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!

reword for yelp I 100% recommend stopping by if you're traveling to Asheville! They have a small…read moremenu but sometimes I prefer places like that because they can perfect what's on there as opposed to places with too many items! The oysters were good but the biggest callout is the mussels I mean they taste as delicious as they loomand the focus bread was perfec

The food was good so was the service. This restaurant isn't…read morevery big but well appointed. The food was served at a good pace and was tasty. We ordered the gnocchi, absolutely delicious but the portion was small for a main course. Parking on the street but wasn't easy so arrive a little earlier.

I had high hopes and expectations for this place. When scrolling on Yelp, this place had incredible…read morereviews. I made a reservation to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday. The restaurant is small but cozy. I wouldn't say the atmosphere is bad but definitely could be better. Our waitress was kind. The food was good but I was looking for a little more of something. The only thing that wowed me was the focaccia bread. I would order this again and again. Glad we tried it out but wouldn't come back.

Great service. Great food. Great scene. The waiter was very attentive. The food was amazingly…read moretasty! The place was small but cozy and decor was perfect for the small space. I would go back!

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.

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.

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.

Jargon has settled into the kind of comfy-chic neighborhood-bar groove that's hard to fake. It's…read morebeen around since 2017, and it shows -- in a good way. We walked in without a reservation, sat down, and had the kind of long, unhurried dinner that feels increasingly rare. Nobody rushed us. They let us share plates without hesitation. The menu is billed as New American, and that's the right phrase for it -- genuinely eclectic, pulling from Spanish, French bistro, and Southern influences without committing to any one of them. The pork chop was excellent. The grilled carrots were genuinely memorable. The green salad was simple and well done. Our waiter recommended a wine that we were pleased with, and even offered a tasting. The wine list is deep for a room this size, and the cocktail list looks the same. Music was at that sweet-spot volume where you can hear your conversation partner and still hear the song. You could bring your parents, or come on a date, it works either way. Some farm-to-table places feel pretentious; this one doesn't. They don't make you feel dumb for not knowing every local distributor. One small gripe: a 3% "kitchen staff fee" printed on the back of the menu. I'm all for paying the kitchen, but I'd rather see it built into the prices up front. 4.7 Stars. What would push it to a solid five stars: drop the hidden fee and bake it into the menu prices. That's genuinely the only thing standing between this and a perfect night out.

Our server was rather chatty but incredibly kind and attentive. About the same price range as other…read moreupper scale/casual spots in Asheville. Big portions help justify the price. Local ingredients and really good food. A nutty amuse bouche to start the night. Beets and pickled apples were interesting in a good way. Cheddar onion rye sourdough was adequately sour and warm, on the dense side. Trout was super moist and the mustard sauce complimented it very well. One of the better fish dishes I've had in NC. Also tried some of the pork chop (very tender & great sauce) and mushroom risotto (herby and great flavors on the mushrooms).