Black Bear BBQPickled mushroomOysters three waysOysters with spiceMushroom toastBBQ Bento BoxGrilled peachesLive fire set upHappy Bride!Smoked turkey
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About
Black Bear BBQ, based in Asheville, North Carolina, provides delicious custom-built catering menus from elevated barbecue to seasonal Appalachian cuisine for every wedding and special occasion. You will work directly with the husband-and-wife team, who have over 50 years of combined experience. We take extreme pride and care when handling, delivering, and presenting our product.
Services Offered
We offer a wide range of menu items to please all tastes and accommodate any dietary restrictions. From backyard barbecues to destination weddings, on-site spit-roasted pigs to multi-course live-fire bachelor/ bachelorette parties, we have you covered. Chef Gregson loves to present his “Appalachian Flair” style to down-home Southern comfort food. You will receive attentive service, well-seasoned food, and lots of love from the kitchen to your guests’ hearts. We are pleased to be considered for your upcoming event. We are booking 8-14 months out at this time. Black Bear BBQ specializes in flavorful and diverse barbecue dishes and vegetarian options. You can work with the team to create a custom menu that completely suits your special event. The team can also provide setup and cleanup of your catering stations, along with different dining arrangements such as buffet dining, family-style, or plated three-course meals.
Woman-owned
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This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.
Review summary
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Black Bear BBQ was praised for delicious, well-presented Southern BBQ, flexible customizable menus, and excellent communication. The team was punctual, served hot buffet-style food, accommodated dietary restrictions, and provided thoughtful touches like plating for the couple. Guests raved and many highly recommended them.
Review summary
Powered by AI
This AI-generated summary gives you a snapshot of the overall ratings and feedback from the reviews this vendor has received.
Black Bear BBQ was praised for delicious, well-presented Southern BBQ, flexible customizable menus, and excellent communication. The team was punctual, served hot buffet-style food, accommodated dietary restrictions, and provided thoughtful touches like plating for the couple. Guests raved and many highly recommended them.
+5User photos
Jourdan Sent on 07/22/2023
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
A++ for the Amazing Autumn and AJ
The food was incredible! We had an array of delicious appetizers for cocktail hour (pimento cheese with spiced pecans, fresh fruit, and sausage and cheddar biscuit balls). For dinner we went with a buffet, set up with a beef tenderloin carving station, herbed chicken breasts, fingerling potatoes, grilled veggies, a light and refreshing apple and fennel salad with artisan bread and butter. They also provided late night trail mix snacks to help keep the guests fueled! Everyone absolutely loved the food! I have been told by several guests that it was the best wedding food they’ve ever had! AJ cooked the meat and veggies on site over an open fire which ensured everything was fresh and delicious. The tenderloin was so juicy, perfectly cooked, and the horseradish sauce sent it over the top! One guest couldn’t get enough of the spiced pecan pimento cheese and has been raving about it ever since! Everything was so well thought out and executed. We would absolutely recommend AJ and Autumn for any catered event! They take a lot of pride in what they do, are responsive, courteous and very professional! Thank you for helping to make our day unforgettable! Love you guys!
+2photos
Taylor Sent on 06/08/2026
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
May 30th wedding
BlackBear BBQ was super friendly and easy to communicate with. They worked with us well on customizing exactly what we wanted for our buffet and guided is us on the proper amounts for the wedding size we had. The servers at the event were fantastic and amazing to be around. I can not express how much we loved the food especially the Alabama white sauce with the brisket and my favorite was the pulled pork. The side dishes were just as tasty and will define visiting there restaurant to have it again.
Devon Sent on 12/10/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Best BBQ catering in WNC
Black Bear was AWESOME! They were so helpful, kind, and fun. All of our guests LOVED the food and were happy to get some authentic southern BBQ. No notes and no improvements needed because they were absolutely perfect :)
Brianna Sent on 10/25/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Absolutely delicious food from appetizers, dinner, and dessert!! Plus an incredibly kind team! Absolutely recommend
We used Black Bear to cater our wedding for appetizers, dinner, and dessert for about 70 people and couldn’t recommend more!! From the first communication figuring out the menus and amounts it was such an easy process. AJ helped with recommendations based on travel and what would serve well which I so appreciated the guidance. On the day of it was absolutely delicious. We served dinner buffet style and the food was hot being served for all the guests. Also for my (bride) and my now husband’s plate they made our plate with generous servings and brought them to our table first - so incredibly kind and thoughtful. AJ also helped me work through several food allergies from our guests. Truly enjoyed working with them from start to finish - such a kind team of people with a true talent for delicious food!! Absolutely recommend any day!!
Katie Sent on 06/25/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Amazing wedding caterer
Black Bear BBQ was amazing to work with from the beginning to end of our wedding planning journey! They were flexible in what we wanted, our guests needs, and the food was so delicious people didn't stop eating! So thankful so the staff at our wedding too as they made sure to make separate platters for my husband and I, recognizing that we had not slowed down to eat yet, then they reheated it for us later when we were actually ready to eat.
Highly recommend going with Black Bear BBQ for any event and will definitely use them again in the future.
Great people and amazing food!
Kevin Sent on 06/14/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Black Bear BBQ 5 Stars
AJ and his team were absolutely incredible additions to our bachelor party. Their punctuality, enthusiasm, and seamless communication made the entire experience effortless and enjoyable. They were highly attentive to the group's needs, ensuring there was plenty of food for everyone and that everyone had a fantastic time. The highlight was definitely the full pig roast, which added a memorable and delicious touch to the celebration. Overall, they exceeded our expectations and contributed to a truly unforgettable event!
Reed Sent on 06/12/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Best BBQ in Asheville
AJ and his crew were amazing. Wedding planning was very stressful but the catering aspect was not. The hardest part was picking what we wanted off his menu. It all looked good but we ended up with 3 meats, one veggie option, 3 sides, and some apps. He helped us figure out amounts and it was all freaking delicious. The crew that came on the big day was very professional and super friendly to everyone. They set up and had everything ready and we didn't have to worry about anything. If we could give them 10 out 5 stars we would.
Mollie Sent on 06/12/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Foodies choice!
We had Black Bear cater our wedding welcome party and they absolutely blew us away! As serious food lovers, we had high expectations—and they exceeded every one. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how delicious everything was. The team was punctual, organized, and incredibly professional throughout the evening. One especially thoughtful touch: they made sure to set aside plates for us, knowing we’d be too busy to eat during the party. We couldn’t be happier and would enthusiastically recommend Black Bear for any event!
Jenn Sent on 02/17/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Amazing Wedding Catering!!
We absolutely loved working with Black Bear BBQ for our wedding in Black Mountain! The food was incredible—so flavorful, beautifully presented, and a huge hit with all of our guests. Everyone was raving about how delicious everything was, and we loved that there were so many great options to choose from.
One of the best parts of the experience was visiting the restaurant beforehand, trying a few menu items, and getting expert recommendations from the owner. They are so easy to work with! Their passion for great food really shines through, and it made the whole process so enjoyable.
We will definitely be visiting the restaurant whenever we’re in town—it’s just that good! Highly recommend them for any event or just a fantastic meal.
Carole Sent on 01/21/2025
5 out of 5 rating
5.0
Wedding Welcome Party
A Wonderful Evening with Black Bear BBQ
Our evening was truly set apart by the exceptional menu offerings of Black Bear BBQ! AJ was not only professional but incredibly accommodating throughout the entire process. From planning the menu to adjusting for bride and groom requests and even handling an increase in attendees, AJ demonstrated valuable culinary insight and expertise that contributed to a successful evening.
The food presentation was as impressive as the flavors themselves—guests and hosts alike were absolutely delighted. The scrumptious dishes were the highlight of the evening, leaving everyone raving about the experience.
I wholeheartedly recommend Black Bear BBQ for any event. They’re a fantastic choice for anyone looking to elevate their special occasion with delicious food and outstanding service!
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At Black Bear BBQ, the cost of the full wedding catering service includes:
Set Up
Clean Up
Cake Cutting
Cocktail Reception
Server(s)
Linens
The bar service starting price at Black Bear BBQ includes:
House Beer
Black Bear BBQ offers the following event services for weddings:
Delivery
Set Up
Clean Up
Black Bear BBQ offers the following catering services for weddings:
Breakfast / Brunch
Buffet
Cake Cutting
Cocktail Reception
Custom Menu
Hors d'oeuvres
Plated
Server(s)
Stations
Tastings
At Black Bear BBQ, you can find the following types of cuisine:
African
American
Asian
BBQ
Caribbean
French
German
Greek
Indian
Italian
Latin American
Local
Mediterranean
Mexican
Middle Eastern
Seafood
Southern
Spanish
At Black Bear BBQ, the following dietary needs can be accomodated:
Gluten Free
Lactose Free
Halal
Kosher
Nut Free
Organic
Vegan
Vegetarian
To cater to all tastes, Black Bear BBQ offers the following food and beverage items:
Linens
Black Bear BBQ is recommended by 100% of couples who have used their services. Their overall rating is 5.0, with the same score awarded for quality of service, flexibility, value, professionalism and average response time.
