Pasqualino's Italian Restaurant

Pasqualino's sits right on Everett Street in downtown Bryson City, and honestly, it's the kind of place that makes you forget you're in a tiny mountain town. The open kitchen lets you watch them make fresh pasta daily, which is half the entertainment while you're waiting for your table.

We've been here probably six times over the years, and the Chicken Marsala is what keeps us coming back. They do this thing where servers offer little sauce tastings before you order — sounds gimmicky but it actually helps since their wine-forward sauces are pretty different from what you get at chain Italian places. The Artichoke Pasta is solid too, though it's rich enough to put you in a food coma.

Here's the thing about timing — they close between lunch and dinner around 3:30 for a kitchen reset, which catches people off guard. Dinner prices jump up from lunch, but the portions are big enough that we usually take half home. Get there by 6 PM on weekends or you're looking at a wait, and it gets pretty loud once the dinner crowd hits.

The butter pecan cheesecake is worth saving room for. Their prosecco leans brut instead of sweet, which is more authentic but might surprise you if you're expecting something sugary.

One downside — parking can be a pain during peak tourist season since it's right downtown. We usually park a block away and walk rather than circle around looking for a spot.