Years ago, someone recommended Apollo Flame to us.
We filed it away as one of those places we needed to try someday.
Somehow, someday took several years.
A recent trip to Asheville finally gave us the opportunity to stop in, and by the time we left, we were already talking about coming back.
If you've spent the day shopping at Tanger Outlets Asheville and everyone is hungry, Apollo Flame is worth knowing about.
The best post-shopping meals are easy, generous, and flexible enough for everyone at the table.
Apollo Flame worked for our family because no one had to compromise. Pizza, pasta, Greek plates, salads, and comfort food all fit naturally on the same table.
Apollo Flame's roots date back to 1974, and over the years the restaurant has built a loyal following throughout Western North Carolina. The Brevard Road location sits just minutes from Tanger Outlets Asheville, making it a convenient stop for shoppers, travelers, and families spending the day in the area.
The restaurant also operates another Asheville-area location on Hendersonville Road, giving locals and visitors more than one opportunity to enjoy its extensive menu of pizza, Greek specialties, pasta dishes, sandwiches, salads, and comfort food favorites.
For visitors staying in Lake Lure, Apollo Flame is an easy addition to an Asheville day trip. The Brevard Road location is approximately 35 miles from Lake Lure, or about a 45-minute drive depending on traffic.
The size of the menu stood out immediately.
For our first visit, our table ended up being a good representation of just how broad the menu is. Peter ordered the Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. Claire chose a Greek platter. Kevin went with the Lasagna, and I ordered pizza along with a Greek salad.
That variety was one of the things I appreciated most about Apollo Flame. Nobody had to compromise. Everyone found something they genuinely wanted to eat.
My pizza was excellent. The crust had great texture and flavor, with just the right balance of crispness and chew. It was the kind of pizza that keeps you reaching for another slice even after you are no longer hungry.
The Greek salad was every bit as good as I had hoped. Fresh ingredients, generous portions, feta cheese, olives, and their homemade Greek dressing came together to create one of the highlights of the meal.
I also have to mention the ranch dressing. Anyone who enjoys ranch with pizza knows that some restaurants get it right and others do not. Apollo Flame definitely gets it right.
Claire thoroughly enjoyed her Greek platter. Kevin's lasagna disappeared quickly, and Peter happily worked his way through his spaghetti with meat sauce.
By the end of the meal, there was very little left on anyone's plate.
This short video gives a simple look at the kind of meal that made Apollo Flame feel like a strong family stop near Tanger Outlets Asheville.
One meal was enough to convince us that we wanted to return, but it was nowhere near enough time to work our way through the menu.
The gyros immediately caught our attention. The calzones looked excellent as they made their way through the dining room. The Greek pizza is another item that has already made its way onto our list for a future visit.
With a menu this large, deciding what to order next time may be the hardest part.
The conversation on the way home was not whether we would return. It was what we would order next time.
Restaurants do not stay busy for decades by accident.
Apollo Flame delivers the kind of meal many families are looking for: good food, generous portions, reasonable prices, and enough variety that everyone can find something they enjoy.
What stood out most was how easy the entire experience felt.
The menu had enough variety for everyone to find something they wanted. The portions were generous. The food arrived promptly. Nobody left hungry.
After a day of shopping and running around Asheville, that was exactly what we were hoping for.
As we headed home, the conversation was not about whether we would come back.
The conversation was about what we would order next time.
Apollo Flame is especially useful because it fits into the day without needing to become the whole plan. It works after shopping at Tanger Outlets Asheville, before heading back toward Lake Lure, or as part of a casual Asheville errand day.
That kind of restaurant matters when you are traveling as a family. Sometimes you do not need a complicated dining experience. You need a place with enough variety, enough space, and enough familiar options that everyone can settle in and eat well.
For more family dining ideas, visit our Cuisine Reviews, including Asheville-area notes like Mr. Tea Asian Bistro and our perspective on Green Sage Cafe.
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Apollo Flame is a strong choice near Tanger Outlets Asheville because it solves a common family dining problem: everyone wants something different, everyone is hungry, and nobody wants the meal to become complicated.
Apollo Flame has two Asheville-area locations. One is located on Brevard Road near Tanger Outlets Asheville, and the other is located on Hendersonville Road in South Asheville.
The Brevard Road location is approximately 35 miles from Lake Lure, or about a 45-minute drive depending on traffic.
Apollo Flame is known for pizza, Greek salads, gyros, Greek specialties, pasta dishes, generous portions, and family-friendly dining.
Yes. Apollo Flame's large menu includes pizza, pasta, Greek specialties, salads, sandwiches, and other options that make it easy for families with different tastes to find something they enjoy.
Yes. The Brevard Road location is located just minutes from Tanger Outlets Asheville, making it a convenient lunch or dinner stop before or after shopping.
Reviewed by Family Critic, where we share honest restaurant, travel, and attraction reviews based on our family's real experiences.
