because that's what this will devolve into.


Spending the weekend there with my wife for our 5 year anniversary. Looking for recommendations for places to dine. Money's not really an object, but not really looking to spend $300 either.

7/22/2010 10:29:41 PM

Bojangles

7/22/2010 10:30:07 PM

Bojangles

7/22/2010 10:30:34 PM

aha, i can guarantee you that we will dine there at some point.

7/22/2010 10:31:32 PM

if you're going to go to asheville for an anniversary dinner, i dunno why you wouldn't go on and do it at the Biltmore.

7/22/2010 10:32:43 PM

you'll hear a lot about tupelo honey... I couldn't recommend it though. they use goat cheese for just about everything.

fucking hippies

7/22/2010 10:32:49 PM

mmmm tupelo honey is good.

7/22/2010 10:34:12 PM

^^^

we've done biltmore twice already, but yeah that would othewise be an obvious choice.

But that's really all we've ever done in asheville.


[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 10:34 PM. Reason : .]

7/22/2010 10:34:13 PM

gotcha. last time i was there, i recall that there are a couple of pretty swank-looking places downtown. i don't remember any names, but the food was pretty tasty and not break-the-bank expensive.

7/22/2010 10:35:06 PM

indeed, I liked Tupelo Honey quite a bit

Fig gets lots of love, but never been personally

12 Bones for some great bbq and beer, very casual place so probably not what you want, Memphis/Texas style

breakfast - Over Easy is a personal favorite, with Early Girl a close second

like beer? lots of great breweries and bier bars but maybe not appropriate for your situation, though there's also a top-notch beer store in town

[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 10:44 PM. Reason : l]

7/22/2010 10:37:26 PM

there is a bojangles on merrimon

[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 10:40 PM. Reason : another one off tunnel ]

7/22/2010 10:39:46 PM

^^

cool, thanks. We're doing a canopy tour on saturday afternoon, so hitting a brewery for lunch is probably gonna be the plan. An appreciation for good beer is one reason i married her

[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 10:46 PM. Reason : and bojangles]

7/22/2010 10:46:46 PM

Tupelo is good imo, and had a decent view being in the middle of downtown right by the triangle shaped park area, and an option to eat out doors. Easy enough to not order goat cheese if you don't want goat cheese. For example, I didn't have goat cheese when I was there.

Biltmore makes their own ice cream, but its nothing special. The wine tasting was fun.

I ate at Ed Boudreaux's Bayou BBQ last time I was there, it was alright, nothing special to recommend. I've only been to Asheville twice, and don't remember much about where I ate the first time around.

There's also a right fancy McDonalds, but as a its not anniversary material.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mcdonalds-asheville-5

Quote :

"Like all structures in Biltmore Village; this McDonald's is unique. Vaulted ceilings, two fire places, outdoor patio seating, and even a player grand piano. It's the most beautiful McDonald's I've ever seen."

7/22/2010 10:57:40 PM

anyone been to horizons or Gabrielle's?

7/22/2010 11:00:36 PM

bistro1896

7/22/2010 11:02:07 PM

pretty much every building in that area near the biltmore area is fancy, including the mcdonald's. I'm pretty sure there's some sort of special zoning going on there to make sure the area around the biltmore entrance isn't full of shitty facades.

Quote :

"Tupelo is good imo, and had a decent view being in the middle of downtown right by the triangle shaped park area, and an option to eat out doors. Easy enough to not order goat cheese if you don't want goat cheese. For example, I didn't have goat cheese when I was there."

it's also "easy enough" to not order junk food at mcdonald's... that doesn't mean most of the stuff isn't junk food

[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 11:06 PM. Reason : .]

7/22/2010 11:03:49 PM

bier garden

7/22/2010 11:04:20 PM

some things to consider re: brewery lunches, there are really only three breweries that also carry a menu afaik

Asheville Brewing on Coxe has a pretty big outdoor patio, very casual, good pizza

Oyster House brewing is affiliated with Lobster Trap restaurant, upscale seafood, never been

LAB (Lexington Ave Brewery) is pretty new, also haven't been here, food looks good

some pretty nice beer bars as well:

Barley's - good pizza and a big chalkboard list with maybe the best range of NC beers around with WNC stuff not found back east

12 Bones will have maybe 6 WNC beers on, and is also right down the street from Wedge (no food)

Thirsty Monk has some nice drafts , Belgian themed downstairs bar, never eaten there

7/22/2010 11:05:36 PM

Quote :

"you'll hear a lot about tupelo honey... I couldn't recommend it though. they use goat cheese for just about everything. "

What did goat cheese ever do to you

7/22/2010 11:06:21 PM

it's so bland and unnecessary!

7/22/2010 11:06:53 PM

the jabanero tequila margarita at flying frogs is fantastic

7/22/2010 11:07:16 PM

I went to Asheville last weekend for the wedding of aimorris. Barley's was awesome. We had the rehearsal dinner at Corner Kitchen. The pecan crusted trout was delicious as shit.

edit:

the bars we went to:

Barleys
Yacht Club
LAB
Magnolias

pretty cool places. i'm excited to go back to asheville soon

[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 11:09 PM. Reason : .]

7/22/2010 11:08:22 PM

Fig is good, I had the pork chop and it was cooked so perfectly, it was awesome. They use a lot of local and seasonal ingredients.

7/22/2010 11:09:48 PM

^^ That trout sounds amazing.

Quote :

"it's so bland and unnecessary! "

Can't say I've ever heard it called bland. Most people I know who don't like goat cheese bitch about it being sour.

7/22/2010 11:13:38 PM

There are no restaurants in Asheville. They don't exist there. Not one.

7/22/2010 11:15:21 PM

Salsa's for Mexican

The Thirsty Monk for drinks


Better yet, just walk around College/Patton/Haywood/Broadway/Biltmore and choose whichever of the dozens of great places suits your fancy at the moment. It's a fun place to explore.

7/22/2010 11:15:29 PM

Local food joints in Asheville?
http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=573873&page=1#13197480

Dentaldamn:

Quote :

"Tupelo Honey its downtown somewhere."

Jenniferyan:

Quote :

"^ YES. Their brunch is outstanding. http://www.tupelohoneycafe.com/"

elise:

Quote :

"candied ginger cornbread????? *drool*"

cheezcurd:

Quote :

"tupelo honey, early girl, over easy cafe, and barley's are favorites"

Kodiak:

Quote :

"Tupelo Honey Bouchon Sunny Point Cafe Salsa's"

ncsukat:

Quote :

"Tupelo Honey is also good... (disclaimer: I have only had their breakfast/brunch). http://www.tupelohoneycafe.com/"

frugal_qualm:

Quote :

"I was a concierge on the biltmore estate this summer, so I got some amazing comp meals from all around Asheville. Tupelo Honey is one of the best. "

ALkatraz:

Quote :

"We got to the following places: Over Easy Cafe Early Girl Eatery Doc Chey's Tried to go to salsa's but that place is too rich for Mexican food. Tupelo Honey"

shit between charlotte/asheville.
http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=563735&page=1#12813077

lopezlisa:

Quote :

"Asheville is great. Lots of cool spots to eat.... Doc Chey's Noodle House is delicious and decently priced, Tupelo Honey Cafe is nice and you get a good view of what's going on, Chocolate Fetish Shop has lots of cool chocolately things, Old Europe is a great coffee/bar cafe with a cool atmosphere... Jack of the Woods is a cool bar, they usually have live gigs going on in there. Friday nights there's the drum circle in the small park area, just a bunch of hippies hitting drums really. Scandals is a fun techno/gay club (nice for girls because you don't get hit on), but that only gets good around 12:30 and usually only on weekends or Thursday nights."

Those other threads mention plenty of places. But Tupelo seems to always be on the list.

Best way to decide is probably to look at menus of the places:
http://www.tupelohoneycafe.com/

[Edited on July 22, 2010 at 11:17 PM. Reason : .]

7/22/2010 11:17:07 PM

the thing that sticks out the most in my mind from Tupelo was the baked brie with fig chutney - goat free!

also, 14 hits for goat cheese on their current menu, lols

7/22/2010 11:17:45 PM

Bistro 1896, on Pack Square downtown. Extremely good. Take a look at the menu, as I don't remember it being particularly large (and I believe it's seasonal?) but I was very impressed.

7/23/2010 1:19:10 AM

another vote for Barleys

I absolutely love that place and go everytime I'm up there

7/23/2010 1:42:09 AM

Richmond Hill (where Gabrielles is) was burned down, i think the inn may have just reopened, but i dont think Gabrielles did. Horizons will be excellent, can get pricey, but is a great spot for an anniversary dinner.

tupelo is overrated

Barleys and Doc Cheys are both chains, but the food is still awesome at Doc Cheys (and you have to go to Georgia to go to another one), and the beer selection is great at Barleys.

12 Bones is great BBQ, but only open for lunch mon-fri at the original location, there is another location out in Arden, but its a little out of the way.

another excellent spot for a nice dinner is Rezaz

Nona Mia is a pretty good italian place in West Asheville, it doesn't look like much from the outside, but it is very good, it will be busy on the weekends, and they dont take reservations

[Edited on July 23, 2010 at 2:05 AM. Reason : $$$]

7/23/2010 2:04:29 AM

APOLLO FLAME!!!!!!!

This one was just too easy. I think there are two, so be smart and take the one off of the Biltmore Estate exit.

7/23/2010 3:00:06 AM

Isn't this weekend bele chere? Might be a little crowded.

7/23/2010 3:04:06 AM

The Admiral has the best food in Asheville, but it's in a dive bar setting.

7/23/2010 6:40:26 AM

Screw Doc Cheys...The Noodle Shop is where its at. The Spicy thai basil with lamb is the heat.

7/23/2010 6:46:30 AM

Savoy was good when I went there, apple fritter dessert with apple cider sorbet was the stuff

7/23/2010 6:56:16 AM

The restaurant that is in the old railroad depot near the entrance to the Biltmore Estate.

7/23/2010 6:56:55 AM

Early Girl Eatery has hands down the best bacon I've ever tasted. Their pancakes are pretty damn good too.

7/23/2010 7:39:33 AM

One vote for the Posana Cafe. Reasonable prices, upscale menu.

7/23/2010 8:10:55 AM

^^^^Savoy doesn't exist anymore, the owner changed it to a more reasonably priced family style italian restaurant called Vinnys

there is an excellent french place downtown called Bouchon

7/23/2010 9:43:49 AM

holy shit you got married 5 years ago

7/23/2010 9:58:04 AM

Gotta put my vote in for Salsas. It's not anniversary dinner fancy, but you gotta have a meal there. Mexican/Caribbean.

7/23/2010 10:01:40 AM

We like Salsa's...which is a Mexican/Caribbean restaurant http://www.salsasnc.com/

and Thai Basil http://www.thaibasilnc.com/

[Edited on July 23, 2010 at 10:04 AM. Reason : weird...two votes for Salsa in a row. If that doesn't tell you something, idk]

7/23/2010 10:03:43 AM

BREW AND VIEW

good beer, fire wings, and pizza. You can also catch movie for cheap.

7/23/2010 10:16:28 AM

Everyone is going to be there this weekend due to bele chere, so be prepared to wait a good bit for where you want to eat.

7/23/2010 11:11:52 AM

Eastern NC BBQ

7/23/2010 11:15:49 AM

^^

fuck, I was not aware of that.

well I'll figure something out.

thanks people

7/23/2010 11:43:31 AM

For a fine dining experience, i would suggest Horizons at the Grove Park Inn.

7/23/2010 12:27:11 PM

For a good ass burger for lunch or something, check out Burgermeister's on Haywood. Everything they use is homemade, so its pretty pimp. That was one of the places the wife and I hit up when we did Asheville for our 5 year anniversary.

7/23/2010 1:43:50 PM

you're so insensitive.

the guy doesn't eat cow.


he is hindu

7/23/2010 1:46:52 PM