I cannot count the number of times my wife and I have been to Tapoco over the past several years and it's always been great. This past June I wanted pizza. The problem is I cannot eat dairy, so no cheese. I inquired about just sauce with toppings. Our server thankfully informed me that there is actually cheese in the regular sauce, so no go. She suggested pesto because that was cheese free. I added some toppings and it was actually quite tasty. read more

Great atmosphere and great service. I would go everyday if I could. Incredible place and food

It was lovely weather to sit outside and listen to the water bubble through the creek. Food was sufficient and didn't take long. Server was pleasant. Nothing spectacular, but a very decent burger. It's really hard to find any really great food in this part of the world.... Believe me , we've tried over the past several months .... so by that standard, I'd say this place was pretty satisfying. Now, if you are not a biker, please be advised that this place caters to bikers and the Tale of the Dragon is right there so that equates to an enormous amount of road noise. In turn , if you are a biker , than this place is an ideal destination where your business is valued by virtue of the location and amenities for you. However, bc food is few and far between in these parts , beggars can't be choosers , either eat here or carry a well stocked cooler. We chose the latter from now on. read more

Fries....get the fries! Something unique I haven't had before but definitely enjoyed. They sprinkle some brown sugar on them and they come out great. Awesome spot to eat and hang out at. Food was great as well. Really nice river that flows by that provides a relaxing audio track. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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Good pizza Good salad Good service Beautiful seats by the River Nice areas to walk and chill after the meal I don't live very close but will make the 90 minute trip again to try other menu items read more

3.5 stars. Gorgeous spot where you can eat right next to a roaring river. The side salad was very good -- quality lettuce and good balsamic vinaigrette. My husband enjoyed his pizza. I should have just split a pizza with him because my burger was not good. Meat was dry and overcooked. It was also very firm and perfectly round which makes me suspect they use the frozen preformed burgers. Brioche sat under the heat lamp too long - a bit hard. So order a pizza and salad! Enjoy the scenery. It had rained and a double rainbow appeared! read more

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The location is true to our mountainous region, but we found the food to be nothing special. Our dog was welcomed on the covered patio, which was very enjoyable. It was nice to go this one time for lunch on a beautiful day. read more

Great service and great food with great view on the river. I will be back soon. The pizza was exceptional

The service provided by "Patience" last Friday was amazing. We had a party of 20 bikers and celebrated a bday and she was amazing and actually very patient with us. Thank you for the amazing service. read more

View is AHMazing. We had a terrific lunch. The Hippie Bowl was absolutely delish. Had a couple of beers and my husband had burger and a soda. It's pricy for sure but worth the view. Would definitely go back when I'm in the area. read more

this was overall great! the only bad thing about the food here was that there was a long,black hair in my pizza. service was also fantastic! the river flowing along is super soothing. we came here from Ohio and i thought this was great! read more

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Stopped in here for lunch after riding the Tail of the Dragon and before heading back to Tennessee on the Cherohala Skyway. What a great place right on the river! The view is spectacular and the staff was friendly. My wife and I both had burgers and fries; hers was just slightly overdone but mine was well-done when I had ordered medium-rare. The fries were good, though. We'll definitely stop in again, but next time we won't order burgers. read more

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Visited over the 4th Holiday with the family. We were seated right away and service was very good. The food, however, was just ok for our entire crew of 8 and we all had a variety of things ( pizza, bbq, chicken sandwich) It wasn't bad but just lacked flavor and the cost was a little pricey for what you actually got. I had steak tacos and it was just 2 small tacos with minimal shaved meat, which came with tortilla chips and some salsa for $20. Even our 14 year old was like, you must be paying for the atmosphere. It was nice sitting out by the river and would be a fantastic place for an appetizer and a few brews. Just was a little disappointed in the food overall, however, it may have been an off day in the kitchen and still would return if in the area again. read more

Bunch of bikers stopping here after a rain sprout, in order to get dry. We got to sit outside facing the stream. View is out of a National Geographic magazine. One of us was Vegan and this place actually has the Beyond Meat burger. It was cooked to perfection and very well seasoned. Hippie bowl was perfect for a vegetarian or vegan too. One of us took the black and blue burger. It was seasoned extremely well. Staff was very nice and friendly. There is no reason to give anything less than 5 stars for this place. Highly recommended if you are around. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Vegan beyond meat burger - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

The dry rub wings and hashbrown casserole were so worth stopping for if you're driving the Tail of the Dragon road. My husband said his burger was okay. It hit the spot on our day trip from TN to NC. The patio is very dog-friendly, and I got a kick out of the all dogs welcome sign. We will be back. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Dog-friendly sign - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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Place was great , we visiting from the Florida keys and the place was amazing, great atmosphere and awesome service or waitress Tori did great even with the big family party we were, we definitely enjoyed and coming back read more

This is a beautiful restaurant and lodge conveniently located near the beginning of the famous scenic and challenging road course, the Dragons Tail. There are a group of cabins available to rest which overlook the lodge and river. There are also regular rooms in the main lodge above the restaurant. We sat on the outside patio which is partially covered due to the threat of rain. But the views of the river were still beautiful. Next trip we would like to dine on the tables located right above the river. For dinner I had the brook trout which was covered in bacon and cashews. For sides I had Mac & cheese and string beans. The trout was very good, cooked just right. The mac/cheese was OK and the string beans were a little mushy though. Kim had their "Hippie salad " with chicken. The salad also contained sliced avocado and dollop of hummus with pine nuts. She enjoyed it very much. We would like to stay at this lodge our next trip up to this area and we recommend trying out a nice meal at the restaurant. Especially enjoy the beautiful lodge and views. read more

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Stop for lunch and fell in love with this place, got a table outside by the river and the views were great,lunch was not a disappointment and service was great would definitely recommend read more

We happened by this place after driving through the tail of the dragon. It was a very welcoming and pleasant experience. The patio overlooks the mountains and had a river flowing right by, it is very picturesque. We ordered drinks, veggie pizza and the sweet potato waffle fries. It was all very delicious, fresh and came out in a timely manner. Definitely worth it! read more

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Wonderful place. Always enjoy the food, service and surroundings. Most recent visit was to watch the Cheoah. River release and watch some activities while having lunch read more

Tapoco Tavern - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

I got the grilled trout sandwich and Mac and cheese - my hubby got bbq and sweet potato fries and it was all above and beyond what we expected. Service was great- will definitely stop back when in that area again. read more

We had an incredible lunch here today. The Stella Chicken Sandwich was AMAZING! You could tell the cook wanted to put out a good sandwich and he delivered. Sweet potato fries were on point as well. My husband got the Tavern Burger cooked medium rare...and the cooked delivered on that too. Server was attentive and nice. read more

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The updated patio is very nice and the seating has improved. The spacious patio isn't much use when there's rain since only a few tables are covered. Nor is the indoor seating a good option because it was freezing cold (I'm hot natured and even I found it intolerable). I recommend a dry outside table even if you have to wait for one. We made two visits to the tavern this year and the food has improved since our last visit. The first night I had the Fried Chicken Sandwich with pepperjack cheese and bacon. The chicken was generous and a great crispy coating. The cheese had no spice or flavor, although the bacon was decent. The bun was buttered and nicely toasted, and the pickles were crunchy and tangy. All the ingredients were fresh, But the sandwich as a whole lacked presence, and I guess that's expected of chicken. My wife had the Korean tacos and also found the flavors lifeless. The BBQ pork didn't have any smokiness, the radish relish was bland. Again the ingredients themselves were fresh and there was visual appeal, but lacked any punch. A touch of Korean BBQ sauce would have been all that was needed to breath life into them. While neither dish was bad, in fact they were okay, but just okay and disappointing. The second visit was more rewarding and the Tavern Burger was generous, cooked to order, and a good beef flavor. Again the bacon was crispy and had flavor and the condiments made up for the barely tasteable Swiss cheese. For a side I had the unique grits, which instead of being creamy were dry with an almost grain-like consistency -- like quinoa or bulgur wheat. The approach worked for me, and they were topped with bits of bacon, onion, and cheese. My wife had the Hippe Bowl and found the serving very generous and flavorful. We both enjoyed our meals on this visit. Service was good and refills were fairly consistent on our drinks. The staff was friendly and accommodating, and let us relocate to an outside table when one opened up while we were waiting for our dinner. The ambiance is excellent and the view is top notch from the patio. Some of the larger tables even have a built-in fire pit. And it's definitely the best option for many miles. read more

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Let's start off with the fact that there's literally no "bad" here at the Tavern, Ok? Especially at breakfast (which my review will focus on), our waitress Jasmine was on POINT with her service and accommodating our large group. All of the food was hot and delicious and deeply southern (meaning; carbs and butter, and lots of love) just to get your day started right. The cinnamon rolls are worth breaking any fast, diet, or pact with your god as they're downright remarkable and beg to be consumed. Everything else on the small buffet-style spread is yummy and to be devoured, including the thick bacon and this hash brown casserole that will keep calling you back like Satan whispering in your ear for seconds. To round all of this out with (pause; did I mention how fantastic Jasmine was? Yes? Okay well I'll mention it again, she is awesome) a bourbon pecan coffee that they serve which compliments those phantasmagorical cinnamon rolls so well that you will just want to sit in that dining room soaking up all this 'living my best life' goodness until it closes. Sipping on coffee, listening to cars tear down the hill from the dragon, and getting fat (and HAPPY) on cinnamon rolls. Go, you'll thank me after. read more

Came in for lunch after driving the tail of the dragon. It was a beautiful afternoon and sat outside to enjoy the beauty of the river. Had the trout tacos, added avocado, and a side salad. Everything was so delicious! Had great services as well. I'll definitely be back! read more

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

The food is delicious! Waitresses are very sweet and attentive. The food was perfect and the salads were fresh and so good. I love the gift shop inside. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Outside view while eating lunch - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

Wow what an incredible place! My wife and I went today after the thrilling ride on the "Dragon" and we were greeted by friendly staff, a full menu and incredible river views, I mean incredible! We each had a pizza with soft drinks, and the pizza's were fantastic! Thank You for such a great place to stop, and have a memorable lunch! Highly Recommend! read more

Beautiful location. Nice facilities. We were told the wait was 20 min or less. We went to the bar to grab a drink. Have to say, for being busy, there was absolutely no sense of urgency. It took 15 minutes for the bartender to tap 5 beers for the group ahead of us, and take their payment. The mead was pretty impressive. A nice blend of blackberry and honey. After about 35 minutes I went and asked if we were being seated soon. The hostess said yes, and asked someone to seat us. They proceeded to talk about other things for a few minutes before finally seating us. After about 15 minutes of waiting, the waitress came over and took our order. She was very polite and personable. After about 15 minutes someone else brought our food. We finished eating, and about 20 minutes later, someone cleared our plates. We were looking forward to the chocolate ganache, but no one ever came back. After another 15 minutes, I went to the hostess stand. She took our payment. Again very polite. Very disappointed in the lack of urgency and lack of attention. I expected more attentive service. I know they were busy, but having been a server for years, I expected a follow up after the order is taken. Food was above expectations. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

Decent American menu in a beautiful riverside setting, this place gets fairly full during peak times and weekends. Both times I've been there have been with a small group, six people. The first time they were so full it took a silly amount of time to get our food. The server seemed a little frazzled but, again, the place was fairly packed. Second time we had to sit inside since there was no table large enough for the six of us outside. No big deal since you still get a decent view. This server seemed much more at ease. The food came out in a timely manner and was quite tasty. They offer beer, wine, cocktails and sodas. There's even a small bar as you enter, usually jammed at peak times. There's a good amount of parking, and they even have a covered area for motorcycles. Quite appreciate it! In addition to the restaurant, there are cabins and lodge. Never stayed there, but it might be a future plan. read more

Dinner or lunch with a view? This is the place to go. With outdoor and indoor seating, this is the ideal location to eat year round! Excellent service, excellent food and great view. This hits the mark for all! I got the pulled pork tacos for lunch. The tacos were great! Needed more sauce and less raw onions. Other than that, no issues. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Menu - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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First time visiting due to its location to where we live. Yes, we are fairly local but this also means we must travel the nightmare of the Dragon. The road is not bad, it's the impatient racers that create the problems. Our wait was not too bad considering they had closed off all of their patio seating due to the onset of potential rain. It never rained by the way. However, our server was sweet and helpful. We were going to purchase a pizza but couldn't see spending that much money on a medium-sized pizza. We opted for a burger instead and it was good. It wasn't the greatest thing we had ever eaten but it was alright enough. We had ordered it cooked medium-well but what we received was very well done. I like my burgers to have some moisture to them but this one was very dry due to it being overcooked. I opted for the sweet potato fries and they were really good and cooked perfectly. We did get desert. Looking back we wished we didn't as it was nothing to wow us like one of the servers talked it up to be. We purchased the chocolate ganache cake and unfortunately, this was not a ganache cake that we have ever seen or had before. It was a hockey puck of solid rich chocolate topped with a lot of whip cream. There was no cake to it and for the $7 we paid for it, we felt ripped off. So the end result was that we paid over $60 for 2 people. We did not get any alcohol only teas, no appetizer, and one dessert. That's for 2 normal, everyday burgers nothing special, one side for each burger (2), 2 drinks, and a single dessert. This was without a tip by the way. Would we go back? Maybe, if we are in the area. We wouldn't make the trip just to eat though, unfortunately. The price for what it is is rather high. read more

Mariah! Food was perfect (order the steak) and even better was the Awesome service!!! Mariah made the perfect meal even better.

Everything was great. Food, service, drinks, and views were all amazing, definitely will return! Best sweet potato fries I've ever had! read more

Tapoco Tavern - Down south burger and sweet potato fries - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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Great ambiance along the river. Host Erik was great, bartender was awful and rude. Took 20 minutes to get a beer, had to grab Erik to take our order. Currently still sitting here waiting on food. It would have been faster for me to catch a trout, filet said trout, cook on fire pit, and eat trout then eat at Tapoco Lodge. Will say I believe the manager is out here working her ass off but you can tell they are severely short staffed read more

Tapoco Tavern - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

My favourite restaurant here, amazing views and wonderful staff. The food is really good the bbq plate and pizza are great!! I would definitely try this place out but I highly reccomend making a reservation as this place fills up every evening. I come here every year for Miatas at the gap and it's great. read more

Tapoco Tavern - Margherita pizza - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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Great food and service! We have eaten there every chance we get when working in the area. They haven't let us down yet!

We drove the one hour trip over from Cherokee on recommendation of friends who had eaten here earlier this year after hiking and camping at Hangover Mountain. While it was a long trip with nothing much in between, the amazing food, staff, and atmosphere will certainly have us coming back. We arrived around 2:30 pm on Saturday, Sept. 29th with beautiful weather. Even though it was past prime lunch time, we expected it to be busy as we knew this is a popular spot for sports car enthusiasts and motorcyclists driving the Tail of the Dragon. Still, there were a few open tables on the patio and indoors. We requested a table on the lowest level of the patio right next to the river. If you are sitting on this lower level in the middle of a warm day, there is nothing in the way of shade to protect you from the sun and heat on the lowest level. Most of the tables on the main patio are at least covered by umbrellas and may be worth waiting for one to become available. Between the four of us, we ordered a medium Slick Rock Pizza, two Stella Chicken Sandwiches, and the Hippie Bowl. The pizza was kind of between a hand-tossed and thin-crust and had amazing flavor. I was only able to eat three slices before getting full. The rest of my party tried two slices and our waitress happily boxed the remaining three slices for us to take to go. The Stella Chicken Sandwiches with thick cut apploewood smoked bacon were large, juicy, and full of flavor. The Hippie Bowl was also good, but not exactly my thing. I imagine if this type of item interests you, then you likely will not be disappointed here. Our waitress was friendly and kept us stocked with drinks at all times and even offered to-go drinks on our way out, which was much appreciated for our hour long drive back. She was also happy to take several pictures of the four of us at our table next to the creek, making sure we got a good one. Aside from being in the sun when it wasn't blocked by clouds, the atmosphere is hard to beat right next to the rushing creek. After dinner, we walked upstairs and browsed around the lodge gift shop, lobby, and taproom and had some great conversations with the staff. Overall, while there aren't a ton of other options around, I recommend making this a destination if you are anywhere near the area. I look forward to going back. read more

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I have done two retreats at the lodge. The facilities, food, and atmosphere is unparallelled. Just a phenomenal experience. Their hospitality team and employees go above and beyond! read more

Great place. Have only had lunch a few times and the food was delicious. Great service. Haven't gone during the water release days. Would definitely recommend, it's worth the drive. Looking forward to going in December when they decorate the lodge. read more

The atmosphere and views are definitely better than the food. I got pizza and my husband got the bbq. He said bbq was okay but a little greasy, but fries and chips were both really good. My margherita pizza was good nothing entirely special but I'd eat it again. The views, River, and gift shop are all lovely! read more

Tapoco Tavern - Resorts Near Me - Robbinsville, North Carolina

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