The Bayou Smokehouse & Grill, which includes an adjacent general store, offers a Texas-Louisiana inspired menu.

Popular items run the gamut from Texas-style smoked beef brisket to spicy Cajun shrimp gumbo. Cajun pastas are also available, along with a local favorite – mountain trout. Restaurant is open 363 days a year (closed Thanksgiving and Christmas).

A true New York-style deli just a stone’s throw from the only traffic light in town.

Dunn’s uses premium meats and locally-baked breads to craft hearty sandwiches, subs, wraps and burgers. The deli earns high praise for its breakfast offerings and is open until early evening for dinner. Good beer selection, daily specials, gluten-free breads and kid’s menu (12 and under).

Nestled in the village shops in the heart of town, Sorrento’s is an upscale bistro known for its authentic Italian cuisine. The chefs use family recipes dating back to the family’s roots in Sicily.

Menu includes salads, pastas, veal, chicken, seafood pizzas and gourmet sauces. Also open for lunch and Sunday brunch. Contemporary artwork inside and a large patio garden with fire pit open seasonally.

Puerto Nuevo is known for its Mexican dishes, seafood entrees and vegetarian selections. All meals are prepared fresh daily.

Menu selections range from pollo asado to tacos San Felipe to chilaquiles Mexicanos to fresh grilled tilapia. Puerto Nuevo has a full bar with a large selection of margaritas and tequilas. Kids’ menu available as well.

The Painted Fish Cafe & Beer Bar is known for putting a unique twist on recognizable dishes. The menu varies from pastas, ahi tuna and curried scallops to bacon chicken and southern style trout.

The beer bar offers a rotating selection of artisanal brews in a fun tasting atmosphere. Overall, the Painted Fish is upscale dining in a casual and relaxed ambiance.

This farm to table restaurant in downtown Banner Elk is the newest creation of chef Nicole Palazzo.

It features a rotating menu of fresh, seasonal local foods paired with local and regional wines in a slightly upscale atmosphere. Typical menu items range from steaks and seafood to chicken, beef and sushi.

Particular favorites are the North Carolina rainbow trout, blackened chicken tacos and roasted beet salad with fried goat cheese.

Bodegas Kitchen and Wine Bar offers tapas style service with Caribbean fare in a beautifully designed location accented by a mountain timber motif.

The restaurant is great for date night or an outing with friends and family.

Bodegas features a growing wine selection, a fun lineup of can beers, as well as four local craft beer options on tap. Bodegas also boasts hand-crafted cocktail drinks made with fresh squeezed juices and nectars.

Louisiana Purchase offers fine dining that is heavily influenced by Cajun, Creole, French and Northern Italian cuisine.

The menu features both traditional selections and seasonal offerings. Among the favorites are BBQ North Carolina shrimp, Cajun seafood etouffee, and Creole jambalaya. The wine list has received Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for several years running. Reservations preferred.

Stonewalls, a cornerstone of the Banner Elk food scene, is the perfect blend of traditional and modern.

Stonewalls has served steaks and seafood since 1985, but recently underwent a major renovation. Under new owners Scott Garland and chef Tim Heschke, the updated restaurant features a chef-driven menu that blends new entrees and long-standing favorites, including the popular salad bar.

“We created an environment where our guests can depend on the classics but have the option... Read More

Superb fine dining experience open seasonally (May-October).

Artisanal features contemporary American cuisine in the upscale rustic elegance of a converted barn. The menu stands out with an innovative and progressive farm-to-table approach. The cuisine rotates in accordance with the season.

Artisanal has been named a Top 100 restaurant in the United States by OpenTable.com and has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

Practically everything you need in one location: two restaurants (the cafe and the lodge), an espresso bar, bakery, smoothie bar and an ice cream shop. Also features a covered patio and outdoor patio.

Banner Elk Cafe serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. Menu includes American, Italian, Mexican, seafood and some of the best mountain trout in the High Country.

Authentic Vietnamese and Japanese cuisine in a relaxing atmosphere. Guests enjoy a variety of dishes, such as: specialty soups, spring rolls, lettuce-wrapped chicken rolls, hibachi and teriyaki dishes served with fresh vegetables and sushi.

Whether dining in or carrying out, Can Ranh Bay offers delicious Hibachi-style dishes in a modern American style.

Bella’s is a friendly, cozy cafe serving made-from-scratch breakfasts, along with New York-style deli sandwiches for lunch, seven days a week in the heart of Banner Elk.

The country breakfast at Bella’s is made with cage-free eggs, locally-sourced meats and fresh organic produce. The breakfast menu also features Belgian waffles and an array of omelettes. Some noted items on lunch menu include: hot pastrami on pumpernickel rye, corned beef, roasted brisket sandwiches, Rub... Read More

Einstein Bros. is known throughout the country for its friendly neighborhood bagel shops that serve satisfying breakfasts and lunches in a quick-service style.

The menu for the cafe in Banner Elk includes soups and decked-out bagel-wiches, such as turkey, bacon and avocado, and simple bagels with cream cheese schmears in a variety of flavors. For something light, try a smoothie or egg-white sandwich on extra-thin bagels.

On the indulgent side, the bakery case is full of choco... Read More