8 Top Restaurants in Boone That Will Satisfy Your Taste Buds

Boone, NC is known as a beloved college town and fantastic outdoor vacation spot that offers visitors ready access to the Blue Ridge Mountains and the greater Appalachian area. Of course, whether you’re in Boone to hit the textbooks or for lodgings near gorgeous mountain trails and waterfall overlooks, you are going to need to eat. And why not eat well? The following is a look at some of the top restaurants in Boone; restaurants that will fill you up with quality food in a charming atmosphere.

1. The Local

179 Howard St, Boone, NC 28607
(828) 266-2179

See Website

The Local is a cozy restaurant located in Downtown Boone that prides itself on, no surprise here, serving up all things local. Here, you will find an upscale-casual New American menu that features locally sourced ingredients and beloved local brews. Their walls are likewise adorned with work made by local artists, and they have a small stage that, on the weekend evenings, is graced by local DJs and musicians. Suffice it to say, that this is the place to go when you want good food and to learn more about the local community!

2. The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge

202 Gideon Ridge Rd, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 295-3644

See Website

Do you enjoy dining with a view? If so, then we absolutely have to recommend The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge. This restaurant is a part of the Gideon Ridge Inn, a truly unique boutique inn that’s in the style of colonial American innkeeping and set atop a gorgeous mountain ridge overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. The restaurant itself has a beautiful outdoor stone patio where you can feast with a view. And we do mean feast! The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge has an outstanding menu with entrees like North Carolina-sourced Duck Breast served with local mushrooms and risotto.

3.  Melanie’s

664 W King St, Boone, NC 28607
(828) 263-0300

See Website

Located in Downtown Boone, Melanie’s is often seen at the top of local best-of-dining lists. This is a more laid-back establishment that prides itself on serving a farm-to-fork American menu. This means big country breakfasts and thick, juicy burgers with your favorite toppings. Melanie’s Food Fantasy features both indoor and outdoor dining areas that, while they don’t quite have those mountain views as the last restaurant on our list, are comfortable, spacious, and served by friendly staff members.

4. Come Back Shack

1521 Blowing Rock Rd, Boone, NC 28607
(828) 264-2797

See Website

You’ll find some fantastic burgers at the aforementioned Melanie’s restaurant, but Come Back Shack is the type of place you want to go if the whole family is in the mood for cheeseburgers and fries. This family-owned burger is located just south of Boone’s downtown area, along US Highway 321. Theirs is a counter-serve restaurant that may not have the largest menu, but it does feature a nice array of steak burgers and chicken burgers, with an easy-to-navigate menu that allows you to either go with a set meal or build your own burger.

5. Mint Cuisine of India

203 Boone Heights Dr, Boone, NC 28607
(828) 386-1441

See Website

As you can see, American fare and grilled foods are big in Appalachia, but sometimes you might want something else to eat. Sometimes, you might want a more international taste (but maybe still with some American influences), for those days and nights in Boone, NC, you should consider heading to Mint Indian Cuisine. Mint Indian Cuisine features a sizable menu of traditional Indian dishes like Tandoori Chicken and Gobi Manchurian (a local favorite here). You’ll find them tucked within a shopping center in the southern part of town, but don’t let that fool you! You’ll find yourself in a very spacious and well-appointed dining room once you step through the doors.

6. Gamekeeper Restaurant

3005 Shulls Mill Rd, Boone, NC 28607
(828) 963-7400

See Website

The Gamekeeper Restaurant offers a truly unique dining experience that you won’t readily find in many places in the country. The tagline for this restaurant is “An Adventure in Fine Dining,” and it’s easy to see why once you see the menu. Their menu is a seasonal one that focuses on what’s not locally farmed, but rather game that is locally sourced. In other words, big game like boar, bison, and elk as well as local mountain trout and duck. One of the highest-rated menu items is the Emu Fan Filet which is served grilled to temp and features a side of mushroom, spinach, and garlic risotto topped with sun-dried tomato jus and a side of seasonal vegetables.

7. Proper

142 S Water St, Boone, NC 28607
(828) 865-5000

See Website

While the name might sound a bit odd for a restaurant, we find it fittingly proper for a homestyle southern restaurant to call itself Proper. Even better when their tagline is “Eat More Collards!” Located in a small renovated brick home, be forewarned that this restaurant currently operates as a reservation only. Yet, once you make your way to that reserved table, you’ll soon understand why so many book a dining spot here with their accommodating table service and perfectly seasoned southern-styled dishes.

8. Storie Street Grille

1167 Main St, Blowing Rock, NC 28605
(828) 295-7075

See Website

Last but certainly not least on our list of the best restaurants in Boone, NC is the Storie Street Grille. This restaurant serves up American grilled food and for the best deal, go on a Tuesday for their Burgers & Brewsday which features $11 burger and fries meals alongside discounted beers on tap.

Learn More About the Best of Boone, North Carolina

Boone, NC may not be a large town, but it is quite a charming town. Here, you will find plenty of activities for just about everyone to enjoy, whether that’s families with small children seeking to entice family-friendly attractions, older couples looking for some more romantic amenities for two, or a group of college-aged adults looking for a fun and active adventure in the wooded hills. Learn more about this mountain town and its surrounding areas by visiting our other pages detailing the very best of Boone, NC.