The Social is one of the best restaurants in Boone

The Social I A sleek, lively bar and restaurant on King Street that's quickly become one of the best dinner spots in Boone

King Street has no shortage of places to eat and drink, but The Social stands out — a sleek, lively spot that opened in spring 2025 and has quickly become one of the better dinner destinations in the High Country.

What it is: The Social is a family-owned bar and restaurant on the west end of King Street, owned by the same family behind The Local. Where The Local leans casual and well-worn, The Social feels newer and more polished — modern bar, interesting interior details, excellent food but not too upper-crust. On a Saturday night it's busy and lively, with people at the bar eating dinner and a buzz that doesn't feel manufactured.

What to order: The cocktails are serious. A Vieux Carré — the New Orleans bourbon-and-rye classic — is well-executed, and a Manhattan holds up, too. On the food side, the beef Wellington-style dish is a standout ($27.95). For appetizers, the roasted carrots with whipped feta are better than they sound ($10.95), and the chicken thighs ($11.95) are excellent. The menu is more creative than what you'd expect from a downtown Boone bar, with Korean corn dogs ($11.95), a shrimp burger ($14.95) and a seafood/sausage/chicken pan roast ($25.95) among the more adventurous options.

Good to know: This is a sister restaurant to The Local, which is a few blocks away on Howard Street. The two have similar vibes but The Social feels a little more sleek and upscale, in a good way. The bar is a fun spot, too, for a pre-dinner drink or even to eat if you’re solo or in a small group. Otherwise, grab a reservation for a table on weekend nights.

The move: Come for dinner, sit at the bar, and order something you wouldn't normally order. The Social is the kind of place where that tends to work out. I have not found a better dish in the Boone/Blowing Rock area than The Social’s “beef Wellington-ish.”

—Tony Mecia