In 2019, the restaurant at Mount Mitchell State Park in Burnsville, North Carolina was closed for renovations. The park is one of the biggest draws in the state because the captivating mountain reaches 6,684 feet — the highest point east of the Mississippi River. Those extraordinary views can now be enjoyed on the observation deck of the park's newest restaurant, Mount Mitchell Cafe & Eatery.

On March 13, 1915, the NC General Assembly passed a bill to establish Mount Mitchell as the first state park in North Carolina.

And we have been so grateful ever since.

You can see the lovely views at the newly opened Mount Mitchell Cafe & Eatery near the top of Mount Mitchell, a renovated restaurant in North Carolina.

What's exceptional about the scenery is Mount Mitchell's astounding height soars nearly 4,000 feet higher than the town of Burnsville.

The Howells - Melissa and her husband, Leigh - who also own the Pig and Grits restaurant - opened the eatery after a $2.7M renovation.

They have a four-year contract with the NC Division of Parks and Recreation to run the Burnsville restaurant.

The owners partner with local vendors incorporating the freshest, high-quality ingredients, including antibiotic-free, non-GMO proteins.

All sandwiches are hand-crafted to order - just look at the loved packed into Elisha's Turkey & Pimento Melt panini, named after the mountain's namesake Elisha Mitchell. And this creamy side of Loaded Potato Soup is topped with shredded cheddar and hardwood smoked bacon.

Entrees are served with two sides and hush-puppies, including the locally sourced Fried Mountain Trout.

This customer chose the Classic Chili as a side.

Choose a scoop of salad and a soup or order the Two Scoops option of any two house-made salads, including Honey-Dijon Chicken Salad, White Cheddar Pimento Cheese, Potato Salad, Broccoli Slaw, or Fruit Salad.

Whatever menu items you choose, they come in second to the astounding scenery from the back deck.

The next time you're cruising along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Burnsville, take a break for this delicious cuisine. Mount Mitchell Cafe & Eatery is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., May through August. Hours change to 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. in September and October before closing for the winter.

Read more about this restaurant renovation in North Carolina on the Mount Mitchell Cafe & Eatery website. If you head out there in autumn, hike this trail at Mount Mitchell State Park to see some of the most spectacular fall foliage. And get a little help navigating from AllTrails+.