Restaurants in Boone, NC

Take to the wild with a unique, one-of-a-kind dining experience that specializes in serving locally sourced game and humanely farm-raised meats at the Gamekeeper Restaurant. Set in a beautifully preserved 1950s-era stone cottage between Boone and Blowing Rock, the restaurant is a rustic fine-dining venue with a full-service bar that serves a seasonally changing menu that promises to satisfy both meat and veggie lovers. Seamlessly blending fine-dining fare and comfort food, the menu features dishes such as grilled bison tenderloin with garlic mashed potatoes, Peking duck breast with honey mashed sweet potatoes, and grilled emu fan filet with sun-dried tomato jús. A full-service bar serves a wide range of libations including globally-inspired wines, craft, and draft beers, and classic cocktails made with top-shelf spirits. The Gamekeeper Restaurant is open for dinner, Wednesday through Sunday.

3005 Shulls Mill Rd, Boone, NC 28607, Phone: 828-963-7400

Fusing Old-World Italian cuisine with the tastes and flavors of the High Country, Casa Rustica Restaurant is a traditional, family-run Italian trattoria that has been serving the community for almost 40 years. The bustling kitchen features rustic, wooden décor, a casual lounge with a cozy fireplace and intimate seating for both small and large parties. The restaurant serves favorites such as housemade pasta with from-scratch sauces, fresh seafood, chicken, veal and beef dishes and a selection of homemade desserts, and flat-bread pizzas and gourmet sandwiches can be enjoyed by the fireside in the La Bouca Lounge. A full-service bar serves a wide range of libations including globally-inspired wines, craft, and draft beers, and classic cocktails made with top-shelf spirits. Casa Rustica Restaurant is open for dinner, seven nights a week.

1348 NC-105, Boone, NC 28607, Phone: 828-262-5128

CoBo Sushi Bistro & Bar is an urban Japanese restaurant and bar with designer décor and a casual, yet elegant atmosphere that presents a one-of-a-kind dining experience. Head chef and owner, Joseph Miller brings the sophisticated tastes and flavors of Japan to the heart of Boone with a combination of fresh, handmade sushi, sashimi, nigiri, and specialty rolls, along with contemporary menu items of fresh seafood and Korean tacos, and crispy duck. Diners can watch the expert sushi chefs preparing specialty rolls at the open sushi bar, and a range of drinks from sake to classic cocktails are available form the full-service bar. Cobo Sushi Bistro & Bar is open for dinner, Monday through Saturday.

161 W Howard St, Boone, NC 28607, Phone: 828-386-1201

Located in the Nasa Plaza, Makoto's Japanese Steak House is a contemporary Japanese steakhouse that specializes in upscale teppanyaki grills, sushi and sashimi dishes, and specialty cocktails in a refined atmosphere. The restaurant offers a unique dining experience with a menu of sublime Japanese cuisine and prime USDA steaks, and serves a wide range of delicious dishes from across Asia, including tataki, tempura, teriyaki, hibachi, sushi, sashimi, California rolls, udon, ramen, and various noodles dishes as well as prime USDA steaks and chophouse fare. A full-service bar offers craft beers and microbrews by the bottle or on tap, top-shelf spirits, classic cocktails, and fine wines from around the world. Makoto's Japanese Steak House is open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week.

2124 Blowing Rock Rd, Boone, NC 28607, 828-264-7976

Melanie’s Food Fantasy is a farm-to-fork favorite in downtown Boone that has been serving classic American fare in a casual, laidback atmosphere for almost three decades. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Melanie’s has a comfortable dining room with country-style décor and an airy, spacious patio for outdoor dining and serves classic, simple food that is prepared with fresh ingredients. Diners can tuck into delicious dishes of scrambles, eggs Benedict, omelets, and pancakes for breakfast and mouthwatering Southern bites like blackened pimiento-cheese burgers, chipotle-honey salmon and grits, and vegetarian options like tempeh and soysage. Melanie’s Food Fantasy is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, daily.

664 W King St, Boone, NC 28607, Phone: 828-263-0300

Located in the Watauga Village Shopping Center, the Peddler Steak House is a traditional chophouse chain with three independent operations that specializes in serving prime cuts of acclaimed USDA-grade beef steaks, slow-cooked prime ribs, succulent pork chops, and fresh seafood cooked over Tennessee hickory charcoal. A make-it-yourself salad bar features fresh herbs, salads, fruits, and vegetables offers a wealth of healthy options, and an extensive bar menu offers casual wines from around the world, craft beers and microbrews, and classic cocktails. Traditional steakhouse décor with wood and leather accents, dark hues, and elegantly dressed tables creates an intimate ambiance for romantic dining, and the restaurant is open for dinner, nightly.

1972 Blowing Rock Rd, Boone, NC 28607, Phone: 828-264-4433

Casually elegant, intimate, and romantic, Proper offers an unforgettable dining experience that celebrates the cultural-rich Southern heritage. Set in a beautiful historic 1896 jailhouse with a charming garden patio for alfresco dining, the understated, unpretentious restaurant specializes in traditional Southern home-style cooking and serves classic Southern fare with modern and seasonal twists. Tastefully presented signature dishes include catfish nuggets, pulled pork, meatloaf, crab cakes, and fried chicken, paired with traditional sides of green beans, collards mashed potatoes, and pickled beets. A full-service bar offers craft beers and microbrews by the bottle or on tap, top-shelf spirits, classic cocktails, and fine wines from around the world. Proper is open for lunch and dinner, daily.

142 Water St, Boone, NC 28607, Phone: 828-865-5000