We stayed in one of their dog friendly room. It cost $50 extra a day to bring your dog. The room…read morewas near the back entrance. Which was nice to let her in and out quickly. The room walls are thin so we heard a lot of noise from the outside waking us up early in the morning. You also have to pay for parking at 25 a night but there was a lot of construction making it difficult to get our car out. I know not the hotels fault but definitely keep that in mind. They had really nice robes. They also had a sound machine in the room. We had a thing on the wall that would randomly flash at night and beep. We had issues with the bathroom. The door would not close all the way and We could not get hot water when we tried to shower late at night. We had to go to the front desk and they had to call maintenence which took a bit to work through the issue. Eventually they got the hot water back but an annoying time waster. They discount our stay at 10% for the issue. The breakfast was really nice full of local pastries. The staff was so nice and friendly. The lobby area and bar was super nice and had a cute vibe. The roof top is super pretty at nice with nice fire pits. The staff was super friendly. I would have rated a 4 star but the price was high plus the issues we had knocked it down a star.

This review is for a 2 night hotel stay- not the bar. We highly recommend staying!…read more It is a quaint hotel, very homey feeling! The front desk staff is so nice and helpful. Our favorite part was the location. It was so conveniently located. They have a front door with access to king street and a back door to Howard street which was convenient. We were able to come and go easily. The rooms aren't huge but had everything we needed including a mini fridge and the shower was really nice. Of note- it didn't have a huge window in the room, just a small one towards the ceiling. There was a tv with lots of channels and a channel guide. We received some coupons and recommendations to nearby businesses which was a nice touch. Our experience was a bit different because it was very snowy so we couldn't enjoy the rooftop bar. The parking was also tricky- they have a loading zone right in front for checking in, but we circled the block several times and it was taken every time so it was kind of a pain to unload our car. We also had trouble finding the parking lot (even with the address, directions and map) which is behind the hotel, across the street and diagonal from the hotel. We had to circle a few times to find it. But that may have just been because it was dark and snowing. Our favorite part was definitely the breakfast. It is at the downstairs bar. It is complementary when you purchase the parking pass, and you order what you want from a menu. They have lots of options, including fresh fruit, hard-boiled eggs, and lots of pastries and baked goods from stick boy bakery in town. We love stick boy so this was amazing! So high quality and tasty! They also have other things available for purchase like avocado toast. They also have coffee from a local coffee shop available all day. We would go back!!!

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.

Such a cute, easy lunch spot in Boone and honestly, I loved it. My husband thought it was…read more"average," but in fairness, I ordered what he always calls girl food -- bright, fresh, crunchy, pickled, delicious -- and that's exactly what I got. We started with the pickled board, and it was just fun. A little bit of everything: pickled veggies, cucumbers with those pretty curls of onion, pimento cheese, bread, pork rinds, a little tomato jam. It felt like a Southern snack platter put together by someone who actually cares about balance and flavor. I ordered the pickled salad with chicken, and it was right up my alley. Fresh greens, great textures, pops of color, and the chicken was nicely seasoned and grilled. The dressing had that bright, tart thing going on that makes you want more of it. I would absolutely get this again. My husband got the Cassie salad, and while he said it was "fine," even he admitted everything was fresh and well done. The vibe here is relaxed, cozy, a little rustic, the kind of place that feels local in the best way. For a casual lunch in Boone, it hits the spot. I'd go back in a heartbeat.

Here's the break down. Tuna: 5 stars…read moreChicken and waffles sandwich: 4.5 stars Cali flatbread: 4.25 stars There was a mistake when our flatbread was brought out. but waitress was more than willing to fix the mistake. However, we liked it well enough to keep it (adding balsamic glaze). Quaint little spot. Entrance is inside the mall for those who may be confused. Would go back.

Great. Food Great service…read moreA wonderful lunch place to eat. Clean and neat. Good adult beverages as well.

Lily's is incredible for vegan options in Boone. The tofu bites are so good (as were their…read morepredecessor: tempeh wings). The house made potato chips are something special, and at their best (in my opinion) dipped in the house made vegan ranch (vegan Lily's sauce is a close 2nd). Today we got teriyaki tofu nuggets, Buffalo tofu nuggets (both came with the chips and a dipping sauce) along with fried pickles (we got extra dipping sauces). It has a beach/tiki bar vibe inside (albeit slightly dark) with tables and a few parking spots out front. Dog friendly (outside) and even brought a dog bowl of water. We just love this place. Friendly service. Hospitable atmosphere with clear values (pro LGBTQ, anti-racism, etc.). Reasonable prices.

Our son is done at APP State but made sure to visit one more time…read more The Staff is still amazing and so friendly. The vibe is relaxed. My adult kids love the snack wraps and loaded tots. Multiple drinks to choose from and always a few specials going on. There are different events throughout the week so check out their social media. They offer indoor and outdoor seating. There are heaters outside for the cold months.

This place is definitely a vibe. Live music, great service and the food did not disappoint. I had…read morethe lobster ravioli, my husband had the pork chops and my son (birthday boy) ordered the sirloin steak (mkt price ) all reasonably priced - the steak however was way too expensive $80. But overall it was a great experience.

Really a 4.5 and maybe a 5.0 for this area. And be quite honest a huge surprise given where it's…read morelocated. My son had the roasted chicken and I the primary New York strip... Both were off the charts as well as the grilled Caesar salad. Excellent wine selection albeit, small very well curated. Our sugar was Michael her who is attractive, personable, and been working there for sometime and offered tremendous value throughout the meal from his knowledge of the menu to the surrounding area. Looking forward my next visit! Next up there for me to try all the pasta and homemade sauce

Fun, family friendly atmosphere with live music. Lots of drink options, including some fun…read morecocktails, and a simple menu of food, wings, burgers, typical bar food. We only had drinks this time, but we were able to find seats at the bar even at prime dinner time.

Walking around Boone, we popped into this bar/restaurant to listen to some live music, take a load…read moreoff and enjoy a beer. Located in the heart of down town, but not on King St (the main road), but a street back instead. The staff were friendly, and welcoming. They provided us with menus, and had pretty nice selection of both beers and food, offering burgers, sandwiches, and wings, salads and more. They had a blues grass band playing while we visited, and other bands listed to be playing later. Their walls had fun art to look at/purchase, and even the lights over the bar

Took a little day trip while visiting our daughter in Charlotte, and her boyfriend highly…read morerecommended The Speckled Trout Restaurant and Bottle Shop. It's definitely a bit of a drive from Charlotte, but well worth it if you're exploring the mountain towns and scenery in the area. The restaurant has a really cool upscale mountain vibe that feels relaxed and comfortable without being stuffy. Great atmosphere, friendly service, and the whole place just had that quality mountain town feel to it. My wife and I both ordered trout, which felt like the right move here. I had the almond crusted trout with basil potatoes and garlicky grits, and it was excellent. Everything tasted fresh, balanced, and thoughtfully prepared. The garlicky grits were especially good. My wife ordered the smoked trout, and let's just say they do not mess around with the smoke flavor here. It was seriously smoky. A couple hours later she was still burping little smoke rings on the drive home If you love strong smoky flavor, you'll probably love it. They also had a really solid craft beer selection that fit the mountain atmosphere perfectly. Overall, high quality food, great service, fun atmosphere, and absolutely worth the drive. Easy five stars from us.

On our annual trip to Blowing Rock in May, we had to visit Speckled Trout twice. We love their…read morelow-carb options combined with their custom crafted cocktails, this place is a must-visit for every trip to Blowing Rock. Their cocktails are crafted with homemade syrups, and change seasonally. I had the Garden in Tibet--a delicious drink with gin, Prosecco, sugar snap pea syrup (!), green elixir syrup, elderflower liquor, and lemon. You'd think this could be a too-sweet drink, but it was PERFECT. My husband had the Which Damascus the first time, with rye whiskey, cherry basil syrup, hickory syrup, Amaro Montenegro, Tiki bitters, Peychaud bitters, and orange. He enjoyed it, but I thought it was definitely too sweet. He had a Garden in Tibet on our second visit, and preferred the Tibet to the Damascus drink. We love their unique smoked trout deviled eggs as an appetizer. This dish has two eggs filled with smoked trout, and three filled with a deviled egg mixture. The accompanying house hot sauce is so good! For our entrees, we both had hickory-smoked trout on the first visit Mine was definitely saltier than his. We had three sides--collard greens, smoked Gouda grits (our favorite), and corn, hominy, yellow squash & chile hash (so fresh and delicious!). On our second visit, I had the almond and cornmeal-crusted trout with the smoked Gouda grits, and my husband tried their fried chicken sandwich with slaw. He absolutely loved the sandwich--the chicken was thick, juicy, and very tender. He'll definitely get the sandwich again. Service is always good at Speckled Trout, and I love that we can pay with ApplePay at the table via the Toast handheld. We can't wait to return.

During a one-week stay in the area with my family, we chose to dine at The Table at Crestwood based…read moreon its reputation and pricing, expecting a more elevated overall experience. The ambiance is pleasant, with a nice setting and attractive views, but ultimately nothing memorable or distinctive enough to justify the positioning or cost. The food was acceptable, yet uninspiring. For the price point, we expected more refinement, creativity, and depth of flavor. The menu itself is very limited, offering few choices, which further amplifies expectations, unfortunately, those expectations were not met. The service was friendly, and the staff was courteous; however, the experience lacked polish and professionalism. The service felt casual and inconsistent with what one would expect from a restaurant in this price range. The wine list is minimal, with very few compelling selections, and the bar program is underwhelming. Cocktails and offerings feel basic, again falling short of what the pricing and setting suggest. Overall, this is an okay dining experience, but not one that aligns with its cost or reputation. With stronger culinary execution, a more thoughtful menu and wine selection, and improved service standards, it could meet expectations, but in its current state, it does not.

We came to this restaurant as an opportunity to eat a warm delicious meal at our inn with a…read morebeautiful view of the blue ridge mountains. The ambiance did not disappoint and we were able to sit in front of the windows overlooking the outside. Our service was warm and friendly and we didn't have to wait long for our meals. Our favorite items we enjoyed were the Brussel Sprouts and the Turtle Cheesecake (from Stick Boy Bakery). Some feedback; the short rib wontons had good flavor however we wondered how the meat, while full of flavor, was dry texturally. Also our tenderloin seemed to be overly charred on the outside, making it a bit bitter, flavorwise.

Superb evening at this sleek and modern lounge and restaurant in the lobby area of The Embers…read moreHotel. We weren't expecting such a high level experience when we first booked a stay at this newly finished hotel. Classy cocktails, beers, plenty of wine variety, you name it. Went with the Old Smokey as a starter. An old fashioned kicked up a notch. The house smoked maple syrup and charred orange peal knocked his cocktail out of the park. I could smell that smoky flavor from the other end of the bar as it was being made. Bartender was super friendly and had some great mixology skills. We opted for apps all evening, but can't wait to come back and try some more of the menu. The homemade bread is a must. These puppies come out hot and steaming, with this amazing bacon butter to lather them in...outstanding! Our server also recommended the mushroom pate. Mushroom pate you say?! Yes, yes I do. One of the best pate's we've had in a long time. Super flavorful, creamy and smooth. And the homemade chips sticking out of it were the bomb! Then the goat cheese fritters...I had to battle my wife for these flavor bombs. This place is outstanding and not many people know about it...yet. Newly finished in 2024, this is going to be our go to when we want to be right in the heart of Blowing Rock.

Great Idea, great location, awesome ambiance. Terrible execution…read more Started dinner with our waitress telling us they were out of 2 of their 4 entrees, they were out of 2 beer choices and 1 wine choice, and also out of a shareable. All on a Saturday night. The waitress told us they were out of all the items because it was recently valentines....? A week prior. Quality of food when it came out was subpar. Prime rib was very fatty and steak was somewhat hotel banquet quality. Definitely the quality of the food didn't represent the prices. I felt like we overpaid for items I didn't even really want to order because they were out of most choices. The waitress took also about 20 min per ask- drinks, ordering etc.

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!!!