Knoshing in Asheville

The Brick Oven Pizzeria

Restaurant | "One heck of a pizza buffet"

Quote:

When deciding on lunch, my friend Rebecca asked me what we wanted to eat. I am not that picky and said Nick liked burgers or pizza (had I known how much pizza I was going to eat on my cruise I would have kept my mouth shut). Rebecca told me that her and her hubby’s favorite place was Brick Oven pizza and they had a great buffet. We pulled into the very busy parking lot and went on in and had a seat. This place is huge inside and seems to do a very good business especially since this was about 2:30 and past your lunch crowd hours. Often when you do buffet this late, the pizza has been sitting around for a while and often not replenished very often and maybe even be reduced. Not this place. ...Read More

When deciding on lunch, my friend Rebecca asked me what we wanted to eat. I am not that picky and said Nick liked burgers or pizza (had I known how much pizza I was going to eat on my cruise I would have kept my mouth shut). Rebecca told me that her and her hubby’s favorite place was Brick Oven pizza and they had a great buffet.

We pulled into the very busy parking lot and went on in and had a seat. This place is huge inside and seems to do a very good business especially since this was about 2:30 and past your lunch crowd hours. Often when you do buffet this late, the pizza has been sitting around for a while and often not replenished very often and maybe even be reduced. Not this place. Pizza was consistently replaced and as soon as a new pie was brought it, it seems to disappear on the plates of very hungry customers.

Their buffet is huge. They have a very nice selection in the salad bar. They also offer a pasta bar. On the buffet at anytime they were about 7 pizzas and everything from your standard cheese and pepperoni to taco, meat lovers, veggie, and white pizza. And if there is something you would like, just ask the waitress and they will get it on the buffet for you. Just give them time to cook it. They also have several dessert pizzas. Yummy! And if you don’t want pizza then they offer sandwiches, pasta, calzones, and Stromboli’s. Or if you just want your own pizza to not share, well you can order that too.

We took one quick look and ordered 4 teas and 4 buffets. I tried their cheese pizza, pepperoni, and sausage. On the second go round they had pizza with chopped tomatoes and I quickly grabbed that and more cheese pizza. Their pizza is terrific. This doesn’t taste like your typical buffet pizza. The crust is thin and delightful and is chocked full of flavor and everything tastes fresh and homemade, not manufactured out of a can. And like I said it was so busy the pizza was always fresh and hot. I had their garlic breadsticks with marinara. Yumminess on a plate. And their dessert pizaa..oh my. They had cinnamon and then one with a vanilla glaze as well as a cheesecake. When we were done, there were 4 happy people that almost had to be rolled to the car.

When I was reading several reviews on this place, a local mentioned that several NASCAR teams had garages here and they were often here dining. Now unless it is the Petty family or Jeff Gordon I could be dinning beside the Winston Cup champ and never know it. But I am sure some NASCAR fans might like to dine in the place good enough for those guys.

Recommendation: VERY highly recommended.

Cuisine: Pizza/Italian

Price Range: $10 to $20 pp. Nick paid for all 4 of us and it was less than $40 for 4 with drinks!

Website: none

They are on Facebook.

The service was great, they consistently kept our table cleaned, and the food was amazing and what a value. If you are in the area, then you have to stop and check this place out.
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 30, 2025

The Brick Oven Pizzeria
930 Old Hollow Road
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27105
(336) 996-1243

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Marco's Pizzeria

Restaurant | "NY pie in NC"

Quote:

After Nick and I paid a quick visit to several stores to see if he could get his photo enlarged, we were getting hungry and knew we had a drive ahead of us to the next part of our journey to Winston Salem. Nick loves pizza and as we turned down Merrimon road we saw signs for several pizza places. Marco’s was the first, so we pulled in and went on in for Nick’s favorite meal..pizza. Since 1933, this family owned business has been serving up top notch pizza to hungry Ashevillians and visitors alike. They have been voted the best pizzeria in Western North Carolina by readers of Mountain Express from 2003-2011 and the Asheville Citizens Times from 2003-2007. You can start out with ...Read More

After Nick and I paid a quick visit to several stores to see if he could get his photo enlarged, we were getting hungry and knew we had a drive ahead of us to the next part of our journey to Winston Salem. Nick loves pizza and as we turned down Merrimon road we saw signs for several pizza places. Marco’s was the first, so we pulled in and went on in for Nick’s favorite meal..pizza.

Since 1933, this family owned business has been serving up top notch pizza to hungry Ashevillians and visitors alike. They have been voted the best pizzeria in Western North Carolina by readers of Mountain Express from 2003-2011 and the Asheville Citizens Times from 2003-2007.

You can start out with favorites such as calamari (though not my favorite by a long shot), garlic bread, or hot wings. They have quite a few salads including Mozzarella, Greek, or just a side salad to complement your meal. The house pizza is either margarita with tomatoe sauce, mozzarella, and fresh basil or white pizza with mozzarella, ricotta, and garlic. Other pizzas include Greek, BBQ, 3 Meat, Veggie, and Pesto. Or just make your own from you choice of 30 toppings and 7 premium toppings. Pizzas come in individual (10"), small (16") or large (18"). They have calzones or 6 varieties of Stromboli. Hot sandwiches include chicken, eggplant, or meatball parmesan, roast beef, veggie, and a number of hero sandwiches. They also offer a fish sandwich. Entrees include your typical Italian entrees…. baked ziti, lasagna, spaghetti, and other Italian restaurant favorites.

Nick likes the white pizza but I don’t. So we go with a large Margarita pizza and I get a side salad with vinaigrette dressing. We place our order, grab our teas, and go sit down while Nick plays on Facebook and I check in on Facebook and Foursquare and get ready to add my recommendations to Stamped and Google Places. It doesn’t take long before my salad comes out and I love the tangy vinaigrette dressing and end up having to share with my honey since we are both starving. Within a few more minutes, out comes our pizza. It was somewhat greasy on top but I just dabbed it off and continued on. I thought the pizza was great and the crust was light and tasty. It didn’t fare quite as well with Nick. But he still enjoyed it. He just grew up working in a family pizza shop in Philly so he is a little more of an expert in pizza. Just like he was more impressed with our cruise we just recently took than I was. They also have a very nice dessert menu and they had some beautiful looking cakes at the front, but we were both too stuff to think about it. So we just paid our bill, left a tip, and ventured on to Winston Salem with a full and happy tummy.

They do offer a beer and wine menu. They have catering for your next big event. Large parties are welcome. Vegans/vegetarians have plenty of options here. They do not have a kids menu, but it is a pizza place. What kid doesn’t like pizza?

Recommendation: Highly recommended.

Cuisine: Pizza/Italian

Price range: $10-$20 pp

Website: www.marcos-pizzeria.com

Find them on Facebook!

For some great New York style pizza in the NC Mountains, make sure you give Marcos a try!

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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 30, 2025

Marco's Pizzeria
946 Merrimon Avenue
Asheville, North Carolina 28804
(828) 285-0709

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Mellow Mushroom

Restaurant | "Lovin' the shroom"

Quote:

The Mellow Mushroom restaurants have made appearances in several of my other journals, but it was my first time visiting the Asheville location. I had been waiting to stop by on several other trips to one of my favorite cities, so I wasn’t missing out this time. Nick and I locate a parking space across the street and hope it will not be crowded as were running late for the show. Thankfully when we arrive there is a nice crowd, but we were able to go right in and grab a seat. You can start your night off with appetizers such as soup, garlic bread, or hummus. They have several salads including Greek, chef, Caesar, and a nice field salad. They have hoagies and calzones. But they a...Read More

The Mellow Mushroom restaurants have made appearances in several of my other journals, but it was my first time visiting the Asheville location. I had been waiting to stop by on several other trips to one of my favorite cities, so I wasn’t missing out this time.

Nick and I locate a parking space across the street and hope it will not be crowded as were running late for the show. Thankfully when we arrive there is a nice crowd, but we were able to go right in and grab a seat.

You can start your night off with appetizers such as soup, garlic bread, or hummus. They have several salads including Greek, chef, Caesar, and a nice field salad. They have hoagies and calzones. But they are known for their pizza. They have specialty pizza including cheese, Hawaii, house, and gourmet white. Or just build your own by picking your favorite toppings. Their dough is gluten free.

Nick and I decide to just go with the cheese pizza..large. And I get their side salad with vinaigrette dressing. And let me tell you this side salad is huge with veggies, lot of mushrooms (which Nick gladly takes from me) and huge homemade croutons. Were still eating on the thing when they bring the pizza. The pizza is amazing but the crust is almost burnt. Another minute or two in the oven, it would not have been eatable. And I usually love their crust since it is a nice buttery crust. This time it is left on the pizza pan.

They have a great open kitchen and while we were waiting for pizza, we were enjoying watching the pizza makers toss the dough up over and over. One of the things I like about the Mellow Mushroom is it is just a fun and funky place. The décor is all kitschy and a mishmash of anything goes. I could done without the music, which I don’t even know what it is..except bad. The first Mellow Mushroom I went to was in Columbia SC, and when I walked Enter Sandman by Metallica was playing there. So the rocker chick was happy, but this time I would have to wait until I get to the Orange Peel for some thrashing delights. And so far all of the Mellow Mushrooms I have been into have been housed in incredible old buildings, including this one which was previously an old gas station.

They do offer catering for your next big party. They do have a bar and kids menu. Asheville is very vegan/vegetarian friendly and so is the Mellow Mushroom. You have all kinds of options here if you are not a meat eater. This location is located downtown and only a few minutes from the Orange Peel or not to far from the grand and glorious Biltmore House. Parking is in the streets.

Recommendation: Very highly recommended.

Cuisine: Pizza

Prince range: $10-20 pp.

Website: www.mellowmushroom.com
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 30, 2025

Mellow Mushroom
50 Broadway
Asheville, North Carolina 28801
(828) 236-9800

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Lenny's Sub Shop

Restaurant | "Let Lennys give you a sub"

Quote:

After picking up our concert tickets for the evening’s concert, Nick and I went out in search of lunch. Nick is part Italian and originally from Philly, so he likes subs and pizza. We went down around the Biltmore area and on the way back we decided to stop in at Lenny’s. They have both cold and hot subs. Hot subs include meatball, Philly cheese steak, and grilled chicken Philly. Cold subs include Italian, Roast Beef, Turkey, Club, and Deluxe. For those watching their weight they have both chicken and tuna fish as well as several salads. They do have a hot dog. You can add bacon to any order. For vegans/vegeterians there is a salad or veggie sub. They do have a kids menu. Subs here come in...Read More

After picking up our concert tickets for the evening’s concert, Nick and I went out in search of lunch. Nick is part Italian and originally from Philly, so he likes subs and pizza. We went down around the Biltmore area and on the way back we decided to stop in at Lenny’s.

They have both cold and hot subs. Hot subs include meatball, Philly cheese steak, and grilled chicken Philly. Cold subs include Italian, Roast Beef, Turkey, Club, and Deluxe. For those watching their weight they have both chicken and tuna fish as well as several salads. They do have a hot dog. You can add bacon to any order. For vegans/vegeterians there is a salad or veggie sub. They do have a kids menu. Subs here come in one size and you either get a sub or on a Kaiser roll. They have both the sub and Kaiser as a combo with a drink and chips or cookies. And you can get chips and cookies separately.

I go with the Italian Sub and Nick goes with the Philly Cheese steak, both on sub rolls and both as a combo with chips. My sub includes provolone cheese, ham, prosciutto, capcola, and salami. Nicks cheese steak includes the traditional onions and American cheese instead of "wid cheese" like a real cheese steak. And like any other sub place you get you choice of toppings.

We order our sandwiches tell them what we want on our sandwiches and go sit down and wait on our food. It takes only a few minutes for our food to come out. The sandwiches are great and filling. We didn’t leave hungry that’s for sure. We gobble our food down and then head back to downtown Asheville.

The restaurant is located about halfway between the Orange Peel and the Biltmore House. It was about 4 miles from our hotel. It is also within walking distance of the hospital. They do offer party platters, box lunches, and catering. Don’t feel like waiting around for your order? You can call or fax it in or they have an app for your smart phone!

Recommendation: Highly recommended.

Cuisine: subs

Prince range: $10 pp and under.

Website: www.lennyssubshop.com

For a great sub when you’re running around enjoying the sites of Asheville, make sure you stop in at Lenny’s for a great pick me up. .
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 30, 2025

Lenny's Sub Shop
645 Biltmore Avenue
Asheville, North Carolina
(828) 350-1338

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Buffalo Wild Wings

Restaurant | "Wings..no wrestling! "

Quote:

When I made our original plans, I planned a night at nearby Harrah’s casino and dinner at Paula Deen’s restaurant. By the time we awoke from our nap, it was dark, cold, and we were tired from the drive. The ride would have taken us on the back roads in the NC Mountains. Instead we decide to skip the casino and eat in Asheville. Nick is a huge wrestling fan. I can take it or leave it, but I don’t exactly mind watching handsome guys in little outfits. At home Nick and I always head to Buffalo Wild Wings when they have wrestling on Pay per View. Even with a meal, it is generally cheaper for both of us to eat than to order the match at our house and still have to cook. So he had me call the r...Read More

When I made our original plans, I planned a night at nearby Harrah’s casino and dinner at Paula Deen’s restaurant. By the time we awoke from our nap, it was dark, cold, and we were tired from the drive. The ride would have taken us on the back roads in the NC Mountains. Instead we decide to skip the casino and eat in Asheville. Nick is a huge wrestling fan. I can take it or leave it, but I don’t exactly mind watching handsome guys in little outfits.

At home Nick and I always head to Buffalo Wild Wings when they have wrestling on Pay per View. Even with a meal, it is generally cheaper for both of us to eat than to order the match at our house and still have to cook. So he had me call the restaurant and make sure they would have the event. I was told yes so off we went. Arriving at the restaurant we notice the parking lot looking sparse. Back home, we have to arrive at least 45 minutes before the event in order to get a seat. When we walk in the place was almost deserted. We were immediately told there would not be a wrestling event. I looked at Nick and knew he would not be a happy camper. We went on in and sit down while Nick pondered if we would be dining here this night. After about 10 minutes, we decide to stay since were hungry and we have no idea who else in town carries the event. And at least Nick can watch football.

You can start you meal your meal off with appetizers such as chips and salsa, buffalitos, slammers, nachos, or we normally start off with spinach dip and chips. But we decide to skip it this evening. Meals include numerous sandwiches, ribs, burgers, wraps, and flatbreads. For vegas/vegeterians or those watching their figures they do offer several salads. And as you might guess by the name, wings are the main thing here. They offer them plain or with sauces in all kinds of flavors and spicy levels. You can get them in batches of 8, 12, 18, 24, and 50. They come with the traditional side of celery, carrots, and blue cheese dressing. Nick and I go with our usual order of wings and we go with 18 and for sauce we go with BBQ, teriyaki, blue cheese, and ranch. We also get an extra order of carrots and celery and I also get a side salad (which is huge by the way) with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. I am still keeping my weight in check and I prefer to have more salad and veggies and leave more of the wings for Nick.

They do offer a scrumptious dessert menu. Snickers pie, Key Lime pie, and ice cream on the menu. But again we go with our favorite of fudge cake which comes with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and drizzled with chocolate and caramel. The cake is sinful and delish and is the perfect way to end the evening.

They do have a kids menu and a bar. Our waiter, David, was great and took care of us and even gave us our cake on the house for all the troubles of the night. They also normally have poker on the TV and when Nick got his box, he wasn’t too thrilled to find out that it wasn’t on the TV against anyone!

I guess the chain has a contract to have the wrestling pay per view events. I know by several other friends Facebook posts that most other restaurants were having the event. We were told they forgot to order it. Now I have ordered PPV in the past and you just call up and it comes on. And even if this time they had to pay for the thing, it would be cheaper to ordered it than to loose the business they did. Apparently several large groups left and people kept coming in while we were there and would leave when they found out there was no wrestling.

The food was great and so was our service. So next time I come to Asheville, I wouldn’t hesitate to eat here again. But if I am coming for a wrestling pay per view event, I might have a back up next time!

Recommendation: Still highly recommended.

Cuisine: American bar food.

Price range: $10-$20 pp.

Website: www.buffalowildwings.com
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Member Rating 5 out of 5 on March 30, 2025

Buffalo Wild Wings
4 Tunnel Road
Asheville, North Carolina
(828) 251-7054

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