Asheville Guide » Asheville Restaurants

Asheville
Restaurants

About Asheville Restaurants

Even with its popularity as a resort town and tourism hotspot – thanks especially to places like The Grove Park Inn and the Biltmore Estate – Asheville can surprise visitors with its terrific dining scene. Maybe it's the presence and influence of artists and movie-making, but culinary innovation is strong, and the movement to source local farms for premium goods is a standard at top restaurants. Although fantastic outposts exist away from town, and myriad Biltmore and Grove Park dining rooms boast fabulous kitchens worthy of return visits, the bulk of the independent restaurant selection is clustered in downtown Asheville. Here, on lively streets and cross-streets are places like Tupelo Honey Café, which updates Southern fare in a charming, cozy atmosphere, and Laughing Seed Café, whose focus on organic, vegetarian, and international foods is legendary in these parts. That appreciation for world flavors can also be found at Rezaz Mediterranean Restaurant and Enoteca, which unites rustic and delicate ingredients with a judicious hand. Bouchon also does the city proud, serving bistro fare in a space that beautifully complements the warm, comforting food. Luckily, outdoor dining is hugely fashionable, and many downtown restaurants invite patrons to indulge themselves while watching the foot traffic go by, invigorated by fresh air and mild mountain nights. If you're weekending in Asheville, brunch is a lovely prospect as well, and plenty of places cater to leisurely morning repasts. Grovewood Café, for example, makes an excellent case for sweet and savory dishes in a historic Biltmore cottage, and Deerpark Restaurant serves a buffet affair that will have you overflowing with more than just contentedness. -- Kelly Sigmon, Senior Editor