Banner Elk is a little village in the Blue Ridge Mountains wedged (notice the creative pun in this article on the top Banner Elk restaurants) between Beech Mountain on one side and Sugar Mountain on the other, both prominent ski resorts in the North Carolina High Country.
If you Google what to do in Banner Elk, you’ll discover a diverse choice of indoor and outdoor activities.
But, this little town thrives in all four seasons, with a plethora of things to enjoy! And don’t forget about eating! In the Banner Elk restaurant scene, you can discover a wide variety of cuisines.
These are some of the greatest Banner Elk restaurants and places to dine in Banner Elk recommended by locals.
Visiting other places in North Carolina? Check out our other tasty guides:
- 13 Must-Try Restaurants in Mooresville, NC
- 11 Must-Try Restaurants in Manteo, North Carolina
- 6 Best Things To Do In Banner Elk NC
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The 7 Best Restaurants in Banner Elk
Buy Wine and Spirits in Louisiana
Main St., 828-898-5656171
This long-standing Banner Elk establishment just underwent a full makeover on Main Street. A stunning structure greets you for lunch or supper.
The cuisine contains Cajun delicacies, which is the main appeal here. Chef Patrick Bagby’s seasonally inspired cuisine features fresh ingredients, many of which come from local farmers.
Small dishes, soups, salads, and entrees are among the options. We decided to split many small meals since there were so many we wanted to sample.
The first course was a well curated steak tartare, which included finely diced Black Angus filet with capers and local mustard and was topped with a 64-degree egg! It was exquisite; the steak was tender, and the capers and mustard gave zing without overpowering the delicate egg.
The Southern Fried Quail with Dirty Rice followed, a brilliant blend of savory spices topped with oyster gravy! We also had a platter of crispy fried oysters with remoulade sauce, which was delicious.
Finally, we finished with the seared scallop entrée, which came with a wonderful chorizo potato salad and chimichurri sauce!
We paired the scallops with a couple of glasses of bubbly and a mild Rose. Louisiana Purchase offers a full bar and a craft cocktail mastery.
The restaurant has received a Wine Spectator award for its ever-expanding wine list, and various wines by the glass are available. Patrick’s wife Laurie smoothly runs the front, as she has for many years!
We got dessert to go. The sticky toffee pudding was too good to pass up. We’re so delighted we did! That was the perfect ending to a fantastic lunch at one of Banner Elk’s top restaurants.
I suggest making a reservation at this fantastic place and checking their website for changing hours.
Consume Crow
828-963-8229872 NC-105
If you don’t pay attention as you drive into Banner Elk, you’ll miss this hidden treasure of a restaurant. It is hidden in the back corner of a tiny retail area on Highway 105. Chef-owner Dominque, a well-traveled and recognized chef, brings a flavor of Britain to one of the greatest Banner Elk restaurants, serving British classics such as Steak-Ale pie, Cornish pasties, and Scotch eggs.
A huge assortment of sandwiches, based on Chef Dominques’ handmade bread, is also available. The house Rueben is a highlight, but my favorite is the all-day Santa Fe burrito, which is loaded with chorizo, potatoes, scrambled eggs, and cheese and topped with a fiery red and green sauce.
Eat Pie, Eat Cake, that’s exactly what you do here. A large selection of handcrafted pies, both savory and sweet, as well as exquisite cakes, are offered by the slice or full.
In strawberry season, the strawberry-rhubarb pie is a must, and the delectable chicken pot pie is a fast supper choice.
I would recommend that you pre-order the whole cake and pastries to ensure that they have everything you want. These are quite popular!!
Meryle, Dominique’s wife, welcomes you to her well-appointed tiny dining room, which she has decorated with old antiques from her travels. There are also a few tables on the sidewalk for eating al fresco.
Eat Crow has a complete catering menu as well as frozen dishes for pick up, which is a great convenience while visiting the region. They also offer a fantastic seasonal menu for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Another advantage of dining at one of the greatest Banner Elk restaurants is that you may bring your own alcohol.
Reid’s Cafe & Catering
828-92004004-NC 105
Dare not to discuss or visit this eatery on 105 near Banner Elk.
Reids, initially as a catering enterprise and now as a restaurant, has a long-standing reputation for serving the most appealing food in the region. Tina Houston, the owner, infuses her locations with personality and attention to detail.
The ambience of its relatively new, elegant Banner Elk restaurant is modern but warm, with an extensive cuisine to satisfy everyone.
We start with oysters every time. Reids serves a daily natural selection as well as a grilled version. Every day, a roasted oyster is prepared for supper, always with an intriguing addition!
We also start with oysters during lunch. What more can I say? Reids is one of the few culinary outlets in Banner Elk that serves fresh oysters!
Chicken wings are usually a safe pick, since they come in a variety of flavors other than the standard hot wing. The dry-rub Greek version was great, and I really loved the tzatziki sauce for dipping!
Sammiches, as Reids refers to them, are fantastic. The crunchy southern fried chicken has a kick from the house-made chipotle aioli. Yellow-fin tuna salad is a new twist on an old favorite.
The supper menu expands with meals like the Cheshire pork chop; we enjoyed the buttery kraut and the twist on the sweet mustard sauce.
During our visit, the market fish is beautifully performed and cooked with fresh herbs and lemon. Every day, a chef’s choice dinner is served!
Dessert is cooked in-house, so indulge; it’s well worth it!
Reids provides lunch and supper Wednesday through Saturday, as well as a delicious Sunday brunch! The Beacon Butcher Bar, their sibling restaurant, is in Boone, which I mentioned in my piece about Boones eateries. Reids is a good option if you’re not sure where to dine in Banner Elk. It’s one of the top restaurants in Banner Elk.
Food and Wine Bar Bodegas
Main St., 828-898-7773488
This Caribbean-inspired restaurant is located in the newly refurbished Eagles Nest Market Place at the foot of Beech Mountain Ski Resort.
As previously said, the Miami-based proprietors love the tastes of Cuba, Mexico, Spain, and the Caribbean!
Tapas, plates, and sandwiches provide a variety of foods that embody the tastes and spices of the areas.
To begin, the trio of wings is available in three flavors: Mojo citrus garlic, Jamaican jerk, and Mango jalapeño. Yucca fries are crunchy and light, and they’re paired with a cilantro lime sauce.
Typical Cuban sandwiches are made in two ways, and the notorious Ropa Vieja, Cuba’s national cuisine, is served with beans, rice, and fried plantains.
Tacos are now filled with shrimp, beef, or fish, while the MoJo Pork bowl is fragrant with spices, and the sweet Maduras balance the heat.
Bodegas has a complete bar, and the Mojito, as predicted, was fantastic, as did their Margarita! There are various alternatives by the glass on the wine list.
Bodegas is a great place to stop on your trip to or from Beech Mountain! They have you covered for fueling your ski excursion or refueling after a long trek! Bodegas will satisfy your need for Caribbean cuisine in Banner Elk, and it is really one of the greatest Banner Elk restaurants.
Italian Bistro Sorrentos
Azalea Cir SE +18288985214140 Azalea Cir SE
Sorrentos Italian Bistro and its neighboring sibling restaurant, Chefs Table, are located in the Banner Elk Village in lovely downtown Banner Elk.
Sorrentos has been a family-owned business in Banner Elk for thirty years, with recipes passed down through the generations of the Palazzo family from Sicily.
Sorrentos specializes on classic Italian cooking, with hints to all of your favorite dishes, including pizza.
Fried calamari is a good place to start, as is crispy squid with a tangy marinara.
Clams baked in the oven with breadcrumbs and garlic, or Burrata with basil, fresh tomato, and a drizzle of olive oil; these are delicious options! Mussels marinara are also delicious!
Entrees from all around Italy are available, including Veal Piccata, an old-world dish that is delicate, lemony, and melts in your mouth.
This meal is also available with chicken. Sorrentos offers veal or chicken served Parmesan style, Marsala with mushrooms, or Piccata.
The wine selection delves into both ancient and new world locales, with an emphasis on Italian varietals! A complete bar is also available to serve traditional drinks.
Executive Chef Nicole Palazzo’s vision is upstairs at the Chefs Table. Chefs Table serves varied food with fresh local ingredients and a worldwide flair!
These items are nicely presented, including upscale tacos, sushi, and dinners. With whipped goat cheese and crostini, the beet tartare is a delightful spin on the traditional.
The dining area is stylish but relaxed, and the wide comfy bar is equally appealing for eating. Having a wide wine selection with Sorrentos provides plenty of options by bottle or glass. This fine-dining restaurant in Banner Elk serves everything from sushi to steak to seafood.
Chefs Table and Sorrentos are open seven days a week. Reservations may be made at bannerelkvillage.com.
While they are not standard eateries, they are fantastic locations to visit when traveling through Banner Elk and the High Country! On a nice day, it’s unbeatable!
Sara’s Extra Selections
Although they are not really Banner Elk eateries, I would be negligent if I did not include a handful of the excellent area vineyards.
Vineyard & Winery on Grandfather Mountain
225 Vineyard Lane, 828-963-2400
Grandfather Mountain, which rises to over 5,900 feet in height, towers above this little vineyard. The vines grow up the mountainside, nestled at its base.
Relaxing on the banks of the Watauga River and immersing your toes in the cold mountain water while enjoying a chilled glass of Ros is a pleasant respite in the hot months! The winery is open all year, so you can experience all four seasons. Visitors may sample many wine kinds by the glass, flight, or bottle in a mountain lodge-style tasting room.
The vineyard grows a modest amount of grapes, but they also buy grapes from California and other North Carolina wineries to combine into their wine options. And their wines are fantastic, with numerous appealing varietals, maturing in whiskey barrels for a new twist on whites and mixing Barbera with Syrah for a powerful, robust red.
The mountain, grapevines, and Watauga River provide a picturesque background for a weekend or workday stay. Live music is performed on weekends during the fall season. At the height of summer, music may be heard throughout the week as well. The vineyard has a lovely covered patio area, and a vast lawn with tables and umbrellas allows everyone to enjoy the music.
Tables are also placed up to the river, where wading is permitted and children and dogs may generally be seen romping. The Eleven80 food truck is a constant fixture, serving snacks and sandwiches. Cheese and crackers are also offered within the tasting area! We usually bring a picnic for a leisurely day at this engaging location.
We usually start with their Ros Bubbly, which is refreshing and light on the taste and goes well with a variety of cheeses and foods. Additional favorites are the Pinot Noir Rosé and the Fusion Red.
Banner Elk Winery is set on a historic blueberry farm just outside of Banner Elk’s beautiful downtown area. It is surrounded by rolling hills and mountain panoramas. If you’re searching for peace and quiet, this is one of the greatest Banner Elk restaurants to visit.
Winery & Villa Banner Elk
+1828898909060 Banner Elk, Deer Run
We start with their crisp, dry Ros and end with one of their award-winning reds, ideally a Cabernet Franc or Petite Syrah. Remember that they produce a fantastic dessert wine from the blueberries that they gather from the ruins of the ancient Blueberry plantation.
Picking blueberries on a gorgeous alpine summer day (when they’re in season) and enjoying a glass of wine is a favorite pastime.
Wine tastings, glasses of wine, and bottle service are available at the vineyard. A Tuscan-style Hotel is just next door for overnight visitors.
The vineyard is a popular wedding venue and also conducts wine dinners and other events.
During the autumn season, live music is performed on most Saturdays.
If you’re searching for more adventure, return to Banner Elk and wander the streets. This little mountain village is home to the Falls’ renown Wooly Worm Festival, as well as various restaurants and stores.
For tasting hours and a music schedule, visit www.bannerelkwinery.com. If you’re in the High Country and love drinking wine, don’t miss out on these gorgeous vineyards and wineries (rightfully owning the title of one of the best Banner Elk restaurants) All events and live music dates and hours may be found at www.grandfathervineyard.com, and http:
That’s all there is to it. The greatest of the top restaurants in Banner Elk. Now there are no more excuses; we just advised you where to drink some wonderful regional wines and where to dine while in Banner Elk.