Moondoggy’s Classic Diner

We came by around 12:15 to grab some lunch on our way back from Hot Springs and great hiking. Three of the four of us ordered hamburgers and/​or pattie melt. The burgers and pattie melt were awesome as were the french fries. My husband ordered something he thought was a milk shake but turned out to be an ice cream soda so he was not as excited about his choice. Probably, he should have checked before ordering. The only reason I didn’t give this a four is that the service was kind of slow. I don’t know if the kitchen got backed up or what. The food was piping hot and very fresh. I would definitely go back.

3 stars for the very nice servers. As everyone else has said, service is very slow and burger was a little dry. Should have know when I ordered and they didn’t ask how I wanted it cooked. All and all decent food. The wife’s Jacked-​up chicken was good but too much sauce drowned it.

Another over-​the-​top retro-​fifties diner. I wasn’t aware that «fifties style» consisted of plastering every flat surface with chintzy memorabilia and shiny new replica tin signs. Personally, I find that whole thing kind of off-​putting, but it’s really all about the food and the service, so how was the food and the service?
I got a hot open-​faced roast beef sandwich. The restaurant gains points for using what appears to be housemade roast beef (i.e. not deli meat) but loses them for microwaving the meal. The meat was somewhat dried out and the whole plate had hot-​and-​cold spots that are the telltale sign of microwaving.
Service was very slow. The place wasn’t particularly packed, but it took a long time for our food to come, and then we were ¾ through with it before the waitress wandered back to ask if everything was all right. It would have been a long, hungry wait if it hadn’t!
Overall, this gets a solid «meh». I prefer to eat at non-​chain, locally-​owned restaurants when I travel, but this wasn’t really worth driving the distance from the interstate and the slow service.

Weekend trip from Charlotte, NC to the beautiful mountains of NC. Overnight in Marion, NC. Only brochure in the 2 racks of advertisement that seemed food related. Hungry for a good healthy dinner. Quickly decided we were going to search for Moondoggy’s. Entered parking lot to relatively easily find a parking place while at the same time aware they had numerous customers and that was a good indication. Opened door to pleasant 50’s décor and found young people who seemed genuinely interested in new visitors. Appropriate questions asked by them such that I found myself thanking them for their niceness for asking how our trip & day had been. Food & iced tea were good, including chip/​dip appetizer which was brought by waitress when she came to greet us, nicely prepared salad, sirloin tips with mushroom gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans, bread. Looked at the papers on the table and reflected how the simple Revival Announcement would sadly not be allowed many places today. Impressed enough with our experience that I asked to speak with the manager before we left. She was also very nice and shared with us part of their story to success. I volunteered to write a good review on Unilocal based upon them making our evening memorable and enjoyable. Thank you, Moondoggy’s!

Stopped on the way back from Linville and I wanted to eat somewhere that wasn’t a chain for lunch. Service was okay, the three waitresses on duty are running around like it was packed but it was no more than ¹⁄₃ full. Food is standard diner food and wasn’t bad, the problem came when I ordered two hotdogs and it took half and hour to get it.
Overall I wouldn’t go back, cute waitresses can’t overshadow meh service and slow food.

A fun journey back to the 50ies unexpected in this cute mountain town. They also have outdoor seating and an awesome friendly staff. I got to meet the owner Sam (see picture) found out that he had lived in Asheville NC and wanted a slower paced small town place to open his business and loves it here in Marion NC. It is a real unique locally owned and operated business worth stopping in for a journey to the 50ies and good food.

Nice atmosphere. We went for dinner tonight. It took WAY TOO LONG for the girls to bring our sodas. All around the service was slow at best. Food was average at best. Hindsight, we should have gone to Bojangles or Sonic.

Just okay — waitress was friendly — half the restaurant was closed due to a «private party», so the hostess was making everyone sit on one side — a little weird. I had been here previously with a group and had the James Dean burger and a shake. The shake was good but the burger just average. Today I had hot wings and fries — the wings were fresh and tasty — the fries are those gross batter dipped/​crunchies on the outside, almost mashed potato texture on the inside — some people like that kind though — not I. The décor is cool and the fifties music nice. Tried to use a gift card purchased last March — their credit card machine wouldn’t recognize it — they said it was too old — not cool at all — they should have honored it. They seemed unconcerned. I did not hold that against them in the review, otherwise it would have been Meh! Judge for yourself but there are plenty of other decent places to eat in Marion.

Wouldn’t do lunch here, the food to me has a weird taste, just not what you might expect from a burger. Not sure if its a good weird or a bad weird, but my main intention for visiting is their hot fudge cake. Probably the best desert you have tasted in your life.

Service was slow but friendly. Burger was awful as it tasted like microwave patties. The Coonhunter’s cake was great! Cake was moist with generous amount of icing and peee-​cans!
So come to this place for desserts!

This diner was a stop off the beaten path while on a road trip across North Carolina. Found the listing in the AAA travel guide that we had along for the trip, it sounded interesting and I always refuse to eat at chain restaurants while traveling, so you can experience America with your stomach.
The diner was bright and vividly decorated, in a 50s style motiff, Menu was standard for diner food with a few items that needed some clarification.
We had the roast beef and mashed potato meal, which was very tender and flavorful. Not overly salted… just right. The clarification came from the dessert menu. Being from the Midwest, I did not know what Coon Hunters Cake actually was. The waitress told us it was a yellow cake with pineapple… cream cheese frosting with crushed pecans on top, drizzled in caramel sauce. It was just the thing to top off the meal.
Unfortunately we were through Marion after dark and during the week, there was no old car cruise night going on, which I’m told, they are known for. But I can see why folks flock there for a retro revisit with your street rods. Good thing the AAA guide is advertising for them, we would have missed this little jewel.

A diamond in the rough of Marion, NC. Driving thru town I was dubious that we’d find anywhere decent to eat but AAA had rated Moondoggy’s and the kids were starving so we decided to risk it — and I’m glad we did.
Inside M-D’s is clean & bright with great retro décor. Food is good (but not great). Kids meals arrived in cardboard classic cars — neat touch. Kids also had fun playing with the (free) jukebox.
Place was quiet — especially for a Saturday lunchtime. Staff was friendly and helpful. In the unlikely event we’re ever driving thru Marion again we would certainly go back.