Where to Eat in Boone, North Carolina

So you’re in Boone and want to know where to eat. Well, even though Boone is a University town, you won’t just find college junk food! The restaurants in Boone, North Carolina offer everything from the absolute best fast-food burger I’ve ever eaten to gourmet meals prepared by expert chefs.

Most of the food you’ll find in Boone will be made with locally grown vegetables, and locally sourced fish and meat. Dine on classic Southern fare like chicken & waffles, macaroni & cheese, or go for a great Mexican/Caribbean meal.

Whatever you’re in the mood for, you’ll find it in this cozy town. Don’t worry about the calories, you’ll find plenty of things to do in Boone or nearby Blowing Rock to burn those calories off!

Where to Eat in Boone

Come Back Shack:

Let’s start with what is the best fast-food burger you will ever eat… seriously! The Come Back Shack even gives In-and-Out Burgers a run for its money. This is fast food at its finest. Everything is made fresh daily, so they don’t even have a freezer!

Come Back Shack’s dining room and drive-thru are open daily from 10:30am to 9pm, except on the major holidays. Don’t be discouraged by the double line of cars around the building… the line moves quickly. Give these a try:

• Come Back Burger made with grilled onions and their amazing Come Back Sauce – OMG… so freaking amazing!
• Hand-Cut Fries made fresh. Getting a little extra Come Back Sauce to dip them in makes them divine. Or, even better… try the Come Back Style Fries which are topped with cheddar cheese sauce, Come Back Sauce and bacon bits!!
• Creamy hand-spun milkshakes in Chocolate, Vanilla, Strawberry, Peanut Butter, or whatever they have as a special for the day. If you’re lucky enough to get here in the Fall, the Pumpkin Shake is unbelievable. It tastes like you’re drinking a pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

Stick Boys Bread Company – Kitchen

I just love this little place. They serve fresh and delicious sandwiches, soups & salads, coffees & smoothies, and yummy sweets. Everything is made fresh, from scratch… even their amazing bread! In fact, all of their bread and other baked goods are served in most of the local restaurants in Boone.

Below are some of my favorite menu items, but they also have specials daily. In the Fall, they have a special sandwich that is one of the best we’ve ever had. It is like having Thanksgiving without the mess. The sandwich is turkey, dressing and cranberry sauce all served on their house-made “stuffing bread”. I swear this bread tastes just like the stuffing I grew up on.

Stick Boys is open Monday through Friday from 7am to 6:30pm, and on Saturdays from 7am to 5:30pm. They are closed on Sunday.

• Son of a Gouda is their ham, gouda cheese, caramelized onion sandwich served with garlic aioli and a fresh egg on top.
• Shut the French Door Toast is a delicious brioche French Toast that will make you return again and again for breakfast!
• Ain’t Your Mama’s BLT is my favorite thing on the menu. They serve thick bacon, avocado and Sriracha mayo on their delicious homemade Sourdough bread.
• Hearty Arti is a hot sandwich with marinated, grilled artichoke hearts and red peppers. It is then topped with Swiss cheese, basil pesto, garlic aioli and baby spinach, and served on their toasted Country French Bread.
• Hand-Cut Fries with Garlic Aioli dipping sauce… need I say more?

Vidalia Restaurant and Wine Bar

You don’t expect much in the way of creative food in a college town. I mean, most university towns are geared toward college kids who grab pizza and burgers on a budget. Well, Vidalia Restaurant and Wine Bar is a real gem right near the Appalachian State University.

Sure, they’ve got burgers but they also have some really creative meals for brunch, lunch and dinner. The bar is beautiful and they have some fun cocktails, but they also have a very extensive wine list. Vidalia’s atmosphere is casual and comfy. Try to get a seat at the kitchen bar so you can watch the chefs at work! They also have a screened patio where you can sit to enjoy your meal.

A few things to be aware of are: 1) Parking may be difficult, especially when school is in session. Vidalia does not have its own parking lot, so you must park on the street; 2) Reservations are a must for dinner, even if you want to sit at the bar. With no reservation you’ll wait for about an hour or so, and you can’t sit at the bar; 3) Michael and I went for lunch on a Saturday. Come to find out they do not offer lunch on the weekends… only brunch.

We have not yet had the opportunity to eat dinner at Vidalia, but based on what we had for brunch I can’t wait to return for dinner. We thoroughly enjoyed every bite of the following brunch dishes:

• The Benny: Stickboy’s sourdough bred with wild ramp cream cheese, bacon, tomatoes, eggs, hollandaise sauce, greens and a side of fresh, delicious fruit.
• Chicken & Waffles: Southern fried chicken breast (BEST I’VE EVER EATEN, sorry Colonel Sanders), waffles, sawmill gravy, syrup and fresh fruit.

Pair these with one of their amazing Bloody Mary’s or Mimosas.

Proper

Our go-to place for Southern goodness and amazing brunches is Proper. This is “modern food with a seasonal slant”.

Proper is open for porch and terrace dining or take-out/delivery only at this time. They are open Thursday through Sunday from 4pm to 9pm, and reservations are required. Occasionally on Wednesdays they do their Wine & Dine Wednesday. They offer a special small-plate pairing menu and half off a bottle of wine.

Try these delicious dishes:

• Chicken & Waffles doesn’t get much better than at Proper. Their yummy waffles served with delicious buttermilk-brined boneless fried chicken breast and topped with a spicy maple syrup.
• The Fried Green Tomatoes for an appetizer will make you feel as if you’re in Charleston. They are dredged in cornmeal and fried, then stacked with layers of pimento cheese and a peach sage drizzle.
• Tomato Pie is layers of local tomatoes, cheese and rosemary topped with a buttermilk biscuit crust.
• Creamy and delicious Mac & Cheese.

Joy Bistro

Joy Bistro… “Purveyors of Fine Food and Drink”. We just recently tried Joy Bistro on the recommendation of my hair stylist in Banner Elk. She kept telling me it was a special place… and, it is! Joy Bistro has an extensive wine and cocktail list, and fabulous food. They serve everything from salads, to beef and fish, and meals are beautifully plated.

Joy Bistro is open Wednesday through Saturday from 5pm to 8:30pm, and reservations are a must for this busy little spot. They occasionally do Chef’s Tasting & Wine Pairing events. Check their website for details.

Coyote Kitchen

One of the most popular restaurants in Boone is Coyote Kitchen. They serve Tacos, Burritos, Burgers, Salads, and Bowls in a Southwest Caribbean Soul food style. Coyote Kitchen also offers a lot of vegan, vegetarian, and even gluten-free options. These amazing flavors draw locals and visitors each Thursday through Monday for lunch and dinner from 11am to 9pm. It is a family owned and operated business, making it even more special.

• If you’re a nacho fan like I am, try the Nachos Deluxe. Their fresh tortilla chips topped with black beans, Monterey Jack Cheese, blackened chicken, roasted corn and peppers, and caramelized onions is served with a wide variety of salsas.
• Kingston Salad with Jerk chicken, mixed fresh greens, grilled pineapple, roasted red peppers & corn and topped with Jack Cheese is offered in a full serving or a half serving.
• The Sedona Bowl is a great option for vegans. It is bowl filled with blackened Tempeh, coconut rice, black beans, sautéed spinach, fried sweet potatoes and served with a sweet red vegan aioli.

Eleven80 Eatery

You wouldn’t think you could get an amazing lobster roll in Western North Carolina, but you can! Eleven80 Eatery has one of the best lobster rolls in this part of the state, but they also have lots of other delicious offerings.

Eleven80 is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30am to 9pm. They also have a food truck at Grandfather Vineyards on the weekends during season from which they serve their famous lobster roll, pimento cheese fritters and other favorite menu items.

• The Brussels Sprouts are fried and then tossed in a Korean BBQ sauce and a honey glaze. These are addicting!
• Lobster Roll… again, need I say more? YUM!
• The Parisian is a fantastic warm ham and brie sandwich served with their homemade raspberry preserves.
• Eleven80’s Chicken & Waffles are really the best I’ve ever eaten. The hand battered chicken breast is fried to a golden brown, tossed in gochujang butter, and then sandwiched in between two of their delicious maple waffles.

Sabeing Boone King

For some of the most delicious Pad Thai anywhere, head to Sabeing Boone King on King Street. This place is a tiny hole in the wall, but served up some amazingly great meals. Not only does this hidden gem serve great Thai, but they also have Vietnamese food and fresh sushi.

Sabeing Boone King is open daily from 11am to 9:30pm. Check out these yummy dishes:

• Shrimp, Chicken or veggie Pad Thai – some of the best!
• Pho… if you’ve never had it, this is a great place to have your first bowl of Pho. I like the chicken or veggie Pho, but if you’re into Tripe… they have it!
• The Red, Green and Yellow Curry’s have some amazing flavors.

Twigs Restaurant & Bar

We first tried Twigs Restaurant & Bar with a group of people from Beech Mountain. I wasn’t expecting much, but it was a great meal! They have a really nice dinner menu, and if you don’t want to eat you can just hang out in their beautiful bar. But, be sure to have a designated driver… the drinks are strong. The meat and fish is locally harvested to support local farmers and fisheries.

Twigs is just around the corner from Boone in the town of Blowing Rock. They are open Tuesday through Sunday from 5pm to 9pm; Fridays and Saturdays until 9:30pm. The bar stays open until 11pm/midnight. Reservations are recommended for dinner.

• I began my meal with the Seared Ahi Tuna. It was seared with a ponzu reduction, crispy wontons, a nice seaweed salad and pickled ginger. The Ahi Tuna was as fresh as catching it yourself.
• Michael started with the delicious Fried Green Tomatoes.
• Next I had the delicious low Country Shrimp & Andouille Sausage served over stoneground grits with okra, piquillo peppers and topped with a lobster cream sauce.
• Michael had the locally caught Rainbow Trout which was topped with a pecan crust, capers and a beautiful citrus beurre blanc. It was accompanied by fingerling potatoes and a fresh arugula salad.

The Local

The Local is the hottest place in Boone for fun and good food. It’s a very relaxed atmosphere with billiard tables, live music, and couches for lounging. The food is sort of upscale but with a chill feel, and excellent bar food.

They are open every day but Tuesday from 11am to 2am; Tuesday the hours are 4pm to 2am; Brunch on Sunday from 11am to 3:30pm.

• Try the flatbreads and pizzas… we love the Apple, Blue & Bacon flatbread. Their delicious flatbread topped with applewood smoked bacon, sliced apples, blue cheese and sliced apples with a roasted garlic oil and honey drizzle.
• The Boone Philly with sliced chicken or New York Strip, topped with grilled onions, green peppers and smoked gouda on beautifully toasted French bread.
• Fig and Bacon Grilled Cheese… yum! Grilled Chicken, applewood smoked bacon, goat cheese, smoked gouda and their homemade fig marmalade on sourdough bread.

Melanie’s Food Fantasy

For breakfast or brunch, it doesn’t get much better than Melanie’s Food Fantasy. Melanie’s is owned by the same folks who own Stick Boy.

Melanie’s is open daily from 8am to 2pm. They offer the standard breakfast fare, but also lots of really creative items. Check out Melanie’s menu here.

Some of my favorite items on the menu are:

• The sausage gravy on their homemade biscuits is out of this world good… almost as good as my own.
• Melanie’s waffles topped with fresh fruit, yogurt, honey and cinnamon is a special treat for when you want something sweet, but still good for you.
• BLT Avocado, oh my goodness. There’s not many things better than a BLT unless you add avocado!

Basils

For good Italian food and fresh housemate pasta, check out Basil’s. The chef/owner started out working at Stick Boys, so they know how to do good food. They are also part of the Booneshine Brewing Company that makes some of the best beers in the area.

• Start out with their fresh Burrata that has been grilled with fennel and served with mixed greens and sun-dried tomatoes in a port wine glaze.
• I love their Veggie Fettuccine in pesto cream sauce, fresh veggies and balsamic glaze.
• Last but not least… spaghetti and meatballs. All of their sauce, meatballs AND pasta are made from scratch!

Appalachian Mountain Brewery

Be sure to check out some of the local breweries. The very first brewery of Boone is one we really like. Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) opened up in 2013 and is now known for brewing award-winning, high-quality beers and ciders. If you love dark beers, definitely try the Chocolate-Orange Nilla Stout – it is delicious. It is bourbon barrel-aged stout with notes of orange, chocolate and vanilla.

They have a food truck called Farm to Flame that served some really good wood fired pizzas!

AMB is open daily from noon till 10pm, and your pup is welcome. Check out their events page for live music, specials and other cool happenings.

Booneshine Brewing Company

One of my favorite brews up in this part of North Carolina is Booneshine. The Booneshine Brewing Company is another dog-friendly brewery with delicious beers and ciders. Try the Booneshine IPA, the High Country Honey, Molasses Porter and the Long Winter Mocha Stout. They also have a really nice food menu of flat breads, sandwiches, salads and small snacks.

We love sitting out in the Beer Garden on a beautiful day. They are open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:30am to 10pm; until 11pm on Friday and Saturday. The food truck hours depend on the weather, but if the sun is shining then they are open Wednesday through Sunday.

High Country Wineries

Are you more of a wine person than a beer person? Me too! I love all of the wineries in the high country. Right outside of Boone you can find a winery to spend your day while enjoying a beautiful setting. Some of them either have food trucks or actual kitchens, or you’re always welcome to bring a picnic! Check out my separate post: Vineyards on the Appalachian Wine Trail.

Stay tuned for updates on this post… we’re still making our way through all of the great restaurants in Boone! We’re going to try The Gamekeeper very soon, and we can’t wait to share our thoughts with you!

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