Rumor control: Flying Frog Cafe to close in downtown Asheville after tonight

Jason Sandford January 17, 2011

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

Word is flying around Twitter tonight that the Flying Frog Cafe is closing after tonight. The Frog Bar is to remain open.

The Flying Frog Cafe is a popular fine dining establishment in Asheville that’s been on the scene for 20 years. It’s owned by executive chef Vijay Shastri, and it’s known for an eclectic menu that offers French, Cajun and Indian dishes served in artsy digs below the loud bar on the corner of Battery Park Avenue and Haywood Street in the Haywood Park Hotel building. The restaurants also has great wines. The upstairs bar is a popular hang for the downtown beer-and-cocktail crowd.

The closing is confirmed. Shastri reportedly had a meeting with staff Sunday evening about 5 p.m., in which he said the decision was both a long time coming and a quite sudden. Shastri reportedly told the staff he needed a break, a change.

The restaurant’s imminent closing posing a problem for the second WNC Chef’s Challenge 2011. The culinary competition, sponsored by WNC Magazine, was scheduled to put top local chef’s in head-to-head cooking competitions at the restaurant. More to come on that.

Anyone have more information?

Jason Sandford

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

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6 Comments

craggybender January 17, 2011

It's unfortunate that the Flying Frog is closing for a number of reasons, the most-important being that the Shastri's have put a tremendous amount of effort into making a living for themselves while creating a space for the community to meet, gather and eat for many years. They're hard-working individuals who put care into their offerings and it showed.

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Ash January 17, 2011

Thanks Chris!

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Chris January 17, 2011

Hi Ashevegas readers! After speaking with representatives from The Flying Frog on Friday, we made the decision to move the WNC Chefs Challenge to Cucina 24. The competition will start on March 7 and continue each Monday for the next 14 weeks, with the finale at the Asheville Wine & Food Festival's Grand Tasting on August 13. A complete bracket will be announced this week when tickets go on sale.

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@FollowingtheNBA January 17, 2011

According to the CT, the bar is also closing. Here's their brief post: http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20110116/NEWS/110116009/1004/ADVERTISING

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Isle of Man January 17, 2011

That's too bad, really enjoyed the dinners I had there over the years. Did not like how the menu went to an almost tapas style over the past year or so. Still the best lamb vindaloo I've ever had anywhere.

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mcmurtrey January 17, 2011

I'm hearing from people at the bar/restaurant right now that they're being told the entire establishment is closing down, not just the restaurant.

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