Speckled Trout Café & Oyster Bar

Posted By Michael Stern on January 4, 2006 4:06 AM

The dining room walls are decorated with pictures of trout and posters of trout lures, and as the name of the restaurant suggests, locally-raised rainbow trout is the specialty. The Speckled Trout offers it pan-fried, baked, broiled, stuffed, or smoked. And although the menu lists many other fish dishes, from catfish (fried filets) crab cake sandwiches, we also like this friendly town café for such non-seafood items as chicken pot pie, roast beef with horseradish sauce, and a fine “Blowing Rock Burger” on a Kaiser roll. And if you are an oyster fan, the appetizer menu always lists them by the dozen.

Breakfast is big at the Speckled Trout; and while the menu lists such familiar morning fare as eggs, waffles, and French toast, as well as bagels, biscuits, and grits, we suggest adventurous eaters go with the flow and have trout for breakfast – as part of a three egg omelet filled with big shreds of smoked trout, cream cheese, and onion, or as the featured element of “Big Daddy’s Breakfast.” The Big Daddy is one entire (deboned and beheaded) rainbow trout pan fried in butter accompanied by two eggs scrambled with cheese and a good-size biscuit. We guarantee you won’t need any grits or home fried potatoes on the side of this whale of a meal.

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Posted By Chelsea on April 6, 2011 1:33 PM

Love the Speckled Trout! My family and I have been going to the Speckled Trout for years and always have a great experience. Dave, the owner and head chef, is always friendly, and excited to talk to everyone who walks in the entrance. We always stop and ask him what we should order, and he gives us great suggestions. We love his sauces.

Recently "The Trout" has been open only on Friday and Saturdays but if you call, their answering machine will let you know if they are open or not (we have made the mistake of not calling, only to find them closed when we arrive).

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Paul Tate Special

smoked trout

oysters

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Posted By Kenneth Medsker on December 16, 2008 5:12 PM

We thought the Speckled Trout had been closed for the winter when we found it open in late spring. It appears the place has been sold and reopened. Despite the tantalizing Roadfood.com review and the menu, we were sadly disappointed with just about everything.

Food came out in the wrong order. Oysters on the half shell had somehow found their way under the heat lamp. My trout was OK but my wife's was terrible. Our waiter said he was new, but at least he knew how to serve our Aussie sauvignon blanc!

Blowing Rock, Boone, and Banner Elk are among our favorite Western NC getaway spots, plus Asheville, of course. Try Sixpence, a British-style pub, on Main Street in Blowing Rock just a few doors down from Sonny's. Their lox dish with capers, red onion, cream cheese, and toasted baguette slices is outstanding, fish and chips are excellent, and the Reuben is top drawer for around here.

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