The Gamekeeper

4.9

3427 Reviews

$50 and over

American

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 14, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 15 times today

Charming
Good for special occasions
Romantic

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!

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
American, Wild Game, Contemporary American
Hours of operation
Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Phone number
(828) 963-7400
Website
http://www.gamekeeper-nc.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Tyler Smith
Private party facilities
We have a private dining room that very comfortably seats 25 guests.

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, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Emu Fan Filet$60.00
grilled emu fan filet*, mushroom, spinach, and garlic risotto, sun-dried tomato jus, seasonal vegetables
Elk Rack Chop$62.00
grilled elk* rack chop, shiitake mushroom jus, broccolini, baby carrots, bleu cheese mac n' cheese
Beef Hanging Tenderloin$61.00
grilled prime beef* hanging tenderloin, garlic mashed potatoes, horseradish demi-glace, seasonal vegetables
Fresh Catch$47.00
ponzu glazed NC red snapper, creole cream sauce, roasted fingerling potatoes, green peas, dehydrated lemon

What 3,427 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
4.6Value

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
Great for fine wines
Asheville / Western North Carolina
Romantic
Asheville / Western North Carolina
Good for special occasions
Asheville / Western North Carolina
American

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

The Gamekeeper offers a "wonderful dining experience" with a "fantastic atmosphere" and "incredible service." Guests rave about the "perfectly cooked elk" and the "delicious seasonal menu." The cozy ambiance, often enhanced by a fireplace, makes it a "romantic and quaint" spot, ideal for special occasions.

3,427 Reviews

C
Cindy
VIP
Coastal Georgia
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on January 5, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Truly my favorite restaurant in the Boone/Blowing Rock area! Love the seasonal menu, the incredible service and fantastic atmosphere of the Gamekeeper. Everyone from valet to hostess to server to chef to management is consistently kind,professional and care that you have a great experience. Highly recommend! (The turkey pot pie was delicious!!)
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M
Mary
VIP
Western NC
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on January 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Gamekeeper was fabulous as always! Tanner, our server artfully directed us through our choices of food and libations. A cozy table by the fire and no pressure to leave until we were ready after s scrumptious dessert and coffee. A wonderful welcome memory to 2025!!
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A
Ashley
VIP
Chicago
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on December 29, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Absolutely delightful every single time. We love The Gamekeeper, and the service is wonderful.
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Z
Zachary
San Antonio
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 29, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We came here for our anniversary dinner and it was so special. All of the staff were very attentive and personable (Atticus and Tonya). This has become a tradition for us to eat here and take the trip to Blowing Rock. What a culinary experience. Best food we've ever had.
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S
Sabrina
New York City
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on December 22, 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 2
Was kinda disappointed by the food after looking forward to this reservation for a few months.
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J
Jennifer
Western NC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 22, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The perfect way to kick off Christmas! The restaurant's festive decorations set the mood beautifully. We enjoyed some time at the bar before dinner, which added to the experience. The food was outstanding—our table ordered the elk steak, venison, and red snapper, and every dish was a hit. Fine dining is a rare treat for us, so when we splurge, we want it to feel special. This meal did not disappoint - it was truly a memorable evening!
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M
Mark
Coastal Georgia
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on December 22, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food and ambiance were wonderful. Our server gave us plenty of time between courses so we in no way felt rushed. Will plan on returning when the opportunity arises
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D
Donna
Western NC
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 20, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was our first visit to The Gamekeeper. It did not disappoint. We loved everything about it. The setting of the restaurant is so beautiful in the mountains. It was beautifully decorated for Christmas. The food was excellent and so was the service. The staff was so friendly. We would definitely recommend this restaurant to others.
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T
Tom
Raleigh
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on December 19, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Another excellent meal at The Gamekeeper. Delicious meats and sides along with great ambiance.
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J
Joe
Charlotte
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on December 15, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We came in a group of 4 for a friend’s birthday who had been wanting to try it out for years. Everything exceeded expectations. One of the absolute best overall restaurant experiences we’ve ever had. Now hoping to go back on an annual basis.
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FAQs

The Gamekeeper is rated 4.9 stars by 3427 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people

Jan 14, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 15 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 Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
American, Wild Game, Contemporary American
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Valet
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Tyler Smith
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, 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.

The Gamekeeper

Make a reservation

Additional information

Menu

Starters

Mixed Game Grill$35.00

Korean Meatballs$18.00

First Course

Bleu Salad$11.00

Potato Soup$10.00

Main Course

Emu Fan Filet$60.00

Elk Rack Chop$62.00

Beef Hanging Tenderloin$61.00

Fresh Catch$47.00

What 3,427 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is The Gamekeeper restaurant rated?

Is The Gamekeeper currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information