Asheville, NC, Restaurant Guide

Having lived in Asheville for almost three years, I had the pleasure of dining at many of the best restaurants there. Asheville has such a diverse culture that makes it a wonderful place to find some great, cheap and authentic cuisines. There are a large number of places to eat that are noteworthy however I won't go into detail about all of them. Here is a compounded list of the best (in my opinion) restaurants in Asheville, NC in no specific order.

Zambras:

Starting us off is Zambras; it is one of the only places in Asheville (for now) to enjoy some truly great tapas. This award-winning restaurant in the heart of downtown Asheville serves contemporary twists on the food of Spain and North Africa. They also boast a very large wine list. I would suggest making reservations no matter what night you plan to attend, as the restaurant is usually very busy. The menu changes daily but some staples that I always returned to are the mussels, the sweetbreads and the pomegranate pork spring rolls.

Papas & Beer:

Having traveled Mexico for a month and tasted A LOT of food I can tell you that this restaurant has some great Mexi-Cali food but not exactly true Mexican dishes, but that did not stop me from eating there multiple times. The staff is friendly and attentive, the beers are cheap and the food comes in large portions, what more could you ask for? They have 3 locations; one in south Asheville off of Brevard road past the Biltmore Square Mall (1000 Brevard Rd.), one on Tunnel Rd. across from the Holiday Inn (17 Tunnel Rd.), and the last is in Arden in the location where Don Papa's restaurant was prior. I suggest going there on their drink special days where you can get a 32oz mug of Dos Equis for $3-4. Dishes to try: basically anything your heart desires, I have never had a bad meal there although I do love the torta, and the carnitas. The burritos are the biggest I've seen and are delicious as well!

Rezaz:

(My personal favorite restaurant) Is located right across from the entrance to Biltmore Estate. They serve Mediterranean influenced cuisine with a modern flare. The staff is great and knowledgeable and they make you feel very comfortable. This is another restaurant I frequented and never had a bad experience. The wine list is very good and the daily specials on the menu are usually very interesting and worth a try. The menu changes quite often but they prepare their seafood very well and their sweetbreads are killer. Check the restaurants website often for they have frequent wine dinners where you can eat and drink a multi-course meal for under $40 usually, it's a great bargain.

Mela:

Some of the best Indian food I have ever had comes from Mela restaurant on Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville. The quote: " 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." -Anoop Krishnan, Owner (http://www.melaasheville.com/) which you will find on the Mela website perfectly describes the food. The portions are very good and prices are reasonable. I suggest the vegetable samosa's, and garlic naan. Specials are always a good bet but a standby is the Mela Lamb Curry.

Over Easy Cafe:

Trying to get a seat at this tiny breakfast only restaurant is nearly impossible on weekends, and for good reason. The quirky ambience inside Over Easy fits in perfectly with Asheville's "hipster" vibe. They regularly have paintings and crafts made from local artists hanging on their walls. The food quality is excellent, and the service is usually great. This is at the top of my list for best breakfast in Asheville.

Some other restaurants worth noting:

The Admiral: I never got around to eating here but I've heard it is fantastic. If you don't mind the rundown atmosphere it's a foodies wonderland (so I've heard).

Cucina24: Fantastic Italian food in the heart of downtown Asheville, great place for a dinner date.

L.A.B (Lexington Avenue Brewery): Sort of a large scale "gastro pub", the beers (which they brew in-house) are pretty good and the food is great.

Usual Suspects: This place has great atmosphere and even better food but get there early, the seats fill up quick.

Asheville is an up-and-coming city in western North Carolina and will continue to grow as a great tourist destination. So if you ever find yourself down there visiting Biltmore Estate or some of the other great attractions I encourage you to try to fit in some great meals while you are there.