I was in Hot Springs for a couple of days on section hike of the Appalachian Trail. I stopped in to…read moreeat 3 different meals there over the course of three days. Day 1: Lunch. Another hiker and I decided to stop in as we got to town and have a late lunch. It had been a couple of days since we'd had town food and we were tired and hungry. The first thing I noticed was the wait to be seated. We waited about 20 minutes, and once we got to the dining area, there were several empty tables. Once we're seated and ordered, the food came out timely and was delicious. I had a cheeseburger and the cherry cobbler with ice cream. Day 2: Breakfast. Since the food was good, we decided to go back for breakfast again the next day. Again, there was a wait to be seated. We were a group of 5 so we expected there might be a wait. The waitress was friendly and our orders were placed quickly. it did take a while for the food to come out from the kitchen. I had a country breakfast plate with ham. Again the food was delicious. Day 3: Supper. We had a relatively short wait to be seated this time. We were seated and asked for some water. It took over 20 minutes to get the water. Finally a different waitress came out and took our order. I ordered the hungry hiker challenge. It is a cheeseburger with three 8-ounce burger patties on it. The menu says if you finish you get some free cobbler. While we were waiting for our food we noticed that a local who came in and sat down after we were seated had already been served and was done eating before our food arrived. I finished the burger, and some of the other patron's noticed and congratulated me. When the waitress arrived she asked if we needed anything else. I asked if the free cobbler came with ice cream on it. She said no, so I ordered ice cream to go with my cobbler. It was a peach that day. Again, the food was delicious. The main thing that I notice about the restaurant was that despite having great food, service was pretty slow. One of the hikers I ate with noticed that the waitresses seemed to have to seat the customers, take the orders, deliver the food, clean the tables, and handle the check-out at the end of the meals. It seems like the service would have been much quicker if they had someone handling the seating, check-out's, and possibly bussing and cleaning tables. The worst part of the experience was the long waits to be seated and for the food to come out. The food itself was great and I found the servers and other customers to be friendly. The furnishings were clean with a 1960's diner feel. Overall, I would hesitate to go back if I were in a hurry of any kind. If time is no object, the food is great.

While staying at Broadwing Farms, Smoky Mountain Diner was recommended to us. Not only was the food…read moreamazing, the entire experience was so nostalgic that I'm looking forward to booking another stay in Hot Springs again soon and enjoying more meals here. Next time, I'm leaving room for pie. I don't believe we had just one waitress. It seems that in this quaint little Diner, everyone is looked after and checked on as a whole by staff. My Ball jar of sweet tea was never any less than half full, and that sweet tea was *chef's kiss*. We both decided on the meatloaf, and I opted for cornbread, green beans and pickled beets. I felt like I had been transported back in time and was being fed by my great great grandmother. Sounds a bit dramatic, I know. But I haven't had cornbread, meatloaf or beets like this in so many years. It did not taste like restaurant food, it tasted like home cooking. We're already planning our next little "run away from life and parenthood" to Hot Springs, and Smoky Mountain Diner is top of the "will definitely visit again" list. Thank you for treating us like family.

Stopped in for a delicious dinner and was completely blown away by the garlic knots and the short…read morerib beef stroganoff. Everything on the menu we ordered was delicious, but the roasted carrots on a bed of ricotta and the sautéed spinach were perfect starters with the garlic knots. Absolutely loved the short rib stroganoff and would order it again. Another standout was the wild boar Bolognese, not really for me, but the other people in our group loved it. Overall, this place has a lot of ambience and great service too. Again, I would say order extra garlic knots. In the first round, they bring them out on the house, but additional orders are at a nominal cost. Delightful place and the food is superb!

Glass Onion, Weaverville NC was wonderful. Our server, Nicole, was on point being very attentive,…read morefriendly, offering suggestions and fully answering our questions. We loved our meals - seared tuna with wasabi slaw and rice. Yum!! This was on special and not on the regular menu. The hubs had seafood creole which was so fresh and delicious! You can tell the ingredients are thoughtfully selected. Dessert was creme brule which was perfect. Ambiance was great - upscale, comfy, relaxed, even though it was quite busy. I'd highly recommend eating there and we would happily return on our next visit to town.

Let me first say I was worried about this place due to location being in a shopping strip. But, I…read moreshould know better than to judge on looks. We were so impressed with food quality, cleanliness, and excellent service. Megan was our server, she was wonderful made great recommendations, friendly, staggered our food perfectly, and never let our cups go dry. Cornbread was hot, moist, and so yummy. Onion straw with a bbq ranch sauce was perfect! We got the pork chops, so tender you could cut with fork, it needed nothing, along with mashed potatoes! The food was 5 star quality! This will be our new favorite local spot when in the area!

Back again this year, just when it's a bit colder and SNOWING!! Yea, November 11th and we are…read moregetting snow -- and the Blue Rooster was the perfect, cozy, warm place to have an early dinner! Brandon was an excellent server, very attentive and friendly. All the food, like last time, was paced perfectly. Our apps and salad were not overlapped by my our entrees! And the rolls, c'mon! They're hot and delicious! We shared the onion strings app, tasted perfect and loved the dipping sauce. We also got side salads with ranch -- wow, you can tell it's made there, and just the right amount of dill in it! For entrees, wife and I shared the 14oz ribeye -- WOW, is it good -- with a side of broccoli. Good amount of marbling, perfect temp (medium), and juicy. MIL had the fried chicken, which was probably a 3 out of 5 for her. Only two of the four pieces were juicy, and to me it looked a little over cooked. We had no room for dessert, and the snow started coming down heavy, so we left after filling up. Make sure you don't assume anything with this place being in a strip mall -- it is sooooo good! See you again next year!

I was in town for a massive gathering of beer nerds for the homebrewers convention and needed a…read moresolid breakfast to reset my system after days of heavy tasting. I found Chestnut on Yelp and decided to wander in. The space has this elevated modern rustic vibe with a southern twist and a little bit of sass. They even sell shirts that say neither hoity nor toity, which cracked me up. Honestly, the atmosphere was great, but our waitress was the real star. She was absolutely phenomenal and looked after us perfectly. My palate was pretty fried, so I started with a Bloody Mary to wake up. Truth be told, it was just okay. The house mix had an odd flavor that nobody at the table could quite identify, and it seriously lacked spice. It was just kinda bland. I noticed a bottle of Firewalker hot sauce on the table, and splashing that in helped a little bit. After that, I transitioned to a mimosa. You really cannot mess up a mimosa too much, and it was a solid, reliable second drink. For the main event, I ordered the southern chicken and waffles. This came with a fried chicken breast sitting on golden malted waffles, smothered in sausage gravy, and drizzled with chipotle honey. It was a really great dish. The kitchen did a solid job with the fry on the chicken, and the gravy had a nice flavor. It leaned a little on the sweet side because of the honey, but it was not totally overdone. The real sleeper hit of the morning, though, was the side of cheesy grits. Those grits were absolute heaven. They were incredibly creamy and perfectly seasoned. If you go, you have to order them. Chestnut is in a great location, and despite the weak Bloody Mary, it was a stellar visit.

Worth Planning Your Asheville Trip Around…read more As a Bay Area foodie, navigating around San Francisco's incredible restaurant scene taught me to appreciate thoughtful cooking, quality ingredients, and genuine hospitality. Chestnut had been on my Asheville dining list long before I arrived, and after spending several days exploring Boone, Blowing Rock, and the Blue Ridge Mountains, I made it my dinner splurge before heading home. It absolutely delivered. A quick tip: skip the hunt for street parking and head straight to the garage across the street. The first hour is free, and downtown Asheville can be congested with both vehicle and foot traffic. I arrived around 5:30 without a reservation and was warmly greeted by the hostess, who offered me a table or a seat at the bar. Asheville was surprisingly hot and humid compared to the cool mountain weather I'd been enjoying, so the air-conditioned dining room was an easy choice over the sidewalk patio. The restaurant itself is beautiful. Fresh flowers, warm lighting, elegant stone countertops, comfortable booths, tables, and bar seating create an atmosphere that feels polished without being stuffy. What stood out most was the mix of guests. There were locals greeting staff by name, couples enjoying date night, families with children, and older guests gathering with friends. It felt welcoming and comfortable for everyone. As a solo diner, the bar was the perfect choice. I enjoyed all the energy of the restaurant while still having a peaceful dining experience. I started with a glass of Brut Rosé from Spain. Crisp, refreshing, and beautifully balanced, it was the perfect way to settle in after a warm afternoon. Then came the Lobster Bisque. As someone who has made lobster bisque from scratch, I know the work that goes into creating a great one. Chestnut's version, made with Oak & Grist Reserve Cream and finished with fresh chives, was outstanding. Rich, silky, velvety, and loaded with tender pieces of lobster. If I'm being incredibly picky, I would have enjoyed just a touch more sherry, but that's purely personal preference. The smaller serving vessel kept the bisque hot from first spoonful to last, which I appreciated. My only complaint was that I wanted a larger serving because it was that good. For my entrée, I ordered the 4-ounce Petite Filet. The steak arrived cooked a perfect medium rare with excellent flavor and texture. It was served with butter-whipped mashed potatoes, haricot verts, a crisp potato gaufrette, red wine demi-glace, and chive butter. Every component was thoughtfully prepared. The demi-glace added richness without overwhelming the beef, while the potato gaufrette provided a delicate crunch. My only minor critique was that the plate could have been served a bit hotter, but the quality of the food more than made up for it. One of the highlights of the evening was the service. Taylor, part of the management team, was personable, knowledgeable, and genuinely welcoming. After my sparkling wine, he suggested a half-glass pour of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir since I was driving. Excellent recommendation. The wine was elegant, earthy, and beautifully balanced, pairing perfectly with the filet. As the evening progressed, the restaurant filled quickly. Watching the staff greet regulars by name and efficiently manage the growing crowd spoke volumes about how well-run the restaurant is. You could tell many guests were repeat customers, which is always a good sign. After dinner, I attempted to walk off my meal through downtown Asheville, but the summer heat quickly convinced me to head back to my hotel. I left full, happy, and already thinking about that lobster bisque. For a Bay Area foodie who plans entire trips around memorable meals, Chestnut exceeded expectations. Great food, thoughtful service, an inviting atmosphere, and a dining experience that felt special without trying too hard. If you're visiting Asheville, put Chestnut on your list. Life is too short for mediocre meals, and this one is worth making time for.

Our first diner experience! A very friendly owner who provided great service and made us feel…read morewelcome. The portions were generous - we definitely didn't leave hungry. The price level was good and felt reasonable for the amount of food we got.

The service was subpar, as the staff seemed more focused on congregating and using social media…read morethan attending to customers' needs. The food quality has dropped off, lower meat quality results in chewy, stringy product. "Homemade sides" doesn't mean opening a can, "Homemade" desserts are from a box, and the icing is waxy. Additionally, the owners charge an extra fee for card payments, and are justifying a menu price increases by citing rising gas prices, similar to a gas station raising gas prices. While I concur that Tommy's food quality is comparable to convenience store fare, I question whether the menu prices will decrease in tandem with the decrease in gas prices. The Owners also have knowledge of leaving positive reviews on the site to try to offset the negative reviews that they have received since they took over the establishment.

Best food in town. Clean and well prepared dishes that are obviously made with Love . I look…read moreforward to dinning here when ever in town!

There's something about our favorite unassuming gem in Asheville--HomeGrown--that just gets us. The…read morebuttermilk chicken breast smothered in mushroom gravy, the sesame greens that somehow taste both familiar and new... a little piece of the South with a twist. And honestly? Sometimes it all tastes better eaten in the car, seat warmers on, sharing bites with my best friend.

This place is amazing. We came in from Miami, Florida, and our very first stop in Weaverville was…read morethis restaurant--and it did not disappoint. Our server recommended the Twisted Philly Steak Sub and the Fat Jake's Chicken Ranch Sub, and they were hands down some of the best food we've ever had. The service was impeccable, the food came out fast, and everything was delicious from start to finish--we honestly didn't want it to end. We loved the experience so much that we came back one more time before heading home, and our server Tatiana was fantastic. From the moment we walked in until the moment we left, everyone was incredibly kind and welcoming. I promise you, once you come in and try those subs, you'll be coming back to this review just to thank me. We will absolutely recommend this place to anyone visiting Weaverville!

Our server was so friendly! The whole restaurant was very cute and not very busy when we came in…read morefor lunch. I shared the Trout and it was one of the best meals I've had, I highly recommend it.

Haven't been in a really long time! They have changed their menu up some! We were sat immediately…read moreand got some drinks! I do wish my beer had been a little colder though! We ordered the fried green tomatoes for an appetizer. They come with pimento cheese sauce and corn relish with a side of fig jam. I didn't care for the fig jam but the tomatoes were delicious with the toppings! I ordered the club sandwich with a side of onion rings! Very good! My boyfriend had a burger with a side of waffle sweet potato fries! Service was excellent and quick too!

Tucked away at the base of Reynolds Mtn community in Woodfin - in the quaint city center a couple…read moreof blocks from the Woodfin YMCA is one of the - if not the best spot in N Asheville. One of the few true sports bar & grills in the area. They hit on all marks too. Great craft beer selections on tap. Great selection of spirits & a talented bar staff that can help you get what you want. Solid food menu & each item we've had from this kitchen was on point. Tonight we stopped in after dinner with grandparents to watch the NBA finals. Small but decent crowd that wasn't too rowdy & good people. It's definitely a fun & welcoming spot! We ordered craft beer & I selected a few of the good bourbons they have to choose from. Good people on staff that are personable & care. It may be a cliche but you literally walk away feeling like you made friends here. Top notch bar food! Excellent wings! Honey gold & honey, gold, and cilantro.garlic, cilantro & buffalo were big wings, cooked fresh & done perfectly! Nice side of fresh carrots & celery - ranch & blue cheese. I've had dogs, burgers, sandwiches & salads here before. Ownership cares - is on point. Do not sleep on this place. Great patio for afternoon & evening. Porch sittin. It's an awesome spot few will find.