The Gamekeeper

Love this place!!!

Excellent food and service, with a great location and ambiance. Recommend for date, couples, family, just about anybody.

The food was superb and the waitress was very attentive. Another staff member sang Happy Birthday to me! It was a great evening.

Been wanting to come here for years and finally made it work. Well worth the trip. We also really lucked out not realizing how close it was to where we were staying-The Inn at Crestwood. (.2 miles away).

Greeted by friendly valet attendants.

Greeted by friendly hostess.

Then welcomed by our server, Taylor. She was friendly, sincere and knowledgeable.

We started with a Riesling and a Booneshine Tropical. Enjoyed the local brew. For an appetizer we chose the Seafood Fritters. They were like small funnel cakes loaded with sweet seafood. A couple sauces were also plated with the fritters. Enjoyed the hot sauce the best.

For dinner my wife chose the Elk and I chose the Duck. We were told neither would be gamey and Taylor was spot on. The Elk was cooked perfectly at medium and no spices or A1 needed. Perfectly flavored and tender. My Duck was also coked perfectly. It still had some crunchy skin on breast. Tender and medium was perfect. Both meals came with seasonal root veggies. My Duck was also over a sweet potato.

We finished the meal splitting a cookies and cream cheesecake with Oreo crust with caramel. Again, perfection.

As we left, Gamekeeper still had most tables full so glad we made the reservation. We talked to one of the valets while we waited for our car. I asked if they were closed the night before due to ice. He said no and was glad he had his space heater. He, like the rest of staff, did a great job from start to finish. I know he was from Hickory and loves the Boone area.

Well done and we’ll be back much sooner. Thanks!

Ed and Donna Rainey.

We were here for our anniversary and everything was perfect. The staff was very warm and accommodating. Our server was a delight and several different staff members stopped by to check on us and thank us for our patronage. The pacing of the meal was just right and the food was delicious from beginning to end. Even the valet was gracious and energetic! Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a warm and tasty experience!

Great as always. Impeccable service, and an excellent recommendation for a bottle of wine.

Everything was absolutely wonderful! The food was nothing like we’ve ever had! The Elk is an absolute must along with the Rabbit Pot Pie! Don’t forget drinks & desserts! The only thing you will regret is not going!

We love the Gamekeeper. Its my wifes favorite place to eat. We always have a great experience. I definitely would refer it to anybody that asks.
Thanks Capa.

Wonderful out of the box dining opportunity- how often are you offered Emu and Elk?!?! Loved it!!

A perfect mountain casual evening! Entertained out-of-town friends who are still talking about the delicious meals, cozy fire-side atmosphere and exceptional service!!!! Gamekeeper is a gem!!!

The food was wonderful even for a vegetarian. The staff was friendly and attentive. The ambiance was perfect for a romantic dinner. This restaurant was a wonderful find for my husband and I when we were wanting a place to celebrate.

Food, service and atmosphere all amazing. The chef has real talent and knows how to blend flavors of the food to perfection.

We had the pleasure of introducing our friend Vincenzo, from Italy, to the Gamekeeper. He loved everything about it! We shared the mixed grill for an appetizer. It had wild boar sausage, rabbit sausage, emu, & elk with three dipping sauces. Excellent!!! Vincenzo had Emu as an entree & really enjoyed it. My beloved husband had the filet (beef) & said it was delicious as well as the perfect portion size. I had the trout & it was divine. The “grit” cake that accompanies it is SO yummy. Sarah visited our table several times. She’s a delight. And our server was fantastic. He has served our table before & we love him. I just can’t seem to pronounce his name. My apologies. Can’t wait to return at Christmas time!!

This restaurant is in such a beautiful spot. The service was outstanding and so was the food. I am looking forward to visiting your restaurant again when I return to the mountains.

It was our 32 wedding anniversary

The food is amazing and the service is exceptional. A great place for a special occasion.

We go to Gsmekeeper for the atmosphere, service and varied menu. Service is very good. Food is interesting and beautifully presented. Views are excellent. Special occasion and holidays are reliably enjoyable there. It’s one of my top three.

Entrance is odd, walk up to a deck of some kind. Decor is a bit plain and dated in some parts of the restaurant. We had a reservation but had to wait in the bar which wasn’t so great (weird, old dusty decor), etc. The decor inside the restaurant was better. Simple, but nice. Our table wobbled. I was starting to think we made a mistake but then, THE FOOD. The meat in each entree was perfect. Osso Bucco venison was delicious! Meat is definitely front and center on the plate. Most of the sides were similar in all the dishes and fairly basic - steamed veggies, etc. But everything was perfectly executed. It’s had to be impressed by a steamed carrot, but I was!

Love the GK. Great people, great service, great atmosphere, and unbelievable food!

OUR EXPERIENCE WAS WONDERFUL. WE WERE GREETED BY CAPPA WHO HAS A BEAUTIFUL SMILE AND PERSONALITY. OUR WAITRESS LAURA WAS WONDERFUL AND ATTENTATIVE. THANK YOU FOR A WONDERFUL EVENING OUT.

Love the Gamekeeper!! A must visit when you go to Blowing Rock!! Delicious and beautifully executed.

We saw the Gamekeeper in a Blue Ridge Parkway travel guide and decided to give it a try. We are so glad we did! Everything about this restaurant is spot on-the beautiful setting (both inside and out), the friendly service, and the amazing food. My husband ordered the emu on the recommendation of the server and loved it. I ordered the vegetable plate-delicious and beautiful! Don’t leave without trying the mixed grill appetizer and the bread pudding for dessert!

We were hesitant to try the game meats, but so glad we did! Great food, great service, and a fantastic place to dine.

One of the best all-around dining experiences ever, bar none

Very disappointed. Service was very slow. We sat with used dishes for a long time between courses. Food was not hot and had clearly been sitting before being served. Final injury to insult was that they do not take Discover cards.

The Gamekeeper is a relaxed and popular resort mainly renowned for its unusual varieties of meats - boar, emu, venison, etc. On previous visits, we had found the food interesting but not exceptional. This time (perhaps there's a new chef?) we were most impressed. We shared the seafood fritters - not only very flavorful themselves, but also accompanied by three tasty sauces and bites of well-chosen and artistically arranged on the platter. Our main course was emu, which was quite tender, cooked rare as it should be, and served with spinach risotto and tasty vegetables. Along the way we ordered several excellent wines by the glass, grateful for the good selections available. The price of the meal was appropriate to its quality. Service was excellent. The setting is gently rustic and atmospheric for a mountain resort.

When we stay in Blowing Rock - Gamekeeper is a must!!

We had a delightful time for my Birthday. Excellent & attentive service. Delicious Food options galore to choose from so there is something for everyone. The Roasted Veg plate makes a great 1st Course! Vegetarians or Vegans need to let them know preferably in advance. We did notice that the risotto was not up to previous standards & heavy handed with cheese. All else very good & cook temp on Filet exactly as requested. Save room for dessert!

We enjoyed the atmosphere after they calmed the music down a bit & appreciated when they dimmed the lights - wonderful atmosphere for date, special occasions & small groups of friends. In summer deck dining is wonderful.

Excellent and diverse menu choices (Emu, Elk, Rabbit, etc.). Place has apparently been here for a few decades, I counted six AAA 4-star plaques on the wall @ entrance and after an excellent dinner, I understand why. Portions were just right, staff friendly but not overbearing. Great overall.

First time visiting Boone, NC. Read about The Gamekeeper in online article about Boone. It did not disappoint! One of the best meals I have had. I had the Emu and my date had the Elk - fantastic!!! The Escargot was AMAZING! Do not miss out on the bread pudding, it is so much more than the name implies. I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple vegetarian options on the menu as well. I cannot wait to go back next year when we vacation in Boone again. It is worth the cash splurge.

Really amazing time. Exactly the type of menu we look for , when I’m the mountains.

Everything was wonderful!

Great food and service!

This was not our first visit, but this is the kind of place - if you like their cuisine - that is well worth repeat visits. This time was a special occasion, a 40th anniversary dinner for just us - and we wound up seated next to a couple returning to celebrate their first anniversary. We enjoy the various out-of-the-ordinary food offerings, and the mixed grill with the wonderful french fries was as good as ever. We then had bison offerings for our entrees, and a lovely cheesecake dessert. It takes a little wandering on winding roads to reach The Gamekeeper, but the experience is complete and delightful.

Really loved the variety of game. Great food and sides

Went for our anniversary and could not have been more pleased with our meal. Ken and Wendy knocked it out of the park once again.

Always excellent food, excellent service and a beautiful location.

Made us feel very special for a birthday... over-the-top atmosphere,care/service,food,& birthday wishes. Great for occasions or go-to for foodies that want special atmosphere!

Delightful! Delicious! Will definitely come again.

Always great with wonderful wine selections. The rocks beside the restaurant were bubbling with the heavy rainfall it was a spectacular site.