Luminosa, the long anticipated new Asheville restaurant, seamlessly blends traditional Italian flavor with local Appalachian ingredients and has finally opened its doors! Since the disappointing opening of Gimelli, I have been longing for an Italian restaurant that can live up to our rather high expectations. Brought to Asheville by chef Graham House, formerly of Sovereign Remedies (Asheville), “Graham aims to incorporate an unmistakable Asheville flare into Luminosa’s Italian driven cuisine.” (per Luminosa’s website)

On opening night for a restaurant can range from being an extraordinary event never to be replicated, or an unforeseen disaster. Having experienced both, I approached the newly opened Flat Iron Hotel with a mix of excitement and apprehension. This historic building, a beautiful example of Beaux-Arts architecture standing tall between Wall Street and Battery Park, has been revitalized with a boutique hotel, rooftop bar, and of course, Luminosa. Home also to Chai Pain (James Beard Award winner) and a few other shops and cafes.

Luminosa’s menu features wood fired pizza, freshly made pasta, delicious entrees, and unique cocktails. As is our custom, we asked the server for his favorites, and ordered accordingly. We started with a crisp red wine, and a refreshing gin cocktail with ginger and raspberries. Our appetizer arrived, crispy bone marrow tater tots, followed by a gorgeous Nduja pizza, drizzled with balsamic glaze that enhanced its flavors. We finished with a cappelletti pasta adorned with ramps, ricotta, green garlic and a sprinkling of pecorino. For dessert we shared a delightful olive oil soft serve with hints of lemon and almond – absolutely perfect and delicious

While our server was very kind, the pizza crispy and bursting with flavors, and the soft serve ice cream perfection itself, the rest of the meal fell a bit short. The tater tots wished for more salt while the pasta boasted entirely too much of it. The ambiance of the restaurant was odd, with no music playing, which might be chalked up to opening night kinks that needed ironing out.

I am curious to try the coffee shop that they have in the mornings and we always love a good rooftop. I would certainly return for that ice cream. But as of now, I’m hesitant about revisiting Luminosa in the near future. Sadly, the search for an extraordinary Italian restaurant in Asheville continues.