Gamekeeper Restaurant

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

An Adventure in Fine Dining, Deep in the North Carolina High Country

Tucked along Shulls Mill Road between Boone and Blowing Rock, Gamekeeper Restaurant has built a reputation on a deceptively simple idea: take the wild and the familiar, and let them share a table. Our State Magazine put it well — the restaurant has "made a name for itself by tapping into the wild side of fine dining," where an avowed outdoorsman finds a connection to flavors past inside its stone walls.

Game, Gardens, and Southern Roots

The menu is the heart of the experience. Seasonally variable and unapologetically game-focused, it features emu, bison, venison, elk, boar, mountain trout, and duck alongside locally sourced vegetables. The kitchen smokes, cures, and preserves meats and vegetables on-site, and harvests herbs and garnishes from its own garden. One standout is "Anteloaf" — a game-based meatloaf that captures the restaurant's blend of comfort and curiosity. Desserts hold their own too, and the bread pudding has become something of a legend in the region.

This is American fine dining that doesn't take itself too seriously — the kitchen describes its output as "seasonably variable comfort food," a phrase that lands honestly. Meat lovers and vegetable enthusiasts alike find something worth returning for.

The Wine List and the Bar

Maitre D' Jonathan Holley has assembled a wine list that earned Gamekeeper the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence — recognition given to restaurants offering approximately 90 or more well-curated selections from quality producers, matched thoughtfully to the cuisine in both style and price. The bar program runs equally deep, with craft cocktails, after-dinner drinks, local beers, and ciders rounding out the offering.

The Setting

Valet parking is provided — and worth noting, given the steep driveway — which signals the level of care extended to guests before they even step inside. Private party spaces are available, and the outdoor seating adds another dimension to an already distinctive atmosphere.