50 Best American Restaurants in Asheville

“We were greeted warmly at the door, and our server was extremely gracious and provided wine samples to help us choose the right bottle. The raw oysters were fresh and bright, the Big Bowl of Greens was a terrific salad to share. The NC Trout and Pork Schnitzel entrees were flawless. We shared a Black Forest Cake for dessert. In summary, it was a perfect dining experience.“

“Why haven’t I been here before?! Omg! So good! I got the poke bowl (a delicious combination of tuna, cucumbers and tomatoes in sauce) and hubby got the fried chicken sandwich….I think it is our new favorite chicken sandwich in Asheville. The honey sauce the used! Yum! Coming back. Great outdoor dining and all the food is great!“

“We found this little gem by chance and were not disappointed. Great atmosphere, kid friendly (albeit its an adult place). We sat at a small corner table by the bar. We enjoyed some sharable plates, great wines, mocktails for the kids, excellent wines and my wife a great Vesper made by Luci (the bartender). But the cherry on top was the fact that she made a perfect Irish Coffee - a simple drink, but buttered by 99% of the bar tenders. We will be back.“

“My husband and I tried this place out for the first time to celebrate an anniversary. David(dave) was our waiter and gave great service; he was very knowledgeable with the menu, kind and overall was great! To start, we ordered the bacon wrapped scallops that were so delicious! We ordered the filet minion and catfish for our main entrees and they were both amazing dishes. Dessert was offered, but we were just too full to try it! At least it gives us an excuse to come back. So pleased with this place!“

“The food and the service here is top notch. I enjoyed absolute best Fried Green Tomatoes I've ever had. They are layered with pimento cheese atop a smoky tomato bbq jam. The Vegan Empanadas were a hit and the Lobster Paella is to live for. This is fine dining with an easy laid back vibe.Honestly I enjoyed one of the best meals I've had in a very long time.Vegetarian options: A couple of vegetarian options.“

“We were recommended to eat here by a friend and we absolutely loved it. We had our 11 month old son with us and they accommodated us by all means. We will definitely be back next time we’re in town. The brisket Mac & cheese was delicious!“

“Was a really fun new place to try! Food was a bit experimental, especially if you’re going all vegetarian, but the details in the menu show a lot of love and care put in. Since the menu rotates so much, we’ll have to go back and try more. “

“Little D's is truly a gem in the culinary scene. Every visit is a delightful experience for the senses. The menu is a treasure trove of flavors, where each dish is thoughtfully crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Their attention to detail and passion for food shines through in every bite. From the first appetizer to the final dessert, each dish showcases the chef's creativity and expertise.One cannot help but be impressed by the diverse range of options available, catering to various tastes and dietary preferences. Whether you are a meat lover, a seafood enthusiast, or a vegetarian, there is something for everyone at Little D's. The flavors are bold, the presentation is exquisite, and the portions are generous.The service at Little D's is equally exceptional. The staff is attentive, knowledgeable, and always willing to go the extra mile to ensure a memorable dining experience. The warm and inviting ambiance of the restaurant adds to the overall charm, making it a perfect setting for any occasion.Overall, Little D's is a culinary haven that never fails to impress. It is a place where food is not just a meal but an experience to be savored and remembered. For those seeking a remarkable dining adventure, Little D's is undoubtedly a must-visit destination.“

“Had a wonderful experience at Daddy Mac’s today. The Pickle-Brined Chicken Sandwich was delicious. I loved the ‘down home’ feel of this place, complete with Mason jar desserts and a really unique and varied menu. Logan was an amazing server - was super friendly and attentive, and proactively brought to-go boxes and bags. If you are in the area, make this place a priority and ask for Logan!“

“This place is dialed in. The food was superb and cooked to perfection. The staff was very friendly and professional as well. Atmosphere was very pleasing and we now have a “new go to place” for dining out in the area. This manager should be proud to have such a well run business in this day and age. WELL DONE EVERYONE !“

“Loved the experience! The dining room is beautifully decorated. The bread that they brought out for an appetizer was really good. I especially liked how they had different types of bread to try. The food was very good too. I got the lobster tails, and both had really good flavor. Everything else in the dish was a very good compliment to it too. The filet mignon was very good as well. Very flavorful. Next time I visit I will definitely come back here for dinner.“

“This place makes an excellent martini (with blue cheese olives). It's a cool environment, somewhat crowded, but the busy-ness adds to the appeal. I think they shine more in cocktails than in food. The burger is made with American cheese, to its detriment. Burrata was good, and the table tried some small Spanish-style fish. We had another OK pasta dish as well. Less likely to return for a meal but happy to come for drinks + apps.“

“In Asheville to get married and everyone suggested Posana. They were right! The cuisine was perfection in every regard, and the staff made our night even more special with champagne, tasting spoons, and even a signed card! Highly recommend for a top notch dining experience.“

“Another outstanding culinary experience! Thank you for fitting us in yesterday on our way home from SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair) we brought our dear friends who were celebrating their anniversary. We had some small plates then scallops, burgers, and schnitzel. Just fabulous. Thank you for a perfect end to a wonderful day spent with great friends. Happy to share such a dining gem.“

“Joined a friend for breakfast at the Med. Waited about an hour to get a seat, and while waiting, got in trouble (over-shopped) at the amazing store next door. Make sure that you call ahead and get in the list! I ordered the catfish with collards and potatoes. The catfish was very good and the potatoes were delicious. I think the best (home fries) I've ever had at a restaurant. They give you a generous serving of half sized potatoes. The collards were not my cup of vinegar. Too much vinegar and spine. I dislike the spine included on most leafy veggies. I also had a cup of hot chocolate that was good too. My friend had an omelette and she thought it was okay. I enjoyed my food and would go back when in town.“

“Parking: During certain times of the day it's hard to find parking due to most residents parking near the restaurant, there is parking across the street at the school but I wouldn't recommend parking there especially as school dismisses because you will be stuck there.Kid-friendliness: I saw school aged children and toddlers as well. Plenty of outdoor seating, I also saw a few doggos sitting outside with their humans.“

“Hello my name is Bobbi Nicole and my husband Lional and son Jay had the best breakfast at Wynns! The waitress Lisa and the owner are the best, super nice people. If you hadn't tried the Cinnabon pancakes you must try. Everything was delicious. ❤️“

“Absolutely fantastic place to eat. Each meal is incredibly flavorful, and the ambiance is pleasantly quirky. It is incredibly busy for a good reason, but the staff work efficiently to get you through the line. This is a must if you're in the Asheville area.“

“This is the spot to go to when in Asheville or as a local looking for a restaurant who still prioritizes the ambiance and unmatched quality of food. Steph, Ralph and Tony are owners who care and love what they do. Easily my favorite spot to eat in Asheville. Not a bad choice on the menu. Ralph’s knowledge on wine is unreal and def worth listening to for pairing.“

“While in the area for business we came here for dinner… our server was great! The menu is awesome! The venue is beautiful and quaint!We started with their mussels and the broth they were in was excellent; the mussels were fresh and tasty as well. Next was soup, I got the broth and the other got a mushroom bisque and we all enjoyed our soup course. The broth was rich and flavorful. The main course consisted of steaks for everyone and they were prepared very nicely. Mine was slightly over-cooked, so they re-fired one for me without question. The broccoli and mashed potatoes that comes with the steak were both excellent! Finally, their cheesecake for dessert was perfect!They have a very nice wine list here and serve a decent amount by the glass too.Overall, we all enjoyed this visit… I’d definitely return!“

“We had absolutely wonderful service & delicious cocktails during our visit in Asheville. Meticulously crafted cocktails by a very knowledgeable mixologist (can’t remember his name). We will definitely be back next time we’re in town.“

“Jalapeños!!! Voila! Choose your toppings burger: pepper Jack cheese, fresh jalapeños, pickled jalapenos AND jalapenos mustard with tonoatoes for coolness was fire. Deviled egg like none other for real. They had those crispy Parmesan things on top and were spicy!! They have a gose on tap so.......it was perfect. Sour beer....I'm there“

“Yummy place where the food has that quality taste like you would experience if your friends or family cooked a meal for everyone. Warm and cozy vibe, feels like you're eating a meal at home. You can tell the food is right off the farm and doesn't have that tacky artificial taste that you experience at some places. Thanks for cooking for us you guys, keep doing ur thing! :)“

“Our absolute favorite restaurant in the southeast, the food here is just special. Their food is thoughtfully crafted, made with love, and beautifully plated. They can transform a pile of beans into the most exquisite dish. My husband, who is an incredible (professional) chef in his own right, and I think it’s better than some of the Michelin Star restaurants we’ve been to. And the service is top notch as well, we always feel so welcome and cozy here. It’s an absolute gem!“

“Great venue and outdoor space to linger before the concert. Drinks were reasonable, and the food was very good. I saw Christone " Kingfish" Ingram. Great show, good sound. The concert was broadcast to an outdoor screen by two firepits.“

“Interesting little spot in West Asheville. Smash burgers and fires were hot of the grill and very filling.Josh was both bartender and waiter but was very attentive.Parking: The parking lot is small, so we can see having to find a spot up the street and walk down.“

“Ben is such a delightful human. He is an asset to the establishment and makes you feel instantly welcomed and appreciated. Ben's competence and attitude is such a breath of Asheville mountain fresh air. If you are lucky enough to be there when he is on the waitstaff, you will have a delightful time.“

“Thoroughly enjoyed my time at The Social on Friday night. The waitress was delightful. She had a good laugh with me as I asked for a bougie drink (a lemon drop martini). It was good. We shared a laugh as I didn't care what cup it came in, but she managed to scrounge up a martini glass. My brother and I had good eats. And the bonus was the singer that night was good. Apparently, there are different musical selections depending on the night of the week. Members of the crowd were friendly, ready to sing along, and have a good time. I would look forward to going back if I lived nearby.“

“Excellence service; staff make you feel welcome and make certain you have what you need.Food delicious and reasonably priced for the quality.Tempeh Reuben with coleslaw and mashed potatoes filling.Introduced to Guinness Zero and found it a first class beer that goes well with my meal.Live band at 9 pm, which I would have stayed for if I had not had prior appointment“

“My husband and I have been visiting Asheville for ten years and have walked by this restaurant many times. We found out what we have been missing. This will be a must do on any future visit. The food was outstanding and delicious. Service was outstanding!“

“My wife and I happened to spot this cidery as we were walking through the South Slope area of downtown Asheville. Boy were we happy to bump into this place! A great addition to the many breweries that this area is known for.My wife is a huge fan of ciders. After trying the pick your own flight, she said this was one of the best cider experiences she has had. Sweet ciders, dry ciders, spicy ciders...you name it, they have it. In addition, they have a large assortment of beers as well for anyone who doesn't drink cider.Vibrant and fun place with super friendly staff. Add in some comfy couches, tvs, shuffleboard, pool table and a ping pong table, and you have one fun spot all the way around! Dogs are welcome inside, which is a huge bonus to any pet lover.“

“Really good food and unique atmosphere. Our server was great. I had the pimento chicken sandwich, it was really different but very good. Wish they had more handicap parking spots.Parking: Only a couple handicap spots, which were taken, that is our only complaint.“

“I had my first experience here today at lunch. I am not from the Asheville area, but the food was amazing. The entire staff from the host to the serving staff were amazing. This is the kind of place that I would make a couple of hour drive, just to go visit and eat.“

“ELDR is Ashevile refined. Accessible to all but off the beaten path. New explorations on the menu are elevating the menu nicely. Primary dinner menu offers diverse flavors, centered around French farmhouse & New American.Great for groups of 2 - 6. Relaxed atmosphere.“

“Holy moly. What a fantastic experience. I was traveling on business and I popped into this place for a late lunch/early dinner and a couple of cocktails. First of all, the service was amazing. I guess I came around shift change bc I had two amazing bartenders. Rachel was my first bartender and what a gem. Such a beautiful and bubbly spirit that makes you feel so special. She was super funny and ridiculously gorgeous. Next up was Tara. She was so attentive and made sure I was always good with my drinks and food. Not to mention she’s extremely easy on the eyes. Sheeeesh. Both ladies were so cool and efficient. You can tell these women have been bartending for years. All the regulars loved them so much.Second of all, the food was to die for!!! I got the Vault burger and I give it 5 stars.Lastly, the vibes are perfect. Atmosphere and music and people were all on point. Love this place!!!!“

“Me and my boyfriend visited Asheville for the time. From the food to the service to the atmosphere, everything was phenomenal. We will definitely be coming back to Asheville just to come to this restaurant. The food was so fresh. The steak just melted in your mouth. We never had to wait for a thing, everything was severed at the right time. If you come to Asheville, this is a must got to restaurant. The price is definitely worth it.“

“The food was fantastic and the service was excellent! Will definitely be returning soon.Parking: There is free parking along the street and a handful of Parking spaces in the restaurant's parking lot. I've been here several times and I've always found a spot in 10 mins or less.“

“Went back to The Admiral last night and had to review after going for over 12 yrs. Phenomenal food and ambiance. Huge salad followed by perfect piece of salmon and multiple small plates that completed every taste point. The Admiral has always been a favorite and current crew as great as ever“

“A friend told us about this place the first time we vacationed in Asheville and we were so impressed that we came back again with the whole family on another trip. The tacos are amazing and unique, not like any other regular taco place. Everything is fresh and so tasty! My favorite was the Korean beef taco with wasabi! Lots of tables to eat at, outdoor dining available and ample parking. What more could you ask for?Dietary restrictions: Almost everything on the menu is gluten free, and is marked with a star on the large chalkboard menu. This is great because I have a gluten allergy and it is sometimes not as easy in other places to see what is gluten free. It was absolutely delicious!!“

“Party of 12 of us stopped by on a Thursday afternoon. Our bartenders Hannah and John were all over it. Everyone had a cocktail within minutes and our food came out right away. I can't say enough about the service that John and Hannah provided, while also managing the rest of the bar area. The cocktails were solid pours and delicious with the NY Sour being a standout. The pub food was similarly delicious - the onions were said to be "the best I've ever had" by several of us. The fish and chips were super flaky and light and use the same batter made with French Broad Kolsch beer that is fantastic - no greasiness that you might expect. The hand-cut fries were super tasty - especially with a splash of malt vinegar. The Cowboy Cuban with brisket was superb as was the "Fettichoke". The Yelp! rating is what brought our group in and is really well-earned here at Wayside. If you're in the Biltmore Village area and looking for a great spot for craft beer, cocktails, and quick/tasty food - come to Wayside.“

“As I write this, I am thinking about when I can visit this truck again for more gumbo. A perfect fit for the cool weather but delicious anytime. This is our first visit to this truck while it was parked at Palisades Apt in South AVL. Grush and Panda opened this business a few months back and have plenty of reviews on another major site. Had to add this business to Yelp to get the word out for the locals. My gumbo order was plentiful and could easily be shared. Totally filling for a meal, however. My partner raved about the shrimp sandwich especially the slaw. Panda was friendly and shared some info on how this concept got off the ground. Grush has perfected his recipes to provide a full Cajun culinary experience. For truck locations you can check“

“We had brunch here around 10am on a Saturday morning and were seated immediately. There was enough delay before being greeted by our waiter that we had looked over the entire menu and went ahead and ordered food with our drinks. Everything came out in a reasonable time. The French toast only comes with 1 piece which is unfortunate because it was very good. The eggs were under seasoned, but the portions were very generous because of the amount of sides given. All of the food was good but you are definitely paying a premium for the location and atmosphere (eating outside on a patio downtown).“

“This was our first time in Asheville and I am so glad we chose to come here! You know with a such a small menu all of the choices are going to be great! The atmosphere was really cool and all of the food was spectacular. We went with recommendations from our waitress and were not disappointed. My favorite was the root vegetable panna cotta! We would definitely come back next time we are in Asheville. I would love to try the full tasting menu!“

“Anjuli was our server and she was wonderful. She was quick to correct a food issue without excuse or blame. Her goal was to make it right for the customer and she did. Her handling of this made what could've been a negative experience, a very positive one.“

“Fast, cheap, and tasty! It's hard to beat a good hot dog; in my opinion. You can tell that the meat they use is high quality. I had mine with all of the free toppings. This is located inside the S&W Cafeteria building. Despite some confusing conflicting reports on Google, their website, Yelp, etc, they were indeed open on Tuesday. Head on over!“

“We had a fun time sitting at the counter with our sandwiches and milkshakes! Lexi was so sweet and took great care of us. I do agree with other reviews that they could make the experience so much better with old-fashioned uniforms, really play pretend with it! They have something special here, I’d love to see that harnessed.“

“Nice space to come hang out and eat tasty food. My only feedback is the brussels could’ve been more crispy, but our entrees were great. My partner said it was the best blackened chicken sandwich she’s had. We enjoyed the warmer lighting and music! We just moved to the area, this is somewhere we’ll return to for sure!Dietary restrictions: Gluten free buns“

“I've been told about this place by many locals and I have to say... They were not wrong about the quality of product being presented, I had lunch with my food rep and he mentioned that this was his favorite kind of barbeque as well. (Texas/Kansas mix I believe) I had some burnt ends too which I somehow didn't get a picture of apparently, the customer service was as great as it gets, they were very knowledgeable and had a strong sense of pride backing their work/product. I will definitely be back! I'll review the brewery Attached later on, the brew-flight I had after my meal was phenomenal.“

“I ate here on a business trip, so normally you won't hit up the same place twice, but this place is awesome. The variety is unreal, and the menu is genuinely delicious. I can't wait to go back to that area.Kid-friendliness: Very family friendly atmosphere, with romantic privacy.“

“Handlebar has recently come under new ownership, and I must say it's truly exceptional. The Thursday night trivia event is fantastic, with well-paced rounds and questions catering to all levels of knowledge. They have a pool table with great rails, and the bartenders are incredibly friendly and welcoming. The drink prices are reasonable, and the overall atmosphere is fantastic. I’ll definitely be coming back!“