“Much better food than I was expecting. It was nice to get out of the cold and have a warm lunch while we explored the beautiful sights. The prices were Fair considering this is heavy tourist traffic.”
“Some of the best people to deal with. Truly professional, accommodating, kind, thoughtful and fair. The entire crew, managers, grounds keeping and office family go over and beyond making sure satisfaction is achieved. When things take a misstep, it becomes a challenge to make things right, and ESSEOLA succeeds. There no snobs in the chain of command. Everyone who saves up for an experience are treated with the best attitude. When you make the time to have an experience, they refuse to let you down. ESSEOLA appreciates the reputation they want to convey. Failure is not an option. Even the food service rating only makes three digits. 100%. Looking after details is the goal of ESSEOLA.”
“Food was yummy, the service was good. Make sure you call ahead for reservations as we had to make them for 5pm on a Friday evening 2days in advance. The interior brick is cute for tha old farmhouse feel.”
“This was the best meal/experience I have had in quite some time, possibly ever. We were lucky enough to dine in the cellar and have Sadie as our server. I want to express my gratitude to the chef, staff, and Manager, Jeff who made this a night to remember. Highly recommend the ribeye caps, lamb, and all of the first courses. Bring a big group and share everything! Make sure you request Sadie as your server, her recommendations were spot on.”
“Nestled in the charming town of Banner Elk, Mountain Grounds Coffee Shop is a delightful gem for coffee aficionados and travelers alike. From the moment you step inside, the inviting aroma of freshly brewed coffee envelops you, setting the stage for a memorable experience.The ambiance is cozy and welcoming, with rustic decor and ample seating options. Whether you're looking for a quiet corner to work or a spot to catch up with friends, Mountain Grounds provides the perfect atmosphere.But it's not just the ambiance that impresses; the coffee itself is exceptional. From rich espresso drinks to flavorful pour-overs, each cup is expertly crafted using premium beans. The menu also boasts a variety of specialty drinks and teas, catering to every palate.What truly sets Mountain Grounds apart, however, is the friendly and attentive staff. Their passion for coffee is evident in every interaction, as they eagerly share their knowledge and recommendations with customers.Overall, Mountain Grounds Coffee Shop in Banner Elk is a must-visit for coffee lovers seeking a cozy and authentic experience. Whether you're a local looking for your daily caffeine fix or a traveler in search of the perfect brew, this charming coffee shop delivers on all fronts.”
“Always a great experience! Enjoy crossing the Watauga River into the Pisgah National Forest to relax at the foot of Grandfather Winery hillside vineyards! So relaxing. Since reopening under pandemic protocols, no tastings. However, the walkup window is so convenient. Outdoor seating was increased to include socially distant tables, outdoor restrooms, and additional picnic tables along the riverbank. Learn about the connection to the ASU viticulture program and how the vineyard has given back $50,000 to the university. Highly recommend tasting a glass of The Scholar! There is a local Boone restaurant food truck on site for snacks and handheld sandwiches. Live music on the weekends.”
“Everyone was awesome. Esthetic was perfect. Everyone was knowledgeable of the wine. Everyone was SOOOO nice. Can’t wait to come back. Get the Sauvignon blanc!!!!”
“I'd say this was the best restaurant in Banner Elk. Great steaks, and we enjoyed their crabcake. Our server was very helpful. Definitely would recommend Stonewalls if you're in the area.”
“My fiancée and I stopped by while visiting recently, we both got peppermint mocha lattes and pickles. Both were very very good! Definitely recommend this spot and will be back to try a sandwich!”
“Me and my friend visited this restaurant for dinner today after visiting the Linville falls area today and we were amazingly impressed by the staff and food we got. The hostess was so sweet coming into and leaving the restaurant. They truly made us feel like we were at home and like family even though it was our first time visiting. Our waitress was phenomenal. She was warm, kind, and personable. She personally thanked us for choosing their restaurant over others in the area, and by how great the food was we were very glad to. We started out with the peel and eat shrimp and poutine. Both of which were greatly portioned and delicious. My friend got the grilled trout with potato cakes and collard greens which he claimed were all amazing. I don’t even like fish and the trout was delicious and the potato cakes were amazing. I got the Tin Trout burger with homemade chips and my burger was delicious and fresh and my chips were better than any restaurant I’ve had, all of them were crispy and fried to perfection no soft ends or anything. Then thanks to our waitresses recommendations for dessert we got the Gooey butter cake with ice cream and the Lemon berry mascarpone which were both delicious and amazing. I usually can never finish all my food at a restaurant much less as much food as we ordered, but with the quality of food we had I couldn’t let one bite go to waste, or in a Togo box. I visited the restroom while there which was incredibly clean, smelled great, and pretty posh to say the least. I wish we would’ve taken pictures but our phones were low and tummy’s couldn’t wait. We are from over 3 hours away near Chapel Hill, and we will be making the drive back up there soon just for the food. Thank you all. Highly recommended.”
“Very cool spot. Great beer seltzer selection. Place was packed on Sat eve. Only complaint is live music upstairs was sooo loud even downstairs was so loud had to scream to carry on a conversation. Music was great but you don't need to have it blaring to be good.”
“This place was so delicious!The counter girl on 3/5 was lovely! She came out and chatted with us - also sharing some great recommendations for dinner!The sandwich was delicious! Big enough to share. The cheddar bun was soft and flavorful!The broccoli cheddar soup was homemade like your grandmothers!The cinnamon roll was 10/10 - so good!!!Thank you so much! You guys were our favorite place this visit!”
“A great experience, fine food, and a crew of very friendly and courteous folks. Definitely recommend that everyone stop by this place of business. Located on Hwy. 181 at milepost 312, right where the Blue ridge Pkwy. crosses over 181.I will definitely stop in when I am in the area. Highly recommend it to everyone else ***** 5 stars”
“Happened upon this restaurant on our vacation and we were very pleased! The food was excellent, guacamole was fresh and delicious, and the service was top notch!”
“My girlfriends and I loved the food and the service! We all had bowls and they were so delicious and the portions were generous. We are definitely coming back and we highly recommend this Mexican restaurant!”
“Fantastic find! There’s not one thing disappointing about this place! And the service is impeccable! You will not be disappointed, and we will definitely be coming back!”
“We were just looking for some breakfast out in the middle of nowhere and ended up here. Thank goodness we did, This place was AMAZING. Made to order food right in front of you in astonishing time. I am a cook so I was amazed at what I was seeing here. Food was incredible, staff as well. This place will be a must have for me every time I go up to the mountains.”
“The location was convenient for us and the food was okay but not particularly memorable. Somehow I missed the grand view. Maybe they had the misfortune of having a neighbor put up a building in the middle of the view which had given the restaurant its name. Also, I've never gotten toast at a restaurant and only gotten one slice of bread. It's the cheapest and simplest thing to get as a breakfast item add on or part of an entree and I've always gotten two slices.”
“We had a great wine with an exceptional meal. You will have an excellent meal served by a wait person who is happy you are there. Pork tenderloin was great, according to my husband. The pasta of the day was great & the upside down pineapple cake with buttermilk ice cream was an awesome way to top off an outstanding experience,”
“Consistently the BEST burger and tater-tots! If you love ranch, they have great ranch! Sodas are always super cold. The service is excellent and everyone seems friendly.”
“Very good experience! Food was very tasty ambience is very good service was quick and very nice. Glad we picked this restaurant for our last day’s vacation! Thai Basil fried rice was the best!”
“We were visiting from out of town and found a gem. Our waitress was excellent and attentive, the appetizer literally arrived at the table 3o seconds after we were seated. The food was good and plentiful. We'll definitely visit again.”
“Amazing ice cream with a wide variety of flavors. For a tourist town the prices are average. Overall good!Dietary restrictions: Has some sorbets for lactose intolerance”
“Me and some friends happened upon this place while camping in the area. We stopped in and ate dinner and the food was very good! The waitress,(Stacee) I believe was her name, was awesome! She was very friendly and had a great personality! Overall we had a great experience here and will definitely stop in again in the future. Recommended!”
“This review is for the winery.I had a flight and sampled a good number of their wines, including various dry reds, one of which was fermented from a grape I had never heard of, and blueberry wine.All were good and the service was personable. I will return.”
“Went in with Mom after visiting the Blair Fraley shop. That place is amazing! But Miracle Grounds was a bit of a let down. They're on the expensive end of coffee shop fare, which is whatever...it supports the school & that's fine. But my BLT was extremely scant on the bacon & Mom's club was about the same. We had some questions about the coffee by the pound which were met with a vacant smile. Ok...had thought about a purchase, but if you can't be bothered, fine. I ordered lemonade because a 20 oz Coke was $2.75. It wasn't very good... watery & weak. Mom ordered bottled water & instead of directing her to the cooler to grab it, the counter girl handed her a cup of ice and a " water's over there" thing. She was friendly enough, but felt like she wasn't interested in serving us. When our food came out, despite the fact that we were the only table, she walked past us, asking if we went outside. Weird. It's a small dining room. I could be persuaded to go back for coffee, just not food. Add to our disappointment the fact that reviews & word of mouth had built the place up to begin with.”
“I found this place next to the road and I stopped by curiosity. I found the best pumpkin pie bread with pecans . I want the recipe because is something out of this world. So chewy and thick and I can taste all the ingredients: the pumpkin, brown sugar, pecans etc oh Lord. Whoever made this deserves an award.”
“We had a great time visiting LP on Main for dinner. We had reservations on a Saturday evening and the restaurant was busy when we arrived. Although almost every table was full, we were seated quickly and served as though we were the only ones there. Our server Candela was amazing! She had great food and wine recommendations and presented our courses with care and grace.Everything we had was delicious! I highly recommend LP on Main to anyone looking for a great evening out in Banner Elk.Parking: Parking at restaurant and across the street”
“This is such a little gem! My husband and I stopped in and got a chai latte and a macha latte and 2 chocolate chip cookies. Everything was delicious! I would def return again when we are in the area!”
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“Pancakes tasted fresh, and not made with water. Didn't try anything else. Coffee was good. Service was great, and remembered my friend from before. Definitely would come back one ”