North Carolina, United States Food Guide: 10 Contemporary food Must-Eat Restaurants & Street Food Stalls in Asheville

October 24, 2019 Jasper Kershner

Reviews on Contemporary food in Asheville, North Carolina, United States. If you’re into eating locally and supporting sustainable agriculture, go to Asheville—and eat, eat, eat. This town of less than 100,000 people has 17 farmers’ markets, and the local restaurant scene is all about taking advantage of the seasonal produce sold there. And don’t miss the area’s microbreweries.
Things to do in Asheville

10. The Market Place Restaurant

20 Wall St, Asheville, NC 28801-2710 American, International, Contemporary Dinner, Brunch Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music, Jazz Bar [email protected] +1 828-252-4162 http://www.marketplace-restaurant.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 946 reviews

Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, The Market Place Restaurant specializes in handcrafted cuisine from seasonal, local ingredients, many of which come from within a 100 mile radius of Asheville. Bringing you the local harvest since 1979. Serving

Reviewed By deevee2

This restaurant is not listed in T/A as open for breakfast, but we recently stopped there and had a great late breakfast. All of the food was prepared with care and a bit of innovation and the service was fantastic. We would definitely return.

9. The Market Place Restaurant

20 Wall St, Asheville, NC 28801-2710 American, International, Contemporary Dinner, Brunch Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music, Jazz Bar [email protected] +1 828-252-4162 http://www.marketplace-restaurant.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 946 reviews

Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, The Market Place Restaurant specializes in handcrafted cuisine from seasonal, local ingredients, many of which come from within a 100 mile radius of Asheville. Bringing you the local harvest since 1979. Serving

Reviewed By deevee2

This restaurant is not listed in T/A as open for breakfast, but we recently stopped there and had a great late breakfast. All of the food was prepared with care and a bit of innovation and the service was fantastic. We would definitely return.

8. Copper Crown

1011 Tunnel Rd #100, Asheville, NC 28805-2058 American, Contemporary Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Drinks Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Free Off-Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Tabl [email protected] +1 828-505-7531 http://coppercrownavl.com/
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

4 based on 195 reviews

Copper Crown

Reviewed By GPBurdell67

I enjoyed my breakfast here -- a short stack of pancakes and HNG sausage. Very tasty and well prepared. My companion was disappointed in her chicken and waffle -- her comments ranged from tasteless (waffle) to too much breading (chicken). Service was variable -- friendly but sporadic. Prices were a little high.

7. The Dining Room

1 Antler Hill Rd Inn on Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC 28803-8692 Contemporary, American Dinner, Brunch, Late Night Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Parking Available, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service +1 828-225-1699 http://www.biltmore.com/visit/things-to-do/dining/the-dining-room
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 655 reviews

The Dining Room

Main restaurant of the Inn on Biltmore Estate

Reviewed By Mike B

We live in Asheville but haven't eaten dinner here before mostly because there are so many other awesome restaurants in town to choose from. But it was a special occasion so we came here and were very impressed. I certainly do not understand some of the poor reviews it has received. Our service and overall experience was outstanding and the food was very inventively prepared and presented. It is expensive, but for a fine dining experience which is what we were seeking it was a wonderful evening that was greatly enhanced by the attention and pacing of our server, Stuart. It's all prix fixe either 3- or 5 course. We both chose the 3-course option and it was quite sufficient. I believe I had the filet and lobster and my wife chose the fish. Both were very nicely done. We had wine by the glass which was just enough and turned out to be a better value than ordering by the bottle anyway. Our understanding is that only about 5% of the diners here are locals, the rest are visitors. So if you are a fellow Ashevillian and looking for a fine dining experience for that special occasion, I might recommend you consider The Dining Room especially if you're a passholder and can take advantage of the discount. And if you're just visiting our wonderful town then welcome, spend lots of your money here and take back many fond memories including of this restaurant.

6. Tupelo Honey

12 College St, Asheville, NC 28801-2803 American, Contemporary Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Drinks Outdoor Seating, Seating, Parking Available, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Wine and Beer, Accepts Credit Card [email protected] +1 828-255-4863 http://tupelohoneycafe.com/location/downtown-asheville/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 6197 reviews

Tupelo Honey

Our Southern dishes and libations are served with a creative twist and a smile, and we serve our guests nothing that we wouldn't want on our own supper table. When we play with our food (and we think it's okay), the result is scrumptious. We're rooted in

Reviewed By 2Runks

Our waiter, Daryl made this a fun visit. He was welcoming and knew the menu and drink options well. That's always impressive. Daryl was attentive throughout our late lunch for two. One of us ordered a cocktail called "Mountain Smoke"...it was kitchy and fun to watch as the bartender had to come to the table to pour it, but it is not worth the $15 charge. Delicious biscuits are brought to start. One of us had the Shoo Mercy sweet potato pancakes...mercy, they were awesome! Buttermilk fried chicken, apple cider bacon, toasted pecans, two fried eggs, all atop sweet potato pancakes. Throw on some Tabanaro hot sauce to make the dish complete if you like some heat. The other entree ordered was the Appalachian salad, which had plenty of fresh spinach with goat cheese, toasted pecans, berries, and sweet potato puree. Thanks, Daryl and Tupelo Honey for a great lunch!

5. Laughing Seed Cafe

40 Wall St, Asheville, NC 28801-2710 International, Contemporary, Healthy Lunch, Dinner, Brunch Parking Available, Takeout, Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, +1 828-252-3445 http://laughingseed.com/
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 1021 reviews

Laughing Seed Cafe

The Laughing Seed Cafe is Asheville's original downtown international vegetarian restaurant. We've provided the finest organic, local, and farm-to-table vegetarian cuisine with an international flair for twenty years and counting.

Reviewed By RoyalsfanChicago

Never having eaten at a vegetarian cafe, we didn't know what to expect. A huge menu was available with many yummy sounding entrees. We were there for brunch, so we went with the 3 egg omelet with broccoli and portabello"bacon". The biscuits and smokey roasted potatoes were very good too. So, we weren't adventurous, but liked our meals alot.

4. Posana

1 Biltmore Ave Street Level, Asheville, NC 28801-3603 American, International, Contemporary, Healthy Dinner, Brunch Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Free Wifi, Accepts Discover, Reservations, Private Dining, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Se [email protected] +1 828-505-3969 http://posanaavl.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 1077 reviews

Posana

With a focus on serving local, seasonal, and sustainable cuisine, Posana sources unprocessed, premium ingredients from nearly 65 different local purveyors and farmers each week and regularly changes the menu. The restaurant's warm welcoming main dining ro

Reviewed By Heidi S

Excellent from start to finish. Zoo complaints at all! Service was great on the patio - September 28, 2019.

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3. Jargon

715 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806-3111 American, Seafood, Contemporary Dinner, Drinks Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts American Express, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Accepts Discover, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Wheelchair Accessi [email protected] +1 828-785-1761 http://Jargonrestaurant.com
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

5 based on 288 reviews

Jargon

While we’d consider our cuisine “American” to reflect a melting pot of beautiful diversity, we emphasize global or “of the continents” as the muse for our menu. We start with the absolute best possible locally sourced ingredients and then mix in some crea

Reviewed By cardiak

I guess that your rating is dependent on previous experience. The service is very good and they really do try to please. The ambience is more of a local restaurant then an elegant dining establishment. The bill was well over $200 for two people. I told him that I was a vegan vegetarian when I entered however I would for tonight become a pescatarian. The problem was that the appetizer, Pei mussels had Tasso in it, and I was disappointed that I did not recognize that that was ham. My partner did not let it go to waste as he is a omnivore. The waiter who I had informed, did not point that out to me. The fish is the day was tile fish which was prepared wel, l however I felt that the cr ust was too salty and it was prepared in a southern style where the accoutrements should be combined to maximize flavor sensation. I had the chocolate pumpkin tart for dessert and a specialty coffee both of which were good. The chocolate pumpkin tart could have been better. We have made reservations at another highly rated local restaurant for tomorrow night for comparison.

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2. The Market Place Restaurant

20 Wall St, Asheville, NC 28801-2710 American, International, Contemporary Dinner, Brunch Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Private Dining, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, Live Music, Jazz Bar [email protected] +1 828-252-4162 http://www.marketplace-restaurant.com
Food
Service
Value
Atmosphere
Overall Ratings

4 based on 946 reviews

Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, The Market Place Restaurant specializes in handcrafted cuisine from seasonal, local ingredients, many of which come from within a 100 mile radius of Asheville. Bringing you the local harvest since 1979. Serving

Reviewed By deevee2

This restaurant is not listed in T/A as open for breakfast, but we recently stopped there and had a great late breakfast. All of the food was prepared with care and a bit of innovation and the service was fantastic. We would definitely return.

Most Popular Cafe food in Asheville, North Carolina, United States

1. BimBeribon

697 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806-3264 Cafe, International, Contemporary, Healthy, Wine Bar Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Brunch, Drinks Takeout, Outdoor Seating, Seating, Street Parking, Free Off-Street Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Free Wifi, Accepts Credit Cards, Parking Available, Highchairs Available, Serves Alcohol [email protected] +1 828-505-0328 http://bimberibon.com
Food
Service
Value
Overall Ratings

4 based on 76 reviews

BimBeribon

At the end of the day it's all about feeling good, doing good, and living good. At BimBeriBon, we want you to live your best life, and we believe that starts with good food. But we want it to be delicious too! So our menu is full of only "real, feelgood f

Reviewed By gypsyiam

I personally love their bakery items because its all gluten free. And basically its all I ever buy. The food...well too woo woo for me. But others like it. I'm into more plain simple food without all the spices and such. Its a hoping busy place. Folks at counter are really sweet. As usual not enough parking as with most anything around this area. Thank you for the straightforward review! The next time you're in, ask the server for a simple recommendation. Of course, you can always stick to the bakery items; there are so many great things to choose from. :) See you soon.

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