Asheville’s booming food scene: 6 new restaurants set to open in coming weeks

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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red_ginger_restaurant_asheville_nov_2015The Asheville restaurant scene is booming. Here’s a quick look at some of what’s new – six new restaurants planning to open within the next two months, plus a couple more announced:

-Local Provisions: Here’s the press release on Local Provisions, which is opening next week on Biltmore Avenue:

Starting Tuesday, downtown Asheville will enjoy the modern cuisine of chef Justin Burdett. Burdett will open his highly anticipated restaurant, Local Provisions, to the public for dinner service on Tuesday, November 24. Local Provisions will be open Tuesdays – Sundays, 5:30 – 10 p.m., and for Sunday brunch from 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Burdett’s interpretation of the ingredients and cooking traditions of the South will also incorporate innovative techniques and progressive flavor profiles for which Burdett is known. Frequent menu changes are part of the culinary program, allowing Burdett to take advantage of the best available ingredients. Burdett hopes that Local Provisions will connect the community through good food and in a welcoming atmosphere.

“The dishes at Local Provisions are largely inspired by the Southern comfort food that I grew up eating with my family,” explains executive chef Justin Burdett. “There will be a familiarity to our food, but we’ll use some cool, modern techniques and unexpected flavor profiles that I’m really excited about. Our menus will change regularly so we can use the best ingredients available.”

Local Provisions will be welcoming and approachable, both in food and space. The remodeled space has a warm, industrial feel featuring areas of exposed brick walls, original concrete floors and large paneled windows that look on to the outdoor patio, flooding the space with natural light. The redesigned bar features pipe work shelving with corrugated metal, which complements the antique table bases, new banquettes and warm grey walls.

Local Provisions will be open for dinner on Tuesday, November 24, and Wednesday, November 25, and will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. Service will resume on Friday, November 27, including the restaurant’s first brunch service on Sunday, November 29. Reservations can be via phone at 828-424-7815 or on Open Table.

-Arancini Italian Kitchen: The restaurant will open in the old Pineapple Jack’s space at 643 Haywood Road in West Asheville in about a week, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times (paywall). The counter-service restaurant will be open for dinner to start.

-Red Ginger Dim Sum and Tapas: Asheville’s first dim sum restaurant will open at 82 Patton Avenue in the Capital Centre building should be opening any day now. Mai Medvedev, owner of Russian Chapel Hill Winery, and Chef Taitsz Lam are working together on the restaurant, which will have an outdoor patio.

-Patton Public House: This family-friendly, European-style restaurant opening in the former Barbecue Inn (which closed in 2011 after 50 years in business) location at 1341 Patton Avenue should be opening within the next two months, according to the Asheville Citizen-Times (paywall). Patton Public House will be open 24 hours a day, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner and will feature live music, with an inside stage and an outdoor patio area behind the restaurant, according to the story.

-Taco Mia: This restaurant is in the works at 123 Charlotte St. in the former Two Guys Hoagies location. It is the work of business partners John Atwater, owner of Mamacita’s, and Ross Kamens, the founding chef of Noodles and Company, a chain with more than 500 locations.

-Rhubarb II: Rhubarb owner and chef John Fleer is opening a bakery-style eatery that fronts South Lexington Avenue and actually connects to his Rhubarb, which fronts on Patton Avenue. The eatery should be opening soon.

Announced/planned restaurants:

-Iron Hen: The second location of this Greensboro-based favorite will open in the new Hilton Garden Inn under construction at the corner of College and Charlotte streets.

-Golden Fleece Slow Earth Kitchen: This restaurant planned for the Grovewood Gallery and art studios location next to Grove Park Inn will be a project of Giorgio Bakatsias, a James Beard-nominated best restauranteur. He owns 12 other restaurants, most of them in the Triangle area of N.C.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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3 Comments

  1. Shannon November 23, 2015

    The only correction I would make is that the new dim sum restaurant is not the first in Asheville. The Chen family who owns Wasabi and Ichiban had a dim sum restaurant that opened during the recession. It was located at the corner of Biltmore/Broadway and College Street in the building now occupied by The Green Sage. It was called something like P. F. Chen’s 🙂

    Reply
  2. Jodie November 22, 2015

    the Block off Biltmore Bar is opening too. On Eagle street . It all vegan & donation based! !

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    1. Kelly December 1, 2015

      I love that place! The Block off Biltmore (TBoB) is very cool. The food is delicious and donation based, and the alcohol is priced on the low side. The live music is awesome. I love the jazz trio! This is one of our new favorite hang-outs. I was there about four times the first week! Ha-ha! It’s on the corner of Eagle and Market downtown in the historic YMI building.

      Reply

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