The People’s Choice

Every year, Mountain Xpress readers vote for the best places to grab a bite or wet your whistle. The following list of top picks from 2006 might be the best insider advice you can get on where to wine and dine. Asheville’s known as a city with good taste, so claiming a slot in the Best Of spotlight is quite an honor.

Cheap Lunch

1. Mamacita’s
77A Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-8080

2. Doc Chey’s Noodle House
37 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-8220

3. Rosetta’s Kitchen
116 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 232-0738

Asian Food

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

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

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

All-U-Can-Eat Buffet

1. Asiana Grand Buffet
153 Smokey Park Hwy., Asheville, 667-0410

2. Mela
70 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-8880

3. Ryan’s Family Steakhouse
Multiple locations

Barbecue

1. 12 Bones
5 Riverside Dr., Asheville, 253-4499

2. ED Boudreaux’s
48 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 253-5812

3. Little Pigs BBQ
384 McDowell St., Asheville, 254-4253

Bakery

1. City Bakery
88 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-4289

2. West End Bakery
757 Haywood Rd., Asheville, 252-9378

3. Well-Bred Bakery & Cafe
26 N. Main St., Weaverville, 645-9300

Breakfast

1. Sunny Point Cafe and Bakery
626 Haywood Rd., Asheville, 252-0055

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

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

3. Over Easy Cafe
32 Broadway, Asheville, 236-3553

Burritos

1. Urban Burrito
640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 251-1921 and 1365 A Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, 277-2002

2. Mamacita’s
77A Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-8080

3. Rio Burrito
11 Broadway, Asheville, 253-2422 and 1950 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, 687-2873

Candy/Sweets

1. Chocolate Fetish—Hall of fame
36 Haywood St., Asheville, 258-2353

2. Mast General Store
15 Biltmore Ave., Asheville (and locations throughout WNC) 232-1883

3. The Hop
507 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 252-8362

Coffee/Cappuccino

1. Izzy’s
74 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 258-2004

2. The Dripolator
144 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-0021

3. Old Europe
Asheville, 251-0001

3. Starbucks
Various locations

Dessert

1. Old Europe—Hall of fame
41 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 251-0001

2. Temptations Cafe
5 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 252-0775

3. Greenlife
70 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, 254-5440

Diner/Home-style

1. The Moose Cafe
570 Brevard Rd., Asheville, 255-0920

2. Five Points Restaurant
258 Broadway, Asheville, 252-8030

3. Tupelo Honey
12 College St, Asheville, 255-4863

Greek Food

1. Apollo Flame Bistro—Hall of Fame
485 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, 274-3582 and 1025 Brevard Rd., Asheville, 665-0080

2. Pomodoros Greek and Italian Cafe
1070 Tunnel Rd 40, Asheville, 299-3032

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

3. Stoney Knob Cafe and Patio
337 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 645-3309

Italian

1. Carrabba’s Italian Grill
10 Buckstone Pl., Asheville, 281-2300

1. Vincenzo’s Ristorante and Bistro
10 N. Market St., Asheville, 254-4698

2. Pomodoros Greek and Italian Cafe
1070 Tunnel Rd # 40, Asheville, 299-3032

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

Best Indian

1. Mela
70 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-8880

2. India Garden
156 S. Tunnel Rd, Asheville, 298-5001

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

Kid-friendly restaurant

1. Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co.
675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-1281

2. McDonald’s
Various locations

3. Chuck E. Cheese
104 River Hills Rd., Asheville, 299-3750

Late-night munchies

1. Rosetta’s Kitchen
116 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 232-0738

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

3. Taco Bell
Various locations

Mexican/taqueria

1. Mamacita’s
77A Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-8080

2. El Chapala
Various locations

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

3. Salsa’s
6 Patton Ave, Asheville, 252-9805

Pizza

1. Marco’s Pizzeria—Hall of Fame
946 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 285-0709 and 1636 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, 277-0004

2. Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co.
675 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-1281

3. Digable Pizza
794 Haywood Rd., Asheville, 255-8586

Seafood

1. The Lobster Trap
35 Patton Ave., Asheville, 350-0505

2. Bonefish Grille
105-C River Hills Rd., Asheville, 298-6530

3. Red Lobster
139 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 253-1617

Smoothies

1. Earth Fare
66 Westgate Pkwy., Asheville, 253-7656

1. Greenlife
70 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, 254-5440

2. Pineapple Jacks
643 Haywood Rd. # B, Asheville, 253-8860

3. Port City Java
multiple locations

Sub shop/sandwiches

1. Two Guys Hoagies—Hall of Fame
132 Charlotte St., Asheville, 254-9955 and 790-B Fairview Rd., Asheville, 277-7980

2. Jersey Mike’s
104 River Hills Rd., Asheville, 298-6453

3. Subway
Various locations

Sunday Brunch

1. Sunny Point Cafe and Bakery
626 Haywood Rd., Asheville, 252-0055

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

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

3. Grove Park Inn
290 Macon Ave., Asheville, 252-2711

Sushi

1. Wasabi
19 Broadway St., Asheville, 225-2551

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

3. Zen Sushi
640 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 225-6033

Vegetarian food

1. Laughing Seed—Hall of fame
40 Wall St., Asheville, 252-3445

2. Rosetta’s Kitchen
116 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 232-0738

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

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

Bar

1. Jack of the Wood
95 Patton Ave., Asheville, 252-5445

2. Westville Pub
777 Haywood Rd., 225-9782

3. Usual Suspects
791 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 350-8181

Beer selection

1. Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria
42 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-0504

2. The Bier Garden
46 Haywood St., Asheville, 285-0002

2. Westville Pub
777 Haywood Rd., 225-9782

Cocktail selection

1. Usual Suspects
791 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 350-8181

2. Tressa’s Downtown Jazz & Blues
28 Broadway, Asheville, 254-7072

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

3. Temptations
5 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, 252-0775

Locally brewed beer

1. Highland Brewing Company—Hall of Fame

2. Asheville Brewing Company (ABC)

2. French Broad Brewery

3. Pisgah Brewing Company

Wine selection

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

2. Asheville Wine Market
65 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 253-0060

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