If you are out adventuring or otherwise sightseeing outside of Boone and find yourself in the mood for something good, something local, to fill you up, then consider dropping by the Over Yonder. This restaurant might be more than a stone’s throw from Boone, NC, but it has plenty of outstanding reasons to call you over.
You will find Over Yonder in the small town of Valle Crucis, just a bit off the intersection of Broadstone Road and US Highway 194. This locally loved restaurant is going on its tenth year since they first opened their doors in June of 2014. The restaurant is located on the former homestead of the Taylor Family and has built its location and menu around the idea of interpreting classic Appalachian food in more modern ways. Here, products are sourced as locally as possible and everything is prepped from scratch.
The Over Yonder restaurant is located within a retrofitted two-story farmhouse. In fact, driving up to this restaurant, the location remains so home-like that you might have mistaken it if you didn’t know where you were going! This building features an expansive front porch that includes places where smaller tables of two and three can dine. Insider, the rooms have been opened up to really offer plenty of space for both small and larger tables. The walls are nicely painted and accent original wooden flooring. Above, chandeliers nicely light the room in an elegant way. There is even a small bar tucked in one of the back rooms.
Over Yonder is generally open for lunch and dinner, but they do have some odd hours. They are closed Monday through Wednesday and then are open for two different time slots — a four-hour slot for lunch and a three-hour slot for dinner. They don’t take reservations for their patio and other outdoor seating areas, but they do take dinner reservations for parties of six or less and lunch reservations for parties of six or more. For much larger parties, guests can call in to ask about a whole room rental (but be aware there is apt to be a surcharge).
In addition to have odd hours, you might find the menu at Over Yonder likewise odd. Or at least different when compared to more traditional restaurants. Here, the menu is made by the season and each seasonal menu is built by what is in season and readily available from local providers. This makes Over Yonder an excellent choice for those who want to dine locally on local food, but maybe not the best choice for those who are very specific about what they want to feast on for any given meal.
Some very popular Over Yonder dishes on the current and previous menus include:
Dipped Chicken Sandwich
Enjoy feasting on a crispy chicken sandwich with meat sourced locally. This sandwich comes to you dipped in cane syrup and hot sauce for a nice spicy and sweet mixture. The burger is topped with house pickles and Napa almond slaw and served with house chips on the side.
Fish & Grit Skillet
This entree is usually listed on the menu, but which fish is paired with it will change by the season, such as rainbow trout in the fall. The fish comes bronzed and is served with shoots, pickled onions, and a homemade lasso gravy grit all within a gorgeous skillet.
Insider Tip:
Follow them on Instagram for the latest specials. Over Yonder may bill itself as an older Appalachian restaurant, but it is quite hip when it comes to online activities. Follow them on Instagram to be all in the know on big specials and events. For example, per this publishing, they are currently running a lunch special that features locally sourced lamb cooked as gyro sausage and served within a crispy wrap.