Eating Asheville Restaurants

Home of Asheville’s first James Beard nominated chef, Jacob Sessoms. Table is all about market-driven, locally-sourced food and drink. Table offers a daily menu, authentic cocktails, and a boutique organic and biodynamic wine list.

The French Broad Chocolate Lounge handcrafts artisan chocolates and pastries featuring superb local ingredients. While keeping green, the lounge offers live music, local beer, and wine. They are voted #1 in the “best of Asheville” for sweets and chocolates.

Three-time James Beard nominee John Fleer brings his unique “foothills cuisine” to Asheville. Rhubarb transforms local ingredients into world-class dishes. Rhubarb is the place where rugged, refined, fancy, and familiar merge in one.

Since 2005, The Lobster Trap has been THE seafood destination for visitors and locals. Food and hospitality abound and the oysters are always fresh. With the best live music, local beer, and great drinks, it’s no wonder that they have been awarded “Best Seafood” every year since opening their doors.

Formerly The Imperial Life, the space began as an upscale auxiliary bar to Table. It served many great years as a craft cocktail and charcuterie bar in downtown Asheville. Imperíal is a fun and lively space, with an agave focused cocktail menu. There is dining and music every evening, with a host of events and parties.

The restaurant calls to mind a traditional neighborhood trattoria. The menu includes dishes representing all regions of Italy, including Chef Anthony Cerrato’s traditional family recipes.
They offer hand-tossed pizzas, savory pastas, grilled or sautéed meats and seafood, house-made desserts, as well as gluten-free and vegetarian options are all made to order and feature locally sourced ingredients local producers.

Asheville’s Original Craft Cocktail Bar! Original craft cocktails, wine, local brews and brunch along with the best rooftop seating in Asheville and live music on the 19th century piano – Eat, Drink, and be Social!

Opened on Biltmore Ave. in 2013 after the smashing success of the original River Arts District location, Ben and Laura Mixson offer a multitude of super fresh takes on tacos in a bright and arty atmosphere.

Fairly new to the downtown restaurant scene, Mountain Madre Mexican Kitchen and Agave Bar is a hip Mexican restaurant that offers the largest selection of tequila available in Asheville, a sunny outdoor patio, and fresh, local ingredients crafted into traditional Mexican fare.

Asheville Chocolate’s primary goal is to make the finest chocolates and gelato in the heart of Downtown Asheville. They make them all by hand in small batches in the shop, using only the best ingredients, including white, milk and a variety of dark chocolates from Belgium.

Located in the Historic Haywood Park Hotel, Isa’s boasts a creative menu celebrating traditional French favorites with a local twist. From a Vegan Breakfast to a one-of-a-kind exquisite meal, Isa’s always has something new to try. Executive Chef Peter Crockett showcases his finesse through innovative and seasonally inspired cuisine focused on the use of local and regional products.

This is the second Asheville venture from 4-time James Beard nominee John Fleer and is situated behind Rhubarb on Lexington Ave. The Rhu offers a full scale bakery and café along with regional grocery and pantry items. Breakfast, lunch, coffee and the best baked goods around from the also James Beard nominated pastry program.

Blue Dream Curry House opened in the BLUE Ridge Mountains with the DREAM of providing a fresh, affordable international menu to Asheville, without skimping on culinary intrigue. With every ingredient sourced regionally, and an exciting offering of traditional curry dishes and local drink, Blue Dream has “curried” favor quickly here.

An Asheville institution, serving the largest selection of beer in WNC since 1994. Order any sandwich or burger you can imagine, or a robust salad or classic pub entrée or appetizer and hit the game room or watch a game on the big screen in the open-air dining room.

This café, deli and catering outfit is in the iconic storefront that was Laurey’s. Adam and Emily Thome are continuing the legacy with breakfast, lunch and take-home dishes available Monday-Saturday on the ‘Restaurant Row.’

Situated at the gateway to the South Slope, Bhramari is the collaborative effort of Asheville veterans chef Josh Dillard, brewmaster Gary Sernack and bar guru Josh Bailey. These longtime friends and colleagues merge craft beer, on point seasonal cuisine and craft cocktails in a unique environment that is an artistic statement equal to their gastronomical creativity.

The Gourmet Chip Company has gourmet chips like you’ve never had. They are original and a one of a kind. The Chip Co. offers kettle style, Japanese sweet potatoes, plantain, and taro root chips combined with a myriad of toppings and dips, a local favorite!

We’ve added some delicious frozen treats to the Eating Asheville menu. Sunshine Sammies serves up ice cream sandwiches and other sweet treats you might remember from your childhood. Think sprinkles, milkshakes, moonpies, and oatmeal cream pies!

Baba Nahm offers “lightning fast” food that is full of fresh ingredients and Middle Eastern flavors. From the Chicken Schwarma and Israeli Potato Fries (seasoned with zatar, lemon tahini and harissa) to the colorful, energetic décor, this Grove Arcade eatery delights the senses.

Local craft ciders with artisanal pub fare designed to compliment.  We believe in crafting our food like we do our ciders – innovative and inspired by local ingredients to remain “true to the core”.  Also serving brunch on Sundays!

Come to Crave for delectable desserts, stay for the fun, romantic atmosphere, small plates, and innovative cocktails. Their red velvet waffles with white chocolate fondue pairs well with Sincerely, Crave, a smoky bourbon cocktail. Or try a sippable dessert like Chocolate Cocaine, featuring chocolate vodka.

With a regal ambiance, exceptional bar food, and one of a kind craft cocktails, Sovereign Remedies is a must see when visiting Asheville. Sovereign Remedies offers proper cocktails and liquid remedies. The European style patio is the ultimate place to enjoy an authentic cocktail prepared by some of Asheville’s finest mixologists.

Located at 39 N. Lexington Avenue in Downtown Asheville, featuring a small batch cider production system, scratch kitchen, and private event space. They pride themselves on only using apples local to the area within the Blue Ridge Mountains. With more than 100 awards under their belt, they are now the country’s largest independently owned cidery.

Hawaiian culture meets Southern Charm in the Historic Grove Arcade.
Serving up a fresh Big Island spin on Texas BBQ, featuring Hawaiian flavors, fresh fish, classic Texas BBQ, signature island cocktails, and decadent big country cakes for dessert. Owners are Lisa and Ben, and their concept is a fusion of Ben’s obsession with barbecue and Lisa’s love of fresh Hawaiian food. Visit Huli Sue’s →

A tasting room created by Plēb Urban Winery to showcase their locally produced wines and feature other producers who also focus on their local terroir. These growers and winemakers are known for using organic, biodynamic or minimal intervention practices. The Aventine is also home to the wine exhibit of the North Carolina Craft Beverage Museum.

Formerly H&H Distillery, Cultivated Cocktails Distillery began as a time for a father and son, Wendell and Taylor Howard to bond over their mutual love of science and the art of distilling, and has since grown to a full-scale operation that produces award-winning spirits each year. The shop offers small batch handcrafted spirits, home bar goods, mixers and gifts.

The largest independent, family-owned brewery native to the Southeast. With a portfolio of beers that honor tradition and blaze new trails, they are proud to be Asheville’s pioneer in craft and a leader in southern beer.

Independently owned and operated, no-nonsense, New York-style pizza. They’re slinging thin-crust pizza, Italian restaurant staples including subs, pasta and salads and locally sourced vegetarian options, as well as beer, wine, hard cider and coffee.

Located in the historic S&W Market, a little sister restaurant to Mountain Madre, Mexican kitchen and agave bar. We focus on the freshest ingredients full of flavor, locally sourced from Hickory Nut Gap Farms and Mountain Foods as well as handmade margarita mixes.

Hands-on owner, Chef Michael Reppert works with local and regional farmers and food producers to ensures that his food is fresh and a true reflection of Western North Carolina. The Blackbird’s goal is to delight guests with cooking grounded in the traditions and ingredients of the Carolinas, creating an affordable and vibrant menu that is Modern Southern with a “nod” to tradition.

Opened by James Beard nominee and local legend Katie Button, La Bodega is a sister restaurant to Cúrate. This is their all-day café & Spanish specialty food shop, providing house-baked bread and pastries, casual lunch, take home paella in the evening, curbside pickup and semi-prepared frozen Cúrate favorites.

Well-Bred is an award-winning bakery and café enjoyed daily by locals and tourists alike. They offer lunch, brunch, fine pastries, cookies and cakes. In September 2015, Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe was featured in Travel + Leisure Magazine as one of 15 Amazing Small Town Bakeries!

Bun Intended serves Thai-inspired street food and specializes in steamed buns, bak and curry. Specializing in homemade steamed buns, they combine organic ingredients and locally-sourced proteins with innovative flavors and colorful dishes to create delicious food. Winners of 2019 Asheville Food Truck Showdown.