Great brewery while spending a quick weekend in Boone. Great brews and pizza. Plenty of seating and…read morelive music. Delicious saison brew and stout for me . And ipas for him . Although he did sneak a taste of my stout

4 - I'd drive 30 minutes out of my way just to come here. Skip to the end to see my rating scale…read more There are a few choices for breweries in Boone and Appalachian Mountain is a really good one. Mama and I each got a flight and we were both able to find one or two that made us want a full pint. They have a good variety of styles to pick from, so anyone should be able to find something that suits their taste. They have a generous amount of outdoor seating as well as a stage where they host live music. Dog friendly too, which is a big check in the box for us. Top it all off with a food truck that was open when we arrived early in the afternoon, and these guys offer the three things we most appreciate in a brewery - outdoor seating, food availability, and most importantly, good beer! 1 - Just don't 2 - You'll survive, but there are better choices close by 3 - Good choice if you're in the area 4 - I'd drive 30 minutes out of my way just to come here 5 - I'd try to convince my wife to drive an hour just to come here

Live music. Fantastic pizza. Secret tip: they only list beer and a hard cider as adult beverages…read moreon their website. They actually serve several cocktails. Their paloma is spot on!!!

Passing thru Burnsville found this great place for lunch and a cold beverage. They have pizzas that…read morelooked delicious, but I got the Fill More Porter with chicken pita. Yummmmm. Hubby got Bag of Bones brew with a gyro also delicious. Plenty of seating inside and outside. Very nice!

It's a great local, very casual haunt. Comfortable ambiance, kind friendly staff, great ciders and…read morebeers with good variation. Great simple place to kick back and enjoy a couple of glasses of your favorite beer/ale/cider...

Really disappointed in Riverside Taphouse. I went there for the very first time and sat down in the…read moreoutdoor tent. I waited for 30 minutes for a waitress, but was finally told ( by another customer) I would have to go inside to order a drink. No signs to indicate what a customer is supposed to do. I have mobility issues, so going inside was more than I expected to do. I left. I will not be returning.

food was amazing! there nachos was amazing! our server was great! and had a great environment!read more

This was only the second time we've been to The local, but it's because the first experience with…read morethe service & amazing food was so amazing that we had to make the drive back! I ordered the shrimp & grits and it's been all I thought about since the first time I had it! The flavors blend beautifully and the grits are amazing! My daughter got their Stuffed French Toast (peaches & cream) with fresh fruit! Looked fantastic! We love the outdoor seating which allows us to bring the dog, but the indoor ambiance is wonderful! Highly recommend if you're in the area! We can't wait to go back!

Working from out of town and stopped here to get lunch, the overall atmosphere when you walk in is…read moreastonishing, order for pizza and wings took roughly 15-20 minutes. Pizza & Wings were 10/10 highly recommended on coming to get lunch or for Kettells handcrafted beer! Service was 10/10.

Fun little brewery right off the main downtown Banner Elk area…read more They have numerous beers on tap with different varieties for all beer palates. Bonus is their kitchen with a nice assortment of food and snacks to go along with the cold beers. Had a beer sampler to go along with a large pretzel and beer cheese. The beer cheese was the bomb! Fun casual spot to hang out for a while if you're in the area.

Good local place for solid drinks at a reasonable price. We had some tasty beverages and one of the…read morebest espresso martinis I've had. Paige is a rockstar behind the bar! The adult grilled cheese hit the spot and the chips were tasty. They have karaoke on Saturdays which was entertaining.

Service was not good. Did not get greeted, sat for 15 minutes and no one came to help as well as…read morenot getting it when going up to ask for help there was no one to even help you.

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.

Not much beats some green beer, scotch eggs and Irish music on St Patty's in an Irish pub in…read moredowntown Blowing Rock. Great selection of beers, drinks, regular food items and of course Irish food at this fun spot right on Main St. I had an Irish ale turned green that was cold one tasty. They even turned my wife's cider green which was a nice addition to the day's celebration. The scotch eggs were delicious. Hard boiled eggs wrapped in flavorful sausage that are baked and then served chilled. The dressing and dipping sauce went perfectly with the dish. Really a fun spot all around with great service, fun and hip atmosphere whether it's St. Patrick's Day or not. We'll be back!

Sat outside on the patio with a group of 4 adults, 2 little kids, and a baby. All the food was…read moretasty and they were accommodating to a pick and choose ingredients basically request for the 2 little kids. Staff was helpful. Nice umbrellas and ample space out to stash our wagon off to the side. Wagons or strollers would not be recommended inside.

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.