Dinner here earlier this week. One of those places if you're not necessarily looking you might pass...but ...Dont. I had the artichoke app and the pork shoulder entree. Both were very good. The artichoke might be a temporary item as I didn't see them on the on line menu. The pork shoulder was really moist but had been grilled prior to serving giving it a nice little bark on the outside. Link below for description. https://www.griffskitchenandbar.com/items/pork-shoulder?location=griffs-kitchen-and-bar&menu=food I took a pic but later deleted it as simply was too dark to really see anything. I'll post the one of the artichoke that's okay. Appears that burgers are a big deal there so have that along with the shrimp and grits entree for the future. Service was nice pace and attentive. read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - Fried artichoke hearts. - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

I came to eat at Griff's on a Saturday with three others a bit after 1pm, and we were able to get a table immediately. The food was great - very fresh and good flavors. You can tell that the menu is carefully thought out, and it was great they have several vegetarian options. I ordered the seasonal salad, the falafel sweet potato fries, and the arancini to share with the table. The arancini came out first - very crispy and well done. The current risotto is a corn risotto. The seasonal salad came out next, and it was delicious. The sweet potato fries with falafel was an interesting combination, but it worked because the tzatziki sauce was delicious with both the sweet potato fries and the falafel. As a vegetarian, it was great for protein as well. The reason I knocked off a star was because the service was not the best. They were very friendly, and it felt welcoming, but the food took a long time for it not being very busy and the server had a hard time giving suggestions. They also didn't come over for long periods of time, especially for the long waits for the food. But the food was really great! read more

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The cocktails are so unique and delicious! We had the Poutine for an appetizer and the cheese curds ... fabulous! Shrimp and grits and the pork shoulder did not disappoint. So fresh, rich and scrumptious. Our server, Gabby was knowledgeable and super sweet. This is a "local" place atmosphere. Small tables, a great bar and customers are respectful of other diners so no need to shout! Will definitely be back!!! read more

Walking in the door set way too high of an expectation. So does a 2 star review. Beautiful place, quaint decor, the 1920's style jazz music playing set a great vibe. It ended there. We came in for a late lunch, 3:00pm, and with an empty restaurant were surprised service was so slow. There was one other table, 4 people, and they were eating. We sat awhile before the server came to take our drink order then waited... and waited... and finally our drinks came; a coke for me, a sweet tea for my husband. We were more than ready to order when he brought them out of fear he wouldn't be back again. We ordered the bread with whipped butter as an "appetizer" and then a couple burgers. He took our order and said it would be about 15 minutes. I asked if the bread and butter would be out before then, He said sometimes. He then disappeared. About 5 minutes later another couple came in and like most of the other reviews say, they were served drinks, food, etc before we were. They got their entree before we got our appetizer.... bread and butter. It took 30 mins to get 3 small rolls and about 2 tbsp of whipped honey butter. 2 minutes later our entrees arrived. He set them down on the side of our table and left. My drink was empty and we both wanted mayonnaise for our burgers. We had to wait for him to come back out of the kitchen to seat someone else to flag him down to ask for a refill and mayonnaise. Then wait... He brought them and left. He checked on the other table, never came back to ask if everything was ok or if we needed anything. The fastest he delivered anything to our table was the check. $50 for 2 burgers and fries, 2 drinks, and bread and butter. To say they are overpriced is an understatement! The food was decent at best. My burger was cooked to temperature correctly was the best I can say. If you arent going to have salt and pepper on the table then you should make sure your food is seasoned properly, they did not. We were afraid that even if we could find him to ask for salt and pepper we'd be eating cold food. It was room temperature at best to begin with. Everything was slow it made me wonder if he was back there cooking, but one would expect him to have more of a hustle about him. The check was dropped off at the table with a QR code at the top of the check to pay. Atleast we assumed as he never came back. Save yourself time and money, go somewhere else. read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - $50 for 2 burgers, soda/tea and bread?? - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

Our server warned us immediately that they were backed up, so the food would take a while, and also that nothing could be done about the temperature of the restaurant (hot). Yikes! I appreciate the warning but it is disappointing, and it was uncomfortable. Our server was young, and she tried, but we did have to ask other servers for help multiple times--including to get the check and leave. She did do a good job of communicating the back up to us. It took an hour for us to get bar drinks, and we saw people who got there much later than us get their drinks. We even asked about the drinks multiple times. Not sure what happened there. The chairs were very uncomfortable: the kind where you can't lean back at all. There were other chair types in the restaurant, so maybe you'll get lucky and get the comfier chairs. Food was good. I ordered a salad with salmon, and I thought the portion was pretty small for the salmon, but overall the food was good. All in all, I feel like they tried, but they were unprepared for the Friday night dinner crowd. Don't think I'd be back. read more

I've only been here twice, and both times I got the fish and chips. Dairy-free, fresh, hot, delicious. Nice service, friendly staff.

Very good service. Had their Tuesday special of two beers, burgers and fries or salad for 22$. Excellent burger. Great red ale.

Food was outstanding, had the fish and chips and the batter was light and flakey and cooked to perfection. The house tarter was dill forward and delicious. I had their butternut squash soup and that was phenomenal. Will definitely go back. Service was on point too. Can't say enough good things about itextremely clean, ambiance was read more

Griff's, although there is no "Griff", is a true gem. Chris at the bar will tickle your palate with innovative and amazing creations. He is a true renaissance bartender, I mean, this guy has a brandy Alexander on the menu. I kid you not. And it won't make you blind... Ian, the owner/chef, will astound you with upscale comfort food that won't break the bank. The burger pictured was curated with an addition of kimchi and jalapeños, mind you, which may have added to the height and girth, but it was cooked perfectly and seasoned exquisitely. Remember French fries? When they were sliced potatoes that hadn't been mashed and formed nor frozen and doctored? They have those. And they are glorious. Not pictures were the shrimp buns and pork belly buns. Lordy they were so good I couldn't get a picture before we hoovered them down. Go soon. Go often. Nothing comes close in miles and miles. We will be back! read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - The most beautiful burger ever. - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

Tried this place out for the first time and was not impressed at all. Whole family left feeling sick after eating our meals. The service wasn't terrible but just seemed more like a bar service than actual restaurant. Will probably never be back read more

Delicious ! Well thought out original dishes We had app, dinner and dessert Get there soon before you aren't able To get a reservation read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - Short rib - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

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The time has come to put this restaurant out of our collective misery. I've been waiting for 4 years for them to figure out how to run a restaurant and now it's time to come to the conclusion that they are either incapable of learning or just don't want to. They are chronically under-staffed, both front of house and, apparently, in the kitchen. This leads to interminable waits to order and for each course of food to come out. It's not a large place, it's not fine dining, we're not supposed to sit back and luxuriate in the atmosphere. We'd like to eat good food served at a tempo above Larghissimo. They lost our bar drinks order, which is fine, things happen, but when you flag down the waitress who assures you she's going to take care of it but then doesn't you start to wonder. Eventually we have to flag down the bartender who is doubling as host and busser. Another table had given up and was going up to the bar to retrieve their drinks, cutting out the middle woman. The main course was served at a temperature that could generously be called lukewarm. The accompanying vegetables however were the temperature approaching that of the sun. The front of house would be under-staffed if it wasn't for the fact that the food comes out of kitchen at the kind of pace that molasses trickles uphill. There was the waitress, the barman/busser and a third individual who appeared to have read a book about work, taken a violent dislike to it and appeared every now and then to perform some duties with the enthusiasm of a zebra faced with a pack of hyenas. It's frustrating, and I'm over it. read more

A great place for a quiet lunch. A varied menu. I had a grilled cheese that was wonderful. The tempura vegetables make a nice appetizer. Our server was attentive and pleasant. read more

Our small group (three couples) recently had dinner at Griff's and really enjoyed it. We had done take out from Griff's before but eaten there before. I think each of us had an appetizer and main, or perhaps two small plates/salads. Service was very good. I know I really enjoyed my classic burger with fries, and the price ($14) wasn't bad. Although I usually prefer a double patty smash burger, Griff's single patty cheeseburger was excellent, and cooked medium to my exact order. Fries were top-notch, too. Several people at our table had salads, which were enjoyed, and the starter portion of short ribs was quite large, enough for an entree. Drinks and wines were generous pours, though not inexpensive. However, overall the pricing (in these expensive times) was fair. I think the full meal for my wife and me, with a total of one beer and one cocktail, was around $75 before tip. My only markdown would be on the noise level. On a Thursday night, the small restaurant was fairly busy but not full, yet the noise level due to the lack of sound baffles or plants was pretty loud. I often couldn't hear the conversation at the other end of the table. Parking, next to what for many decades was the Enka post office, is great. We'll be back, especially for the burger. read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - Cheeseburger and fries at Griff's in Enka, NC - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

We drove up from Charlotte and didn't know where to eat and Griff's popped up with 4.5 stars so we decided to try it - BUT this place deserves a 5 star rating! We had the falafel waffle and the shrimp buns and the salmon which were all wonderful! The service was great and the ambiance so cozy. Great place - great food - come to Griff's! read more

Great little restaurant. We were there early for dinner so it wasn't crowded. Food was excellent. Staff was great. Nice and quiet so we could hear each other talk. Easy parking. Will return! read more

What a great road trip stop! Everyone loved their food which seemed seasonal and fresh! The server was patient with our kids. There was a nice balance of open space and cute decor and the bathroom was clean. There was something for everyone- pescatarian and gluten free too! The temperance drink menu was on point. read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - Seasonal Summer Salad with Shrimo - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

We went on a Wednesday afternoon around 4ish. The place was quiet which we like. Our meals were fantastic and our waiter/host informed us it would take 20 minutes so we ordered the fabulous cheese curds to curb our appetites a bit. I had the salmon dish and they allowed me to substitute fingerling potatoes instead of rice. It was excellent and the salmon had a nice crunch on the top. They prepare this to order and cook it in a cast iron skillet. My husband had the chicken special and I'm telling you, I'm getting that the next time, it was incredible. He felt the same about my salmon. The chicken is most likely finished off in a cast iron skillet (you can't cook a chicken in 20 minutes )and the skin was crisp and the meat was very tender and juicy. I was told that Tuesdays (burger special )and Fridays are their busiest times and to get a reservation. read more

Hidden Gem on Sardis Rd/Sandhill rd. Great food and Great Vibe. Check it out!! Service was on point too!! read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

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We arrived in Candler on Wed.10th July from the coast of NC for a few days for our anniversary. We saw Griffs and it seemed to have good reviews and looked nice, but we were too early that day, so we made 5pm reservations for the next night which was our 15th wedding anniversary. We were the first people in the restaurant at 5pm. We were seated and a sweet waitress was there immediately. I ordered a glass of wine and my husband ordered a kolsh draft. The beer came out flat. No harm, he changed his order to a bottle beer and we ordered our food. I ordered the steak entree medium rare, more on the rare side. Hubby ordered a burger medium well. By then, 2 more tables had guests, but other than that, the restaurant side was empty. 50 minutes after we entered the restaurant, our food came out. The other 2 tables had already eaten and cashed out. We asked the waitress why the delay in our meal and she said it took longer to cook the steak than the burger. But the one table 2 down from us got his and he ordered the same dish as me. Ironically, the steak is sliced for this entree, not a whole filet, and I had ordered it MR-more R. That's a flash in the pan for sliced steak. It was medium at best. It looked like no picture I have seen of this dish on Yelp (no picture by me). But it was tender and tasty. My husband's hamburger, ordered medium well, was perfect. There was no ambience, but we were there with plenty of daylight, so... Also, the bartender and someone from the kitchen was having lively conversation with a couple at the bar. Our nice dinner out for our 15th wedding anniversary was a disappointment. The waitress was lovely and kind and attentive and very apologetic, and hopefully it was a one time thing. read more

Tuesday's is a great time to catch-up with friends. 2 burgers with fries plus two beers, for $22.22.

Food was SO good. This is a great place for an out of Asheville meet-up with locals. We had a business networking event here because it is was quiet so we could hear each other, and a bit farther out from town. The food was excellent. I had a salmon salad that was delicious and bao shrimp buns also equally great. The blackberry margarita amazing! The star loss is do to staffing. Our waitress was phenomenal and so sweet, yet was overseen crying in the back and shared that they were short staffed and she was called in on her day off. She was clearly overwhelmed, and there did not seem to be any other employees nearby. So food and service was very slow, and we reassured her it was okay and we understood it wasn't her fault. Hopefully, management takes note to make some more hires. Otherwise, I'd definitely pop back in if in the area. read more

The food is to die for!!! Had dinner with my friends who live nearby. It's their favorite place and I know why. Scallion pancakes, shrimp buns, Mac & cheese. Then we had a burger, gnocchi and udon with brisket everything was excellent! read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - Scallion pancakes - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

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Overall, it was a great experience. Plenty of parking and easy to find. Cute decor and plenty of seating. The pricing seemed a little on the higher end but drink variety (cocktails, wine and local brews) were fantastic. Even had some mead, which we had to try! Service was personable, timely, and helpful. We will be back. - Mead. Traditional was mine and was delicious with a healthy pour. Not too sweet and tasted rich and smooth. Wife got elderberry and she loved it, though it was a bit too sweet for my pallet - Two appetizers: shrimp buns were delicious with a bit of a kick. Read a review that it was too spicy so I warned my wife but she enjoyed it too. The buns were perfectly cooked and decadent while shrimp arugula and aioli meshed quite nicely. Mac and cheese was very good but not spectacular, though we are a bit snobby when it comes to mac and cheese, but these were cooked perfectly and the breadcrumbs added that great texture on top - Shrimp and grits was very good but could have used a bit more spice, IMO - Cast iron salmon was very very good. Carmelized and cooked to perfection. Not too fishy and not too moist but definitely not dry. - Shrimp dumplings were awesome too. Great texture with a little kick. Could have used a slight drizzle of something to finish but loved as is - Bread pudding was very good as well. - My old fashioned was awesome. Made very well read more

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We came here (suggested to us). To start , we had a few drinks , wine which was good but very small glasses. I had a raspberry margarita, again small and charged 14 dollars for it. The bruschetta app was VERY good. After putting our dinner orders in, it took over a half hour for our food to come out and we were the only ones in there. The salmon was tasty but the pork chop my wife had was tough for her liking. We skipped desert . It's a nice place but very pricy and drinks are small and expensive . read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - Dining area - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

Locally owned restaurant an it was by far the best shrimp an grits I have ever had!! The service was amazing waitresses were super polite an attentive an the black berry margarita was out of this world!! read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - Shrimp an Grits - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

Small little gem of a restaurant. Visiting the area and ate there twice - both dishes were delicious and the summer salad was excellent! Service was attentive and friendly. read more

We scheduled a reservation and arrived at Griff's at 8:00 pm on a Friday evening. This restaurant is tucked away on the outskirts of Asheville near Candler off Sandhill Rd. If you aren't able to make it to the establishment in person, they offer delivery through Kickback. Kickback delivers farther than any of their competitors; Weaverville, Leicester, Candler, Swannanoa and beyond. So there's no excuses not to try this. They weren't super busy, so we were sat quickly. The ambience was clean, quiet, elegant without being overly stuffy, and pleasant to the eye. Our server addressed us quickly, and checked on us frequently throughout the dining experience without being over bearing. We ordered the shrimp buns as an appetizer. We overlooked the spicy in the description, therefore I wasn't really able to enjoy the appetizer, however my husband said that they were absolutely delicious. The whole shrimp was cooked perfectly, nice note the greens complemented the bun well with the garlic aïoli. The pepper mash was spicy but not overbearing and it is dependent on your personal spice comfort level. I ordered the hamburger with fries. The fries were thick and cooked perfectly and very delicious. Almost reminded me of a double cooked french fry. The burger however, was another story. The pretzel bun sounds like a great idea as I am sure it will soak up the juices in a properly cooked burger. But, if the burgers over cooked, it can do the opposite and make the burger taste overly dry. With that being said, I would much rather give them another chance before finalizing my overall review on the establishment. They went well above and beyond my expectations of making things right. My husband ordered the chicken confit with Farro and roasted turnips. The chicken confit was cooked to perfection, cooked exactly how it was supposed to be cooked and tasted exactly how it is supposed to taste. The Farro added a nice nutty crunch and complemented the richness of the duck confit. Overall, our experience was amazing. The service was top notch and they went above and beyond all expectations. I was really shocked to see that the tables weren't full because the food definitely warrants a packed house. Perhaps I found our perfect little secret where we can get gourmet meals at an affordable price with little wait time? I partially hope the word gets out because the food is too good not to share; and I partially hope no one else finds out because I'm selfish like that. Lol. But if I want them to stick around, then the word needs to get out. I, hands down, recommend this place. If you only have time to eat at 3 restaurants in Asheville, make sure this is one of them. read more

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While vacationing at a cabin nearby, we decided to look for a good place to eat without driving into Asheville - and we found it! This place is AWEsome! I had a grilled salmon which was flavored to perfection! This is definitely a restaurant of the caliber you'd find in a big city. The atmosphere was nice, the staff were attentive - just an all-around great experience. Also was able to talk to the chef - great guy! Would I come here again - you bet! read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - Salmon - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

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I returned to Griff's to try the dinner menu. I had the gnocchi, spouse had the pork shoulder. We shared the arancini for an appetizer, and then the chocolate cake for dessert. Everything was delicious and the service was great. read more

Griff's has been coming up on my radar for a few weeks now, we finally decided to stop in and grab a quick drink at the bar. I got a cocktail while my honey enjoyed a local draft beer. We knew we had dinner at home so strictly told ourselves just drinks. I've been checking out others reviews so I knew the food looked tasty but next time. I keep eye balling them skrimp rolls. Nom nom nom! We were told the menu changes seasonally and I am a big fan of that, just have to make sure you fill up on what ya like while they have it. There was one server working, you could tell she was busy and needed help but Asheville is understaffed currently. So please be patient. She was nice and was doing a fantastic job getting things done. The place was poppin for a Thursday night and we could tell most of them were regulars. A few take out orders where they were known by name, so that's a great sign. The inside tables are still placed a significant distance apart and there is a hand sanitizing station + mask offered at the host stand. The bar is gorgeous I just wish it had a little more flair. It's tastefully decorated none the less. The outside area is nice but its a shopping plaza so not much for ambiance. All in all, cute place and I look forward to going back! read more

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Excellent cocktails. Shrimp and grits are tasty and the staff is friendly. I've also come with a group and everyone enjoyed their meal. Service was slow but they were trying as best they could while being understaffed. read more

Love the amazing and seasonal menu at Griff's and the personal touch that Ian, the owner and Executive Chef, provides to his clientele! Our family has never had a bad meal or dinner service. Love Griffs! read more

Great little find! Behind the old Enka nylon plant, adjacent to the Enka Buncombe library branch. Don't miss it. Husband and wife do doing freshly prepared, locally sourced foods. Friend and i shared the salmon salad...FANTASTIC! Fresh greens tips with a generous filet of salmon perfectly cooked, slightly crisp on surface, pink and moist inside. I had the grain bowl... excellent! Fresh asparagus, local mushrooms, and grains done in a light sauce sprinkled with parmesan cheese. My friend's burger was freshly ground here, perfectly cooked, served with handcut fries. Awesome! Nice beer and wine selection. Craft cocktails coming soon. Nicest server too! Helpful in suggesting choices but not pushing. Currently only one dessert.. we tried it! Homemade strawberry "shortcake" !! Yogurt based sauce, but the cookie was excellent... not a cake but crisp sweet, nice complement! Didn't feel guilty eating it... nice and light. Owner came out to say hi. Can't wait to come back. Highly recommend. read more

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We have been eating here for about a year now, the food is absolutely amazing every single time. The service is next level 11/10 every single time. For candler and even Asheville this restaurant is 5 Stars. The restaurant feels Michelin level.. read more

Griff's Kitchen & Bar - Another great experience at this Local Favorite - New American Near Me - Candler, North Carolina

Absolutely amazing, everything. Even the fries are divine! if I could rate it higher, I would. The staff are super friendly and amazing in general. Getting the food is a bit of a wait but, its really not bad especially since the food is so good. The inside is sweet and simple not much to see and I really like it because its not like my ADHD on the walls. read more

What an amazing find! Everything about Griff's Kitchen & Bar will want to make you come back for more. We were excited as soon as we walked in just from the ambiance that has been created. Friendly greetings from Chris at the bar and amazing service from Nick only added to our excitement. Then the food & drinks arrived! Presentation was so simple yet well thought out and the flavor of each dish was so good that we really had to slow down to enjoy every bite. Crafted cocktails were unique and made to perfection. We even got to take a peak in the kitchen to that the staff for putting out such amazing dishes. Shout out to the owner Ian who we chatted with a bit as well. This is truly a gem right here in our own backyard. We are so happy to have discovered it and will back many times to come. This will be our go to place to take visitors from out of town as well. read more

Good food, everything we ordered was hot and fresh. Drinks were also very good. However; we went on a Friday night and were seated right away, but were informed the kitchen was not taking anymore orders until they filled to go orders. It took over an hour to get any food (including bread and butter). This isn't the ideal place for hungry kids. read more

Stopped by after a touring. Excellent roasted pork shoulder & steak. Didn't have the martini I wanted but experimented with bartender & creates new drink that was very good. Great service! read more

Dinner was excellent as was the service. Great and friendly service. The grilled salmon salad with special dill creamy dressing was wonderful. Hamburger was thick and juicy. Fresh fries! Excellent and speedy bar tender. Casual, well lighted and plenty of space between tables. read more