Pam Cooke

Review of Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa

My daughter and I stopped for a meal at the Blue R...

My daughter and I stopped for a meal at the Blue Ridge Restaurant. As we drove in, the entrance into the Inn sparkled with white-light, wrapped trees canopying the drive. Like entering a fairy tale from another time, we strolled into the main lobby via the cobblestone path to be welcomed by huge stone fireplaces flanking us to either side with guests sitting quaintly in cozy leather and rocky chairs as they warmed themselves by the fire. But the star of the lobby was the 20+ foot towering beauty situated front and center looking proportional in the expansive stone lobby, yet still larger than life. The grandeur of this mammoth, Christmas tree, with its shimmering white lights all adorned in white ornaments along with hints of gold and greens, certainly made us stop in our tracks. All of this was before we ever set foot in the restaurant.

A pleasant walk through the stone hallways, took us by local artwork, numerous shops within the Inn and the hallway ended with the entrance to the restaurant. Our host, walked us through and explained room-after-room of the enormous buffet (each part having its own room - salad and cold items, entrees and soups, desserts, etc). The atmosphere was gorgeous and our table was perched next to the window where we felt as if we were somehow hanging over the road some hundred feet above tiny, little cars that would seem to come out from below our feet. The view was amazing. With gentle music playing in the lobby of the restaurant, we were easily able to carry on long conversations as we sampled foods from all rooms. From the salads and fresh seafoods (crab legs, smoked trout, shrimp), to the delicious sides (sliced sweet potatoes, vegetable & kale soup, green beans, mashed potatoes, mac & cheese), to meats (trout, chicken, prime rib, sausage) and desserts (key lime and buttermilk tarts, pumpkin and other pie, cakes,etc) . . . it was all delicious and a night my daughter and I will always remember.