Asheville’s creative vibe and collaborative spirit have fueled the rapid growth of a thriving, eclectic restaurant scene. The small city in the mountains of Western North Carolina has a remarkably large pool of talented chefs who source inspiration — as well as market-fresh ingredients — from the region’s tight-knit network of innovative farmers, foragers, and food artisans. Appalachian fare, Southern comfort food, and barbecue mingle with flavors from Asia, Europe, the Americas, and beyond, making for a riot of choices at meal time.
Removal from the Eater 18 does not mean a restaurant isn’t still great and won’t return in the future; it allows for new additions, keeping the 18 fresh, inclusive, and geographically representative.
Gina Smith has covered the food, beverage, and agriculture scenes in Asheville, North Carolina, since 2013 as a staff and contributing editor and reporter for publications including Eater Carolinas, Mountain Xpress, and Edible Asheville. She also regularly contributes to Farm Bureau and state Department of Agriculture publications across the U.S.
