It's been 10 years since I've been to Asheville, North Carolina, and it still has its charm, beauty and small town spell that just invites you to like it! I'm here for my eldest son's birthday and of course our first dinner here, with his wonderful group of friends would of course be at The Admiral Restaurant; most likely the best restaurant in town. I've been to The Admiral several times before, so I'm making this review an updated version of just how good a place can still hold its reputation. For a restaurant so damn good, there is nothing fancy about it. It's set up like a small town diner; and that's what makes it so much comfortable. The service is spot on and their menu has so many wonderful choices at not "break the bank" prices. Us six diners ordered: * Caesar salad - for a southern restaurant making a Caesar this good, it was enchanting! It had Croutons, Parmesan and Anchovy * Ribeye Steak - see above accolade! With tallow confit potatoes, glazed carrots, chimichurri, goat cheese * Cheeseburger with fries - a mile high beauty with Cheddar, Dijonnaise, B&B Pickles, grilled Onion, and fries - was enchanting * Beef Tartare - with chile aioli, mustard seed, chive, ramp, black garlic, egg yolk * Smoked Trout Mantecato had black pepper-parmesan toast, Furikake, yuzu tobik * Airliner Chicken Breast with crispy red rice, tomatoes, romano beans, herb Every dish above was excellent. For a restaurant to be this consistent (after ten years for me) states just how dedicated this restaurant is for impeccability. read more

The Admiral - Our restaurant this night - New American Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

We had a phenomenal experience at The Admiral. From the moment we walked in, the hostess was warm and welcoming, and our server's knowledge of the menu was impressive. She was also attentive, kind, and patient with our questions and also allowing us to enjoy the whole experience without feeling rushed. The food was absolutely stellar. Every plate that came to our table was a work of art, letting the quality of the ingredients shine through rather than overcomplicating things. Standouts included the crudo and the steak tartare -- both beautifully composed and full of flavor. We were in town from Alabama and will recommend Admiral to anyone we know traveling to Asheville! Already looking forward to going back. read more

reword for yelp I 100% recommend stopping by if you're traveling to Asheville! They have a small menu 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 read more

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This was a wonderful meal to cap off a great weekend in Asheville NC. This restaurant has it all, great service, wonderful bartenders, and a kitchen that delivers high quality meals. We started with cocktails and the tuna crudo with Caesars salad, both were memorable. Then had the gnocchi and the ribeye. All dishes were superb. The bar really shines in this establishment, the cocktails are top notch and the bar staff are experts in their craft. Dessert was lovely and really impressed with this gem in Asheville. read more

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At first glance, the restaurant looks like it could be an Irish pub. Don't let that fool you, it's one of the best restaurants I've been to in Asheville. And it's quite fancy, in Asheville's way. The first time we came, we ordered the duck cavatelli and rib eye. The duck cavatelli was absolutely amazing. The rib eye was seasoned and cooked perfectly. It's easily a meal for two. This time we got the carrots which are prepared with beets, squash, and a white ponzu & brown miso butter. Wow was this a surprise. So good! We ordered the schnitzel special, which was well seasoned and crisp. I had the half roast chicken. Everything was amazing. Both times the service was great. We sat at the bar and Matty was awesome. Very friendly, attentive, and helpful. Highly recommend. read more

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This was one of the best meals i have had in a LONG time. Started with raw oysters on half shell. Oysters were perfectly chilled and tasted very fresh. Mignonette and hot sauce comes played on the side. Moved to the tuna crudo. Tuna was flavorful, watermelon was refreshing and the fish roe was the perfect umami topping and adds a great texture. Overall great dish Finished with the mussels. Very healthy helping of wonderfully done mussels with crisp focaccia bread on the aide to soak up the sauce when your done. Bar service was awesome and staff was very personable and knowledgable of the menu. This was an incredible meal cant wait to return. read more

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Drinks, food, ambiance (We were sat in the patio section which was nice and quiet as we had it all to ourselves. Cozy vibes), and service from Matt was by far the best I've ever had. I was trying to restrain myself from licking the plates. You can tell the chefs really love their job. They locked in with the sauces. Everything was delightful. It looks like they hired new staff, and I'm glad Matt was funny and down to earth, made great food recommendations, and made our experience there more personal and unique. (Hire more people like him). Thank you Admiral Chefs and Matt! We'll be back! read more

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Cozy spot in an unassuming building in west Asheville with lovely decor, superior service, and unbelievable food. We had the roasted roots (surprisingly spicy, and the first time I've actually enjoyed beets), my husband tried the pork short ribs (tender, flavorful, superb), and I had the rigatoni (comfort in a bowl). We will definitely be back. read more

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The food was good so was the service. This restaurant isn't very 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. read more

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Wow - the server was top of the charts! We ordered the tuna app and the cornbread tomato peaches app. Both were fantastic! My husband and 16 year old son grabbed the last 2 blue plates w steak frites. They ate everything and I stole the teenagers salad. I ordered the chicken and enjoyed the crispy side. My 14 year old enjoyed the mussels app as a dinner and ate every bite. He said the foccacia was better than mine so I need your recipe. Thanks for a fantastic evening w my teenage boys and husband. It was perfect! Keep up the great work! read more

Why do we wait so long to try friends' favorite local spots? The Admiral is our latest 'find' and new favorite. Matty started us out with awesome curated craft cocktails. Dan and kitchen staff provided good service, checking in at just the right times. The dining room is cozy with only a moderate noise level for so many diners in a tight space. And the food is great! Every selection was perfect and we can't wait to go back. read more

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So so. The appetizer mussels were the saving grace for our meal. Otherwise, ho hum entrees and very very expensive. No drinks were ordered. Service was ok. Pretty noisy too. read more

Food and drinks are always solid 5 star- same for staff. The only reason I went 4-stars is because they have a very small menu and it doesn't see much in the way of changes. So even though I love it, there's just so many times I can eat the same thing. My advocacy would be to have a complimentary seasonal menu that supplements the tried and true dishes. read more

The Admiral - Wines by the Bottle: Sparkling and White - New American Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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After reading all the Yelp hype, we were really excited to get our reservations at The Admiral confirmed. Sorry to say, that was the high point of the experience. The vibe is definitely "Asheville", which is cool, but be ready to spend some time waiting. We were seated promptly, I guess the reservations meant something, but after that, things slowed down. 5 minutes for the server to ask about drinks, only 4 tables were occupied at that point. Bartender took his time in prep, but the drinks were good, if not expensive. Dinner was a solid 40 minute wait, although the salads did come early. I had the Bolognese, and she had the Black Cod. Both were served as appetizer portions - I did not see a note about small plates? Really, $34 for an appetizer? That I had to wait 40 minutes for? The flavors were good, but the value just was not there, at all. The bill comes and I see a glass of wine and another glass of "tonic" on the bill that was not ordered. The server was kind enough to remove the errant charges, but again, less than half full restaurant, how could that happen? We left hungry and feeling like we had been taken advantage of with the over charge. Lots of better options in Asheville, we will NOT be back. read more

Amazing dining experience. The food was outstanding!!! I had the duck and my wife had the chicken. I think the best duck I can ever remember having. My wife also thought her chicken dish was one of the best chicken dishes she's ever had - especially paired with the beans and roasted capers. We had some grilled focaccia to start (not on the menu) - very tasty. Good cocktails. We sat on the patio with our pup. All in all a great dining experience with excellent service. read more

every single thing was perfect, from start to finish...greeted warmly, awesome decor/atmosphere, super clean, two awesome guys behind the bar (they were busy, I didn't ask/catch their names) and everything~ not a single thing could've been better tbh. We got there when it opened, ordered drinks (dirty martini for her, old fashioned for me), both were outstanding, ordered the brassica app (DELICIOUS) and off to the entrees. I went w the ribeye, my wife went w the pork schnitzel and they were both unbelievably perfect. I ordered a paper plane and then another...my wife's meal was a special that came w "vanilla ice cream" that was much fancier and delicious than you could ever imagine, we were also given desert drinks (cardamaro shaken over ice), also incredible. The best way that I can describe this place is fine dining, but not in any way, shape or form, remotely pretentious at all. It looks like a neighborhood (at least where I grew up) bar, that has the best staff, the best drinks and serves the best meal you've ever had in your life. Blown away in every single way tbh, 100%~ one of the top 5 meals/dining experiences, that I've ever had in my life. We're in Asheville for another two nights and I feel as if there's zero chance we can top the Admiral. They just earned themselves a Michelin mention, well deserved doesn't even capture it imo. RUN, don't walk, to the Admiral! read more

The Admiral - New American Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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The Admiral always delivers. The staff is friendly and efficient...like clockwork-no mistakes. The food is delicious and beautifully served. Why can't all restaurants be as good? read more

Nice little place with good atmosphere with a couple of live musicians, singing, peaceful music. Had the corners game and with scallops. Both were cooked perfectly. Scallops may have been a little over salted otherwise excellent food. How's Cabernet Sauvignon was good. The waitress was fantastic and got me everything quickly. read more

We're always reminded as to why Admiral is our favorite AVL spot. The food is local, seasonally inspired and delicious every time. Matty is the best at curating the bar menu and his team is a true support to his vision. I can't say enough about the chef and servers too, we love them! read more

My bf and I are Atlanta natives. We came to Asheville for a weekend trip and came across The Admiral. Here is our take on it: Service: The staff was very professional and sweet. It felt very welcoming and attended to our needs. Never had an issue arise. Ambiance: The vibe of the restaurant was warm and cozy. I love dim lighting and warm tones. My bf said it reminded him of "The Bear" which we love. We enjoyed the open kitchen viewable to the customers. It's neat to see the process and the role every person in the kitchen plays. It felt very collaborative. Food: We ordered appetizers, entrees, and dessert. We are big foodies so here's our breakdown. Overall recommend the mussels and rack of lamb! Mussels - The texture of the mussels were cooked to perfection. The base of the sauce was a Spanish cider was very hearty, rich, and flavorful. It was paired with focaccia that was airy yet crunchy. It was perfect to dip in the remains of the sauce and onions/peppers. 10/10 Steak and Frites - the steak was cooked well however it could have used more salt. I chose to top it with chimichurri which was very fresh. The frites were a bit salty but cooked perfectly. Every bite had a nice crisp to it. 8.4/10 Rack of lamb - The lamb was tender and probably could've been cut with a spoon. It was paired with couscous, leaks, asparagus and a sauce and a a glaze. The creaminess of the couscous, oniony flavor of the leaks, the snap of the asparagus and tenderness of the lamb was like sx in my mouth!! Every factor of this dish was well on its own or with it all combined. Absolutely amazing. A dish that will stick with you forever! 10/10 Peach Crisp - peaches were cooked to my personal liking - soft but still had a bite to it. The blackberry ice cream was decadent. I feel it could've used more of the graham cracker crisp. A pinch of rock salt would've really emphasized the flavors. 7/10 read more

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We have eaten here three times now and each time has been been amazing! The food is incredible and the service as well. Best martini in town! Most recently we had asked to change our reservations an hour later but they didn't have any availability. Matty helped to try to work something out but we initially ended up keeping our reservation time. Then about an hour or so later we got a call from Matty saying a reservation cancelled and we could come in later as we had asked. He went above and beyond to help us then called us when he didn't need to do that. read more

This is one of my favorite spots in Asheville because they not only do they have good pizza but their salads are excellent. Also they have several television with sports on continually. So, this is my kind of place. read more

Such a cozy and charming place! The weather was perfect to sit outside, and even though we didn't have a reservation, the staff quickly found us a table with no problem. The food was amazing--beautifully plated, super tasty, and with portions bigger than I expected for this kind of restaurant. Everything about the experience was just lovely! read more

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Oh the parking! That totally dampen the event :( $22 to park OK get past that we had reservations. We sat right away. The restaurant is super cute inside the service was good. We ended up getting there early so we were able to order from the happy hour menu. The burger was outstanding. We were able to split it. It was so large. The flavor on the burger was delicious so add pickles and cheese and lots of flavors super juicy. The Caesar salad was delicious and we are treated ourselves to PEI oysters. they didn't serve the oysters like I'm used to with crackers and horseradish, but the sauce was very flavorful and I like the hot sauce that they served with it in the little Dropper bottle. The service was good. I like how they put the water on the table, but we did end up asking for more. I highly recommend Reservations. They seem to be extremely busy. Glad we tried it while we were visiting from out of town. Plan ahead or be aware of the parking so you aren't shocked like we were. read more

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Steak was pricy, but well worth it. Cooked perfectly and seasoned perfectly. First place I've ever been to that gave me a new chilled glass for my drink with additional olives to freshen up my dirty martini which was an awesome touch read more

The Admiral - Dirty martini - New American Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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We eat here almost every time we visit Asheville & the menu is always interesting & varied. The ambiance is comfortable, sort of reminiscent of an upscale Irish pub in all the right ways. Service is always excellent. It's our favorite spot in Asheville. read more

One of the most amazing dining experiences I've ever had! The food was amazing - we had to get a second round of oysters just because. And the service was spectacular. The best I've had in Asheville!! read more

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We had a phenomenal experience at The Admiral in West Asheville. For me, this restaurant may top the more popular and award-winning Curate downtown (https://www.yelp.com/biz/c%C3%BArate-asheville-2). The food, drink, and service were outstanding. Over the last two decades, the more I've eaten at restaurants, the less I've been "wow'd" and had my "mind blown" by new dishes and unique ingredient/flavor combinations. Unexpectedly, The Admiral delivered on this front. I was expecting good/great, but not amazing. This was amazing. Both my wife and I were very impressed. If you're visiting Asheville, I highly recommend The Admiral. The Admiral has been around since December 2007. The cuisine is New American. Fine-dining-type dishes, but not in a stuffy atmosphere. My sister, who has lived in Asheville for most of her life, told me that she used to come to the bar here circa 2008. If I recall correctly, this used to be more of a local hangout. Over the years, the restaurant evolved and made a name for itself. Word got out and this became one of *the* places to eat in a city already known for its excellent food scene. If a restaurant stands out in Asheville, then you know it's good. I do have to admit I was a little put off by some of the language on Resy at the time I booked our reservation. Things like same-day cancellations "may trigger a fee of $25.00 per guest" and the cancellation policy "MUST be firm." "No shows and same day cancellations are the plague of the industry and we ask of you now to uphold your end of this commitment as we are thrilled to provide on our end." Not that a cancellation policy like this is unheard of, but maybe it could be communicated in a nicer way. The restaurant takes reservations up to 45 days out. I was able to get us a Saturday night reservation only two days out, but it was at 9pm on the covered patio. Along with the main dining room and covered patio, they also have an uncovered patio with picnic tables with umbrellas. Both patios are heated during colder weather. The covered patio even has a stone fireplace. The restaurant is cozy. It has a low-key exterior. Inside, what we saw in-person was an upgrade from photos I'd seen online. Among other things, they upgraded the dining room and patio furniture and added a new ceiling. The place looks more refined now, befitting of the cuisine. The vibe is sophisticated casual. Here's what we got: Boards * Beef Tartare ($19) - horseradish cheddar, pickled red onion, chili aioli, 64-degree egg, crostini Salads and Vegetables * Radish ($12) - XO sauce, pickled melon rind * Sprouting Cauliflower ($14) - whey bechamel, country ham, bread crumb Entrees * Scallops ($35) - rainbow chard, pickled elberberries, chili pepper nage * Pork Chop ($39) - Anasazi beans, kale, tomato gastrique Drinks * Amigo Viejo cocktail ($16) - Espolon Tequila Blanco, Campari, Vermut Lacuesta Extra Dry, Pamplemousse, Yellow Chartreuse * Dr. Feelgood mocktail ($12) - Ghia non-alcoholic apertif, lemon, soda * Complimentary digestif with our check Every dish was presented beautifully and each tasted as good as it looked. Also, every dish was memorable. Overall, ingredient quality and execution was superb. The Beef Tartare was the most memorable dish to me. I recommend it. I believe it's been a mainstay on The Admiral's menu for years. We loved how they presented it like a cheese and charcuterie board, allowing us to customize and mix and match the different ingredients. The tartare and egg were incredible. Melt-in-your-mouth. The Radish was super creative. I've never had XO sauce (an Asian seafood sauce) in a fine-dining, New-American type dish. It gave the salad an unexpected and distinct Cantonese, maybe even Southeast Asian, flair. I don't think this dish is for everyone, but it's perfect for adventurous diners. We both really liked it and I'd order it again. My wife put it best when she described the Sprouting Cauliflower as like the grown-up gourmet version of broccoli with cheese. It was on another level. The entrees were terrific. The Scallops were well-cooked. They were fresh and flavorful. The chili pepper nage (sauce/broth) was relatively thick and creamy. Delicious. The pork chop was sizable. It was juicy and savory. The flavoring was addictive. My wife said I was "obsessed" with the Anasazi beans. These may have been the best beans I've had anywhere. Taste and texture were exceptional. The drinks were yummy. The Amigo Viejo was complex -- smoky, acidic, and sweet, but balanced. The Dr. Feelgood was citrusy and packed with flavor. It was so tasty, I could've chugged it one go, but instead I savored it. A digestif was brought out with our check. It was strong, and a nice surprise at the end. Our server was Wesley B and he was fantastic. He was personable and attentive. We really enjoyed having him as our server. Note: I believe there's only one restroom for guests. An employee noticed me waiting and let me use the employee restroom. read more

Killer Asheville ambiance love the vibe. Drinks and food were fantastic. Loved the steak frites massive serving of fries. The gnocchi was spectacular. The beef tartare had cheese in it? So strange never seen this before ... not going to lie it actually added. :). Solid date night spot off the downtown path and quick service. read more

The cheeseburger is life changing. Highly recommended!! Oysters and beef tartare were also delicious but it's the cheeseburger that will bring us back. read more

Recently went to dinner for our 28th wedding anniversary. At the table to our left, was a couple celebrating 14 years, to their left 7 years. Guess this is the spot for anniversary dinner! It is cozy and comfortable and defines casual fine dining here in Asheville. Highly recommended! read more

Austin gave me the most wonderful experience! Had an incredible meal of vinaigrette, leaks, and cod that was crunchy and buttery and delicious. Highly recommend! And the Manhattan was perfect read more

The Admiral - Manhattan - New American Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

From it's unassuming location, you wouldn't know that the admiral is one of the best restaurants in Avl. Decor is beautiful - tin ceiling, open kitchen and perfect lighting. Service is top notch, knowledgeable and friendly staff. Food is heavenly. They have a knack for pairing flavors and textures that aren't too over powering. My husband got the steak and I got the cod, both done to perfection. My husband eats a lot of meat and he said the admirals steak is the best in the area. 5/5 stars, great spot!! read more

Incredible food. Best beef tartar I have ever had, and the service was great. Our server would not allow us to have a glass half full, he always topped us off. Very attentive and very kind and the food was top notch. Highly recommend read more

Always an amazing meal and experience in a cozy, swanky atmosphere. Attention to detail and high-quality ingredients make The Admiral stand out. We visit every time we're in Asheville. Plan ahead and make reservations. read more

I honestly didn't have high expectations of this place, thought it would at least be cool to try. I was beyond pleasantly surprised. From the service, to the food & cocktails- everything was just top notch. It's odd because inside it definitely reads old diner, not anything very high end. But it was top notch. The cocktails we had were perfectly balanced and the food was well executed. The bartender, our waiter and of the other staff were helpful and attentive. Plates cleared before courses.. just overall great service. This was my personal favorite restaurant while visiting Asheville. Highly recommend. We went early with a reservation and it filled up quickly after we arrived on a week day so make sure you make a reservation. read more

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We chose this spot to celebrate our wedding anniversary and had a late reservation. The good and the service were phenomenal. Even though we were in there later, not once did we feel rushed. We were able to enjoy each other and the delicious food! Thanks Admiral! read more

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Made a 7:00 reservation at the bar of the Admiral for Thursday, July 6th. My husband and I were celebrating our 4 year wedding anniversary. The ambiance was upscale, lit romantically, and not too loud. I asked the bartender to make me something "girly" and "fruity," and he didn't disappoint. Service was quick and efficient, though I will mention that one of the runners squeezed between us too many times and I was about ready to snap. I understand that you need to put a fork and knife in front of him, but you don't need to push yourself between our clasped hands in order to do so. Management should probably address that. Anyway, I ordered the ribeye steak and he had the pork chop. My steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and they even had horse radish! (I was joking with my husband about getting in the habit of carrying some in my purse because most restaurants don't have it in stock. ) I typically shy away from steak at restaurants because I hate paying such a high price for it to be cooked wrong, but the Admiral got it purrrrfect. His porkchop melted in his mouth (and mine when I tasted a bite); it was soooo juicy! Our entire experience was amazing and we have nothing but good things to say about this establishment. Price is on the higher end, but every bit worth the price. We will definitely be back. Ambiance Cleanliness Wait time Service Food Price Location read more

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My dad saved up for months to treat his younger sister to a nice dinner during her annual visit. He did some research and settled on The Admiral. The vibe was ok. Nice lighting, a bit cramped and loud but not to the point of discomfort for me personally. The table was clean and the bathroom was nice. The food and service however, left much to be desired. The server was polite and took our orders quickly, and then we waited about an hour for our food. My family is not easily annoyed by long waits, we chatted and enjoyed each other's company. The appetizers did come quickly. After a while we got our food. I was shocked by the poor quality. I have never had such an expensive steak ($70 filet) and hoped it would be at least as good as the tiny discounted end pieces of the tenderloin that I often got when I worked as a butcher and prepared for myself in under 5 minutes as a late dinner or midnight snack... but by comparison those barely seasoned minimally cooked filets were gourmet. Back to the Admiral- I ordered mine rare and it came medium. Even that would have been fine, but the meat was so heavily salted that it had no other flavor, and the texture was dry and almost chalky. It was as if the meat had been thawed and refrozen more than once. Kinda like the meat version of ice cream that's melted completely and frozen again. It was the most expensive and the most poorly prepared steak I've ever had. I've always thought of filets as the cut that can't be ruined, but at The Admiral I learned otherwise. The spring salad was good with fresh crisp greens, but was missing the alleged apples. The server forgot that we had substituted side salads for fries and brought my diabetic father a massive pile of fries. the server corrected the error promptly but not before my dad ate a few fries (even a few was enough to shoot his blood sugar up requiring more insulin than he usually needs in an evening). I've worked as a server and in many kitchens and I know how crazy it can be, but dang this place was a rip off. $70 for a steak I had no desire to eat and service that seemed harried and was undeniably forgetful (not just about the fries, but I don't need to yelp y'all's ear off detailing every example). The bathrooms were nice though. Maybe I'd give them a 2 if I wasn't a lil miffed at this spot for giving us food made with 0 skill or attention to detail while charging more than they have any business charging... but that would be generous. Basically, this place gets my award for most overrated and overpriced restaurant in the area. *edit- The snap peas were actually bomb. Refreshing & crisp. Still overpriced, but enjoyable. **edit- After doing more research this place seems like it has had better days. I feel kinda bad for giving it one star, but the price of the food vs the quality is too disparate to give more. read more

It had been years since we had visited The Admiral, mostly because life has been busy and we just hadn't gotten over there. Decided to celebrate our anniversary there this year. They have added an enclosed porch and outdoor seating since we had been last, which allows a lot more space and a nice ambiance. The food was very good. Will have to go back again soon! read more

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