Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
It can be hard keeping up with Asheville’s ever-changing restaurant scene. Here’s a quick look at what’s in the works, and what just opened. What am I missing?
In the works
–Sonora Restaurant: A new, independent restaurant coming to 89 Patton Ave. in downtown; featuring Southwestern food; opening this fall.
–Curate expansion: Look for food that refreshes and expands the delicious food folks have been enjoying for the past five years in downtown Asheville by award-winning Chef Katie Button; 13 Biltmore Ave., adjacent to Curate.
–Beechums: Word on the street is that this is the working name of a new restaurant in the planning stages for the crook of Haywood Road in East/West Asheville known as Beechum’s Curve.
–TakoSushi: A fusion joint that mixes sushi with Mexican, Southwestern and Asian flavors; planned for 63 Southside Ave. on Asheville’s South Slope; opening date is a year or more out.
–Mountain Madre and Agave Bar: Opening in the former Scully’s bar and grill location at 13 W. Walnut St. in downtown; the tequila bar features only those made with 100 percent blue agave, with a menu featuring local ingredients and an American twist on traditional tacos; same owners, just new concept; planning to open this fall.
–Bartaco: In the works for a couple of year’s now at the former Andy’s Heating & Cooling location, 121 Biltmore Ave. downtown, next to The Orange Peel; the menu will feature California-influenced Mexican food; no word on an opening date, but construction is going full tilt.
–MOD Pizza: This pizza joint is going into a former gas station at 873 Merrimon Ave. in north Asheville; fast-casual, customizable pizza; no opening date announced, but construction/renovation moving quickly.
–Post 25: This new restaurant is going in at the former Black Forest restaurant space in Arden, 2155 Hendersonville Road; look for Greek flavors to spice up traditional American and Appalachian dishes, as well as straight-up Greek specialties; planned opening this fall.
–Doc Brown’s Barbecue: Doc Brown has been operating a popular food truck for several years now, and he’s graduating to a brick and mortar location in Candler, 1320 Smokey Park Highway; Doc plans to use his truck-mounted wood pellet smoker, as well as a newer one, to cook up his tasty meats; planned opening in October.
–Asheville Tacos and Taps: Coming to 705 Merrimon Ave. in north Asheville, the former location of Brat Burger; the Asheville Pizza and Brewing team is going all in on the taco and drive-in-growler-refill-station concept; coming soon, but no opening date announced.
–White Duck Taco South: On Wednesday, Ashvegas reported that Ben Mixson had pulled permits to turn a house on Miami Circle in south Asheville into a possible restaurant. In an email exchange when asked about his plans, Mixon said “We are looking at the property and i cant really say much about it right now.” Things apparently changed quickly, because on Thursday, Mixson told the the Asheville Citizen-Times that he and Laura Reuss were definitely opening their third White Duck Taco shop in a former single-family home on Miami Circle near Roberson High School. The two are in the process of buying the house, which sits on nearly an acre and a half and needs a lot of work, the newspaper reported. “It was cool to do something a little different for us and build a Duck in a house,” said Reuss, co-owner of White Duck with business partner Mixson, told reporter Mackensy Lunsford. “That is what is so interesting about this spot for us.” The two are also buying an adjacent house next to the house-to-be-turned-restaurant, with plans for another business, according to the newspaper.
What just opened
–En La Calle: A sister restaurant to the popular Limones, and adjacent to it at 15 Eagle St. in downtown Asheville; described as sophisticated Mexican street food meets tapas.
–Bone and Broth: Opened in the former King James restaurant and pub location, 94 Charlotte St. in north Asheville; meaty, delicious pub food.
–Claddagh Restaurant and Pub: Irish pub, 4 College St., downtown Asheville.
–UpCountry Eatery: 1042 Haywood Road in West Asheville, next to UpCountry Brewing (the former Nona Mia restaurant location); American food.
MOD Pizza opens October 2nd, Jason!
Whoa, I can’t friggin believe it. That Latino guy for Trump said that if Clinton wins there would be a Taco truck on every corner. As far as this town goes we beat that deadline handily. I have to wonder why kids even bother to go college these days when it seems to be that every thirty something wants to brew beer. it’s more than a bit sad to think about what’s comin this way in the form of food. Let me take this opportunity to make it known to all those looking to open an eatery in Asheville that this category,tacos & pizza is full up. Get another idea!
Post 25 is a sister restaurant to Post 70 which itself is the evening expansion of Filo out east, with the same ownership as East Village Grille. The C-T suggests it’s going to combine EVG and Post 70 menus. That’s pretty ambitious growth. Hope it’s not overstretch.
Not sure how that South Slope one has not escaped the knick name TacoSucks as that is all that comes to mind when I try to recall its name.
Tacos are super cheap, and you can make money off them. That is why there are so many, ditto pizza. Flour water, and sprinkle a few things on top, nothing that requires skill. Plus you can use the cheapest cuts of meat to make them. So as always profits rule.
Cheap is right. I have tried three local “wood-fired” pizzas, and none were any better than Pizza Hut, all were skimpy with the meat (cheap cuts or no), and each cost twice as much.
So many taco places open/opening in AVL! Taco entrepreneurs, please come east! Someone could make serious bank if they’d open up a decent taco joint in Black Mountain.
5 of 11 are new Taco joints?… seems overkill…not like we are lacking in places to get a good taco…
How many bloody taco places does one town need? There is a world of cuisine out there that we miss out on because the only two damn things anyone in this town can cook are pizza and tacos.
We are not yet at “taco truck on every corner” saturation, so I, for one, am not satisfied.
Haven’t enjoyed the menu yet, but the drink list at En La Calle is a superb sequel to Limones!