Vegan Dining Options in Asheville, NC (Part 6)

The sixth installment of where to find great tasting and nutritious plant-based food in Asheville, North Carolina continues with both local restaurants (Nine Mile and Addissae), a chain (Mellow Mushroom), and Asheville’s own community food co-op (French Broad Food Co-Op) offered as vegan dining choices.  All offer various options whether you’re looking for ingredients to make a delicious meal, ready-made dishes, take-out or in-house dining. So explore and enjoy Asheville’s plant-based dining scene.

NINE MILE

• Address: Asheville: 233 Montford Ave, Asheville (original in the Montford neighborhood, less than a mile northwest of downtown); and West Asheville:  175 Haywood Avenue, Asheville, NC (about 3 miles west of downtown and down the street from the West Village Market)
• Phone Number:  Asheville:  828-505-3121; West Asheville:  828-575-9903
• Website:  www.ninemileasheville.com
• Hours:  11:30 am to 10 pm, daily (both locations)
• Prices: Appetizers: $2-$6; Entrees: $5-$20; Soup and Salads: $3-$11;
• Notable:  The aromas and spices used to cook the food
• Other Information: The original location is often referred to as the Montford location while the West Asheville location is referred to as Nine Mile West.

Nine Mile is a casual, full service, Carribean-style restaurant (two locations with the Montford pictured above) that is both vegetarian and vegan friendly.  Although the menu focuses on fish and seafood, there are designated alternatives (vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free) so there are lots of options for plant-based eaters substituting tofu for fish or meat in many dishes.

ADDISSAE ETHIOPIAN RESTAURANT

• Address:  48 Commerce Street, Asheville (downtown)
• Phone Number:  828-707-6563
• Website:  www.addissae.com
• Hours:  Open 6 days a week (closed Tuesday) for lunch (11:30 am – 3 pm) and dinner (5 pm – 9 pm)
• Prices: Entrees:  $11 – $25
• Notable:  The Messob Platter (vegetable)

Addissae (named after the owner’s mother) – with the Lion King-like logo – has an almost cult-like following because it’s the only place in Asheville to get really good Ethiopian food.  The classic Messob platter is here – the injera bread (the teff and brown rice fermented bread that tastes like a spongy crepe) piled with a selection of vegetable side dishes.

MELLOW MUSHROOM

• Address:  50 Broadway Street, Asheville (downtown in the middle of everything!)
• Phone Number:  828-236-9800
• Website:  www.mellowmushroom.com
• Hours:  Monday to Thursday:  11:00 am – 9:30 pm; Friday and Saturday: 11 am – 11 pm; Sunday: 10 am – 9:30 pm
• Prices: Most entrees $10-$20
• Notable:  The pizza!
• Other Information:  Side outside and enjoy the people watching!

Mellow Mushroom – the Atlanta-based chain of restaurants – has one of the prime pieces of real estate in downtown Asheville on Broadway.  With both indoor and outdoor seating, Mellow Mushroom prides itself on hearth baked pizzas but consider starting with the Bruschetta (hold the feta cheese) or Hummus platter served with celery and carrots. Salads (spinach, chef, greek, or house) can be ordered without meat and cheese or build your own salad with your choice of greens and more than two dozen vegan ingredients (i.e. roma tomatoes, mushrooms, tempeh, pineapple, spinach, etc).

Pizzas can be ordered vegan but make sure to tell your server you want a vegan pizza because the typical crust is buttered and sprinkled with parmesan. Choose your pizza size (small, medium, large), crust (classic, mellow thin, or gluten-free), vegan cheese or not, and then pick your toppings (nearly two dozen choices)

FRENCH BROAD FOOD CO-OP

• Address:  90 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville (downtown)
• Phone Number:  828-255-7650
• Website:  www.frenchbroadfood.coop
• Hours: Open 7 days a week from 8 am – 9 pm
• Prices: Very competitive
• Notable: Bulk options are extensive
• Other Information: All day all-organic salad bar, a breakfast, lunch, and dinner hot bar

French Broad Food Co-Op is Asheville’s only community-owned grocery store.  Located downtown, the French Broad Food Co-Op is open to non-members and has a selection of organic fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, grains, and ready-made foods (in 5 aisles and an adjacent prepared foods/fresh fruit/vegetable/salad/dinner bar section). Stop by just to walk through this classic Asheville-based community run co-op.