I always love eating at The Speckled Trout when visiting Blowing Rock!…read more My family and I had a lovely lunch on the screened porch. We all ordered the trout, which was a perfect lunch portion. I appreciate that you can order trout in a variety of styles. The almond-crusted trout was superb! They also have a great beer selection, especially local brews to the NC mountains. Not only is their beer and food always great, but their service is always friendly. :)

We spent the day exploring beautiful Blowing Rock and decided to stop by The Speckled Trout after…read morehearing so many great reviews. It absolutely lived up to the hype! We ordered the trout deviled eggs, the smoked trout Boursin, and split the cracked crusted trout lunch with Hoppin' John and smoked Gouda grits. Every part of the meal was delicious and perfectly prepared. The trout was fresh, flavorful, and the sides complemented it so well. The only thing I'd mention is that the smoked trout Boursin is incredibly rich. It's delicious, but if you're dining as a party of two it may be a bit much in flavor so you won't want to eat too many. We weren't able to finish it. Flavor was great but could have saved. The staff was friendly and attentive, and the service was excellent. I'd definitely recommend making a reservation, even for lunch, to avoid a long wait. We were lucky enough to sit outside on the patio on a beautiful day, and the atmosphere made the experience even better. We'll absolutely be back the next time we're in North Carolina!

I have so many good memories of this place when it was under the Woodlands banner, as this was…read morealmost certainly the best barbecue in the High Country in those days. The Pedalin' Pig may reside in the same location that Woodlands once occupied, and the layout may not be different, but nothing feels genuine about the food offered here. The quality and flavor of the offerings seem equivalent to pre-packaged barbecue and sides you'd pick up in a supermarket. I must not be the only one unimpressed, for this place used to be quite popular but now I rarely find many diners present here. Lower demand may be helping the speed of service, and the staff members seem pleasant, but I wonder if such a landmark is destined to fade into failure. Finding that Woodlands magic would be a great way to recover, but it seems unlikely. For the record, I've also eaten at Pedalin' Pig locations in Boone and Banner Elk, and I've never been impressed by them either. If you like those, then maybe the food here will suit you fine. But if you prefer the Woodlands of old, friends, you'd best just rely on your memories rather than trying what's left behind.

The old Woodlands venue and still reminiscent. Friendly staff and plenty of seating and parking…read more Bar located adjacent, upstairs and downstairs venue. Large food menu with a solid variety of items and BBQ sauces. Large portions, reasonable prices, and all the food was tasty. Definitely recommend the fried pickles, BBQ platters, and Mac & Cheese.

I stopped at Hellbender while visiting Blowing Rock during a motorcycle trip through the Blue Ridge…read moreMountains and had a very enjoyable meal. Traveling solo, I sat at the bar and found the service friendly, attentive, and welcoming throughout my visit. My drink stayed filled, and the staff did a great job making a solo diner feel comfortable. I started with the soup, which was excellent and a great way to begin the meal. For my entrée, I ordered the large mac and cheese. The portion was generous, rich, and very satisfying after a long day of riding in the mountains. Everything was served hot and prepared with care. The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, making it a great place to unwind after spending the day exploring the area. The restaurant felt welcoming without being overly formal, and I never felt rushed during my meal. Overall, I had a very good experience. Good food, attentive service, and a comfortable atmosphere. I would gladly return the next time I'm in Blowing Rock.

Hidden Gem in Blowing Rock…read more After spending the morning at Grandfather Mountain, I took the scenic route into Blowing Rock and stumbled onto an absolute gem. Hellbender Bed & Beverage and Bistro Roca share the same space now, and the result is one of the most charming spots I've found in the High Country. The outdoor patio was beautiful, with flowers everywhere, cozy seating areas, fire pits, and plenty of dogs lounging alongside their owners. The gravel patio was a little uneven, so my table had a slight tilt, but honestly, the atmosphere more than made up for it. I started with a glass of Crémant de Loire. Crisp, cold, refreshing, and exactly what I wanted after a morning of mountain exploring. For lunch, I ordered the Moules Frites. The mussels arrived swimming in a rich, flavorful broth with basil and sun-dried tomatoes, alongside a generous pile of perfectly cooked fries. The combination with the sparkling wine was fantastic. I cleaned the plate. The service was friendly, welcoming, and genuinely pleasant. My only suggestion is a little more attention to the details. If you're serving mussels, a spoon is almost essential for enjoying that incredible broth. A smaller seafood fork would also make fishing out the mussels easier. Minor things, but details that can elevate a great meal into an exceptional one. The prices were surprisingly reasonable. My entrée and glass of bubbles came in around $23, which felt like a great value considering the quality, portion size, and setting. I skipped dessert only because I was determined to finish every last fry, then headed into town to walk off lunch and hunt for something sweet. If I return--and I absolutely would--I might even stay at the inn. The cottages looked adorable, and the whole property felt warm and inviting. Just a short walk from downtown Blowing Rock, this place delivers on atmosphere, food, and mountain-town charm. Five stars for the food. Four stars for service. Five stars overall because I'd happily come back tomorrow. Life is too short to eat mediocre food. Get out there and stuff your face.

Had lunch Wednesday. Great staff and outstanding food…read more Had the steak burger very good. Others in our party had a Rubin sandwich, fish sandwich and the Tavern burger. All were out standing. Our waitress was Sara and she was great.

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.

Bistro Roca is an amazing spot! We love the decor, which is rustic but modern if that makes sense…read more The different seating options are also unique and bring a different ambiance to each section. Food is excellent. I LOVE the duck pizza pie. Honestly the best pizza in my book ever. My husband enjoyed his brisket saying it was tender and flavorful. The starter calamari was meaty and not overly breaded like many calamari! Great kids meals options!! Our waitress was so kind and was thoughtful in letting the girls order before us so their food arrived with the apps. A must go to while in blowing rock, you won't regret it!

We went to dinner here while in the area. It was a cozy setting with a great atmosphere inside…read more However, they sat us on the closed-in patio by a window which ended up being a little too chilly. For my dinner I ordered the Wood Fried Brussels. The Brussel sprouts were not caramelized like I had at other places but it was very good and probably healthier. There were a lot of good flavors with the beets, candied pepitas, pickled peppers and the saffron aioli. I would recommend this dish. Others at the table ordered the Cobb Salad, classic wedge with salmon, & the Artisan pizza. Unfortunately, the salmon was not completely cooked so it went uneaten. Two people in our party ordered diet cokes which were fountain drinks. The diet cokes were not good because there was no carbonation. The pizza and Cobb salad were good. If you eat here during the colder months, I recommend asking for a seat inside. That seemed like it would have been a cozier experience.

Not open when they said they were open. Disappointing since the menu looked good. It is tucked…read moreaway so a bit hard to find.

Beautiful location, tucked inside the heart of blowing rock in the middle of a quaint garden. The…read morephotos on this site are quite unappealing but i have to say the food was outstanding. Soft and flavorful eggs, perfect coffee, addictive hashbrown casserole, delicious bacon.. just amazing. They did forget the syrup in my latte :(, but it was good nonetheless. To top it all off the service was delightful, our server was Aden but the hostess and manager were just as great. Highly recommend breakfast at Cupcrazed if you're looking for a peaceful location and yummy start to your day.

We weren't quite certain before we entered what type of restaurant this was going to be. Don't let…read morethe exterior dissuade you from entering. What a beautiful and unique restaurant. The food was top notch. Very high end. . Service was spot on. It was very unexpected. Ask for Burlene. She is fabulous. We will definitely be back again.

The atmosphere was charming in the bar area. The Service was responsive and hospitable. The food…read morewas good and presented very well.

Great spot for lunch and a brew while heading to Boone. I had a delicious turkey and gueyre…read moresandwich with homemade chips. Yum . And cold Mexican lager. Hubby got the fried chicken sandwich with a cold ipa. Always great spot to stop.

Where to start my review of this truly horrible luncheon experience. In a town that is geared…read moretowards tourists (I'm a resident), and where one restaurant tries to outdo the other, this restaurant is sorely lacking, in everything from wait staff to food. What they do have is a lot of different types of beer. So I guess if you just want a beer with tasteless food then this is the place to go. My friend and I had lunch at around 12 noon. There were literally only four other tables with a few people. Our waiter came to take our order and basically gave the impression that he wishes he was anywhere other than in this restaurant working. Not even a smile or a hello how are you doing? He was truly uncaring and answered us in half syllables when we had questions about the menu. OK whatever -/so we ordered a burger and the turkey Gruyère sandwich. At $19 for a burger (most other places in Blowing Rock charge around 12) and another 19 for a turkey sandwich you would expect at least french fries or coleslaw as a side. The sides are potato chips ( how cheap can you get) or green beans?????? if you want anything else like a side salad or fruit you have to pay an additional five dollars. Literally every other restaurant in town that serves sandwiches or burgers gives you a choice of several sides that come with the meal . But here a hamburger with a side of fruit was $23. Our waiter never came back to check on us, but another waitress did come a couple times and filled my tea glass with ice and asked us how everything was and brought samples of the beer. Thank you to whoever that was. Wish you could have been our waitress. Because our waiter was so unconcerned about waiting on us that he apparently forgot we were there. After a half an hour of not receiving our food in a restaurant that was mostly empty, I flagged him down and asked him what happened to our food. He said he would go and check on it. He came back and said that ours was the next ticket up.!! so basically this waiter held onto our ticket and then got reminded that he had to actually put it in for us to get our food. So we waited another 10 minutes. The burger was so tiny you practically needed a magnifying glass to see it. Burned to a crisp because of course the waiter also forgot to ask how we wanted it cooked. We like it medium rare, and definitely not charred and well done. The Turkey sandwich with Gruyère was just some turkey slices and I'm assuming gruyere cheese which I couldn't really taste. The whole sandwich was definitely forgettable. So that's my review. I still gave the waiter 10% tip, which he did not deserve. He did not deserve a tip at all. Needless to say, will never be back at this restaurant again. Nor will I ever recommend it. Because lunch for almost $60 for two people with two disgusting sandwiches was obscene.

Service and food top notch. Enough for big take home boxes! Locals eat with the visitors so great…read morecommunal experience.

Social on Main is my husband's and my favorite place for breakfast while visiting Blowing Rock…read more They are even better than our now-closed old favorite, Sunny Rock Eggs & Things. On this last trip, we went twice. I got the Beth Ann Clark both times. I just love their cheesy scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, fruit, and french toast. My husband tried two different entrees this time--the Butch Triplett (corned beef and eggs) and their breakfast burrito. Their corned beef is likely from a can, but it's so good because they cook it so it's very crispy. I always steal some of his corned beef to add to my eggs! Their breakfast burrito is amazing. It's simply filled, with just scrambled eggs, cheese, small bits of ham, and hash browns. It's topped with an enchilada sauce that is similar to a ranchero sauce, and is served with sour cream and guacamole. It's a massive burrito, and SO GOOD! My husband said it's his new favorite. Social on Main is popular, and so we always go early (before 8am). After 8am, there is usually a wait--especially on Saturdays. Their servers are always friendly, and the food is delivered fast. Their coffee is nice and strong, too. I wish we had a Social on Main near our house, because we'd visit them weekly. Give them a try if you are in Blowing Rock for a visit and want a great breakfast!

Delicious food, lovely service…read more I was visiting the area and this place and the menu caught my attention. 'The Gamekeeper', what name could be more intriguing for a unique dining experience? I was not disappointed in the food. All selections were ideally prepared, seasonally balanced, and well paired. What I was really pleased about was the service. The staff elevate the entire experience. To name one or two would leave out what was an incredibly welcoming, knowledgeable, and cohesive Team. I would certainly recommend The Gamekeeper to anyone looking for the complete dining experience.

Let's just start out with the obvious. The service, meal options and atmosphere are tops. Our…read moreparty of 6 was fortunate to have Allan G as our server. The wine and cocktails assistance was great and the mixed grill appetizers were perfect. The bison short ribs are killer. A very enjoyable evening. Everyone in the party raved about the meal and service. Bravo to the chef, staff and management. Our first trip to the area proved challenging on a rainy night in the mountains. We opted for transport via uber and Lyft services. FYI it's almost impossible to confirm service in Blowing Rock. With no show transportation at 9:30 pm the staff jumped into action. Lucky for us the one driver that did show agreed make 2 trips.