Melanie’s

Melanie's Food Fantasy – A Popular Boone Meeting Place Serving Delicious Food and Drinks
Local Expert's Rating:
4.5 / 5
The Bottom Line:

Want to enjoy downtown-style outdoor dining in the heart of Boone? Just set your sights on a visit to Melanie’s Food Fantasy for the meal of a lifetime. Serving as a popular meeting place since 1991, this eatery never fails to roll out the great conversation and a truly inviting atmosphere for all.

- The SmokyMountains.com Local Expert Team

Whenever you want much more than a simple meal, head on over to Melanie’s Food Fantasy for a delightful outdoor dining experience. Set in the center of downtown Boone, this eatery has long served as a popular gathering place for the community. The chatter of friendly conversation fills the space from open to close, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all their patrons.

Although it’s well worth coming in for all the great conversations alone, their farm-to-table American fare is where they truly shine. Their offerings range from classic breakfast and lunch favorites to vegan-friendly alternatives. All their selections feature fresh, local ingredients and often have scratch-made additions to remember. Their house-made apple butter, for example, adds to the magic of their fluffy, decadent omelets and so much more.

The team takes their delicious food items to the next level with the perfect beverage pairings. You can have your breakfast with locally roasted organic brews from Hatchet Coffee or organic hot tea from the Asheville Tea Company. They also have freshly squeezed juice, southern sweet tea, and their sparkling probiotic tea, Jun Shanti Elixir. Prefer to pair your meal with an alcoholic beverage? They have mimosas and Booneshine Brewing Company Beer.

All their handcrafted menu items and their reputation as a top local gathering place keep their tables full all day long. So, you can pretty much count on having up to an hour wait for a table, especially on the weekends. Weekday mornings offer the shortest wait times if you prefer to get right in and start chowing down. Otherwise, you can give them your number and go explore the surrounding area and they’ll give you a call when a table is ready.

Their top offerings include:

Potato Madness
If you love home fries, then Potato Madness is the way to go, for sure. This breakfast favorite begins with diced potatoes sauteed with onions, green peppers, and mushrooms. Once that’s done, they make two eggs any way you like them and pop them on top along with your choice of cheese. Melanie’s toast comes alongside topped with their delightful house-made apple butter.

Paul’s Tempeh Scramble
When you’re looking to skip the meat without compromising on flavor, you cannot go wrong with Paul’s Tempeh Scramble. This dish begins with tempeh, sundried tomatoes, spinach, onions, and mushrooms sauteed in garlic. The veggies get scrambled with local farm eggs next before fresh basil lands on top. Set alongside, Melanie’s toast covered in house-made apple butter takes your meal to the next level.

Bacon Avocado Burger
For fresh local flavors that you’re bound to love, get the Bacon Avocado Burger whenever you stop by. The chef starts this dish by using North Fork Farm grass-fed beef to create the patty. Then, they put it on the grill until cooked to your ideal level of doneness. Your cheese of choice goes over top before it all lands on the bun with bacon, avocado, lettuce, tomato, and house-made pickles. You also get to choose between their garlic and southwest aioli plus select home fries, fruit, or chips as your side.

Are you planning a big bash for your next special occasion? If so, you need to ask about renting Melanie’s for your party. Their space is perfect for baby showers, birthday parties, fundraising events, and even business meetings. They have room for up to 50 people plus a small area for a single musician or DJ to play for your guests.

Insider Tips:
-Their homemade soup changes daily, so ask what’s available before putting in your order.
-Check the sandwich board in front of the restaurant before ordering to avoid missing out on their daily specials.
-When ordering eggs or burgers, you get to decide how well done to cook them. So, be prepared to share your preferences when your server comes by to get your order.
-Want a Philly, Caribbean Sammie, or Reuben without the meat? Ask for their tempeh version instead.