Three snaps is inadequate for this fantastical find! Wow - we spend a lot of time in Burnsville and…read moreare so glad we spent a recent Saturday afternoon at Snap Dragon. We will be back every time we are in town. In fact, we might plan special mountain trips just to go to Snap Dragon. For food, everything we had was yummy and plentiful. We had a burger, fries, a salad, and cannon balls - all delicious. The fried pickles are the best we have ever had, anywhere! The cocktail selection is great! Try the hurricanes - don't evacuate! These are not super sweet and there are many options. Category 2 and Category 3 are are favorites. We also enjoyed the Fire Tower and Painkiller. To top it off, the setting on the Burnsville square is quaint and Snap Dragon has indoor and outdoor seating amid lovely plants. They have beer and cider on tap, too. The service is outstanding as well. Go to Snap Dragon and enjoy!

Best burger in town. Best service in town! Great rotating beer selection and fun mixed drinks…read more And dog friendly!

We were nearby staying at a local AirBnB and ended up dining here two night in a row. Really great…read moreservice both nights, seated right away on a Friday and Saturday, even with live music going on next door in the courtyard. Food was great, especially the BBQ plate (Friday night special) and the Brussel Sprouts appetizer. I highly recommend subbing goat cheese for bleu cheese. They have a decent tap selection and some pretty good cocktails too. One of the better options in Burnsville for sure. They outdoor bar space next door looked fun but we didn't get a chance, next time.

We stopped in for lunch while passing through. It was a short wait and the service was great…read more Inside is much larger than it looks from the outside. They have a large bar with great cocktail menu. Since it was noon and cold outside I had a lavender drip coffee. It was amazing... OK I had 2. For lunch I had a bowl of soup. My husband had a Reuben sandwich and sweet potato fries. Everything was very good and we would love to come back the next time we are in the area.

Funky little dive bar that's an extension of a distillery. Had a great band, wish that one pool…read moretable didn't obstruct dance floor but I understand the "stage" area isn't main event most of the time. Picnic tables & indoor & outdoor tables. Hot dogs can be purchased as well. I recommend the slushies but the vodka used should be upgraded as it left me with a headache & I didn't over imbibe. It's definitely got a vibe all its own & I loved it but won't be everyone's cup of tea;) & that's part of its charm. Fancy & the gentleman were the band & they were stellar so I'll definitely be back. Limited parking as the evening goes on.

Amazing local hangout spot with plenty of beer and liquor. Indoor and outdoor seating, a fire pit,…read moreshuffleboard, a pool table, and live music! What else could you ask for? Staff were friendly and informative. Limited parking so arrive early.

The bartenders were fantastic. Great cocktails, great service, pleasant ambiance. One of the best…read morelocal spots.

Need a break from all the fun stores? Stop at this beautiful and yummy bar/coffee shop tucked away…read morein downtown Black Mountain. So many options to order! Lattes, chai tea, wine, mimosas, cocktails, beer! They even have specials! Wednesdays is $5 wine glasses. Thursday's is $3 lattes. Sundays have $5 mimosas. My friend ordered an iced chai tea with oat milk and said it's the best chai tea she's EVER had. I ordered a glass of the sauv blanc, as recommended by the bartender and it was delish crisp and delightful. Perfect for an intensely warm day!

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.

Food is great here came for a burger didn't disappoint at all had a side of home made chips. Sat…read moreon the back porch nice area. Service was very good. Will be back.

I stopped at The Red Fork in downtown Erwin while traveling from Atlanta to Northeast Tennessee for…read morea funeral, and I cannot say enough about the exceptional experience I had. I was traveling with my dog, who was a bit on edge from the long road trip and barked sporadically whenever people left the restaurant. Despite this, Aiden, my server, welcomed us with genuine kindness and patience. He was gracious, attentive, and completely unfazed by my dog's nerves, which made an already difficult day feel a little lighter. Because I was dining with my dog, I waited outside until the owner noticed me through the glass door. He immediately came out, warmly apologized for not seeing me sooner, and made sure we were comfortable. The apology was unnecessary -- if anything, it was definitely too cold to be dining outdoors, but I had no other option. Their hospitality made all the difference. As someone who lives in Atlanta, has dined at many excellent restaurants, and even wrote food reviews early in my career, I was genuinely blown away by the quality of the food. The wedge salad at The Red Fork is, without exaggeration, the best I have ever had. The fresh herbs, homemade dressing, and the addition of pickled onions created a layered, unexpected, and absolutely delicious flavor profile. I also loved the whipped pimento cheese served with what appeared to be homemade crackers and locally sourced chowchow. It was delightful -- one of those memorable bites you think about later. Their beer selection is also thoughtfully curated, representing a well‑balanced mix of local and regional craft brews -- IPAs, sours, lagers, and more. It's clear that care goes into every detail of the menu and beverage offerings, all locally sourced and seasonally influenced. I honestly can't believe such an outstanding restaurant exists in my hometown Tri‑Cities area. Between the exceptional food, the warm hospitality from both Aiden and the owner, and the overall welcoming atmosphere, The Red Fork provided the perfect end to a long and emotional day of travel. I will absolutely return, and I highly recommend it to anyone passing through or living nearby.

Had a great meal here with my mother while I was in town visiting. The staff looks young but they…read morewere real professionals. Food was delicious and well plated. Erwin has a real gem here.

Soooo we were visiting our friends Adrienne and Cliff in Black Mountain and they took us to this…read moreplace that they said was very good. They left out the part about it being one of their favorite places. We took our dog and what a pet friendly area Black Mountain is. We sat outside and were greeted by Kakki. If you go or I'll say when you go, ask for Kakki. She was not only sweet but an incredible and knowledgeable server. We were all looking over the menu and made choices. We'll all but me ‍ Ordered was the burger which our friend said was delicious but more so he kept raving about the potatoes. Next ordered was the French toast which our other friend said was amazing. Then my wife ordered the lamb stew with rice. Ugg that is what I wanted so of course I had to change my order. The stew was Fantastic, delicious, flavorful, did I say delicious. Now for me. I was looking at the pies. There was the chicken and mushroom, spinach and feta and then Kikki said"so you want the peppers steak. I said , well I guess so. Wowwwww great choice. Sooooo good and the mashed and gravy was excellent. There was also a peri peri sauce that was yum. If you are in Black Mountain and do not go here, your loss Ciao for now

Fun, quirky restaurant with unusual South African dishes you won't find in many places outside of…read moreSouth Africa. While we were waiting for our food we walked around the farm which was cool.

We came here for brunch during our day trip to Black Mountain, North Carolina. Here is what we…read morethought. Atmosphere: The Pure and Proper is located inside a beautiful building. It is simply decorated on the inside and outside of the space. They have an upstairs and downstairs outdoor seating area. They also have indoor seating upstairs and downstairs. It looked like they have a little grab and go bakery / coffee spot inside. Service: The service was great. All the people we met were so friendly and helpful. The place was very clean and well maintained. Food: We were blown away by the food. I was amazed by what we ordered. My husband had their 'Monte Cristo' sandwich and LOVED it. He said it was the best sandwich he's ever had. I had their 'Catfish & Grits' which were delicious. It was packed with so much flavor. I loved the pickled onions that came on top of the dish. The catfish and grits dish hit all the tasting notes. It was sweet, savory, and a little sour with the pickled onions. I LOVED it. We will definitely be back during our trip in North Carolina. We've been to several Michelin star and recommended restaurants and Pure & Proper should be on the list!

We are so fortunate to have The Pure and Proper available to us in downtown Black Mountain. An…read moreelevated dining experience that has a mastery of the basics--from food, drinks, customer service, and personalization. We recently popped in yesterday after securing a reservation via Resy to celebrate our anniversary. We were seated at our table with a thoughtful handwritten card thanking us for celebrating with them! Our waitress was fantastic, and they even provided us with complimentary bubbly half pours to commemorate the milestone. Between the two of us, we split the cheeseboard, Brussels sprouts (which are so unique, and one of our favs!), and the poutine. The cheeseboard really is a nice way to kick off the meal, and highly recommend it--so many goodies to choose from. I love how Resy also allows you to specify where in the restaurant you'd like to sit depending on availability--we went with the high top nook spot, which is really special/cozy for two people. Parking is a breeze--even if their lot is full, the post office lot/tyson lot is just a short walk (and it's still not paid parking anywhere downtown).

Espresso dacquiri Hibiscus mojito…read moreCaprihini (sp?) Unique drinks. Non-alcoholic menu is as cool, if not cooler than, the alcoholic one. Dacquiri is wild - unique and delicious. Gorgeous place inside and outside seating.

Cocktail bar with a turn-of-the-century feel, offering a creative cocktail and coffee menu…read morealongside a small bites menu if you're looking for something light. We stayed on the main floor since the host seated us there, but later realized you can order at the bar and take your drinks up to the rooftop--something I wish we knew earlier. The bartenders were pleasant and laid-back, not pretentious at all. The cocktails were inventive and well-crafted. I went with the Coffee Date and Lord of Misrule--pretty good--but in hindsight, I wish I had tried more of their Fever-Tree and Chemist collaborations, which sounded especially interesting.

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.