Craft Bistro

One of my passions is finding fun little local places in small towns that we visit. We had the joy…read moreof experiencing Boondocks this past Monday. It wasn't very busy at lunch when we visited. The staff was incredibly friendly and we were very happy to see them bring out a water bowl for our pup. Love to see business being dog friendly!!! The service was prompt and food was piping hot and fresh. Everything we tried was delicious. I had the trout (figured there was a lot of trout fishing around so it should be good) and we split the sweet potato bites. Didn't try any of the beers as it's not part of the current diet but we plan on coming back to do so.

Saw one of the other reviews saying it was a "hidden gem." Stopped in for dinner and a couple of…read morebeers. Exceeded expectations. Great food, beer and people.

Bar area

Fried okra side - delicious!!

Boondocks Brewing Tap Room & Restaurant - Bar

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Bar

Town Tavern

3.7(19 reviews)

Second visit: amazing!…read more My entree was just "ok" on first visit- owner immediately went above and beyond to resolve. Second visit, both meals were home runs!

I bet the only spot in West Jefferson that gets more foot traffic than Town Tavern is the Walmart…read more Seriously, this place didn't seem to slow down during our stay in town. Anything that draws people into small towns to keep them energized is a good thing, I think. Things were a bit loud inside, and the weather was nice when we visited, so we took seats out between the sidewalk and street. The hostesses were a bit disorganized though, as they seemed to be working against one another; one cleared a table for us but then her colleague offered it to other patrons, and then the pair of staff members tried sending us to two different tables at the same time. We were able to order quickly, thankfully, but there was some delay in actually getting the food, and then we didn't see much of our waitress until it was time to pay. Was she just inattentive or was this a reflection of the staff being overworked? It's hard to say. The consensus about the food was that it was of reasonable value but only of moderate quality. The house salad was quite large but was made up largely of lettuce stalk material, and many of the other components were chopped to a miniscule level that made them relatively tasteless and undetectable. Reuben sandwiches contained a fair portion of meat and cheese but were a bit dry as only a tiny bit of dressing was present. It would seem that the draw here might be more about the adult beverages, or so it appeared amongst our neighboring tables, though none of our party chose to go that route. So on the basis of food quality alone, I'd say this is a welcome option versus fast food but certainly nothing to make a special trip for.

Pub Pretzels and Warm Cheese Sauce

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The Hideaway

4.4(10 reviews)

48.2 mi

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Time of my ugly life here, loved it! Pluse I got a great ride home from a guy in a big blue Ram!…read moreUber Mike.

My friend wanted to come here since he's into rock/metal. We were here for like 1 hour or so…read more Place was chill. I find it pretty awesome that everyone was wearing black in a goth/emo style. Also the place is kind of big and they also have a stage for the live bands. The bands that played that day were pretty rad I think all of them were local bands. I think it's great that this place supports local bands. I really like that they had collection of skateboards on wall. Addtionally I would've given this place a 5 star but they don't serve mixed drinks only beer which is a bummer for me. So I didn't get to drink because of that and also one of the reasons we left. They also had a cover charge which was at a decent price. Furthermore if y'all are looking for chill place I recommend trying this place out.

Tarvo owner / band booker incredible bands and hangout!!!

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Comedy hideaway canned beer

Black Jack's Pub & Grill

3.3(226 reviews)

•$

I absolutely loved this place. My boyfriend and I had take out the first time. He ordered bbq wings…read moreand I mild with fries. It was so so good. The wings were so flavorful and tasted amazing. We got take out on a Saturday night and noticed no one was there. We thought we made a mistake by ordering but the food was soo good. The fries were crispy and tasted amazing. The service was so wonderful. The lady with the bun was so so nice and sweet. The next time we came in had wings again and my boyfriend had the black jack burger. He loved the burger and ate it all!! I absolutely loved my wings ofc. We also ordered the flatbread as an appetizer and it was soo yummy. The waitress was also very sweet. I absolutely loved this place. It was so comfortable. It needs more customers!

Went to grab a quick lunch in downtown Jefferson at Black Jack's! I got the Black Jack Burger (beef…read morepatty, bun, pepper jack cheese, grilled pineapple, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo) and Iced Tea. I have no notes, this was a classic burger: I loved the hint of spice from pepperjack, the sweet contrast from the pineapple, and the patty was perfectly cooked. The pub chips were well-seasoned and crispy. The iced tea had just the right amount of sugar, and was very refreshing. The ambiance is fine: a bit dim inside, but there's also outside seating. Service was friendly & fast. Parking is free in downtown Jefferson. 10/10 would recommend!

Bar

The baby and I mean BABY wing!

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Exterior

Appalachian Mountain Brewery

4.5(240 reviews)

16.9 mi

4 - I'd drive 30 minutes out of my way just to come here. Skip to the end to see my rating scale…read more There are a few choices for breweries in Boone and Appalachian Mountain is a really good one. Mama and I each got a flight and we were both able to find one or two that made us want a full pint. They have a good variety of styles to pick from, so anyone should be able to find something that suits their taste. They have a generous amount of outdoor seating as well as a stage where they host live music. Dog friendly too, which is a big check in the box for us. Top it all off with a food truck that was open when we arrived early in the afternoon, and these guys offer the three things we most appreciate in a brewery - outdoor seating, food availability, and most importantly, good beer! 1 - Just don't 2 - You'll survive, but there are better choices close by 3 - Good choice if you're in the area 4 - I'd drive 30 minutes out of my way just to come here 5 - I'd try to convince my wife to drive an hour just to come here

We had such a good time, they have a variety of beer options, so we decided to get two beer flights…read moreso we could try as much as possible. The beers were pretty good. The place is very nice, the bar has the rustic mountain lodge vibes, and the service was very friendly and patient, with helping us making the decision about what to pick. This is what we had: - Think about it, Hazy IPA 6.1% ABV - Spoaty Oat, Pale Ale 5.4% ABV - Trail Marker, Coffee Lager 4.2% ABV - Hop Rain Drop, American IPA 6.7% ABV - Down South, American Lager 4.2% ABV - A.T. Amber, Amber Lager 4.5% ABV - Slippin' into Darkness, Dark Czech Lager 6% ABV - Eco Spaceship, Imperial IPA 8%

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The Local

4.3(883 reviews)

16.6 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!

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

Bar area

Pulled Pork & Smoked Gouda Nachos

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PULLED PORK & SMOKED GOUDA NACHOS

Red Dog Bar / Bistro

4.6(51 reviews)

15.5 mi

While staying in the area, we were happy to find that this little bar & grill was not only super…read moreclose to our Airbnb, but also the best in the area. We ate here twice during our stay and were happy with everything we got - the All American burger, lamb gyro, white wine & garlic butter clams and carrot cake. Despite being just about the only non-locals in the place, the bartenders and chef were super friendly and helpful. Our only regret was that they were closed Sunday night, Monday and Tuesday!

Best restaurant in the area we drive 30 minutes to get there food is always great and consistent…read moreburger was cooked perfect. Service is always top notch, inside is country like but has a waiting area with board games. It's a little dark inside but it's a great place.

Inside dining room and bar...

Cracklins & barbecue sauce

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Chocolate cake

The Town Tavern of Blowing Rock

3.5(341 reviews)

21.4 mi

We stopped here on a beautiful spring Sunday morning, and it was the perfect way to start the day…read morebefore exploring Blowing Rock. There's so much to do in the area, and this was a great first stop. The food was excellent, the service was excellent, and the menu had a really nice variety. We sat outside on the patio, which made the whole experience even better on such a nice morning. I ordered the blackened shrimp salad, and it was outstanding. It was a very large salad loaded with fresh vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of blackened shrimp. Everything tasted fresh, flavorful, and well prepared.

Solid tavern in the downtown area of Blowing Rock…read more We popped in here as we were having a bit of a Sunday Funday and got beers and a round of shots. The service was friendly, and the pricing was cheap. While I noticed they did have food, we didn't eat. It seems to be loved by locals though, because it was packed on a Sunday afternoon.

Bar area

Buffalo Chicken side pasta salad

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Just Wing It

4.2(20 reviews)

We've visited this restaurant twice in the last month. If we were rating the food alone, it's a…read moresolid four stars--maybe even five for simple, well-done bar food. Unfortunately, the service brings our overall rating down to three stars. After our first visit, we thought the rudeness we encountered might have just been a fluke, so we gave it another try about four weeks later. Sadly, it wasn't. Both times, the hostess seemed visibly annoyed to seat us, as if helping customers was a burden. On our second visit, we didn't even bother with a table--we sat at the bar. Unfortunately, the servers on both occasions carried the same attitude, acting as though serving us was an inconvenience. The worst moment came when my wife asked the bartender a simple question: which sauce he preferred between two options. He actually laughed in her face, rolled his eyes, and replied with a snarky tone, "We make one in-house and the other is store-bought." She had to call him out by saying, "What's so funny? I don't work here, how would I know that?" Only then did his attitude shift, and while he became friendlier afterward, the first impression was already made. It's a shame, because the food is genuinely good. On our first visit, we had an Italian sandwich, a burger, and some boneless wings--all excellent. On our second visit, we liked the wings so much that we each ordered them again, trying several flavors. The only miss were the pub chips--nothing special there. Overall, if you're willing to risk unfriendly service, the food is worth trying. Maybe you'll catch the staff on a better day. To those about to dine--good luck!

This place is great! Best wing spot in town guarantee it! If you like potato salad you gotta try…read moretheirs! I'm always greeted with a smile and the staff are attentive and knowledgeable about the food they serve and the beer/drinks they offer. Do yourself a favor and stop by!

Boneless wings

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Hillbilly Grill

3.8(81 reviews)

0.4 mi

•$

The food is delicious. Remarkable: biscuits and gravy-- homemade biscuits with a delicious white…read moregravy. Ruben Sammie was outta sight: savory, saucy, satisfying! Don't miss the blackberry cobbler and ask about seasonal items, like pumpkin items in the fall. Service was prompt, friendly, and stopped by to check on us. Be aware, they pass on credit card / debit card charges to the customer, so paying cash is cheaper. The establishment was clean (floors, tables, and chairs / booths). The decorations fit the setting of West Jefferson and Appalachia: hillbilly but nice, warm, and comfortable. I enjoyed the "how to talk like a redneck" sign on the wall, among the other locally inspired decorations. We would return and recommend you check it out.

S.O.S is the proper name for this dish. If anyone has ever had chip beef, they will truly be…read moredisappointed. seeing the review about racism here, but was waited on by a Hispanic. She was very nice as were the other two girls questioned the lack of chip beef and was told they had others complain about it, but couldn't do anything about it.