There are few places in this town that feel like home quite like Moose Cafe at the WNC Farmers Market. For years — heck, decades — it’s been a staple for families, friends, church groups, pre-night-out fuel, and folks just wandering down Brevard Road. When you drive past, you almost expect to see someone waving you in for biscuits and gravy.
Did Somebody Say Moose Cafe? — A Homegrown Favorite in Asheville
Roots & Southern Soul
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Moose Cafe opened about 25 years ago in the Western North Carolina Farmers Market, with a mission to serve Southern, comfort food made from scratch using ingredients from local growers.
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Their recipes start from scratch — scratch biscuits, scratch gravies, slow-cooked meats — and they lean heavily on fresh, local ingredients, often those found just steps away in the market.
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The WNC Farmers Market itself has roots going back to 1977, when it started with just one retail building and a truck shed. Over time, it grew into the 36-acre market we know now, with Moose Cafe being one of its anchor tenants.
So Moose Cafe isn’t just a restaurant — it’s part of the tapestry of Asheville’s food and farming heritage.
A Recent Visit: Comfort on the Plate
We swung by recently (late breakfast / brunch / whatever-you-want-to-call-it) — and it was everything we hoped.
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It’s tucked on the west side of Asheville, just down Brevard Road. If you’re coming via Haywood Road, it’s on your way to I-40. It sits down the road the Tanger Outlets strip, and is right in the mix of the Farmers Market — nice location for folks to make a day or a few hours of it.
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Three menu items among many:
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The Biltmore (yes, named for that Biltmore)
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All-You-Can-Eat Breakfast — like a buffet without a dozen hands crowding in
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Chicken & Waffle — and oh boy, they do not slack there
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We had the Country Fried Steak plate with French toast & hash brown casserole, and the All American Breakfast (eggs, sausage, biscuit & gravy, fruit — so we can pretend it’s healthy).
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Up front, there’s a little shop — jellies, apple butter, sauces, gifts. Always nice to pick something up to take home or share.
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What struck us most: many faces there we’ve seen before, going back years. That says something about loyalty, staff continuity, and treating people right. It’s not just about cooking well; it’s about hospitality, about community.
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The decor, the wall art, the ambiance, even the folks eating — all felt genuine, solid, heartfelt. The back views toward the mountains, the chatter, the comfort — it’s a place that invites you to stay a minute (or two).
You don’t have to wear cowboy boots and spurs, but they’d fit right in here, so feel free. Come as you are, bring your appetite, your stories, your folks. Be ready for comfort, full plates, and that little whisper in your soul that says, “I’m glad we came here.”
🌾 Around here, we’ve got a saying: if you’ve got something good, let’s make it great.
And that’s exactly how we roll in these neck of the woods. When it comes to websites, social media, videos, and learning how to dodge all the twigs and figs online — we gotcha covered.
Don’t fall for the rest when y’all got the best sittin’ right here. Holla at us, ya hear? 🤠