Corner Kitchen restaurant, in Biltmore Village

On a charmingly quiet corner in Biltmore Village, near the grand Biltmore Estate, the aptly named Corner Kitchen (7 All Souls Crescent, corner of Boston Way, 828-274-2439) occupies a cozy stucco-and-beam house fronted by a redbrick sidewalk and a small green lawn. A number of chain restaurants and shops have popped up in Biltmore Village in recent years, but Corner Kitchen retains a one-of-a-kind, homey air and serves some of the best food in Asheville - maybe the best in this neighborhood.

Open nightly for dinner and daily for breakfast and lunch (along with a very popular Sunday brunch), the Corner Kitchen makes a perfect stop before or after touring Biltmore Estate. The dining takes place in a series of cozy, informal dining areas with hardwood floors, Oriental rugs, and paintings on the walls - it all feels a bit like dining at a good friend's house. Upscale but not unreasonably priced contemporary America fare (with decidedly Southern and Caribbean accents) is served - specialties like pecan-dusted quail with roasted-root vegetables and honey-mustard glaze; and peppercorn-grilled fillet of beef with smashed potatoes, asparagus, and a smoked-tomato butter (the latter is one of the few dinner entrees that costs more than $25 - most are around $18 to $22). There's well-thought-out wine list, too.