“Eat” listings
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White Duck Taco Shop
In the River Arts District with a gritty outdoor patio overlooking the French Broad River and railroad tracks, this new eatery promises authentic deeply herbed and spiced tacos like Bangkok shrimp or Jamaican jerk chicken from husband and wife team Ben Mixson and Laura Reuss. $ (09/2011)
1 Roberts St
828-258-1660
whiteducktacoshop.com -
Restaurant Solace
Chef and owner Bryan Kimmett, who is new to Asheville, but not NC, has opened what is likely to become one of the city’s top fine-dining restaurants. A two-story space with outdoor seating as well as an elegant white-linen dining room, Solace features locally-raised and beer-braised rabbit, quail, trout, pork and beef. Fresh farm produce and freshly baked bread are also available at the farm stand inside the main entrance.$$$$ (09/2011)
At Haywood Park Hotel 1 Battery Park Ave
828-505-8333
dineatsolace.com -
Bouchon Street Food
This dressed-down outpost of Bouchon—set on an open-air courtyard behind the main restaurant—is the perfect place to outfit your next picnic or al fresco dinner. Choose from crêpes-to-go, salads, baguette sandwiches, cheese and paté plates, French onion soup, authentic paper cones of “frites” and bistro glasses of wine served outside. There’s a small interior bar and booth area in case it rains. $ (08/2011)
62 N Lexington Ave
829-350-1140
ashevillebouchon.com -
Cúrate
Spanish for “cure yourself,” this new traditional tapas restaurant serves up creamy chicken fritters, stuffed piquillo peppers and other small plates, as well as tableside-made cocktails like the cava sangria and a gin and tonic with an edible flower. Chef/owner Katie Button is an alumna of Ferran Adria’s famed elBulli in Spain; with her family, she has created a hip dining/drinking/socializing venue downtown. $$$ (08/2011)
11 Biltmore Ave
828-239-2946
curatetapasbar.com -
Sugar Beet Cafe
East of downtown Asheville, this diner opened up in a one-time Huddle House (a regional restaurant chain). Picture mile-high servings of homestyle corned beef hash, mountainous veggiefilled omelets, fluffy biscuits smothered in gravy and local sausage hidden beneath half-inch-thick banana-walnut pancakes. Order a mimosa (it comes in a jelly jar) and enjoy one of the best breakfasts you'll ever have. $ (05/2011)
1185 Charlotte Hwy
828-628-0094
sugarbeet-cafe.com -
Posana Cafe
This spot anchors a busy corner on Pack Square, a prime people-watching locale. Outdoor tables offer diners a front-row view of busy sidewalks, and a special menu features gluten-free meals all day. Innovative recipes like buttermilk-marinated Springer Mountain chicken and pumpkin seed-crusted pork tenderloin tempt the tastebuds. $$ (05/2011)
1 Biltmore Ave
828-505-3969
posanacafe.com -
Nine Mile
This unassuming Caribbean eatery is a standout in the Montford historic district. Beans and rice are served alongside fresh fish, local vegetables and jerk everything (including tofu… this is Asheville, after all). Try the Marley's Magic—jerked Carolina trout tossed with linguini or rice in a creamy white wine coconut ginger curry sauce—with a locally brewed draft beer. $ (03/2011)
233 Montford Ave
828-505-3121
ninemileasheville.com -
Tingles Cafe
The red-and-white-checkered floor, paper tablecloths, Formica and chrome fixtures at this newly refurbished diner will make you feel like you’ve stumbled into another era. Soda jerks mix brown cows, floats, egg creams and creamsicles (as well as housemade sodas) to accompany hearty nouveau- Americana dishes like bacon-wrapped meatloaf and fried catfish. $$ (03/2011)
27 Broadway St
828-255-4000
tinglescafe...lescafe.com -
Old Europe
Ashevillians tend to hibernate in the winter, but are happy to come out of hiding for marzipan squares, Linzer cookies and other delights in the newly re-opened Old Europe Pâtisserie, now in its third incarnation. $ (02/2011)
13 Broadway St
828-255-5999
oldeuropepastries.com -
RED STAG GRILL
Cozy pelt-lined booths, twig chandeliers, a petrifi ed wood bar and antlers everywhere are some of the elements that breathe old money elegance into this popular hotel dining room in Biltmore Village. European comfort food meets local farm-fresh produce, mountain trout and hearty game meats like elk, duck and quail. $$$ (01/2011)
At the Grand Bohemian Hotel 11 Boston Way
828-398-5600 -
CORNER KITCHEN
This quaint cottage eatery, located in Tudor-style Biltmore Village, features an ever-changing menu of new Southern cuisine. Standout dishes on the dinner menu include macadamia nut-crusted fish and habañera fig barbecue porkchop. Breakfast and lunch (and weekend brunch) are also served in the courtyard of this old house. $$$ (11/2010)
3 Boston Way
828-274-2439
thecornerkitchen.com -
CLINGMAN CAFÉ
Join River Arts District potters, painters and glass blowers over spicy ham bagels at this cozy eatery awash in local artwork. Heaping salads and specialty sandwiches like the Thunderbird (smoked turkey, bacon, swiss, chipotle mayo, pepperoncini relish and Dijon mustard on grilled sourdough) are great at the outdoor tables or inside. $ (09/2010)
242 Clingman Ave
828-253-2177
clingmancafe.com
