In the Spring of 2021, I experienced the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina. It was wet, misty, and magical. We hiked around the Asheville area, drove the Blue Ridge Parkway, and spent a day in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
One of my favorite memories from Asheville was the River Arts District. Nestled along the French Broad River and crossing train tracks, it is an eclectic blend of industrial design that meets nature and historic buildings. Asheville has done an incredible job of turning this area into a shopping and eatery place! All sorts of high-end artists of every medium, from pottery to oil on canvas to watercolor, acrylics, sculptures, photography, and garden ornaments, can be found in the art district. There were breweries and restaurants of all sorts.
Brian and I decided to come back one late afternoon evening for a date. We picked an Italian restaurant: Strada Italiano.
It is an older Victorian-style building from the 1880s (as old as the railroad in Asheville) renovated with so much character and charm. Murals decorated the walls, and the concrete floor was stained with a leather-style finish. The ceiling is covered in tin tiles, and all the booths are tufted leather, making for a cozy, old-world, romantic Italian feel.
A full bar with many drink options, including wine, beers, and beautifully crafted cocktails, beckoned the palate. Around the bar, there were plenty of conversations and new people to meet. Strada has a rooftop terrace with an incredible view! It is a beautiful place to sit and eat when the trees and shrubs are in bloom.
It is a location where they host many events throughout the year, such as different musicians coming for special occasions. Strada Italiano is one of the top restaurants in Asheville. They serve everything fresh! The environment was laid-back yet very cultured and high-end.
The menu includes dishes from all different regions of Italy, including Chef Anthony Cerrato’s personal family recipes—all the way from Italy! I had GF pasta with shrimp, and Brian had meatballs and one of his favorite Italian dishes, fettuccine alfredo. Everything we tried was exceptional.
When you have to eat on a specific diet, it can sometimes be challenging to find places serving food you like that tastes good, too! Strada Italiano strives to make it their mission to do both.
“Strada” means street or boulevard in Italian. The atmosphere they have created is essential to their business. It is a place you can come to with a friend, a partner, or with family. When you step into Strada Italiano, you step into a warm and safe environment that you can come back to time and time again.