The North Carolina Mountains Restaurants
We’ve compiled the best of the best in The North Carolina Mountains - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.
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9 Recommendations
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1. Artisanal Restaurant
$$$$ | |Artisanal is in a barn by a country stream, but don't let that fool you: this restaurant is elegantly designed, modern, and serious about first-rate food and service. The menu, which changes frequently, features only a few entrées, such as lamb tenderloin with charred eggplant and North Carolina flounder with morels, but they are prepared perfectly. This is easily the best restaurant in Banner Elk.
1200 Dobbins Rd., Banner Elk, North Carolina, 28604, USA828-898–5395Known For
- Sophisticated food and service in an upscale barnlike setting
- Craft cocktails and good wine list
- Chef's tasting menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Nov.–Mar. Closed Sun. and Mon. -
2. Ilda
$$ | |Don't tell anyone else, but Ilda may be North Carolina's best restaurant west of Asheville. Owners Santiago and Crystal defected from New York to Crystal's hometown during the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving behind Michelin stars to chase their dream of a community-driven Italian restaurant without pretension. House-made pastas are divine, and the cocktail program—highlighted by a series of infused limoncellos—is world-class. The team also owns the adjacent Santé wine bar and a quietly wonderful pizza joint across the street, Meatballs.
462 W. Main St., North Carolina, 28779, USA828-307–2036Known For
- Pancetta with a slow-poached egg
- Addictive pastas like squid ink spaghettoni
- Cocktails built with care
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. -
3. Ristorante Paoletti
$$$$ | |A fixture on Main Street for more than three decades, Ristorante Paoletti serves sophisticated Italian cuisine with first-rate service, although this comes at a price. The menu includes a lengthy section of freshly made pastas, along with many excellent seafood dishes. The wine list, one of the largest in the area, includes more than 1,000 selections. Reservations are a must.
440 Main St., Highlands, North Carolina, 28741, USA828-526–4906Known For
- Extensive wine list
- Upscale Italian food
- Reputation as a longtime favorite with many repeat guests
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Closed Jan.--Mar., Reservations essential -
4. Singletree Heritage Kitchen
$$$ | |Singletree boldly proclaims their guiding principles, from integrity in sourcing to sustainability, and those values are conveyed in beautifully presented plates and, most importantly, in flavor. Seared duck breast and Parisian gnocchi with collards shine at dinner, but it's sandwiches like the Brasstown Melt—sliced steak on ciabatta with horseradish, provolone, arugula, and caramelized onions—that keep the midday shift bustling.
136 Depot St., Waynesville, North Carolina, 28786, USA828-246–9760Known For
- Thoughtful wine and cocktail lists
- Photo-worthy sandwiches
- Light-filled digs
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. -
5. The Bistro at the Everett Hotel
$$ | |The best place to eat in Bryson City, this wood-paneled bistro serves hearty dinner entrées like mountain trout with quinoa and brown rice or meatloaf made from four different locally sourced specialty meats. The dining room is a rustic yet elegant space in a 1908 building that formerly housed Bryson City Bank. If you're not staying at the hotel, make reservations at least a week in advance.
16 Everett St., Bryson City, North Carolina, 28713, USA828-488–1934Known For
- A favorite for any type of celebration
- Local twists on classic dishes
- Craft cocktails and craft beers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues., Reservations essential -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. The Orchard
$$$$ | |Located in a century-old farmhouse in an old apple orchard, the Orchard is the best restaurant in Cashiers, putting a Southern twist on traditional American dishes. The decor is comfortable rather than fancy, with a few kitschy Southern touches.
905 NC 107 S, Cashiers, North Carolina, 28717, USA828-743–7614Known For
- Catering to upscale visitors and second-home owners
- Location in an old house, with outdoor seating in warm weather
- Mountain trout prepared four different ways
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted, Reservations essential -
7. The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge
$$$$ | |Attached to the Gideon Ridge Inn, this intimate 10-table restaurant is your top choice in Blowing Rock. It sticks with dishes it carries off perfectly, such as lamb sirloin, pork loin chop, or duck breast, and most items are sourced from local suppliers.
202 Gideon Ridge Rd., Blowing Rock, North Carolina, 28605, USA828-295–3644Known For
- Reputation as the best restaurant in Blowing Rock and a top spot in the region
- Locally sourced meats and vegetables
- Often being fully booked well in advance
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. -
8. Vescovo
$$$ | |Homemade gnocchi, divine seared scallops, and a brief but excellent wine list are among the highlights at this chef-owned Italian trattoria in Brevard's tidy Lumberyard Arts District. Live edge and sleek wood tables and chairs set a rustic homey tone.
175 King St., Brevard, North Carolina, 28712, USA828-885–7630Known For
- Barrel-aged Madeira wine
- Inspired craft cocktails
- Addictive focaccia bread
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations recommended -
9. West First
$ | |Wood-fired, thin-crust pizzas made from organic flour are the specialty at this lively eatery. Besides the standard toppings are more unusual ones like roasted salmon and barbecued chicken. The open-air patio is especially popular.
101B 1st Ave. W, Hendersonville, North Carolina, 28792, USA828-693–1080Known For
- Sit in the dining room, the loft, or on the patio
- Industrial-chic decor
- Eye-catching oven
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun.
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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