Asheville, NC Restaurants

Short Reviews from a Local

Michaels

A small family restaurant with great food, good prices, and appropriatly sized portions. I've never left hungry, but they've also never put in front of me a plate that looked like it was a serving platter in a previous life. The Alfredo is the richest, creamiest, and smoothest I've ever had. Be sure to admire the beautiful old mika-and-wraught-iron pinetree lamp hanging in the center of the dining room. If anyone knows when I can get one like that, let me know!

Moose Cafe

570 Brevard Road, Asheville, NC 28806

Associated with the Western North Carolina Farmers' Market. Fresh local food.

Acropolis

www.acropolispizza.com

140 Airport Road #G, Arden, NC 28704

Near the Airport. Small town Greek Restaurant. Great Greek Pizza, great Gyros. You really need to try the garlic knots too. Moist warm crusty bread knot with garlic and oil served with marinara dipping sauce. Mmm. Don't forget to order a few canolli's for desert before you leave.

Ichiban

2 Hendersonville Road #E, Asheville, NC 28803

In Biltmore Forest. I've never been one to pay much attention to my restaurant's archetecture, but the entryway on Ichiban Japanese steak house is something that must be seen. The food is delicious, and the staff is very friendly.

Mikado

45 Tunnel Rd, Asheville, NC 28805

On Tunnel Road, near the tunnel. The best service I've ever had at a Japanese steak house. The servers are constantly there to re-fill your glass. Order anything on the hibachi. Their glazed carrots are wonderful.

China Garden

1000 Brevard Road #166, Asheville, NC 28806

Next to the Biltmore Square Mall on Route 191. Their biggist competition is a newcomer in town. The competition advertizes itself as the bigegst buffet in town. I say what good is it to have the biggest buffet if the food isn't as good? China Garden has the best food, a huge buffet, and great service. Don't forget to swing by the Mongolian Bar in your travels around the buffet. They take the ingredients you select, grill them while you watch, and hand them back to you steaming! Before you go home, check out their selection of gourmet teas for sale. Speaking of tea, if you like sweetened iced tea, order the sweet tea here. It's a Chinese Oolong tea that they brew. Wow, great flavor. They also sell dried teas that you can take home with you.

Asian Grill

1851 Hendersonville Rd, Asheville, NC 28803

On Hendersonville Road. Try their lunch buffet. It's a small buffet, but the food, the prices, and the service are all great.

Mellow Mushroom

www.mellowmushroom.net

50 Broadway, Asheville, NC 28801

Pizza and hippies. Strange combination, but who am I to complain; It works. The pizza crust is delicious: Hand tossed, thick and flavorful, not greasy at all. Who needs anything else. They actually sell hot fresh pretzels made from the same pizza dough. mmm. The many and sometimes unique toppings to choose from are fresh and often organically grown. If you are vegetarian, vegan, or have strange dietary requirements, this is the pizza place for you. If you don't (like I don't), then this is still the place to go.

Ianucci's

Italian restaurant and Pizzaria on Hendersonville Road. The Sicilian pizza is wonderful. Their more normal pizzas are good too, but the Sicilian is a real treat. It's done right, and it can feed a small army. Hope you're patient though, it takes about half an hour to cook it once you place your order. Well worth every minute; get a salad or something.

Guadalajara

4 South Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805

A great Mexican restaurant in the K-Mart plaza across from the Asheville Mall. If you want Tex-Mex, go somewhere else. This is the Mexican restaurant where the Mexicans eat. The food's not too spicy, but is big on flavor.

Malaprops

Coffeeshop and Bookstore in Downtown near the library. Order the "Choi" (or is it "Choy?") hot or cold (it's soymilk Chai). It's my favorite.

Pisgah Inn

Go there if for no other reason than the spectacular view. On the Blue Ridge Parkway, south of Asheville. Milepost 408.6.

Zen Sushi

On Merrimon Ave, just north of UNCA, upstairs in the shopping center. Whether you like sushi or not, this is a great place. Order a box lunch. Even if you don't recognize any of the food names except 'teriaki,' don't be scared, it's all real good.