Find your perfect Italian dinner in Asheville with our comprehensive guide, from family-run gems to elegant dining destinations.
We’ve curated a list of restaurants that offer everything from handmade pasta and charmingly lit dining rooms to extensive dessert menus and rooftop patios. Whether you’re craving a family-style meal or an upscale date night, classic chicken parm or a downtown view, you’ll find the ideal Italian experience here.
Where To Get Italian Food In Asheville
We always find maps useful, especially if you are looking for an Italian restaurant near you. Below is a map of all of the Italian restaurants highlighted in our guide. Happy dining!
This guide focuses on restaurants with classic Italian fare. If you are looking for pizza specifically, check out our list of must-try pizza places in Asheville. It includes both Italian and non-Italian restaurants that serve pizza in Asheville.
A Guide to the Best Italian Restaurants in Asheville
Below you’ll find our roundup of eateries in Asheville with Italian fare. There are so many great eateries in the area worth trying, so be sure to check out our list of recommended restaurants in Asheville.
Delicious Italian food in a casual setting
Vinnie’s is a quintessential Italian eatery in Asheville, with dim lighting, shareable entrees, and a welcoming atmosphere. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the food is delicious.
We especially love their chicken parmigiana, pasta al funghi and spaghetti with their signature Sunday Gravy. You’ll find a kids menu as well as several family-style entrees.
Be sure to leave room for the dessert, like their NY ricotta cheesecake and cannoli.
There are two locations in town– the original is in North Asheville and a second is now in South Asheville. Neither location accepts reservations.
A hidden gem Italian restaurant with a fine dining feel
Don’t let the location fool you! Gemelli, an Italian gem near downtown Asheville, is a charming and unexpected find located in a strip mall by EarthFare.
Their menu includes a variety of great appetizers, including bread service with whipped butter, as well as pastas and main dishes.
One of Gemelli’s most popular dishes is their signature gemelli pasta with lamb sausage and white anchovy butter.
Classic trattoria in the heart of downtown Asheville
Strada in downtown Asheville is a great spot for hand-tossed pizza, housemade pasta and the smell of fresh bread. Speaking of bread, try the garlic ciabatta bread!
Their menu is extensive and features a variety of regional Italian cuisine, including lasagna (+ a vegan option), fig & goat cheese pizza and Tuscan duck. Every dish is beautifully plated and bursting with flavor.
Upscale Mediterranean and Italian restaurant with housemade pasta
Bargello is a modern and chic fine dining restaurant located at the Kimpton Hotel Arras with excellent Italian fare.
The menu is also inspired by Mediterranean flavors, so in addition to Italian fare you’ll also find menu items like Moroccan Duck.
Housemade pasta is the star of the show, though they also have pizza, charcuterie and entrees like beef short ribs and seared scallops.
For pasta, we love the short rib pappardelle and the ravioli with mint dough and lemon brown butter.
Family-run New York-style pizza joint in North Asheville
Don’t let the ‘pizzeria‘ part of 828 Family Pizzeria mislead you– their extensive menu firmly places them in the Italian restaurant category.
While they do have excellent New York-style pizza (made in a gas-fire oven!), they also have classic Italian favorites like lasagna, ravioli, ziti and chicken parm. The stromboli is a crowd favorite.
And in true New York-style Italian restaurant fashion, 828 has several hot sandwiches. Try their Italian Hero or meatball parm.
Quick spot for New York-style pizza by the slice and Italian favorites
For quick and delicious Italian fare in downtown Asheville, Manicomio is a perfect choice.
This casual spot offers pizza by the slice, various pasta dishes like chicken parmesan and baked ziti, and hot sandwiches, including their popular reuben with house-cured pastrami.
Order at the counter and enjoy your meal indoors or on their patio. Don’t forget to try their garlic knots, and if available, a slice of the pistachio cheesecake!
Authentic New York-style Italian cuisine at a family-run eatery
Del Vecchios, a family-run Italian restaurant, offers a diverse menu, from authentic pasta dishes to calzones, stromboli, paninis, and subs.
Their pizza selection is extensive, featuring traditional NY-style, Chicago stuffed, and Sicilian square pizzas – one of the few places in Asheville for Chicago deep dish.
Beyond pizza, enjoy classic pasta dishes like lasagna and chicken parmesan plus made-to-order sandwiches.
They have two locations in the area, though the South Asheville spot stands out with its spacious and family-friendly covered patio on the side.
Social Lounge
29 Broadway Street | Downtown
Hand-tossed pizza, Italian fare and a rooftop patio
Social Lounge is a rooftop cocktail bar connected to Strada (detailed above!) and serves the full Strada menu. It’s kind of odd sounding, but it works!
The rooftop at Strada is actually a part of Social Lounge and is our preferred spot for dining there. It’s a great spot to enjoy dinner with a view in Asheville.
Reservations are required and can be made through Strada.