Boone Mall
1180 Blowing Rock Rd.
Boone (828) 264-8510 

We first ate lunch at the Tucker’s Cafe one day in late summer.

Ray: I had the Black Bean Soup ($3.25) to start. This soup consisted of black beans and a few onions, all in a very watery broth, with sour cream on the side. The beans weren’t cooked quite as well as I like them in this style of soup, and the broth was far too watery. Adding a few generous shakes of Texas Pete and the included sour cream, however, made the soup much much better.

Tom: I just watched you pork out until the entrees came. Mine was the meatball sub–the third in my search for a good specimen in Boone. This was better than the one at Pepper’s. Covered with melted cheese, the meat was at least a bit spicy but still essentially hamburger. Gosh, the sandwiches can be so good when made with sausage. Wish I could buy one here.

Ray: For main course I had the ASU Mountaineer Burger ($4.99) with fries ($2.15). The burger was topped with
chili, slaw, bacon, mustard, onions and provolone cheese, and served on a Kaiser roll. This is the style of burger many of you would call a “Carolina Burger” or a “Snack Burger” (if you are a denizen of the Hilltop Cafe). This burger was true to that style, and very tasty. The hamburger patty wasn’t giant, but it was just the right size for a burger with all
those toppings! The fries were likewise good, and as an added nice touch were sprinkled with Old Bay seasoning. I washed all this down with a glass of sweet tea ($1.17) which was ok, but not outstanding.

Tom: My sub came with a small paper cup of pasta, and I mean small–about the size of a slightly overgrown ketchup cup. What there was of it was actually pretty good, and included bits of sliced carrot and red pepper in a dressing. I wish there had been more of it.

Ray: The atmosphere here might be called “TGIF/Ruby Tuesday’s Lite”. The walls are adorned with old signs and pictures and other wreckage that gives Tucker’s a nice, homely feel. The booths were comfortable, with clean tables and decent lighting from interesting fixtures fashioned from colanders. There was no music in evidence the day we ate at Tucker’s.

The food here was served on wax paper in baskets, the drinks in styrofoam cups, and the soup in a real soup mug. Pretty standard for a cafe such as this.

Tom: I thought the styrofoam cups were a bit cheesy and certainly not ecologically friendly. This kind of place should be one notch up above the typical fast-food chain that uses those cups.

The paper towels mounted on the wall at each table reminded me of a an Eastern Shore (MD) crab restaurant, but at least they were there to use instead of the microscopic paper napkins provided with the meal.

Also, this is another in the continuing saga of restaurants with ugly stained ceiling tiles. Gosh, if the mall won’t fix it then do it yourself! Stains above you do not give confidence in your dining while it is raining outside!

Ray: Are you done ranting? Well, the service here was ok, but not exceptional. I had to wait for a refill on my tea, and about halfway through our meal our waitress evaporated.

Tom: At least she apologized for the air conditioning being on the fritz–that is certainly the responsibility of the mall.

Ray: Tucker’s was about what I expected… good cafe food. The prices seemed slightly high for the fries and soup, however. It would (especially once they get the A/C fixed) be a good place for a quick meal with friends. Tucker’s is certainly better than most food that one finds in the food courts of malls.

Tom: Only if you are already there at the mall.

MapQuest map GPS Coordinates
Lat: 36° 12.063′
Lon: 81° 40.094′

Menu (prices may change)Page 1