The Highlands Kitchen & Bar

Marc Mullinax

2024-05

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Kasie Rawlins

2024-04

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Noelia Bautista

2024-01

I went today to dinner, the atmosphere is warm, the waitress explained us all menu. We ordered Baked Brie, Salmon, Bulgogi, Soup de jour (chicken and tortilla) and Planet Oregon Pinot Noir. Everything was great. But I wouldn’t come back bc I don’t feel valued as a customer. The table who arrived after us asked us if the Brie was good and we responded yes, so they decided to ordered it too and when their Baked Brie came to their table was different, with a notable amount of strawberry and blueberries more than ours. Why they offering the same plate and they decide serving it different depending the person who order, if the price is the same? Every costumer who pays deserves be attending with the same level.

America Fuller

2024-02

Went to this gem on a Saturday, I had heard alot of great reviews on this restaurant and they were right, the atmosphere was great, the drinks on point but the food was a little disappointing. We ordered the fried green tomatoes, Mahi chowder, wedge salad, the butternut squash pasta, and the lobster roll. Lobster roll was delicious but there was a little bit of lobster and at $29 /sandwich it hurt....it came with the truffle fries but I didn't taste any truffle, still the clarified butter with the lobster was yummy. The green tomatoes were ok and Mahi chowder was mediocre. The star of the night of the night was the butternut squash tortellini and the wedge salad, and the white oak cocktail was amazing. I will go back for brunch but it was a bummer on the lack of flavor on some dishes, but every restaurant has"off " nights. We did order the homemade key lime pie that we as absolutely heavenly! Restaurant was mostly empty...off season...bar was full and another two top walked in after we did. Great location. Hope brunch is amazing, I love to support local restaurants!!!!

Marina

2024-01

Found this little gem nestled in the Chimney Rock mountains. We went for New Years Eve dinner and what a memorable dinner it was. The food was absolutely delicious but what stood out the most was our server. Sadie. Not only was she accommodating but she was entertaining. She made sure our food was served exactly how we wanted it. My steak was a bit undercooked and she insisted she take it back to have it prepared how I wanted it. Not only that but she came back with some extra of the delicious risotto it came with. We had the filet mignon, grouper, and pork loins. Such a memorable dinner. It’s a shame we didn’t have more time to return.

Dan Waitt

2023-09

Amazing place. This place was one of the few places that we were able to find open for breakfast on Saturday morning, as visitors to Lake Lure know breakfast is not the easiest meal to find. We were pleasantly surprised to find this gem sitting very close to the Lake Lure Dam. The food was absolutely fabulous, we got the pork belly as an appetizer, I got the chicken and gravy biscuits, my family got the quiche, lobster roll, kids Chicken quesadilla and Mac and cheese. The food was fresh, delicious and of very high quality. The restaurant was perfectly positioned for epic mountain views when choosing to eat on the patio. The whole experience was wonderful, we look forward to visiting this place when we return to Rumbling Bald Resort next time. I highly recommend if you can eat there you will not be disappointed.

Wendy R

2023-12

Had looked at the menu and had high expectations but maybe too high. Sat outside, and it was beautiful. Apple Cider Mimosa was good, but idk if there was any apple cider in it. Coffee was hot and great, and I loved the mug. The Trout Eggs Benedit was served skin on, but it was soggy because it was under everything . The Hollndaise sauce needed salt.... a little goes a long way. Had to wait for an extended time for salt and pepper as it is not on the table. Luckily I had a pack of Tony's in my purse. The fried had zero seasoning- like none! But they were served hot and crispy. The chicken was fried perfectly but was served hot but was begging for seasoning all the way down to the chicken . The white gravy was the same. Cooked perfectly, the sausage was good but all around the sauce needed salt and pepper. Consistency was perfect. The biscuit was like bread. Very different biscuit than I have ever had, worked well with the gravy, but needed salt. The wings were a disappointment. Although French Ed nicely and cooked perfectly had zero flavor, luckily I had a packet of Tony's in my purse that we shared with the table next to us. The sauce was sweet, pineapples sweet too, so I was wtg for a salty or spicy element to elevate the wings. We will be back to try something different. The menu is exciting, and new just needs salt amd pepper at a minimum.

Julie Luxemberg

2023-12

Was passing through town and came here for both dinner and breakfast the next day. There’s a separate vegan menu which is great - got the hot honey vegan chicken sandwich and the Beyond burger with extra homemade pickles! Ask for extra hot sauce if you like it spicy. For breakfast the next day, our waitress Julia couldn’t have been nicer. Would definitely recommend stopping here - very pretty views too!Dietary restrictions: Vegan and vegetarian options!

Kandi Thompson

2024-04

Paid like $50 for this… dried out steak (cooked well done instead of medium well) with zero flavor aside from a bitter char flavor that was pretty awful. The mashed potatoes were drier than instant mashed potatoes before you put water in them. They were literally crumbling apart in the plate as you can see. The waitress was super sweet tho, and apologized to my husband and I several times because I’m pretty sure she knew it was garbage lol, but she shouldn’t have to. The owner should consider hiring someone who can actually perform the super simple task of cooking a steak and mashed potatoes. I should have said something but we were exhausted from hiking.

Noelle Darnell

2023-12

My husband and I could not have been more pleasantly surprised by this meal! We had a “date day” to Lake Lure and found The Highlands on Google. This was above and beyond what we could have expected for dinner. My filet melted in my mouth and my husband’s lamb was unlike anything I’ve ever had. They are still settling into their new venue but the quality of the food is incredible. We live an hour and half away and we have decided this is our new date night destination. Sadie, our server, was so helpful and a bright light! We will be back VERY soon!!!

Grisly Atoms

2023-11

Service was great, I found the bar tender to be very polite. Ordered maple pork belly appetizer, they were delicious, but found meat to be slightly under cooked, center was still cold. Ate anyways lol. Yolo! There was lots of slaw, which I enjoyed, but found a bit bland and not enough maple glaze. Ordered the "Dirty Blue" martini. I thought it was delicious and a great pour. The menu said it came with blue cheese olive, which was a deciding factor, but only served standard olives. Atmosphere was OK, but I hate a bar with straight tools with no back. The stools aren't inviting and put off the vibe of a turn and burn establishment. Lighting was too bright for my taste, LED feel. Overall, I enjoyed the meal and drink, just those couple details knocked it down a star. Would return...

Jim Bentley

2023-11

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Larissa Kim

2023-07

We were visiting Lake Lure and came here for dinner with our 2 kids (definitely call and make a reservation!) The pros: the calamari was delicious and you get a TON. The honey mustard dipping sauce with it is fantastic. The portions overall are huge. The crispy chicken sandwich was massive!!! And definitely upgrade and get the truffle fries (forgot to picture those, our other crispy sandwich had them). Cons: the temperature was muggy inside. The Korean short ribs were OK. They were definitely burnt on the bottom. They also don’t have the best parking situation there. Overall, the view is beautiful and the service is great.

Alana Hall

2023-11

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Samantha Sutton

2023-07

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David Lamoreaux

2023-07

The new restaurant and bar is a huge improvement over the prior restaurant that was there. The uniqueness of the menu, the quality of the food and quality of the drinks rivals the best restaurants in Asheville. My wife and I are a couple of foodies and were very impressed by the menu choices and quality of the food we ate. It was hard to make choices because we wanted try so many different things. The cocktails were amazing and you could see the creativity put into each one. We live in the area part-time and use to live full-time in area. There are three other “nice” restaurants in the area, and frankly none of them come close to the creativity and quality of the food at The Highlands. Kudos to the new owner. They’ve done an amazing job. Great place to go out for a date night in Luke Lure.

John Torvinen

2023-08

Amazing experience!! The food is wonderful and the service is fantastic! Everything on the menu is sure to impress. You can’t go wrong with anything you order. I’ve tried almost every entree in the joint and never been disappointed. Linda and the rest of the waitstaff is extremely friendly and helpful. Linda made several recommendations last time we were there that blew our minds! I recommend to everyone in the area to check this place out!!

Skeledood

2024-04

This place is a must-try in the Chimney Rock area. My family and I came here at the tail end of our vacation, and it was one of the highlights of our trip. They have a vegetarian/vegan menu if asked for, which is always nice. Try to get a seat outside if the weather permits. My family and I sat outside and had a delightful time listening to the river directly next to the dining area and watching the bumblebees buzz about. The staff were as friendly as can be, and made me feel very comfortable ensuring my food would be vegetarian. I also greatly appreciated the gender-neutral restrooms as a queer person. As far as the cuisine goes, I got the Beyond Burger (it was marvelous) with a scrumptious seasonal side of sautéed squash and zucchini. Other members of my party ordered the fish tacos and chicken and waffles, and both said they were some of the best they’d ever had. The Highland Kitchen and Bar was one of, if not our favorite restaurant we ate at throughout our entire trip. Five stars, without a doubt. I’d make it six if that were an option. Try this place, you won’t regret it!Vegetarian options: I greatly enjoyed the Beyond Burger. It was juicy and delicious, and the seasonal sautéed zucchini and squash side was marvelous.

A M

2024-04

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Alaina White

2024-04

We had an awesome river-side dinner at The Highlands Kitchen and Bar after a fun day hiking to Chimney Rock and Hickory Nut Falls. The food was delicious, especially the fried green tomatoes appetizer, the brussel sprouts and all of the fish dishes. The drinks were also great and they had a wonderful wine menu. Last but not least a special shout out to Danielle who did an awesome job making us feel welcomed and gave us such fast and organized service. Thank you!!

Hwow F

2024-03

I’m traveling from Toronto, Canada to St. Petersburg, FL. I decided to take my time heading south. This is my first time visiting North Carolina. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but based on my experience today with Woren and Sammeh, I can say with a high degree of certainty that I will be back. This morning the power went out at my hotel. I decided to wander down the street in search of good food and internet access. I pulled in front of The Highlands Kitchen & Bar to find these two standing outside chatting with the other people nearby that also found themselves without power. I stepped out of my car to ask them a few questions and was instantly greeted with the warm, southern hospitality that you see in the movies. After a few minutes of chatting they invited me inside for a cold beer to wait out the power outage. The conversation was engaging, the food was delicious, and the beer was tasty and cold. I just wanted the owners to know what an asset these two individuals are. They turned a bad morning into a delightful afternoon and a newcomer into a return customer. I will be back for breakfast in the morning!

William Thomas

2024-04

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Sharon Perkins

2023-10

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Suzanne Swanson

2024-04

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Rosa Maria Marte Rosario

2024-01

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Erin Glosser

2023-05

Beautiful view of the water, absolutely delicious food with fresh ingredients, unique and tasty cocktails, and quick service. Relaxing, plant filled atmosphere. We shared the baked brie appetizer which was delicious but made us hungry for more. I had the beef brisket burger which was absolutely delicious and juicy. My partner has the chicken Milanese sandwich with chimchirri sauce, amazing! I had my eye on this slit the first day of our trip and asolutely loved it. Did not disappoint.

francine elizabeth Phillips

2023-05

This restaurant will live in my memory rent free. I hope to come back as many times as possible. I am from out of town and must say that Timothy, Linda and Megan were some of the most wonderful servers, and people, I have met in far too long. The scenery, food, atmosphere and kindness was absolutely immaculate. I left with a big smile and happy tummy. Highly recommend the Lobster Mac. I was vegan before that dish. I am no longer vegan. Not even mad about it.

Peggy Januschka

2024-04

What better way to enjoy a lunch than on a beautiful patio over looking the river! The BLFT (Bacon, Lettuce, Green Fried Tomato) sandwich was delicious. My husband had the Chicken Sandwich and said it was in his top 10 favorite chicken sandwiches he’s had! Sadie our server was great! The food came out quickly and we didn’t feel rushed. (It wasn’t too busy during lunch) I definitely recommend Highland Kitchen if you’re in the area or visiting Chimney Rock State Park.Parking: Not too busy, plenty of parking and it was only $5

Jocelyn Passty

2023-08

Loved this unexpected surprise! We had hungry kids and went with the first place we found, not realizing how exceptional the food would be. I was impressed by the friendliness of the servers (they also have WiFi), the variety of the drinks, and the combinations of flavors from the food. It was a fine dining experience with beautiful views!Kid-friendliness: While they had a children’s meal, my kids opted to eat off the adult menu and loved their food! The ambience is casual enough, their presence wasn’t awkward and we enjoyed the food!

SunShine McCurry

2023-05

The food was good, but small in portions. We both were hungry an hour later. The salads and presentation were beautiful. Our server was nice but not very attentive. I felt it was a bit pricey but we ate on the deck and the view was beautiful. Our bill was $96 for both of us. I had the Cod and my friend had the pork chop and my cod was the special and more expensive than his locally sourced porkchop. We both had salads and I had water and he had a Pepsi.You have to order your sides extra.But yet the presentation was beautiful. See the photos.