Asheville Top 25 Restaurants & Dining Guide |
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Biltmore Estate (Variety of dining options)
From a simple fresh-baked pastry or gourmet ice cream snack to hearty rotisserie fare, wood-fired pizzas, bountiful buffets, and unforgettable specialties-guests at the Biltmore Estate savor every moment of dining on the estate.
Click here to visit their web site.
Lunch and dinner, admission entry ticket is required to reach restaurants. See our Biltmore Guide. |
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Tupelo Honey Café - Downtown Asheville
Tupelo Honey Cafe's downtown location is one of Asheville's most beloved restaurants. It's considered a must-do when you visit this mountain town, as much for its color and personality as its iconic New South cooking. Be sure you try the famous Sweet Potato Pancakes with Peach Butter. 12 College Street.
Click here to visit their Web site.
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Tupelo Honey Café - South Asheville
In 2010, Tupelo Honey Cafe opened a second sister restaurant in South Asheville. The same fabulous food is served South in a fun setting of screen doors, Southern folk art and conveyor-belted ceiling fans. This location also offers reservations, a full bar with ample drink specials and ample parking. 1829 Hendersonville Road.
Click here to visit their Web site. |
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The Market Place
A world-class favorite located on charming Wall Street in the heart of downtown. Their inventive menu features seasonal and organic ingredients from area farms plus an extensive wine list. Recommended by The Food Network, USA Today, The New York Times, Southern Living and more. Open for dinner Monday-Saturday plus Sundays in October. Live music on Friday and Saturday in the bar and lounge. Reservations recommended; walk-ins welcome. 20 Wall Street.
Click here to visit their Web site. |
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Unforgettable Dining at Mountain Magnolia Inn
While the setting is elegant and the food exceptional, the atmosphere is relaxed and the dress is casual. Chef Chris Brown's cuisine features herbs grown in the inn's garden and many organic ingredients. It's a perfect evening after a soak at the nearby hot springs. Dinner is served Friday through Monday from 5:30-9 PM on the porch, terrace, and dining room. Private dining room for small groups. Reservations recommended. 35 miles north of downtown Asheville in Hot Springs.
Click here to visit their Web site. |
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Red Stag Grill
Located inside the Grand Bohemian Hotel in Biltmore Village, Red Stag Grill features contemporary food, an extensive wine by the glass menu, and a lively bar within a casual setting. The dining emanates relaxation, with hand-hewn beams, distressed oak floors, nail-studded furniture, handmade wooden tables, subtle lighting, an intimate bar and cozy booths. The cuisine is a recreation of traditionally prepared European comfort food updated with local ingredients, such as mountain apples, venison, brook trout, coastal shrimp and North Carolina sweet potatoes.
Click here to visit their Web site.
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The Swag
Enjoy a gourmet picnic (read more), Sunday brunch or dinner seven nights at this secluded lodge located at 5,000 feet elevation in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Sunday brunch is a full buffet with two carving stations and all the trimmings and a dessert table filled with all home-made desserts. Take a hike in the Smokies before or after your meal or just relax and enjoy the views. Picnic lunches also available for hikes. Reservations required. Open late April through early November.
Click here to visit their Web site. |
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Waynesville Inn Golf Resort & Spa, Waynesville
The Cork & Cleaver is rated a three-diamond steak house by AAA and the #1 restaurant in Waynesville on TripAdvisor, which comes from its great reputation by locals and guests alike. Excellent food, attentive service, with an extensive menu featuring all-natural steaks, fresh local seafood, and a broad wine and specialty drink selection, the Cork & Cleaver is sure to please the palate of anyone visiting the Waynesville area.
Click here to visit their Web site. |
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The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa (Variety of dining options)
Horizons is one of Asheville's award-winning restaurants featuring innovative, classic American cuisine, a world-class wine list, and exceptional service. Sunset Terrace serves the finest prime beef and fresh seafood, served on the famous outdoor dining veranda offering majestic views and sunsets (with indoor service offered during cooler weather). The Blue Ridge Dining Room specializes in farm-to-table, Southern comfort cuisine, served either a la carte or in grand buffet style.
Click here to visit their Web site.
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Sazerac
Although inspired by old New Orleans, Sazerac is a uniquely Asheville downtown restaurant and cocktail lounge. Classic and contemporary cocktails, a full menu of sumptuous small plates, lounge seating and rooftop dining. Whether you are a seasoned local or a sophisticated tourist, put Sazerac on your must-visit list today. Sazerac opens 7 days a week at 11am with continuous dining service until 10pm and cocktails into the late night. 29 Broadway Avenue
Click here to visit their Web site.
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Restaurant Solace
Dedicated to the slow food ethic of cooking and to source locally first for all produce and artisanal products. The Café includes an outdoor patio in the heart of Asheville’s vibrant downtown, featuring seasonal “small plates” including savory cheesecakes, lime and ale braised local rabbit, duck and pheasant confit and basil fed snails. The elegant Dining Room menu includes entrees such as Black Buck Antelope, chilled Black Sea Bass with Sunburst trout caviar, coffee and spice roasted rib veal chop, and braised rabbit. Jazz brunch on Sundays! Located within the Haywood Park Hotel, 1 Battery Park Avenue.
Click here to visit their Web site. |
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Season's Restaurant
Nestled inside the 26 acres of historic Highland Lake Inn, Season's chef prepares imaginative recipes that draw on his international training and travels, as well as creating new twists to local favorites, with fresh ingredients, many of which come directly from an on-site organic garden. Enjoy an extraordinary meal with friendly service, while also taking in the beautiful, natural setting. Before or after your meal, take a romantic stroll by their 40-acre lake.Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. 86 Lilly Pad Lane, Flat Rock
Click here to visit their Web site. |
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12 Bones Smokehouse BBQ
A local's favorite in the River Arts District near downtown Asheville, casual to the point of being laid-back, they serve lunch/early dinner with take-out on Monday-Friday. Their menu features a range of tasty smoked meats as well as vegetarian items. Specialty is slow-smoked, babyback ribs with a variety of sauces.
See our 12 Bones Smokehouse Feature. |
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 Got a group?
See our "wedding locations" for the best spots for catered group banquets and events for any occasion!
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Dine in the great outdoors!
Top 20 Picnic Spots
Asheville & Blue Ridge Parkway
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| Get Passport Book with Buy One-Get One Free Coupons for Asheville Restaurants |
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Posana Café
Posana perfectly fuses delicious, innovative cuisine and a stylish, upscale ambiance to make your night out a chic, fun and elegant evening to remember in this restaurant in the middle of downtown Asheville. The menu features entrées, desserts and pastries made entirely from scratch using fresh, local and organic ingredients. 1 Biltmore Avenue. |
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Early Girl
This favorite downtown Asheville restaurant serves up
delicious southern food in a casual, charming atmosphere. The menu relies heavily on the high quality local produce, cheeses and meats area by family farms. The menu changes periodically with the seasons, while the specials change daily. Great weekend brunches! 8 Wall Street. |
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Zambra
Feast on the food of Spain and North Africa - with a contemporary twist with local-organic ingredients whenever possible, and many ingredients are imported from Spain. Inspired by Spanish tapas bars, their food features the tastes of the western Mediterranean - with appropriate gypsy influences. The restaurant dining room, "a kaleidoscope of Spanish and Moorish influences" - "a jewel box" is widely recognized as the area's most beautiful. Dinner only. Great bar too! Reservations recommended on weekends. 85 Walnut Street downtown Asheville.
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Limones
Downtown Asheville restaurant with an inspirational upscale mix of Mexican and Californian cuisine along with inventive bar selections served by a warm, professional staff. Great margarita list! Dinner nightly. Reservations recommended on weekends. 13 Eagle Street (behind Fine Arts Theatre). |
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Bistro 1896
Located on historic Pack Square in downtown Asheville, this restaurant has plenty of patio seating and innovative American cuisine with a decidedly chic twist. Menu favorites include starters such as oysters on the half shell and fried green tomato napoleon, and entrees like the cajun and polenta stack and stuffed beef tenderloin. Extensive selection of fine wines and top-shelf spirits. Lunch, dinner, and the popular Sunday Brunch.
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Table
Enjoy lunch or dinner in their “urban” comfortable, friendly environment in downtown Asheville with exceptional, welcoming service and “farm-to-table” New American cuisine. The daily written menu covers the bases of fine dining style cuisine. Sit down at the mahogany and maple bar or one of the hand-made maple tabletops. Sunday brunch. 48 College Street. |
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Laughing Seed Vegetarian Restaurant
Quality and creativity have always been the driving forces behind the Laughing Seed’s eclectic international approach to vegetarian dining and this has led to their popularity with vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Local products, organic ingredients and a flair for global fusion combine to give their dishes a unique and satisfying character. Lunch and dinner every day except Tuesdays. 40 Wall Street |
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Sunny Point Café
Discover the best place for breakfast in West Asheville - and you can order breakfast all day long. Lunch and dinner menus also. The large patio is a local favorite, especially on weekend mornings. Menu features very creative concoctions with many local and organic ingredients. Outstanding desserts. 626 Haywood Road. |
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Jerusalem Garden Restaurant
Dine in the "tent" and experience Moroccan and Mediterran cuisine at its best, from the exotic to the familiar. An evening here will take you to Moroccan nights with authentic music and belly dancing. Lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. 78 Patton Street in downtown Asheville. |
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Pisgah Inn Restaurant, Blue Ridge Parkway
Open April-October, Pisgah Inn is only the restaurant on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville. Located near Mt. Pisgah at 5,000 feet elevation, the Inn serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, seven days per week. Windows surround the main dining room and overlook a panoramic mountain view. You can also pick up a picnic-to-go. Located between milepost 408 & 409. |
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Corner Kitchen
This Biltmore Village restaurant in an historic home serves handcrafted American food with a Southern twist - influences from the Deep South to the Pacific Rim. Dine on a sunny porch or in one of the cozy fireplace rooms. Great breakfasts and Sunday brunch. 3 Boston Way, Biltmore Village |
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Mela Indian Restaurant
From the plains of Punjab to the Malabar coast, the techniques, spices, seasonings and natural ingredients of Indian cooking have been refined over thousands of years, resulting in a cuisine unlike any other. Mela Indian Restaurant offers authentic North and South Indian dishes as diverse and vibrant as the peoples and regions of India. 70 Lexington Avenue, Downtown Asheville. |
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The Lobster Trap
Dedicated to offering fresh seafood to residents and visitors of Asheville, Captain Tom sends them lobsters in the morning right off his boat in Portland, ME. Their trout comes fresh from the Shining Rock Wilderness area of Pisgah National Forest. Wine list features 80 bottles. 35 Patton Avenue, downtown Asheville. |
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Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria
A local's favorite restaurant in downtown Asheville for 15 years, their relaxed and casual atmosphere will put your mind at ease as you enjoy our great food and even better beer. Enjoy fresh sourdough pizza, lasagna, sandwiches and 24 beers on tap. The stage showcases live bluegrass, jazz, and Americana music 3-4 nights a week with no cover charge. (See more Brew Pubs) |
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Wasabi Sushi
For inventive sushi and Japananese cuisine, stop by this popular downtown spot. Grab a seat at the sushi bar or at one of the tables outside. Enjoy specialties from the hibachi grill or grab some noodles. Voted best sushi in Asheville. Try the Godzilla roll with tempura spicy tuna.19 Broadway. Their sister restaurant, Kanpai Sushi & Thai, is just down the street at 3 Biltmore Avenue.
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Urban Burrito
Best fast food! Mexican-style grill featuring burritos, quesadillas, tacos, salads and much more. All items are made fresh daily using the finest ingredients, including a variety of burritos and Latin-inspired salads such as the Fiesta Chicken Salad and the BBQ Chipotle Chicken Salad. A salsa bar offers five made-fresh-daily salsas. A large selection of domestic, micro-brewed, and imported beers are available. Two locations - 640 Merrimon Ave and 129 Bleachery Blvd (near Super Wal-Mart).
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More Downtown Asheville Restaurants & Resources
Looking for Vegan and Gluten-Free? See this Gluten Free Asheville Guide.
Downtown Asheville features 50 locally-owned (with international flavors) restaurants downtown, many with sidewalk dining. Here are a few more to check out:
Salsa's: If you're looking for authentic and creative Caribbean food with a Mexican
flair, Salsa's is your place. The food is prepared with locally grown organic
produce and health conscious products. Big flavors in a tiny place. Lunch and Dinner every day. 6 Patton Avenue.
Restaurants in the Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville:
Carmels Restaurant and Bar: Savor naturally raised meats, organic produce and line-caught seafood with alfresco dining, romantic and intimate dining room and jazzy-chic bar. The exterior boosts some of the best outdoor seating in downtown Asheville at the Grove Arcade. Lunch and dinner every day.
Chorizo: The best Latin fare from Spain to Argentina. Paellas, churrasco, guacamole -- prepared at tableside. Restaurant & bar.
Modesto: A trattoria specializing in brick wood-fired oven pizza, salads, soups, desserts, espresso coffee, wine and beer.
Thai Basil: Fine Thai food cooked in a natural & healthy way.
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Tupelo Honey Café: Spirited Recipes from Asheville’s New South Kitchen
This is a great souvenir from Asheville since it showcases the restaurant’s unique cuisine and the “Foodtopian Society” of Asheville. Authored by local writer Elizabeth Sims with collaboration from Executive Chef Brian Sonoskus at Tupelo Honey Cafe, the book is new for 2011 as a full –color, hardbound edition of 240 pages, featuring over 125 recipes and 75 photographs.
Read more about the Cookbook! |
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Asheville: Top 10 Food & Wine Destination
in the United States!
-TripAdvisor
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