Neng’s is a queer-owned restaurant that packs in a ton of bright colors and tenderness—think emerald-tiled walls, a Christmas-red countertop bar, and a massive painting of the chef’s mother—into its stylish 17-seat dining room. The menu features heartfelt notes from the chef, whose food often blurs the lines between Filipinx and Southern cuisine, fine dining, and home cooking. A few staples include the adobo oyster, monkfish laing, and the funky, unforgettable queso ice cream.

This cozy wine bar delivers food that tastes as beautiful as it looks, with vegetable-centric small plates and housemade pasta dishes that arrive topped with edible flowers, fresh herbs, and pollen. Other, meatier menu hits include the smoked honey and bacon deviled eggs, steak tartare, and a cubano that comes on a baguette. Located in an artfully-renovated, historic cinderblock building, Leo’s also has a covered patio and garden lined with twinkly lights and wooden walls of ivy.

You’ll find moon-like orbs hanging from the ceiling and edible mushrooms growing on the walls at this New American restaurant. Once you peel your eyes away from the plants and stunning interior—where, yes, you can eat inside a giant wine barrel—you’ll find an excellent menu. Try to come on a Friday or Saturday for the six-course chef’s tasting menu, which is heavy on ferments, as well as dishes inspired by local chefs.

Chai Pani forever changed Asheville’s dining scene when it began serving Indian street food dishes like chaat, pakora, sloppy jai, and uttapam back in 2009. The owner, who grew up in Ahmednagar, India, helped popularize Indian street food throughout the American South, and has since expanded with an Atlanta location and a retail shop Spicewalla. Be warned that there’s no reservation system and the line regularly creeps halfway down the block.

If Julia Child cooked like a Southern belle, the result would be something like Vivian. In practice, that means rich dishes like the Nordic deviled eggs, smoked oysters, crab dip, and scallop quenelle, making this cerulean-blue dining room the perfect bet for a romantic dinner. There are also less buttery options. Local produce and Carolina-caught seafood really shine in the salade de saison, the seasonal crudo dish, and the seared tilefish that’s always on the menu.

High-end tapas spot Cúrate was one of the restaurants that put Asheville’s food scene on the map when it opened in 2011. This retrofitted 1920s bus depot has a magnificent marble bar and open kitchen where you can watch dishes like gambas al ajillo, fried eggplant, and rossejat get prepared in real-time. If you can’t manage a reservation (they’re notoriously difficult) or are dining with a larger group, head around the corner to La Bodega, Cúrate’s new all-day pintxo and wine bar.

Retro lighting, a long beer and wine selection, and a relaxed, minimalist atmosphere make All Souls the perfect place to come with a group or for a casual dinner date after spending the day floating down the French Broad River. Even if you’re one of those people who regularly toss aside their crust—which we’ll never understand—we bet you’ll end up devouring every edge of this springy sourdough, which gets its tang from heirloom wheat that’s milled into flour on-site.

If you’re somebody who binge-watched Stanley Tucci trot around Italy, there’s a high probability you’ll love this spot. The dining room feels romantic, with warm orange lights, exposed brick walls, and intimate seating options. The menu focuses on multi-regional Italian food with Appalachian ingredients, combining Sicilian, anchovy-punched pasta dishes and heartier platters of roasted meats and ragu. Cucina’s real star is the wood-fired oven, which churns out whole branzino and roast chicken.

This dive bar-meets-fine-dining establishment feels like it’s run by a pirate who's seen every episode of Bar Rescue. The menu toes the line between one you might find at a white tablecloth steakhouse and a New American spot. They nail classics like beef tartare and seared scallops, but it’s the dishes like the pork belly funnel cake, bonito sake mussels, and off-the-wall salads that really make the restaurant fun.

The lines at this brunch spot are absurd, but Sunny Point’s garden courtyard and picnic tables turn the wait into an event of its own. You should occupy yourself with generously-poured mimosas and baked goods like scones, biscuits, and muffins. By the time you’re seated, we can’t promise you’ll be the same person you were when you arrived, but Southern farm-to-table staples like the fried chicken biscuit, carrot hotcakes, and pecan-crusted fried green tomato sandwich will make you new again.