Café Violette is pure culinary perfection in the heart of vibrant and spunky Blowing Rock. My wife and I came up for a quick getaway, and this spot turned out to be the highlight of our trip. We lucked out with a table on the cozy patio sitting on Main Street, where the town buzzes with life. The interior is beautiful and refined, but the outdoor setting, with the fresh mountain air and the hum of the town, created the perfect backdrop for a special evening. Service was impeccable. Gracious, attentive, and perfectly timed throughout the night. We began with a chilled French Chenin Blanc that paired beautifully with our appetizers. The escargot, bathed in a garlic cream and Gruyère sauce, was rich and mouth meltingly tasty. The braised and seared octopus was incredibly tender, deeply flavorful, and quite honestly, one of the best we've had anywhere. For mains, we shared the heirloom tomato burger, which was juicy, perfectly cooked, and packed with flavor. Alongside that, we split the mushroom burrata orecchiette, pillowy pasta coated in a creamy lemon pistachio pesto with locally sourced mushrooms. It was rich, bright, and beautifully composed. When dessert rolled around, we switched things up with cocktails. I had the old fashioned with a pistachio twist, complex and not overly sweet. My wife enjoyed a smooth and flavorful espresso martini. Both paired wonderfully with the finale: a creamy, light tiramisu and a house-made French éclair with fresh peaches. Each bite was the perfect ending to an already stunning meal. From start to finish, Café Violette delivered. The food, the service, the atmosphere, and the view all came together in the best possible way. This is French fine dining with soul, nestled in one of North Carolina's most charming towns. An absolute must-visit in Blowing Rock. read more

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This restaurant is a must if you are in Blowing Rock. Planning ahead to make a reservation is a must as the restaurant is on the smaller side. Service (Ellen) was excellent, value was high and food was outstanding. The grouper was prepared perfectly. The scallops are rich and delicious and paired well with the pickled grape salad. Did someone say duck fat fries. These were the best fries ever. read more

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Excellent food served by an attentive and detail oriented staff. Wonderful location. Amazing and romantic ambience.

If there is a French restaurant in town of course I have to try it! This cozy little place is found on Main Street and I would highly recommend reservations. We arrived on a Friday night and were greeted by a really nice hostess and a friendly waitress. For starters we ordered the Duck Fat Fries and the Escargot & Gougères, both of which were savory and rich. I highly suggest dipping the fries in the garlic-y Escargot sauce, mmmmmmm. I decided to try their French 75 because, "when in France...", and it was perfect: refreshing, balanced, delish. For dinner we shared the Duck Breast paired with the Kale & Apple Salad, both were yummy and nice portioned. Overall this was a fun little find with great French cuisine. read more

We had an amazing 20th anniversary dinner at this French cuisine inspired restaurant in Blowing Rock. I mean it, the dinner was fantastic!! We picked this place which is located in a small shopping area in downtown Blowing Rock. I think the building was a house at some point and was repurposed for retail or commercial. The interior has that homey feel. We ordered the following cocktails, Sazerac and the Lavender inspired cocktail but, my wife doesn't remember the name. The Sazerac was great. I haven't had one in awhile and I enjoyed it very much. We started with the following appetizers; escargot and the mascarpone strawberry spring salad. Both were delicious!! The escargot came with gnocchi, big plus!! Next up the entrees. I went with the Skate fish special. The fish was lightly fried and was really tasty. The accompanying vegetables were tasty and complimented the fish really well. My wife went with the Octopus that came with a fennel citrus salad. It was awesome! The desert we chose was the Creme de Violette Parfait. The parfait was rich and creamy and the blueberry jam, lemon shortbread went well with the thyme ice cream. Again, it was delicious. We had a great meal at Cafe Violette! Definitely check this place out when you are visiting Blowing Rock! read more

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Ambience is awesome. Service is super friendly. Atmosphere is wonderful. We had good exotic food and great drinks. So, I experimented. I wish I hadn't but I did. I got the Octopus. It was not horrific, I did not go running out of the restaurant in terror, but as exotic as it sounds, it was essentially a big long scallop. It was "meh" after the third bite. The chef made a great effort at dressing it up and brazing it, but - and I ate the whooole thing - it was a little chewier than a scallop, had the appearance of Crisco on the interior, and just was as a meat, not tasty. Again, I say the chef did the best he could with this octopus leg, the little suction cups were on it and brazed well, but in retrospect, it would have been better as calamari, a little more salt/garlic butter, or some kind of sushi. I had the added bonus of watching my wife's face as I ate this little leg with suction cups! So that added to the entertainment value! On to her fish - very tender, but the undercooked a portion. Not a "send-back" situation, but needed the heat for a little longer. So many other good things about this place, I hate to complain, but the price is premium, I expect the food to be perfect. Sadly, it wasn't. So in total, we went to an awesome restaurant, but chose poorly once inside - actually we sat on the patio which was beautiful. Avoid the octopus (unless you want a long single-piece scallop, dressed up). Stay to the traditional dishes, and I think you won't be disappointed. read more

Food was excellent as always and love dining upstairs. But service not as great due to staffing shortage.

What a great little spot! The food is delicious, service excellent. Make sure to have a reservation, it's a tiny little spot, and if you have mobility issues be sure to ask for downstairs seating. read more

My husband and I visited Cafe Violette with my brother and his wife while in Blowing Rock for a long weekend. Cafe Violette is expensive, but their food and service are unmatched in Blowing Rock. Everything we had was amazing! My husband was the only one who had an appetizer - he had their creamy asparagus soup. Served with their homemade baguette, it was delicious. For our entrees, two of us had the scallops, one had the filet mignon, and one had the rabbit special. The scallops included three large scallops over roasted fennel and onions in a delicious sauce. I'm not usually a fan of fennel, but combined with the light sauce, I ate most of mine. The scallops were cooked perfectly. I loved that this dish was low carb, too. My sister-in-law said her filet was the best she'd ever had. My husband's rabbit (done two ways) was tender and delicious. We visited on a Thursday, where the mussels and martinis are $10. We tried several, but I especially loved their Everything She Wants (without the sugar rim). Reservations are a must, and if you want to sit outside, be aware that if you have more than two people, you will be seated at tables with umbrellas near the entrance. Unfortunately, you cannot avoid some sun in those locations during prime time. Luckily, they were able to seat us inside to avoid the heat of the day. We will definitely return! read more

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What a wonderful high class dining experience! Cafe Violette is located in the heart of downtown Blowing Rock. The ambiance is upscale and romantic. The service was excellent and everyone was very friendly. We ordered a cheese and charcuterie board and the spaghetti puttanesca. Both were delicious!! They also have a good selection of wine and craft cocktails. read more

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Don't sleep on this place. The night we visited was very cold, they were very busy, we had no reservation; no problem, we were seated on the patio with heaters and blankets. The wine and food were delicious. We started with beef tartar and a cheese plate that was beautifully presented. Followed by the French onion soup and scallop entree. The service was excellent and we enjoyed sitting on the patio. read more

Café Violette - Steak tartar & cheese plate. - Mediterranean Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Service was excellent, food was outstanding and the wine list was small but interesting and well curated. It's a cute little place right in downtown Blowing Rock. I definitely recommend reservations. read more

We made reservations three weeks in advance received both text and phone call to confirm. We were seated right away when arriving. Our server, Danielle was very welcoming and courteous. She was knowledgeable and was able to share preparation styles and ingredients. We began with cocktails which were personally crafted by mixologist and delightful. I especially appreciated the timing Danielle gave us from cocktails to appetizers to entree to dessert as we were not rushed nor experienced delays. The food preparation and presentation were outstanding. Very fresh and absolutely wonderful. An outstanding dining experience. We will certainly be returning on our next visit to Blowing Rock. read more

Amazing yummy food. I love their little outdoor bar area. Ambiance is elegant. However the snooty hostesses really need an attitude change.

Staggeringly great. Lovely fire heated porch, lovely people, and lovingly made menu and preparation. Had to sample a good mix of the eclectic fusion menu. Our 5yo wanted sausage. It came with octopus legs, which he had never tried. 1 bite in and he was asking for another order. He finished the tentacles and sausage himself. The duck came from a huge filet with long beautiful strips and protein unity topped by crisp lightly salted skin. The baklava-esque garam masala almond chicken wrapped in filo was brilliantly aeromatic and sumptious. The matching dessert was equally transcendent. read more

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We reserved a table for 4 pm 2 days before our trip to Blowing Rock. All other slots were booked. We arrived at 4pm as first guests. We were taken to a small cramped corner table right under the steps while the restaurant was empty. We requested another table and they offered two other bar table options. Tip is, book way in advance and also try calling to make a reservation, I've heard a guest call in and ask for a specific table. Food is great and the serving size is generous! We had hoped to have a dessert at the end but we were stuffed after selecting a Charcuterie board plus two appetizers. Our Waitress Annika was a delight. It was a perfect Anniversary dinner. read more

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Café violette was such a delight to find. They accommodated our needs and provided us with excellent service. The garden salad was fresh and had two big slices of tomato. The shrimp scampi was my daughters favorite and the octopus was exceptional. read more

Café Violette - Octopus with mashed potatos - Mediterranean Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

Food, Wine, Music, and Staff ... First, given my excellent visit in May with my golfing buddies, I returned on June 16 with my spouse so I could share the experience with her. The food is absolutely superb; However, a few very prominent detractions worked against the quality of the food to make our visit a "not-so-good" event. The wine pours are s-k-i-m-p-y ... especially if you are drinking white wine. Honestly, we felt totally hosed by the amount of wine for the hefty price. As bad as the short wine pours were, they were nothing in the way of a "dining downer" compared to the absolutely awful music. Initially we were seated outside facing Main Street. After a while a table behind us opened up and we opted to move to it. While making the move we struck up a brief conversation with the couple behind us that was closing out their check and leaving. We briefly referred to the horrid Hip Hop music and they said flat out that they were leaving sooner then they wanted because they could not tolerate it any more. Shortly after we sat at our new table, the couple next to us leaned over and sarcastically wondered why anyone out for a three-digit cost meal would take offense to music referring to women as B---hes. Then they added the obvious: "Why don't they just put on some dinner jazz and let everyone be happy and peaceful?" We skipped dessert and bugged out because WE could not tolerate it any more. On the way out we mentioned the offensive music to the polite gentleman manning the podium and received a cold and sharp "Thank you" which, translated given body language and facial expression, actually amounted to a "Whatever!". As good as the food is, we will pass on a return visit. We do not need to experience offensive music while paying dearly for minimal wine, even though the food is really good. read more

Café Violette - "Chicken Baklava" - Mediterranean Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

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We've been to Cafe Violette a handful of times for special occasions and we will definitely be back for more!!! The duck fat fries are a must, and every entree we have ever ordered is amazing. The service is always top notch aka Ellen. For some reason we always get her as our server and she never disappoints! Also if you knew me, you would know it takes A LOT for me to write a good review . read more

Under new management, Café Violette is a gem and knows what's up. With COVID, they have spaced seating (including plexiglass barriers), including outdoor dining with heaters and sanitized blankets to keep warm on a colder night. Abbey (ask to sit in her section!) is incredible - she gave both her recommendations and our space. She was so beyond sweet and very attentive. We even went there two nights in a row she was so great. For the food/drink, the bartender is a mixologist - highly recommend the cocktails. Appetizer - Albondigas (meatballs) were a great texture and sauce Entrees - Steak Frites - perfectly cooked and nice touch of the chickpea fries Scallops - light but huge portion with 5 large scallops, wonderful flavors and perfectly cooked Pasta Carbonara - different than your typical carbonara, but amazing flavor (and naturally heavy) Dessert - have to give a shout out to the Pistachio ice which has legit chunks of pistachio nuts Go here. They're wonderful, kind and great in the kitchen and behind the bar. read more

Café Violette - Scallops - Mediterranean Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

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This place has a really good ambiance and is a fancier restaurant. The food is good/alright but It is a Mediterranean/French fusion not just French food. The escargot was very fishy for some reason (and I've had it on multiple occasions). The service started out good, but as the night went on we were really just waiting around to even place our actual order and to get the check. I'd say worth trying or for a fancy meal but it might not be worth the price. read more

Café Violette - Chickpea fries - Mediterranean Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

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We loved everything about our experience here. The service was a little slow but we're still in the middle of a pandemic and heck, we were just grateful they were open. The mussels were amazingly good. We also ordered the shrimp, patatas bravas, meat and cheese board and cappuccinos. Honestly, we'd be back in a heartbeat. read more

Café Violette - Mussels and shrimp - Mediterranean Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

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My wife and I ate here on a Friday night while staying in Blowing Rock. Food was wonderful. I had duck breast and the Mrs. had Chicken Corden Bleu. Atmosphere is homey and modern with comfortable seating. Our waitress was attentive and helpful. Overall it was a great experience. read more

Exceptional. The food was fresh and new twists on classic French. We sat in the car and we're able to watch the incredibly talented Isabelle work her magic on appetizers, salads, and desserts. Service was prompt, professional, and light hearted. read more

Exquisite food, wonderful personalized service and comfortable but classy setting. The food is a lightened, modernized French with a subtle Mediterranean/middle eastern twist, packing a punch in flavor. The combinations are unique but seamless. Wanted to order more but we were so full - very generous portions for a fancy place. Don't miss the desserts. read more

Excellent food. I can tell everything was made fresh in-house. Plates are unique and tasty with gourmet-like presentation. The focaccia bread was fluffy and crispy with delicious middle eastern dips. The falafel was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Drinks such as the red sangria were well-made, nicely balanced, not overly sweet. The chocolate dessert had a very crispy shell with a rich fudge filling and the ice cream had a distinctive natural mint flavor. Very original combination of flavors. I definitely recommend this place. read more

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Finally had an opportunity to visit this replacement for one of our Blowing Rock favorites - the now long gone Chef and Somm. Can't say enough good things about Violette...the food was fantastic - well designed and well executed. My wife's pasta dish was excellent and my (unusually chosen) filet mignon w was just perfect. My appetizer of mussels was very good, but a large enough portion to have been an entree all by itself. Service was excellent, with attentive visits from several of the staff members and a sensitive job done by the young fellow who admitted upfront that he was new. Violette is still a small and slightly tight house, but their geography is what it is. If I had any negative comments, they would revolve around a slightly limited menu and a wine list that needs a little better diversity. That said, a great choice and a place where you can feel assured of a great evening!! read more

Amazing special occasion meal! Plan ahead and get your reservations early. Intimate small space dining tables of up to 6 people. Incredible flavors and textures with kind and attentive but not over-bearing service. Beautiful candlelit low light ambience in the evenings. Uses many locally Sourced ingredients. Expensive and worth it. read more

Wonderful day-trip from Charlotte topped off with an inspiring experience at Cafe Violette. Having lived and travelled extensively through Europe, this is the real deal. The dishes are elevated and packed with flavor. Inviting and well spaced seating outdoors created a charming atmosphere. But perhaps the best part of the experience was the staff. Our server, Anika, was knowledgeable, attentive and offered excellent recommendations. Bartender and pastry chef, Sunshine, lived up to her name. Request her orange cocktail/mock-tail - superb. We ordered appetizers and small plates. Each were outstanding. Chickpea fries w aioli were well seasoned and addictive. Focaccia bread and spaghetti puttanesca were my favorites and are must haves. Tangine highlighted authentic Moroccan flavors - a rare find in NC. Always drove to blowing rock for the hiking, now I would drive any time just for the food at CV. Looking forward to our next trip. read more

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Check out this review of Cafe Violette on Tripadvisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g48966-d17370919-r927504158-Cafe_Violette-Blowing_Rock_North_Carolina.html read more

How is it possible for a restaurant located here in the Blue Ridge to be this good? The Spanish Octopus was as fresh as any octopus we had in Greece, the duck was perfect, and the scallops were the best I've ever eaten. We will certainly drive back to Blowing Rock from Durham just to eat here again. Very highly recommended! read more

Very underwhelming - French is our favorite and it's hard to find restaurants that have classically trained chefs, unfortunately we won't be back. no bread, no drinks, no wine, clearly they wanted to turn our table quickly. French Onion soup inedible, Acorn Salad was nice, entrees were average good ingredient composition just executed poorly. Server was disinterested. We went on Friday night- more staff than guests, probably should have taken that as a sign yet the host was very taken back that we didn't have a reservation- but again, the place was empty and they sat us next to the only 2-top in the place. read more

After getting lost on Blueridge Parkway we had to stop in Blowing Rock, cute little town with a lot of boutiques and restaurants. We got lucky to find an hotel so we went out for dinner. We didn't want an other American restaurant with burgers so we saw this new one and decided to have dinner there with a little euro spirit. We ordered a glass of wine and had soup to start, very good and hot for this cold weather and then I had the scallops, she got the chicken both good and tasty, not much side with it but low carbs is always good sometimes. I recommend it if you want something different. read more

Café Violette - Outside terrace with heaters - Mediterranean Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

We had the best experience here this evening! The tinned fish was absolutely incredible. The chef paired each tin with a baguette and we picked out additional cheeses to go with the tuna belly and spicy calamari. I had the chicken with dirty and rice and carrots, it was delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly. Whoever doesn't enjoy their experience at Café Violette is inexperienced and unappreciative! Thank you for a great evening. read more

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Wonderful dinner, sat at the back bar with my wife at this popular (and terrific) restaurant in Blowing Rock. My wife had Agnolotti Ricotta a la Bolognese, a wonderful pasta dish; I had Chicken Bastilla, an INCREDIBLE pot pie whose crust was a nice flaky puff pastry, one of the best meals I've had in a long time. We'll be back! read more

Very nice dinner. Filet was cooked perfectly and charcuterie board was enjoyed by all in the part (fresh bread, cheeses and homemade Mustard and preserves were delicious) othered in party enjoyed the duck and the swordfish. Definitely recommend! read more

I have been so excited to visit Café Violette ever since it opened after hearing about the fabulous French-Mediterranean cuisine. I was not disappointed! Our meals started with a wonderfuly concocted cocktail that demonstrated the passion for flavor combinations the owners have. Our waitress then recommended a delicious appetizer that would compliment the main courses we were planning on. After devouring our appetizer, we were told there was a new small plate of short ribs we absolutely had to try. Of course we did, and were in flavor heaven with the melt in your mouth meat that fell right off the bone. Our other entreé of duck was astounding, and my husband said it's the best he's ever had. I could go on and on about how delicious the rest of the food and dessert we ate were, but I want to speak a bit about the kindness we were shown by the wait staff as well as the safety we felt while dining in the midst of a pandemic. When we arrived, we were greated by the host who appeared truly happy to see us dining with them. Our waitress was more than happy to explain everything on the menu to us and recommend her favorite options. Additionally, the restaurant managers came out to ask us how everything was and to thank us for dining with them. I felt more safe at this restaurant than I have at any others during the pandemic. Plastic dividers were placed between us and the entrance which allowed us to eat and drink without worrying about people entering the restaurant. Patrons and staff were fully compliant with mask wearing when not actively eating or drinking which was fabulous as there have been many times I have felt unsafe in public places due to incorrect mask wearing. All in all I can not recommend Café Violette highly enough for anyone who is looking for a safe place to have a delicious meal for a date night or a nice dinner. The owners truly want you to enjoy your evening, and they will make sure you are safe the entire time you are dining. Please go and enjoy this wonderful restuarant that will remind you of trips you've taken to Europe or will prepare you for your dream trip across the pond!! read more

Exceptional. The food was delicious! Everyone was friendly and very professional I'm very grateful to the locals that recommended this restaurant! read more

Such a beautiful place! Service was great and everything we ordered was delicious. The focaccia and spreads particularly blew me away. Simple, but so delicious. Octopus was also great! Recommend read more

Café Violette - Octopus - Mediterranean Near Me - Blowing Rock, North Carolina

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Amazing food and delicious drinks. This was by far the best meal we've had in Blowing Rock and the surrounding area. The service was a little underwhelming for the quality of the food and pricing, but we will be back again and hopefully have a different server. read more