What's for dinner? No shortage of choices here. From fine dining (we're talking multiple forks) to elbow-bumping buffet lines, there's something for every palate and every wallet. In fact, when it comes to local dining, what's most striking is the sheer variety and contrast of the area's offerings.

The early bird gets the French toast (hey, beats a worm) at the Early Girl Eatery -- which also took the (coffee) cake in the Sunday Brunch category. Meanwhile, night owls get their grub at Tupelo Honey. Local herbivores claim Laughing Seed as the prime spot to veg out, while carnivores stampede to the Outback Steakhouse.

And then there's the question of how to impress a date: Readers like to flash the bling-bling at the Flying Frog. Cheapskates, on the other hand, eschew the drive-through window in favor of such downtown haunts as Rio Burrito and Doc Chey's.

And food fanatics don't need anything as official as a meal to warrant a quick bite: Smoothies, cappuccino, sandwiches and grab-n-go mean anytime is snack time.

Breakfast

1. Early Girl Eatery
8 Wall St., Asheville, 259-9292

2. Tupelo Honey Cafe
12 College St., Asheville, 255-4863

3. Sunny Point Cafe & Bakery
625 Haywood Road, West Asheville, 252-0055

Sunday Brunch

1. Early Girl Eatery
8 Wall St., Asheville, 259-9292

2. Tupelo Honey Cafe
12 College St., Asheville, 255-4863

3. Flying Frog Wine Bar & Cafe
1 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 254-9411

Sandwich Shop/Sub Shop

1. Two Guys Original Olde Style Hoagies
132 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-9955 and 790-B Fairview Road, Asheville, 277-7980

2. 28806 Deli Bakery Caterers
1320 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5664

3. Loretta's
27 Patton Ave., Asheville, 253-3747

Coffee House/Cappuccino

1. Beanstreets Coffeehouse & Cafe
3 Broadway St., Asheville, 255-8180

2. Gold Hill Espresso & Fine Teas
64 Haywood St., Asheville, 254-3800

3. Old Europe Coffee House
18 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 252-0001

Smoothie

1. Max & Rosie's Cafe
52 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-5342

2. Planet Smoothie
3 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 298-5884

2. Sweet Heaven Ice Cream & Music Cafe
35-B Montford Ave., Asheville, 259-9848

Local Ice Cream

1. The Hop Ice Cream Shop
507 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 252-8362

2. Sweet Heaven Ice Cream & Music Cafe
35-B Montford Ave., Asheville, 259-9848

3. Ultimate Ice Cream Company
1070 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 296-1234

Dessert

1. Old Europe Coffee House
18 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 252-0001

2. Picnics Restaurant & Bake Shop
371 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 258-2858

3. Chocolate Fetish
36 Haywood St., Asheville, 258-2353

Burritos

1. Urban Burrito
1865 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277-2002 and 640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 251-1921

2. Rio Burrito
11 Broadway, Asheville, 253-2422

3. Lucky Otter
6320 Haywood Road, Asheville, 253-9595

Caribbean/Cuban

1. Salsa Mexican Caribbean Restaurant
6 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-9805

2. Anntony's Caribbean Cafe
1 Page Ave., Asheville, 255-9620

Mexican/Taqueria

1. El Chapala
Multiple listings in the Asheville area

2. La Paz Restaurante
10 Biltmore Plaza, Asheville, 277-8779

3. Cancun Mexican Restaurant
1201 Patton Ave., Asheville, 232-0057

Greek

1. Apollo Flame Bistro
485 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 274-3582 and 1025 Brevard Road, Asheville, 665-0080

2. Three Brothers Restaurant
183 Haywood St., Asheville, 253-4971

3. The Athens Restaurant
247 N. Main St., Weaverville, 645-8458

Italian

1. Marco's Pizzeria
946 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 285-0709 and 1636 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277-0004

2. Carraba's Italian Grill
10 Buckstone Pl., Asheville, 281-2300

3. Trevi Pasta Seafood & Pizza
2 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 281-1400

Local Pizza

1. Marco's Pizzeria
946 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 285-0709 and 1636 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277-0004

2. Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company
675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-5339

3. Mellow Mushroom Pizza
50 Broadway, Asheville, 236-9800

Asian

1. Doc Chey's Noodle House
37 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-8220

2. Asiana Grand Buffet
153 Smoky Park Hwy., Asheville, 667-0410

3. Asian Grill
1851 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277-1556

Vegetarian

1. Laughing Seed Cafe
40 Wall St., Asheville, 252-3445

2. Rosetta's Kitchen
111 Broadway, Asheville, 232-0708

3. Max & Rosie's Cafe
52 N. Lexington Ave., 254-5342

Steaks

1. Outback Steakhouse
30 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 252-4510

2. Il Paradiso Steak & Chop House
No longer in business

3. Texas Roadhouse Restaurant
230 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 274-4311

Seafood

1. Bonefish Grill
105 C River Hills Road, Asheville, 298-6530

2. Red Lobster
139 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 253-1617

3. Boathouse Restaurant on Lake Julian
65 Long Shoals Road, Arden, 687-4141

Sushi

1. Ichiban Japanese Restaurant
2 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 252-7885

2. Wasabi Japanese Restaurant
19 Broadway, Asheville, 225-2551

3. Heiwa Shokudo
87 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-7761

Trout

1. Trevi Pasta, Seafood & Pizza
2 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 281-1400

2. (tie) Corner Stone Restaurant
102 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 236-0201

3. (tie) Highland Grill & Oyster Bar
10 E. Market St., Black Mountain 669-9020

3. (tie) The Greenery Restaurant
148 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 253-2809

3. (tie) Pisgah Inn
Waynesville, 235-8228

Ritzy Food

1. Flying Frog Wine Bar & Cafe
1 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 254-9411

2. Rezaz Mediterranean Cuisine
28 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277-1510

3. Savoy Cucina Italiana
641 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 253-1077

Dining Ambiance

1. Zambra Spanish Tapas
85 Walnut St., Asheville, 232-1060

2. Horizons at Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Ave., Asheville, 252-2711

3. Highland Grill & Oyster Bar
10 E. Market St., Cheshire, Black Mountain, 669-9020

Cheap Lunch

1. Rio Burrito
11 Broadway, Asheville, 253-2422

2. Urban Burrito
1865 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, 277-2002 and 640 Merrimon Ave., 251-1921

3. Loretta's
27 Patton Ave., Asheville, 253-3747

Cheap Dinner

1. Doc Chey's Noodle House
37 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-8220

2. Tupelo Honey Cafe
12 College St., Asheville, 255-4863

3. Early Girl Eatery
8 Wall St., Asheville, 259-9292

Home style/Diner

1. Early Girl Eatery
8 Wall St., Asheville, 259-9292

2. (tie) Picnics Restaurant & Bake Shop
371 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 258-2858

2. (tie) Moose Cafe
570 Brevard Road, Asheville, 255-0920

3. Corner Stone Restaurant
102 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 236-0201

BBQ

1. Three Little Pigs
100 Merrimon Ave., 253-4633

2. Bono's Pit Barbeque
1360 Tunnel Road, 296-1227

3. Little Pigs Bar-B-Que
multiple locations in Asheville area

Kid-friendly

1. McDonald's
multiple locations in Asheville area

2. Sweet Heaven Ice Cream & Music Cafe
35-B Montford Ave., Asheville, 259-9848

3. Fuddruckers
130 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-2161

Grab-n-Go (local take-out)

1. Viva Europa Market & Deli
102 Montford Ave., Asheville, 281-1777

2. Picnics Restaurant & Bake Shop
371 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 258-2858

3. Grove Corner Market
101 Battery Park Ave., Asheville, 225-4949

Late Night

1. Tupelo Honey Cafe
12 College St., Asheville, 255-4863

2. Rosetta's Kitchen
111 Broadway St., Asheville, 232-0708

3. New French Bar Courtyard Cafe
12 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 254-5070

Winners with this symbol have been voted best in their category for the previous four or more years.