227 Hardin Street
Boone(828) 264-5470
We’ve eaten here on a number of occasions.
Second Serving comment by Tm: I supped here very recently (7/09, and enjoyed a very nice Baked Linguine with meatballs–very well prepared, with a mixture of cheeses! The roll with it was good but a dinner roll does not seem right with Italian. However, the appetizer of onion rings, shared at our table, was excellent, I think the best in Boone. They have a spiced batter coating that stands them apart. My dinner companions had equally good experiences with their entrees, which included Grilled Salmon and a Chicken Fajita Wrap. The only bummer of the evening was my disappointment with their free WiFi. I had to ask for the password and none of the three variations suggested worked. Then it quit even asking for a connection–I guess somebody turned it off. I was hoping to do tweeting while eating but, alas, it was not to be.
Ray: I had the Southwestern Black Bean Chili (see menu at left for ingredients) ($5.25), grilled ribeye with lettuce/tomato/horseradish sour cream sauce and fruit cup (you have the option of chips, fries, or fruit) ($7.95) and an Anchor Porter to drink ($3.50). If this meal seems familiar, it should. It’s basically the same thing I had when we reviewed Pepper’s. The chili at The Red Onion is in every way superior to Pepper’s chili. The ingredients are tasty, the soup thick enough, and the overall taste slightly spicy (although I did have to add Tabasco to bring it up to my usual hot standards). The sandwich was also good, at least as good as Pepper’s, with a generous, well cooked piece of ribeye on an egg kaiser roll and fresh lettuce and tomato (in December!). The horseradish sour cream was a disappointment, however. There was almost no horseradish present, in fact, it was barely detectable. The fruit (cantaloupe, honey dew melon, and grapes) was likewise fresh and tasty. The Anchor porter was good, but served just a bit cold for a fine porter like Anchor.
Tom: I sipped on a SweetWater Blue lager while awaiting our meal,and it was quite good–a hint of blueberry. But then what do I know? I’m not a beer aficionado like you. I started with a bowl of French onion soup. It was tasty but the bread was soggy–I wonder if they failed to toast it? And I sort of missed the scissors you get with the same stringy soup at Pepper’s.
The soup was a substitute for the soup of the day in the combo–I am glad they allow subs. The other component was the tomato and cheese quiche, which was also excellent–served piping hot and carefully timed to when I finished the soup. There was just enough to satisfy — perfect portions.
Ray: Red Onion has a nice, relaxing atmosphere, with light oldies playing in the background a low volume that is conducive to conversation. The decor consists of windsor chairs, simple wood top tables, and some interesting paintings on the walls.
Tom: I wonder if the paintings were as overpriced as those that were at other restaurants we have visited. They were certainly colorful. However, some stained ceiling tiles from roof leaks distracted me from the art.
Ray: Picky, picky. Red Onion is a nice, relaxing place to get a good, filling meal. Red Onion also has a nice beer selection for a small restaurant. It’s not as extensive as some places, but the beers they have are almost all good choices. Service is prompt and courteous, and it is quiet enough to allow easy conversation. Those in jeans and those in suits should
feel equally at home here. The prices do seem a little on the high side, however.
Tom: Well, you don’t get what you don’t pay for, and it was nice to eat food that was a cut above the average. I’ve eaten here before and I know I’ll be back, and I can’t say that about some of the other places we’ve reviewed.
Ray: Yes, I would recommend The Red Onion to anyone, and would not hesitate to take friends there. The cuisine is varied enough to satisfy most tastes, and the atmosphere is nice and relaxed.
Second Serving..
Tom: I visited for supper and had the French Onion Soup again and it was still good, although my comment on the bread remains: soggy. For the entree I had the Classic Meat Lasagna, which was very good, baked covered with cheese. Another”just right” portion–filling but not stuffing me into a stupor. I washed it down with good, swee tea.
I was a bit surprised that the soup, a sub for the salad that came with the entree, led to a $2.00 “Misc Food” charge. If there is an extra charge for a substitution the patron should be warned.
Another tip: don’t get the fries. A trusted friend says they are soggy and repeated complaints have not led to an improvement. Reminds me of another restaurant where I ordered a pizza that turned out to be lousy. When I mentioned that at checkout the clerk said “yeah, everybody tells us that.” Well, gee, don’t change the recipe …
GPS Coordinates
Lat: 36° 12.876′
Lon: 81° 40.482′
Menu (Prices may change)
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