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...

Though coming to this bar was Actually not on my agenda. Me and my wife came here to check this…read moreplace out. This place is in the heart of Elizabethton and it's absolutely a Hidden Gem. It's a cute little cozy bar and it even have a little Beer Garden in the back. We didn't visit that part. The bar has tons of positive energy and you can feel it! There's not really any food but they do have plenty of games. If you are not drinking at all and playing designated driver, This place does have non-alcoholic options for you and yes I mean 0.0% non alcoholic options. I didn't catch the bartender's name but he was absolutely friendly and social with us the entire time! There was nobody there on a Tuesday but he was a pleasure chatting with. Highly recommend visiting this bar if you get a chance!

We tried to get a table here almost every day of our 5-day trip, but it was packed! We finally…read moresmartened up and called a day ahead for a reservation. It might have just been the holiday rush, but I always figure "busy means good," so my expectations were high--and The Local didn't disappoint. We started with the nachos; they were delicious, though I do wish they came with a bit more meat. For mains, the burger was outstanding--probably one of the best we've had in the entire area. We also ordered the Brazilian steak, which was cooked perfectly and came with great plantains. The quinoa with tofu was good, too, though it was a little dry and would have been perfect with a sauce. The service really stood out. Our waitress was incredibly attentive and refilled my water at least four times without me asking. Great ambiance and an all-around good experience. Definitely worth the wait!

I was visiting my son in Boone, as we move him into college... Ordered the wings, I had what I…read morebelieve was a blackened goat cheese, and fig burger with caramelized onions, which was off the charts, my son had the Salmon. Ratings- He gave the salmon a seven I give my Burger a nine, and the wings were about a seven(dry rub). That said, sitting at the bar was absolutely a treat... Erin was fantastic. Will 100% return and this is definitely a spot not to be missed. Also fantastic beer selection!!!

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.

3 - Good choice if you're in the area. Skip to the end to see my rating scale…read more Made an impromptu trip to Banner Elk and (of course) had to find a brewery in town. Great little downtown area and Kettell is just on the edge of it on the way out of town. It has the three things I look for in a place - outdoor seating/dog friendly, food available, and of course a good selection of beers. Me and the Mrs. each got a flight, but neither of us could find one of the eight that made us want to invest in a full pint. Not that the beer is bad, we just didn't find one that made our taste buds sing. But for sure I'd visit again if I'm ever in the area, but I wouldn't make a special trip out of the way just to come here. 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

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.

We LOVE this spot. We own in sugar but rent it out and every time we come up here to visit from…read moreLKN, we always get this place!! The quality is really good, especially for a tavern. Best French Dip/Steak sandwhich eeverrrrr. & the pretzel with the cheese dip is SO bomb. All their food is real good.

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.

After a long day hiking, we made our way down from Grandfather mountain, enjoyed the views along…read morethe Blue Ridge Parkway as we drove to Blowing Rock. We found parking on a side street near Blowing Rock Brewing, so decided to enjoy a drink and get some lunch. We were seated quickly, near a heater, which was nice to help us warm up after being on the mountain. A waiter came by with menus to take our order. We asked for some suggestions, but he was a little less than enthused to offer advise. They had a good variety of beers, so my wife and I each got one, and shared them. We got the Pina Colada Kolsch and the Cloud Rise Hazy Ipa. Both were tasty, the Pina Colada Kolsch had a much stronger pineapple flavor than I expected, but in a good way. For food we started with the white cheddar poblano, which I expected to be more of a liquid queso for some reason. It was instead for of a soft, spread, which was really good, and paired well with the chips. And then we split the Turkey Reuben, which I figured would be made with deli meat, instead, it was warm, cooked chunks of turkey, really great flavor, and hit the spot for us. The sides with the sandwiches were a bit lacking, only offering hot chips, and green beans....I've never gotten the whole hot chip craze, but green beans just seamed like too odd of a side option for a sandwich It was a good visit, and a good meal, to get us back on our feet. Overall, a nice space, with bar seating, a back room, a back and front patio, plenty of space to hang out, relax and enjoy their beer. Food and drink were both good and worth a visit if you're in the area.

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.