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Cellar Dwellers: Blowing Rock's Best Cellar, Inc. raises intimate dining to new heights
Nestled under the shading arches of hickory, pine and oak trees and perched on a hill in view of the tip of Grandfather Mountain is a 1938 log cabin; home to one of the Appalachians’ most beloved restaurants, The Best Cellar, Inc.
From its culinary debut as a café in the cellar of a local clothing store in 1976, the restaurant began to expand and take on a life of its own, moving twice before settling in its current location.
The original owners, Ira and Lani Wilson, preserved much of the home’s character while striving to create an intimate and memorable dining experience. The home is sectioned into small rooms, each with its own character. The front room has the darkened flavor of a cellar lit by tableside lamps and the flicker of one of the home’s original fireplaces under a lofty log ceiling. Much of the cellar’s extensive wine collection is on display in this room, including both regular, reserve, small vineyards and private allocations ranging from $16 to $250 a bottle.
Other rooms are sectioned by white pine and custom-made stained glass featuring doves bearing an olive branch and red flowers. The walls are log or rock or the home’s original reddish pine paneling. Oil paintings, antique cabinets and black and white photos decorate the rooms, many lit by candlelight.
On the patio, decorated by pink and white impatiens in flower boxes, guests can view the sun setting over the distant mountains or lush green trees.
Since taking over the business in 1997, owners Rob Dyer and Lisa Stripling have continued its traditions, buying only the freshest ingredients. Fish is delivered three times a week with catches like halibut, grouper and trout available in season. All of the menu’s ingredients are made from scratch, including soup stocks. During the summer, greens and other vegetables are purchased fresh from local farmers.
The Best Cellar’s Parmesan Loaf Bread with its crunchy crust is prepared daily as are salads and desserts, such as the Cellar’s luscious Banana Cream Pie. “It has a pecan cookie crust with coconut on top,” said Lisa. “Everything is made in house — that makes it a whole lot more special than what you get in the average restaurant.”
The restaurant serves classics such as Veal Marsala and Chicken Florentine with American comfort foods served with flair such as Smokey Mountain Trout sautéed in smoked bacon, caramelized onions, wine and sweet peppers. Daily special recipes are also available. Executive Chef Dickie Jones also prepares vegetarian or variations of signature dishes tailored to the customer’s order.
Among the restaurant’s long running favorites are Stuffed Grouper filled with smoked Gouda cheese sprinkled with lemon pepper. The grouper is served with a white wine butter sauce topped with roasted almonds. Filet Au Poivre, filet mignon, covered with cracked black pepper is served with a brandy cream peppercorn sauce.
Vegetables include choices like stuffed zucchini filled with cheddar and Swiss cheeses, pecans, sautéed onions and spices; acorn squash baked in rich brown sugar and fragrant cinnamon.
For Lisa the success of the restaurant is a comfortable dining experience with meals prepared by hand from the freshest ingredients, homemade desserts, and an extensive wine list, all served with, of course, a personal touch. The owners and staff take great care to greet their repeat customers, their children and grandchildren warmly by name, accommodating dining preferences whenever possible.
The Best Cellar is located at 276 Little Springs Road off U.S. 321 Bypass in Blowing Rock. The restaurant is open from 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. daily except Sunday from May to November during peak tourist season. In the winter and early spring from December to April the restaurant is open from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. daily except Tuesday and Wednesday. Although the staff of Best Cellar work hard to accommodate each customer, reservations are recommended, especially during peak tourist season. No one wants to be turned away. Call for reservations: 828-295-3466.
The Best Cellar is expanding on their success by opening a sister restaurant The Best Cellar in Linville near the intersection of N.C. 181 and 221 South in Linville Village. Guests of the Linville restaurant can enjoy their favorite wine by the drink while enjoying lunch or dinner.
The Linville restaurant, which opened the last week of June, serves lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. daily. Guests of the Linville restaurant can dine on a patio with a view of the Linville River.
