The Orchard Restaurant, Events Barn & Guest Cottage — Restaurant in Highlands

You CANNOT go wrong with this place. We sat after the meal was over and went back through every top restaurant we have ever been to and decided this is our number one restaurant of all time. The steak and the venison made us both stop in our tracks. It was like biting into a cupcake, but it was steak. So tender, so flavorful. We were full, but we had to keep eating it. I had carrots, risotto and baby kale. I've never had kale that tasted so good. I would have eaten a whole bowl. Everything on my plate was top notch and beautifully presented. I forgot to mention the app. We got the mussels. We get mussels a lot. Most of the time they are overcooked. These were perfect! The sauce was good as well but when my husband squeezed the lemon juice on it, it took them two notches up. Highly recommend these if you like mussels or if this is the first time to try them. Top notch. The salads were also great. We both agreed my house salad with Vidalia onion poppyseed vinaigrette won over top of my husband's Caesar. Then...even though we were ridiculously full, they said they had creme brulee. I can't pass one up and this one was made with Bailey's. Oh my. It was good. It was even better with the Educated Guess Cabernet Sauvignon that we were drinking for the dinner. Then let's talk about the service. Impeccable. I think every server came to our table to chat, refill our glass, ask us if we were ok. And every single person had a smile. They all seemed like they enjoyed their job. Then. I left my purse. We hadn't been gone but for a minute and they called to let me know they had it! Then, when I walked in the door they knew who I was and handed it right to me. I LOVE this place and it will be a spot we visit every time we are in Cashier's. Great job to the Orchard...

We booked a reservation here to celebrate my parent’s anniversary and though the food was great, we were disappointed by the overall experience. Whenever gratuity is automatically added to a group (6+ people), I’ve always questioned if we will get the appropriate service since it doesn’t need to be earned like the other tables. We were greeted warmly by the front and our server, the food was well flavored and it’s a cute mountain vibe which any tourist will enjoy.

For a table of 6, the bill was several $100 dollars and we walked away feeling like we overplayed.

First, we were not served bread like the other tables; it was only after 30 minutes or more that we asked our server about it and he blamed it on someone else not bringing it to us. Note: he delivered bread to all the other tables and it would have been best to take ownership of the mistake and make it right.

Second, my Dad ordered a 14 oz ribeye and for anyone who knows steaks, it was not 14 oz which brought into question misleading advertising. My Dad will rarely speak to a manager but after our meal, he stayed behind to have a word for his own anniversary meal.

Overall, I’d recommend this spot for a couple due to price for the group and hopefully more effort without a guaranteed tip. They seemed understaffed in my opinion and a smaller group may get more attention. I’d recommend their trout dishes, side salads (small portions)and salmon. Reminder to ask for bread at the start which was delicious when we...

Great Service, Marginal Food, Loud Porch Dining. Three of us went. Two of us thought that their entrees were particularly good. I though my entree was marginal. We all enjoyed the Appalachian Charcuterie Appetizer (A Board Containing Goat Cheese, Pimento, Brie (All from local farms), salami's, spiced walnuts, dried fruit and spiced blueberry preserve). One member of our party loved the spice blueberry preserve and ordered a side to go with her entree. I had the Continental Divide Trout (boned trout filet laced with a lump crab stuffing and char-grilled over an open flame. Finished with a lemon herb butter.) I was disappointed - the trout was overcooked and dry and there were too many carrots on the dish. Another person had the Panthertown Pork Tenderloin herb rubbed and pan roasted, served with a black cherry demi-glace, crispy Vidalia onion rings and garlic chive goat cheese crumbles. She said that the demi-glaze, missed the mark, but she enjoyed this dish with a side of the forementioned spiced blueberry preserves. The third member of our party enjoyed the Trout Chatanooga (boned trout filet dusted in flour, gently sauteed in olive oil, herbs and seasonings and a splash of wine.) The service was excellent. Our server was professional, courteous, and very attentive. The porch where we were seated was exceptionally noisy - to the point that it was hard to hear the server read the specials, or converse with other members of our...