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.

So I'm back with another review... This time for White Duck Taco Shop in Asheville NC…read more.. This place has some of the most unique tacos... I had the Gyro taco and my wife had the shrimp and fish... interestingly they do not have DUCK TACOS , anyway the food was very good... I also had the corn salad and a watermelon salad which was refreshing... Please check this place out when I'm Asheville...

We stopped for lunch while visiting Asheville this past week and really enjoyed White Duck. Love…read morethe uniqueness of the tacos. We both got the Chicken Tikka - which I liked more than my husband. They said this was the most spicy, but not in the least - and we even ordered it spicy. I got the lamb gyro taco and he also got the bangkok shrimp. Again - enjoyed both but nothing spicy. But loved the uniqueness (and the various options) that you can order here. I would definitelyl come back.

Huli Sue's is a cool and creative little spot on the outer side of businesses at Grove Arcade…read more Menu selection was sizable with some really cool creative dishes. Everything was made perfectly and tasted even better. Service was outstanding. Everyone was close by and checked in often. Very friendly, helpful, courteous, and truly customer driven. Loved my time at Huli Sue's! Most certainly will be back!

After a day of hellish travel, we decided to get into a car and travel more. Everyone told us to go…read moreto Ashville and it was a great decision. We found Hulu Sue's and there was a parking spot right in front so we decided to come in for lunch. The ambiance was friendly and inviting. Although it was really busy, we were immediately seated at the last indoor table. We ordered the Poke bowl and the combination bowl and a spam appetizer. The started was simple and delicious. I was never on the spam bandwagon, but this simple preparation was fantastic. The poke bowl was delicious. It was a little heavy on the mayo, but all the components were great. I loved the macaroni salad. It was the reason I wanted to come in and I was happy! I sampled some shrimp and chicken from my guy's dish and they were both great-well seasoned and well prepared. I wasn't a fan of the pork, it felt on the dry side. We also noticed that NC likes their sauces. I mean, I like sauces, but I never expect 4-6 options on the table. We tried a little of each and the curry based option and the mustard were my favorites! This is a great find. I didn't realize that small towns still close up shop early on Sundays. So unfortunately we didn't get to spend a lot of time exploring. Nonetheless, this was a great place to stop into.

Where to begin!? First, we arrive at 5:15 pm on a Friday…read moreand get in a twenty-minute line. The line is just to get on a waitlist, which we cleared in 45 minutes. So, while waiting we went upstairs for unusual cocktails: tamarind margarita and Kashmiri sunset. Both delicious and tasted of Indian spices. And because it's Friday, the remarkable vegetable Pani puris were available. Wow: we ate five and could have just eaten those for dinner. Go on Friday or Saturday! But we headed downstairs and ordered three items: Matchstick okra: One of the most unusual foods I've had in a restaurant. Simply delicious. Holy smokes! Uttapam: a vegetable pancake that was very tasty. Sort of like a fritter. Butter chicken: accompanied by a tray of add-ons, this was just a wonderful hearty dish. The atmosphere is loud and bright, with lots of colors. But it is not so loud that you can't have a conversation. Highly recommend: I've been to maybe 20 Asheville restaurants and this is in the top two or three.

Top notch experience today at Chai Pani. Friendly staff, eye catching and transformative interior…read moredesign, and the food...wow! This is probably the only Indian restaurant I've dined in that I wouldn't mind going back to in the same week. In a way I did, as my brother in-law first took us to their fast casual spot. In love with the SPDP I asked that we dined at the mothership, and each dish we ordered was terrific! Baingan bartha- bangin, tots and fried puffs - delicious. Saag - lip smacking good, sloppy jai - full of flavor, prawn and kabob scrumptiously charred. Carrot cake and ice cream a perfect ending. If I ever come back Asheville I'm definitely eating here again. Thanks to all the hard work, your love shined today at lunch.

This is a counter service fish fry restaurant. Minimal seating inside, some patio seating, we were…read moreable to walk from downtown. Nostalgia driven decor paying homage to the Chef and her heritage. Friendly staff that were quick to greet and offer assistance. I will admit to not liking fish, but being a fan of the Chef, knowing that I wanted to try her food, I was happy with the shrimp burger. The side alone can make a memorable meal, and there were multiple other sides we wanted to try, but didn't have the room. An excuse to visit and try the food again in the future!

I did some research and found out about Good Hot Fish. I ordered the fish sandwich, greens and…read morepotato salad. They were delicious. The staff is incredible. I was warmly greeted and they even found me to bring my to-go order. I will definitely return.