We ate lunch here not too long after they opened. Is Boone big enough for two hot dog places, a few blocks apart?.

454 West King Street
Boone, NC 28607

828-264-6886

Hours:

Mon -> Sat 11:00 am -> 9:00 pm
and late night: Fri -> Sat 11:00 pm ->3:00 am

Ray: I had two hot dogs all the way (chili, onions, mustard, and slaw) with a side order of fries and a soft drink.  The dogs were very good, and the chili and slaw was excellent.  I was happy to see that the chili is much better than the typical hot dog stand stuff.  The fries were crispy without a lot of grease, just like I like them.  The soda came in a real styrofoam cup with flaked ice, reminiscent of the hot dog places of my youth. 

Tom: I only one chili dog, with chili & cheese fries. You guys were real porkers.

I found it odd that they give you a styrofoam cup full of ice and let you choose drinks from a posted menu, then you turn around to serve yourself any that you want. I thought the ice was a ploy to keep you from getting too much drink but refills are apparently free anyway..

The dog was good, for cooked on a hot griddle, a bit different than Trolley Stop. I did enjoy the chili &  cheese fries, something I do not normally get but seemed to hit the spot that day.

Max: Before begin, I need to know if there is a limit on the number of hog dog jokes I can make! 

Tom: We’ve never been able to stop you before…

Max: Well, hot dog! I just wanted to be a-bun-dantly clear about my intentions…

Ray: groan…

Max: So, this place was a weiner! If you like your dogs grilled (not boiled) then this place really cuts the mustard I. I initially ordered a regular hot dog with chili, mustard, and onions with fries. I was confused about what I could get on the dog, so I might suggest a sign for us newbies. My huge hot dog had a healthy (or unhealthy) amount of chili mixed in with the onions (new to me) and was presented on a very fresh white roll.  I really relished the shoestring fries. They were very crispy and not oily.

Tom: And then you decided to pig out!

Max: In my defense, I had to ketchup to Ray! I then got a chili burger with onions and mustard for direct comparison purposes only. I feel the burger was of superior quality when compared to the hot dog. It looked handmade and was pretty big.

Tom: And, frankfurtally, I’m sure you’re about to say that the chili sauce dripping all over you added to the ambiance.

Max: I’ll never complain about having too much delicious chili.

Tom: I didn’t think it was so cold in there!?

Max:That’s “c-h-i-l-l-y”!

Tom: Still, I could not see the Andes, whether it was cold or not!

Max: That’s “C-h-i-l-e”!

Tom: Well, no matter the temperature, I did find it a nice place for a quick lunch!

Ray: I enjoyed my meals here.  The choice of toppings is quite overwhelming!
One could probably eat here for months and never have the same combination of toppings on a burger twice.  To top it all off, the chili is some of the best in town.

Tom: Yes, again, there may be too many choices for some of us.

Ray: The food here is served in red plastic baskets and styrofoam cups, which is just what you would expect at a hot dog place. The decor here consisted of ASU-yellow walls covered with ASU posters. There are a number of tables and booths inside, and a few tables outside.  There was some nondescript rock playing in the background.

Tom: And an Army/Navy recruiting poster. Anything that is free, I guess!

Ray: Anyway, the food here was good, but it’s a pretty basic dogs & burgers place. Trolley Stop is a little fancier both in their offerings and their decor.  One suggestion I would make would be that a list of toppings be added to the menu board, along with a list of the available drinks.

Tom: Which, as I said, is irrelevant, given the one-price self-serve drink fountain.

Ray: Finally, you’ve got to like a place that puts two different types of hot sauce (Texas Pete and Louisiana) on each table!  I’ll have to come back soon to try the burgers. I would recommend Hot Diggity Dog to anyone looking for a basic hot dog, fries, and drink.  It’s not fancy, but it is tasty and filling.

Tom: I was, as usual, disappointed that you could not get Coke. “No Coke-Pepsi” as they said in SNL, back when it was good. I just don’t understand this approach. Plus, it was not obvious what to do when you enter–order (where?), sit down. Like a properly designed building it should have one obvious main approach. Finally, lose 2-bit charge for using plastic. This is the 21st century! Amortize that over all purchases so it does not seem petty. I don’t know of any other restaurant that does that in Boone. Although there are some that don’t take plastic at all, which is what, 19th century?

Menu

Website (a Facebook page)

Health Inspection ratings (click on the date just under the Visits: (Not the Ratings listed under that!)

We ate lunch at Vidalia to see how the food has changed since the ownership changed. It is a lot better!

831 West King Street
Boone, NC 28607

828-263-9176

Lunch: Tue -> Thu 11:00 am -> 2:00 pm

Dinner: Mon -> Sat 5:00 pm -> 9:00 pm

Brunch: Sunday only, 11:00 am -> 2:00 pm

Ray: I had the Bison Burger (Cajun seasoned buffalo burger, Texas Pete aioli, carmelized onions, tomato and local greens on grilled ciabatta bread) with a side of shoestring fries.  This burger was delicious.  The meat was perfectly seasoned, properly cooked, and really tasty.  The veggies on the burger were fresh and crispy, especially the tomatos, which were the best I’ve had in any restaurant in a long, long time.  The fries were crispy, with no nasty greasy taste, and lightly salted.  I had a glass of tea with the meal which was likewise very good. 

Max: So, if I only get to say one thing…

Tom: Can I get you to promise that?

Max: No and as I was saying, I was both impressed and not impressed with the decor. There was a very nice black table cloth and silverware but brown paper on top of the table cloth. A lunch thing?

Tom: It reminded me of a crab place’s table on the Eastern shore of Maryland!

Max: As for my food, it was very well presented and simple delicious. I had a Turkey and Pear sandwich with french fries. The fries were presented in a cup, crunchy, and quite tasty. The sandwich itself was piled high with turkey, a medium slice of soft pear, and swiss cheese on toasted thick wheat bread. The sandwich was actually very subtle in taste and had a great consistency. Ample apple butter was provided to spice things up a little.

Tom: I had the special — an andouille sausage gumbo with jasmine rice, and fried okra. The gumbo was excellent, spicy but not too spicy–about like I make my own at home. It did pretty much overwhelm the “jasmine” of the rice. However, I make either chicken or shrimp gumbo and I have the sausage in it, too, so I am not sure about sausage only.The rest of the ingredients seemed familiar and correct.

The okra consisted of four whole pods, battered and fried and artfully arranged atop the gumbo. Nicely done! And, tasted nice as well.

Ray: The food here was served on nice but simple china, accompanied by some of the best flatware we have seen in town.  The tea was served in a very nice, heavy glass, not the typical plastic “glasses” we typically see.

Tom: Yes, that in spite of a “Thanks” mention of Dr. Pepper, on the back of the menu. What is that all about?

Ray: The atmosphere here has changed since our last review (which was before an ownership change).  Now it is a mix of blacks and tans, with kraft paper table “cloths”.  This seemed weird at first, but actually was very nice.  There was some light rock playing faintly in the background, so conversation was easy.  The walls are covered with quite a bit of interesting modern art.

Tom: I was bothered a bit by all the extra charges listed. The prices are slightly on the higher side of the average in the region but the food was truly excellent. Probably a nice place to take a date out to eat than a regular lunch haunt. Except perhaps for those rich lawyers in this area of town!

Ray: Vidalia is much improved under its new owners.   The service is great,the food excellent, and the presentation excellent. I would recommend Vidalia without hesitation to anyone wanting to have a nice, substantial meal in a relaxed setting. 

Tom: Yes, the presentation was indeed very nice. Food designers (yes, there are such people), will tell you to serve it on white china like are used here. That does not distract from the food itself.

Max: I would suggest this restaurant for those seeking a very nice setting and food prepared with care.

Tom: I will be back again, probably for dinner. The food is great and the serving size ideal–not too much but no need for a doggie bag! Good show, new owners!

Lunch menu

Dinner menu

Web site

Health Inspection ratings (click on the date just under the Visits: (Not the Ratings listed under that!)

We ate a few times at Wolfies, enjoying it every time. A great place to grab a great sandwich!

593 Faculty Street

Boone, NC 28607

828-265-5600

Hours:

Mon -> Thu 11:00 am -> 4:00 pm

Fri -> Sat 1:30 am ->5:00 pm

Closed Sundays

(Hours “Subject to Change!”)

Ray: On my first visit, I had the “South of the Border” sub (mesquite turkey, lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapenos, salsa, and pepper jack cheese) along with a bag of chips and a coke. 

Tom: And, how did you find your sandwich?

Ray: I ordered it and they brought it out!

The sandwich was excellent!  Just the right amount of heat from the salsa and jalapenos, balanced by the turkey and veggies.  The veggies were fresh, as was the bread.  The chips & coke were, well, chips and a coke.  Nothing special there. 

Tom: On my first visit I had the Cuban and it was great!.

Ray: On my second visit, I tried the Authentic Italian (tavern ham, genoa salami, capocolla, pepperoni, provolone, deli mustard, lettuce, tomato, onion, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, garlic, parmesan, and oregano on a sub roll).  It was likewise excellent, one of the best Italian subs I have ever had.

Tom: I had the Cuban again, with the (1-oz!?!) Bag of chips and pickle spear ($1.00). With a small Coke it was all 9 bucks even. Might as well have skipped the extras since a Cuban (and indeed this one) has slices of pickle in it.

Ray: And, how did you find your sandwich?

Tom: I opened the wrapper and there it was! It was very good and true to the recipe. Pork, ham, swiss, pickle slices and a mustard/may sauce–I guess, I was not positive about the orangeish sauce. It was pressed flat in the grilling, as it should be. Very tasty, considering we are far from the hotbed of Cuban sandwiches–
Florida. I’ve gotten very authentic ones the last two summers at The Floridian Restaurant on Treasure Island, FL–those are the best! Wolfie’s is about as close as you can get. They use Boar’s Head meats for a good quality sandwich.

Ray: As there is no inside dining, the food here is served wrapped in typical sub wrap paper, with styrofoam cups for the drinks.

Tom: Yeah, the Health Department made them get rid of the stools since they have no restroom. The counter is still there if you need to eat inside, and there is a bench outside they provide. However, that was occupied by tourists when we stepped out with our food and they did not get the message from the sign saying it is for Wolfie’s customers, nor from my eye-contact glares I gave them 3 times, while I was obviously holding my Wolfie’s food. Some people. We ate around the corner in the hard-surface park that is sprinkled with In memoriam bricks interspersed with tacky advertising bricks.

Ray: The service was cheerful and fast both times I visited.

Tom: Yes, again, the food was delivered about as fast as made-to-order food can be. Good service.

Ray: Wolfie’s is your typical “hole in the wall”, literally.  It reminds me in size (but not cuisine) of the old “Tasty” in Harvard Square.  There is a counter at which you order and a bench outside the door for seating.  On the first visit there was some minimal inside seating, but this is now gone.  Like “The Tasty” in Harvard Square, Wolfie’s is likely the most profitable restaurant per square foot in Boone.  Not hard, given that it’s probably less that 200 square feet.  Those of us who enjoyed “The Tasty” still mourn its loss, yeah these 12+ years since its untimely closing (after being a landmark for 81 years).

Tom: Well, my sandwich was filling enough, too, that I only ate a little of the second half before you shamed me into taking the rest back to finish another time. I nuked it a day or two later for lunch and it was still very good.

Ray: Wolfie’s is a great sandwich shop.  They have dozens of menu sandwiches, in addition to a “choose your own ingredients” option.  It is easily the best sandwich shop in the High Country.  The accommodations are sparse, but that just gives it character.  I hope Wolfie’s is around as long as The Tasty was. I would recommend Wolfie’s to anyone looking for a great sandwich, with no reservations whatsoever.

Tom: Me, too. Especially because I don’t think they take reservations.

Ray: You moron.

Menu - p. 1
Menu - p. 2
Menu - p. 3

Web site — they claim it to be www.wolfiesdeli.com but when you go there you find their domain name has been hijacked and you are at an impostor site.  I guess that’s what happens when you fail to renew your domain name in time.  Whoops.

Health inspection ratings (click on the date just under the Visits: (Not the Ratings listed under that!)

We ate a few times here, starting when it was still Tupelo’s. Only the name has changed (to protect the innocent?–boy, that dates me..). Still the same owners and mostly the same eclectic menu. This review combines those experiences as well as a comment by a mysterious guest-Vampira, Goddess of the Night. It is definitely a place you should try!

506 West King Street
Boone, NC 28607

828-262-5000

Hours:
Wed -> Sun 10:00 am -> 5:00 pm Brunch and 5:00 pm - 10:0 pm dinner
Closed Monday and Tuesday

Tom: We started with some nacho chips and salsa while waiting for our meal. This place can take a bit to get you your meal, but it is worth it. Chips were good and salsa tasty.

Ray: For the main course, I had the Plato de Habana (black beans and rice topped with pineapple, bacon, fried plantains, greens, tomatoes, chipotle queso, mojo sauce, and flour tortillas).  It was all very tasty, and added up to a good medley.  The bacon was especially nice, thick, and tasty.  The portion size was quite ample.  You’ll leave here full!  I washed all this down with a very tasty glass of sweet ice tea.  The sweet tea here had a very good balance between the actual taste of the tea and the sweetness of the sugar. 

Tom: I had the (1-pepper-hot) Indian Caram Marsala Yellow Curry, with Tilapia–a dish I have had before and like. It was great, spiced just right (I have had it like this and spicier, so there is a bit of variation). Fish was cooked just right and the curry was excellent.

I washed it down with a couple of Bell’s Porters (they were out of my first choice).

Max: I finally decided on the Thai Kaeng Daeng Red Curry with chicken, the spicier of the two curries (two-pepper rating).

Tom: I know–I wanted that! But, nnnoooooo …..

Max: Anyway, the dish was much larger than I anticipated. It was enough food for two people. And, I really must thank them for the presentation. It was a very beautiful dish. They claimed it was spicy.

I would agree. I have a medium threshold for spicy foods and I would say that it did make me thirsty but not uncomfortable. My less adventurous friends would say it was too spicy and those that crave capsaicin would say it’s barely warm.

Tom: Did you sneeze or say something like “capsaicin”?

Max: Capsaicin is the molecule that we interpret as “hot”. But, it was well seasoned and very plentiful. The veggies were cooked properly and the rice was the proper, sticky, consistency. I was very pleased. Although this was not authentic in the true sense of the word, it was a great meal.

Ray: The food here is served on simple but nice pastel plates, which have some weight to them.  The flatwear is ok, a step above the basic stuff most places have.  In other words, the flatwear has a pattern stamped into it, it isn’t just plain stamped flatwear.  On the down side, the “glasses” are thick plastic.

Hob Nob is a good place for a change of pace.  The menu is broken up into sections by areas of the world, including selections from Cuba, Southeast USA, Italy, Jamaica, India (the only in town…), Thailand, Japan, Southwestern USA and the Mediterranean [or “Mediteranean” in their menu…]. The food here is good, with ample portions, and served on better than average china/flatwear. Go when you’re not pressed for time, bring a good companion or a good book, sit  back, relax, and enjoy.

Tom: Indeed, I had to take home food most times we visited and it reheated nicely for another lunch. The eclectic menu should give enough choice that anyone should find a dish they like here!

Vampira: [Unsolicited contribution] The Mango Lassie (minus banana) at Tupelo’s/Hob Nob/Hog Farmer/Bob’s House of Organic Food is of of the best things I have ever consumed.

Breakfast Menu
Lunch Menu

Dinner Menu

Website

Health Inspection Reports (still called Tupelo’s in the reports, as of August 13!)

We sampled Proper for lunch one fine summer day. We were joined by our new team member, Max, and a couple of guests. It was a nice day, so we ate outside.

142 Waters Street
Boone, NC 28607

828-865-5000

Hours:
Mon -> Sat 11:00 am -> 9:30 pm
Sun Brunch 11:30 am ->3:00pm

Max: I was hesitant about a place described to me to serve “Soul food” (not to be confused with Seoul food) but I was pleasantly surprised.

I ordered a standard chick sandwich (Not the automatic) with a side of H.F. potato and an ice tea. The ice tea delivery was prompt and came in a Ball Mason jar with a slice of lemon.  My meal took a little longer to arrive than I would have preferred  but it was beautifully presented with a medium sized sliced tomato garnish. The sandwich bread was lightly toasted, flaky, and quite good. The chicken breast had been blackened, was very moist, and had a very small amount of an unknown white sauce on top. It was, as chicken sandwiches go, very good. The potatoes were hand cut and apparently fried. I’d claim that they were very good, if not a tad greasy, and came with homemade ketchup. The ketchup was flavorful and had a great texture

Ray: I had the meatloaf sandwich with a side of cucumbers & onions, and a cup of the Texas chili.  The meatloaf came on a fresh kaiser roll with lettuce and tomatoes and a side of Proper’s very tasty homemade ketchup.

The meatloaf was quite good. It had no fillers I could detect.  The meatloaf had just the right balance of meat and veggies in it, and a perfect amount of crust.  The cukes and onions were likewise tasty, with just the right amount of bite from their vinegar dressing.  This was all accompanied by a very nice glass of tea served in a mason jar.

Tom: I chose the $7.95 plate–in my case Catfish, with my sides being H.F. potatoes (home fried) and fried okra. I had hush puppies for the bread. Sweet tea, just right, washed it down.

The service was a bit slow (25-30 minutes), but worth it. Everything was fairly well cooked. The home fries were large, chunky, with skins and cooked perfectly. The okra seemed a bit tough but tasted good. The hush puppies were a perfect accompaniment for the fish, which may have been a tad on the dry side but otherwise fine.

How was the chili?

Ray: The chili consisted of lots (and I mean lots!) of chunks of stew-beef type meat in a great spicy tomato sauce in which I detected at least onions & garlic.  No beans, but they are not necessary for this type of chili. 

Tom: Overall it was a good meal that came in just under ten bucks with the drink included. The variety of different offerings that change through the week make it an interesting place to eat. This changing, eclectic menu seems a continuation of the tradition at Reid’s Café, the previous restaurant at this location.

Ray: The food was served on nice, simple china in large portions.  The flatware was happily a cut above the tin-foil thin stuff most restaurants have in town. There are several outside tables under nice shade trees, along with a couple of tables on the porch. there are a few more tables, along with a cooler holding some delicious looking desserts.

The service was prompt, cheerful, and relaxed.

Max: As for my meal,this was, possibly, the best simple chicken sandwich I’d had in many years. For the price, this was a treat.

Ray: This is one of the best restaurants we have reviewed in Boone so far.

I will return again soon, perhaps during the supper hour to sample some the the enticing selections on the evening menu.  I would not hesitate to recommend this restaurant to anyone, without reservation

Tom: And that’s good because I don’t think they take reservations!

Menu:

Soups and salads

Sandwiches and Plates

Sunday Brunch

Health Inspections

Website

We ate here a couple of times. On our recent visit we were joined by Max, our new partner in crime..

783 West King Street (in “The Marketplace)

Boone, NC 28607

828-268-7525

Hours:

Tue -> Wed 11:00 am -> 10:00 pm

Thu -> Sat 11:00 am ->1am

Sun Noon -> 9:00 pm

Ray: I had the Italian Panini, which consisted of salami, pepperoni, ham, Italian beef, cherry peppers, and onion topped with house vinaigrette, all on a nice panini bun, accompanied with fries.  The sandwich was very tasty, with just the right balance of spices and veggies.  The fries were likewise very good, not soggy or greasy at all.  I washed this all down with a good glass of iced tea. 

Tom: I had the Meatball Sub, as a continuance of me search for something more than spheres of Mom’s hamburger on a roll. For the side I had the pasta (angel hair) with marinara sauce.

Max: And, is your search over? 

Tom: Careful, Grasshopper–you have much to learn!

But, no, my search is not at an end. While the meatballs were flecked with some spice (pepper?), it was lackluster. Will no one add some Italian sausage to give it some zip. At least the marinara had some character, eve if it was a tad on the watery side. The rolls drizzled with olive oil served while awaiting our meal were also good.

Max: I had to go with the lunch “special” for a whopping 4 dollars (plus tax). It was a baked chicken sandwich with a “corn salad” topping and cheese on a half sub roll and came with a side of fries. The sandwich was rather good. Spicy, but not too hot, the chicken was a great match for the corn salad topping. The cheese seemed to be generic yellow cheddar (personally, I’d have chosen another variety) but the quality was fine. The half sub roll was decently flaky/crisp, yet definitely fresh. I was impressed with the sandwich. The fries were generic shoestring and not very numerous. That is fine because the ketchup dipping sauce was generic as well.

Ray: The food at Paolucci’s is served on nice plates with flatware that is a cut above the normal thin stuff in town looked around and there it was! The atmosphere here is basic, with simple tables, booths, and chairs.The service here was attentive and thoughtful, but the kitchen was very slow in producing our order.  32 minutes for three sandwiches, when the restaurant was mostly empty seemed excessive to me.

Tom: Yeah, but there was nobody around to seat us when we walked in, and then 3 biding their time when we left. I rcall that on our first visit they were out of tempting beers. This time I had tea, served in Coke logo glasses. Not that I would do it but I’ll bet you can’t order a Pepsi here. Is it really worth free glasses to constrain yourself to one product line? It seems so cheap…

Ray: The atmosphere at Paolucci’s is relaxed.  The walls are painted in dark reds and tans, with some green accents on the ductwork.  I assume this is intended as a nod to the Italian flag colors.  On the walls and side tables were various pieces of art and knickknacks.  When we were there, there were a number of oil on steel paintings.  Some sort of nondescript music was playing in the background, but it was turned so low it was hard to determine what it was.  This was good, as it didn’t interfere with conversation.  There is a bar in the back section with five widescreens, along with a juke box.  The only down side to the atmosphere the day we dined at Paolucci’s was that the A/C was turned down quite low, so it was somewhat chilly inside.

Max: It looked like a lot of the furnishings were from IKEA.

Tom: And, I agree it was cold. I ate the rolls partly for the heat content. So, you think you will return?

Max: Well worth the money and I’d gladly go there again… for the $4 lunch “special.”

Ray: I would recommend Paolucci’s to family and friends as a nice, quiet place to go for a good meal in a relaxing environment.

Menu (Prices subject to change.)

Lunch - p.1

Lunch - p.2

Dinner - p.1

Dinner - p.2a

Web site (you have to guess to click on brown sidebars to go to a Facebook page.  Lame.)

Health Inspection Reports

We ate supper at Frankie’s as our first taste of their fare. Is this the McDonald’s of pizza?

246 Wilson Drive
Boone, NC 28607
828-264-2074

Hours: later, tater–not on the menu and we forgot to note…

Tom:We split an 18-inch pizza–a bit much for two people but I wanted some leftovers for lunch the next day.

Ray: Well, you are such a porker I’s surprised we ended up with those two slices!

Tom: Yeah, yeah. Anyway, we had it half-and-half with my side having onions, Canadian bacon and green peppers. The last item would have been green olives but they don’t offer them. I don’t know why few restaurants offer them–their tart taste complements a lot of other ingredients.

Ray: For my side I chose tomatoes, onions and ham. Not sure the ham was different than the Canadian bacon. Of course, you “accidentally” started by taking a slice of mine.

Tom: Great strategy–notice I took your biggest slice?

Ray: Yes! And the pizza was poorly sliced–huge ones and small ones.

I had a Bud Light Lime to wash mine down.

Tom: I was going to have a Coke, but … “No Coke! Pepsi!” I hate to rant again but you are either a Coke person or a Pepsi person or have no taste. I did not notice if they had sold out for free or cheap Pepsi logo glasses or paper cups but if not there is certainly no reason to only carry Pepsi. In fact, even that is a cheapo reason and a poor choice on their part.

I had a Bud Light Lime as well–the only light beer (and the only Bud) worth drinking.

Ray: The food was served in sort of a BBQ place fashion: on paper plates with a roll of paper towels on the table. You place your order and they call out your number when it is ready.

Tom: And, in our case, that took a while. Neither of us clocked it but it seemed a long time, especially for a thin crust pizza. How long can that take to bake, anyway?

In fact, I thought the clerk at the counter was distracted and inattentive. She took a while to get to the counter and then was busy on her cell phone during the ordering process.

Ray: The walls here are painted a light brown/tan.  There are a few black and white prints of NYC  scenes on the walls, along with a couple of wide screen TVs.  The music playing when we dined seemed to be a local light rock radio station. 

The pizza was handed to us on a large aluminum platter that pretty much takes the other two seats’ table space at a somewhat small 4-seat table. The group of 4 next to us had to use an adjacent, 2-seat table next to the windows for a satellite table to hold their platters. I guess those 2-seaters would be for one person if they were getting a pizza.

Speaking of the chairs, they are heavy, solid wooden chairs. The decor is New York, with NYC pix on the walls.

Tom: And, those walls are part of all hard surface finishes that make it a noisy environment. The acoustic tiles are the only somewhat soft finish and are unstained only because they are new. Based on my observations of other places, just give them some time…

There was music??  It would be difficult to hear the background music if there were any.

Ray: As far as the food, it was sort of average. The ingredients were poorly distributed over the unevenly cut slices, resulting in some pieces missing ingredients or being essentially all one ingredient. The cooks must be about as attentive as the counter clerk.

Tom: And, I thought the thin slices were sort of floppy, almost soggy-limp. I just had a great pizza at Mellow Mushroom last week and there is no comparison. And, MM is a chain–hence we never reviewed it (and it is moving this summer due to some kind of dispute with the landlord, similar to Sollecito’s departure that led to their demise within a year after their move, several years ago).

And, it is not clear what kind of chain Frankie’s is–their menu lists three restaurants, with locations in Granite Falls and Viewmont (Hickory). Yet their web site links to locations in Washington state!?! A Google search of the Hickory one shows some patron comments claiming that it is the best pizza in Hickory! I feel sorry for them.

Ray: The toppings were good, but the sauce was average, and the cheese was terrible.  It was so impervious to melting that it actually squeaked when chewed.  The crust wasn’t anything to write home about either.  It was there, but unnoticeable. I’m not sure we will revisit it–not worth going out of the way for it, especially for pizza.  Even the chain pizza places like Pizza Hut and Papa John’s serve better pizza.

Tom: I might try a sandwich here to see if that is worth it, but I will be in no rush.

Menu (prices subject to change)

- p. 1 Cover

- p. 2 Appetizers, salads and specials

- p. 3 Pizza

- p. 4 Sandwiches

 Health Inspection Reports

Web site (this is what Google shows but does not seem correct?)

Aye, matey!  Port Christopher’s closed in 2010!  We ate here on a couple of occasions. It’s a good, solid restaurant with a variety of dishes for lunch and supper. There is also a separate area that can accommodate a fairly large group or meeting. We give it three plates–you should give it a try!

1934 Blowing Rock Rd.
Boone, NC 28607

828-268-9977

Hours:
Tue -> Thu 11:00 am -> 9:00 pm
Fri -> Sat 11:00 am ->10:00 pm
Sun 11:00 am -> 8:00 pm
Closed Monday

Ray: I had the fried flounder plate with baked potato, side salad ($2 extra),  and tea.  The fish was fresh, plentiful, tasty and correctly fried,  not greasy at all.  The baked potato was huge and quite good.  The side salad was also fresh and good, however the tomatoes were only ok.  The meal came with a basket of hushpuppies which were hot and very tasty,  and like the fish, not greasy at all.  The tea was good, but unlike most places, Port Christopher’s only allows one free refill. 

Tom: At least they serve it in solid, substantial, real glasses and they don’t have a stupid Coke logo or something else on them!

Ray: Pet peeve or something?

Tom: You think? Anyway, I had the new Orleans Pasta dish with sausage and shrimp on ziti. It was very good, with a dozen or so dime-sized shrimp. I used to think that was cheap but it seems to be a standard, given the paucity of shrimp in the curry dishes at Cha Da Tha! They could have given a bit more sausage, though–it looks like the sliced and diced about an inch of a sausage link. Mostly past, but, still, it was good.

On another occasion I had lunch, with a Phillie Cheese Steak sandwich with fries and a pickle spear. The sandwich was great–served open face, smothered with melted cheese over the steak and grilled onions. The fries were outstanding, not greasy, perfectly cooked with the skins on. The pickle was, well, a pickle. A bit small. A big ol’ Clausen spear would have made a perfect replacement.

Ray: The food at Port Christopher’s is served nice plates, but predictably the flatware was cheap stainless junk.  I was also surprised to see that our lemon slices were brought to us not in a small bowl, but on top of a carry out drink cup lid..

Tom: Yeah–tacky. And, the napkin that comes with the cheesy stainless is large but sub-micron size in thickness, and no additional napkins were in sight.

Ray: That would not be a problem if you were not such a slob!

Tom: Yeah, yeah…

Ray: Port Christopher’s has a nice nautical decor, including a huge lobster  in the dining room and a pirate statue out front to greet you.  The lanterns at each table, and the dark wood add an even more nautical feel to the place.

The service was fast and accurate.

Tom: I like the nautical knick-knacks as well. Restroom was spotless and well appointed. There is a nice outside eating area, too, for nice weather “sea-faring.”

Ray: Port Christopher’s is a good place with reasonable prices.  The environment is comfortable, and the service good. I would recommend Port Christopher’s to anyone looking for good seafood at reasonable prices in a nautical atmosphere.

Tom: Yes, and check out some of the other dishes–it’s not all fishes. A good family or group place as well.

Health Inspection Report

Menu (prices may change)
Lunch - p. 1
Lunch - p. 2
Lunch - p. 3
Lunch - p. 4

Dinner - p. 0 (Specials)
Dinner - p. 1
Dinner - p. 2
Dinner - p. 3
Dinner - p. 4
Dinner - p. 5

We had lunch here soon after it opened. The place looks great but we think there are a number of issues for them to work out. Until then we will hold our rating hostage at two out of four plates.

1087 West King Street–the northwest most edge of old Boone!
Boone, NC 28607
828-355-9591

Hours:
Mon -> Sat 7:00 am ->Midnight
Sun 7:00 am -> “Early evening”

Ray: I had the buffalo chicken sandwich (unbreaded chicken breast, cucumber,  spinach, ranch, buffalo sauce), to which I added tomato and lettuce.  This sandwich comes with a choice of fresh fruit or chips and a “lil  cookie”.  I requested the chips in addition to the fruit, since  they were out of soup of the day.  This sandwich was ok… barely.  It was tiny for the price. 

Tom: I had the Roast Beef sandwich, prepared with grilled red peppers and onions, mozzarella, cayenne, and mayo on a baguette. It was microscopic, especially for eight bucks. In the photo that really is a quarter on the plate! My first bite produced a mouth full of gristle, typical of , say, the prepackaged sandwich roast beef at Lowe’s Food (get their deli–it’s worth it). You would think a place like this would have better beef, maybe Boar’s Head.

Ray: The chicken breast was not breaded, which I  expect for a buffalo chicken sandwich.  It did in fact have an  unappetizing slimy consistency.  Even worse, though, whatever hot sauce Galileo’s uses for buffalo sauce is singularly unmolested by spice.  In other words, if it didn’t say buffalo chicken on the menu,  you’d never guess that is what you’d ordered.  In contrast, the fruit was great: fresh and tasty. 

Tom: I found my sandwich actually was tasty after I got past that first bite. It was nicely spicy, fine for me but probably mild for you. The baguette was nicely pressed, just right. But, did I mention it was small?

i got the chips instead of the fruit–a mistake, I think. These were straight from the (bottom of the?) Lay’s bag. Your fruit was definitely the better buy.

Ray: The cookie was likewise quite tasty, with a  big dollop of chocolate in the center.  This brings us to the tea.  I  ordered half sweet/half unsweetened tea.  What I got was not what I  expected.  On further inquiry, it was determined that the tea was a  peach tea, although this was not stated on the menu.  The tea was very weak to boot.  Overall, a pretty nasty brew.

Tom: I thought the tea was weaker than homeopathic “medicine,” which is really just expensive distilled water with perhaps a molecule or two of active ingredient. My tea may have had a few tea “molecules.” They did come in nice, solid goblets, a break from the plastic Pepsi cups that other places sell their soul to get free. The silver-dollar size lil cookie was indeed good, and available separately at 6/$1.80.

Ray: Our food was served on nice Japanese-style plates and with a “medium weight” flatware that is a bit better than the standard stuff found in town.

Our service was courteous, but a bit slow for a couple of sandwich  orders.  Also, my chips were forgotten until I reminded the server thatI had ordered them in addition to the fruit.

Tom: I enjoyed using the free Wi-Fi. In fact I did my first tweeting while eating! (If you want to follow my tweets see our home page for info. I have an iPod Touch which allows tweeting discretely…).

Ray: The atmosphere here is nice.  There was some light rock playing in the background during our visit.  The tables and chairs are basic but nice, but the booth seats look a bit uncomfortable (simple straight back  plywood benches).  There are some very nice stained glass panels in the
front windows, covering the themes of the mountains, ASU, and their namesake, Galileo.  Near the bar (a few stools only) is a neat large chalkboard with the offerings of the day on it.  It is paradoxical to
me, however, that the servers in these nice surroundings wear “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” T-Shirts.

Tom: Yes, it is very nice. There is one large flat screen TV in the main eating area and one over the bar. There is some mid-level price (~$300) original art for sale on the walls. I was surprised that the person working the register had no clue as to why it was named Galileo’s, other than the Galileo glass having come from Texas with the owner.

Ray: To be frank, I was pretty disappointed in Galileo (the restaurant, not the scientist).  One of the owners is from Texas, so you would think they wouldn’t make the mistake of foisting peach tea on unsuspecting  customers.  You’d also think someone from Texas would know how to find a hot sauce that is actually hot.  And isn’t one Texas claim to fame that “everything is bigger in Texas”? Well, I don’t think these sandwiches were Texas sized, but the prices surely were.  My sandwich was at least
a bit larger than Tom’s, but paradoxically, his was $8 while mine was “only” $5.75.  In addition, while we were checking out, I pointed out to the person checking us out that there were flies crawling over the desserts that were displayed on the counter next to the register.  Her attitude toward this was nonchalant, to put it lightly.  This lead me to look for a health inspection certificate, which by law must be prominently displayed in view of the customers.  Such a certificate was nowhere to be found.  To their credit, the manager on duty noticed my lack of satisfaction and asked me for “constructive criticism”.  I hope my comments to her are acted upon, but frankly, Galileo’s needs a serious overhaul in its menu and pricing before I’d reconsider my rating.  Their rating is only as high as it is based on the nice interiors.  As a friend pointed out, Galileo’s looks like a British pub both inside and out.  However, I don’t think they even serve alcohol.  If they were to remake their food offerings to be more pub-like and pub-priced, and start serving a good selection of microbrew and imported beers, it would be a great place.

Tom: You kids get outta my back yard! Sheesh, you are a bit harsh! I agree with those points but will balance it with the great potential that this has–it could be a 3.5-plate rated place if they take care of these points and find their way a bit.  I note there is not an online posting of their Health Inspection Report, yet.

Ray: I wouldn’t recommend Galileo to anyone at this time.

Tom: I would give them the benefit of the doubt and hope they address our concerns. This can be a great hangout for students and town folk alike and (at least) I will check them out again and see if there are some changes. Right now, expect relatively high prices. I think better sandwich deals are found at Pepper’s.

Menu

 We  ate a lunch here not long after they opened. Rated at 3 plates, it is a nice place if maybe a bit pricey. Like the restaurant before it, the wrong location for a nice place?

Boone Mall
Boone, NC 28607

828-355-9800

Hours:
Tue -> Sat 11:00 am -> 9:00 pm
Sun Noon -> 5
Mon: closed (restaurants really still do this??!)

Ray: I started out with a salad (lettuce, tomato, black olives, balsamic vinaigrette).  This salad was delicious, with very fresh ingredients.  We then shared an appetizer of garlic knots.  These were ok, but not really garlicky enough! 

Tom: I agree about the knots–they were drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with Parmesan but “knot” a sign of garlic in sight, or smell/taste. The salsa with it was mild to benign. I had a small (”side”) Caesar salad, which was very good, generously large and had an excellent dressing.

Ray: I did spot one chunk of garlic in my portion. Our pizza (my half was tomato, pepperoni, onion, &
banana peppers), was quite good.  The crust was thin, the veggies, fresh.  The size of our pizza was sufficient enough that I took a couple of slices away for lunch the next day.  It was still quite good a day later! 

Tom: I had my half tomatoes, ham, green olives and onions. It was indeed very good but I think pricey among area pizzas. Methinks the mall has a high lease cost!. I, too, took home a couple of slices. Maybey they could make lunch pizzas a bit smaller and less expensive?

I also had a glass of white zin and had to ask if the glass was really supposed to be only half full. She replied it was a standard 6-ounce serving. This was $4.95.  And, I continue my rant about only carrying Pepsi products (Ok–yell in John Belushi’s voice, “No Coke — Pepsi!”), and using those dang, cheap Pepsi glasses.  Especially at a nice restaurant.  Just stop it!!

We also split a canoli for dessert–very nicely prepared and presented. While a tasty treat I think 3.95 for one is again, a bit steep.

Ray: The food here was served on nice plates, with great heavy flatware that one can actually use without having it bend in half with you.  Kudos. The service was cheerful and fast, right in line with the time it would take to bake a pizza from scratch

Tom: I thought the service while fast was a bit erratic. The salads came out right as we were finishing the garlic knots, although we asked to have them served at the same time. My silverware were not replaced for the pizza after being taken with the salad. I had to borrow some from an another table..

Ray: I still think you should have asked the people at that table for permission!

Tom: I took them from an unoccupied table! Of which, there were several at the time.

Ray: Basically, Primo’s decor has not changed since the change of ownership from Mangia Buona. There are nice, comfortable tables, chairs, and booths, with Italian-themed prints along the walls.  There were fresh flowers on the  tables, and curios above the divider between the main restaurant and the
bar in the back.  Light music was playing in the background.

Tom: Yeah–pop music. At least Joe’s Italian pipes in Italian, including the soothing crooning of the chairman of the board…

Ray: Primos is a nice, relaxing place to enjoy a meal with friends, family, or business acquaintances.  The food is good and ample, and the service is fast and friendly. I wouldn’t hesitate to take family or friends to Primos for a nice, filling Italian meal.  The pizza is not quite up to the Capone’s standard, but the nicer atmosphere more than makes up for this slight deficiency.

Tom: Yeah, it might be not as good as that wonderful deep-dish pizza at Flipside, either. Also, we walked out poorer by about $25 each, not a particularly inexpensive lunch. Nice, but perhaps a bit too nice for a Boone Mall restaurant.

Health Inspection Reports — still none available as of 7/16/09

Menu (prices may change)
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