These are the 10 best restaurants in Asheville, ranked by local expert

With over 250 independent restaurants, Asheville is steadily earning the attention of foodies near and far. While the rest of the country gradually embraces the local food movement, chefs in Asheville are celebrating decades of close ties with local farmers. Here, farm-to-table dining isn’t a trend; it’s the foundation of an extraordinary culinary scene.

Downtown is a great place to start a gourmet exploration of Asheville. It’s where you’ll find Cúrate, which some say has put this tiny mountain town of the map. With Chef Katie Button at the helm, this award-winning Spanish tapas restaurant gives diners a front-row seat to the kitchen thanks to the coveted 22-seat dining bar that overlooks it.

But Cúrate is just one of many downtown eateries worthy of a visit. There is also Tupelo Honey Café, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from a menu filled with made-from-scratch southern fare. It’s a fun place to visit on Friday nights when hundreds gather at nearby Pritchard Park for the weekly Asheville Drum Circle.

Beyond downtown, new restaurants are popping up continuously in the River Arts District, home to the White Duck Taco Shop, where atypical taco combinations and scrumptious sangria have created a cult-like following.

Of course, who could overlook restaurants at both Biltmore Estates and Omni Grove Park Inn, where sophisticated plates are served alongside epic views of Asheville’s unforgettable mountain vistas?

Enjoy discovering these top ten favorites, which are really just the beginning of a long love affair with Asheville’s many culinary delights.