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.

We stopped in for a late lunch around 2 p.m. The restaurant is in a great location right on the…read moremain strip in downtown West Jefferson, and it looked inviting from the outside. After looking over the menu online beforehand, we were excited to give it a try. We were seated right away, but then waited over five minutes before anyone acknowledged our table. Our server, AJ (Adrianne, I believe), was friendly enough, but she seemed a bit overwhelmed or possibly stretched too thin. Since we'd already been waiting, we were ready to order both drinks and our meals at the same time, and that seemed to throw off the usual routine. Throughout the meal, it felt like we were inconveniencing her whenever we needed something, including asking if the music could be turned down. The food was the highlight. I had the biscuits with pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes, and the pimento cheese was exactly how I like it. My husband's tuna sandwich was good, although he wasn't a fan of the house fries--they were extremely thick, almost like eating a baked potato cut into wedges. We also ordered half sweet/half unsweet tea, but it was still much sweeter than we expected. The dining room itself felt a little plain for such a large space, and the 60s and 70s music was louder than we would have liked during lunch. Overall, the food was definitely the best part of our visit, and I'd order my meal again. With a little more attentive service and a more comfortable dining atmosphere, this could have been a much better experience.

Pot roast with mashed potatoes and cornbread

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Town Tavern

4.0(20 reviews)

Very unprofessional general manager. Charlene has been seen eating food off customers' plates,…read morespeaks disrespectfully about customers and fellow coworkers, and does not properly enforce gluten-free regulations according to health code guidelines. This creates an uncomfortable environment for both staff and guests, especially for customers with dietary restrictions who rely on proper food handling practices for their safety. Professionalism, cleanliness, and respectful treatment of both employees and customers should be a basic standard in any restaurant, and unfortunately that was not my experience here.

We come up to West Jefferson North Carolina for random vacations. We are up here for my spring…read morebreak. This is a new restaurant that opened up not too long ago and we decided to go check it out for date night. 10 out of 10. Highly recommend! There were trivia games at the table that were super fun to play. The food was really good and reasonably priced. The service was amazing and actually got compliments while we were just eating. And let me say, one of the nicest bathrooms that I've ever been in! There was a waterfall installation right before you go to the bathroom.

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(227 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(242 reviews)

16.9 mi

Great brewery while spending a quick weekend in Boone. Great brews and pizza. Plenty of seating and…read morelive music. Delicious saison brew and stout for me . And ipas for him . Although he did sneak a taste of my stout

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

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The Local

4.3(888 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

4.5(53 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(342 reviews)

21.4 mi

Blowing Rock is a great meet up place for our family. My mother and I love eating outside at Town…read moreTavern and then letting the kids play on the playground downtown. The buffalo dip is amazing!

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.

Bar area

Buffalo Chicken side pasta salad

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Just Wing It

4.2(19 reviews)

Read carefully…read more.. Awesome wing joint. Good beer. Good prices. Great wings! However... beware. Cam, behind the bar, is a HOT MESS. He's batshit crazy! If asked, he'd say customers like me make him this way. I think it's in his soul! (Grin). Seriously, though, Cam and the rest of the staff make me feel at home here. Great little local haunt, and open late (for the mountains!). Maybe it's the crazy???!

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!

Boneless wings

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Hillbilly Grill

3.8(82 reviews)

0.4 mi

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We ordered the Philly cheesesteak omelet with biscuit and one with a pancake! Biscuit didn't taste…read morelike it was homemade but the omelet was great! I will say it isn't a very big restaurant and it was pretty warm inside.

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.