Story by Mike Doble – [email protected]
If you’re heading up to Banner Elk to stay and play at Beech Mountain Ski Resort or Sugar Mountain, you’ll want to know about this great, new restaurant and bar. The Painted Fish is in TWO WORDS – AWE and SOME! Look, I KNOW that awesome is one word, but this place is simply too good for one word descriptions.
The Painted Fish is located right across from the entrance to Sugar Mountain and it is a MUST VISIT if you’re heading here for a ski getaway from now through the entire ski and snowboarding season.
Step inside the Painted Fish Café and Beer Bar and discover something truly unique in North Carolina: recognizable dishes with a twist. They offer an upscale experience in a relaxed, casual ambience where you can indulge in great food, fun beers and superb wines all at surprisingly reasonable prices. Outdoor dining overlooking Sugar Mountain is just one of many inspirations (unless of course the deck is covered in snow!)
Good food is nothing without something spectacular to wash it down. The Beer Bar aspect of The Painted Fish Café offers a continually evolving array of artisanal beers in a fun tasting atmosphere. Whether you prefer lagers or ales or stouts, beer aficionados will find beers to dazzle the palette. And if youre not an aficionado, this is your chance to become one. In one taste, you might experience a hint of banana bread while another might entice pomegranate or tease the palette with traces of espresso and chocolate. Naturally if you prefer wine, you can also sample reds and whites sold by the glass, all from boutique wineries. You wont find any of these sold at your local store!
A restaurant is nothing without an inspired chef. Meet Chef Tom Jankovich, an exquisitely experienced food-artist who believes in the simple concept of truly good food always with a twist. A professional chef for over 32 years, Chef Tom fell in love with cooking when he grilled his first steak (to perfection, according to Chef) at the age of 10. He has prepared thousands since, perfecting the art of grilling, and drawing on his love for all that is culinary to design and create extraordinary fare for his captivated audiences. After years of experience in the best professional kitchens from Beverly Hills to Boca Raton, most recently Chef Tom dazzled in his 10+ years as Executive Chef at the Grandfather Golf and Country Club. His specialty is starting with the ordinary and inspiring the extraordinary.
Come by and meet Chef Tom and his inspired staff, including fellow chef Monte Weber, former sous chef at Grandfather, and manager, Heather Turner, who will greet you like a close friend. They’re all inspired by the possibility of The Painted Fish Café and Beer Bar.
The Pulled Pork Sandwich is shown to the right>
I PERSONALLY recommend The Painted Fish. These are great people with a wildly popular restaurant during this past Summer and Fall. During the winter a lot of great eateries close up…but The Painted Fish wants to add to the enjoyment of ski vacationers and I want to ask that you pay these guys a visit and be sure to mention that you saw them on SkiNC.com, SkiSoutheast.com and HighCountryDining.com.
I love many of their menu items, but suggest you try the PFC Fried Oysters, or the WILD MUSHROOM EMPAÑADAS as an appetizer. They serve an amazing array of great eats from burgers to gourmet meals. I strongly suggest trying the Greek Lasagna, teh Creol Shrimp, or Kim Chi Scallops. I’ve had them all and you will thank me!
Though I haven’t tried one yet, friends have raved on their burgers. Of course beer is popular with a lot of our ski and snowboarding freaks and these guys have them all.
Their winter hours are TUESDAY-SATURDAY from 11-3 for lunch and they offer a Appetizers Only from 3-5pm and dinner is 5-9pm.
Check them out…and you’ll soon be a fan.
Feel free to email me at [email protected]