The weather was gorgeous, so we sat out on the patio, which was clean and comfortable. Our waitress Elli was wonderful from start to finish; very attentive and friendly. We started off with the pimento cheese plate which was just right for an app: not too filling, yet was enjoyable. I went with the lunch combo option and selected lobster bisque soup and Asian salad. The soup was phenomenal, but I wish the Asian dressing for the salad wasn't so runny and had more flavor. My husband really enjoyed his Italian pizza, but the bottom of the crust on one half was quite burnt so he scraped off what he could. read more

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Lunch with my youngest after taking her back to App State. Patio seating is available but I prefer to eat insider. Hostess was inviting and polite and we were quickly seated. Good variety menu. But know, this place isn't for the budget conscious. Server was prompt and efficient. Mae got a grilled chicken salad and an adult grilled cheese and I got the regular burger all-the-way. Food came out quickly but not too quickly. Mae enjoyed her salad and ate 1/2 the grilled cheese. She got full. The grilled cheese was big and oozing with cheesy goodness. My burger was very good. 9/10. Came with lettuce, onion, bacon, tomato and Mayo. The fries were hot and crispy. Good food forks, plain and simple. But lunch for both of us was $35 not including tip. I don't mind paying for good food just know the prices are a bit high before you go there. read more

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First time here and I'll definitely be back!!! The service was great! Staff overall was friendly and welcoming. The food was al very good. The menu had so much to offer and it made it very hard to choose. I personally had the onion rings and fish tacos. Both were excellent! They have a few other things I'd like to try, so again, I'll be back. read more

The Red Onion Cafe - Fish tacos. - Desserts Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

There's an absolute reason why this restaurant is in business for over 35 years. They actually care and deliver an excellent product at a very reasonable price. The noted French soup, salmon salad, and tacos are good choices. Definitely a worthwhile stop. read more

Fantastic leisure lunch experience. Our waiter, Beck, was fabulous. The food was delicious, every bite. read more

The Red Onion Cafe - BLT, French Onion Soup, Burger, Fries - Desserts Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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I love coming to this place, from the environment to the food. The atmosphere is very relaxing and feels down to earth while the food is so fresh. I can only comment on the Ruben, Artichoke dip, garden salad and their Gouda and red pepper soup. All so good and has been my go to meal during my last 3 visits. Enjoy! read more

We spent the weekend in the Boone/Valle Crucis area and I asked someone who used to live here for some recommendations. This was one of the places he suggested. We weren't able to grab lunch so we were starving by 3 p.m. on a Sunday and made a reservation. We were promptly seated indoors, although there is outdoor seating is well. The artichoke dip was filling and delicious, and we appreciate that they didn't skimp on the bread like some places do. My wife enjoyed the Greek turkey burger and I enjoyed the tilapia sandwich, even though the seasoning was tiny bit salty for my taste. We'll take a local restaurant over a chain every time and were glad we stopped in. read more

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I think out of all the places we tried in Boone over the weekend, this spot surprised us the most in all the best ways. When you think of "cafe", sandwiches and small plates come to mind. This was anything but. We totally should have listened to our friend we were with who lived in Boone when she was talking it up because it was worth the hype. The low country salmon was hands down the best salmon I've ever had in my life for the crispy skin alone. Add that on top of a grit cake with andouille cream sauce and OMG! The ribeye was tender, juicy and delicious with a bourbon glaze and peppercorn dusting, of course accompanied with a good ol baked potato. We also had the chicken pesto pizza and Cajun chicken pasta at the table which was thoroughly enjoyed. Not pictured was the Horace cookie which is basically a blonde brownie with pecans (so good it was gone before I could get a pic ‍). Definitely a spot we plan to visit again the next time we are in Boone - and you should too!! read more

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The best pimento cheese I have ever had! My entree the salmon, was fantastic as well. Large portions so I got to take some home for later. read more

This is a great find - thanks Yelp reviewers! Downtown Boone was busy this Saturday afternoon so we drove through and found that Red Onion Cafe had the best ratings and great views so we decided to check it out. We also had our big hound and were happy to see that they had a spacious outdoor patio. Everything on the menu look good and we both ordered the combo specials. These are large portions and an appetizer and one combo would have been sufficient though we both loved our individual meals, even after the large plate of onion rings. Our server Brandon S was very attentive but not intrusive. We highly recommend the Red Onion Cafe to others, and especially if you're dining with your furry family members. read more

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Came up for a weekend away and found this place on Yelp! The pimento cheese appetizer was really good. It comes with celery and carrots as well as bread slices. It's enough to share for at least three people but more than that I say get too! The cheddar is rich and delicious. My date had the Coffee Rubbed Sirloin with baked potato and the veg of the day which was green beans with pepper and onion. It was extraordinary. The flavor from the rub really compliments the veg choice and the meat was prepared perfectly. I had the Low Country Salmon. The sauce on this is decadent and delicious! It's so well done and seemed to be a house favorite. The salmon was perfectly seasoned and cooked. It's served over a cheesy polenta cake. The polenta was crisp and creamy, and with the sauces sooooo good. If you're a salmon lover like me you will really enjoy this dish. I can't wait to come back and try more items from the menu! read more

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Not a fan of the food at all. The pimento cheese had a weird taste. I ordered the turkey burger. It was so salty I couldn't eat it. The pasta salad had absolutely zero taste. I mean literally zero taste. The drinks were good though. Our waiter was friendly and food came out in a timely manner. Place is outdated and almost looked a little dirty. read more

The Red Onion Cafe - Turkey burger with pasta salad - Desserts Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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Wow! I am so pleased and thankful for the dinner I had tonight at the Red Onion. I ordered the Kale Salad with a salmon fillet. It was PERFECT!!! I have been in the food service industry for 33 years and YES, I am picky! I just want good clean well put together food. That is exactly what I got tonight! My salmon was cooked to perfection. The service was excellent and the hospitality was fabulous! Thank you guys! Y'all rock! Especially Aura, Lilly & Deja! read more

Food was great and so was the service! We had a late lunch, and weren't that hungry so we just had an appetizer and desserts. The Artichoke dip was great, but the winners of the night were the desserts. The Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie was AMAZING! I told our waitress that I'd consider making the drive back up from Florida for it read more

The Red Onion Cafe - Chocolate Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie - Desserts Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

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After a long day of exploring some water spots, we were on the hunt for some food. On our way through town, we drove right past The Red Onion Cafe. Upon a quick Yelp look, we made a u-turn & were very happy with our decision. First of all, Mackenzie was amazing. It felt like she was running the entire show because of everything she was doing, but it was done with such grace, kindness, & professionalism, I could not even explain. They also have a great gluten-free menu & were very accommodating towards my diet, which is a huge deal for me. Portions did not look huge but were definitely more than enough & very filling. Everything we had tried, tasted fresh & delicious. So overall - great taste, AMAZING service, & from the tables to the bathrooms, everything seemed very clean. Thank you, I'm sure we'll be back! read more

The Red Onion Cafe was one of my favorite places to go to in college, and getting to go back for the first time in years was such a delight. I wasn't super hungry so I just got half of a rueben and my husband got a chicken quesadilla. When I say their rueben is the best I've ever had... I MEAN IT. The meat so tender, bread delicious, dressing, even the sauerkraut (which I typically only get a little of) so good. Next time I'll get the whole sandwich! Service is always great, food is wonderful, a must go to! read more

Not bad of a restaurant, service is good, food is okay. Italian American menu. Not much to else to say. Just okay. read more

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Food is way overpriced especially for the quality of food. I'd pay $17.95 for a good quality burger, but not the trash we were served at this place. I know a bottle of beer is expensive at a restaurant but $9.75 a bottle. Crazy!! Will never return. read more

Had to leave after receiving zero service. Two hostesses, but only two waitresses who weren't getting it done today. No thanks. Went down the street to Dos Amigos and had a great meal with great, timely service. read more

I've been missing out by not trying this icon in Boone. It's been there forever but we've just not stopped in. Well, that's now changed. I'm sold on the food, mostly. First off, maybe the best onion rings ever, with the exception being Leonard's BBQ in Memphis. Really liked the large sliced fresh onion and the breading was perfect. The appetizer portion was huge. I had the talapia tacos plus one shrimp taco. Ended up taking two of them home. They reheated well in the oven. The only real problem was with the tortilla chips. They were fried in the kitchen but their oil was rancid. Really rancid. I brought this to the attention of our waitress, Meaghan, and got no real response. Just a blank stare. That's unacceptable and is the responsibility of the restaurant for not properly training their staff. I'll be back. The food was great, but... read more

Came here for a girls dinner, we don't live in the area so used Yelp to help us find this spot. We are all (6 of us) not impressed. First off it just reminds me of a diner. There's no theme or decor, no music playing just blah. The drink menu had bottles of champagne which we ordered one, however all they had were single one glass bottles. Most of us ordered the French onion soup to start. And that was good. I had a burger and fries for my entrée. The fries were terrible. Not made in house, not seasoned just nothing special. My burger was fine, I wish I would have ordered a salad. It was very over priced for having this diner feel and simple environment. There is a parking lot and it is across from The App campus. read more

I went to dinner there with my partner and our food was mediocre. Service was great tho! They overcooked his burger while simultaneously being cold. I am always up to giving local restaurants second chances so I will be back in the future. read more

The food was decent but the prices are very high for the quality. I am sure it is due to location, but the prices seem out of step with what you get. read more

I seem to be missing a chicken photo for the red pepper type chicken but I was told it was good. We passed on appetizers but started with a few adult beverages. Our meals were very good, coupled with good service. We opted for desserts and we were very full and happy. read more

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Great food. Enjoyed my burger immensely. Would highly recommend them. Will go back next time I'm in the area.

We stumbled upon The Red Onion through a TikTok with "must tries" in Boone. We decided to stop in for lunch and the restaurant being on a wait for lunch on a weekday told us what we needed to know. The Red Onion Cafe was delicious. We started with the fried zucchini appetizer which was light and crisp paired with both a creamy horseradish and honey mustard-esque dipping sauce duo. My fiancé decided on a burger, which was on special, and sweet potato fries. I picked a grilled chicken sandwich and pasta salad. Both were delicious! The fries were hand cut, crispy, and everything was perfectly seasoned. Personally I'd skip the pasta salad next time to try something else. It's made with Italian dressing like I had as a kid, but wasn't my favorite. Our waiter, Brandon, was also really attentive and took great care of us. Definitely adding this place to our list of favorites in the mountains! read more

I first came to Red Onion a few years ago when I was in town for a college tour, and immediately fell in love with it! Since then I've gone every time I go to Boone or anywhere nearby. The food is delicious, the service is great, and although they say they've had to raise prices, they're very reasonable. I was near Boone a few days ago and had an amazing experience with Logan as my waiter and he blew me away! He was incredibly enthusiastic, quick, made genuine connections with my wife and I, and did it all with a smile! If you're looking for a great place to eat in Boone, you can never go wrong with Red Onion. read more

Solid lunch special. Food was solid, service was good. 1/2 sandwich / 1/2 salad had a good portion size. Server was attentive filling up our drinks and asking if we needed anything. One picky toddler and a vegetarian in our group and there were plenty of options for everyone. Onion rings came as advertised and were the highlight of the meal. Will return when in town. Thank you read more

Loved every single thing about this place. Fantastic service, excellent food. Our table had the Florentine lasagna, pesto pasta, Cajun pasta, baked linguini, Italian pizza and onion rings and we could not decide which was the best Bc they were all so so good! Will definitely be back!! read more

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I have been here multiple times, and I have never had an issue. The food is always good and fresh. Their pizza's are AMAZING!

Today I discovered this place has a great create your own lunch combo. From 11-4pm(!) you can pick two options from a myriad of soups, salads, 1/2 sandwiches, and a quiche of the day for only $8.99. We came away thinking this was such a fantastic deal as far as freshness and portion size goes. It's really impressive just how approachable, intimate, and conveniently located this place is, being right off of downtown Boone and across the street from the ASU dorms near Legends. And they have plenty of parking! I ordered a 1/2 French dip (horseradish sauce on the side) and got a huge garden salad with lemon poppy seed vinaigrette. The boyfriend decided on a 1/2 Ruben w/ corned beef (could've chosen turkey) and a Caesar salad. We were just the right amount of stuffed at a great price. I ended up sharing the second half of my salad with him because he scarfed his down and I was pretty full. Our server was really nice too, and she regularly checked to make sure our waters were full. Both the lunch and dinner menus here have tons of options for herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. Seems family friendly and has a great beer/wine/cocktail menu. I'll be back for sure! I imagine it would be romantic for a date night as well as an easy choice for lunch. read more

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Always consistent in food quality and service! It's been around forever and it's a great way to support local businesses.

A French dip sandwich is pretty hard to beat, but then the more healthy options also looked delicious. Have been here a couple of times and will happily come back, extended outdoor seating was greatly appreciated. read more

Way overpriced for the small portion sizes. I'd highly recommend finding some here else to fill up!

First time in Boone and saw this restaurant had good reviews. We decided dinner reservations. Service and food was great. We tried their BOURBON GLAZED CENTER CUT RIBEYE and the PISTACHIO CITRUS TROUT. Both were great. Ended with a slice of their red velvet cheesecake. read more

The Red Onion Cafe - PISTACHIO CITRUS TROUT - Desserts Near Me - Boone, North Carolina

Stopped in after a game for field hockey at ASU. We were a small group and they were accommodating. I have a gluten and dairy allergy and it was great!!! read more

We visited for lunch on a Friday. The food was mediocre at best. My boyfriend was wondering if he was sick due to the lack of flavor of all the food. Even the "delicious" French onion soup was bland. Service was fine. Ambiance also mediocre. read more

The best red pepper soup I've ever had!!!! It's usually only served on saturdays but it's worth the wait

Expected a lot more from this place! it is overhyped. the french onion soup was flavorless, tasted like it was watered down. go to Peppers for better french onion. sandwiches were very small, almost as if they were a kids size. read more

This place had a very nice and accomodating staff, the food was good but not 5 stars... its really a 3.5/5 for me... I ordered the filet mignon- which while very tasty, was actually quite fatty (not what filet mignon should be)- the french onion soup was actually quite good=- even my 2.5 year old was obsessed with it... And we had some zucchini sticks too which need to be tweaked as the breading falls off of them... Had peanut butter ice cream pie for dessert which was way more chocolate than peanut butter but its HUGE, easily shared by two people... overall not a bad spot while in boone... read more