The Best Place to Eat in Boone, North Carolina

Earlier this year Gabriele and I rented a cabin in the high country of North Carolina, in the northwest corner of the state. It’s beautiful country down there and we had a fun and relaxing time.

For dining out the most promising option was Boone, about 20 miles from where we were staying. Boone is home to Appalachian State University , and we hoped we’d find a nice restaurant to try. We found a really nice one in Joy Bistro.

On a Tuesday night they didn’t have a table for us right away — that was a good sign right there. Apparently we stumbled into live jazz night, which is especially busy. After a short wait we had a table outside on the patio, nicely set up though bordering a large parking lot. The atmosphere was relaxed, and the service well paced and professional.

The wine list was fairly diverse and fairly priced, with a lot of Zinfandel choices for some reason. We went with a strong performer we already knew, the Gundlach Bundschu Pinot Noir I reviewed previously here. Or the “Gunny Bunny,” as our waitress told us they call it. But this time it was a 2006, rather than 2007.

The wine was lighter in color and body than the 2007, with red cherry and strawberry the lead fruits. There’s a subtle spiciness that tasted like white pepper, and a touch of leather on the finish that lingers a bit. It’s a softer yet more multifaceted wine than the 2007, but both were excellent New World Pinots.

The food at Joy Bistro was high quality. High marks go to the mussels appetizer, the crab cakes and the baked crescenza, a sort of haute version hot cheese dip with caramelized onions. Gabriele had an excellent ravioli entree with a light pesto sauce, and I enjoyed trout with a tomato and olive tapanade side, which was brought down just slightly by uninspired side items of overdone asparagus and carrots.

We were so pleased with our dinner we returned to Joy Bistro two days later. This time we enjoyed a bottle of 2008 Chateau Mont-Redon Cotes du Rhone, one of the very few French choices on the list. From a vineyard located close to Chateauneuf-du-Pape, this wine was very easy to drink. An initial tart bite gives way to bright cherry fruit and a smooth aftertaste.

This is a great wine to choose when you’re serving guests and need a wine most people will enjoy. Menu standouts this visit included the beef tenderloin bruschetta appetizer, and the scallops and pork tenderloin entrees.

Next time you’re in the high country, definitely give Joy Bistro a try.