dominate the area with the parents caring little for others in the room. First, it's a Pub why all the children. I felt like I was at the Great wolf lodge. We ordered a drink but had to leave the pub area. One and done. So much for enjoying the Pub. Breakfast the next morning at Timberlake's started with a 30-minute wait. Once seated we ordered breakfast. I had the traditional eggs benedict. I have to say the meal we very underwhelming and I'm confident I would have had better at Dennys. We had dinner reservations that night at Timberlake's which we cancelled after breakfast. So much for enjoying the on-site Pub or restaurant. read more

Food poisoning from a poor meal. Don't let the wedding reception catering photos fool you, this breakfast is no better than a poorly ran Cracker Barrel with stone walls. Turkey sausage likely frozen since the pioneers passed through (at least with respect to the breakfast). I may get some hate, "oh it's only the breakfast", but how many times have you messed up scrambled eggs and bacon? I cannot believe people pay more than that of a holiday inn for this abysmal food quality. I am appalled and will never be returning. read more

We enjoyed both breakfast and dinner at Timberlake's. At breakfast, we had just a simple bacon, eggs, toast selection and it was good. We were their at 7:30, right when they opened. About halfway through breakfast, an older gentleman is seated at the next table. Eventually a conversation ensues regarding this being our first visit to Blowing Rock, etc. We are informed that this area has some of the finest trout fishing in the world and this fellow should know, because he had occasion to experience many fishing holes around the world. This one is world class. We asked how long he has been coming here..."oh, 80 years or so," and did he own a condo or time share..."oh I have a place nearby." He rattled off the phone number of the front desk in case we wanted to return sometime and book the trout fishing guide. And, we had a nice conversation about his son in law, who lives in our hometown and is a youth pastor. Upon leaving, we introduce ourselves and he says, "It is a pleasure to meet you, enjoy your stay, my name is Bob." Later on, I am thinking about how long he has been coming here, how he traveled the world fly fishing and that he must be wealthy....and it dawned on me - Bob....Timberlake....sure enough! Nice man. The dinner Chilean sea bass was delicious as well as the Korean BBQ short ribs and the berry salad was outstanding. read more

Stumbled across this place. Food and service were outstanding! Best potato salad I have ever eaten! I will definitely eat here again. read more

See all

This review is for a few months back. Forgot to write it 'til now, and better late than never am I right? Didn't have the highest expectations coming here for dinner, but was pleasantly surprised. I got the pan seared salmon with coconut rice and asparagus. The salmon was super flakey and tender, and the coconut rice was subtly sweet with a nice chew. Roasted asparagus was also great. I tried some of the korean short rib, a massive portion. Also great flavor in the korean bbq sauce and was cooked expertly. The seafood pasta was good but not remarkable. The kale salad with prosciutto was fine but gave someone in my party an upset stomach (only she ate it and the rest of us were fine). Interpret that information as you will. I didn't take off a star because of it, since I wasn't affected. The sangria I ordered was 3/5 stars. The flavor was a bit weird and it had cubes of cantaloupe in it. Like come on, cantaloupe? Aka the fruit reserved for fruit bowls you get as a side to try to be healthy and then never eat because it's cantaloupe and just is the most boring fruit ever. Anyway. Moving on to breakfast buffet: I'd say it's worth it to come here and get the buffet if you can eat a lot. I loaded up on everything including the smoked salmon and all was decent. Overall, not a bad option if you're too lazy to go into town. Food is just hit-or-miss. Service is kinda sucky and slow, but you already know that based on the other reviews. read more

See all