The Cardinal

A really nice burger dive bar that doesn’t overdo it. Had the Carolina spread appetizer. Fried saltines/pimento combo was a winner. House made pickled veg were great too. We had one cardinal burger all the way, and one Carolina style. My only slight critique would be to not get the Caroline style on your first go around. It was delicious, but you couldn’t really taste the burger patty itself like you could on the other. Chips are PAPER thin for house made chips. Incredibly crisp and exploded into French fried fractals. Lol Also incredibly reasonable on price. Single burger & fries for $11 in 2025 is great. Lastly, I love the owners attitude on the bad reviews that are very transparently customer related issues.

Customer service was great with recommendations. The overall items from the menu were a little overwhelming as we wanted to try a variety of things. The overall end result was very good. We liked the atmosphere as well as how well our waiter assisted us. We will return if in the area as we know this was a nice dinner.

I would say that this is quite possibly the absolute best burger I’ve had in Boone. Really liked the atmosphere. Only downside was I had to get up and get my daughter a refill. Then was looked at like I was wrong for getting up myself. Server was lazy.

We stopped here for dinner on a cold Friday night in late November. There was about a 20 minute wait with not much room in the waiting area. But after being seated we were treated to five-star service. We got an order of house made chips and a side of ranch as an appetizer; chips were solid, ranch was even better. They had some top shelf bottled root beer that I enjoyed with a snowboarder friend that can really carve up a mountain. I wanted to try the Carolina Bison, but unfortunately that was 86’d along with a few other items that night. Instead I got the Cardinal Burger, Gringo style. It was delicious! Fries were good as well. The ambience was great with several unique pieces of decor. I would like to go back sometime to try the bison!

Want to say upfront I like my food with some soul... And their food tastes like nothing and not just them but other places too. The raw carrots they gave me have more flavor. Cracker Barrel food was more seasoned than this place which is already a really low bar.

The Thursday Burger special is a good time to get a delicious burger at a lower price. The sweet tater tots are excellent! The servers kept drinks filled and made sure we had everything we needed. I have to rate parking a 1 star. I got stuck in the parking lot for almost 10 minutes trying to get out with a car that had me blocked in.

On February 22, 2025, I travelled to the Boone area to go snow tubing. On the way back I was looking for a place to eat dinner, and I found a restaurant just outside of town by the name of the Cardinal. It looked to be a small, unassuming restaurant, but what happened next surprised me. Before I even entered, I first noticed the unique shape of the building. It was triangular and was giving log cabin, a perfect vibe for the mountains. The second thing I noticed was how busy it was. A busy restaurant is always a good sign. Upon entering, I was greeted by a man and a map of America with little wooden license plates for every state. When you see your home state, you flip it over. The atmosphere inside was nice, and it felt like a cabin in the mountains with its many TVs and wooden furniture. Once we were seated, our server Dallas quickly took our drink orders. The drinks were nothing special, just simple Pepsis and Dr. Peppers. She readily answered every question we had, including ones about the game burger special, which was lamb at the time. A few minutes later, we ordered our food, I ordered the jalapeño cheddar hush puppies and the single Cardinal burger.(Side note, the prices may look daunting when reading the menu off of Google, but the prices are based off of the largest burger size, singles are only $8.) When the food arrived, Dallas and another server named Byron brought my plate with angelic singing, which was a pleasant surprise. Shout outs to Byron. So far, everything had been outstanding, but I was still not prepared for just how good the food was. The jalapeño cheddar hush puppies were not that spicy, and only had a hint of the actual jalapeño cheddar flavor. I can see how this would be a disappointment for some, but as someone who doesn't like spicy food, it was amazing. The white sauce (can't remember the name exactly) that came with them perfectly complemented the hush puppies. The burger was delicious and was better than most other burgers in my hometown of Mooresville, NC. The burger patty itself was juicy and tasted great, the buns were soft and greasy, and the ingredients came together to make something honestly special. Once we were done eating, I asked for a small box and some extra white sauce for my singular hush puppy that remained, and as always, Dallas delivered (W Dallas). It really does say something about the quality of the food at the Cardinal that I almost entirely cleaned my plate, as I normally only eat about half my meal. That is, unless the food is as good as it was here. Overall, everything about my experience at this restaurant was perfect, and for this, I give it five stars.

Great burgers and the best hush puppies ever. They weee simple crispy outside and soft fluffy inside. And mild seasoning not interfering with mouth fee. Casual, friendly service. They were super busy but staff was cool as cucumbers

We had dinner for the first time at The Cardinal. What a great little cozy place. A wide variety of menu selections and options. Ruth was an excellent server and had great recommendations on what to order. If you are in Boone, try The Cardinal.

After a 12 hour car ride to Boone, all we wanted to do was eat a good meal and order a solid drink. Enter The Cardinal, which provided both of those things along with friendly service for us. We popped in on the later side - around 10 pm and our party of 3 sat at the bar. I ordered a dirty martini and my friends got old fashioneds. Our bartender was super friendly and even went through great lengths to open a bottle of bombay that was being quite difficult. The commitment to a great martini was not lost on me. We got a pile of fries with chili and cheese. I will not lie, these did not look appealing to the eye but they were pretty good once you dove in. I think because the chili is like smothered the texture looked different from what I would expect. We also split the cardinal burger and a kale caesar salad. The Cardinal is a solid bar with solid food especially since it is open later than a lot of places in the area. It was a Thursday evening and the place was packed. I also have a soft spot for Cardinals, and I loved that the decor was filled with them.

Wow! I wish we lived closer to the amazing restaurant. Our friends were here a week ago and said it was their favorite meal in Boone, so we had to try it. They were having a benefit concert that night, so it was very busy, but we got a table quickly. Our server, Thomas, was very efficient and nice. They have a good selection of beer, and we had a good local amber. We ordered the cardinal burger, sweet potato tots, and the pickled vegetable salad. The burger and tots were good but for me the star of the show was the salad. I will be dreaming of this salad. It was mixed greens, pickled onions, carrots, celery, raisins, goat cheese and nuts. It is topped with beet xhips. Thomas suggested the champagne vinegrette. Omg! It was probably the best salad I have ever had. I was so obsessed I went back the next day to have more. The manager, Joanna, was kind enough to get me the ingredient list for the salad and dressing. I will attempt to recreate this at home Definitely, go check oit the Cardinal when on Boone.

This cozy rustic restaurant is the perfect spot to have a delicious burger as well as amazing cocktails. Additionally, what will make us return is the courteous service. We came during a holiday week and the place was packed, yet barring a few glitches with our order our server was very accommodating. The Cardinal is definitely a restaurant our family will be returning when in town.

We stopped over here for our lunch after spending some time at tweetsie railroad. Staff was sweet and welcoming. We ordered hush puppies to start with - those were perfectly cooked and came out hot (it does appear those were burnt, but it tasted just right). My husband ordered the veggie burger from special menu, and he absolutely loved it. He rarely finishes his burgers and this was one of those that he ate fully because it was so yum! I ordered blackened chicken sandwich from the special menu and I was quite disappointed. Blackened seasoning wasn't tasting any different than just a grilled chicken - for a change I ended up leaving half my burger because it was just average. Fries were quite average too. They were out of tots and that was disappointing.

First time here. The place is a little on the small side. We sat down at a 4 seater and immediately the waitress asked us to move to a smaller table due to their business being busier. That was the first strike. Even though at the door it says please seat yourself. My husband ordered the chicken sandwich and I order the jalapeño hush puppies. Don't waste your monies on the hush puppies. Very bland no flavor. The chicken sandwich was fresh and portion was very pleasant. Not worth the aggravation with stopping. Will not be back.

This is our third time eating here and I decided to try the Wagyu burger that was recommended by my daughter. When it arrived and I ate the first bite I had to stop. This is the hands down best burger in Boone if not the best burger I have ever had. I definitely recommend trying if you're in the area. The waiter staff was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant is always laid back and comfortable.

This is a cool location with great food too! We were a party of 5 (4 adults and 1 child) seated outside. The seating was comfortable and the arrangement didnt seem cramped. A few people got burgers, one ordered a Cobb salad, while my daughter and I opted for the kids menu. I ordered a grilled peanut butter and honey sandwich while she got a corn dog. We didn't realize at the time the corn dogs are homemade, which meant I lost my sandwich for a bit. (The corn dog was delicious and was tasted by all the adults who liked it--she's 4 and picky). I ended up ordering another sandwich, which was great! The service was great! The server arrived at our table with water, which was nice on a hot summer day. Despite the heat being under the shade was very quite cool! If you are visiting Boone, definitely check it out!

We loved the cardinal! Great back porch for shaded dining and pups allowed! Cheddar jalapeño Hushpuppies- 6/10, not worth the hype not very cheddar or jalapeño flavor to us. Double burger and fries 7/10- pretty tasty ! Picked Veggie Salad 9/10- obsessed with this! Lots of fun flavors with the pickled veggies, goat cheese, oranges, and beet chips ! They do not skimp on the greens! I had to take some out to be able to eat out of the bowl. So colorful and pretty too!

Wow! Not only was the food delicious, but the service was way above and beyond. My two friends are getting married and they gave us a free dessert. So thoughtful

It was as all great!!! Service, space, vibe, food!! Everyone loves the Wagyu burger. Proportions were great.

Excellent food & service. Patty Melt delicious. Also, the Kids grilled cheese was not skimpy at all. It was a hit !

Finale dinner of my weekend trip to Boone! For appetizer, got the Hot Damn Ham Dip (Watauga County Country Ham, Cream Cheese, Onion, Garlic, Toasted Pecans, and Fried Saltines). We really enjoyed this; the dip did not feel heavy at all and even the fried saltines were not greasy. Then, I had the Wagyu Patty Melt (4440 Wagyu Beef, Grilled Onions and Mushrooms, Remoulade, and American Cheese) with Fries. It was good, but felt a little too heavy for me (especially after the dip so maybe stay away from getting these together). Also loved the pickle under fries surprise haha! Friendly & relatively fast service; casual ambiance. 8/10 would recommend!

Solid place for well-cooked burgers and a good selection of beer. The Cardinal is popular with locals and tourists alike.

Food was very good! Great atmosphere and vibe. Service was decently good for them to be so busy.

Food was amazing. I got the beet burger and it was so good!! The sweet potato tots were perfect. Service was great and the inside was cute. I hope to come again when visiting the Boone area.

I very rarely leave reviews, but we had such a fantastic experience at the Cardinal, so I have to share. We (two adults, two college kids, two teens, and a 4 year old) needed somewhere to eat on a Friday night. most places were closed and those that were open weren't family friendly. The Cardinal was great and they were super accommodating and our server was amazing. The food was delicious. I had a pork chop sandwich. it even reheated well the next day. I definitely recommend this restaurant!

Food was good. But, 4 or 5 tables that came in after us got served before us! We, just 2 of us, got Hamburger &. fries and Grilled Chicken sandwich & fries and waited 45 minutes to get served!

Fantastic gluten free BREADED Chicken sandwich. The fries are skinny and delicious. I can't get enough of the sweet potato tots. A real treat. Friendly service in a very comfortable setting. The staff went above and beyond. We were in town for 3 days and have been here 2 days in a row. (We'll see about tomorrow!) The food was consistent both days. It's rare to find gluten free food in a location that also has great selections for everyone else.

Our food was great and service was as well. I searched for a dog friendly restaurant and glad I stumbled upon this restaurant so we can sit on the patio with our dogs. Would definitely be back.

I've lived in boone for 5 years and the Cardinal continues to be a staple of my college experience. It is great to go and grab a drink, some good burgers (their kids chicken nuggets are a well kept secret), or just drink and catch up with a buddy. Definitely come here if you have not already. The service is pretty good, and the vibe of the building is totally boone.

Wonderful service. Very good burgers. A quality selection of burgers and drinks. Try the Carolina Burger for a satisfying lunch! I will be back here again soon.

bad food, over cooked. Ordered hush puppies, and a corn dog (uneatable) Pete the bartender was very nice.

Very interesting experience ;) First easy to get in when everything in Blowing Rock was packed. That was a big plus. Cool vibe, awesome bourbon selection, and good service. The food was decent; but be forewarned, the chili and therefore everything that comes with chili tastes like spaghetti sauce. That was a deal breaker for us and the food score. But I'd go back to this chill little place and simply skip the chili.

Looks this place is amazing! Off the hook drinks and the food is the best in Boone! You got to go! You will be blown away. Place is progressive and tolerant which strikes a deep chord in my soul. Skip the rest and eat at the best

I enjoyed the atmosphere and decor of this place. They had a solid selection of drinks. The food was very good. Our table enjoyed the hot ham dip. I really liked the 50/50 burger and would certainly recommend it. Overall, The Cardinal is a good spot!

Best burger and fries combo! We sat at the bar and service was great. I loved the Cardinal cheeseburger! My bf got the Bison burger and it was cooked perfectly.

Our server Alexis was so fabulous. Super helpful, when our order was lost she offered to comp our meal and give us free chips! The food was delicious and 10/10 would recommend!

Service is fast and friendly and the burgers are amazing. If you are ever around Boon, come over and try The Cardinal Burger All the Way trust me is good

Super delicious salad. Sweet potato tots are delicious Service was fast and ambiance gave small town cozy vibes. Really cool unique spot with vegan options

Food is always great and they have and excellent selection of bourbon to go with my carnivorous cravings!

Well, I finally made it. I've been hearing about cardinal for a long time. Then somebody said Thursdays were half-price burgers, and that put me in the door. Parking was nuts - more cars than spaces. Casual and clean inside. I didn't step out the back, but it appears they have outside seating. I decided on the veggie burger which was normally $16, so for half that I figured I'd give it a try. I must say it's one of the best veggie burgers I've eaten! Fries were good and crispy. Service was pleasant, and considering the number of people in the restaurant, timely. The biggest and only surprise was that the veggie burger was not half-price! Only the Cardinal burgers are which are in a tiny rectangular box on the menu qualify. This was not made clear and my supposedly budget priced meal (with a beer) ended up being over $21. All in all a good experience, and I will give it another shot on another Thursday. But next time I guess I'll have to be a non-vegetarian just so I won't have to wash dishes to cover the meal.

i had a BEET Burger, added swiss cheese to it and got sweet potato tots - eVerYthinG was totally ScruMptiouS ..! i Will 100% go there again n have the same thing forever..! highly recommend..!!!

All the praise you read about this place is warranted. Great burgers, outstanding staff, overall excellent experience.

My son Max is 2/2 on food places! Pickle brined wings dipping sauce on the side. Yummm The green relish looking side is ramp pesto. (Ramps are like scapes of onions) OMG so good. We got sides of homemade pickles, yes please!! My burger was bison, tom had the game burger which today was cuban boar and max had just a beef burger. Creative cocktails and local beer on draft. Place is awesome! Byron, our server was so happy to keep bringing me sauces to try! And Alexis makes a great cocktail! Run dont walk to The Cardinal

I was intrigued by their menu. So many good burgers and variations. I tried their 50/50 which is a Elk and chorizo blend - wow. It's Amaroo Hills Emu, Ramblin Poppy Chorizo, Queso, Grilled Jalapeño & Onion, Greens, Tomato, Cilantro Sour Cream. I even asked for an extra side of their cilantro sour cream to dip my sweet potato fries in! I was beyond impressed with the flavor, not dry, the queso was also a nice touch. I also suggest their Do you have your exit buddy cocktail. Blanco Tequila, Poblano Infused Banana Liqueur, Lulo, Spirulina, Lemon, Aquafaba (vegan egg white mixture). Impressive spot!!! Delicious and now I'm thirsty again!

What an amazing place! Leave your judgement and Southern Baptist in the parking lot but these are some good dang people and some good food! We were trying to go to The Local but they had an hour and 15 minute wait. We found the cardinal after getting turned around from the beacon butcher and what a blessing. We walked in and were very welcomed. Short wait time. Sat and met at the table with a glass of water. The waitress made a great drink suggestion and the food was delicious! I'd definitely come back again! Thank you for the experience!!!

Cute lil bar tucked away off the main road, hush puppies were bangers. Beet burger was big enough to share. Service was fast and our food also came out fast. The cocktail menu is really dope, I got what seemed like a spin off on a pina colada with some herbal notes from the cachaca. The place is a decent size and is a spot everyone in town recommends

The place was cozy with a good ambience. Our server was outstanding with a lot of knowledge regarding the menu. The food was outstanding, from the appetizer to the main meal, burgers and fries. Whenever you are in the area of Boone, North Carolina, this a place you must visit.

Atmosphere is nice. Service was good but the food was great! I got the fried chicken sandwich and it was so juicy! The only issue lol was having to use your napkin everytime. It's the best chicken sandwich I've had in a long time. The chips at first I was worried about because they looked burnt, but they were cooked to perfection, salted perfectly and a nice crunch to it!

Outstanding!!!!! Best place for a burger in Boone. I had the Gringo and the bison was amazing. Great drink menu too.

I've lived in Boone for 2 years and this is my favorite place to eat. They recently remodeled inside and the interiors and outdoor bar area looks great. The burgers are the best in town in my opinion and the fries are solid as well. This most recent time I for the wagyu patty melt, and honestly I think some of the other burgers are better, but it was still very good. Make sure to ask for the chipotle ranch too

Food was great- my wife and I both ate burgers and we cannot complain. In fact, my wife says it was the best burger she has ever eaten. Cocktails were very tasty too. Even better than the food was the service. Everyone was very friendly and service was quick. I highly recommend.

Good service good food! Would go back. Love Boone!!! Good drinks! Loved the snack board!

From a Covid perspective they are taking things very seriously. You aren't even allowed inside. There are porta potties outside, if you need one. We didn't drink, but the food was top notch. We started with the hot ham dip. I'm not normally one to rave about your standard cream cheese dip, but this is SO GOOD. We also had the loaded fries. They were great. The fries stood up to the cheese and bacon without becoming soggy. The only downside to the meal was the beet burger. I've had some phenomenal beet burgers, but this is not one of them. In fact, this was borderline bad. Nothing much held the patty together, so it was almost just like mashed beets. I could have lived with that because I do like beets. But then the "patty" had a char on it. Maybe that's meant to be like grill marks on a beef burger but it ended up just being burnt. So it was burnt mashed beets. Not good at all. I don't recommend this. But everything else was stellar and husband liked his burger. So just try a different sandwich. They had another vegetarian options when we were there. Also, there are lots of outdoor seating options.

We had the Farm burger, Chili-Cheese fries. Beet sandwich and 2 side salads. The Farm burger was tough, dry, and tasteless. The "Chili" on the fries was anything but. It was overpowered by way too much tomato and not even close to enough spices to be a Chili. The cheddar and plain fries were good. As was the Beet sandwich. But, the Beet patty should be doubled. The best parts of the meal were the side salads. Their Blue Cheese dressing is out of this world. Our waitress took our order and brought our food. Eventually, our Check ..and that was all we saw of her. No coming back at any point to check on us or even ask how everything is.

Hands down the best burger in Boone! Not just the burger, try any of the apps. They are all made locally, nothing prepackaged about the food here. The service is fantastic, very friendly and attentive. The design and space makes you feel like eating at a rustic joint you would hand out with your friends. This place has a great warmth you don't find at many places anymore!

Amazing burgers. Love that they have a turkey burger. The sweet potato tater tots are so yummy

Have food allergies and called ahead to make sure menu would work. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable. Had the beet burger on a gluten free bun and it was excellent! Fries are cooked in a separate fryer. Cool outdoor seating area. Will definitely be back.