Gemelli was recommended by the hotel across the street. The service was very prompt but overall I didn't think our meal was paced well. We finished our meal in 50 minutes. I thought the squid ink pasta was a bit bland and didn't have much crab. My wife had the cacio de pepe and we both thought it was too peppery. The Ceasars also didn't appeal to us. Overall a middling result. read more

We have, finally, found our GO-TO place in Asheville. This started on Valentines Day when our dinner plans were disrupted and at noon I had no where to go. I called and explained my dilemma to Joel. He suggested that we come sit at the few seats they had at the bar. We Did! That's where we met Genna (sp) she was busy but also engaging. When the food arrived IT WAS FANTASTIC! A+ Yesterday we went to the new location where Genna immediately remembered us and was SO delightful. We talked to her and Joel while another A+ meal arrived. I can't recommend this restaurant high enough. Food A+, Facilities A+, Atmosphere A+, Service A+++ This is our new Go-To restaurant and it should be yours as well. Gemelli wine was excellent. We sat at the bar (my request) Tim read more

I know this place has a strong following, but after trying it twice, it just hasn't impressed me. Some dishes were better than others, but overall the food leaned heavily on salt. The bean dip was so salty and garlicky that it was inedible for me. The ragu had decent flavor, but again was overly salty, and the pasta itself was very dense. The short rib dish was probably the best item we tried, though it too was quite salty. We also tried the meatballs, which were dry and not something I would order again. Another disappointment was the added credit card fee. I understand that some people may not mind this, but with the number of extra fees diners are already facing, it's frustrating and discouraging. The pricing also felt high for what was offered--pasta dishes start at $22 without protein, and adding protein begins at $9. For that price point, I expect more value and balance. Overall, I left feeling underwhelmed and found the experience overpriced for the quality. read more

I wasn't a huge fan of Gemelli as it existed at its former location. But its reincarnation in a beautifully restored historic building in Biltmore Village with a largely new menu completely changed my mind for the better. First, they did an amazing job on the interior. it's aesthetically beautiful but also homey and comfortable. A great combination. Putting this much money into refurbishing a building that is in a flood zone (at least minor, if not the "100 year" flood from Hurricane Helene), takes passion and guts. Kudos to them for investing in preserving Asheville! But an attractive interior alone doesn't guarantee a great restaurant. That really comes down to the food, as well as the service. Both are outstanding here. The service from beginning to end was friendly and attentive at the right level. But it's the food that will bring me back here. Let's start with the arancini appetizer: three large rice balls fried to perfect crispiness and full of tasty rice and cheese. The vodka sauce sealed the deal. Highly recommended! It's rare to find a vegetarian version of these, but no meat is needed in this stellar recipe. For entrees, we had lasagna, bucatini, truffle mushroom risotto and cacio e pepe. Serving sizes were good; the risotto was actually quite large. All the entrees were very good, but I'd have to give the nod to the cacio e pepe for being outstanding. This is a relatively simple dish in terms of ingredients, so when a restaurant can get it to this level, it's an amazing thing. It had all the richness and taste of a great alfredo, with more nuance and without the heaviness. Part of what makes this dish so good here comes down to the pasta that they make daily on-site. Some of the best pasta I've had. Even after these meals, we couldn't pass up dessert. Both the cannoli with its orange zest finish and the tiramisu with its multi-layer complexity were excellent. The tiramisu for its size might be a tad over-priced, but still worth it if you appreciate great tiramisu. My only suggestion comes down to bread, or lack thereof. They make bread on-site, but if you want it, you need to purchase bread service as an appetizer. If you order other appetizers, as we did, it feels excessive to order a bread service. My suggestion is to include one piece of bread as a side with all entrees. Not too much to ask I think. Hopefully someone from Gemelli will see this and make this improvement to their food service. Lastly, they have a good cocktail and wine selection, and a decent beer selection, including a couple of Italian beers. Highly recommended. We'll definitely come back. read more

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This is a hidden gem in a strip mall! You must try it! We started off with the homemade foccacia and mussels. The bread was delicious and served hot. The mussels were flavorful and cooked perfectly. I ordered the chefs special which was beef tips, fingerling potatoes and asparagus. The beef was very flavorful and so tender! I could cut it with a butter knife. My husband had the ragu which had homemade pasta and was very good. We were too full for dessert but they had some delicious options. Service was fast and friendly.The restaurant itself is really well decorated and you would never know you were in a strip mall! read more

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I showed up here to blow a $50 gift card that I got for Christmas. Service and ambiance worked out well, especially for a newly opened location. For my first course, I got the calamari, served with a garlic aioli, shishito peppers, and a grilled lemon. The calamari was perfectly crispy and generously salted, the shishito peppers were soft, and the aioli reminded me of the one from Baby Bull. For my second course, I got the gluten-sensitive version of the bucatini, made with cured lamb sausage, broccolini, anchovy lamb fat butter, and grana padano. The GF pasta was cooked perfectly, as were the meat, and veg (including the garlic and scallions). All of the flavors worked in Italian harmony. For my third and final course, I got the risotto, made with saffron and leeks. The rice was cooked perfectly and the garnish added excellent flavor. Overall, this is true Italian cuisine and the perfect 110th review. read more

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First the positives: The service was great and the staff was welcoming and engaging. The restaurant looks great and we were all excited to try it for the first time. For a starter we had the mussels, which were excellent. We also had a couple of orders of bread which was also outstanding. Then came the main course. 3 of us had the vegetarian lasagna which came out overcooked and looked burnt. None of us thought it was good and each left about half of it on the plate. The sauce that came with the lasagna was tasty but there was very little on the plate. I had the meat lasagna which also had very little sauce and tasted OK but nothing to write home about. Would not order that again. One of our group had the flat iron steak which she said was excellent. If we go again we would only order the appetizers. Please try harder on the main dishes. read more

First time dining here and we loved it! We ordered the fried artichokes- YUM! The ravioli were out of this world, best pasta dish I've had in a while - Tre formmagi-stuffed, verde crema, pistachio, torn basil, & grana. The burrata alla vodka - Creste di gallo, vodka sauce, burrata, & basil - also delicious. My boyfriend and i always share so it was nice to go back and forth between the two very different dishes. For desert we got the tiramisu, super delicious. Service was on point and very nice. Ambiance was nice with dim but not dark lighting and LOVE the couch dining and was very happy they accommodated the request for the couch. :) read more

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Ordered the Flat Iron Steak for $38 and they brought out 2 pieces of steak which equated to less than half a steak. We asked for a little red sauce for the Calamari and they charged us $3 extra. They also added 2 additional charges on the final bill; Kitchen Appreciation and also Credit Card use. Give me a break. Why don't you start charging for Napkin usage. Enough is enough. read more

With mostly empty seats, the hostess seated us nearest to the door, maybe everything was booked, let's hope. The lady leaded back to the wall after us, got served with water and things, no waiters even cast their glance while we were waiting. Finally, a guy with an apron saw us waiting, brought water and took our order. I had read great reviews about this place, but first impression is disappointing read more

Gemelli Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Tonite was my first visit to Gemelli, my wife and I eat at their "sister" restaurant Strada in downtown almost monthly. I was really impressed. We ate early, and sat on the patio, which meant we got to watch a pretty wild lightning show in the immediate area, but even on the patio stayed dry. Our salads were great, my wife was especially happy with the roasted garlic vinaigrette, and the radicchio made a nice twist on my Caesar. I had the branzino and my wife had the Calabrian scampi and we were both very happy. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Our waitress was very attentive without being overbearing. I prefer the downtown "vibe" of Strada, but the food is a toss-up, both places are five-star. Owner/chef Anthony Cerrato has two of the best restaurants in town. read more

Delicious, authentic Italian food! Like nothing you'll get anywhere else. It was absolutely the most wonderful meal. Fantastic ambience, the server was great and the cocktails were tasty :-) we got bread as an appetizer and it was beyond delicious as well as the fried artichokes! Wow! It is reasonably priced and extremely delicious. We highly recommend. read more

Gemelli Restaurant - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Food,ambiance was great, but you need to work on not rushing through orders. We ordered an appetizer and our dinner came out way too soon while we eating our appetizer. read more

Went for the feast of seven fishes! Food was rushed out like they wanted us to eat and leave quickly but the martini's, which tasted awful, took forever to come out. After the martini's failed, my wife ordered a spritz cocktail, I believe called Calabrian Spritz, and it smelled and tasted like lemon scented dish soap. The feast of seven fishes was definitely NOT worth $75.00 per person. Food left a bad after taste in my mouth that I could not describe. We left extremely disappointed. read more

Wonderful menu. Food was delicious and as described. Eager to re-visit once relocated near Biltmore Village.

Adorable spot. Really good food, server was super kind. Also hit Monday burger night which was solid! And the sourdough starter was beyond delicious read more

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What a WONDERFUL find!!!! Gemelli is exactly as I had hoped, no disappointment here. When we are in town, we will be here. This time was for breakfast. The restaurant sets in a strip mall, so the parking is abundant. Inside is just the same, abundant amounts of comfortable seating. The ambiance here is delightful. The service is great, and serving staff is very polite and respectful. Their attentiveness to our table was very much appreciated. When you enter, approach the counter and order there before being seated. Try the Tuscan Poached Eggs......Oh My sweetbabyjeebus!!! Either that, the Forage Skillet Frittata, or the Benedict Hash. These are all wonderful brunch items. Definitely stop in and feed your inner Italian!!! You all have it, you just need reminders read more

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I'm back in the area and had to eat here again because the food is so great. I got the gluten-sensitive focaccia, the shrimp scampi with GS pasta, and a side salad. It was amazing. my boyfriend liked the vodka sauce a lot as well. I will always eat here when I'm in Asheville! read more

My family visited the Asheville area for a wedding and we needed a spot that can accommodate 8 people on short notice on a Friday evening. If that doesn't already sound like a fool's errand, we also needed a variety of specific dietary restrictions to be met. Oh yeah, and our little collective desired high quality Italian food that could pass our Nonna's scrutiny. I am happy to say that Gemelli fits all of this, and while it may not be in the trendy downtown, the service and food certainly make it a contender for the highlight of our trip's eating experiences. Servers were warm, the owner was visible talking to guests and solving problems. The decor was a mix of neutrals and lighter colors that worked nicely with the natural light that floods the space. This location is inside your typical strip mall style complex, so the windows are large and the room is one uninterrupted rectangle. While a far cry from the darker, more intimate atmosphere you may find in the other restraints in the bustling downtown of Asheville, I cannot stress enough that this place's vibe is still welcoming and worthy of the food. I may even suggest that the open dining space allowed for some fun family banter as we watch the rest of the night unfold before us. Last detour before the food: upon our arrival, I noticed that Gemelli takes their wine seriously, with the 'by the glass' bottles hooked up to wine dispensers that maintain the freshness of the remaining liquid. One of my greatest pet peeves is paying the price of a glass and getting an older serving that has lost its luster. Especially when many by the glass offerings are not aged much to begin with, these otherwise very enjoyable and drinkable wines deserve a nice touch like this, and it communicates to me that this isn't just a business: the owner truly cares about the details. Alright: the food. When you glance the menu you will notice that there's something for everyone in a dietary sense. The menu is intentionally stricter to give gluten free diners, vegetarian diners, and vegan diners somethings to look forward to. All the more impressive, some of these options are not 'swaps' of one version to another, the dish was designed to be great that way from the start. The focaccia, which was prepared to be gluten free from the start, is probably the best example of this. I was prepared to be skeptical as a gluten devotee, and I was pleasantly surprised. Other stand out dishes were the Ragu, the short rib and polenta (executed with obvious technical skill as it was very tender and still juicy), and the burger. While there are some small tweaks to be recommended, like adding a vegetable to the short rib dish, I cannot stress enough how satisfied each of the eight of us were. That was perhaps the most impressive feat of the night. Whether you live here or visit here, please make the extra ten minute drive and try this spot. You'll be grateful you did. read more

Just outside of the city center, this place is much nicer inside than its strip mall surroundings suggest. I came mid-afternoon trying to avoid crowds and was successful. I bet the crowds do come at peak hours. The salad I started with was fantastic; the very lightest of leaves with just a hint of dressing in every bite and bits of shaved cheese and cherry tomatoes for variety. I thought their pasta options looked better than the pizza; a cacio e pepe always feels to me like the sort of thing you'd order for a six-year-old who doesn't eat anything, but theirs is quite impressive. The black pepper and cheese flavors were true, but this dish came with even more salad, and if there is such a thing as too much arugula in a day, I did not hit the limit. Arugula goes great with pepper. Their dessert options looked pleasing, but I had no room, sadly. What's also notable about this place is that there are clear markings for vegan and gluten-free options, so whereas Italian cuisine tends to be problematic for those with dietary restrictions, this place is more viable than most. And while I didn't get their vegan lasagna, primarily because I wasn't hungry enough, the overall quality here was convincing. read more

Gemelli Restaurant - Gemelli insalata - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Our organization had a small dinner meeting at Gemelli on a Thursday night. Run by the same group that operates Strada downtown, Gemelli has an attractive, tasteful interior. You wouldn't know that Westgate was Asheville's first strip shopping center, opening more than 70 years ago, and that over the years the Gemelli location has housed many different businesses including restaurants. There's plenty of parking near the restaurant. Earth Fare is next door. Service was friendly, prompt and competent. I understand it gets busy on weekends, but on Thursday there was a good crowd yet still a number of empty tables. Gemelli serves many of the "standard" Italian dishes, from both Northern and Southern Italy, like risottos, meatballs with pasta, raviola, lasagna, Branzino, mussels, Caprese salad and such. The bar has a selection of Italian wines and Peroni beer, along with some cocktails. I started with the calamari apetizer ($13), which I thought was only okay. The cacio e pepe ($16) was very good and in a huge serving. The same was true for my partner's mussels ($16). Most people in our group seemed to enjoy their dinners. There was a selection of several gluten-sensitive options. Prices are generally moderate, with the most expensive dish $30. The bread service, at $9, seemed overpriced for three or four pieces of grilled bread. Besides, several of the dishes including the mussels, come with bread included. read more

Amazing establishment! I went on a Friday with two of my family members and it was pretty empty. The food was phenomenal and service staff was friendly. We are visiting Asheville for the weekend and are already talking about coming back for dinner. The waiter did recommend to make a reservation if you plan on coming Friday, Saturday or Sunday night for dinner. read more

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Found this while searching for something quick and not going to break the bank. This had a cafeteria-like feel, as I think it is an order-at-the-counter at lunch and switches to table service for dinner. We were seated quickly and ordered some drinks, appetizers, and our main dishes. I was thankful that we put in our whole order at once, because it took a LONG time to get our main dishes. We probably waited a half hour after we finished our appetizer before the meal came out. Other than that, the food was good. I had an olio e aglio pasta. It came with arugula which was different for me and it didn't add anything to the dish for me, so I just left it. Hubs had a red sauce and beef pasta and it was deliciously rich. Decided to get an affogato for dessert too. Good food, maybe a bit slower service. read more

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Everything about this place was incredible. My first notice was that the storefront location was actually heated very well for a cozy winter night. The server took a little too long to notice me, and apologized. But everything thereafter was wonderful. The bread service made locally was particularly fresh and yummy! The simple in house made pasta dish was perfection as was the grilled chicken. And the family recipe tiramisu was worth the $10 price. I dined alone but absolutely loved my meal! I will be returning with husband & guests. read more

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KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF!! Everything we ate was a 10/10!! I highly recommend the tiramisu.., I'll be dreaming of it. Service was also 10/10 -so sweet and accommodating!! WE WILL DEFINITELY BE BACK !! read more

We were excited to try this restaurant, however now I realize this place is poorly ran and we need to stay away. Whoever is managing this establishment refuses to answer their phone number, refuses to open the doors even if you try to go in person to communicate and make it nearly impossible to create a nice dinner experience. It seems they don't want business. It's very frustrating when you've had reservations for a while, have planned on visiting and they refuse to talk to you about your reservations, allergies, anything. Because they won't answer the phone or open the door. Do better and don't complain when people are upset with the lack of professionalism. read more

Have you ever put salt on your pizza? It's not that the food is bad, it's just not as seasoned as I'm accustomed to. And that's how I would some up my culinary experience in Asheville - unseasoned. The service, like every other restaurant I went to in Asheville was fast and friendly. The restaurant is cute and quaint. It looks like a modern version of a 1930s jazz club which is a nice scenery while dining. read more

Gemelli Restaurant - Bianco - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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I ordered the braised short rib, and it was the most tender, flavorful short rib I've had in my life. The lasagna was excellent. Very good service. read more

We had high hopes from the first announcement to opening, especially given the relationship to Strada downtown. However, all four of us ordered different entrees and all four were disappointed as there just wasn't any flavor. One friend had been once before and steered us away from pizza. We arrived for lunch and sat on the patio and went to the counter to order as there is not outside table service until dinner. read more

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Solid pasta dishes. Very tasty and good portion size. Fired artichokes were very good. Waited a little long for food but overall a good meal and experience. read more

Our first time at Gemelli's on Valentines Day. Not overcrowded, nice atmosphere. Sarah was our server. She's was fabulous, attentive but not intrusive. Highly recommended the fried artichoke appetizers, crispy, crunchy delicious. Split a house salad, simple but very fresh and tasty. I ordered one of my favorite pastas, Casio Pepe. Casio pepe is a very simple, rustic dish with 3 ingredients; pasta, fresh parmesan and pepper. This had an extra flavor, smoke. The heavy smoke flavor was all I could taste. It completely ruined the dish and I tasted zero parmesan. Very disappointing and just bad. Husband had the Gemelli pasta. He said pasta was a little underdone and it was too spicy for him but that may have just been the sausages used. Would he order it again? No. Had to try some cannoli to kill the smoke flavor in my mouth. Fantastic cannoli, cream and infused blueberries. Very good. I would come again just for the service, appetizer, salad and desert. Would not order our entrees again. read more

First time to this restaurant. Food was overall great and ambiance nice for a date or dinner with friends. Probably wouldn't take my younger kids here. Service was slow to start but was much better as the meal progressed. One hiccup with appetizers was that the olives are NOT pitted. Not noted on menu or by our waitress so be careful with that. Pasta was great as expected and definitely tasted homemade. I ventured out on the NY Strip which was a great better than average steak but the smashed crispy potatoes with it were amazing. I'd go back for those any day. Tiramisu one of the best I've ever had. We will go back but won't get the olives that require spitting pits out again. Definitely recommend if you're seeking a nice Italian style meal easy to get to and dishes different from the usual places in town. read more

Gemelli Restaurant - Tagliata di Manzo (NY strip). - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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We've been toGemelli's a half dozen times and have generally been pleased with the food and service.I had read about their Happy Hour and since we had a doctor's appointment in Weaverville (we live in Tennessee),we wanted to eat early and get back before dark. I call Gemelli's about 3:30 from Weaverville so that we were sure of the time of the Happy Hour.The recording clearly states "Happy Hour" 4:00-5:00. When we arrived we were greeted and seated immediately.Maybe one other couple in the entire restaurant.The hostess seats us and hand us the menus,which looked like the same menus for every other time we had eaten there.I asked it this was the Happy Hour menu and the Hostess responds that the Happy Hour was 2:00 to 3:00,not 4:00 to 5:00. We ate our meal,paid full price and tipped the waiter. We ordered our food ,but while waiting,I called the number again and sure enough the message assured me of my understanding of the Happy Hour time.We eat out a lot,so I normally don't screw up reservation or Happy Hour times. We won't be returning if they are so disorganized that the hostess,the manager (who was there) and their information is this confused read more

My wife and I decided to eat a late lunch/early dinner and arrived around 3P. We were the only customers at the restaurant and were seated promptly and had drinks within 10 mins of sitting down. The waitress was accommodating, patient, and friendly, and took the time to make various menu recommendations. She stated that all the pasta is homemade which I appreciate and enjoy. We ordered and shared the Cacio E Pepe pasta with Chicken Fritti on top. It was incredible. The pasta was perfectly done (al dente) and the chicken was juicy, hot, and delicious. We also enjoyed Gamelli Insalada for a salad and some focotta bread. The atmosphere is quiet and classy, and prices are reasonable (compared to other Italian restaurants in downtown Asheville). The only critique is that when we received the bill I noticed it had a "Kitchen Appreciation" charge. When I asked the waitress about it she stated that "they don't pay the kitchen staff enough, so this is how they can receive more pay". While I agree that people need to be paid what they are worth, this charge is unfair to the customer. Sure, it's small, but when you also include the waitress's tip to the bill, it adds up. I didn't feel this was the customer's problem to fix for restaurants not paying their staff well. Apart from that minor gripe, I would highly recommend Gemelli Restaurant for some of the best Italian food in Asheville, just be aware of that small charge added. read more

Gemelli Restaurant - Awesome Caico E Pepe Pasta with Chicken Fritti on top. Incredible! - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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New favorite fast casual Italian spot in Aville! Gemelli is Strada cuter, more casual sister. It's tucked back near Earthfare off of Patton in a small, cozy space. Their menu consists of a few classic pasta dishes, Sicilian style pizza and lots of apps and sharing plates! We started out with their house salad and homemade focaccia and both were delicious! Our entrees were the star though. I got the autumn risotto and Cacio e pepe and we opted to add duck confit to both. For an additional $10 you get a large duck leg that's cooked to perfection. Trust me, you'll want to add it! We finished things off with their tiramisu which was creamy, fresh and really light. Perfect ending to a delicious meal! read more

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My family and I dined in after graduation yesterday, we had a party of 11 and the staff acted like they may not get large parties often. First of all the staff is so kind and overall extremely accommodating and attentive. The restaurant itself is gorgeous tucked away in a little shopping center. The food was okay (not good or bad) , the wait however was not. We spent over 2 hours at the restaurant because of the time it took to get our entrees. I recognize the pasta is made in house but the wait was long and if we had not gotten appetizers we probably would have been much more frustrated. It is notable we gave our entire order at once so there was no wait between appetizers and ordering entrees. They simply need a better system or more help in the kitchen! We got the focaccia and calamari for appetizers and I had the Mafalda Ragu for my entree. The appetizers were great but my entree was pretty bland. My husband ordered the Alfredo with chicken and his chicken came out resembling KFC fried chicken, a running joke all night. I had tiramisu for desert and it did not taste of expresso much at all. Overall my gang did not care for the food itself but our waitress was so kind and the staff were very helpful, even taking pictures for us! The food itself and the speed was our only turn offs. read more

Gemelli Restaurant - Mafalda Ragu - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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The best meal I've had since I left Italy. I lived in Milano and worked all over Italy for 3 years. This is the first time I had appropriate sized meals with the highest quality food, instead of the typical American; huge quantities of low quality food. The flavor was wonderful; not timid, yet not overpowering. I've been back since and gotten a nice lunch for about $17.00 which is only a dollar or 2 more than Chick Fillet or McDs. I can not recommend Gemelli (or Starada) enough. Complimenti!! read more

Quiet casual atmosphere, simple menu with great food choices, experienced servers and great tasting Italian food (excellent sauces)

The food was excellent, and, as we all know you can have excellent food, and it can be ruined by the service. Which was NOT the case here. TY was an outstanding waiter, an outstanding waiter contributes greatly to the ambience, which in and of itself was very nice. They also had live music! It was a wonderful experience. read more

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This lovely Italian restaurant makes everything by hand. Each dish is delicious. The salads & desserts are incredible. The Gemelli wines go perfectly with the various flavors. This is a restaurant not to be missed. Wait staff and chefs are very friendly and knowledgeable. We recommend for anyone and we'll definitely go back when visiting Asheville again. read more

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