Green Dining
Bouchon – This restaurant is the “Paris of the South” offering French comfort food in downtown Asheville. They are a certified green restaurant that sources local ingredients to keep the menu fresh and fancy. https://www.ashevillebouchon.com/
Cedric’s Tavern at Biltmore – Want to dine while on site at the Biltmore Estate? Cedric’s Tavern is recognized by the NC Green Travel Initiative and Open Table Diner’s Choice. They feature English pub fare – savor local small plates or a more traditional fish & chips while enjoying live music at the bar. https://www.biltmore.com/restaurant/cedrics-tavern/
Chestnut – At Chestnut, you can enjoy fine dining in downtown Asheville with small, medium, or large plates of creative cuisine that are locally and seasonally sourced. Pair your meal with craft cocktails and really fantastic desserts. Chestnut has NC Green Travel Initiative recognition and is a partner of Just Economics (living wage certification) and the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. https://www.chestnutasheville.com/
Cúrate – Authentic Spanish tapas in downtown Asheville. A true dining experience, a meal at Cúrate is one to be savored. Cúrate is living-wage certified, a partner with Green Opportunities, and certified for local food and as a green restaurant. https://curatetapasbar.com/
French Broad Chocolate Lounge – Come here for dessert! A hot tourist spot (and for good reason), they have chocolate in any and every form – bonbons and caramels, cakes, baked goods, liquid truffles and coffees, and more: something for every chocolate lover. French Broad Chocolate Lounge is woman-owned, a B corporation (designed to optimize social and environmental performance), and is local food and green certified. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, you can take a tour of the factory! https://www.frenchbroadchocolates.com/
Green Sage – Green Sage is a great local café committed to serving food that supports community. Their menu is thoughtfully sourced and 95% organic. Pop in for a quick, conscientious breakfast or lunch or even just a nice coffee. They have locations in downtown Asheville and on Hendersonville Road, not too far from Barkwells Asheville. https://www.greensagecafe.com/
HomeGrown – A wholesome, mouth-watering menu of rich Southern cookin’ with delicious, locally sourced lunch and dinner, a green certification, and a commitment to giving back to the community. Just all-around delicious. http://slowfoodrightquick.com/
Luella’s BBQ – Community-centered BBQ joint just one exit up from Barkwells Asheville (and another location downtown) that incorporates giving back and waste reduction into its services and practices. Want to wade into the eastern vs. western NC barbecue style debate? Here’s your chance – Luella’s has both! https://luellasbbq.com/
Plant – Kick it up a notch and try all vegan fine dining. Local and organic as it can get, Plant has been voted best vegetarian restaurant in the city, healthiest bite, greenest restaurant, best service, and among the most romantic places to dine. They also have a dog-friendly patio! https://www.plantisfood.com/
Posana – Another fine dining experience in the heart of downtown Asheville with a really lovely ambiance. Posana is dedicated to partnering with and supporting the WNC growers’ community through the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project. They maintain a tantalizing seasonal, local menu, so even if you’ve been here before, the menu has surely been updated with something equally mouth-watering. https://posanarestaurant.com/
Purple Onion – If you’re interested in heading away from town and down the mountain a bit (and much closer to Barkwells Brevard), Purple Onion is a quaint and delectable gathering spot in downtown Saluda. They feature local and organic produce when available and antibiotic and hormone-free meats in their predominantly Mediterranean menu. Check them out for local music, too! https://purpleonionsaluda.com/
Sierra Nevada – Not even 5 minutes from Barkwells Asheville, Sierra Nevada has a LEED Platinum certified building and facility and is dedicated to trail and river restoration through active partnership and advocacy. Their taproom has a phenomenal menu reflecting local, seasonal availability and supplemented by the certified organic garden out back; and their beer speaks for itself. They have arguably the most beautiful outdoor seating space in Asheville (but we’re open to a friendly debate if you find one better). Finally, it’s a venue, too, and they’re slowly starting to bring musicians back to play as pandemic conditions continue to improve. Check the website! https://sierranevada.com/visit/north-carolina/taproom/
This list is by no means a comprehensive one, but just enough to get your mouth watering for all the greens you could enjoy on your next visit…and the next and the next. We’d love to hear from you about other spots you think merit a wee nod during our St. Patrick’s month of green. Any ecologically-conscious favorites you think should get a shout-out?
This list was put together using the following resources, which have even more restaurants and dining experiences to peruse:
NC Green Travel Initiative – Put together (by application) from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
NC Green Business Directory – Greenish Neighbor and Toward Zero Waste have partnered to highlight various categories of NC Green businesses.
Go Local Asheville – A fantastic directory that highlights several conscientious metrics including green and local certifications and partnerships, minority and female ownership, B corporations, living wages, and more.
Be on the lookout for our next blog with GREEN ACTIVITIES …
