22 Best Italian Restaurants in Asheville

“Hands down the best food I've had in the southeast in my 30 years living here. We will absolutely be back!“

“We have visited once for dinner and once for breakfast and I have a tough time putting down my utensils. Dinner with 4 had tartar and mussels and calamari apps and all were perfect. I had the Gemelli pasta dish (gluten sensitive) and enjoyed the flavors. For breakfast I had the Benedict Hash. My mouth wants to marry that sauce. The steak and eggs were perfectly cooked, the sauce is bold with lemon and paprika and oh so delicious.“

“The first time I tried to eat at Vinnie’s, the wait was an hour and a half—a clear sign that something magical was happening inside. Stepping into the warm, retro atmosphere with its classy bar, fun staff, and nostalgic wall art, you realize the wait is just part of the experience. From their legendary Sunday Gravy to classic family-style comfort dishes, the energy in the room is electric. Vinnie’s proves that a line out the door isn't a bottleneck; it’s proof of a thriving neighborhood icon.

Italian comfort dining built on pasta, dough, and slow-simmered sauces enjoys fantastic core margins. Vinnie’s leverages this strength by keeping the dining room bustling and tables turning with high-energy, attentive service that never feels rushed. By pairing tight cost management with a welcoming community spirit, they transform physical space into a recession-proof engine for making memories.“

“My wife and I have made it a holiday tradition to dine at The Original Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian every time we visit Asheville. If you’re looking for a meal that feels genuinely authentic and welcoming, this is the one spot you absolutely have to visit.\n\nThe Food We started with the house-made fried mozzarella sticks, and I’m not exaggerating when I say they are by far the best I’ve ever had. For the main course, I had the sausage, peppers, and onions, while my wife went with the twice-baked lasagna. Both dishes were delicious, high-quality, and more than enough to satisfy a hearty appetite.\n\nThe Service We did have a small hiccup getting a table when we first arrived, but the manager was excellent. Once the issue was brought to their attention, they stepped in immediately to make sure we were seated and taken care of quickly.\n\nOne Quick Tip The only reason I’m giving this 4 stars instead of 5 is the parking. It’s notoriously difficult to find a spot nearby, and since they do not take reservations, you’ll want to arrive well ahead of time to account for the hunt for a parking space and the likely wait for a table.\n\nIt’s a local favorite for a reason—totally worth the extra effort!“

“I had really only heard of Bargello while looking at other restaurants in town and seeing it in the search results. As a local, I’ve been to the spectacular bar inside the Arras, but never somehow never noticed a restaurant. Hm..

Anyway, we ate at Bargello the other night as a treat for my MIL’s birthday and it was wonderful. The atmosphere was elevated but comfortable, elegant without being pretentious. The service was exactly what one should expect in a restaurant like this - friendly, knowledgeable, and attentive without being over the top. I often lament the poor service in Asheville, especially in places charging high-dollar, but this was exactly right. Blaze, our server, was fantastic throughout.

The food was excellent. Whatever chorizo sauce they let the mussels swim in was sensational, the veggie fritters were delightful, and the red snapper was cooked perfectly. The wine selection is extensive and interesting. Order the orange cake for dessert. Trust me.

I’m very impressed by this gem that is somehow hidden directly in the middle of downtown.“

“My husband and I both ordered the Veal Marsala and it was delicious. Christine our waitress was super friendly and very attentive.“

“Beyond amazing 🌸 especially if you are traveling with anyone who needs to do gluten free. Customer service is excellent. The whole experience was so good we went back for seconds. If visiting for your first time, ask for Melissa….best waitress we ever had ❤️“

“Wonderful Place!“

“Great food great service . Crabcakes are phenomenal !!!“

“Lovely server with colorful hair.great food“

“Best pizza in town! I could eat there every day!“

“We eat here alot and we love it my boyfriend gets the wings and pizza its better than papa johns or pizza hut“

“Twisted Laurel was a perfect fit for our day trip to Asheville. The food was delicious. The service is fantastic. Thanks, Josh!“

“Apollo Flame Bistro is by far the best Greek restaurant around. The food is great and the staff is very professional. My favorites are lamb gyro and the meat ravioli.“

“Obviously short staffed. A 30 min wait combined with a lot of empty tables. We tried calling ahead but when we were transfered to the folks seating people, they never picked up.
I opted for the soup and salad. That way there is no sauce drama. And avoids the heavy pasta. The small sized entrees is a great idea.
Olive Garden is OK if you adjust expectations.“

“Incredible place to go but the owner needs to appreciate his staff, the way he speaks to them is outrageous!!!! On a positive note Chasidy always comes in for the save my server along with many other girls have told me shes the reason they are still there. The amount of respect she has for them and they have in return keeps them staffed im sure. I've never had the pleasure of her waiting on me but she always smiles and makes sure to let those of us that come often are noticed. So dont pass them up the foods good but the servers make the difference!!! Shout-out to those who have taken care of me and one today, Haley, Kayla, Kristy, amanda Peyton keep at it girls ya'll ROCK“

“This pizza is next level! They are not messin around!!! They are helping the community during the Hurricane Helene aftermath! Their salads and pasta are so fresh and flavorful. I’m from Charleston, SC, it’s a foodie town… pizza is not our strong suit(with some exceptions). We newly arrived in Asheville and our minds were literally blown away by this restaurant!!! All the LOVE!!!“

“super fast. delicious, and probably the best tazizki sauce I've found in NC. Definitely will be back!“

“AMAZING STAFF! Besides the Pizza being amazing they're even acting more amazing to the locals during a distressful time.“

“Have been eating at j&s for years, drove over today from Rockford, Tenn not disappointed, wish would come to Knoxville“

“This pizza is next level! They are not messin around!!! They are helping the community during the Hurricane Helene aftermath! Their salads and pasta are so fresh and flavorful. I’m from Charleston, SC, it’s a foodie town… pizza is not our strong suit(with some exceptions). We newly arrived in Asheville and our minds were literally blown away by this restaurant!!! All the LOVE!!!“

“I showed up to get my Too Good To Go order and was told that someone had already been in and got everything they had. When I told them it was already paid for they very graciously prepared me something fresh. No complaints or huffs. Very sweet and it filled mine and my family’s stomach that night.“