"Now and then a restaurant really amazes you how good they are and Hellbender is one of the places. The place is in a renovated, large house with a lot of character, so it is a charming and picturesque restaurant (that feels smaller than it is). There are seating in all different rooms, some larger than others, and a real bar near the front (with lots of local beers on tap. Note that within it can be quite quickly loud, but this is part of the charm, and not to freeze there is a lot of outdoor seats to enjoy the pleasant North Carolina weather. You can order from the table either by phone, so take your time to browse the menu, or from each of the many waiters. The service and the food were fast and delicious. We started with their unique chili (Chickpeas maybe added? , which was rich in aromas, mostly smokey, with a little sweet and creamy. My wife and I then split the beef-talloin sandwich with sweet peppers, well-kept onions (additionally as the compliment very well, mushrooms, salad, aioli and provolone cheese, which was just as scary as it was good. Hellbender is just out of the main strip, and a must-go-to while in Blowing Rock. Jan 2022"
