A diner's delight in Rutherford College: Jessica’s Mediterranean & American Eatery

In September 2023, The Paper asked readers for their favorite pizza place in Burke County.  One of the write-in responses was a vote for Jessica’s Mediterranean & American Eatery in Rutherford College. I had not heard of Jessica’s but I made a mental note to try the restaurant at some point.

And now I have.

Marshall and I drove east on Interstate 40 from our home in west Burke County to Jessica’s location on Malcolm Boulevard. (Reminder, the bridge at Exit 113 is closed for repairs. You will need to take Exit 112 and travel the back way.). Ample parking is available beside the restaurant, which is good because the lot was more than half full on this Sunday early afternoon.

We were greeted immediately when we walked into the restaurant and seated at a table for two. 

Vintage Charm

I love it when old homes are revitalized as restaurants. Jessica’s is one of those places. According to our server, Nachole, the house was originally constructed in 1893 and was once a dormitory for Rutherford College.

The college was established in 1853 on 600 acres in Burke County. In the early 1930s, Rutherford College and Weaver College merged with Brevard College. The college dissolved but the town retained the name.

In more recent years, the building has housed several restaurants including a steak house and a Mexican restaurant. Nachole said Jessica’s has taken up residence for the last four years. 

The dining rooms were most likely bedrooms and the living room back in the day. Each dining area was fitted with four to six sturdy, wooden tables. Simple folding chairs serve as dining chairs, so one sits low to the table. The walls and ceiling were beadboard that looked original. Our dining area also had a brick fireplace. 

The Menu

Jessica’s has, as its full name suggests, a menu with both Mediterranean and American cuisine. Anyone wanting American fare might enjoy the buffalo wings, burgers, or smothered hamburger steak. Mediterranean dishes included pasta, pizza, gyros, and souvlaki. 

When I asked our server for recommendations, she suggested either the Rigatoni Carbonara or the Rigatoni ala Vodka. I chose the Rigatoni ala Vodka with chicken and shrimp ($15.99 with both, $13.99 for either chicken or shrimp). Marshall ordered the Lasagna ($12.99). Both entrees came with side salads. We also ordered the Hummus with Toasted Pita Bread ($6.25). I had an unsweet tea and Marshall, an Arnold Palmer.

Our drinks came out quickly. Nachole brought out our salads shortly thereafter. While Marshall and I chatted over our salads, I watched as other tables were served. A pizza was brought out for a couple sitting at the table across from us. When the woman took a bite, her eyes rolled back and she smiled. So yes, next time I’ll order what she was having. 

Our pita and red pepper hummus appetizer was delivered with two small side plates so we could spoon the dip onto our plates. The toasted pita was hot and cut into triangles and stood up well to the thick hummus. The dish was filled with pita and a sizable portion of the dip. We decided to slow down or we would have no room for our main dish.

The entrees took about 20 minutes to come out from the time we ordered. As we waited I told Marshall that I bet the lasagna is made individually and not in a large pan where the kitchen staff simply cuts out a square to be delivered with each order. My bet would have paid off. Both our dishes came out piping hot — so much so that we had to wait for them to cool a bit before diving in. 

The lasagna was not drenched in cheese but rather had a good balance of cheese, pasta, and meat sauce. The marinara in the sauce was slightly sweet. My rigatoni portion was huge and filled with plenty of chicken and shrimp. The sauce was creamy (a combination of the marinara and alfredo sauces) with larger chunks of diced tomatoes. The rigatoni was al dente, just the texture I like to better hold onto sauces.

The Service

Nachole was attentive from beginning to end. We never had to look for her and our drinks never emptied. And she was busy, seemingly in perpetual motion as she zipped through the tables. The restaurant in general was well staffed this day, by all appearances. I saw at least three servers working the various dining rooms. 

She also took the time to box up our leftovers. Nachole didn’t simply bring us a box to pack everything for ourselves. She set a tray beside our table and gingerly placed the rest of our food in the to-go containers. She even took the time to spoon the hummus into individual souffle cups.

The Verdict

Jessica’s Mediterranean & American Eatery was worth the 27-minute drive from our house. Good food, good service, and enough variety on the menu to keep me interested in making a return visit. Next time, I’ll probably try the gyro (can’t find that everywhere) and most definitely that pizza.

Angela Kuper Copeland is editor of The Paper. She may be reached at 828-445-8595 or angela@thepaper.media.