2 Best Restaurants in The North Carolina Mountains, North Carolina

Built in a former speakeasy and now adorned with photos of the dogs and horses of hundreds of faithful customers, the wood-fired oven at this trusted favorite works for fancy nights out—ribeye with blue cheese butter or a lamb loin with chimichurri—or a more casual family pizza dinner (opt for the signature pie with local prosciutto and manchego). Appetizer options speak to the breadth of the menu, from mussels in green curry to Thai spring rolls to roasted figs, but all are sourced and prepared with passion and integrity.

Pancake houses are big in Cherokee, and Peter's is at the top of the stack. Many locals are regulars here, and you'll see why when you try the blueberry pancakes with country ham in the dining room with wide windows overlooking the Oconaluftee River.