Warm days full of sunshine and breezes are perfect for eating outside. It was just such a day recently, and past time to do something fun with girlfriends. Strolling from restaurant to restaurant at Grove Arcade’s Restaurant Row (https://grovearcade.com/), stopping at patio tables shaded by colorful umbrellas, we caught up over glasses of wine & shared plates.
Of course we also spent some time browsing the shops and outdoor Maker’s Market, where local artists and craftspeople sell their work.
The afternoon flew by. It was a perfect Girls Day Out, but it would have been just as fun with the guys along.
We stopped at all six restaurants, sampling different cuisines at each. Of course you can go to fewer restaurants and still have a fabulous time! The following list is in the order we chose, but you can mix it up to suite yourself. Menus and hours are posted on line.
1Battery Park Book Exchange
The full name of this wondrous labyrinth of the written word is “Battery Park Book Exchange & Champagne Bar”. That’s right, you can enjoy “edibles and libations” ordered from a huge selection of wines, sparkling wine cocktails, coffee, beer, cider, cheese boards, and desserts at this comfortably sophisticated used book store. On weekends you can listen to live music while you browse. Done browsing? There’s lots of seating where musicians set up near the bar, as well as throughout the bookshop. We shared a Champagne Flight and a French Cultural Platter. Take a look at their menu here.
2Baba Nahm
Baba Nahm serves up middle eastern cuisine in a “grab and go” format. That doesn’t mean you can’t eat in. There are plenty of seats inside and a few tree-shaded picnic benches, where we sat, out front. That Hummus Bowl was fantastic, as was the filled Flat Bread (pictured below) that we shared. Fabulous seasoning! See their menu here.
3Carmel’s Kitchen & Bar
Carmel’s keeps it casual while serving up a wide selection of Southern inspired dishes like delicious Fried Green Tomatoes (pictured above), Pimento Cheese, and Catfish Reuben. Their corner patio, next to the Makers Market, is great for people watching. And if you’re there on a weekend, you’ll get a good taste of what Asheville is about. Watch as various types of tours cruise by: the Amazing Pubcycle, LaZoom Bus, and Gray Line Hop-On, Hop-Off Trolleys. If you’re on a Trolley Tour, definitely hop off at Grove Arcade. Look for the red umbrellas. See Carmel’s “All Day” menu here. And don’t miss the dessert and drink menus.
4Modesto
Oh, Modesto. How I yearn to see you again for a full meal. Like in the old country, Modesto wraps you in luscious, generously portioned Italian food. Pizzas and Calzones are baked in their imported Italian Mugnaini wood-fired oven. The Octopus pictured above was beautifully presented and cooked perfectly! Everything we ordered was very good. We did go a little overboard here, but it couldn’t be helped. See their menu here.
5BurgerWorx
By now you’re wondering, what were they thinking? How could anyone eat that much? Here’s a little secret; we wanted to sample the flavor of all six restaurants, so we left with a few boxes of what would become delicious leftovers. BurgerWorx is a fun concept. They have House Specialties you can order, or you can “build” your own burger by filling in a detailed form that covers type of meat, cheese, toppings, sauces, extras, and type of bun. These burgers were dripping with juicy goodness. You can also order ahead online for pickup using their LineSkip App. To see all the options, click on the “Menu” link on their website.
6Sante Wine Bar & Taproom
Our adventure wrapped up on Sante Wine Bar’s patio as the sun was getting low and it was cooling off. The Olive Melange was the only thing we ordered. I confess, really it was me that ordered the mix. Everyone else put up their hands in surrender when the server came to take our order. I knew the olives would travel well, so brought most of them home to share with my husband later. They went well with our wine, though. And I love that they serve the olives with an empty dish for pits. You know olives are best with pits in, right? Next time we do this, we’ll have to start at Sante. I’ve been many times before and know they have a great selection of snacks and heartier fare that pair well with whatever you’re drinking. See Sante’s menu here.
Epicurean Notes:
- As always, verify days and hours of operation before you go, if you’re heart is set on a particular restaurant
- And a reminder that online menus give you a good idea of what to expect, but you might find that some items have changed when you go to the restaurant
- Free Wi-Fi is available throughout Grove Arcade
Sponsored Article
The seafood risotto at Modesto is my favorite.