If you are vegan/vegetarian and looking for delicious food with incredible ambiance, you HAVE to stop here while in Asheville! Whether you sit inside or outside, the energy surrounding this spot is truly something special. Almost magical. This will go down as one of my favorite restaurant experiences of my life. I'm so grateful and i will certainly be back.
The restaurant was super packed and busy. We arrived around 6 or 7, i believe. We were told a 90 minute wait, but we were actually seated in about 15 minutes. It's worth the wait - trust me. While we waited we sat at the bar. I had the bright eyes fresh pressed juice to start and my boyfriend got the blackberry-ginger-mint mocktail. He loved it.
Unfortunately i didn't photograph the entire experience. As an appetizer my boyfriend and i ordered the (vegan) fried oyster mushroom succotash which was incredible!!! The mushrooms were fried to perfection, and the succotash was bursting with so many flavors that paired beautifully together. It was my first time ever trying succotash, and i really didn't know what to expect. I was blown away.
For dinner i had the raw vegan spinach pesto manicotti... JUST WOW!!! I normally eat predominantly raw vegan, and to see such a gorgeously crafted creation on a menu that aligned with my lifestyle just touched my heart. This was soooooo outstandingly flavorful. I'm still blown away, just floored, at how delicious this was. I wish i could eat it once a week! The filling is SO fluffy and creamy and bursting with all kinds of delicious fresh flavors. The zucchini is so thinly sliced that you wouldn't even know you're eating a raw vegetable. The bruschetta-like tomato sauce under the manicottis themselves is sweet and savory and perfectly balanced. I think this is the best dish I've ever had in my life - raw or otherwise. 15/10!
My boyfriend ordered the vegan gluten-free midnight mushroom pizza. I wish i would have gotten a photo of that, it was soooo beautiful!!! A super thin, GF crust (VERY IMPRESSIVE!!!) with fantastic vegan cheese (some of the best, if not THE BEST vegan cheese i've ever had) with a beautiful spiral of balsamic reduction + so, so, sooo many mushrooms tucked in under all that delicious cheese. I'm not joking when i say that this was the BEST pizza i've ever had the pleasure of tasting. It puts all other pizza to shame! I had a slice and my boyfriend finished the rest. It's not too big of a pizza, be forewarned. Two people could definitely split it and be satisfied if appetizers were involved, or it would be good for one person with a voracious appetite and a high metabolism like my boyfriend, lol!
We sat outside and got to enjoy the buskers just across the street play lovely, charming, jazzy tunes while we ate. It really made me so happy to find a spot tucked away from the true hustle and bustle of the city, but still had so much life and energy.
I definitely recommend stopping here once or twice while you're in Asheville. I am certainly looking forward to my next visit! read more