While in Ashville for the weekend, my partner and I wrestled with lots of potential brunch spots before deciding on Mayfel's. Mayfel's teeters more towards the lunchy rather than brunchy side, but we were excited to give it a try. We arrived at about 10:30AM and were seated within 20 minutes on a Saturday. This seemed to be the sweet spot for arriving because shortly after arriving, the wait time lengthened to about 2 hours so my advice would be to arrive early; they don't have text notifications for reservations so you have to stay close by to wait for your name to be called. To start, we ordered 2 Beignets and Fried Green Tomatoes. This was my first time having Beignets and they were large and fluffy and only $1. They were good, but the star of this review is the Fried Green Tomatoes. I can't recall a time I'd ever felt so satisfied by a single bite. It was perfectly crisp. And it boasted a complex flavor profile with tangy goat cheese, sweet onion relish, roasted red pepper aioli, and scallions. I asked for a side of this aioli -- twice! On a recommendation, I ordered the Fried Chicken Biscuit with Peppered Milk Gravy and a side of collard greens and my partner ordered a daily special Crawfish Omelet with sweet potato waffle fries. Honestly, I was a bit disappointed. The gravy was bland and the biscuit was just alright. I found myself taking bites of his omelet. However, when I slathered both the biscuit and omelet with the roasted red pepper aioli, both tasted way, way better. While the food was just good sans the exceptional Fried Green Tomatoes and roasted red pepper aioli, the kind and extremely fast service (the time between ordering and having all the food on the table couldn't be more than 10 minutes) earned all 5 stars. read more

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In town for one day for our mini moon and we're looking for a different style brunch. We discovered this restaurant online and are thrilled that we did! We had the beignets, crab cake Benedict and the etouffee! It all was great! read more

Mayfel's - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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My boyfriend and I stopped at Mayfel's for brunch this morning and we were definitely not impressed with the service or the food. We expected a wait given that it was a Saturday morning and I put my name in for a table for two. We were told 10-15 minutes. As we waited nearby the front door we saw another couple walk right in, ask for a table for two, and be seated right away. When I asked the maitre d about it, she checked off my name and we were promptly seated. We started off by ordering two coffees which tasted so bitter that it was practically undrinkable. For food I ordered the Eggs Benedict with salmon and a side of roasted cauliflower and my boyfriend got the steak scramble. Everything with my meal arrived cold except for the cauliflower. My boyfriends food was warm and he really liked it. Overall, I was not impressed and would not recommend this place. read more

Mayfel's - Egg Benedict with lox. Looked nice but arrived completely cold. - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Was hoping to impress out of town guests, but it was a huge disappointment. Crab cakes were tiny and burnt a top sloppy cut paper thin toast. flavorless The Etouffee, (spelled wrong on the menu), was flavorless and had almost no seafood. The worst though was all of our asparagus was actually rotten! The cook had cut off most of the deteriorated tops but the remaining yellow shriveled stems made it obvious. Unfortunately the server waited till the meal was finished to ask how things were but then walked away when told it wasn't good. Unacceptable Not wanting to create more of an embarrassment, I didn't press the issue. Such an insult to be served rotten food! read more

Went to mayfels for brunch .... Do not recommend. Food was awful and service was slow. Didn't get two of our items we ordered as well. Not sure how you ruin fried chicken.... But they do. High hopes for this place but was let down instantly. read more

My boyfriend & I drove to Asheville for a day trip because he'd never been. We chose Mayfel's because we love Cajun food, Savannah, GA has the best! We were hoping for some great food because their prices are a little high. Unfortunately we did not get yummy food. My gumbo had no chicken or sausage & when I told the waitress she basically said, that's what happens sometimes, and didn't even offer to bring any for me, so I basically had overpriced veggie soup. Then we ordered beignets, and they were way over cooked. So brown & tough. They try to pack way too many patrons into a very small space & cannot keep up with the volume. Disappointed. Will not return. read more

In town and visiting? Be sure to drop by for either brunch or dinner. Great variety, wonderful atmosphere. Pet friendly! Friendly, relaxed atmosphere with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Their caramelized onion gravy is a great complement to the breading spices with the chicken fried steak. Too many sides to describe. Apps that can be great desserts. Easy to get to, right in the middle of all the downtown fun. read more

We went on a Sunday night with a party of 6. It was no problem to get a table. The menu is very authentically Louisiana food. We all learned some new foods! Everything was delicious and the server and the manager were both very friendly and engaging. We really had a great time. I had the seafood gumbo and I thought it was great. I also had a muffaletta sandwich- amazing! They even brought us extra appetizers since we had a party of six. All aspects of this dinner were on point and the restaurant is in the best part of downtown- around the corner from the Haywood Park Hotel. Thanks for adding to our enjoyment of our visit to Asheville Mayfels! read more

So many friends recommended Mayfel's upon learning that I'd be in Asheville, and it did not disappoint! We started with beignets, and they were warm and delicious! Not quite as good as being in actual New Orleans, but close enough. Mayfel's gumbo was super flavorful and full of chicken, sausage, and veggies. I could have eaten an entire bowl! Everyone seemed to enjoy their breakfast. I had the breakfast sandwich, and it was just ok. The fried green tomatoes were a bit lack luster, and the eggs lacked seasoning. I wish I would have gone with the Benedict instead. The servers were super friendly, and the food seemed super fresh. I'd highly recommend Mayfel's for a delicious New Orleans inspired meal! read more

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So much deliciousness; no way to eat it all. We will return next visit to try again. Ambiance, service and food.... all good

The grapefruit Mamosa was pretty good. I ordered the asparagus and tomato Benedict and that was delicious. The bread on the bottom was perfectly toasted and not soggy my fiancé ordered the brisket with Parmesan grits and we eat it so fast we forgot to take a picture of it that's how good it was, we got four orders of the beignets which were super tasty. Overall, we really loved the food and experience and next time we are in the mountains we would definitely stop back to try out some more items on the menu. read more

Mayfel's - Grapefruit mimosa - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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These beignets is all I can say. They overshadowed the entire meal so just make sure you order a couple! Everything else was amazing as well, the home potatoes, okra was fried just right & I even got a dab of hubs French toast. Whenever we are in town again, I'm making sure we come to Mayfels. Also, GET HERE EARLY. We timed it just right, sat outside and the line was longggg! read more

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I was pleasantly surprised by our Valentine's Day dinner here. I had been holding off because of the mediocre reviews and the higher prices. As a Louisiana native, I thought it wouldn't live up to the hype. But I was so wrong!! The oyster po boy was crunchy, tasty, delicious -- topped with remoulade sauce and on crusty bread. I could barely find remoulade when we lived in north Louisiana so I didn't think they'd have it here. Then the gator jambalaya also didn't disappoint. It was seasoned just right with some kick to it. We licked our plates clean and can't wait to go back. The $1 beignets at the end for dessert were so worth it and way more fluffy than the other more well-known beignet place in town. Shh.. we'll be back for sure! read more

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Visiting Asheville and decided to come here because my boyfriend and I like Cajun food. We were told we had an hour wait and then when we came back to check on our table 15 minutes later the super cool host just sat us down. It was sick. I got the scallops which was a special and they were pretty good. My boyfriend got the seafood etouffee which was super good! Would I come back? Yes, for the ambience and good food. The food was very good, not the best I've ever had in my life but it was very good. read more

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Brunch at Mayfel's was a great experience! The waiter was so kind! He was attentive without being annoying and all of the food came out in a timely manner. I ordered the crab fritters, the shrimp and grits and of course brunch is not complete without a mimosa! The crab fritters were absolutely amazing! Perfectly crispy on the outside and moist in the center with plenty of crab meat in each bite. The shrimp and grits were good but not the best I've ever had. It has blue cheese crumble in the top which was quite overwhelming and I actually love blue cheese. The dish is yummy but maybe next time I would either ask for light BC crumbles or maybe on the side. Lastly... I loved that the mimosa came in a cup and not a champagne glass! You get a little more bang for your buck and they definitely do no skimp on the champagne! Another nice thing to note... is that when you sit outside there are wonderful people watching opportunities and you can also vibe out to folks jamming out on their drums and acoustic guitars! read more

Mayfel's - Shrimp and Grits - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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A taste of New Orleans in the North Carolina Mountains, Mayfel's served up one of the best brunches I've had in years, along with friendly service and good drinks. Located in the heart of downtown Asheville, this place is worth the wait -- and the wait can be long, especially on weekends. On a recent visit, I dove into a fabulous plate of Jambalaya with Alligator Sausage, paired with a delicious local beer. But as good as that dish was, it was outdone by the AMAZING Crab Cake Benedict that my wife ordered -- a dish so fresh and flavorful, I'm still dreaming about it. The menu has a wealth of other Cajun favorites, including Po'Boys and Muffaletta, so we definitely haven't made our last visit. An outstanding restaurant in a city filled with great restaurants, Mayfel's is a spot we'll be coming back to whenever we're in Asheville. Highly recommended! read more

Early Girl Eatery, which came highly recommended to us by Asheville locals, had a 45-minute wait for brunch, so I pulled up the Yelp app and searched for other brunch options nearby. There were many. Mayfel's was only two doors down and looked to have a similar wait judging from all the people standing outside on the sidewalk. However, our estimated wait time at Mayfel's was only 10-15 minutes and we were actually seated in just under 10. I believe Mayfel's is more spacious than Early Girl hence the significantly shorter wait. The food and service at Mayfel's were both excellent. We were pleasantly surprised with our "second" choice. Mayfel's is a casual New Orleans-themed restaurant serving Louisiana and Southern comfort foods for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and they have a popular Bloody Mary Bar. The bar is open until 4pm, Thursday-Monday; they're closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The restaurant is located across from Pritchard Park downtown. Metered street parking is available outside (back and front) and there are also pay garages and surface lots nearby such as the Wall Street Garage (entrance on Otis Street) where parking is free for the first hour and $1.25 for each hour thereafter. We visited during a peak time and ended up parking a few blocks away in the Biltmore Avenue Garage (same rates). Walking into the restaurant is like walking into a bar or restaurant in New Orleans' French Quarter with design/decor elements like chandliers and beads. Along with the dining room, there's a dog-friendly covered patio. The brunch menu features eggs Benedict ($11-14 each, with side), breakfast plates ($10-16) like French toast and shrimp and grits, omelets ($10-12), appetizers ($10-12) like fried green tomatoes and smoked trout spread, soups (gumbo; $4-8), salads ($4.50-10), blue plates (meat and two; $12-14), and po' boys and other sandwiches ($10-14, with side). There were also brunch specials ($12-14) the day of our visit. Here's what the two of us ordered: * Fried chicken biscuit ($13) - buttermilk biscuit, fried chicken, peppered milk gravy, and green onions with a side of spicy corn and bacon maque choux * The Southern Benedict ($12) - two poached eggs, toasted buttermilk biscuit, Hollandaise, fried green tomatoes, and ham with a side of macaroni and cheese The fried chicken biscuit was phenomenal. It's perhaps the most memorable chicken biscuit I've had in recent memory. The game-changer was the traditional milk gravy. It was white, creamy, and delicious. It made a big difference. The chicken itself was crispy and tasty and the biscuit was fluffy, crumbly, and scrumptious. The chicken biscuit was addictive and very filling. I chose the maque choux because it's a rather unique side, a dish from southern Louisiana made out of corn, bacon, and I think green bell pepper, onion, tomato, and black pepper. It was terrific, savory, and full of flavor. If you've never had maque choux before, I highly recommend trying this dish. The Southern Benedict was yummy as well, though not nearly as memorable. All of the ingredients worked well together. Both the fried green tomatoes and the thick, slightly charred slices of ham were delectable. The Hollandaise sauce was my favorite part. The mac and cheese had nice big pieces of elbow macaroni with a rigid texture. The cheese sauce was heavy, rich, and enjoyable. According to the menu cover, Mayfel's food is made from scratch. We got coffee too ($2.50 per bottomless cup) and it was good. Christina C was our server and she was great. If you're looking for brunch suggestions in Asheville, Mayfel's should be on the list. read more

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Sincee Asheville is small but packed with tourists, I watched a party of three without reservations be told it would be a 3 hour wait. This was at 6pm. I hope if those girls came back their meal was better than mine but I would not have been pleased had I waited that long. They don't have a buzzer, they don't call you, they shout your name out the door when the table is ready. Luckily solo diners can be squeezed in anywhere and I was. On the freezing cold patio. Space heaters didn't do jack, I ate with my coat on. The Cesar salad with fried green tomatoes was really good. Fresh crisp romaine, decent and firm tomatoes. Cajun Cesar dressing had a little kick. The crab cakes either did not contain good quality crab or didn't have much in them. They were more like a crab salad compressed into a disk with lots of filler, then lightly grilled. They were bland and mushy. The collard greens tasted like...I really am not saying this to be insulting, but dish water. They were just not right. The fried okra was fine, not great. Service was kind and attentive, and very fast. They are definitely trying to keep tables moving, but they never rushed me. read more

Mayfel's - Crab cakes with fried okra and collard greens - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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Sat outdoor enjoying an early fall afternoon and the vibes of a band playing on the sidewalk some relaxing funk music. Cherry cider and shrimp and grits hit the spot. Service was friendly and attentive. My wife enjoyed the bleu salad with chicken and said it was very good. Worth the stop in downtown. read more

Mayfel's - Cherry cider - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Saturday night, absolutely no wait for outdoor seating. Awesome, right?! My pup was with us, and was treated like royalty. The staff gave him water, treats, and lots of attention. My manhattan was almost too good! Loved it. Entrees were extremely good, and nice sized portions. Fried green tomatoes... weren't my favorite. I wasn't a fan of the breading... they just tasted like they were cheaply fried with other things, wouldn't get those again. Service, friendly staff, quick service..all get 5 stars in my book! read more

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Came here for brunch since the wait at Over Easy was 2 hours and I am so glad we did! I ordered the smoked salmon benedict with parmesan grits and a side of biscuit with apple butter. I can't remember when was the last time I had such a great brunch. The wait wasn't long and the food service was timely. The poached eggs were perfectly runny when I cut it in half, the amount of smoked salmon was generous, and I did not care much for the carb underneath but I appreciated the toasty component. The hollandaise sauce was creamy and wow this dish was just so perfect. The biscuit did not looks so pretty but it was so good. I guess the south has converted me to enjoy biscuits. It was so moist, flaky, buttery and great after smothering it in apple butter. I am sure if it came with gravy this would have been mouth watering. The grits were perfectly creamy as well. Overall, great brunch and my group enjoyed their dishes as well. read more

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Mayfel's deserves stars for the quality of the food and atmosphere but the wait process definitely tested my patience. Everything we ordered was awesome and something that's important to me is that they're good with substitutions. I made my own fried chicken benedict. Their hollandaise is just the right amount of rich. They know how to do poached eggs- my waitress asked specifically how I wanted them poached (and I'm all about the runny yolk). Fried chicken was phenomenal, just the right amount of crispy breading and it wasn't dry on the inside at all. Mayfel's has good specials too, all my friends really enjoyed their meals as well. Atmosphere wasn't my fav. Very mix and match and not much personal space inside the restaurant but it's quaint and worth the squeeze. We had a party of 5 this time and I'm not a fan of the cold so waiting outside definitely wasn't my favorite way to start the day but there isn't room inside to wait so you should be prepared. Moral of the story though- so worth it. read more

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The Grand Reopening weekend was one you didn't want to miss! The newly designed inside of the restaurant made you feel like you were at an upscale restaurant! The food was absolutely incredible! Our table had the Crabby Patty with Crab Bisque, Biscuits and Gravy with Chicken, waffles for the kids, beignets, Eggs Benedict Andouille. Everyone loved everything they ate! Most of the plates were empty at the end of brunch! We will definitely be back if we are in town! read more

YUMMO!! We are locals living about 20 minutes from Asheville & eaten at Mayfel's several times, last month was surprised they were open for breakfast. The restaurant was remodeled and under new ownership. Asked the waitress several questions about menu items, she even brought us a small bowl of biscuit gravy to sample. Yum! Ordered the crab cake eggs benedict which was soooo good and cooked perfectly. Did order the biscuits and gravy, the gravy wasn't the regular sausage gravy people are used to - IT WAS SO MUCH BETTER with a Cajun kick. I still crave that entire breakfast. Our waitress Lisa and the manager Scott were extremely nice & friendly. This is our new favorite breakfast restaurant. Can't wait to try the rest of the menu!! read more

A true Asheville gem! Came here for brunch on a girls strip and it was delicious. I love that it's across from a small park. I got the biscuits with vegetarian sausage gravy and omg it was perfection. That biscuit was so fluffy and the gravy so creamy and flavorful. The hibiscus margarita was strong af too. This will be my first stop next time I find myself in Asheville. read more

Mayfel's is my favorite when visiting Asheville and gets a solid 4 1/2 stars rating. While they don't take reservations it can be tricky getting in but worth the wait. The Cajun creole atmosphere is charming and delivers some food with nice flavors and combinations that leave you satisfied. We had a party of five and four different dishes while having Sunday breakfast . Mountain trout with rice and asparagus sounds pretty routine but the fish was grilled with just the right Cajun seasoning and had a light brown gravy. Two people had the trout and both said it was excellent & would rate the dish a 5. The biscuits and gravy are not a miss and the Cajun fried pork loin a top a biscuit with eggs and gravy was the perfect combination of flavors and textures . The crunch of the fried pork loin gave way to moist tender pork along with a dense biscuit, soft eggs and gravy. This dish will cure any ills left over from Saturday night. You can't go wrong with the crab cake Benedict which was also rated a 5. Mayfel's serves some solid dishes and provides variety in the menu. The beignets were just OK, they were light,& warm but lacked flavor . Go early and enjoy all the freshness and unique flavors of Asheville. read more

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Great menu and service was efficient and friendly. Value-added that dogs are allowed on the patio. Seafood Gumbo was yummy.

Mouthwatering Mayfel's makes magic with your food. We were lucky enough to walk by Mayfel's and decided to give it a try. The New Orlean's style beads and fun colorful decor make Mayfel's warm and welcoming. The sweet and splendid service made our dining a delight. We started out with the smoked trout appetizer. It could have been caught that morning with the fresh and smoky taste. It was creamy with large chunks of fresh fish packed in every bite. Then, I ordered the shrimp Po-boy. The shrimp were huge and delicately fried. There was a delicious remoulade sauce. The bread is made in house and freshly made. The oil and vinegar slaw was refreshing and light. My friends catfish was fried perfectly. It was a huge portion and came with the creamiest cheese grits imaginable. We finished our lunch with beignets. They were crunchy and sweet. The powdered sugar was a great topping. Mayfel's brings New Orleans marvelous flavors to North Carolina's shores. read more

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I'm always a critic of Louisiana food not in Louisiana. Sometimes the gumbos don't really have a roux or food is a spicy but not flavorful. This place was great. Fantastic chicken and sausage gumbo and seafood gumbo also. The boudin was fresh tasting. Parmesan grits and marinated tomatoes were also great. Next time I go I'll try the Po Boys. Highly recommend!! read more

Had a nice birthday brunch, crab cake eggs Benedict were very tasty and Passion fruit mimosa just perfect!! read more

Mayfel's - Excellent crab cake Benedict - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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First, my server was very friendly and attentive, so no complaints there. Second, the actual restaurant was tastefully decorated to resemble a true New Orleans restaurant. No complaints. Third, the food.. The fried green tomatoes were hard and seemed reheated or maybe had been kept under a heat lamp for a while, although the sauce was pretty good. The crawfish etouffee was alright. It could use a little more seasoning and I'm not quite sure it wasn't Chinese crawfish. The gumbo was the worst take on gumbo I've ever had. It tasted more like a tomato soup you'd eat with grilled cheese than a New Orleans or any Louisiana gumbo. The trinity was not cooked down, and was chunky (like a vegetable soup), and the roux... well, it almost seemed non existent. I've been cooking gumbo (lived in Louisiana for 50 years) my whole life and I was actually tempted to ask the chef if I could show him/her what a real gumbo tastes like. "Let me back there, before you bring more shame on my sweet Louisiana!" After three bites, I had to stop, as I could feel the wind from my Cajun MawMaw and Momma rolling in their graves. read more

Let the tourists eat next door. Mayfel's is and has been one of the top dining experiences in downtown Asheville for years. Get your muffuletta on! read more

Solid brunch with very quick service. I was impressed by Mayfel's speed and quality of service. The food was good, but not outstanding. I'm a bit of a grits snob and they got their grits texture spot-on. The Asheville scramble was good, but made better with hot sauce. read more

Mayfel's - Asheville Scramble - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

Food was amazing. It was very flavorful. Place was packed so you know it has to be good. Staff was great, social distancing was in place. Definitely will stop in again when in town. read more

Mayfel's - Shrimp and grits with cornbread - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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The service is always impeccable, the food even more so. We couldn't get enough of this place. If there's one place in all of Asheville I'd recommend, it's this one!!! read more

We went for Sunday brunch beignets were perfect. Coconut chocolate muffin was alright. Fried tomato sandwich and seafood etufey was great.

Good service, but didn't love the food. Although the grits were really good, the rest of the food had too many condiments. For example the egg Benedict had (I think) paprika or curry, and although I like both species, I didn't appreciate that they completely changed the flavor of the signature hollandaise sauce that makes Benedict's so good. Same thing with the PO Boy Brisket: too many condiments. We also ordered waffles for the kids but I am almost sure that they were not fresh nor done at the restaurant, but rather they were those pre-maid (maybe frozen) waffles that are sold at supermarkets. Reason I think this is because they had the exact same size, shape and that fake sugary flavor that I've unfortunately tasted before. I wouldn't recommend the place, specially if you are with small kids. read more

Mayfel's - Egg Benedict Maque Choux - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

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We had to sit outside because we didn't have a reservations but it was fine because it was surrounded with a plastic covering with sides and there were heaters so it was very comfortable, though the table was tilted at an angle had me worrying that my drink might slide off (it didn't). I had the gumbo and it had a really good flavor and nice big chunks of sausage in it. My friend had the crab cake special and I got a taste, it was wonderful. One of the top 5 crab cakes I've ever tasted. Good boudin is hard to find so when I saw it on the appetizer menu I had to try it. It was really good and they served it with a lot of fun things to pair with it. My main complaint would be the way it was served. It needed to be on a real plate so that things didn't fall off instead of the tiny little board. We kept losing pieces to the tabletop all night and made a big mess. Also, it would have been helpful if it had been sliced up a little so that it was easier to get pieces off since it was supposed to be shareable. Strangely they also brought it out at the same time as our meals making the table very crowded plus the appetizer kind of felt pointless since we had our food by then. read more

Holy shiitake this pizza was GOOD. You have to love mushrooms though. I will be ordering this next time! MmmMmMmm read more

Mayfel's - Mushroom pizza or flatbread or whatever - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina

The beignets were INSANELY GOOD! Now for the rest of my review... =) Great New Orleans's themed spot in the heart of downtown Asheville. I know there are a ton of options on this street, my wife and I have tried most of them! After our first visit for brunch we are both fans! I had the chicken biscuit which was packed full of flavor. My only recommendation would be to get the gravy on the side if you don't like your food SMOTHERED in sauce. We also shared an order of fresh beignets, hands down some of the best we've ever had while not in Louisiana. If you're on the fence, try this place, you won't be disappointed, you might even plan a trip to Canal Street! read more

Mayfel's - Southern Near Me - Asheville, North Carolina