Luminosa

I recently visited this restaurant while in town celebrating my college acceptance, and it was an absolutely amazing experience! The food was incredible- every dish so different with amazing flavors. Each course was so good I could not pick a favorite. The dessert was amazing as well. Even though we were so full from everything we made room for dessert because of how good it was!! But what really stood out was the exceptional staff. They were so friendly, attentive, and went above and beyond to make my visit so special. To my surprise, I received a very special note and drawing from the staff members congratulating me. It was such a thoughtful and personal touch that brought so much excitement. The atmosphere was also fantastic. The restaurant was very clean, well decorated, and had a cozy, welcoming vibe. I would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for delicious food and outstanding service!

Stopped in for a quick bite. Kids had a cheese pizza which was custom made for them. My wife and I shared a meal Rigatoni and the tomato dish that was recommended. Both were good and everything seemed to be fresh. Atmosphere is very nice, this is nice place for a date night or enjoying dinner with friends. Menu options for kids is limited.

Delicious tasty menu for family of foodies. Every dish was excellent. Chef recommended dishes. Probably would skip the pizza when we do again. Classic throwback building. Restaurant on ground floor. We enjoyed a pre dinner cocktail on roof lounge with 360 degree view of city and mountains. Very attentive service who gave detailed explanation of each course

Today was my second meal here. The first was dinner in April of '25, and was absolutely perfect in every way. The woman served us in particular was amazing. The second was this morning for brunch. Our first issue was that the music was SO loud and distracting. I'll never understand how restaurants (particularly high-end restaurants) don't understand that you shouldn't play music with vocals and a heavy drum beat, particularly at noon. The best experiences we've had at fine restaurants (including Michelin-star restaurants) always include an ambiance of soft instrumental music so that it doesn't compete with conversation. We asked once for it to be turned down, which they did, but a short while later it was turned back up. I find it hard to believe that any guest would make such a request. About 20 minutes later, it was turned down again, presumably because someone else complained. Then a short while later it went back up. It was so hard to hear (and I am not an old person nor do I have issues hearing in crowded spaces). It made the ambience unpleasant. Then the service was extremely slow, but we were ok with that and were having a nice time. The drinks and food were excellent. The Zeppole were perfectly cooked, and the strawberry-rhubarb jam was full of flavor. I had the quiche, which was light as a cloud, with a wonderful, flaky crust. Our waiter was very attentive until we received our main course, then disappeared. We were finished for about 20 minutes looking around for him before we finally stopped another server to ask that he find him for us. He apologized and said something about being the “dish pit.” He apologized to the people next to us as well. Our server was very pleasant and knowledgeable, but at a restaurant like this, you just need to look over once in a while to see if the guests are finished and just looking around (we don't require someone at the table constantly). So all in all, the food was excellent, but the service and the ambiance made it such that we will probably not be back. Eating at a fine dining restaurant is a package deal. The chefs are clearly doing their part. But the atmosphere is part of the experience, and sadly, was a disappointment. If you have a chance to go to the rooftop, the view is spectacular. They have three different areas facing different directions to choose from.

We had a wonderful meal. This was our first time and it won’t be our last. The service was outstanding. Our server was great, had lots of suggestions, and just wonderful. The food was so good. I had the Mezzaluna and my husband had the rigatoni. They were both delicious. We came for our anniversary and everyone congratulated us and even gave us a card. We are local so we will be back. We felt welcomed and had a great dining experience. Thank you for your hospitality. That pizza looked good we will be back soon.

Three words! Attention To Detail. From the moment we walked into Luminosa my wife and I were blown away by the beautiful setting. Upon walking in we were greeted by an extremely friendly host who made us feel right at home. We were lucky enough to be seated with a waiter named David. David was incredibly knowledgeable and knew exactly how to navigate the menu to curate a dining experience that truly takes your taste buds on the perfect journey. The presentation and attention to detail on every plate is truly impressive and unparalleled. These dishes are masterpieces. Local ingredients, local proteins, and an unbelievable kitchen staff make for a meal you’ll never forget. Executive chef Graham House and this team have truly elevated the dining experience. Best restaurant my wife and I have ever experienced. 🥂

Luminosa is a true gem in Asheville. I had one of the best meals I’ve had in recent memory here — so good, in fact, that I came back the very next day while in town for business. The presentation is absolutely beautiful, with each dish arriving like a small work of art. The flavors were balanced, thoughtful, and unexpected in the best way. The atmosphere is relaxed yet elevated, and the service was warm without being overbearing. Luminosa feels special without trying too hard — and that’s rare. Can’t wait to return.

This is probably one of the best restaurants I have had the pleasure of eating at! All the staff is amazing. They are friendly, knowledgeable, and give great recommendations. Last time we ate here, we did a family style meal so we could all try a bit of everything. They make sourdough in house and also use it for the pizza crusts. The bread basket is a must get when you come. Highly recommend the lemon pizza and any of the pastas as well! The cocktails and non alcoholic drinks are made were you can actually taste the ingredients and are perfect accents to a meal. We ordered one of every dessert and the blackberry tart was a table favorite. Everything tastes fresh and is just prepared with talent and care. We recommend this place to anyone asking where to eat at in Asheville! Perfect for a date night, celebration, or casual dinner. Will definitely be back soon!

I was in Asheville over Christmas, and wanted to have a nice place to eat on Christmas Day. I chose Luminosa. As a single diner, I often feel unwelcome, since I'm taking up a table for two, especially on a busy holiday. I made a ln advance reservation, showed up on time, the host could not have been kinder. I was seated at a lovely table with views of all of this beautiful historic building had to offer. The menu was pretty special. The chef takes great care to leverage local farmers and seasonal products in the menu. He uses Local foragers for veggies and Local-sourced protein as well. I walked in with the intention of getting a simple protein and some vegetables, but after seeing and smelling, and realizing all the things that were homemade I went a very different direction. I started by selecting a Sicilian wine (last Christmas I was fortunate to be in Sicily). Seeing the wine on their list brought me back to those incredibly wonderful memories, so I had to select Sicilian wine. BTW, their wine menu is incredible! The wine Somalia stopped by my table because she was a little surprised someone on their own would select that wine. So we had a lovely chat about my perspective why selected it and then we talked about what food would go best with it. So the wine totally changed my plans for dinner. Having those wonderful memories from Sicily, and then realizing they made their pizzas Sicilian style I had to go with that. The food was incredible! The service was fantastic. I was never made to feel "less than" because I was dining alone. Savannah was my server. She was knowledgeable, attentive and kind. Thank you very much Savannah!! Laura, another server also helped- wonderful! The Host was like a well-skilled traffic cop, always attentive, aware of what was open next, queuing Up the next party, and keeping account. He was energetic, kind and effective. The building and restaurant History is notable - be sure to ask. This was a fabulous experience- I can't wait to go back. PS the gelato was gratis too!

First time at Luminosa last night & it was a fun adventure. We were greeted and sat at the bar until the rest of our party arrived, and the bartender helped us understand the context of the new-to-us restaurant. The genre, he said, was Italy meets Appalachia, and that they source their meats from The Chop Shop, with all of the rest of their ingredients on the rotating menu coming from within 50 miles of Asheville. They have a rooftop bar with fire pits opening soon, as well as a speakeasy in the basement (who knew?!). Food was stellar and they were able to easily accommodate a severe tree nut allergy at our table. Their kindness continued with a birthday tiramisu and signed birthday card from the staff. While I found our pasta portions to be closer to the USDA recommended size, this carb addict would've loved slightly larger; but then again, I did proclaim that I would bathe in the herb butter that accompanied the bread service, so perhaps my expectations are a bit skewed. Beautiful, whimsical plating as seen in the pictures, had us feasting even before the excellent combinations hit our tongues. Parking was easy in various garages and on the streets nearby. Attire was again Asheville-inspired with some in hiking boots and others in sparkly cocktail flare. We will return, and definitely try the rooftop bar and speakeasy. Thanks to the kind bartender and Demitri for your service, and cheers to the kitchen staff!

I know my photos will not do it justice but I vow to take better photos next time because there will absolutely be a next time. We swung into Luminosa night one of our trip to get some later night food and I am so glad we did. I ordered the caramelle pasta and crushed cucumbers, my husband ordered the lemon pizza and bread service. We were incredibly full but ordered dessert anyway. The chocolate semifreddo is so rich and so delicious. We went back again night two. That's how good this place is. We both ordered pasta that night and again, left feeling so full. This restaurant is inside Flat Iron Hotel. We were told they have a rooftop bar and a speakeasy in the basement. Those are on the agenda for the next visit. Truly magnificent food. I can't wait to come back.

We tried this place for the first time last night and it was truly amazing. Very luxurious but very down to earth vibes. Our bartenders were SPECTACULAR and we appreciated them and their expertises (the lemon drop was one of the BEST I've had.) The soft serve and tiramisu....there are no WORDS. Life changing. You can tell it was made with love! If you ever get E as your bartender, you'll be GOLDEN. They have so much knowledge and they're the sweetest human being to ever exist. We truly appreciated them and the rest of their staff! We will be back!

Food service ambiance was great. What they do with vegetables is amazing. Lions mane tasted like a decadent meat reserved only for holidays. Carrots were smoky and soft. How did they do that?

Situated on the ground level of the Flat Iron Hotel, Luminosa offers inventive Italian cuisine featuring fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. The interior conjures a homey trattoria along a flower-lined Tuscan vicolo, the tables bathed in easy summer light. House-made stracciatella is paired with fire-kissed beet, carrot and cherry. The lemon, fennel and smoked moz pizza is a delight to the senses. Tiramisu is enlivened by a rich salted chocolate crumb. In this Battery Park haven, I found nothing trite, nothing bland. Service was outstanding; thank you, Kristen.

Came to the mountains for Christmas shopping. Asheville is open. Talking to many of the people here, they need your business. From hotels, restaurants, to the local shops. Please come up. Now to Luminosa. Great atmosphere and friendly staff. The food is very good, but.on the higher end price wise. Make reservations. Would eat here again.

Celebrated an anniversary here. Everything was wonderful. We were sat front row to the open kitchen. It was a nice and intimate table by the corner. Service was outstanding--from host, to the food runners to sweet Jamie R, our server. He's knowledge on the food and drinks was incredible. The chef team? Chefs kiss. We enjoyed the delicious bread service with the chive butter.... *Italian hands* the gnocchi? Soft pillows--perfect consistency--how a gnocchi should be. The 24oz steak was the real show stopper. This is a must try. Like Jamie said, this will be your new favorite place!

Food and service were amazing. Our waiter, David, was spot on with his recommendations. We had the bucatini which was as good as we have ever had. I had the chef's cut steak which was a flat iron steak. It was very good and my wife enjoyed the chicken dish. We also enjoyed the bone marrow tater tots. The meal was expensive but definitely worth it. We are now 2 for 2 at this restaurant. Meaning we have been there twice and enjoyed it both times.

Went there without a reservation and were directed to their 9th floor location to have a cocktail and. a pizza. After ordering 2 glasses of wine ($40), we were told we could not get a pizza there. All we got was a "we're sorry". We left without drinking the wine. No customer service here. Will not return.

I live in Charlotte but go to Asheville every chance I get and am always looking for good restaurants to try. I have been hearing so much about Luminosa and how great the food is so I made a reservation to try it during my last visit. The building is beautiful and the service was great. The food however did not live up to the hype. I felt everything was bland and under seasoned. My friend felt the same about her dish. I will give them an extra point for having mocktails.

Came here for our last stop for the evening. Shared a bottle of wine with friends and sat at the bar. Beautiful space and service was great. Would like to come back and enjoy the food.

Genuinely a fantastic experience. We got a bit of special treatment but the staff genuinely went above and beyond along with being engaging and fun. Waiter was Felix also met with Sarah. 3 of the 4 got pastas and all fell in love, half roasted chicken was also very strong. Get dessert.

The food here is good but nothing to write home about, you will have a good meal. The one standout is their pizza - just a perfect crust and very creating toppings - well done. The service was excellent and friendly.

We loved our experience! Everything is thoughtfully prepared and delicious. The service and atmosphere is superb. We look forward to visiting again soon! No notes.

We sat at the bar and had terrific service, excellent food and outstanding drinks. A fun crowd that came and went while we're dining as they came in for cocktails before their dinner reservations. We'll be back!

Once we sat down some girl came to our table to serve us water and she asked what we were getting. We proceeded to tell her, then she said that she wasn't our waitress she was just curious. After she awkwardly kept talking to us about the menu in a very unprofessional way I couldn't tell if she was high or mentally disabled... ultimately I think she was high. She kept closing in uncomfortably close to me and made my wife uncomfortable. Our waitress had to tell her to leave because she was just not catching on to social cues at all... Our service from that point on was sub par and the food was not worth the price. I ordered the trout and although it was ok it wasn't worth the $38 being charged. I will say the ambience was nice and led me to believe it was going to be better than it was. The beer I got tasted like rose pedals and warhead sour candies... wasn't very good

I appreciate their effort to blend Italian with Appalachia. They certainly have foraged some interesting local plants to enhance their dishes. The bone marrow tater tots were delicious, especially with the capers. They could have used a little more of the sauce they sat on. The beef carpaccio was both beautiful and delicious. Though both of those dishes came with a small blond hair. The Evan tomatoes were bitter and slightly mealy. The anoloni pasta was delicious but not flavorful. Our server (I think Rob) was so helpful and informative. And he brought us a complimentary plate of weeds with a bamboo vinaigrette and lemon cucumbers - I've never heard of those and they were beautiful and crunchy.

We thoroughly enjoyed our date night here! It is located in the heart of downtown Asheville, and connected to the flat iron. We started with the bread service, the butter spread was delicious and each had a pasta dish. Portion wise, the rigatoni is the best bang for the price. We split a bottle of wine and enjoyed the meal - it is paced to take time to enjoy each one without being rushed. Service was incredible. Recommended grabbing a drink at the rooftop bar before or after dinner for some great Mountain Views!

I have been following the restaurant for awhile on Instagram as I am a sucker for wood fired pizza and basically all italian food, throw in the fact they make all their pastas and breads in house... I was basically walking by everday trying to peak in the window for any inkling of when they would open. So when I saw there post on Instagram stating they were officially open I rushed to have a date night with my spouse. We definitely were not disappointed. For starters we got their bread offering for $12 you get a lot of housemade bread. The Foccia and the sourdough butter were by far the highlights. The garlic knots were good but lacking the garlic flavor I come to expect in my garlic knots. We ordered the marinara pizza great basic pizza with fresh tasty ingredients. The crust was firm and kept it's shape when you picked it up, with a crunch but still soft. We had 3 pastas. YES I REALIZE THIS DINNER IS ALL CARBS! I love them okay don't you judge me. We had the gnocchi, cappelletti, and rigatoni. All were good but there was definitely a higherarchy. Gnocchi was my favorite had a great flavor the gnocchi themselves were light not too dense like can happen sometimes. The peas were a great counter balance and added some freshness to the dish. The cappelletti was next for me but was my spouse's favorite. They were delicate and the filling was smooth and quite delicious, with some good acidity. The rigatoni was cooked to a perfect al dente and it was the perfect pasta to capture the sauce in all the ridges. The veggie was really the only miss for me. We got the turnips. I love these little turnips and get them anywhere I can in Asheville. The were good but with a little salt they would have been epic. For dessert the Amaro soft serve is a must get it had surprisingly deep and rich flavor. The panacotta was also very tasty but a little firm for my Panna cotta tastes. Do yourself a favor book a dinner here and after go to the rooftop bar for one of the best views in the city!!

An incredible meal from start to finish in no small part due to the exceptional service provided by our server, Jamie. We were greeted warmly and provided with a thorough and detailed overview not only of the menu, but also of the restaurant and culinary team. The passion with which Jamie celebrated the chefs and the local farms made us all really excited about the meal ahead. And it did not disappoint. We loved our pasta (mafaldine for the win), pizza (a real highlight for the entire table), and contorni (please get the charred broccolini). We ended the night with a smooth and creamy thyme and lavender panna cotta that felt both light and decadent. Luminosa was a true joy. Not only did we eat really, really well, but we also felt truly and authentically cared for and that's a rare gift to be treasured anywhere you find it. Thank you Luminosa, thank you Jamie.

I am writing this review with a smile on my face. I must say , as an Asheville native and a downtown employee that has worked in fine dining. I am more than pleased with my experience here at luminosa. Tonight i had the Gnocchi as my entree and cantaloupe as my starter and both were completely fabulous. Very fresh and very warm. This has been the best gnocchi ive had in Asheville for years. I also want to add how much i enjoyed the dark tones and classic dining ambience, from the wood tables to the candle in the center and wine in the cabinets, it was wonderful. The staff is always moving fast which is a good sign. My server im particular was absolutely fantastic. I wish i could add an extra 5 stars just for him because he was so kind, funny, explanatory and patient (and very handsome!) thank you Joey and thank you Luminosa! I will be back again and bring my friends and more locals!

First, the service was outstanding. The ambiance was there, but the place is very loud. The food, well, it was confusing. I guess one would call the menu adventursome. Each menu item contained a mix of ingredients that could confuse, or perhaps, delight, one's taste buds. Prices ran from reasonable to absurd. My pizza was really very good...the tomato sauce among the best I've had, with a subtle bite to it and wonderful white anchovies. My wife had the trout, with all enhancements removed, just salt and pepper. It was the largest serving of trout I've ever seen and was delicious. The side of potatoes was decidedly different and the side of cauliflower was a no go. There were few leftovers between the six of us. The wine and beer list was limited. I had an old fashioned that was unremarkable. The place was crowded and is apparently very trendy. But with so many wonderful restaurants in Ashville, I would put this one pretty far down the list. OK, go try one appetizer and tell others what you think.

Food is top tier in Asheville, great flavors and presentation. Service is always on point. The environment is great.

Went here back in late June and it was by far my favorite restaurant I've been to this year. The space is designed and decorated expertly, creating a warm and inviting environment to eat. My girlfriend and I walked in without reservations and were seated very quickly and treated so kindly by the staff. Any questions we had about the menu were answered honestly and descriptively. The food was so good, I honestly am trying to find an excuse to go back to Asheville soon. I got the Gorgonzola gnocchi, which had so many different flavours that were balanced so well. The gnocchi was some of the fluffiest yet most filling pasta I've had. The bread service was definitely a good choice for a starter.

Fantastic Birthday dinner! Started on the rooftop bar and made our way down to Luminosa for dinner. Our party of 10 was treated with 5 star service throughout our stay. Ribeye, Chicken, Carpaccio, bone marrow tater tot's , Rigatoni all top notch. Ambiance is beautiful. We had a great time.

What a disappointment! Watered down drinks, Negroni color of rose, pasta - I could cook better at home. Italian sausage is not actually Italian sausage but ground beef. Overpriced. Olive Garden would be a much better choice honestly.

Just had brunch there today. The space has been beautifully restored. It boasts a lobby bar, a rooftop bar with three decks, and a gorgeous speak easy in the basement. We ate at Luminosa, its Italian-fusion establishment. So delightful. Out server, Ace, was aptly named, and he made the dining experience a real treat. So knowledgeable and entertaining. We had the rigatoni, which was made fresh, and the sauce and cheese were crowning glory. I will make this a regular stop for entertaining out-of-towners.

Amazing experience was here for our honeymoon & they made it exceptional. Can't wait to go back soon! The trout was to die for!! Atmosphere was great too!

The food out of this works , tasty never complicated yet savory . Cocktails so goooodddd and wine selection beyond .... I recommend this place for sure

Finally! At long last an authentic Italian restaurant in Asheville. Sorry, all you other guys. I love you all but this, THIS is the real deal. I wasn't surprised to find out the chef lived in Italy for five years and wanted to bring that experience to his native Asheville. From the homemade pasta to the fire-roasted chicken, the perfectly huge local trout, to the contorni (we had the eggplant and peppers) and the tiramisu with homemade lady fingers and the divine panna cotta, it's all delicious and very, very close to what I remember from the central part of Italy. The pasta!!! This is as good as it gets here. The decor is homey and perfect for the hotel that houses it. I would be remiss not to mention how marvelous and friendly the staff is. Out wait person Savannah seemed genuinely thrilled that we loved everything. A perfect, perfect, perfect evening of high-end dining. It's not cheap but you get what you pay for. And no red sauce in sight. I can't wait to go back and try the pizza. From what I saw at the next table it looked just like the pizza we got in Florence. I'm not drinking at the moment but I look forward to trying the cocktails some time. Oops, I almost forgot to mention, it was my birthday and there was a card with birthday greeting on the table when we arrived that was signed by the staff and a small gift, local honey from the shop next door. WOW!

What a great evening. We went for my birthday dinner and had to take a reservation after 8pm which is late for this old man but worth it. We are huge fans of Oak Restaurant in Charleston, and this is a sister restaurant so we decided it was a great option for us as we have family in Asheville. We decided to take the trek for my celebratory meal. Absolutely beautiful inside and in a great area of Asheville. Honestly Asheville has plenty of places to eat but we have not found great higher end place. We have now. The host and waitress were so professional and really catered to our every need. The booth was perfect for the 4 of us and gave us all a great view of the goings on in the restaurant. My food was superb. Especially the Gnocchi. I told them several times that this was the best I had ever had and it was! Larger pieces than I am used to, but I cut it on each bite to make it last. It was so moist and delicious I loved every bite. For desert they surprised me with the Tira Masu which again I truly thought it was the best I ever had. This place is something that was sorely needed in Asheville. Fine dining that really is 4 star. They also had a card signed by staff on the table. Just a great experience and look forward to doing this in the future. I will get the Gnocchi again. I definitely had the best entree at the table. Get the Gnocchi

Terrific dinner, with exceptional service. Ask for Bella - she is a fantastic server.

We really wanted to love it... We came on a Tuesday night...while we were not looking for a hurried meal... It seemed like the wait between courses was a bit longer than it needed to be... We also really wanted to be blown away by the food and we ordered the gnocchi... Which was excellent... a pizza... Which had way too thin a cracker crust for our taste and an eggplant appetizer that was fairly underwhelming. Maybe we just didn't order the right things? Very beautiful space to be sure but not rushing back.

Imagine wearing sneakers because you were walking the city the whole day and being denied at the door because of what you wearing. My husband and I went for a walk and came by this place I was originally going to put in a reservation online, but since there were so many time slots open and the restaurant was empty we decided to walk in. The blonde hostess that greeted us told us we could only seat to eat in the bar; I asked if there were other reservations and she looked my husband up and down and said in a bad tone "they were pre-promised" . Even though you can see online there was no reservations booked. We ended up leaving because I wasn't about to sit in an empty restaurant at the bar to eat a full course meajust because we were in sneakers. We went to Isa's restaurant and had such a great time the food in the other restaurant tasted much better without the prejudice of Luminosa staff here's some pics of Isa's bistro restaurant's food go there instead

Best new restaurant in Asheville! The pizza, the pasta and all other dishes were, in a word...superb! The chef and team are well trained, very welcoming and clearly know what they are doing! And don't miss the desserts...they are scrumptious! What a beautiful environment. The repurposing job on the ground floor of the Flatiron Building is very detailed and elegant.

Upscale atmosphere and excellent service in downtown Asheville. Food was fine but as another reviewer said "nothing to write home about". We came in from out of town + found a a same-day reservation here for date night dinner Saturday night. We ordered bone marrow tater tots, caramelle pasta, gnocchi, a watermelon/corn side, and a cocktail and wine. Drink was good but the wine recommended was not my favorite and I had trouble getting through a half glass. Tater tots were just nice rich tots but the marrow was indistinguishable, and I expected the marrow to be a bit more defined/pronounced based on the description. Gnocchi themselves were well-executed but I found the Gorgonzola to overpower the other flavors and it became kind of one-note with the punchy sour cheese flavor; could have also used more textural variety as the okra were just chewy and there was nothing fresh/crisp/crunchy to complement. Caramelle could have used more onion and the balsamic overpowered the other flavors - the shape of the pasta was so cute and fun though! Watermelon and corn side dish was simple and delicious. We overall had a good time - appreciated the attentive service, and also enjoyed walking around downtown after our meal. Not a bad pick and a you're bound to have a decent, predictable "nice dinner", but I wouldn't necessarily put this as a must-try first time recommendation over some of the other options in Asheville.

dined there Saturday night with friends and had a fabulous time..Ronnie the host greeted us as we walked in and ensured that we were promptly seated at our reservation time..he continued to assist us through the evening..with great humor..He and David (our server ) played off each other making our evening more fun..The food was delicious and would highly recommend the chicken...(will absolutely melt in your mouth) and tater tots are much larger than you imagine..easily shareable plates..weather prevented us from enjoying the outdoor space . we will look forward to returning soon..thank you