The Cardinal

The food here was good but the service we received was great. The Hot Damn Ham Dip (6/10) was interesting, and we enjoyed it, but at no point did I taste ham. I also had the Cowboy Burger (6/10), which was pretty solid. I would eat here again.

I am still here at the Cardinal, enjoying this delightful charcuterie board (see attached photo) YUMMY!!!! I also tried their hot damn ham dip before.... not healthy in the slightest, but soooo worth it. Kale Caesar salad with some fried chicken is AMAZING. Bloody Mary... beautifully crafted!!!! The prices are a little high, but omg the flavor is soooo worth it.... especially in a town that restaurants do not season their food much due to tourism. 10 out of 5 stars!!!!

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.

Finally, a fantastic burger that is seasoned and cooked perfectly! We are visiting Boone for a few days. We are always in search of the best burger every time we visit a new place. Look no further. This is it! We ordered their special burger that day! Double burger with turkey bacon, homemade queso, and seasoned mayo. It was delicious. The place was busy. Our server was very kind and efficient. Quick service. This review is for the person looking for fabulous burgers.

Wow, this restaurant is fantastic! It has such a cool vibe, is very eco-friendly, and I believe its meat is locally sourced. This was by far the best gluten-free burger, which was cooked perfectly and had great flavor. The bun was actually soft like wheat buns, so it didn't fall apart while eating the burger. They use a dedicated fryer for all the gluten-free items and fries. I didn't try it, but they also have gluten-free breaded chicken tenders.