The Best Restaurants In Boone, North Carolina

Recently listed as one of the best restaurants in all of North Carolina, The Gamekeeper is a mountain gem. Here, they love their region, they love food, and they love putting the two together to create an ever-changing, always organic, and always local menu full of seasonal surprises. Don’t get overwhelmed by all the meat choices you find. Just allow yourself to be wowed by a restaurant that can put elk and ostrich on the same page and make everything equally delicious.

Southwest Caribbean soul food – even just the name of Coyote Kitchen’s specialty is intriguing. Whether you’re curious or you know exactly what to expect, come by Coyote Kitchen for some of the most fascinating flavors. They’ve got bowls, salads, and burgers and sandwiches, each full of combinations that you’ve never come across before and ingredients that can be switched in and out to suit any of your dietary needs. This is a great place to come for vegetarians, vegans, or ecologically conscious eaters – the fish are all eco-friendly, and the meat is all antibiotic and hormone-free.

Think sushi in a mountain paradise – this is the atmosphere that you’ll find at CoBo Sushi. The interior, with its stone columns and warm lighting, will welcome you in, and then the menu will make you stay. You’ll find all your favorite rolls, and then check out their specialty options for some excitement. Given all the choices, you’ll probably want to get several and then share them – or keep them all for yourself! If you’re squeamish, don’t worry. They’ve got you covered with plenty of (cooked) entrées and appetizers, in addition to an impressive beer list.

Originally opened in 2001 as just a bakery, Stick Boy has become quite an institution in Boone. The bread became so popular that eventually the owners capitulated to the demands of their customers and opened Stick Boy Kitchen, a cafe that puts their delicious baked goods to use. Their bagel sandwiches, using their own freshly baked bagels, are always a big draw. Or, you can get a breakfast plate that puts together all your morning favorites. Come lunchtime, you’ll find all the soups, salads, and hot and cold sandwiches that your heart desires. Stick Boy really takes pride in their town, and they exist to make Boone happy.

Southern society has always focused on being “proper” – and now they’ve gone and made Proper, a restaurant where you can get a proper southern meal whenever you feel like you need it. Welcome to the world of biscuits, shrimp and grits, fried green tomatoes, pimento cheese, fried chicken and waffles, and sweet tea in mason jars. Fair warning, though – once you’ve had a meal here, you might not want to live in any other region.

While lunches at Melanie’s are excellent, it’s the breakfast section that has really catapulted them to local fame. When you have a look at the menu, you’ll find that there are vegetarian and vegan options almost everywhere. Try one of their breakfast plates, all of which are loaded with enough eggs and sides to keep you going throughout the day. You’ll be impressed with the quality of the food, its presentation, and even the prices.