Gemelli
(juh-MEL-lee)
A type of twisty pasta whose name is derived from the Italian word for “twins”
Pronounced juh-MEL-lee, Gemelli is a playful, twisty pasta whose name means “twins” in Italian — a nod to its intertwined shape and the way it brings flavors (and people) beautifully together. Serving fresh house-made pastas and inventive Italian fare since 2022, our multi-generational Italian restaurant in Asheville is an ode to Chef/Owner Anthony Cerrato’s young twin daughters. The kitchen is helmed by his son, Executive Chef Gabe Cerrato, who brings a contemporary approach to his family’s Italian heritage and foodways.
Asheville’s Multigenerational Italian Family Restaurant
Meet the Cerratos
Chef Anthony Cerrato, a second-generation Italian-American with roots across Italy, has been a cornerstone of Asheville’s culinary scene. Trained in his father’s kitchens and at A-B Tech’s Culinary Arts program, he opened Strada Italiano and Social Lounge in 2012, introducing the Feast of the Seven Fishes tradition to Asheville. In 2022, he and his son Gabe continued the family legacy with the opening of Gemelli in West Asheville.
Executive Chef Gabe Cerrato blends his family’s Italian heritage with a modern approach to Gemelli’s New Italian American menu. After growing up in his father’s kitchens, he refined his craft in restaurants from Raleigh to Denver and San Diego before returning home to lead Gemelli.
Giving Back to Our Asheville Community
At Gemelli, we believe in supporting our local Asheville community. Through partnerships with local farmers, food banks, and many nonprofit organizations, we strive to give back by donating meals, participating in charity events, and sourcing our ingredients from sustainable local suppliers. We are proud to be a community-focused Italian restaurant in Asheville, dedicated to making a positive impact while serving the best authentic Italian cuisine in town.
Our Local Purveyors
Black Trumpet Farm, Leicester, NC
Brasstown Beef, Brasstown, NC
Joyce Farms, Winston-Salem, NC
Old Mill of Guilford, Oak Ridge, NC
Ridgetop Farm, Leicester, NC
SD Morgan Farms, Leicester, NC
Siano, Charlotte, NC
Warren Wilson College Farm, Swannanoa, NC
Discover Strada Italiano
Our sister restaurant, Strada Italiano, is downtown Asheville’s favorite Italian since 2012. Strada Italiano honors Chef Anthony Cerrato’s Italian heritage and hospitality with authentic, house-made pasta and regional Italian specialties that are prepared à la minute (aka cooked to order) in a cozy old world-style trattoria in downtown Asheville, NC. The adjoining Social Lounge at Strada is Asheville’s original rooftop cocktail bar, offering an alfresco dining experience.
