The Most Fun Restaurants in Asheville

Frogs Leap is one of the most unique and the most fun restaurants in Asheville. Go ahead and "hop" into Frogs Leap to enjoy the restaurant's trademark farm-to-table cuisine. A constantly-changing menu includes snacks and small plates like herb Foccacia and bison sliders. For an entree, be sure to try the seared sea scallops with bacon hash or pan-roasted Springer Mountain Farms airline chicken breast. There are also wood-fired flatbreads with hen of the woods, truffles, and chorizo fresco.

Diners will find this upscale Asheville hot spot in the celebrated Foundry Hotel. Stop in for breakfast or dinner at this fun local favorite for a menu full of Southern charm. For breakfast, the Carolina mountain trout and grits or the lacy cornmeal pancakes are must-haves. At dinner, start with Hanan's fish cake with tartar sauce or the liver and pickles with cured egg yolk and hibiscus mustard. Entrees include an onion-braised rabbit with carrots and apple fritter. Try one of the Benne cocktails like the lemon and thyme with Four Roses bourbon with the meal.

Right in one of Asheville's most lively suburbs, Milton's is an upscale Southern favorite. Start on the "nibble" menu for deviled farm eggs, fried pimento cheese, or blue crab salad. The sharing menu features favorites like rare venison loin, chicken roulade, and seared red snapper. For a Southern classic, try the buttermilk fried chicken with green beans and fried shallots. Dessert is also a specialty at Milton's. Try the flourless chocolate bombe with mixed berries or the buttermilk pie with raspberry sorbet.

Hemingway's Cuba is a restaurant "Papa" himself would enjoy. One of the most fun restaurants in Asheville, Hemingway's offers a stunning view of the city. The Cuban-styled menu is a perfect accompaniment. Start with small plates like chicken noodle soup, yuca fries with garlic aioli, or grilled shrimp lettuce wraps. A creative paella menu includes the "Valenciana," with chicken, rabbit, sweet peas, and saffron rice. The Hemingway's daiquiri with rum, grapefruit, and lime juice is a must-have. Other cocktail favorites include a Cuba libre and Cuban sour with red wine float.

Californian and Mexican cuisines collide in this celebrated downtown Asheville favorite. One of the most fun restaurants in Asheville, Limones is a hot spot for locals, college students, and visitors. Start with the lobster nachos, featuring crema, guacamole, and serrano. There's also three-cheese Chile Relleno with pico de gallo and black bean sauce. For dinner, try the barbecue fish tacos with smoked chile crema, salsa cruda, and guacamole. Tequila-lime beef fajitas with chipotle salsa and guacamole are another highlight on the Limones menu.

One of the most fun restaurants in Asheville, Brasilia is the place to go with friends and family. This exciting and lively Brazilian steakhouse boasts 14 types of grilled meats for everyone to enjoy. Stop in for a full meal of beef tenderloin, chicken drumsticks, flank steaks, top loin, and much more. Meals also feature a full selection of creative salads. Pair your dinner with a choice from Brasilia's excellent international wine selection. This is the place to go for a fun night out with a big group.

Head out to the Grove Arcade for some of the best Italian food in the city. Modesto Trattoria is one of the most fun restaurants in Asheville. It's a lovely classic Italian restaurant with a garden and a full menu of Italian favorites. Select something from their "wood-fired" menu for favorites from the restaurant's imported oven. Try the wood-fired romaine with pecorino for a salad. For dinner, go for the wood-fired octopus pizza with asiago and fennel seed or the fig and Proscuitto with basil pesto and fontina cheese. A special "Jungle Boy" calzone includes fried shrimp, pepperoni, and tomato.

A downtown favorite from celebrated chef John Fleer, Rhubarb is one of the most fun restaurants in Asheville. Farm-to-table cuisine is the trademark of Rhubarb. Menus change with the season and local harvest. For a start-off snack, try the rosemary sea salt almonds or crispy fried hominy with chili and lime. A local cheese plate includes flavors from all across North Carolina. For a sharing meal, the "passing time" menu includes goat cheese burrata, Mongolian barbecued lamb ribs, and seared royal red shrimp. Be sure to try one of the Rhubarb entrees. The wood-roasted whole sunburst trout features okra cake, fresh field peas, and butter beans.

In the heart of Asheville's College Street downtown, Table is a welcoming and lively spot for modern Southern cuisine. It's an intimate spot with a fun bar scene. Stop in for one of the house cocktails. Try the 3-2 step with a mix of gins and blanc vermouth, of the "Surfer Rosa" with banana-infused plantation rum. There's also an excellent beer selection. Try the North Carolina Hulihe's Rye IPA from Fonta Flora or the Shadowclock pilsner from Burial. For dinner, start with the "Darling Bread" or sprouted pea fritters with pumpkin curry and Lee's greens. The South Carolina triggerfish with caviar lentils and rainbow chard is another favorite.

Cultura is one of the most fun restaurants in Asheville. Diners will find this unique spot next to the "Funkatorium" from the acclaimed Wicked Weed brewery. Cultura is an exciting and experimental location featuring modern dishes alongside creative brews from Wicked Weed. Start with lamb tartare with mushroom and uni or octopus with inked rice and citrus. North Carolina fish comes with lobster chowder and poached oysters, and venison loin features hominy and corn mushroom. Look for a full menu of Wicked Weed favorites alongside an engaging cocktail list. Try the "All Along the Hop Sour," with Bombay gin, St. Germain, and hop flower dust.

Waterville is the location for one of the most fun restaurants in Asheville. Glass Onion is a bright, airy Italian restaurant with a fun neighborhood vibe. The "global Italian" menu includes plenty of old favorites and new classics. Start with the graham cracker crusted fried calamari or grilled eggplant stack with fresh mozzarella. House specialties include grilled Scottish salmon and diver seared sea scallops. There are also pasta favorites like braised wild boar bolognese and angel hair with white Ecuadorian shrimp.