The Gamekeeper

Name: The Gamekeeper
Address: 3005 Shull's Mill Road, Boone, NC, United States, 28607
Telephone: (828) 963-7400
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.9

4.9

2662 Reviews

$50 and over

American

Top Tags:

You haven't fully experienced the Blowing Rock, NC region until you've dined at The Gamekeeper. It's a true gourmet restaurant with an engaging blend of upscale elegance and mountain charm.

Famous for an evolving menu that blends the traditional with the exotic, The Gamekeeper features a selection of perfectly prepared game plus a range of continental and American entrees.

Acclaimed chef and owner Ken Gordon brings tremendous warmth and skill to the table treating you more as friends than guests. You'll experience a meal to remember that includes fine wines, decadent desserts, and a generous serving of personal attention. You'll leave happy and impressed with a desire to return soon!

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 17, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 24 times today

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Cuisines
American, Wild Game, Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Dinner
Thu–Sun 5:00 pm–8:30 pm
Phone number
(828) 963-7400
Website
http://www.gamekeeper-nc.com/
Payment options
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Ken Gordon
Private party facilities
We have a private dining room that very comfortably seats 25 guests.
Private party contact
Wendy Gordon: (828) 963-7400

Location
3005 Shull's Mill Road Boone, NC 28607
Neighborhood
Boone
Cross street
100 yards up Shulls Mill Rd from the entrance to Yonahlossee
Parking details
Valet
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Mixed Game Grill$29.00
Chef's choice of game meats* & sausages with tasty dipping sauces & fries
Soft-Shell Blue Crab Tempura$26.00
Jumbo tempura fried soft-shell blue crab, thai sweet chili sauce, wasabi mayo, pickled ramps, fresh cilantro
Salmon Belly$13.00
Seared salmon belly with creamed leeks, cauliflower puree, napa cabbage & bacon, lemon zest
Bleu Salad$11.00
Bibb lettuce, buttermilk bleu cheese, apple vinaigrette, red onion confit, spiced pecans & dried cranberries
Mixed Green Salad$11.00
Mixed lettuces, kalamata olives, parmesan, red wine vinaigrette, grilled onions, carrots & lavosh
Potato Soup
Cream of new potato soup with bacon & chive oil
- Bowl$11.00
- Cup$6.00
Trout Bellies$12.00
Crispy cornmeal crusted trout bellies served with key-lime buttermilk aioli

Entrees

Entrees served with seasonal vegetables

Fresh Catch$46.00
Seared scallops*, corn & white cauliflower puree, brown butter asparagus, napa cabbage, leeks, bacon & enoki mushrooms, red bell pepper coulis
Seared Salmon$43.00
Seared Salmon* filet with cured chorizo, spring peas, fried grit cake, trout roe caviar, avocado crema & romesco sauce
Shrimp & Ramp Pesto Pasta$37.00
Sautéed colossal shrimp, local ramp pesto tossed with fresh pappardelle, mushrooms, spinach & cream
Emu$49.00
Grilled emu fan filet* with spinach & mushroom risotto & sun-dried tomato thyme jus
Bison$49.00
Grilled bison hanging tenderloin* with garlic mashed potatoes & horseradish green onion sour cream
Elk Denver Leg$49.00
Grilled elk denver leg* with blue cheese mac n' cheese & mushroom jus
Beef Tenderloin$49.00
Grilled beef tenderloin* with garlic mashed potatoes & rosemary cabernet butter
Anteloaf$33.00
Classic game meatloaf, grilled and glazed with sun-dried tomato bbq & garlic mashed potatoes
Bison Shortrib$48.00
Merlot braised bison short-rib with sauce bordelaise
Duck Breast$47.00
Grilled peking duck breast* with honey mashed sweet potatoes & orange cognac demi-glace
Veggie Plate$28.00
A variety of seasonal vegetables, starches, accoutrements, & BBQ'd tempeh. Please specify vegan.

À la carte

Bleu Mac$8.00
Creamy bleu cheese mac n' cheese
Potato Croquettes$9.00
Loaded bacon & potato croquettes with cream cheese, sour cream, jalapenos & parmesan. Served with horseradish sour cream.
Risotto$8.00
Creamy garlic risotto with sautéed spinach and mushrooms

Desserts

Bread Pudding$11.00
Classic GK bourbon bread pudding with crumbled pecan topping, caramel sauce & whipped cream
Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart$13.00
Chocolate crust, creamy salted caramel, chocolate ganache. Topped with toasted hazel nuts, fleur de sel & chantilly cream
Caramel & Coffee Gelato$9.00
Caramel gelato, chocolate covered espresso beans, espresso powder, "kraken" rum mascarpone
Strawberry Sorbet$9.00
Strawberry sorbet spiked with Malibu rum, topped with fresh strawberries & mint
Vanilla Bean Ice Cream$9.00
Classic creamy vanilla bean ice cream with chocolate soil & mint garnish
Strawberry Shortcake$13.00
lavender brushed shortbread biscuits, macerated "boozeberries", whipped cream, strawberry puree

What 2,662 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9

4.9 based on recent ratings

4.9Food
4.9Service
4.9Ambience
4.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Asheville / Western North Carolina
Best Overall
Asheville / Western North Carolina
Best Food
Asheville / Western North Carolina
Best Service
Asheville / Western North Carolina
Best Ambiance
Asheville / Western North Carolina
Best Value
Asheville / Western North Carolina
Romantic
Asheville / Western North Carolina
Special Occasion
Asheville / Western North Carolina
American
Boone / Banner Elk
Most Booked

Sort by

Filters

SF
SarahF
Hawaii
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food - great service. Beware if you have a larger truck - it’s hard to enter parking lot. Valet did a wonderful job, however.
WP
WillP
San Diego
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 1 day ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
A wonderful experience all the way around!! Not to be missed should you find yourself in the Boone area. Reservations a must.
s
stephaniec
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 2 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
As always, a fantastic experience at the Gamekeeper! Beautiful space. Warm and cozy. Enjoyed great cocktails and a homemade papperadelle pasta dish with ramp pesto and rock shrimp.. incredible flavor profile. Wine list is strong. Always a treat!
GG
GooseG
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Love this place. Service and food are always excellent.
DM
DanM
Western NC
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food4service5ambience5
Good quality was excellent. However the scallop special was skimpy on the scallops. My expectation was a min of 4 instead of the 3 served
OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great view, great staff, great food!! Looking forward to our next visit!!
L
Love2eat
Richmond
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
This place is delicious! And the bread pudding is to die for 🥰
B
Buster
Washington DC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We visited The Gamekeeper for my Wife's birthday. In our party of six, four had never been there. After a champagne toast, appetizers were ordered and enjoyed. I highly recommend the Mixed Grill app. Dinner was ordered, each one trying something new and different. The food was excellently prepared and presented. The wait staff was perfectly timed and very attentive. I have to give a shout out the the valet staff as well. Our cars were waiting for us when we finished our visit. Another great dinning experience at The Gamekeeper!
JP
JeanneP
Orlando
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
FABULOUS MEAL AS ALWAYS! BEAUTIFUL VIEW AT SUNSET! VERY ATTENTIVE & FRIENDLY SERVERS!
B
Bill222
Charlotte
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on May 8, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great food and service. Totally pleased with our dining experience.
TS
TomSir
Tampa
13 reviews
vip
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on May 6, 2022
overall5food4service5ambience5
If you like wild game and unusual food, the Gamekeeper is a must-try. Although they offer traditional steaks, seafood, etc., elk, bison, emu and other exotic meats are the stars here. Although the restaurant is off the beaten path and a little hard to find, seeking it out is well worth it. In nice weather, try for an outdoor table with a beautiful mountain sunset view. And don't miss dessert. The bread pudding is truly spectacular, an old family recipe.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Miami
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Great variety of meats. Interesting dishes. Very good
AJ
AndrewJ
Wilmington
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very good food, wide variety, from emu to elk. The servers were very attentive and friendly. I got the elk which was great and my wife got scallops which were superb. With a bottle of wine and after dinner drink( Irish coffee and port) it ran to $200.00 with tip. Will not go every Friday but great for special occasions. Stopped at Peabody’s on the way home to order some of the port.
FC
FoodCritic
Hawaii
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on May 5, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything and everyone was wonderful. A beautiful evening with perfect weather.
GD
GeorgeD
New York Area
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food and service was impeccable. Wait and bar staff were very knowledgeable of the menu and wine selection! We went twice in a four day period!
DP
DanielP
Seattle
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent restaurant. By far the best in the area. The food was fresh and delicious and the Service was outstanding. This is our new date night restaurant.
JB
JoeB
Greensboro
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 1, 2022
overall4food4service5ambience4
Service was exceptional. Ambiance is eclectic but peaceful. One entree, the trout, was exceptional, one entree, the scallops, was less than expected. Dessert was good.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Miami
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Anniversary
AM
AmandaM
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Amazing food and staff! Would definitely recommend and will be returning
DM
DogMom
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 30, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience4
We enjoyed our anniversary dinner. They welcomed us with a happy anniversary sign. Food was great!
DC
DoctorC
Charlotte
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The Gamekeeper is one of our favorites, and last night’s experience was no exception. Dinner was delicious as always. The short ribs are a must-try - falling off the bone tender and so flavorful! Very nice wine selection with fun recent editions. Service was excellent! Note to self: come here more often!
OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 29, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Both service and food were exemplary. Cannot wait to return!
LM
LauraM
Richmond
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautiful setting and delicious food. The trout was some of the best fish I’ve had anywhere. Save room for dessert- the ice cream is wonderful!
MM
MarleneM
New York Area
8 reviews
vip
3.0
8 reviews
Dined on April 24, 2022
overall3food4service1ambience5
The entire experience was great except extremely poor table side service.
AS
AnnaS
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Most expensive meal I’ve ever had but well worth it! We went for our first wedding anniversary and we’re very satisfied that we did
C
Charlottehiker
Western NC
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We recently celebrated a family member’s birthday at The Gamekeeper. From start to finish, the experience was wonderful. Each staff member went out of their way to ensure we had great dining experience. The food did not disappoint.
a
annert
Raleigh
28 reviews
vip
5.0
28 reviews
Dined on April 23, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We just had another fabulous evening at the Gamekeeper!!! The food was incredibly delicious. The service was knowledgeable, super friendly, and attentive. All in all it was a superb dining experience. But none of this was a surprise to us as we have come to expect exactly that since we been dining at the Gamekeeper for over 20 years and have never been disappointed. That kind of consistency is rare. The menu changes to keep pace with current tastes, however their commitment to sourcing the best local products (amazing vegetables!) and providing the highest level of cuisine has never wavered. We highly recommend this amazing restaurant to anyone coming to this scenic corner of the state.
r
rinabine
Savannah
37 reviews
vip
5.0
37 reviews
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food was delicious as always. Our favorite place to go.
CF
ChristianF
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a wonderful experience EVERY time. Thank you!!!
JH
JasonH
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 22, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
First time at The Gamekeeper but won’t be the last. Great service, ambiance, and the food was fabulous. Excellent wine and bourbon selection as well.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Raleigh
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2022
overall4food5service5ambience3
Great food....Great service...... everything was perfect except the noise level. We booked a table in the bar area but we're seated in one of the dining rooms with 2 large tables that were full with boisterous patrons. We were hoping for a quite romantic dinner, but the two large crowds at the tables were very loud. The atmosphere was more like a kids buffet than a quite evening for a special occasion. Absolutely no other complaints than that. Everything else was superb. I would love to go back and get that bar table (since there are only 3). We actually cut our evening short because of the noise level. Again....service...food...food presentation were perfect. Wine and drinks were superb. My wife's 50th birthday today. She was a little disappointed. I would highly recommend this restaurant but not if you are looking for a quite evening. Our first time there.
RD
RebeccaD
New York Area
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on April 21, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic service and wonderful food. I especially loved the Elk and bread pudding! The outdoor space is beautifully refreshed and the setting is lovely. Highly recommend for a special night or friends get-together.
ML
MonikaL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our server Mattie was so ery well informed, gracious and provided wonderful service. I was with 2 other friends who had compliments for her too. The food was delicious, tasty and presentation was wonderful.
OT
OpenTable Diner
Western NC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 17, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
This was our 4th time dining with Gamekeeper and the service and food has been consistently….GREAT!!!! This time we were able to enjoy the view of deer eating as well.
S
Spinner
Washington DC
28 reviews
vip
4.0
28 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2022
overall4food3service3ambience5
This is one of our favorite restaurants in the Blowing Rock area but this was not the best dining experience. We felt rushed by the server. It felt as though she wanted us to finish our meal in a hurry. The bison hangar steak was recommended to be ordered medium rare which I did. The steak was served medium well and was tough. My favorite dessert, the bread pudding was dry. Overall, after waiting months to get a reservation, this visit was a disappointment. We will, of course, be back because I feel this visit was the exception to their normal wonderful dining experience.
JB
JohnB
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Staff was very attentive and went out or way to accommodate food allergy. We had a wonderful dining experience.
ER
ERIKAL
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
We ate here for our 5th anniversary. The food and atmosphere were outstanding! We will definitely be back and would 100% recommend!
AS
AppStateAlum
Richmond
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on April 16, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Dillon our waiter was awesome!! The bar staff was very friendly and attentive to our needs. I highly recommend The Gamekeeper.
TT
TraceyT
Tampa
7 reviews
vip
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
An exceptional dining experience!
RW
RichieW
Greensboro
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on April 15, 2022
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautiful scenery, great experience and food and service were great.

Safety precautions

Cleaning & sanitizing
- Surfaces sanitized between seatings
- Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
- Common areas deep-cleaned daily
- Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
Physical distancing
- Limited number of seated diners
- Distancing maintained in common areas
- Extra space between tables

Protective equipment
- Waitstaff wear masks
- Diners must wear masks unless eating or drinking
Screening
- Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
- Diner temperature check required
- Staff temperature check required

FAQs

The Gamekeeper is rated 4.9 stars by 2662 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 17, 2022

May 2022

Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

7:00 PM

Booked 24 times today

3005 Shull's Mill Road Boone, NC 28607

Additional information

Cross street
100 yards up Shulls Mill Rd from the entrance to Yonahlossee
Neighborhood
Boone
Hours of operation
Dinner
Thu–Sun 5:00 pm–8:30 pm
Cuisines
American, Wild Game, Contemporary American
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Valet
Payment options
AMEX, MasterCard, Visa
Executive chef
Ken Gordon
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.gamekeeper-nc.com/
Phone number
(828) 963-7400
Private party facilities
We have a private dining room that very comfortably seats 25 guests.
Private party contact
Wendy Gordon: (828) 963-7400

The Gamekeeper

Make a reservation

Additional information

Bison

Emu

Bread Pudding

Starters

Mixed Game Grill$29.00

Soft-Shell Blue Crab Tempura$26.00

Salmon Belly$13.00

Bleu Salad$11.00

Mixed Green Salad$11.00

Potato Soup

Trout Bellies$12.00

Entrees

Fresh Catch$46.00

Seared Salmon$43.00

Shrimp & Ramp Pesto Pasta$37.00

Emu$49.00

Bison$49.00

Elk Denver Leg$49.00

Beef Tenderloin$49.00

Anteloaf$33.00

Bison Shortrib$48.00

Duck Breast$47.00

Veggie Plate$28.00

À la carte

Bleu Mac$8.00

Potato Croquettes$9.00

Risotto$8.00

Desserts

Bread Pudding$11.00

Salted Caramel Chocolate Tart$13.00

Caramel & Coffee Gelato$9.00

Strawberry Sorbet$9.00

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream$9.00

Strawberry Shortcake$13.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Sort by

Filters

Cleaning & sanitizing

Physical distancing

Protective equipment

Screening

FAQs

How is The Gamekeeper restaurant rated?

Is The Gamekeeper currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information