I-26

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Three Brothers is part of a family tradition of more than 50 years. The family actually had four brothers, all of whom eventually were partners, but the sign was already up when the fourth brother joined the business. Since money was tight, the brothers left the sign the way it was. Today, it is still run by sons of original brothers. The menu has plenty of variety, including steaks, Greek specialties, seafood, and fried chicken, and the sandwiches and hamburgers are tasty and modestly priced.

Hrs: Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.; Fri., 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sat., 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

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On the porch of the Caro-Mi just outside Tryon, you can wait for a wonderful meal listening to the rushing sounds of the Pacolet River as it flows by. Charles Stafford, a former teacher and school administrator, has owned Caro-Mi for 18 years. He is proud that two of North Carolina’s leading food experts taut his restaurant—for different reasons Jim Early, author of “The Best Tar Heel Barbecue: Manteo to Murphy,” raves about the skillet fried chicken livers and mountain trout, along with the vinegar based shredded Cole slaw. Bob Garner, of UNC-TV and Our State Magazine fame, recommends especially the old fashioned, North Carolina, “climate cured” country ham served here.

828-859-5200

Hrs: Wed.-Sat., 5:00 p.m. until about 8 p.m.; Sun.-Tues., closed

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For almost 25 years, Melanie Talbot has been serving Eastern North Carolina style barbecue to Western North Carolinians. And they love it. Along with a small pork plate for about ten dollars, she will include three sides, including, if you want, some that you will not find other places, like tomato pie, Vidalia onion slaw, sweet potato fries, or corn nuggets with creamed corn in the middle. No wonder it is a popular gathering place for Saluda residents and tourists from all over.

(828) 749-9892

Hrs:Tues.-Sat. 11a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday 12 noon-3 p.m.

Closed Mondays

www.greenriverbbq.com

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For a fine country cooking breakfast or lunch, amble down Main Street in Saluda and stop in at Ward’s Dairy Bar & Grill where the specialty is the homemade chili. “It’s probably the reason why we sell so many hot dogs and hamburgers,” long-time former owner Charlie Ward used to explain. Recently Ward sold the grill and the adjoining general store and market to Larry and Debra Jackson. Larry Jackson explains that it is a challenge to keep up Charlie’s great traditions. “People come in and ask for Charlie’s Sausage. I have to tell them that it is Larry’s Sausage made with Charlie’s recipe.”

(828) 749-2321

Hrs: Mon.-Sat., 6 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

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Back in 1980,” says owner “Piggy” Thompson, “when my late husband Harry told me he was going to start an ice cream stand here, I told him that I sure was not going to run it. But, when it was time to open up, Harry was still working at his regular job. So, guess what? I came down here and started dipping ice cream, by myself. “We started with more than 20 flavors of Biltmore ice cream. Business gradually grew, and pretty soon, Harry decided he wanted to start a restaurant right here in the same place. Harry died while the restaurant’s addition was still under construction. But we opened it in 1993 and, of course, named it after him. “We are really proud of our barbecue. We smoke it with wood, and we offer a tomato-based sauce that we think is real good. We have just one customer who says our barbecue is the best, but he brings his own sauce.”

(828) 692-1995

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A reader wrote to tell me about the Moose Café located just south of the entrance to the Farmers Market in Asheville, singing the praises of their homemade biscuits, cornbread muffins, sublime apple butter, and iced tea served in mason jars — as well as a great mountain views, including a look at the Biltmore Hotel to boot. I sampled the mashed potatoes, cabbage, collards, carrots, and pinto beans and they were farm fresh. Indeed, the café’s proximity to the Farmers Market ensures a menu that relies on just-picked ingredients.

(828) 255-0920

Hrs: Daily 7 a.m.-8 p.m.

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“Bob paced as he waited for Grace outside the Athens Restaurant in Weaverville. They never grew tired of the friendly atmosphere of the place, the welcome they received from the owners and the waitresses, and the good food.” From “At Home in Covington,” a novel by Joan Medlicott, who is a real-life fan of the Athens. Her readers sometimes show up at the Athens to see if it is just like the local restaurant she describes in her series of books about the Ladies of Covington. “We are on Main Street, but we are not in the middle of town, where the tourists gather. So we cater to locals, but we welcome travelers,” says one of Athens’ owners, Spiros Apostolopoulos. He brings three generations of restaurant traditions and 25 years of personal experience to Athens. His wife, Elizabeth, and mother, Linda, bake desserts. His partner and brother-in-law, Jimmy Katsigianis, also grew up in a restaurant family.

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For more than 10 years Wagon Wheel owner Camille Metcalf has been serving breakfast, lunch, and supper to her regular customers in Mars Hill--and to tourists. She gives them a hearty breakfast, lunch specials with everything included for about six dollars, and dinner for well under ten dollars. And for the kids and college students there are always burgers, fries, and homemade pies.

Hrs: Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Sat ., 6 a.m.-2 p.m.

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“She could flat make biscuits,” says Shelia Kay Adams, famous local writer and musician, as she remembers the home cooking of the late Edna Boone who ran Little Creek Café for 43 years. The current owner, Bobbie Jo Gillis, with the help of her mother, “Nannie” Littrel, is using years of experience running Waffle House restaurants, to keep up and build on the Edna Boone’s legacy. The biscuits and full breakfast options still draw crowds of locals and, in the summer, visitors from the nearby Wolf Laurel resort. At lunchtime regulars come in for the “meat and two vegetable plate” specials with drink and dessert and pay less than seven dollars. If you are lucky enough to be there on one of Nannie’s chicken and dumpling days, count your blessings! From I-26 (828) 689-2307 Hrs: Mon.-Fri., 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Sat -Sun., 7 a.m.-2 p.m.