Tapoco Tavern was one of the absolute highlights of our North Carolina road trip. Nestled in the mountains along the river near the Tail of the Dragon, this place is breathtaking. The setting alone is worth the drive, with beautiful mountain views and a peaceful riverside atmosphere. If you're looking for a scenic lunch stop, this is it. The food was just as impressive. I ordered the trout salad--my first time ever trying trout--and it was incredible. Fresh, flavorful, beautifully presented, and one of my favorite meals of the entire trip. One thing to know before you go: there is little to no cell service in the area, so you'll want to connect to the property's Wi-Fi if you need directions or want to use your phone. We'll absolutely be back. Between the scenery, the food, and the overall experience, this is a place I would recommend to anyone exploring the mountains. read more

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Lovely location along the Cheoah River just before the Tail of the Dragon. Even with how busy they were on a weekend we didn't have to wait long for seating near the river. The food was quite enjoyable- I really liked my nachos with pulled pork, and the service was super friendly as well. read more

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The ambience of this hotel and restaurant are amazing! Everything is beautiful! The Tavern has outside seating right next to the river and one can also see the road where drivers go up to deal's gap/the dragon. The views, scenery and sounds are fantastic! I just wish the food had been better! The tables have large, colorful umbrellas over them and it was really comfortable sitting out there when we visited. Our server was Maggie. She was very attentive, friendly, and helpful. I ordered the ribeye, medium, rare with a Caesar salad and broccoli. DH ordered the ribeye also with fried okra and hash brown casserole. It was cooked to my preference of medium rare, it was juicy and the presentation was great. It just didn't have any flavor. The casserole was ok and the fried okra was good. The Caesar salad was good too. The broccoli was ok. I was hoping for so much more especially with the price of the 12 oz black angus ribeye. read more

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The food was solid. Lots of options. The pizzas smelled so good, but we opted for the burger, salad and chicken Caesar wrap. The restaurant inside was fairly clean. We noticed most people sat outside on the covered patio, also where the restrooms are located. The service was super friendly. Overall, good choice for local dining. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Classic double burger - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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Absolutely beautiful place. The staff were so friendly and the service was awesome. The old school charm is awesome. I opted for a brick oven pizza. Wow it was delicious delectable and lots of other adjectives. Brett had the pecan encrusted trout and he said it was also good. Did I say how awesome the service was. read more

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Location-wise, this spot is as convenient as it gets in this remote area, especially for guests staying at the Tapoco Resort, Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort, or Fontana Village Resort. The ambiance here is excellent, particularly if you are able to get a table outside right along the river. Just keep in mind that the parking lot fills up quickly with motorsports enthusiasts' sports cars and motorcycles, so you might have to hike up the hill to use the auxiliary parking lot. The food was very good. I had the Hippie Bowl ($17), which was a generous portion of fresh greens topped with hummus, carrots, pickled onions, tomatoes, cucumbers, quinoa, avocado, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds. I also tried the Cobb Salad ($17), a large bowl of fresh greens topped with diced ham, bacon, avocado, eggs, cucumbers, tomatoes, and red onions. Both choices were excellent, fresh, and filling. Service was pretty good although the restaurant was still packed when we turned up for dinner at 7 PM (about an hour before they closed). When our server was overwhelmed, one of the other servers jumped in to help out with our drinks and entrees without missing a beat. The only disappointment to my party was the pizza situation -- primarily due to the popularity of the dish. On both occasions that I have eaten here, my dining companions were told that there was at least an hour-long wait if they wanted to order one of the famous Tapoco Tavern pizzas because the kitchen was slammed. Our party wound up ordering entrees that were easier for the kitchen to prepare. Overall, it's a solid 4-star experience for the atmosphere, food, and service, just be prepared for a potential wait if your heart is set on the famous pizza. PRO TIP: If someone in your dining party is celebrating the anniversary of their birth, Tapoco Tavern offers a complimentary slice of tasty birthday cake. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Hippie Bowl - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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We were a party of four - two couples. We sat in the bar area to be right on the creek and to have shade. Service was good and the server was attentive. Of the four of us, on had a grilled chicken wrap, one had a fried chicken sandwich, one had a hamburger and I had trout tacos. All four of enjoyed our main entree and would definitely eat there again. Maybe next we will go for dinner. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Trout tacos. - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

I came here while attending a Dragon gathering and I got to say this place is beautiful right next to the river. I came in a Friday night and it definitely was very busy. I was very happy to have found a parking spot. I was seated immediately as our group host already had reservations for all of us. I ordered the Tavern burger, Dry Rubbed Chicken Wings, and Meaty medium pizza. The pizza took a very long time as I was told that they cook the pizza from somewhere else. The burger was quite spicy and was normal burger. The dry rub chicken wings were very tasty. I really enjoyed it!! The medium meaty pizza was huge and super delicious. The cheese was nicely made. Service was a little slow due to the crowds so you will definitely need to be patient. There was live music and watching the white water rapids on the rock was super beautiful. I highly recommend this place if you're visiting the Tail of the Dragon area. I can't wait to come back again!! read more

We arrived at Tampico Tavern around lunch time. We were promptly sat outside, in the shade thank goodness There was no offer of sitting inside, if there had been we would have taken it. There was a large crowd there and it was quite noisy. The scenery is quite beautiful lush vegetation and the river runs right next to the outdoor setting. The tables are a bit worn which was surprising, so we pondered on this and came up with... they must all stay out in the weather The waitress was very prompt and very friendly! She took our drink order and promptly took our food order as she brought our drinks. We ordered Ethan Burgers with a side of fries and a side of Mac n Cheese. After a while, we asked about the order as the waitress refilled our glasses. I apologized and told her we have an appointment and must leave in 20 min. She ran to check and brought out our food. The burgers were warm but not hot but they were oh so yummy!!! My fries were pretty much terrible they were burned and cold. Hubby's burger was amazing he said, but the Mac and cheese was flavorless and not hot. This made us terribly sad but we didn't have the luxury of time to let the waitress know. I'm sure she would have fixed the problem. The last thing I will remember unfortunately is there is mold in their ice machine. I am SUPER sensitive to mold and I can taste it in my water every time. Fortunately the waitress brought out a glass to the table without ice and I was able to drink that. I would recommend this place to eat. Get your drink without ice! Especially if you are allergic to mold. I will encourage you if something isn't right, example cold food... send it back. A good chef/ cook wants you to enjoy hot food. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Ethan Burger and Fries - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

This place serves the ABSOLUTE BEST MARGHERITA PIZZA we've EVER had. Sitting outside, by the river, watching the kayakers go by, and eating this magical pizza, is one of our absolute favorite things to do, every time we visit the area (twice a year). Now, let me tell you why I CANNOT give them 5 stars. I have been telling my in-laws about this place (AND this pizza) for about 3 years. Last month, we took them to Waynesville, for what will likely be their last trip to Waynesville, their favorite place. (health reasons) We were staying in Waynesville and shopping in Pigeon Forge and it was lunch time. We were headed to Mel's Diner, and at the last second, I suggested we go by Tapoco Tavern, instead, to get the pizza I had been telling them about. Everybody was hungry, but agreed they could hold out for another hour to try this pizza they'd heard so much about. We were all starving by the time we finally pulled up to the LOCKED GATES at Tapoco Tavern. Their website had NO MENTION OF BEING CLOSED. We assumed they must close for the season, but a few days later, I saw an advertisement for Tapoco Lodge, on Facebook. Go figure. We drove 60-100 miles out of the way and still had to drive another hour to get to the third restaurant attempt. (Luckily, Native Brews, in Cherokee was open (obviously, we called first). Any other restaurant would have a one star review for this train wreck dining day. But, that awesome pizza will STILL keep us coming back. Sadly, my in-laws will never experience the best Margherita pizza. Go here. Get the Margherita pizza. It's a game changer. But, CALL FIRST! read more

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Birthday dinner with my daughter last night (Fri 4/10/26). We got there at 5 and were seated right away. The evening was perfect and the outdoor seating near the river made a perfect backdrop. Live music began at 7 which was also nice. We ordered our drinks, appetizer (trout nuggets are very good!) and entrees at the insistence of our hostess and glad we did. By 5:30 it got very busy! I was dissatisfied with my grilled chicken sandwich. The grilled chicken had no seasoning. Plentiful portion but very bland and tasteless. I ate the grilled onions and mushrooms and a couple bites of the toasted wheat bread with melted cheese. My daughter had the Chicken Caesar wrap and she said it was messy but not bad. The Pizookie was delicious which made everything alright!! Who does not love a hot chocolate chip cookie with ice cream, caramel drizzle & whipped cream?! This was my 2nd time and even though my sandwich was not perfect, I still enjoy eating here. It is worth the trip! read more

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Excellent food, amazing and gorgeous views. Wood fired pizza is very authentic and the pancakes were some of the best I've had. Service is always excellent and ambiance can't be beat if you like nature. read more

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Overall a beautiful spot in the mountains just past Deals Gap at the top of The Tail of the Dragon. Service at the inside Bar was some of the worst I have ever experienced. Lady was all about the super wealthy guys drinking bourbon and didn't seem to care about anyone not driving a Porsche. It took over an hour and 15 minutes to get a simple pizza without any notice that it was going to take that amount of time. Meanwhile the guy drinking and driving his Porsche was given an order of chicken wings in less than 20 minutes. He ordered way after me and was served way before my pizza came out. When I asked for a glass of water I was given a look of disappointment that I was not ordering alcohol while riding my motorcycle. I would never go back to this place and attempt to order food or anything from the bar or anything period from that bartender. She wasted so much of my time. A simple comment of it might take an hour or longer if you order a pizza would have allowed me to keep my day going as planned. Very disappointed in such a beautiful historic place read more

Tapoco Tavern - Little drink to cool off from the heat. - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

We had a chance to stay in the historic lodge and of course enjoyed the Tavern. I will say the draft beer selection is very good variety. And the pint is reasonable. We enjoyed burger and trout tacos one afternoon and came back to trout and chicken for dinner the following evening. Dishes are generous portions and well prepared. Service is good and all staff is friendly. We really enjoyed our visits read more

Tapoco Tavern - Trout with slaw and okra. Generous topping of bacon and onion. I had the slaw with both meals and really liked it - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

Happy Endings +++. Ambiance is open and covered full service patio resto and covered bar along the Cheoah River. This lodge is at the end of many trails and is a great place to finish any adventure. ++. Food is casual upscale pizzas and Southern catering to well heeled visitors. Their trout, brick oven pizzas, superfood slaw and lemonades were popular with us. +. Service was pleasant but slower as it was packed and the wait was long. +. Price is high...about double elsewhere around here. Even for the quality it's slightly higher than what you pay in big cities. +. Parking was tight, controlled entry and directed by attendants. read more

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You won't beat the view here, that's the one thing they have going for them. Food prices are resort prices for sure, probably a bit on the gouging side if you ask me. You can get a cheaper meal in Robbinsville or Tellico Plains with the same or better quality but you're a long ways out from both. I've eaten here many times over the years but this last time in May 2025 really left a bad impression on me. When I was here in 2024 they had a gluten free trout dinner that for 2025 is no longer gluten free. However, the trout nuggets are and they are pretty good. This time I ordered the campfire mountain trout and it was horrible. The fish was hard to cut and overcooked. It didn't pair well with the pecans and bacon. $29 for a bad meal. But wait...it gets worse. My girlfriend saw all the pizza pictures as well as some sitting around us. She loves pizza but there's a catch, she has celiac and needs to be gluten free. No worries, they have an option for gluten free pizza, ONLY a $4 uncharge....oh, and it's smaller than their medium pizza, but you'll pay the large price plus the surcharge. Okay, fine, we will do it because the non-GF pizza looks so amazing. But wait...they cook it in the same oven as the non-GF so there's a chance of cross contamination...okay we will take the risk. Well, talk about the biggest disappointment ever. This thing came out burnt on the bottom, took 50 minutes to make...I was done eating my meal before she got this pathetic tiny pizza. It came out with exactly 11 PEPPERONIS...11 OF THEM!! Toppings were so minimal you could count them. Burnt small pizza with countable toppings for only $27. If you're gonna price gouge people for the location and "resort" prices at least make it good. Cardboard thin pizza that's burnt on the bottom with no cheese or toppings for $27 is a complete ripoff. We had to stop for more food in Robbinsville on our way back to Raleigh because it wasn't even enough to make you full. Add in $9 for a mocktail that was mostly ice and with tip her meal was nearly $50 to leave hungry and have to get more food an hour later. But, the view was nice. read more

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We stopped here for lunch on a cold day & we set by the river. So beautiful. The waitress was so friendly and quick. I ordered the chicken Caesar wrap with fried okra. The okra was hot and crispy. The wrap had just the right amount of dressing on it. My husband had the grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries. He loved it. This is a must stop. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Grill Chicken Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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We've are here several times and have never been disappointed! The food is always delicious and just enough to fill us up! Service is often a little slow but not enough to drop a star from us. Ambiance of course is amazing next to the river! We drive over 2 hours to eat here and drive the dragon. Great spot! read more

This was some of the worst food I've had in a very long time. My family of four drove through the dragon road to get to this place as a fun little afternoon trip we get there and our server was basically a robot with no emotion no smile no nothing we ordered drinks. I can't speak for everybody else, but I ordered a Arnold Palmer with unsweet tea and it tasted like the water came straight from the river that we were dining next to. We were sitting at a table very close to the river with a nice view, except it was a very hot day and even though there was an umbrella over us it provided very little coverage so the sun was beating down on us. We then moved to another table where we were served fried pickles, which were actually pretty good. Those were the highlight of this day. Unfortunately, it only goes down from here, I ordered a margarita pizza. Unfortunately the server told me there would be about a 45 minute wait I didn't wanna wait for that so on the spot quickly, I saw a chicken sandwich. I forget exactly what it was called is something like Santa Rosa or something like that I don't really know, but it was a chicken sandwich and I was excited for it when our food finally came out. The first thing I noticed is that my chicken sandwich came on toast not a bun toast. The chicken was grilled. It was a tad dry, but on its own, it was not horrible. It came with fries. I don't know how to say this without just saying it, but somehow these fries were dry. It almost had the texture of wet sand on the inside it was like if you took mashed potatoes with nothing in them, just literally mashed potatoes, skins, and all and then you turn them into french fries. That's how they tasted. My sister ordered a chicken Caesar wrap. I tried it and I can say that it was pretty rough. It had this strange taste to it and a bit of a strange smell when you ate it I'm assuming it was the cheese and she ordered a side of mac & cheese. It was extremely watery and runny and did not taste at all of cheese, and the pasta was mushy. It was disgusting. My chicken sandwich came with mushrooms and bacon so thin, I could swipe it through a credit card reader my dad ordered a burger medium. It was well done when we got the final bill. The entire order was an appetizer of fried pickles two chicken sandwiches a chicken Caesar wrap a burger, a Shirley Temple and Arnold Palmer a beer in a cocktail. This bill came out to $140 and considering the route we had to take to get up to this restaurant, it was extremely disappointing. I will not recommend this to anybody who knows maybe their pizza is good but I for one will not wait 45 minutes for it. Just go somewhere else on the dragon. Thank you. read more

I just wanted to take a minute to brag on our sweet server, Delaney, at Tapoco! She was the absolute sweetest and took such good care of us. She recommended the nachos and the Pazookie, and oh my goodness... WOW ! It's the best when someone knows the menu, gives great recommendations, and makes your family feel welcome. If you visit Tapoco, ask for Delaney, shes a gem, and you won't be disappointed! read more

What a fantastic place to go for dinner. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Tonight, there was a guy singing on the outside patio. Service was excellent, she did a great job with our table of six. We tried the fried Pickles, and they came out hot and tasty! Delicious!!! The chicken nachos were a huge portion and tasted great. The burger was cooked perfectly, and the jalapeno cheese was the perfect heat to the burger. The fries were huge and tasted great, yet were highly seasoned. The fish was a little overcooked, and probably won't get those again. read more

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We stopped into Tapoco for dinner and, everything was AMAZING! We got the fish+chips and filet, everything was hot and obviously freshly made to order. All the staff were super nice and willing to help always! great views of the river and overall a cozy place. I 100% recommend to anyone in the area. read more

The raging rapids right next to you is a beautiful sight to see, the service is quick and they hold a good standard of care to each customer. The food for being way out in the wood was surprisingly delicious. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Outside Cascades - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

This is a nice place to eat. It has outdoor dining. You can sit and look at the River. The server was great. We even got to see some people kayaking. The food and drinks were great. read more

Tapoco Tavern - My wife and our drinks - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

The service was great. The atmosphere can't be beat. Along the rapid and water. Fire pits and live music. The food was incredible. Memory was our server and. She was excellent. I had their Tapoco sunrise cocktail it was fantastic. I can't rave enough about this amazing place. Right before the dragons tail. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Rapids. Great music. Wonderful property. - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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Ordered trout dinner. The trout was extremely dry and could tell it was from frozen before fried and then under a heat lamp for hours. Servers were terrible. They ignored us several times. When they brought our food out, forgot to give us silverware to eat our food. When we attempted to ask a server, she was very rude. Food was worse than a frozen dinner and very expensive. I would have been better to purchase a frozen dinner at a grocery store and heat it in a microwave. At least it would be moist. read more

Fantastic food and beautiful riverside setting with great service all added up to this place instantly becoming a new favorite. After an invigorating run across The Tail of the Dragon, I enjoyed the Caesar Salad with Trout and the wife enjoyed a Stella's Chicken Sandwich. Both were superb in every way. Saw several other plates come out that looked delicious. Will certainly be back to try a burger as well as the pizza. Get there early on a Saturday because it does get busy and if you can, check the river water release schedule. Watching the brave kayakers tackling the river whitewater was fun too. For a car guy, the chance to hear some very nice sports cars charging up the mountain nearby was a bonus. For some people, that might have spoiled it but not for this gearhead!! Should have taken a picture of the food and the menu but didn't, unfortunately. Next time!! read more

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Found this hidden gem and so thankful! We've been coming to the mountains for 14 years and we've never stopped. So glad a few of the ladies decided to go for a drive! It's a must try if you're in the area! Food was AMAZING!! Service was stellar! Drinks were great! They have a heated patio and plenty of seating! read more

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It's been quite a while since I've been here but I realized that I never left a review. I wanted to make sure my 5 stars made it in there because this is definitely a great spot if you're in the area, and especially if you're staying in the lodge; don't pass up a meal and/or a cocktail here. I don't quite remember how the service was during our last visit but I do remember the great cocktail, the delicious food and the fantastic view. I also loved the rustic vibe, which provided for a great atmosphere. Definitely a destination spot on your list for holiday. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Old fashioned $12 - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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Let me just say you have to go check this place out. Beautiful setting right on the water. Food was amazing. Service was on point for a group of 15 that we had. Sherry, helped me out with the reservation. They support their military vets and first responders. Couldn't have had a better experience. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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2 stars for the view from the restaurant but the service is terrible. Also, Yelp just deleted my previous review that I posted months ago that went into detail about why the service was terrible. Isn't that what yelp is for? read more

Stopped in with friends for dinner. I had the smothered chicken. I am over 60 years old and this was the best chicken dish I have ever experienced. Two very thick large grilled chicken fillets. Cooked to absolute perfection. They were moist and juicy and fully cooked. The cheese and onions added to the flavor profile so well. Our server Memory, took special care of us. The location is along the river and the rushing water created a wonderful ambiance. We took some time after dinner to sit at the gas fire table and chat. Wonderful experience we are sure to repeat. Highly recommend!! read more

Tapoco Tavern - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

Today was our 5th or 6th visit over the past 4 years. As always, the 2-hour drive along the "Tail of the Dragon" was fun and scenic. We arrived around noon, and the Tavern wasn't busy, so we were seated immediately. We ordered Tavern fries, a Blackened Chicken Caesar Wrap, and regular fries. All were served hot, and quite delicious. My only "issue", and this is a repeated problem: we pay by credit card, and are presented with one of those portable hand-held credit card readers. On a previous visit, the server "thoughtfully" pre-selected a 30% tip for himself. Fortunately, I caught it at the last moment, and instead of the 20% I would have given him, he got 10%. Today I was waiting, and it happened again. The server (blond woman) pre-selected a 25% tip for herself. While not illegal, it's DEFINITELY immoral and slightly dishonest, as obviously they were trying to get by without us noticing. Since today's server was really good, I did give her 20%. Still, SHAME ON HER. read more

Nice outdoor eating area with views of water Food tasty. Grilled trout was delicious. Portions on the smaller side vs other places we visited in the area. I was still a little hungry after my meal. Service is okay. A little slower than I'd like. Note they close fairly early on the weekdays. read more

Stopped by after a friend referred us to their restaurant and I'm so happy we did. We were able to get a seat by the river and the views and the sound of the water cascading over the rocks was amazing. Our server was there taking our drink order as soon as we sat down and we tried the trout sandwich and hamburger and both were a 10/10. I will definitely go back anytime I'm in the area. read more

Tapoco Tavern - View from our seating area on the patio. - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

The food is delicious here! We've been here several times for a quick meal after driving the Dragon, but this time, we were celebrating my husband's birthday. We had lunch and dinner while we stayed at Tapoco Lodge. I suggest making room for dessert because we ate all the Cheesecake with bourbon caramel and would've licked the plate too (if, I was at home)! read more

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Beautiful restaurant nestled next to a flowing stream and bridge where we could see our car buddies buzzing by. We chose to dine outdoors; even moved around a bit to get shade. Service was friendly and attentive denoted by my star rating. Fried trout appetizer was chosen by friends. It was just OK; an attempt to elevate a dish with something other than catfish. But, it doesn't work. Any fried trout doesn't work period. But, they had to hit that $14 price point on a classier dish. My Tavern Burger ordered medium rare was overcooked to nearly well done. Ghost pepper jack cheese was a nice addition without adding all the heat of the Hot Dam burger featured just below on the menu. Tacos looked better than my overcooked meat Hashbrown Casserole as my side was cheesier than Cracker Barrel and a better choice than dang 'ol fries. We even made it into the dessert round with carrot cake and cheesecake. Lovely place, relying on the scenery for the extra dollars read more

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Amazing place. The food was good, the people were nice, beer, a little bit on the warm side for my taste but good overall. read more

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Did you just drive the Dragon Tail Trail in your GMC Sierra AT4 with your kids screaming in the backseat and didn't realize where you were going because you'd gotten lost when your phone lost cell coverage? Well, this is the stop for you! LoL We ordered a pizza and some nice chilly beers to calm mommy's anxiety from daddy's amazing race car driving skills on the Dragon Tail. I 10000% recommend stopping in. The area is also very beautifully kept and very inviting. You can even lodge here if the Trail made you need to do so. LoL Stop here! You'll love it! read more

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We have passed Tapoco Tavern at least a dozen times and never stopped. This past Sunday, we stopped in for lunch and oh boy, what a great venue. Sitting outside by the river is just an awesome experience. The staff was amazing! The pizza was perfect, ordered a Hawaiian. They butter the crust! To die for pizza! The local craft beer selection served ice cold is a pleasant relieve from the summer heat. A+++++++ read more

Tapoco Tavern - Hawaiian Pizza with buttered crust. Yum yum. - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina