I love the ambiance of this place, its has this rustic European look that makes it feel very cozy. The two times i have come onhavw sat down at a hightop table in the lower bar and love it. Very busy but staff still have time to recognize needs and talk to you about the meal and all. The food, the penne vodka which i jsd 2 times is great, the pasta and the sauce both have noce texture and flavor individually and when you combine them its like a party in your mouth. read more

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My partner and I and two friends dined at Strada last night. In the past it has been my absolute favorite restaurant for Italian fare and to celebrate a special occasion in Asheville. But our experience last night left me so upset and angry, I vowed to never return again. Our friends were in town from Delaware, and we made reservations at Strada well in advance. We chose Strada because one of our friends is strictly and believed from We were also there at 4:00 pm, well-ahead of dinner rush. Our waiter was polite, though not overly friendly. One of read more

The food was very good and overall we had a pleasant experience. Our waitress, Ella, was absolutely amazing--patient, attentive, and especially kind to my mother throughout our visit. The rest of the staff we interacted with were also friendly and welcoming. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because the hostess (the red-haired lady handling seating) came across as somewhat rude and unfriendly. First impressions matter, and a warmer, more welcoming attitude would have made the experience even better. That said, the quality of the food and the excellent service from Ella definitely made up for it. We would return. read more

Strada is a super cute Italian spot in Downtown Asheville, complete with a menu full of handmade pasta and charming old-world vibes. This is actually one of the only spots in town that can accommodate a reservation for ten people, and the service was great despite our larger party. There were also lots of gluten free options available! The arancini was the best bite of the night, with an out-of-this-world vodka sauce. I truly wish I had just ordered these for my entree! Instead, I went with a Caesar salad and Mussels with spaghetti and garlic butter sauce. The Caesar was pretty basic, and the Mussels were sadly not great. It's a big portion size, and the housemade spaghetti and the sauce were good, but the Mussels were incredibly soft and did not taste even remotely fresh. I think this was one of those cases where I ordered wrong, and I'd absolutely be willing to give Strada another chance in the future! read more

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My roommates and I used to love this charming Italian restaurant back in 2021. I knew I wanted to return for my bachelorette, I had been dreaming of this pasta I had gotten years ago. I love that we were able to reserve a table for 10 people on a Saturday night. This place is surprisingly gluten free friendly too! My gluten free friend kept squealing with joy when she found out the focaccia was gluten free. Most of us ordered pasta dishes, but the star of the show was the arancini. It came with a vodka sauce that had some balsamic drizzled on top and we all practically licked the plate. This was the best dish. Our table ordered a variety of dishes from the burrata spaghetti to the tortellini alla panna to a fish dish and a bolognese. These dishes were ok. There was a nutmeg flavor in my tortellini alla panna that wasn't really for me. Our server was beyond kind and I really liked the staff here. I'm glad I stopped in again to try the pasta! read more

Strada Italiano - Tortellini alla panna - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

We came here for a friend's birthday party and I was underwhelmed. I really enjoyed my mocktail, and the apps were great as well. The entrees could use some work. My husband got the spaghetti with meatballs and he said it lacked seasoning. He said the meatballs were slightly overcooked and the crispy part was the seasoned part of the meal. I got the duck breast with broccolini and risotto. The duck was fantastic. There was nothing special about the broccolini and the risotto was super watery. No complaints about the service, but nothing outstanding about it either. read more

Strada Italiano - Tuscan Duck - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Very nice restaurant. We sat upstairs with what is their rooftop during warm months. It is insulated very well so you would never know that it's sometimes open air. The wine list has great variety for bottle and glass options. The housemade sauces were so good with all the dishes. Not pictured is the mussels in a white wine sauce which were loved by two people in our group. One ordered them as is the other ordered them with pasta. While the picture is blurry the chicken parm is a great portion and the chicken is perfectly crispy and cheesy. With the sauce being made fresh it's very tomatoey so as someone who doesn't like tomatoes it was a little too much for me but didn't ruin the dish. The sauce for the arancini was my favorite because it's a tomato cream sauce so the balance of tomato and cream toned down the tomato taste. Our waiters were great! One was in training but he was very attentive, kept our water glasses full, and made sure everyone was pleased with their meal. For it to be a steady week night our food came out quickly. read more

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Dined at this restaurant on the Wednesday night after Valentine's Day. It seemed pretty busy & that making reservations ahead of time would be better. We were offered bar seating since that was first available. While being taken to the bar we noticed the restaurant was bigger that it seemed from the outside. This restaurant is two story, dimly lit & smelled delicious! We couldn't wait to order. The bar was full service & drink list included several specialty cocktails. For dinner, we ordered calamari for an appetizer, short rib bolognese & chicken parmesan for entrees. For cocktails we ordered the speciality amoretto sour with egg whites. Our food read more

Strada Italiano - Calamari & Amoretto Sour with egg white. - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Best food we had on our trip! Loved that it was a scratch kitchen and had a nice sized menu. Got the espresso martini and it came out fast. Our waitress was soooo friendly and that made our experience even better. We had a 5pm sitting time but started eating our meals around 5:40pm. The garlic bread was so tasty it is a must do! Burratta spaghetti and meatballs were so yummy. I wish we could have come back again! Highly recommend coming here, make sure you book reservations early!! read more

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The restaurant, which is known for its fresh homemade pasta, is nice and has different moods based on whether you're eating indoor or outdoor. I love the covered rooftop patio option. I suggest making a reservation to ensure you get a table. Our server was pleasant and checked with us periodically during our the meal. The food and cocktail were absolutely wonderful. I enjoyed a smooth tasting with a hint of sweetness, Buttercup cocktail. The lasagna was a hearty portion with ample meat sauce and a nice blend of flavors. It was an overall great experience and definitely worth checking out when you're in Asheville. read more

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Very well done in this Italiano restaurant, the food was excellent. Great service and not a long wait time! read more

Strada Italiano - Interior - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

We came for a celebratory dinner on a Saturday night while visiting for the weekend. The restaurant was bustling! I was glad that I had made a reservation. We were seated promptly but had to wait a bit of time before our server materialized. This would be a theme of the evening and the reason for the 4 not 5 start review--service was warm and welcoming, but not as attentive as it could have been with gaps between orders, drinks, food, etc. That being said, the beverage menu is versatile and provides something for everyone at reasonable prices. The menu likewise is accommodating of all diners, providing ample options for vegetarians like myself. We started off with the Arancini and house-made focaccia, which were both top notch. The arancini was that perfect crispy crunchy exterior meets rich, melt in your mouth interior. Coming out piping hot, they were well-seasoned and the accompanying sherry-tomato cream sauce was addicting. The balsamic drizzle added a nice pop of acidity to the bite. For mains, the meat eater at the table had the Creste Alla Panna with a side of Italian sausage, which was a very generous portion. The pasta got two thumbs up. I went with the Mafalda Burrata after learning that the Florentine Raviolis are not made in house. The Mafalda was a standout! The pasta was cooked to al dente perfection and the perfect shape for holding on to pockets of bright, fresh, plum tomato sauce. The burrata atop with basil pesto elevated the dish, though I would have liked to have seen a creamier burrata center to really weave into the pasta. Overall, a delicious meal and one of the more memorable of the trip! read more

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Very average food , if that. This is Italian in name only but the food doesn't represent it. Btw. 'Bagni" are toilettes in Italian. Not Les toilettes which are French. Doesn't help your image. Staff was nice but if you think you're having a traditional Italian meal here, I don't think you'll find it here. Sorry read more

We had such a great experience here during our Asheville trip! The food was absolutely delicious, the drinks were amazing, and the atmosphere was the perfect mix of cozy and romantic. Definitely one of our favorite dinners from the trip. Great services as well, super friendly and attentive. read more

Strada Italiano - Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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This place was one of our favorites in Asheville! I was a little worried with the reviews but it was a home run. The figs are so good and the arancini is delish! We had the Trout.m, the duck, and the chicken parm and everyone ate as much as possible. Idk what other people are looking for but this place is it! Everything was seasoned really well and the service was great too! read more

A really unique spot with some really tasty menu items! We were in town for a conference, and I'm always looking for a good restaurant - luckily it was right down the street from our hotel perfectly located right in downtown. I love me some Italian so you know I had to give it a shot. We started with arancini balls that were soaked in this delicious sauce, we couldn't get enough! I also had a cocktail that was the perfect mixture of pineapple and cinnamon. I had the al la vodka tortellini as my entree and it was a good sized portion. When he asked if I wanted chicken I thought it would be cut up and put into the pasta and sauce, not on the side like it's displayed in the photo (the chicken wasn't very good and quite dry). Other than that I really enjoyed my meal and our waiter was kind and helpful in recommending items. read more

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Very good! We didn't have a reservation, but they kindly sat us at the back bar where we were well taken care of. The lasagna was a sizable serving that my hub really enjoyed. And the eggplant Parmesan was tender and very tasty, with the side of spaghetti cooked al dente topped with a mild sauce that could have been a bit more flavorful. Otherwise, it was a nice dinner with good wine and great service. Ambiance was busy and bustling as the evening progressed. A happening place! read more

Strada Italiano - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Amazing dinner last night. The service was amazing & the staff was very friendly. Super cute atmosphere and the food .... OMG, delicious ! We will definitely eat here again next time we are in town. The lasagna could possibly be the best I've had. Highly recommend the Cesar salad. The chicken piccata as also delicious. read more

Strada Italiano - Lasagna & garlic butter ciabatta - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Great Italian food, super ambiance and excellent service! We had the lasagna, the wine, the mussels and shrimp pasta and they were all excellent! The restaurant could offer some free bread w olive oil like most Italian restaurants do and the lasagna was a little cool instead of piping hot but the great taste was all there. The portions are very large so we finished the rest today for lunch and it was even better! read more

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I took my wife back to Strada for her birthday. Another five-star dinner. This time I tried the eggplant parmesan, and again was impressed. The breading was crispy despite sitting in red sauce, the eggplant inside was perfectly cooked, and the red sauce was the real home-made Italian thing. In reference to my earlier post wishing for a better wine list, I asked and discovered their corkage fee is extremely reasonable, so this time I brought a bottle of single-vineyard Sonoma zinfandel with us, and had the perfect complement to a fantastic dinner. I'm finding myself in Strada once a month it's so good. And I love the vibe to the rooftop patio. read more

Strada Italiano - Short Rib Bolognese - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Had short rib bolognese & lasagna- both the worst ever. Service & wine were ok. We were told these two were their most popular!!!!

I'll start with the one positive: the atmosphere of the restaurant is very quaint and pretty. It has a nice old-school Italian feel to it. However, it was a Friday night and our waitress was the only server that we could see. Therefore, the service was extremely slow. My sister and Niece ordered a Caesar salad. It was very underwhelming, even for a Caesar. It had absolutely no dressing on it. The calamari appetizer was ok but the sauce that it came with was too sweet. The burrata was absolutely horrible. The crostini it was served with was rock hard I could have seriously broke a tooth on it. The Burrata was hard and again the sauce was oddly too sweet . My son ordered the lasagna and the only flavor was salt. It was extremely bland. I had the mushroom Ragu, which was worst Italian dish I have ever had. They give you a smear of the basil ricotta, which I dipped my mushrooms in because it was the only thing with taste on the plate. The pasta itself was too chewy for fresh pasta and had absolutely no taste even after I added pepper. It was a huge disappointment. read more

The service staff were great. However, it was the worst italian food I've had in a long time. The bolognese was acidic - it tasted like the cooks tossed it together in 15 minutes without a thought to how true bolognese is made. The pasta was served with a gob of plain beef short rib on top. Again bland lukewarm meat. And the focaccia came to the table underbaked. It was our wedding anniversary and the meal was disappointing. read more

Strada is a good old Asheville standby that's been here forever and in my opinion has improved over the years. Forgive the so-so photo quality - it's pretty dimly lit inside, but not in a bad way. This time we ordered the vegan lasagna (would have preferred vegetarian) and were pleasantly surprised - it was tasty and the texture wasn't too weird. Also got the spaghetti burrata and loved it - the dish ate very nice, with richly flavorful tomato gravy and al dente pasta. The tiramisu has always been good here, and capped off our meal nicely. Prices are not cheap, but service is consistently good; they clearly wanted us to have a great experience, and got our party of 8 finished in time to catch our Music of ABBA show (fantastic, btw) at Harrah's. read more

Strada Italiano - Vegan Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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I ate at Strada with my daughter over the weekend while i was in Asheville for a quick vacation. First things first, make sure you. get a reservation for Strada if you are trying to eat there on a Friday or Saturday night. I watched a nuber of people try (and fail) to walk in. The Space itself is a little quirky as it is spread through 3 historical buildings in the center of AVL - you'll need to pay attention to that if you have mobility issues as some sections of the dinning rooms require stairs to access them. As we were late to book the only table avilible to us was a high top in the bar area that was served by the bartender. He did an excellent job attending to us and we never got lost in the flow of service the way you can at some satellite tables in bars. Food wise we stuck to some of the recommended house specialties, 2 types of bread to start along with the mussels. Booth were excellent. As a main i had one of the house made pastas (bolo) which was very good. My daughter had the steak and i'd say that was a more average execution, cooking was on point and given the price i have no complaints, it just wasn't on the level of the rest of the meal. The wine list is on the shorter side, predictably Italian heavy but very well priced. read more

If you're looking for authentic Italian dining in the heart of Asheville, Strada Italiano is a must-visit. I recently visited with a party of 11, and every single person in our group loved their meal. The service was attentive without being overbearing, and the food came out hot and beautifully presented. Despite being a great spot for large groups, it also has a romantic, intimate atmosphere that would make it ideal for a date night. From the moment you walk in, the ambience sets the perfect tone.. warm, inviting, and exactly what you'd hope for in a family-owned Italian restaurant. Whether you're a local or just passing through Asheville, Strada Italiano is the kind of place that makes you feel like family from the first bite. read more

Strada Italiano - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

As an Italian-Bostonian "foodie" and one who grew up on Italian food (we ate it several times per week growing up), Im truly surprised this restaurant doesn't have 4.6+ stars!!! The service by Jessica (my lovely waitress) & Michael (the bar tender) was excellent & the food was absolutely scrumptious! My only negative comment will be against the Tiramisu, which was not the best but everything else was excellent! The atmosphere is eclectic & very inviting. It has several rooms with unique vibes in each seating area for all tastes. Your mouth will be happy by eating their food & I'll personally be back for more read more

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The food was good, service good and atmosphere fantastic! My daughter and I went because I like good Italian food. This is a very small place , with a great ambiance. read more

Great food, friendly staff, quick service, vibes were better in main areas than the social bar though Edible and delectable! read more

Strada Italiano - Beef bolognese and chicken picatta - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Came in on a whim with a party of 6. All reservations were booked till 8:30p. The host was friendly and kind. 6 seats happened to open up at the bar area and we took them. Scratch made pasta and sauce. Local beer. Delicious read more

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We walked in without a reservation. There seemed to be plenty of seats downstairs but we were seated upstairs. It was cold and breezy, but we had huge heating vent blowing on us. It was so strong our napkins blew off the table. The food was good. Not outstanding. We had Ciabatta bread service (no free bread here). We both had the chicken marsala and we split a Caesar salad. I had a Manhattan that was good. The service was good. The food came out quickly. No complaints, just not Oh My God, that was good vibes. read more

Great spot for gluten free and/or dairy free visitors! Wow! I had a gluten free and dairy free lasagna. I haven't had lasagna in many years and this was delicious! Also, gluten free calamari! We were seated at a great cozy table and really enjoyed our time. read more

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This family owned, quaint Italian spot is very good. The building, ambience, and decor is old-world, classic Italian. The staff is great! They work hard and know the menu like the back of their hands. We enjoyed cocktails and the bread service to start. The focaccia bread with marinara was absolutely delicious. The make the bread and all pasta from scratch daily. Fresh pasta makes even the simplest dish better. We got three different dishes and one was easily the best. Overall, they were all good, but did lack seasoning. Dessert was fantastic! I'd go back just to see if the main course is better than this visit so I can give it 5 stars. read more

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My family and I ended up having dinner here after our wedding earlier in the day. It was recommended by a local friend who started a bed and breakfast just outside of town. This was all last July so nothing in this review reflects what's currently been happening in Asheville after the hurricane. We made a reservation and after parking in a nearby parking garage, were easily able to walk to Strada. Service was great and they made sure that we were very much taken care of. I really can't remember what we ordered but I attached some pictures and we all thoroughly enjoyed the food! Very top-notch stuff. Overall it was a great experience and we're very happy with it all! read more

Strada Italiano - Mufatta? - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Drew's service was amazing! She enhanced my experience (on my birthday) for a very pleasurable night, I recommend Strada to anyone looking for amazing and homemade Italian! Thank you, Drew for an amazing night. It was a pleasure meeting you.! read more

Strada Italiano - Espresso martini - Italian Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Had an early NYE dinner reservation for two, and it absolutely made our night. The rooftop patio was the perfect setting with a warm atmosphere and awesome views. Service was impeccable from start to finish: friendly, attentive, and perfectly paced. We loved the cocktails (especially The Buttercup and The Snapdragon) so much that we had seconds. The garlic white wine mussels were an amazing first course, and the entrées were just as phenomenal. We had the short rib bolognese and chicken marsala, and both were packed with flavor and cooked perfectly. Can't recommend Strada enough, and can't wait to come back! read more

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Best front of house service in Asheville! The bar staff is amazing and serve delicious cocktails that complement the amazing Italian cuisine! read more

Anyone who knows me or who has read my reviews on Yelp the last few years will know that Italian food is number one on my list any time, any day, anywhere. So, when I read all these reviews about Strada Italiano in downtown Asheville and realizing it was only a 10-minute walk from my hotel, it seemed like a done deal to me! The first night I walked over there it was Saturday night and it was a long wait. So, I moved on to another place for dinner but thought about dining there on Sunday and made myself a reservation for one at 7:00 p.m. Strada Italiano is located in the heart of downtown Asheville... very easy to find and conveniently located. I was kind of shocked when they brought me upstairs to my table. After reading all of the rave reviews about this place including its ambiance, I was disappointed that the upstairs looked quite dingy with low ceilings, dark and tacky looking curtains hanging on the window. Normally those kinds of things don't affect me too much, but when I am paying a high price for a meal, I expect a little more thought put into the atmosphere of my meal as well as the food itself. I felt sorry for the waiter because it looked like he had a large portion of the upstairs to himself. Unfortunately, he did not acknowledge me for around 15 or 20 minutes. That's a long time! They should have had somebody at least come by and bring me some bread or something to drink. Once we finally connected, he was a lovely young man, but rarely checked in. It almost seemed like he tried to avoid making eye contact with me because he could not handle another request. Lol Again, a nice young man and a good server but overwhelmed with the large load he was carrying upstairs. As far as the meal, I enjoyed it very much. It was quite tasty. The portion was nice, but I like it when I get so much that I have to take some home for a doggy bag. This was not the case at Strada Italiano. It took a long time to get my check and be processed, but I tried to relax and enjoy taking in the atmosphere, but that's hard when there's a dirty curtain blocking your view and the ceiling feels like it's 2 ft over your head. Head. I was offered dessert, but I was ready to go. I headed down the street for ice cream that was $7 for two tiny scoops which pissed me off. But that's a review for another day! I loved Asheville, Strada Italiano's food was very good but as much as I was wanting to give it five stars, this one gets a four and that is with me being generous. For the prices you are charging, paint the upstairs, get rid of those dirty curtains, increase your staff load and I think you have a winner! read more

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House made pasta was under cooked. Food was good nevertheless. 3% fee for use of a credit card I get. 4% "kitchen appreciation" fee should be included in the price of the food not hidden on the menu. Will go elsewhere next time read more

I was a little worried about under 4.0 stars but the menu was just too incredible to not give it a try. I'm so glad I did, my Mom and I had the burrata and meatballs to start and we were very happy, the burrata itself was a little small but tasted great and the sauce/crostini's made it well worth it. Meatballs were light and tasty, sauce was excellent. For mains we had the duck and the Portofino. My Mom joined the clean plate club with the duck which is very rare for her, I tried a bite and it was juicy and struck a great balance with the fig and risotto. I had the portofino and it quelled any concern I had for seafood far from the coast. It tasted fresh and clean, the pasta was al dente and the sauce was full of flavor. Great wines and a delectable chocolate torte for dessert. read more