This is one of the most amazing restaurants I've ever been to. Everything was so fresh and all the flavors were absolutely incredible. Best pizza, steak, vegetables, mashed potatoes, and desert I've ever tasted. Very calming and beautiful seating area and incredible service. read more

this little restaurant is one of the anchors of our community. not only is the food delicious, locally sourced, and expertly prepared, but the atmosphere is welcoming and warm. the restaurant industry is one of the hardest hit industries in our country, and purple onion is navigating these unforeseeable challenges with grace. the staff is professional, the food is world- class, and the role in our community incomparable. the fact that our little town of 600 people can support this restaurant that is better than just about any place in the surrounding cities is a testament to its virtues. but please don't go if you are the kind of person who looks for stuff to complain about and is rude and just looks for stuff to complain about To post online to get attention. That's just wrong and you are bringing down the vibe! read more

My mother and I enjoyed brunch here while spending a few days in the area. The food and service were great. The restaurant was comfortable, welcoming, and clean. The menu is varied offering something for everyone without being overly complex or over priced. This is a great restaurant to relax and enjoy a good meal. read more

Great find in Saluda! Staff was friendly and welcoming. Outdoor dining area is inviting and relaxing - even after mods to accommodate covid19 requirements. The curly kale and super seed salad was amazing! And the pizzas were a hit. I tried the wild mushroom and arugula and loved it. read more

Order a BLT and pizza. Both were nasty. Pizza was like 10 year old made it with store bought garage dough and BLT had two strips of bacon and the bread was literally soggy and cold like it was in refrigerator all night. Save your money and go anywhere else like Saluda grand cafe 10 doors down. The server forgot to put our friend's order in for 30 minutes and this was at 2:30pm on a Sunday with not maybe tables full. Lastly, eat cereal at home because my friends lunch was actually worse. read more

Second time at The Purple Onion was not a good experience. Such poor service like we were invisible on the visit. Such an over all bummer. Long story short.... pricy meal, lack luster over priced starter, mediocre pizza, poor service, no reason to return. read more

If you are on a healthy way of living, you will enjoy this small unique eatery. The portions are not big though you can still share. I tried gazpacho, smoked trout and panini sandwich. It was delicious. I wish they could put more trout though for their appetizer. read more

We had a most excellent dinner. The trout was super good and the staff as really really nice. The art was all beautiful scenery of the area and I wanted to buy several pieces. The best thing about this place is that I cannot wait to come back! Thank you for the wonderful time.y read more

We went this past Saturday night with a party of 5, one child age 4. Showed up at 5:45pm, told it would be 45 mins to get a table, ended up being seated around 7. The waiter took our order rather quickly and from there it was all down hill. At 8:15, they still hadn't brough out the first course and the 4 year old hadn't eaten. We finally got our entrees around 9pm and one of them was the wrong one. We had to get up form the table 4 seperate times to find someone in charge to help because our waiter never looked our way when servicing the other tables. Getting free desert was not a concession for one of the most horrible service experience I have had in over 35 yeras of dining out. Too bad too because the food was on point. Food alone isn't a dining experience and this one failed miserably. read more

A delightful place to dine with tasteful decor including featured paintings by local artists. I had the mussels which were quite good and the tabouli as an appetizer. We had a group of eight which the staff handled easily. It was a great evening. I will definitely go back. read more

We recently moved to the area in June 2016 and everyone we spoke with from the area (including our landlords) told us this place was wonderful and a MUST to eat at. We have tried it twice to give it the benefit of the doubt but have been disappointed both times. The service both times was actually decent (compared with what others have complained about), however, it's the food that we have the problem with. The first time we dined here was for dinner. My husband got the chicken dish, I got the pork dish and my mother got the pasta and red sauce dish. Besides being completely overpriced the food was extremely lacking in flavor. There was nothing on the menu that was "toddler" friendly and we ordered a side of carrots for our child and they cost us $5 and were nothing special. Now I'm not expecting a side of carrots to be the best thing in the world, my problem is the price we had to pay for them. The second time we ate here was for lunch and took it to go. We ordered the hamburger and grilled chicken sandwich (it's hard to screw those up right? Wrong) Again, we experienced the same bland and tasteless dishes as we did when we ate dinner there. The Purple Onion seems to be a great place for those who like "fancier" food and local music. If you're of a simpler foodie mind, save your money and go up the street to Green River BBQ. read more

I'm surprised that such a small town has such a great restaurant. It's a must try if you're in the area. They have a great selection of food. The pork dish I had was incredible. The meat fell off the bone. And the juice from the pork was amazing with the mashed potatoes and root vegetables the dish came with. Stop in when they have live music... and save room for dessert! read more

I was really disappointed. Twice I was brought ice in a cup and canned soda. Twice the cup had DIRT in it, or coffee grounds, or something black and grainy, and in no small amount. Service was slow and the food was mediocre. I had a sandwich that was supposed to be grilled and it was cold and the cheese was barely melted. I would not recommend it and I will not be going back. read more

Loved it. Food was good and fresh, service was great. Had the green goddess salad and local honey and cheese plate.

We where vacationing in Lake Lure, went zip lining in Saluda and on recommendation of the zip guides went to lunch at the purple onion. Wonderful menu, delicious food and quaint atmosphere. The pizza was wonderful and made of quality ingredients. The kale salad - outrageously delicious and the chicken club sandwich was magnificently fresh. The only reason I'm giving this restaurant 4 stars is due to the waitress. She was pretty slow, never came back to check on how our food was and took forever to get the check. read more

I have eaten at Purple Onion many times and I find the food and the staff to be excellent. I go out of my way to eat there. The soups, pizza, sandwiches, and seafood are always great. On Friday and Saturday nights the music they have is an additional plus. The wait staff is some of the friendliest I have ever encountered. Hope they keep up the good work. read more

What a surprising find! Hubby and I wanted into Saluda, to check out this cute town. Close to noon, we looked for a place to eat and wanted into this restaurant. We're glad we did. It was a pleasant and tasty experience. We both had the Purple Onion Burger. It was just as a burger should be. Not too big and not too small. Juicy, well seasoned. The servers were friendly, quick and kept our water and coffee cups topped off. Highly recommended. read more

I have dined here three times since moving to the area 3 months ago. Definitely, this place is a favorite already in the area. The cuisine is unique, world class, and the atmosphere is great. The outdoor dining area is very nice. There is a nice selection of microbrews, and the wine list is good, too. I would give this place a 5 star rating, except that our experience with the wait staff has ranged from superb, to poor. Hopefully the Management will weed out the slackers. read more

Amazing!!! The great Greek pita and kale salad were out of this world!!! Also had blackberry cobbler that was great. Sad I don't live closer to this spot! read more

Purple Onion - Great Greek pita and kale and seed salad. Awesome!! - New American Near Me - Saluda, North Carolina

In my opinion, the best option in town for a nice meal. Things are a little pricey, but not outlandish. Food is very tasty. I took them down one star because my burger crumbled apart, so it was kind of hard to eat in the traditional way. My wife was very pleased with her meal. Would go back. read more

My second time here in ten years. Also the last time. There was singer(old yeller. She was so loud could not hear anything besides her). And guitar accompaniment( he was very good). The menu is very limited and not that good. They should decide if they want be music venue or restaurant and try harder for one. If you want good food or want to hear the conversation of people you are with, go somewhere else. It is a shame since they have a nice location and building read more

Dirty kitchen. Hostess wiped crumbs onto our stool. Ordered the Stoney pizza, terrible. Flavorless, burnt crust with encrusted cornmeal. We could not cut through the crust without much effort. Over sauced, tasteless sauce that was all generic canned tomatoes. Feta was either old or cheap, not creamy nor flavorful. Apparently this is where the prison population that built the railway ate as punishment. No wonder they tried to escape. Cruel and unusual punishment to eat here. Catch the A train out of town or miss a meal, better to go hungry. read more

I rarely leave reviews, but the Purple Onion deserves one. I've eaten here at least 10 times and every meal has been excellent. Everything was fresh and perfectly cooked every time. The chef does an excellent job. The ribeye was one of my favorites and so was the cheeseburger (it's the reason I'm leaving a review)! If you're in the mood for fish get the trout it's super flavorful and healthy. Anytime we ordered seafood it was fresh and delicious. The roasted oysters were amazing... order a dozen (at least) if they're available. I'm not a big dessert person, but when we did eat dessert it was awesome! The cheesecake was my favorite. The baker does an awesome job! Great local beers on tap and their coffee was great every time I had it. ALL of the staff has been exceptional. Everyone was friendly and attentive every time we went. The servers know their stuff and every order was correct every time (that doesn't happen often). I don't often read about the cleanliness of a restaurant in reviews (unless it's something bad) but I think it's worth mentioning that everything was spotless.. literally. The glasses were crystal clear, the silverware was spotless and they were always prompt in removing finished plates from the table. Consistently excellent food and service. You'll be happy you went. read more

Excellent, friendly, attentive service. Lots of interesting choices on the menu. We went with the specials, and were very pleased with our choices. Good craft beer and wine selection. Relaxing and enjoyable! We plan to take friends on our next visit. read more

Had a great dinner last night, had Panko Fried Flounder, piece was small, but quinoa was tasty. Beer list is not to impressive nor was the wine offerings. read more

Really good food and wine selection. Usually has live music on the weekends.

Not a bad place at all. I had lunch with a friend and we both enjoyed our meals. She had a salad and I had a sandwich with avocado on it. Delicious! Service was excellent, food quite tasty, prices not bad though it was lunch. It was an all around nice place to meet up with a friend for lunch. Definitely give this place a try. read more

While out exploring saluda, we discovered this nice find. We had the classico pizza to share and we're very happy with it.

Atmosphere has always been enlivening and food is thoughtfully prepared. One of the few restaurants where you can enjoy tasty food and great coffee. Usually, great coffee is not a given at great food restaurants.Service was speedy and professional. read more

Food was great the first two times. The place was busy but service was good. But.....the third time service, what did I say service? Just kidding! The waitress was way too interested in servicing a table of 4 men with what I hope was a $200 bottle of wine than following up with existing customers. read more

Great service! Friendly personable efficient. Food was very good. Had a Reuben that was great. Good quality meat and sauerkraut. Surprisingly good selection of local beers. We would return read more

Not as good as the Saluda Grade Cafe but it has more atmosphere and does offer outdoor covered seating. The pizza is just ok. The best items are trout and whatever the special is. The fresh local berry cobbler is great but I recommend you cut the sweetness with a scoop of ice cream! I guess I've talked it into five stars but it's all in what you order. So I will keep it at 4 stars. Regular and varied entertainment is always nice, but you will want reservations. Make a reservation on entertainment nights or plan to eat somewhere else: I suggest the Saluda Grade for better food. read more

What a great restaurant in the quaint town of Saluda! The outside cooled down just in time. We had great service. The meals were a perfect way to celebrate my wife's birthday. The grandson was happy with just pizza. We will definitely be back! read more

The Purple Onion excelled during its busiest day of the year, Coon Dog Day! Thousands of people so we didn't think we would ever be able to eat there....walked up to the hostess and was told 20 to 30 minute wait. Well within that time we were told out table was ready. Service outstanding! Food fresh and prepared beautifully. We had a Greek pita and BLT, both excellent. Many vegetarian options and the pizzas looked wonderful. read more

I grew up with this place. Dinner fell short and it was expensive for what you got. Muscles were delicious but way too many ingredients, can't people make simple food simple. How about sticking to a good white wine, butter & garlic sauce- that's it. Beet salad was ordinary. My linguine entrée was plain- dull. I had such high hopes for this place. But it's a cool spot and the service was excellent. Next time i'm sticking to my childhood lunch favorite, the hummus pita... read more

If I had it my way and was going to run a business, it would be Purple Onion. Located in a small mountain town, and I mean small but Saluda is one cool place to be. Purple Onion is a great addition. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is easy going with an "everyone is welcome" attitude. Music is performed most nights if not all nights - typically never anything loud. Great micros on tap and an impressive wine list. Seriously, it's worth a visit. You may wait some time since the place is always crowded. Family and kid friendly as well. Just go, especially if you're on a HOT date. read more

Great ambiance on the patio. Good wait staff. My steak was tasty and cooked right. Rest of the family seemed to really enjoy theirs as well. Great overall experience read more

Ate lunch here are roaming downtown Saluda. Even at 2pm this place is busy and I know why. Simple, delicious food and great staff. The tuna avocado salad was a great start. Followed by the vegetable panini. I resisted the dessert counter only because I had other plans. But it looked divine. A must visit when in Saluda! read more

We had a really wonderful anniversary dinner with live music on a Saturday night. Their service was truly excellent and we felt welcomed. We shared a delicious and healthy grain bowl with chicken and a flat bread appetizer. We splurged on dessert with a cheesecake and a wild berry cake. Their desserts were awesome and they had a case with many to choose from. My decaf coffee was great and although we didn't order wine, they had an extensive list. Overall great experience and I hope to come back one day. Our waitress was lovely and extremely attentive. I was so impressed with how their staff reacted when a young boy spilled a glass of ice water on his mother at the next table. They brought towels immediately, then brought over coloring books and crayons for the kids and a special coloring book for mom! We loved the entertainment too -- Scoot Pittman was a special treat. read more

My favorite place in Saluda. Music scene is terrific and service is normally good in an area known for indifferent service. The only reason for fewer than five stars is a steady move in the direction of overly trendy, over spiced "gourmet" offerings over the years -- and I'm a fan of fresh, plain food. read more