Eating out in Boone NC restaurants nowadays is quite different from, say, 10 years ago.
Originally a peaceful university town, it has grown and developed into a modest, smart hamlet in North Carolina’s High Country’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
Boone was named after the notorious frontiersman Daniel Boone.
Despite the fact that Daniel Boone was not born in the region (he was born in and around the Yadkin River valley), his family spent a lot of time hunting in the Boone area and built a modest home to facilitate such expeditions!
A memorial created in his honor on the campus of Appalachian State University has fragments of the stone construction.
I grew up in Tennessee, across the state border, learning to ski at neighboring Beech Mountain. At the time, the nearest town was Boone, which was more like a large gap in the road.
Today, that chasm has undoubtedly grown wider. When I came to the region a few years ago, the development was remarkable, fueled by ASU’s growth and prominence as a liberal arts institution.
Downtown Boone revolves on King Street, which is lined with upmarket boutiques, pubs, cafés, and mountain shops. And now, with the arrival of the Horton Hotel, the region has a dash of flare.
Boone’s restaurant scene has grown to accommodate students, professors, and now a substantial number of visitors. And with a diverse population comes a diverse range of eateries.
There are numerous places to eat in Boone, and a complete list of Boones greatest places to eat would be rather thorough.
Some of my favorite Boone eateries are listed here. While Southern cuisine is prevalent, Boone’s restaurants provide a wide range of cuisines and are lucky to be surrounded by exceptional farms and artisan producers.
This wealth is available to Boones residents and restaurants year round because to a fantastic and well-organized Farmers Market. Boone restaurants take pleasure in supporting local providers and employing high-quality products to showcase their expertise.
Not in the mood to dine out tonight? Click here to have Grubhub deliver right to your door from the greatest restaurants in town.
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
- The Best Chapel Hill Restaurants NC & 11 Best Things To Do In Chapel Hill
- 8 Must-Try Outer Banks NC Restaurants
- 9 Best Asheville NC Restaurants
- 10 Best North Carolina Dishes
- 10 Best Restaurants In Raleigh NC
- 10 Must-Try Greensboro Restaurants
- 10 Must-Try Restaurants In Cary NC
- 7 Must-Try West Jefferson NC Restaurants
- 6 Best Things To Do In Banner Elk NC
- 7 Best Fayetteville NC Restaurants & 9 Fun Things To Do In Fayetteville NC
Contents
The Top 8 Restaurants in Boone, North Carolina
Proper
828-865-5000142 Water Avenue
This restaurant is situated in the former Boone Jailhouse, which was established in 1889 and is currently the sole government facility from that period still standing.
Proper pays respect to classic Southern cooking by creating comfort dishes from scratch in a vintage café environment.
Utilizing local farmers results in appetizing platters of Fried Chicken, Meatloaf, and my favorite vegetable choices to create a seasonal veggie plate.
A grandiose take on a Croque Monsieur and Blue plate-style specialties for every day of the week keep locals and visitors coming back.
All meals are accompanied by handmade cornbread or biscuits. They feature a good wine and beverage selection that will cover all of your bases. Don’t forget to get dessert or take it to go since their quantities are generous. Superb pies, cakes, or crumbles are frequently available in the case.
Proper is one of the greatest places to dine in Boone for a veteran or someone who is discovering Southern cuisine for the first time.
Gastro Pub and Lost Province Brewery
N Depot Street 828-265-3506130 N Depot Street
Since Boone is a university town, there are a few breweries in the area, and you will not be disappointed if you visit Lost Province, one of the top Boone NC Restaurants.
Lost Province is my fave of numerous fine brewers.
The moniker Lost Provinces derives from a time following the Civil War when the counties of Watauga, Ashe, and Alleghany were thought to be lost due to their physical and economic isolation.
As you walk inside the Brewery, you can’t help but notice the massive copper-domed pizza oven.
In addition, because of their emphasis on local products, they get the bulk of their meats and veggies from local farmers. It produces excellent pizzas and other foods.
We always begin with the smokey wood-fired wings and olives. A carefully-curated assortment of meats and cheeses, as well as house-made accouterments, are available to create a charcuterie board.
Pizza reigns supreme, but the Pub Food is also delectable! For something different, try the Big Red or Rosti pies, or the wild mushroom with rosemary oil. If you’re not in the mood for pizza, there are burgers, sandwiches, and fish & chips.
They also make and sell their own bread in the wood-fired oven. Don’t miss out on their daily specials, which highlight fresh vegetables on pizzas, salads, and handmade soups.
Of course, the beer is popular, and they provide a variety of seasonal ales and brews to appeal to a broad range of preferences. The Bless Your Heart Blonde Ale and the Lost Province House I.P.A. are two of our favorites.
Our brewery is fairly relaxed and welcomes both families and beer lovers.
On weekends, there is live music, and in the warmer months, there is a small outside terrace. This is one of the greatest Boone NC restaurants to try for delicious pizza or a variety of different appetizers and entrees.
Booneshine Brewing Company
6465 Industrial Park Dr., 828-278-8006465
From humble beginnings in a modest room in a strip mall, this brewery has grown to a big and well-designed full-scale brewpub on the outskirts of Eastern Boone.
As you arrive, you are greeted with a lodge-style atmosphere with an attractive terrace. Boonshine is a popular neighborhood hangout with plenty of space for kids and pets. A huge fire pit keeps it comfortable on chilly days.
The menu offers a little bit of everything. The beer pretzel, created in collaboration with a local bakery in Boone, is a popular delicacy.
The soft pretzel prepared with Booneshine beer is smeared in beer butter and offered with a variety of toppings. Did I mention beer? They also offer a beer cheese dip if you need more beer!!
Other options tilt toward the healthier side, with grain bowls and salads that, as Boone does so well, include vegetables from local farmers.
A complete menu includes burgers and chicken sandwiches, flatbreads, and Quesadillas.
A huge brewing factory produces some delectable worldwide beers such as German-style pilsners and blood orange-scented Double Belgian Ales.
The ginger sour, as well as their oatmeal stouts, are delicious.
Other libations stand out as well, such as ciders from local cider firm Molly Chomper and wines from Asheville’s Urban Winery, which offers grapes cultivated locally and regionally with little to no intervention.
They also include cider, ginger, and tea in their effervescent drinks.
If you have a nice day in Boone, this is the place to go for a craft beer! Boone has fantastic meals and good craft beer. Booneshine, an excellent example of Boone NC Restaurants, provides both in one visit.
Vidalia
828-263-9176831 W King Street 828-263-9176831 W King Street
Vidalias is a locally owned bistro-style restaurant and wine bar that serves premium southern cooking.
The fabled Vidalia, Georgia sweet onion appears on the menu as a crispy onion ring appetizer or as delectable toppings on burgers and the barrel cut Ribeye.
A pleasant appetizer is a creative take on a Bao Bun loaded with locally produced sausage and Vidalia onions. Seared salmon and grilled tuna are two seafood meals.
There is a vast and comprehensive wine selection with world coverage, as well as some local North Carolina wines, ciders, and beers! Vidalia is a nice place to go on a date or with friends.
They also have a terrace for eating outside throughout the summer.
Reids (The Beacon Butcher Bar) (The Beacon Butcher Bar)
828-865-0087125 Graduate Pathway
This is a relatively recent addition to the eating scene in Boone.
The huge building comprises the restaurant and butcher bar, as well as catering and event services, and is a sister restaurant to Reids in Banner Elk (which I write about in my piece on eateries in that region).
It also functions as a prep kitchen for Bettys Biscuits, their food truck.
The Beacon’s cuisine leans toward Italian cooking with a hint to Appalachian elements. They make their own pasta and pizza in the Napolitano manner.
The entire roasted fish is a market option that changes based on what is available from the North Carolina coast!
The bar boasts an innovative cocktail menu with an emphasis on natural Italian wines.
Hand-cut steaks, sausages, and cured meats are available at the Butcher Bar Market. Freshly made artisan bread loaves, a selection of cheeses, olives, and other speciality goods are available at the market! Reids is a Boone restaurant where you may get a taste of Italy. It is one of the top restaurants in Boone, NC.
Please keep in mind that since the market has just recently reopened, not all things are accessible.
Sushi Bar and Bistro CoBo
828-386-1201161 West Howard Street
Sushi in the Hills? Indeed, and CoBo delivers on all counts.
This very trendy sushi eatery is popular with both students and residents. What is the significance of the name CoBo?
Chef-owner Joseph Miller apprenticed under many notable sushi chefs in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. When he returned to Boone, he realized a demand for genuine Japanese food in the neighborhood. Thus it goes, and it goes well.
Sushi is the major attraction here, but there are some entertaining and modern additions to the menu as well. This Boone Japanese restaurant also caters to those who do not appreciate sushi.
Classic potstickers, an Asian take on mussels with wasabi tobiko, and panko-fried Japanese poppers are all fantastic appetizers.
Their torched yellowtail sashimi with jalapenos is my favorite, and their speciality rolls, Burning Man and Dynamite, do not disappoint.
A comprehensive bar serves up original cocktails, a wine selection, and local brews.
This is one of the greatest Boone NC Restaurants for sushi lovers.
Eleven Eighty Eatery
The phone number is 828-832-80881180 Blowing Rock Road.
The Lovejoys, long-time Boone residents and hospitality professionals, created this classy cafe in a bustling back area of the Boone Mall, conveniently situated adjacent to a Home Goods and T.J. Maxx. In other words, the concept of Eleven 80 is to buy till you drop, then eat, drink, and rest.
A lounge-style atmosphere featuring a variety of small meals, flatbreads, and burgers, as well as allusions to the Lobsta dog, a novel take on the lobster roll.
The sweet and spicy Gochujang shrimp is a beloved appetizer.
There’s also a take on the mini-chicken and waffles platter.
The sip and relax mode is accommodated with a complete cocktail bar, wine, and local breweries. The list is completed with an amazing bourbon collection.
Eleven 80 has partnered with Grandfather Mountain Vineyards to showcase its wines.
The Eleven 80 Food Truck is located by the river on weekends at the Vineyard, dishing up snacks and sandwiches! Grandfather Vineyard, by the way, is one of the nicest places to spend a beautiful day!
If you’re searching for a convenient and great spot to dine in Boone, Eleven 80 is the place to go. It is at the top of our list of Boone NC Restaurants.
F.A.R.M. Café
W King St, 828-386-1000617
This modest eatery on King Street in downtown Boone is a must-see because of its aim.
Established up to give delicious, local cuisine to anyone, regardless of financial means.
Farm Cafe is not a shelter, but rather a community-supported restaurant that serves delicious meals to both residents and visitors.
Because of availability and seasonality, the menu varies everyday. You’ll love the homestyle cuisine with farm-fresh ingredients.
Check out their website for their daily selections, which generally include a broad choice of soups, salads, entrees, and desserts.
A wonderful opportunity to give back and help feed those who are less fortunate!
As you can see, Boone NC restaurants have a diverse eating scene, particularly for such a tiny mountain town. The restaurants below are merely a chosen handful to explore on your next vacation to Boone in the Blue Ridge Mountains!