Louise's Kitchen is a cute little breakfast and lunch spot located about 20 minutes east of Asheville in Black Mountain. It's in an old two-story white and blue house with a red roof. Free parking is available on the street out front.
This place seems to be popular with all ages. We came here for lunch on a Saturday after a hike and the food hit the spot. The restaurant was busy, but not crowded. They serve traditional American comfort food in a relaxing and casual environment. Several sections of the house have been left intact, so there are different rooms where you can sit and eat. You can also eat out on the covered porch or on the lawn. It's a lot like dining at someone's house.
There was a guy playing a ukulele to his friends on the grass. It added to the laid back and peaceful ambiance.
The kitchen and ordering counter are situated towards the back of the house. You order and pay upfront and the food is brought to your table. There's a self-serve counter with coffee, tea, and water. If you get coffee, you just grab a mug off the shelf and help yourself. Again, it's like being in someone's house.
Examples of breakfast items include pancakes ($7), French toast ($8), biscuits and gravy ($5.50), bagels ($3.50 each), and quesadillas ($8, veggie or smoked pork). Examples of lunch items include sandwiches such as Reubens ($8.50), Phillies ($8.50), and turkey bacon cheddar ($8). Everything seems to be reasonably priced and ingredients and products are sourced from local farms, breweries, and roasters.
We had the following:
* Grit Cakes ($8) - black bean corn grit cakes topped with housemade "Srirancho" sauce, pico de gallo, and fresh local greens topped with a local egg (egg $1.50 extra)
* Big Boy Burrito ($8) - scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, pico de gallo, cheese, and potatoes wrapped in a red pepper tortilla with a side of sour cream
* Louise's Pimento Cheese ($6.50) - "Grandma's special pimento cheese recipe," slightly melted with tomato added ($0.50) and black beans & corn salad on the side
I was told by the lady behind the counter that the above three items were among Louise's most popular items. She recommended that I order the Grit Cakes and top them with a sunny side up egg. What a great suggestion. I smashed the egg and let the yolk drizzle and run down the sides.
Two grit cakes came to an order. They were about the size of large burger patties. Warm and filling. The Srirancho sauce was presumably a Sriracha hot sauce and ranch dressing mix. If you want to try a fulfilling signature dish, this is the one to get. Be sure to top it off with an egg.
The Big Boy Burrito was a pretty sizeable breakfast burrito. Quite savory with a lot of protein. The tastiest parts were the sausage, bacon, and melted cheese. It's just jam-packed with a bunch of good stuff.
The pimento cheese sandwich was terrific. Simple, but satisfying, almost like a classic grilled cheese sandwich with toasted bread too. My niece got a grilled cheese sandwich (kids grilled cheese, $4.50), by the way, and enjoyed it. The bean and corn salsa was cold and refreshing. If you like pimento cheese, try Louise's version. They know how to make it right.
The folks that work here are polite and friendly. Payments are rung up on a tablet using Clover. I had my receipt emailed to me, itemized with signature and all. read more