Restaurants

Limones: Truly unique high-end Mexican and the tapas bar next door is even better. En La Calle has Mexican tapas next door also by the same owners. Good drinks too. Downtown – Eagle St

The Red Stag at the Grand Bohemian Hotel

The Admiral: Truly advanced cuisine, but hard to get into, drinks good, but there are better, good wine list.  Although this is a favorite, have to say they have had chef turnover of late and it has retreated a bit.  (Don’t be put off by the “modest” exterior.) West Asheville – Haywood Rd

Market Place: Really nice food, well prepared and presented. They have been in Asheville for decades. Good drinks and wine. Downtown - Wall Street

Laughing Seed: The best vegetarian restaurant and the drinks impressed us last time there. Downtown – Wall Street

Cucina 24: Nice cooking, well prepared and presented, good wine list. Downtown – Wall Street

Rhubarb: Another very good place for food, drink and wine.  They were making vegetable based drinks when we were there last.  Downtown – Pack Sq Biltmore Av

Rezaz: Nice Mediterranean cooking and the only restaurant in Biltmore Village we recommend. (Although there is interesting shopping there.) Good wine list.  

Table: Farm to table excellent cooking. Wine list good. Downtown – College street

Chiesa: The best authentic Italian in town. A real secret, but busy on weekends. It was created by escapees from Baltimore’s little Italy and recently purchased by the chef. This town is not well endowed with Italian restaurants, but this is a good one. North Ashville - Montford

Curate: I guess the list would not be complete without Curate, but as good as it is, we are a bit bored with Spanish tapas. Curate is very good but a bit pricey by Asheville standards. But Curate is considered one of the best in town. Downtown – Biltmore Av

Jargon: Just went to this one, really nice space and good food. The owner is usually there and quite engaging. West Asheville - Haywood Rd 

Posana: Good food and mainly gluten free, good drinks too. Downtown – Biltmore Av

12 Bones: Probably the best, I think so and many others do too. The outpost is near Le Canard on Hendersonville Rd. But the original is in the River Arts District in an interesting repurposed area called the RAD. The outdoor artwork is unique. 5 Foundry St 

Phil’s Bar-B-Que Pit: Right down the hill in Black Mountain, you probably saw it on your way in! Close by, and very good!

Buxton Hall BBQ: Awarded national status for its authentic BBQ. Mainly pulled pork from whole hog, no kidding, smoked indoors under forty feet of fume hood. Guy makes his own oak charcoal in doors too (not sure the county inspectors saw that part). Good stuff. South Slope - Banks Av (Vortex donuts and Catawba beer brewing next door)

Moes Original BBQ: Good stuff, think they parboil the ribs, but good though. South Asheville - Sweeten Creek Rd, near Biltmore

Luellas BBQ: Has a lot of supporters too. In north Asheville – Merrimon av 

The area has many, many good restaurants that are what could be called cheap or at least modestly priced (by big city standards anyway). These are the places we recommend. 

Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack: OK really this is not innovative cuisine, we don’t normally rank fried chicken with the other restaurants recommended, but Rocky’s is just around the corner from Le Canard on Sweeten Creek Rd. It has a lot of supporters too. It may be of use to you. 

Nine Mile: Good pasta/rice based Jamaican cooking. Large dishes can be spicy. North Asheville - Montford Av and West Asheville – Haywood Rd 

Salsa: Latin food, very good, innovative drinks with aqua fresca. Downtown – Patton Av

Chai Pani: Indian street food. Interesting. Downtown – Battery Park Av

Mela: Indian food. Good. Downtown – Lexington Av

Korean House: Good, stone bowl stuff. Downtown – College Av

Stonebowl: Korean near Le Canard and good too, as good as Korean House. South Asheville – Hendersonville Rd

Gan Shan Station: Interesting kinda Asian food recently redid menu and it is super. Modest outpost in West Asheville, good ramen. North Asheville – Charlotte St and West Asheville – Haywood rd

Early Girl: A long standing Ashville restaurant recently sold and perhaps less interesting. Simple cooking, lots of veggie choices. Local stuff. Downtown – Wall St

Copper Crown: Don’t know if you will get to this one, but it is surprisingly good. Innovated food and drink. East Asheville - Tunnel Rd

Rankin Vault: Kinda hole in the wall, stick to the beer, but the hamburgers are the best in town. 

Polanco: This is new and we tried it, good authentic Mexican food, and decent drinks. We liked the mole. Asheville has many poor Mexican restaurants, but this one is good. Downtown – Market street 

Milk and Honey: Lovely organic oriented restaurant near Canard. Smoothies, sandwiches, quiche, salads type stuff. Off Long Shoals Rd – Arden

Baked Pie Co: Like for pies, has a lot of supporters, near Canard. Long Shoals and Hendersonville Rd – Arden

Cantina Louie: This isn’t the best area for Mexican food, but this one is near Canard and better than most. Also, a fun spot, lively with interesting décor. Hendersonville Rd - Arden

My Father's Pizza: located in downtown Black Mountain, great pizza, pasta, and desserts!

White Duck Taco: Actually innovative tacos. Long standing favorite. Downtown – Biltmore Av and River Arts district

Mamacita’s and Taco Temple: Same owner Very good Mex stuff (and most of the Mexican restaurants in town are of poor quality). Downtown – Biltmore and North Asheville – Charlotte St

828 Pizza:  Good pizza near Le Canard. South Asheville – Hendersonville Rd

Mellow Mushroom:  I know, it’s actually a Southeast pizza chain, but it is good too and good for people watching. This is the original we are told. Downtown - Lexington

Farm Burger:  Burgers we can recommend. Downtown – Patton Av and South Asheville – Hendersonville Rd

Grey Eagle Taco Bar:  Eaten there a couple of times, decent and interesting music venue. - River arts district

Fahrenheit Pizza: Just found this one, near Le Canard good New York style pizza. Lee St (more like Miller St) South Asheville

All Souls Pizza: Just plain interesting pizza, innovative and other dishes too we understand but have not tried. 

Dynamite Roasting Co: Located in Black Mountain.  Great Coffee and Pastries!  Record player with large selection of Vinyl.

The Dripolator Coffee House:

Black Bear Tavern:

Louise’s Kitchen:

Mountain Sunrise Café:

Biscuit Head: Hard to beat this place for filling breakfast. West Asheville – Haywood Rd, Asheville – Biltmore Av and new in South Asheville, Hendersonville Rd (near Canard)

Over Easy Café: Innovative breakfast? Really? Lavender cream? Strange smoothies? Kinda pricey by the time you try all, but unique and excellent. Downtown – Broadway

Early Girl: Good for breakfast too. Downtown – Wall st

Sunny Point Café: Has a lot of supporters, our luck was not the best, but always highly recommended by locals. West Asheville – Haywood Rd

Green Sage Café: Rescued us when we needed it, good thoughtful food. Multiple locations.