At Muddy Creek Cafe & Music Hall, patrons enjoy the Sparta Club with house-made pesto mayonnaise as Biggins, a local country-rock group, performs on the patio. photograph by Stacey Van Berkel
Located at the southern end of Main Street, this gathering spot is like Sparta’s front porch, welcoming locals and newcomers to town with wonderful food and music. On a typical day, patrons enjoy sandwiches like the Sparta Club with house-made pesto mayonnaise as local musicians perform on the patio. Owners Shana Whitehead and Bill Heath used reclaimed wood and a warm color palette to transform the former car dealership into a space that reflects its down-to-earth community.
60 South Main Street
Sparta, NC 28675
(336) 372-5999
muddycreekcafeandmusichall.com
Lucy in the Rye photograph by Tim Robison
In the leather booths of this Jackson County diner, guests dig into American classics like buttermilk-fried chicken on Belgian waffles. And even little guests are celebrated at the homey establishment: Instead of children’s menus, kids are given pieces of paper and crayons to draw masterpieces that will be taped on the wall of the restaurant after their meal, leaving colorful pieces of art for future patrons to admire.
612 West Main Street
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4601
lucyintherye.com
Happs Place Barn and Grill photograph by Tim Robison
On a typical day at this family-friendly restaurant in Glenville, the sun shines on diners as they sip cocktails and eat Neapolitan-style pizzas, while kids play cornhole by an old red barn. This spot — once known as the Brown Skillet — has been a Jackson County staple for decades, and was recently restored by Rex Farrior, who grew up enjoying meals at the restaurant.
5914 NC Highway 107 North
Glenville, NC 28736
(828) 743-5700
happsplace.com
photograph by Lynne Harty
This old-school restaurant is known for its hospitality, loyal regulars, and timeless diner fare. A nod to the owners’ heritage, Five Points also specializes in classic Greek dishes like chicken and roasted potatoes, spanakopita, and pastitsio.
258 Broadway Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 252-8030
5pointsasheville.com
Sand Hill Kitchen’s fried chicken sandwich was named “The Fried Chicken Champion of Asheville,” and the Bowl of Goodness makes for the perfect breakfast. photographs by Tim Robison
From famous crispy chicken sandwiches to banana pudding like grandma used to make, this Asheville restaurant — housed in a corner gas station — has become a classic.
491 Sardis Road
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 633-6868
sandhillkitchen.com
Pair The Bluffs’ famous fried chicken with sides like collard greens, cathead biscuits, mashed potatoes, and something sweet, like blackberry peach cobbler. photograph by Stacey Van Berkel
As the first restaurant on the Blue Ridge Parkway, this spot was a staple for hungry hikers, motorists, and families for more than 60 years before it closed. Now, it’s serving up delicious dishes once again. After working up an appetite on your fall drive, be sure to order some fried chicken, sweet tea, and cathead biscuits.
45338 Blue Ridge Parkway
Laurel Springs, NC 28644
(336) 372-7875
bluffsrestaurant.org
Singletree’s skillet-seared scallops are served with a hash of sweet potatoes, pork belly, and spring onions; a lemon-chive beurre blanc; and a green tomato relish based on Weeks’s grandmother’s recipe. photograph by Stacey Van Berkel
At Singletree Heritage Kitchen, McRae Davis and Josh Weeks honor the handmade: A metal tree sculpture by artist Grace Cathey stands outside, while Chef Weeks’s dishes rest on tables that the couple made from wormy chestnut barnwood. This homemade influence extends to the kitchen, as well. Weeks loved spending time learning how to cook from scratch with his mother and grandmother, helping pick and preserve muscadines and cherries for a warm fruit pudding — now a dessert staple at Singletree that guest enjoy every night.
136 Depot Street, No. 101
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 246-9760
singletreekitchen.com
The Gamekeeper pairs mountain flavors — like Leicester-raised Carolina bison, grilled over hickory and served with a chicken-of-the-woods mushroom ragout — with views of the High Country. photograph by Charles Harris
This High Country restaurant has made a name for itself by tapping into the wild side of fine dining — with options ranging from boar entrees to pimento cheese sausage. But don’t set your heart on just one dish: menu options vary by the day at this restaurant that has an elevated approach to serving farm-raised (as required by law) game species.
3005 Shulls Mill Road
Boone, NC 28607
(828) 963-7400
gamekeeper-nc.com
Guests mingle on the patio behind the restaurant, where seared tuna with local radishes and peppers makes a summer appearance. photograph by Tim Robison
Editor’s note: Ed Selle is the current executive chef.
In Sapphire, a majestic box canyon — the largest one east of the Mississippi — provides a feast for the eyes, and the first taste of Canyon Kitchen’s seasonal, sensory experience. The restaurant emphasizes relationships with local farmers — “we can’t raise everything we need, so we cultivate relationships with those who can,” former Executive Chef Ken Naron says. “Cooking requires relationships.”
150 Lonesome Valley Road
Sapphire, NC 28774
(828) 743-7967
lonesomevalley.com
Seasonal entrées at Library Kitchen + Bar include (clockwise from left) coriander sautéed trout, Burgundy-braised Black Angus short ribs, and sautéed foie gras. photograph by Tim Robison
Sapphire Valley’s oldest structure now houses one of the area’s finest dining spots: Library Kitchen + Bar. The restaurant emphasizes locally-sourced ingredients (crispy sauteed mountain trout, anyone?) and head chef Johannes Klapdohr’s goal is to put the area on the map — “We wanted to elevate this area to a status that can compete with New York and Chicago. And it’s working.”
184 Cherokee Trail
Sapphire, NC 28774
(828) 743-5512
librarykitchenandbar.com
Split-rail fences don’t shout “keep out.” They lean, they shift, they invite. And in western North Carolina, they remind us that some lines are meant to hold, not harden.
Each May, spring climbs nearly 3,000 feet to the seat of Alleghany County. Here, as the rhododendrons blush, a beloved mountain town welcomes visitors with its food, art, and flourish of color and creativity.
Brief but delicious, soft-shell crab season is cherished by diners as well as the folks who work around the clock to put these native pinchers on our plates.
When it comes to poultry, the best is raised close to home.
