The current stay at home order frees up time to do some of the things you normally don’t have time to do, such as spending time reading a good book.

If you’re longing for a taste of nostalgia and comfort amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, turn through the pages of Lost Restaurants of Asheville to remember some of the eateries that delighted diners for decades.

Author Nan Chase digs deep into Asheville’s past culinary history to remind us that Asheville didn’t become a “foodie” town recently. It’s always been a place where chefs and restaurant owners have created a strong sense of community bonding through innovative menus.

If you’re native to Asheville or have lived here for some time, you’ll remember many, if not all, of the lost restaurants including The Hot Shot Café, Stone Soup, Tingle’s Café, S&W Cafeteria, Three Brothers Restaurant, Chez Paul, Bucks, Wink’s, Babe Maloy’s, Paradise Restaurant and many others.

The book is chock-full of memories, photos, recipes, and newspaper ads of yesteryear designed to attract potential diners. And don’t overlook the prices. One Tingle’s ad printed in the book shows such items as a 10 cent hamburger, BLT sandwich for 20 cents, and fried shrimp a la creole and rice for a mere 60 cents.

Angelo and Catherine Dotsikas ran the Silver Dollar Café in West Asheville (now home to All Souls Pizza) for forty-four years. They opened at 6 am seven days a week and kept the place running for 15 hours a day.

When they decided to retire in their seventies, Mrs. Dotsikas said, “I’m just so tired, honey.” They closed on September 1, 2011, and went home to “sit down.”

That hard-working legacy runs through all of the successful restaurants of the past. Sit back and read a while. It’s guaranteed to give you renewed appreciation for all the Asheville restaurant owners and staffs—past and present.

Lost Restaurants of Asheville, published by The History Press, sells for $23.99.