We'll be checking into the Grove Park Inn Thursday and will be touring the Biltmore at 8:00. I have a reservation for 6:00 at the Sunset Terrace, but might consider going someplace near Biltmore instead. Fri. we'll be eating at the Blue Ridge Dining Room, so that is out. Spending tons of money on spa treatments, so I'd rather not spend too much on dinners. I will check out chowhound.com as suggested as well.

TIA!

Grove park is well known for having mediocre at best food. You are wise to spend your food dollars elsewhere (hell, I wouldn't eat there if it were free). But you should definately have a pre-dinner cocktail or hot cocoa on the Terrace at sunset, even if you have to bundle up.

Chowhound will give you gobs of info, but I will mention: Salsa, inexpensive, casual, fantastic food. If you don't want Carribean, there is Zambra, Fig, Table, Marketplace, Laughing seed.

Ditto to Litespeed on the GPI food. I found the Grovewood restaurant (next door to GPI) to be very nice.

isn't Blue Ridge Dining Room buffet style - if so...ughhh. Last time I was there on a Friday nite for work they were herding large groups through. But buffets normally depress me....
I think I'd opt for dinner down town and for a nice dinner that's not too expensive I'd say Zambra's or Flying Frog. Alternatively you could have a meal at Fig which is not far from the Biltmore and then head downtown for dessert and coffee and to walk around after up your Biltmore tour or just head back to GPI and have a hot drink in front of the fireplace (if you can get close enough) and listen to the music.

Loved the Flying Frog and ditto Litespeed again on that suggestion! I would not go there on a night when there is a tight schedule. I would suggest you follow one of her more casual suggestions, Fig, Salsa, or Laughing Seed. Good food, but done fairly quickly.
As Litespeed notes Friday night in the Blue Ridge dining room is buffet.

thanks for the heads up on the Friday night buffet, I am not into that at all. I think we'll try the restaurant next door, as I have a 7:00 pregnancy massage at the spa and so we want to stay close! Thanks!