Diners' Choice: Innovative restaurants in Asheville

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for the best restaurants that are fit for foodies in Asheville? You’re in the right place. Each month, OpenTable analyzes nearly 2 million global diner reviews from the past four months. We sort the results by location and category to help you discover new favorite restaurants. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Little D's

4.9

4.9 (388)

$30 and under

American

Asheville

About the restaurant

Executive Chef Owen McGlynn
Chef de Cuisine Faith Hall

COOK WITH INTENTION
We’re all about cooking with intention and purposeful ingredients to deliver a depth of flavor. Slowing down to do something well makes the enjoyment of great food and good conversation that much better.
EAT WITH THE SEASONS
Our food is straightforward and authentic. Our sharable plates change seasonally as we celebrate locally‐sourced produce at its prime. Seasonal eating is a delicious and sustainable way to support your local food purveyors and enjoy both recognizable flavors, as well as the unexpected.
YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS
We hope to be that third place for you to gather and catch up over a delicious meal and craft cocktails.
Owned and operated by the friendly and energetic couple, Owen and Mindi McGlynn of Asheville Proper, they wanted to create an inviting and easygoing space just for locals, located in North Asheville, away from the hustle and bustle of downtown life.

Top review

May

Dined 2 days ago

Great service and food! Highly recommend. The food was well-prepared and fresh. Next time I will wait for food for my second glass of wine. 😉

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Pan Roasted Duck Breast

Posana

4.8

4.8 (2221)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Asheville

About the restaurant

Posana is a contemporary American restaurant in the heart of downtown Asheville on Historic Pack Square. 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 room is ideal for a weeknight dinner, weekend get together, or a special occasion celebration. We can’t wait to serve you.

Top review

Sarahvip

Dined 2 days ago

Our favorite!The best food in Asheville. The fried green tomatoes were fantastic

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Popular dish

Shrimp & Crab Hush Puppies

4.8

4.8 (1660)

$31 to $50

Asian

Asheville

About the restaurant

Welcome to Ukiah Japanese Smokehouse, where Japanese Soul Food meets American BBQ by James Beard Nominated Michael Lewis. “Japanese Smokehouse” is defined as merging Japanese ingredients and flavors with American BBQ techniques, and everything in between.

Menu highlights include light and refreshing dishes such as Wagyu Tataki with house kimchee, yuzu kosho and savory soy or Tuna Takaki with fire roasted peppers + ponzu, to bolder flavors such as Smoked Pastrami Short Rib with toasted rye, fire roasted kimchi + yuzu pickles We are open 7 days a week, for Dinner and Sunday Brunch!

Please note, our dining room consists of booths, regular tables and high-tops. We will try our best to accommodate you at your prefer location, but sometimes it is not possible due to party size. Our outdoor tables can be requested but not guaranteed when booking on open table.

Arrived Early? Visit our casual, seasonal concept next door, HOTBOX. Perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail, or post show snack!

Top review

Drew

Dined 5 days ago

The food was incredible. The brisket was the best I’ve had outside of Katz’s deli. I can’t recommend Ukiah high enough.

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Popular dish

Coconut Cake

Popular dish

Pork + Shitake Mushroom Gyoza

Popular dish

Japanese Sweet Potato

Limones Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (6279)

$31 to $50

Mexican

Asheville

About the restaurant

Around the corner from the Fine Arts Theater in downtown Asheville, Limones Restaurant provides an inspirational mix of Mexican and Californian cuisine along with inventive bar selections served by a warm, professional staff. Long before working and training under some of San Francisco’s most talented chefs, Hugo Ramirez was raised on the intense and varied flavors native to his hometown of Mexico City. In fact, he still calls on his mother for the secrets of traditional Mexican dishes, which he reinvents in innovative and surprising ways. At Limones, Hugo’s love of Mexican food is combined with his training in french-influenced California cuisine.

Top review

Jennifer

Dined 6 days ago

We loved our date night at Limones! Garry, our server, was outstanding and very knowledgeable about the menu! We had a great time with him! The ceviche, lobster nachos and chile relleno were wonderful and great margaritas too! We will be back!

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4.7

4.7 (221)

$30 and under

Italian

Asheville

About the restaurant

Where modern-Appalachian meets Italian-inspiration, Luminosa is bringing a hyperlocal lens to Italian cuisine, utilizing regional purveyors and local team member expertise to shape and curate the ever-evolving, seasonally driven offerings. Nestled within The Flat Iron Hotel, a historic boutique hotel in Asheville, North Carolina, Luminosa's carefully designed space radiates a welcoming tavern ambiance. Our culinary heart is a wood-burning oven, infusing a "touch of fire" into handmade pizzas, house-made pastas, and locally sourced vegetables. In homage to Asheville's renowned brewery scene, Luminosa's beverage program features local brews, including an exclusive collaboration, alongside a diverse selection of cocktails and wines.

Top review

Meghanvip

Dined 2 days ago

The best restaurant we've been to in Asheville! Everything we ordered was amazing and staff was so kind.

Modesto Trattoria

4.6

4.6 (2368)

$50 and over

Italian

Asheville

About the restaurant

Led by chef and owner Hector Diaz, Modesto features a farm to table approach to upscale wood-fired Italian. The menu changes twice daily and includes a variety of fresh seafood, fine meats, and house made pastas. Pizzas are hand-tossed and cooked in a wood fired oven made in Italy. To compliment your meal, our bar offers over 30 exclusively Italian wines as well as a dynamic list of classic and cutting edge cocktails. Desserts are made from scratch, including our famous tiramisu, and we proudly serve SRO Coffee.

Top review

Luke

Dined 3 days ago

Best restaurant experience in Asheville we’ve ever had. Service was phenomenal.

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4.4

4.4 (465)

$30 and under

Italian

Asheville

About the restaurant

Bargello®, located in the Hotel Arras, is named after the 17th century Florentine needlepoint style. The intricacy of this stitch embodies the restaurant weaving together their love for community, cuisine, and hospitality to create the ultimate casual fine dining experience.

Bargello's culinary team draws their inspiration from the flavors you experience when traveling along the Mediterranean coastline. Seasonal and locally sourced dishes include fresh hand-rolled pastas, house-made breads, and innovative cuisine from Executive Chef Tyler Slade. Bargello’s menu changes often to reflect the local produce available in Western North Carolina.

Complementary valet parking is available exclusively for Bargello during dinner service from Wednesday to Sunday, between 5:00 PM and 10:00 PM. A reservation is required, and the valet service is limited to a maximum of three hours. This offer is not valid on holidays, special events, or private events.

Top review

Philipvip

Dined 3 days ago

Modern architecture with high ceilings, varied menu and an excellent wine list make this a top destintion.

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Popular dish

Short Rib Pappardelle

Birchwood Hall Southern Kitchen

4.4

4.4 (323)

$30 and under

Southern

Waynesville

About the restaurant

Elevated Southern cooking & cocktails presented in rustic surroundings.

We offer a humble selection of handcrafted creations from the finest locally and regionally sourced ingredients. Birchwood Hall passionately showcases a farm-to-table approach deeply rooted in Southern tradition. Each dish pays homage to the down-home warmth of Southern cuisine with an eclectic, modern twist. We’re honored that you’ve chosen our table and look forward to serving your meal with the utmost pride and care…

~ Nicolas Peek / Executive Chef

Top review

Mark

Dined on Sep 8, 2024

Great food, service and atmosphere. Loved the trout and others the ribeye steaks. The sides with the meals were wonderful. Even really enjoyed the banana pudding (best I have tasted since my grandmother's). Quiet and not busy. Loved it.

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Popular dish

Birchwood Fried Chicken Sandwich

Gauchinho Brazilian Steakhouse

4.3

4.3 (38)

$31 to $50

Brazilian Steakhouse

Asheville

About the restaurant

We welcome you to come experience the essence of Brazil! Gauchinho is an authentic, classy, Brazilian Churrascaria style steakhouse. We offer an all you can eat buffet, featuring a full salad bar, Brazilian hot dishes, and a rodizio of 15 different types of high quality, flavor bursting, mouth-watering meats; sliced directly at your table by our highly skilled Gauchos. Along with a full bar, including the world famous Caipirinha; we also offer a beautiful wine wall to browse, with a fine selection of wines from Argentina, Chile, and California. Come experience the Brazilian way of steakhouses at Gauchinho! We promise, you won't leave hungry.

Top review

Janice

Dined on Sep 5, 2024

We had a wonderful experience, beginning with the ample and free parking, the quiet, clean, and open restaurant, and continuing with very attentive servers. The food quality was superb, and fresh ingredients across the board. Even the vegetarian in our group found plenty to satisfy!

Rye Knot

4.2

4.2 (58)

$30 and under

American

Asheville

About the restaurant

Rye Knot is the first restaurant in North Carolina to brew its own beer and distill its own spirits. We serve outstanding plated pub fare. Our top sellers are Dry Aged steaks, fish and chips, burgers, smoked meatloaf, Reubens and Shaved Ribeye Sammies. Chef Ben Dunbar is a master cook whom delivers exquisite cuisine in both variety and presentation. Our bar has a dozen large screen televisions. We have plenty of outdoor seating. We also offer several gluten free and vegetarian options. Rye Knot is a neighborhood joint. Come join us...Rye Knot?

Top review

Andrew

Dined on Aug 30, 2024

Absolutely wonderful restaurant with great ambience and food. Service was excellent. Definitely worth a repeat.

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