Absolutely loved this little wine spot tucked away in Blowing Rock. All my friends were shopping…read moretil they dropped and I opted for a wine break. I was delighted by the white sangria which was cold and refreshing. I didn't ask what was in it (silly me) but it tasted like Chardonnay. The atmosphere was super relaxing. I sat back in a big, comfy chair, the kind you sink down into, and sipped my sangria. There were two servers running the place and keeping up other the many other patrons that stopped by. Super nice and got the job done well!

Sweet little wine shop in downtown Blowing Rock that has a huge selection of wines to pick from. We…read moredid a flight, the sweet one, and every wine was really good, although my favorite was the blueberry. We were greeted as soon as we walked in. When we brought the flight to our table, he gave a quick overview of each wine and flavor to expect. Each tasted exactly as he described! The selection to pick from is massive, but they are there to help you pick the right one for you.

Disappointing. This was our first time experience at this restaurant; and we won't be giving it a…read moresecond try. It was our anniversary, we had high hopes based on other reviews. However, Service was extremely slow. Chicken was visibly burnt and dry, fettuccine pasta had no flavor whatsoever. We sent back a drink that was made wrong and told the server we will just stick with water. However when we got the bill the drink was still on there. The most confusing part was that the place wasn't even that busy so the poor service was perplexing. Hopefully this review saves someone else from the same bad experience.

We have eaten here several times over the years and have always enjoyed our meals and the ambiance…read more We have brought friends and family for special events, however after a recent visit in November 2024 we probably will not be back. We made an early reservation because we had a show to catch later, and it is a good thing because even though there were only 4 other tables in the dining room the service was extremely slow. Our server only came a few times over the 2 hours we were there and food took an abnormally long time to arrive. We had water to drink, no alcohol. We had some shareable appetizers, 2 mains, and a shared side. Nothing crazy. They had a recent menu change according to the server and we are NOT a fan. They changed the bread app and it is not very good. The old bread app was chefs kiss, new one, 2 thumbs down. We had the meatball app, flavor and good, but they were literally cold inside. We would have sent them back, but they took so long to arrive that we didn't want to run out of time. My wife had the scallops, they were literally cold, had grit on them and there were 5 small scallops. I had a steak, it was cooked perfectly and was fork tender. However it lacked flavor and if i hadn't added the sauce it wouldn't have had any taste. The shared potatoes were just ok. Our food was cold, service was slow, portions were lacking, and our bill was over $180 with tip. We routinely go have a nice meal like this once a week and happily spend more than that on a killer meal, but this was lack luster compared to past visits. I can't say we will be back this time. Hope I hear they improve. To those about to dine, you have been warned.

Literally the best downtown shop! The sweetest owner! Yummy whole coffee beans, candles, bags,…read moredecor, and huge selection of wine! Great descriptions of each wine offered. Special events also! Love this place

The shop recently changed ownership. So worried about how the atmosphere would be. Laura and Jim,…read morethe new owners are amazing. They have not only kept a good thing going but made it even better. The Friday tastings are awesome and the charcuterie boards a delight ! We will definitely be back!

Great drinks. Great atmosphere. Great prices. They have karaoke and live bands and food trucks here.read more

Great addition to Maiden! Drinks are super good made just right. Hometown atmosphere with friendly…read morestaff. They have food trucks out front most nights it seems and looks like they have live music pretty often.

My friends & I met here on Friday afternoon for a drink & some bites. First, I want to say that I…read moreloved the vibe & decor. They offer a variety of seating options from the bar to tables to couches, as well as a patio out back. We started off at the bar for a drink. I tried to order a couple of beers they happened to be out of so I settled on the Mango Wine slushie, which was huge & had such a good flavor. We then ordered a couple of Flatbreads & Goat Cheese Dip that everyone loved. The rest of their menu looked amazing as well so I want to go back & try a variety. It was very laid back environment. We were there early so it was not too busy. We noticed a lot more people trickling in as a musician was setting up for live music. Do not be fooled by all of the work downtown - the roads are navigable & there is plenty of parking nearby!

I love this place - the wine, food, art, and service. It is my wine shop go to for an outing with…read moregirlfriends. The location near the movie theater and NOCO art gallery makes it in especially great place to visit.

First night in blowing rock we got a rez here. Such a beautiful inn and restaurant and great…read moreservice. I had the halibut and chose acorn squash (all entrees come with mashed potatoes too). Delicious! One got steak au poivre and it was highly peppered but so tasty. One got steak and crab cake. One got Parmesan crusted chicken. Everything was so good! We brought home their signature banana cream pie and a peanut butter pie. Both great!

Make reservations months in advance for this gem! Located in an old stone manor, the Best Cellar is…read morethe best restaurant in Blowing Rock! The rack of lamb and buttermilk chicken are some of my favorites. The staff are very professional and seem to continue working there for years. The renovated the gathering area to make a rustic, yet upscale bar. Parking is not a problem because they offer valet.

What a wonderful restaurant!! I was recently visiting Hickory and this was the best place I ate…read more The restaurant decor is inviting and elegant, and enhances the dining experience. Even when crowded, the spacing of the tables and overall layout ensured it never got too loud. The food was amazing!! My mom and I split several tapas, my favorite was probably the green beans! Everything we had was delicious- the paella, the charred green beans, the grilled Caesar. The cocktails were also really good and worth treating yourself. If you can, save room for dessert! They had a nice range on their dessert menu and I gobbled up the pot de crème. Our waiter was fantastic, checked on us throughout the meal, kept our waters full and made sure we had what we needed. Also, the bathroom smelled AMAZING. This may seen a little silly to include, but they had some fresh lilies in there which made the whole bathroom smell lovely (and I'm sure cover all the less pleasant usual bathroom smells ). Just a really nice detail. You can tell how much thought and attention is put into this restaurant, from the food, to the layout, to the service. Everything is given real care. This place is a gem. We will absolutely be back!

Such a beautiful and comfortable place! Seating in a booth was private and quiet except for piano…read moremusic playing in the background. Food was excellent- we shard a salad , green beans and the classic paella. We could not finish it all! Cocktails were delicious and sized generously. Such a wonderful evening out!

Service was great. location and vibe was awesome. we ate on the back patio. The tomato bisque as a…read moreside was the best food there. Flawless actually. The monte cristo was good. The salmon stack was not. But that may be just personal preference. I felt they were under cooked and the fish taste stood out way more than I was hoping for. Would go back and try something else though.

Stopped by for a late lunch today. I had not been able to come in for a couple of years and was…read morehappy to see that even though they had updated and changed their menu, they still had the same upscale menu that has always kept my family coming back! I had the original Smashburger. It was delicious. The fries were nice and hot. Everything was cooked perfectly. My waiter was Lance. He was helpful with the menu and very attentive. I had a glass of the house Chardonnay. It hit just the right notes for my lunch. I love that they use locally sourced ingredients. It was nice to see that the kids menu was more than just your normal three or four choices. Still one of my very favorites!

First time here, sat at the bar. great time, amazing food, great service! all around an amazing…read moredinner! our bartender was very informative, he recommended a pumpkin spice espresso martini, which was literally the best one I've ever had in my life!!!! the we split a bottle of mascato (so reasonably priced, $22). The vibe was a guy playing piano who sang so well! we enjoyed the dimmed lights and the lowkey vibe atmosphere with it being classy. overall great dinner!

Disorganized and Disappointing…read more We had high hopes for Duke's, especially with its upscale vibe and menu, but the reality fell far short. From the moment we sat down, things started going sideways. First red flag? The water left on our table had bugs floating in it. Not a great start. The waitress, while friendly, seemed completely overwhelmed--she forgot our orders multiple times, asked the same questions repeatedly, and left us waiting far too long between check-ins. It took 40 minutes just to get our soups, and the entrees didn't arrive until over an hour after we ordered. The entire experience felt chaotic. At one point, another server brought two dishes and a drink to our table that weren't even ours. Total confusion. Now let's talk about pricing--specifically, a $12 charge to split a 24 oz ribeye. How does that make sense when one person might not even be able to finish it? It felt like a greedy upcharge for no real reason. Menu clarity was another issue. The sides weren't listed clearly, and no one explained that the "loaded potato" option was actually a soup--not an actual potato. The clam chowder? It's a tomato-based red soup, which is definitely not what most people would expect when ordering chowder. A simple explanation from the staff would've gone a long way. The duck was actually fantastic, the crab cakes not so much. Dessert was also oddly handled. They offer a brownie, but ask, "Is that okay?" as if there are other options (there aren't). Then they bring one brownie split four ways--literally bite-sized portions on a single plate for a group of four. It felt more like a sampler than a real dessert. When it came time to pay, we were asked if we were ready for the check, but then they came back later and had to double-check everyone's order just to get the bill right. And instead of bringing the check, you're told to scan a QR code to pay--likely a move to avoid credit card processing fees, though it puts the burden on the customer to complete the transaction. Overall, Duke's tries to present itself as upscale, but the execution just isn't there. Sloppy service, confusing policies, and unnecessary upcharges make it hard to justify a return visit. Definitely not the dining experience we were hoping for.

Good choice of beer - served in the cheapest plastic cups-uninspiring. unfortunately I could see…read morethe food handlers in the "kitchen". Fast food prep with no obvious attempt to be sanitary or in any way proper food service. I dont need to see a menu when the person behind the window licks his fingers clean. I know a good chef will always taste their food-this wasnt that at all. Gross!!

Saw a dozen bikes in parking lot normally indicates great music cold beer and food. So i Stopped…read morehere for a beer on our way back to Hickory friendly bartender with some good craft options out side patio is gravel with a few tables. Im giving a 5 on the live music and friendly bartender. They have a few tvs up with sports games. Its a simple bar with tvs live music at night and few pub food options.