The service here is always top notch, such knowledgeable and thoughtful staff. We had our anniversary here recently and they set up a back corner next to a window with flowers and a card signed by everyone :). So sweet, and brought out a couple free drinks. The food here is absolutely divine, we come here every time there's a special occasion. Their drink menu is wonderful as well read more

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First time at Luminosa last night & it was a fun adventure. We were greeted and sat at the bar until the rest of our party arrived, and the bartender helped us understand the context of the new-to-us restaurant. The genre, he said, was Italy meets Appalachia, and that they source their meats from The Chop Shop, with all of the rest of their ingredients on the rotating menu coming from within 50 miles of Asheville. They have a rooftop bar with fire pits opening soon, as well as a speakeasy in the basement (who knew?!). Food was stellar and they were able to easily accommodate a severe tree nut allergy at our table. Their kindness continued with a birthday tiramisu and signed birthday card from the staff. While I found our pasta portions to be closer to the USDA recommended size, this carb addict would've loved slightly larger; but then again, I did proclaim that I would bathe in the herb butter that accompanied the bread service, so perhaps my expectations are a bit skewed. Beautiful, whimsical plating as seen in the pictures, had us feasting even before the excellent combinations hit our tongues. Parking was easy in various garages and on the streets nearby. Attire was again Asheville-inspired with some in hiking boots and others in sparkly cocktail flare. We will return, and definitely try the rooftop bar and speakeasy. Thanks to the kind bartender and Demitri for your service, and cheers to the kitchen staff! read more

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Incredible. We sat at the bar and ordered a little bit of everything. Make sure you visit the basement or rooftop bar for a nightcap!

I didn't have a reservation when I walked up at 445. I asked if I could be seated without a reservation. They said yes either a table by the kitchen or at the bar. I was very happy to sit at the bar for my meal even though I didn't have any alcoholic beverages. I did not want to take a table since I was just a party of one. I had an amazing dining experience. The food was some of the best Italian I have ever eaten at an Italian restaurant. The bartender was extremely knowledgeable and polite. I will definitely eat here again when I am in town. It is worth driving up from North Florida for! read more

We enjoyed the food, wine, service and atmosphere. It was a great time. We dined with friends and shared dishes. The pizza is excellent, and I loved my trout! read more

Easily a top 5 restaurant of my life with a service staff that is unmatched. This goes toe to toe with any major restaurant in NYC or LA.

Rob took great care of us. One of the Best meals I've had in Asheville. Standouts were the steak, figs, agnolotti, gnocchi, tiramisu. Beautiful decor, cozy and upscale. Can't wait to go back and try more. read more

I appreciate their effort to blend Italian with Appalachia. They certainly have foraged some interesting local plants to enhance their dishes. The bone marrow tater tots were delicious, especially with the capers. They could have used a little more of the sauce they sat on. The beef carpaccio was both beautiful and delicious. Though both of those dishes came with a small blond hair. The Evan tomatoes were bitter and slightly mealy. The anoloni pasta was delicious but not flavorful. Our server (I think Rob) was so helpful and informative. And he brought us a complimentary plate of weeds with a bamboo vinaigrette and lemon cucumbers - I've never heard of those and they were beautiful and crunchy. read more

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The food here is good but nothing to write home about, you will have a good meal. The one standout is their pizza - just a perfect crust and very creating toppings - well done. The service was excellent and friendly. read more

We thoroughly enjoyed our date night here! It is located in the heart of downtown Asheville, and connected to the flat iron. We started with the bread service, the butter spread was delicious and each had a pasta dish. Portion wise, the rigatoni is the best bang for the price. We split a bottle of wine and enjoyed the meal - it is paced to take time to enjoy each one without being rushed. Service was incredible. Recommended grabbing a drink at the rooftop bar before or after dinner for some great Mountain Views! read more

Luminosa absolutely crushed our engagement celebration meal. From the moment we sat down we felt connected to our waiter and they felt just as enthusiastic about our engagement as we did. They went above and beyond to make us feel special during our meal. We will talk about this food forever it has cemented a core memory for me and my fiancé. Each bite made us want to eat slower so that we could appreciate and savor it. Would highly recommend this locally sourced, farm to table dining experience to anyone! read more

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We sat at the bar and had terrific service, excellent food and outstanding drinks. A fun crowd that came and went while we're dining as they came in for cocktails before their dinner reservations. We'll be back! read more

I have been following the restaurant for awhile on Instagram as I am a sucker for wood fired pizza and basically all italian food, throw in the fact they make all their pastas and breads in house... I was basically walking by everday trying to peak in the window for any inkling of when they would open. So when I saw there post on Instagram stating they were officially open I rushed to have a date night with my spouse. We definitely were not disappointed. For starters we got their bread offering for $12 you get a lot of housemade bread. The Foccia and the sourdough butter were by far the highlights. The garlic knots were good but lacking the garlic flavor I come to expect in my garlic knots. We ordered the marinara pizza great basic pizza with fresh tasty ingredients. The crust was firm and kept it's shape when you picked it up, with a crunch but still soft. We had 3 pastas. YES I REALIZE THIS DINNER IS ALL CARBS! I love them okay don't you judge me. We had the gnocchi, cappelletti, and rigatoni. All were good but there was definitely a higherarchy. Gnocchi was my favorite had a great flavor the gnocchi themselves were light not too dense like can happen sometimes. The peas were a great counter balance and added some freshness to the dish. The cappelletti was next for me but was my spouse's favorite. They were delicate and the filling was smooth and quite delicious, with some good acidity. The rigatoni was cooked to a perfect al dente and it was the perfect pasta to capture the sauce in all the ridges. The veggie was really the only miss for me. We got the turnips. I love these little turnips and get them anywhere I can in Asheville. The were good but with a little salt they would have been epic. For dessert the Amaro soft serve is a must get it had surprisingly deep and rich flavor. The panacotta was also very tasty but a little firm for my Panna cotta tastes. Do yourself a favor book a dinner here and after go to the rooftop bar for one of the best views in the city!! read more

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We visited Luminosa for a late dinner while in Asheville. The service was impeccable. Friendly, knowledgeable and fabulous. Our waiter Ace was wonderful- suggested dishes (the Agnolotti- breathtaking! The bread- we ordered more to leave with! The Rigattoni- delicious with just enough spice.) The chefs here outdid themselves- they use local goods to create an evolving, seasonal menu. Everything was absolutely delicious. Ace gave A+ service, and is a wonderful asset to Luminosa. We stayed for hours and enjoyed every minute- unhurried by the staff and made to feel incredibly welcome. Highly recommend. read more

Genuinely a fantastic experience. We got a bit of special treatment but the staff genuinely went above and beyond along with being engaging and fun. Waiter was Felix also met with Sarah. 3 of the 4 got pastas and all fell in love, half roasted chicken was also very strong. Get dessert. read more

Luminosa - Tiramisu Walnut panna cotta Affogato Espresso Sorrel soft serve - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

What a wonderful find! The ambiance was amazing, the food was terrific, and the service was outstanding. Our server, Porter, clearly loves what he does and is great at taking care of his customers. His recommendations were spot on. We both had the pasta and loved every morsel. We will definitely go back to Luminosa!! read more

Fantastic all the way around! Loved the environment, loved the service, loved both the amount and quality of food! Such a great addition to the Asheville dining scene. We've already told our friends to go and they love it too! Will definitely come back. read more

Food was great and inventive. Ambiance was inviting and comfortable. Our server was attentive at first but then dropped off a bit.

We decided to dine at Luminosa a second time during our week stay in Asheville because our first dinner had been truly outstanding. Once again, our experience was spectacular. The dishes were exquisitely delicious, fresh and beautifully presented. As before, the Lion's Mane mushroom was extraordinary as was the gorgonzola gnocchi with asparagus. The beef carpaccio was out of this world. Beyond the unparalleled meal, the service was unlike anything we've experienced before. Our waiter was kind and attentive and, as before, Sara offered a type of hospitality that we have never felt outside of dining in the home of friends. Luminosa is a truly special place. We are already planning our next trip to Asheville and returning to Luminosa is top of our list. read more

An incredible meal from start to finish in no small part due to the exceptional service provided by our server, Jamie. We were greeted warmly and provided with a thorough and detailed overview not only of the menu, but also of the restaurant and culinary team. The passion with which Jamie celebrated the chefs and the local farms made us all really excited about the meal ahead. And it did not disappoint. We loved our pasta (mafaldine for the win), pizza (a real highlight for the entire table), and contorni (please get the charred broccolini). We ended the night with a smooth and creamy thyme and lavender panna cotta that felt both light and decadent. Luminosa was a true joy. Not only did we eat really, really well, but we also felt truly and authentically cared for and that's a rare gift to be treasured anywhere you find it. Thank you Luminosa, thank you Jamie. read more

Amazing meal! Our server knew his stuff, made excellent suggestions. The ambiance was wonderful, quiet and conducive to conversation. From beginning to end, everything that you could ask for. My wife and I will definitely be going back.. read more

The ambiance at Luminosa is otherworldly. The obvious cohesive energy of the entire team allows for seamless service and a welcoming environment. The knowledge of the service team of the menu and wine list is impressive. They also use all local farmers and do butchery in-house! They work with Culinary Gardner and Chop Shop Butchery which is amazing. Check this place out! read more

I am writing this review with a smile on my face. I must say , as an Asheville native and a downtown employee that has worked in fine dining. I am more than pleased with my experience here at luminosa. Tonight i had the Gnocchi as my entree and cantaloupe as my starter and both were completely fabulous. Very fresh and very warm. This has been the best gnocchi ive had in Asheville for years. I also want to add how much i enjoyed the dark tones and classic dining ambience, from the wood tables to the candle in the center and wine in the cabinets, it was wonderful. The staff is always moving fast which is a good sign. My server im particular was absolutely fantastic. I wish i could add an extra 5 stars just for him because he was so kind, funny, explanatory and patient (and very handsome!) thank you Joey and thank you Luminosa! I will be back again and bring my friends and more locals! read more

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First, the service was outstanding. The ambiance was there, but the place is very loud. The food, well, it was confusing. I guess one would call the menu adventursome. Each menu item contained a mix of ingredients that could confuse, or perhaps, delight, one's taste buds. Prices ran from reasonable to absurd. My pizza was really very good...the tomato sauce among the best I've had, with a subtle bite to it and wonderful white anchovies. My wife had the trout, with all enhancements removed, just salt and pepper. It was the largest serving of trout I've ever seen and was delicious. The side of potatoes was decidedly different and the side of cauliflower was a no go. There were few leftovers between the six of us. The wine and beer list was limited. I had an old fashioned that was unremarkable. The place was crowded and is apparently very trendy. But with so many wonderful restaurants in Ashville, I would put this one pretty far down the list. OK, go try one appetizer and tell others what you think. read more

My husband and I left the Asheville Symphony last night and went looking (and hoping) for a quick bite. Instead of finding a quick bite, we stumbled upon the absolute best dining experience of our lives! From the warm and inviting ambiance of the interior to the extraordinarily welcoming and friendly staff, we immediately felt at ease and settled into the beautiful restaurant. Although we hadn't made reservations and had arrived at about 30 minutes before 10:00, we did not wait long for a table and were reassured that the kitchen was indeed still serving. In fact, the entire menu (minus the ribeye which had already been sold) was still available to us. We did not feel pressured to make menu selections by our incredibly charming server, Demitri. To the contrary, he took his time explaining the approachable menu which boasts a great many local, farm-to-table ingredients. We opted to start our meal with the quail with ramp sausage and knotweed strawberry vinaigrette. With our pallet-exciting zero-proof beverage selections, mine -- the strawberry with Seedlip Spice, Gifford nonalcoholic aperitif, soda and orange, his the basil with Seedlip Garden, verjus, lemon and pepper, the moment was pregnant with the promises of a delightful tour of Italian cuisine via our beloved WNC mountains. To our surprise and pleasure, dear Demitri delivered a gift from the kitchen to us...the sprouting broccoli! These bright and friendly broccoli were accompanied by an intriguing Garum caramel, Aleppo and peanuts. Demitri explained to us that Garum is a fermented fish sauce made popular in Ancient Rome as a condiment. All we knew was that the amazing umami flavor imprinted the dish as an absolute favorite. The quail arrived as we were nearly finished with our tour of Ancient Rome and it most definitely did NOT disappoint! It was warm and bright with pops of crispness from the ramps and the sumptuousness of a perfectly roasted quail. By the time our mains arrived, we were amidst a delicate, thoughtfully engineered journey of modern Italian cuisine. My agnolotti with ham hock, Farm & Sparrow (F&S) creamer peas, cornbread crumb and Parmesan was like a warm hug filled with the welcome of this unique restaurant experience. My husband's gnocchi was one of the brightest points of the entire meal. It featured green garlic, Gorgonzola fonduta and pea shoots. The gnocchi was soft and pillowy as you'd expect from an excellent gnocchi, but it also boasted a creamy, silky mouthfeel that highlighted the herb-forward and piquant flavors of the dish. Thanks to the proportions of each dish of our culinary journey, we agreed to take the inviting dessert menu from Demitri. After a short deliberation I decided to indulge in the house-made tiramisu featuring espresso-soaked house-made lady fingers, mascarpone mousse, salted chocolate crumb and chocolate sauce. My husband selected a dessert special with a name I've unfortunately forgotten, but it was decadently chocolate and topped with house-made toasted marshmallow...akin to our American S'more, according to Demitri. I can attest to the creamy darkness of the chocolate in this beautiful dish as well as the incredibly exciting usage of an herb previously unfamiliar to me...WNC-native spicebush. It added the hints of basil and mint combined with intoxicating allspice (according to my tastebuds anyway). We decided to top off our dessert selections with a double espresso each.--As we meandered through chocolate, lady fingers, marshmallow and spicebush, Demitri arrived with even MORE gifts from the kitchen for us! Unbeknownst to us, he and the kitchen decided to gift us with both their chamomile panna cotta AND their seasonal strawberry soft serve. That strawberry soft serve was smartly composed and complex with fresh, local strawberries and house-made salt crystals. It was my absolute favorite. The chamomile panna cotta with candied almonds and strawberry melded dreamily into a perfectly set, silky smooth, melt-in-your-mouth indulgence. They were the absolutely perfect way to draw the curtain on this delectable evening. The entire meal was enveloped in the fascinating juxtaposition of a simultaneously relaxing and invigorating atmosphere. We were pulled away from our phones and into conversation with one another.--This meal became about enjoying this culinary tour together. This is a very special quality of every amazing restaurant, but it's also hard to achieve.--Demitri receives a standing ovation from us. He is charming and intelligent and humorous, providing a colorful and warm experience.--Anyone wishing to put aside the chaotic elements of the day should come to to the beautiful Flat Iron hotel and step into a culinary mirage effortlessly melding Italy with our beloved WNC mountains. You will most likely meet me there. read more

Went there without a reservation and were directed to their 9th floor location to have a cocktail and. a pizza. After ordering 2 glasses of wine ($40), we were told we could not get a pizza there. All we got was a "we're sorry". We left without drinking the wine. No customer service here. Will not return. read more

Went here back in late June and it was by far my favorite restaurant I've been to this year. The space is designed and decorated expertly, creating a warm and inviting environment to eat. My girlfriend and I walked in without reservations and were seated very quickly and treated so kindly by the staff. Any questions we had about the menu were answered honestly and descriptively. The food was so good, I honestly am trying to find an excuse to go back to Asheville soon. I got the Gorgonzola gnocchi, which had so many different flavours that were balanced so well. The gnocchi was some of the fluffiest yet most filling pasta I've had. The bread service was definitely a good choice for a starter. read more

Luminosa - Gorgonzola gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Fantastic Birthday dinner! Started on the rooftop bar and made our way down to Luminosa for dinner. Our party of 10 was treated with 5 star service throughout our stay. Ribeye, Chicken, Carpaccio, bone marrow tater tot's , Rigatoni all top notch. Ambiance is beautiful. We had a great time. read more

Just had brunch there today. The space has been beautifully restored. It boasts a lobby bar, a rooftop bar with three decks, and a gorgeous speak easy in the basement. We ate at Luminosa, its Italian-fusion establishment. So delightful. Out server, Ace, was aptly named, and he made the dining experience a real treat. So knowledgeable and entertaining. We had the rigatoni, which was made fresh, and the sauce and cheese were crowning glory. I will make this a regular stop for entertaining out-of-towners. read more

Amazing experience was here for our honeymoon & they made it exceptional. Can't wait to go back soon! The trout was to die for!! Atmosphere was great too! read more

The food out of this works , tasty never complicated yet savory . Cocktails so goooodddd and wine selection beyond .... I recommend this place for sure read more

Finally! At long last an authentic Italian restaurant in Asheville. Sorry, all you other guys. I love you all but this, THIS is the real deal. I wasn't surprised to find out the chef lived in Italy for five years and wanted to bring that experience to his native Asheville. From the homemade pasta to the fire-roasted chicken, the perfectly huge local trout, to the contorni (we had the eggplant and peppers) and the tiramisu with homemade lady fingers and the divine panna cotta, it's all delicious and very, very close to what I remember from the central part of Italy. The pasta!!! This is as good as it gets here. The decor is homey and perfect for the hotel that houses it. I would be remiss not to mention how marvelous and friendly the staff is. Out wait person Savannah seemed genuinely thrilled that we loved everything. A perfect, perfect, perfect evening of high-end dining. It's not cheap but you get what you pay for. And no red sauce in sight. I can't wait to go back and try the pizza. From what I saw at the next table it looked just like the pizza we got in Florence. I'm not drinking at the moment but I look forward to trying the cocktails some time. Oops, I almost forgot to mention, it was my birthday and there was a card with birthday greeting on the table when we arrived that was signed by the staff and a small gift, local honey from the shop next door. WOW! read more

Pizza and pasta dishes were delicious. Cocktails were delicious but a little on the pricey side. Service was outstanding.

Food is top tier in Asheville, great flavors and presentation. Service is always on point. The environment is great.

What a great evening. We went for my birthday dinner and had to take a reservation after 8pm which is late for this old man but worth it. We are huge fans of Oak Restaurant in Charleston, and this is a sister restaurant so we decided it was a great option for us as we have family in Asheville. We decided to take the trek for my celebratory meal. Absolutely beautiful inside and in a great area of Asheville. Honestly Asheville has plenty of places to eat but we have not found great higher end place. We have now. The host and waitress were so professional and really catered to our every need. The booth was perfect for the 4 of us and gave us all a great view of the goings on in the restaurant. My food was superb. Especially the Gnocchi. I told them several times that this was the best I had ever had and it was! Larger pieces than I am used to, but I cut it on each bite to make it last. It was so moist and delicious I loved every bite. For desert they surprised me with the Tira Masu which again I truly thought it was the best I ever had. This place is something that was sorely needed in Asheville. Fine dining that really is 4 star. They also had a card signed by staff on the table. Just a great experience and look forward to doing this in the future. I will get the Gnocchi again. I definitely had the best entree at the table. Get the Gnocchi read more

had a fabulous dinner at Luminoa last night - weed salad - refreshing, trout so perfectly prepared and tasty. will definitely return.

What a disappointment! Watered down drinks, Negroni color of rose, pasta - I could cook better at home. Italian sausage is not actually Italian sausage but ground beef. Overpriced. Olive Garden would be a much better choice honestly. read more

Terrific dinner, with exceptional service. Ask for Bella - she is a fantastic server.

We really wanted to love it... We came on a Tuesday night...while we were not looking for a hurried meal... It seemed like the wait between courses was a bit longer than it needed to be... We also really wanted to be blown away by the food and we ordered the gnocchi... Which was excellent... a pizza... Which had way too thin a cracker crust for our taste and an eggplant appetizer that was fairly underwhelming. Maybe we just didn't order the right things? Very beautiful space to be sure but not rushing back. read more

Imagine wearing sneakers because you were walking the city the whole day and being denied at the door because of what you wearing. My husband and I went for a walk and came by this place I was originally going to put in a reservation online, but since there were so many time slots open and the restaurant was empty we decided to walk in. The blonde hostess that greeted us told us we could only seat to eat in the bar; I asked if there were other reservations and she looked my husband up and down and said in a bad tone "they were pre-promised" . Even though you can see online there was no reservations booked. We ended up leaving because I wasn't about to sit in an empty restaurant at the bar to eat a full course meajust because we were in sneakers. We went to Isa's restaurant and had such a great time the food in the other restaurant tasted much better without the prejudice of Luminosa staff here's some pics of Isa's bistro restaurant's food go there instead read more