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.

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.

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!

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.

Great! We sat at the bar and had a great experience all…read moreevening watching a football game. The bartenders were all super attentive and the food while several mistakes were made they promptly fixed them and all was fine. Would definitely enjoy another night out there.

Top shelf martini to start this Friday night. And weekend getaway!…read more I had the pomegranate martini which was a perfect start to the evening just a little sweet. We started with the potato skins and pub chips. The pub chips are home made and is a must. The potato skins were good hot from the oven. Maybe they need more bacon. For dinner I had the JD bourbon burger. Which was filling! And messy to eat but so worth it. My side I tried the broccoli salad. A little too salty for me. My husband got the burger with bacon and the fries he said the fries needed to be cooked more. But overall very good. For dessert we took the cheesecake to go. A great late night treat! Service was great. We sat at the bar. Both bartenders were attentive and friendly!

Honest and attentive waitstaff are a rare treasure in today's busy restaurants, but when you're a…read moreregular at a place where you don't even bother double-checking the bill, a small act of integrity truly stands out. The fact that our wonderful waitress went out of her way to correct a mere one-dollar error--without waiting for it to be discovered later--speaks volumes about her character. Even though she seemed pleasantly busy (or perhaps she's simply one of those delightful overachievers who takes genuine pride in her work), she still chose to do the right thing with a smile. It made me chuckle in the best way and turned an already lovely meal into something truly memorable. The food was perfect, the service was warm and thoughtful, and the entire experience left me feeling genuinely appreciated. Thank you, dear waitress, for your refreshing honesty and kind heart. I hope this note finds you and brings a smile to your day. Wishing you nothing but wonderful moments ahead--if you ever happen to read this. ambience was very awesome.

This is my first visit and unfortunately it's not a good experience. I ordered a JD Burger and it…read morecame burnt. Waited for the waitress til to the point it was useless to ask for a replacement. The waitress, Ejam J charged me for the burger even I explained to her that it was burnt and she acknowledged it. Asked me if I wanted a replacement. I told her no.

Wandered in here after 9 hours on the road. Had a lovely evening dining in. We got the catfish BLT…read moreand a smothered chicken bowl. We were surprised by live country music. I'm a different man than I was before I walked though that door. This sandwich permanently changed me as a person. Absolutely incredible. The mashed potatoes are to die for. The chicken bowl was slammin. I might make a point to pass through here every time I make this trip.

Service was awesome! Food was tasty. Nice atmosphere too. We needed something close to our hotel…read morethat was casual and tasty - this fit the bill!

Cool bar, a lot of welcoming locals. Only negative is if you don't like of can't bare cig smoke,…read morethis is not the place for you. They also give new customers a free beer their first time there, per the owner which is nice! Cool little spot.

Good place to go. Great service friendly staff. Great food great prices on beers. Give them a…read morechance they won't disappoint.

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.

Great pulled pork. Excellent service. Good atmosphere for…read morewatching sports. Thanks for the banners for WVU, VT, and UVA.

Great local spot for food and drink service was great food was good. Go and enjoy the catfishread more