I was in town for a massive gathering of beer nerds for the homebrewers convention and needed a…read moresolid breakfast to reset my system after days of heavy tasting. I found Chestnut on Yelp and decided to wander in. The space has this elevated modern rustic vibe with a southern twist and a little bit of sass. They even sell shirts that say neither hoity nor toity, which cracked me up. Honestly, the atmosphere was great, but our waitress was the real star. She was absolutely phenomenal and looked after us perfectly. My palate was pretty fried, so I started with a Bloody Mary to wake up. Truth be told, it was just okay. The house mix had an odd flavor that nobody at the table could quite identify, and it seriously lacked spice. It was just kinda bland. I noticed a bottle of Firewalker hot sauce on the table, and splashing that in helped a little bit. After that, I transitioned to a mimosa. You really cannot mess up a mimosa too much, and it was a solid, reliable second drink. For the main event, I ordered the southern chicken and waffles. This came with a fried chicken breast sitting on golden malted waffles, smothered in sausage gravy, and drizzled with chipotle honey. It was a really great dish. The kitchen did a solid job with the fry on the chicken, and the gravy had a nice flavor. It leaned a little on the sweet side because of the honey, but it was not totally overdone. The real sleeper hit of the morning, though, was the side of cheesy grits. Those grits were absolute heaven. They were incredibly creamy and perfectly seasoned. If you go, you have to order them. Chestnut is in a great location, and despite the weak Bloody Mary, it was a stellar visit.

Worth Planning Your Asheville Trip Around…read more As a Bay Area foodie, navigating around San Francisco's incredible restaurant scene taught me to appreciate thoughtful cooking, quality ingredients, and genuine hospitality. Chestnut had been on my Asheville dining list long before I arrived, and after spending several days exploring Boone, Blowing Rock, and the Blue Ridge Mountains, I made it my dinner splurge before heading home. It absolutely delivered. A quick tip: skip the hunt for street parking and head straight to the garage across the street. The first hour is free, and downtown Asheville can be congested with both vehicle and foot traffic. I arrived around 5:30 without a reservation and was warmly greeted by the hostess, who offered me a table or a seat at the bar. Asheville was surprisingly hot and humid compared to the cool mountain weather I'd been enjoying, so the air-conditioned dining room was an easy choice over the sidewalk patio. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Fresh flowers, warm lighting, elegant stone countertops, comfortable booths, tables, and bar seating create an atmosphere that feels polished without being stuffy. What stood out most was the mix of guests. There were locals greeting staff by name, couples enjoying date night, families with children, and older guests gathering with friends. It felt welcoming and comfortable for everyone. As a solo diner, the bar was the perfect choice. I enjoyed all the energy of the restaurant while still having a peaceful dining experience. I started with a glass of Brut Rosé from Spain. Crisp, refreshing, and beautifully balanced, it was the perfect way to settle in after a warm afternoon. Then came the Lobster Bisque. As someone who has made lobster bisque from scratch, I know the work that goes into creating a great one. Chestnut's version, made with Oak & Grist Reserve Cream and finished with fresh chives, was outstanding. Rich, silky, velvety, and loaded with tender pieces of lobster. If I'm being incredibly picky, I would have enjoyed just a touch more sherry, but that's purely personal preference. The smaller serving vessel kept the bisque hot from first spoonful to last, which I appreciated. My only complaint was that I wanted a larger serving because it was that good. For my entrée, I ordered the 4-ounce Petite Filet. The steak arrived cooked a perfect medium rare with excellent flavor and texture. It was served with butter-whipped mashed potatoes, haricot verts, a crisp potato gaufrette, red wine demi-glace, and chive butter. Every component was thoughtfully prepared. The demi-glace added richness without overwhelming the beef, while the potato gaufrette provided a delicate crunch. My only minor critique was that the plate could have been served a bit hotter, but the quality of the food more than made up for it. One of the highlights of the evening was the service. Taylor, part of the management team, was personable, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming. After my sparkling wine, he suggested a half-glass pour of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir since I was driving. Excellent recommendation. The wine was elegant, earthy, and beautifully balanced, pairing perfectly with the filet. As the evening progressed, the restaurant filled quickly. Watching the staff greet regulars by name and efficiently manage the growing crowd spoke volumes about how well-run the restaurant is. You could tell many guests were repeat customers, which is always a good sign. After dinner, I attempted to walk off my meal through downtown Asheville, but the summer heat quickly convinced me to head back to my hotel. I left full, happy, and already thinking about that lobster bisque. For a Bay Area foodie who plans entire trips around memorable meals, Chestnut exceeded expectations. Great food, thoughtful service, an inviting atmosphere, and a dining experience that felt special without trying too hard. If you're visiting Asheville, put Chestnut on your list. Life is too short for mediocre meals, and this one is worth making time for.

We have heard nothing about good things about Pack Tavern, so today we decided to give it a try…read more Let me just say Wow! With a family of 3, our son being 12, it is not always easy to find someplace that we can all enjoy and get why we want. But here, that is exactly y why happened. We each ordered something different, which ended up being 4 different things with the added soup, and everything was great. Not just good or ok, but great. Hot, fresh, and genuinely good. I can see why they have such a high rating, and with so many reviews. It is definitely going to be on our short list of preferred restaurants.

Our server Jack was awesome. Very personable and wanting your experience to be fantastic!…read more We were just looking for a spot to chill for a while and Pack's is that kind of place. In the 30+years of coming to Asheville we always seem to find our way there! Today came in for a few brews, mozzarella sticks & a pizza. The beer was cold the mozzarella sticks had a nice crunchyness on the outside and a hot cheese middle and the pizza was very good! Thanks for making a couple of hours go by effortlessly and fun!

Comfortably tucked away restaurant with 5-star personality and menu…read more We loved our visit to Copper Crown. Not knowing what we were in for, we were very, very impressed. From environment, to food selection, quality of food prep and cooking, and service, everything was spot on making for a night impossible not to enjoy. The fish dish we ordered = spot on! The salad with grilled chicken topping = delicious. Service, thanks to Sara, was impeccable. Sara was kind, funny, helpful, checked in regularly, and super friendly. We absolutely loved our experience at Copper Crown, and when we're in AVL next we will most certainly be stopping by again!

Cute, petite restaurant tucked away in a small shopping center. We had a reservation for a group of…read more7 on the patio which they changed to inside for us since it was warm outside. The wine selection was nice and they also had some interesting cocktails. There were several tapas-style plates, salads and entrees. We ordered the fried shrimp and the fried Brussels. The shrimp looked great but lacked any real flavor. The Brussels were delicious! Others in our group had salads and burgers which looked wonderful and received rave reviews. The service was excellent. Make sure to make a reservation which requires a credit card before going so you don't have to wait.

Being from Houston with lots of James Beard award winning restaurants, Posana exceeded my…read moreexpectations! Eli was the best bartender/waiter I've had in years! Highly recommend

I can't say enough good things about Posana! The ambiance, service and food are all exactly what…read moreyou'd hope for during a celebratory dining experience. My fiancé took me here for my birthday, and I felt celebrated every step of the way. Our server Laura brought us a complimentary small bite before the meal and after dessert. She also made dessert super special and was kind and attentive the whole meal! The food was all phenomenal, I couldn't believe it was all gluten free. It felt very fresh due to the farm to table nature of the restaraunt. We started with the cheddar biscuits, which were a hit. My short rib with polenta and roast veggies was delectable and a very generous portion! Finally, we ordered 1 dessert but they brought us a trio. I was wowed by the cheesecake and olive oil cake! Would definitely return for date night or any other special occasion!

Wow. The orginial,…read moreOG, Tupelo Honey on College Street in downtown Asheville is one of those places when you walk in you feel at home - in a history lesson of culinary - and in someone's kitchen all bundled into one. Comfortably tucked away behind their own relaxation facade, this location in downtown is the definition of good ole' southern cuisine, cozy and welcoming environment, with service unmatched! Our two dishes ordered = perfection! Service = unreal. Maya was incredible. She made this experience (already a great one as soon as you walk in) to beyond comprehension. She delivers a type of service and expertise that I've only experienced in other places like Inn at Little Washington or French Laundry. Maya, you were awesome! Thank you. Anywhere within an hour of Asheville, I will be making a sharp turn to come back here!

Great breakfast spot in the downtown area. Food is always fresh, cooked well and presented nicely…read more I started with a queen size spicy Bloody Mary which I would highly recommend. Then for breakfast I had 2 eggs sunny side with apple cider bacon and Parmesan potatoes which had a nice crisp to them. Awesome! My wife had the garden omelet which she said was delicious! We ate on the deck which was covered as it was a bit rainy this morning and had a great time just kicking off the morning with a cocktail and a spot that is always relaxing. Our hostess was very nice a provided good service. On the weekends strongly recommend a reservation.

Visited the other day with our family. I ordered the ribeye hamburger and fries. they were okay,…read morebut within one minute of receiving our meal, it was cold. They have the air vents shooting down on the food. I mentioned it to our waitress, but the attitude was that nothing could be done. Who wants a cold meal. Needless to say, we won't be back.

Had the chance to visit Juicy Lucy's Burger Bar and Grill on a rainy holiday weekend while in…read moreAsheville, and it turned out to be a fantastic find! We went all out with appetizers and main courses, and everything was excellent. For starters, my husband ordered the buffalo chicken bites and I got the fried pickles. Both were perfectly prepared, and we thoroughly enjoyed them. The burgers were the absolute highlight. I ordered the "Bacon Crunch" style Juicy Lucy, which came stuffed with cheese and topped with bacon jam, pickles, crisp bacon slices, and potato chips for a perfect crunch. My husband went for the "Lucy Loco" burger, which came loaded with jalapeños. Both burgers had incredible flavor, were an ample size, and hit the spot perfectly. The sides were just as impressive. I had the sweet potato fries, and my husband ordered the fried green beans--which were uniquely delicious and really well done. To top it all off, our server, Carla, was very nice and incredibly attentive throughout our meal. Juicy Lucy's is a must-visit, and I will definitely be stopping by again on my next trip to Asheville!

Best food in town. Clean and well prepared dishes that are obviously made with Love . I look…read moreforward to dinning here when ever in town!

There's something about our favorite unassuming gem in Asheville--HomeGrown--that just gets us. The…read morebuttermilk chicken breast smothered in mushroom gravy, the sesame greens that somehow taste both familiar and new... a little piece of the South with a twist. And honestly? Sometimes it all tastes better eaten in the car, seat warmers on, sharing bites with my best friend.

Josh is the best server we have ever encountered. Truly. And that's not even discussing the food…read more Ok where to begin? The best falafel (a daily Benedict special) and that's saying something given I've eaten falafels in Israel, Turkey and NYC. The bed of arugula and hollondaise sauce was chef's kiss. Then there's the side dish of the feta potato salad. OMG! The server called the chef "young, hungry, and polished..." and truly I agree. My honey is a meat and potatoe dude and the burger he had was sumptuous. A hint of horseradish (he thinks) with the smoky bacon and perfect seasoned fries. In summary... total gastronomic taste gasm. We will be back. Many times. This is what makes Asheville worth the trip.

Our first meal in Asheville, which was very conveniently located just minutes away from the Grand…read moreBohemian. Biltmore Village is pretty sleepy so didn't see many other options to eat besides this, but it was pretty good. We had a 7:30pm Sunday reservation and asked if we could sit on the patio since it was a gorgeous night. We had to wait about 5-10 min for a patio table, but no biggie. The service was great and our waiter was very attentive. And the food came out pretty fast as well. After ordering some wine we started with a cup of gazpacho. My husband really liked it, but i found it a little spicy. However, I really enjoyed the rest of our meal which was a meat and cheese app and pecan crusted trout. My husband and I split both and cleaned our plates. While dessert was tempting we had eaten a lot of candy on our drive to Asheville so decided to skip it. Overall, it was a nice first casual meal and we didn't even have to get dressed up which was nice after a long car ride. It looks like they have a great brunch too so we may be back this week to check it out!