Great spot for lunch. Came here in November for lunch with friends and was not disappointed. They…read morewere very accommodating and friendly. I ordered the mushroom soup which was very tasty, rich in flavor, fresh and filling. I also orederd the roast beef sandwich and got it grilled. Very good, fresh roast beef both tender and tasty. They were fast with making our food but not suspiciously fast. Good sized serving and the atmosphere is fun and very open. Street parking only you pay at the register near the front of the store (cash or credit). They have home items for sale also in the front of the space. I will definitely be back!

What a wonderful place to grab lunch. Family owned restaurant with outstanding service and…read moredelicious soups, salads and sandwiches. We tried she crab soup and feta tomato basil and both were great. Chicken salad sandwich and cranberry turkey were also remarkable. Atmosphere is worthy of Black Mountain with many touches that feel like home. I could eat here daily.

We're in Black Mountain about once a year for a conference, and I've always enjoyed the coffee…read morescene. This year, a friend recommended this shop to try out. As a coffee enthusiast, I admit to sometimes being what my wife would call a "coffee snob" from time to time. I'm happy to report that Recess passes every test I have for coffee. The vibe was perfect, with a classic wooden-style to the seating, and even a really great retro/minimalist playground outside for our kids. The Rwandan pour over I had a couple days ago was full-bodied and delicious, with deep red fruit notes. It was made with care using a Kalita wave flat-bottom dripper, and it was clear that the brewer knew what he was doing. It was so good that I picked up a bag of beans they had for sale (from Sweet Bloom roasters), which has been giving me great pour-overs at the house. We also had a butter croissant, which was absolutely delightful. I returned today to try their milk-drink offerings. I had a masala caramel cappuccino to-go, and let me just tell you--these people know what's up. It was a seasonal offering, and it showed a deep understanding of the marriage of sweetness with flavorful coffee offerings. I love it when I stumble up on a truly wonderful shop for coffee enthusiasts, and Recess has my full stamp of approval. I will be back every chance I get.

I happened to be in town so of course I looked up coffee shops in the area. Recess has a…read morebeautifully curated website and Instagram account. I ordered the masala caramel latte. It was a bit too sweet so I also ordered an iced coffee and mixed the two. The staff was nice. I also ordered the ham and cheese croissant and it was delicious. I would definitely recommend trying it.

Dripolator Coffeehouse was exactly the kind of Sunday morning stop we needed as we rolled east out…read moreof Asheville. Yelp pointed us here and as usual, the algorithm absolutely nailed it. We arrived at around 7:15 am and were greeted by two regulars hanging out front with their dogs, which meant that Mrs. K. got her morning dog fix before we even made it inside. That set a great tone for a good day. The welcome inside was warm in the small town way that feels genuine instead of forced, just easy smiles and a quick hello as I ordered. It was rather quiet when we arrived but the folks seemed to start pouring in as we sipped our coffees. My cortado was excellent even if it was in a paper cup. Mrs. K. was happy with her latte which is the proper test. We lingered a bit, enjoying the quiet and watching Black Mountain wake up around us before getting back on the road. A great little stop just off I-40 and a perfect start for the day. Five stars! [Review 540 of 2026 - 4635 in North Carolina - 25722 overall]

I have to confess that the name Dripolator didn't sound like a place with a hip coffee house vibe…read more I was very wrong. What a terrific find in Black Mountain. First off, atmosphere. Cool, welcoming with a splash of funky. Loved it. Staff. Incredibly friendly and helpful. My wife likes a real matcha green tea latte and what she got was perfect. Made to the sweetness level she likes (not too much) and the barista delivered it while making sure it was to my wife's liking. Very attentive. Coffee. I am a latte guy, no sweetener just good ol fashioned milk. What I got was robust yet incredibly smooth. A great cup of coffee. We did not try their baked goods. That will be next time, because when we find ourselves in the area again, Dripolator will be a must.