6 To Die For — Exquisite Dining Experiences in Highlands North Carolina

Dining Experiences in Highlands North Carolina

We love to get away to Highlands, NC. Highlands is an incorporated town in Macon County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located on a plateau in the southern Appalachian Mountains, within the Nantahala National Forest, it lies mostly in southeastern Macon County and slightly in southwestern Jackson County. There is amazing hiking, waterfalls, it’s a foodie’s paradise. Typically if we travel and Highlands is not our destination, but is within a hour drive of our vacation destination, we will detour simply for the exquisite dining experiences in Highlands; they are like no other.

Come find your Height of Happiness in the charming town of Highlands, NC. Boasting an inviting and warm atmosphere filled with refined luxury blended seamlessly with the grandeur of nature, there’s no place quite like it! From adventures outdoors to exquisite dining experiences to cultural activities and unique shopping opportunities – you’re sure to create lifelong memories here that will stick with you long after departing from this magical mountain retreat.

Wild Thyme Gourmet

Wild Thyme Gourmet offers a touch of American cuisine with an Asian influence. Chef and Owner Dindu Lama was executive chef of Wild Thyme for 15 years before becoming the new owner six years ago.  His Asian influence comes from his home country of Nepal, where he learned the wonderful balance of spices to bring life to any meat, fish or poultry dish.

We love to order Salmon over puff pastry for lunch; Fresh Salmon, snow peas, julienne carrots and a lemon-dill caper cream sauce served over a puff pastry. For dinner we normally choose one of the specials, especially if it happens to be lobster lollipops or lamb. Another favorite there is the Pan Seared WNC Mountain Trout, served with creamy polenta, red cabbage and lemon caper macadamia nut compound butter. Be sure to ask what is on the dessert menu for the day. The waitstaff is very knowledgeable and will give recommendations based on your own preferences.

They have a wide selection of bottled beers, beers on tap, cocktails and an extensive wine list. They have received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for three years running.

Wild Thyme Gourmet is located at 343 Main St, Highlands, NC.

For same day reservations, call (828) 526-4035; to book ahead click here.

Lakeside Restaurant

Lakeside Restaurant has been a bright spot in the Highlands dining scene for 33 years. Not a surprise to those who have visited. Started by Marty Rosenfield, current owner Laura Huerta took over the reins in 2013. Tucked away just one block off Main Street, Lakeside is nestled on Harris Lake and offers fine dining inside and, weather permitting, on their outdoor patio, where pets are permitted! They focus on seafood, but offer a little bit of everything on their menu; their menu changes seasonally to have the freshest ingredients.

My go-to menu selection while traveling in the Blue Ridge Mountains is trout; Lakeside did not disappoint. I enjoyed my trout and cocktails at Lakeside.

Lakeside Restaurant is located at 531 Smallwood Ave, Highlands, NC.

For reservations, call (828) 526-9419

Midpoint

From delicious meals to crafted cocktails and an extensive wine list, Midpoint in downtown Highlands is the perfect spot for making unforgettable moments. Here you can embark on a culinary journey around the globe all while enjoying an upbeat atmosphere with friends or family!

Midpoint’s chef’s are constantly creating new dishes from around the world, inspired by local and International ingredients. Their menu changes on a daily basis depending on our creativity and availability of ingredients.

Do not, I repeat, do not skip dessert. Desserts at Midpointe Highlands are nothing short of masterpieces. The pastry chef at Midpointe, Oksana Shchelgachova was formally trained as an artist first and then a pastry chef. She combines the two “arts” to create something so beautiful you won’t want to eat it; but so delicious you won’t leave even a crumb. Oksana’s travels have fuelled her passion for pastry-making, eventually leading to the success of Sweetlife Highlands in 2017. She joined forces with Midpoint Highlands in 2019.

Midpoint is located at 332 Main Street, Highlands, NC

For reservations, book on Open Table

Kilwins – Ice Cream

Kilwins Highlands opened in May 1995 and was the 19th Kilwins franchise location to open. Kilwins specializes in ice cream, chocolates and other confections made out of the freshest ingredients. Although it is a chain, it is operated like a small town ice cream parlor. All Kilwins we have been to are all just as great as the one before; they keep us coming back for their deliciousness in a waffle bowl (that is our favorite way to indulge in their ice cream).

Kilwins is located at 341 Main Street, Highlands, NC in Town Square.

Highlands Wine Shop

If you have some free time, between meals, hiking, chasing waterfalls and enjoying the town of Highlands stop in to the Highlands Wine Shop. They have Enomatic wine serving systems. To use the system, you purchase a card and insert your card into the machine and it will dispense your wine in the amount you select on the machine. It is a definite stop when you have some extra time and want to get off your feet and relax with some nice wine. There is some room inside and then there are fire pits and tables in the garden area.

Highlands Wine Shop is located at 269 Oak St, Highlands, NC

Highlands Food and Wine weekend

Annual festival that is held in Highlands, NC in November, celebrating fabulous food, exquisite wine, and world-class music. If you are a lover of food and wine, it is a must go.

Highlands Food & Wine is property of Highlands Festivals, Inc, a 501(c)3 organization that produces the annual Highlands Food & Wine festival in Highlands, NC. The organization is dedicated to promoting Highlands, NC, as an inspiring place to live and visit by producing world-class events that showcase, enhance, and support the region’s vibrant culinary, visual, and performing arts organizations, while contributing funds and resources that directly benefit similar local initiatives and strengthen our community.

Tickets typically go on sale in June in the current year for the festival. Tickets sell out quickly. Their biggest challenge each year is satisfying the demand for tickets. They are limited in how much they can grow these events while still providing a world-class experience for attendees and respecting the quaint nature of the Highlands community. As a result, they are able to offer limited tickets each year.

These are the best restaurants in Highlands in our opinion. We haven’t tried all of the restaurant in Highlands, because we are hooked on our favorites. If you have any recommendations for must-try restaurants open in Highlands, NC, please comment and let us know!

If you pass through or are in Macon Georgia, be sure to check out my favorite restaurants there. 5 Delicious Places to Eat in Macon Georgia

-S&E