mother bakery & cafe | south slope

The food was excellent, in fact, quite extraordinary. I had the lamb burger, which had so much umami! We also had a mushroom bread. So good! My cortado was good. Not the best I’ve ever had, but certainly serviceable! So why on earth is this a three star review? Well, my girlfriend and I were so excited to go, and it was unusual that I had a Sunday afternoon that would accommodate this, but my cohost on the radio show was taking the reins that day. So I had a blissful Sunday afternoon that was free. Her schedule is also somewhat tricky, and we were so excited to be able to go to Mother after so many great things we’ve heard about it. We were supposed to be meeting at 2 PM. When my friend arrived a few minutes before two, they told her that they were closing early due to some sort of event. She wasn’t quite sure what to do, because I was still en route and even though she was texting me I was driving, so she ordered something for us; we’ve known each other for 20 years, so she intuits my taste. She ordered the items mentioned above and also some sort of hazelnut dessert. All great choices! I asked the folks if I could have a coffee, and they said that that would be fine, that they were just shutting down the kitchen. The folks I talked to were actually very pleasant to me. But my friend was really put out. Understandably. And apparently the person that I spoke with was really nice but the person that my friend spoke with was not very pleased that my friend was going to actually order, even though she said they had five minutes to order. I think the server was sort of hoping my friend would go away. Their website wasn’t updated. Which would’ve been easy to do. And, again, the one person who was dealing with my friend (who told her they were closing) was also the person who delivered our food, and I could definitely see she wanted us out of there. Which is such a shame, because the food was so so so good! So we ate to the point where they were cleaning around us, and then we went outside to spend more time together, because we really wanted to spend time together. Recall this was supposed to be our leisurely Sunday together. So we sat outside as they closed up and just Enjoyed the sunshine. This 100% should’ve been a five star review. The food was that good; the outdoor space is charming, and the interior is beautiful and sunny and reminds me of a sweet approachable European café. When I go back, and I will be back, based on that experience, I could certainly update this review on the amount of stars, but for now, it felt really disappointing and rushed and my friend just kept saying that they just weren’t incredibly pleasant to her when they told her she only had five minutes to order. Note: I totally understand if something’s going on and the servers need to leave (that’s why we finished quickly and sit outside while they finished cleaning), that’s not the problem, the problem is that closing early should’ve been posted somewhere on their website. We are locals. For decades. And we both work really hard and invest in the city and it’s difficult for us to always connect, so we could’ve picked any of our other spots, but gosh, we were so excited about this. And we want to support new businesses. I just hate that this experience gave us a bad taste for the restaurant. Or that it caused my friend any stress, because she really does work her butt off and time off is sacred to her.

What a sweet spot! The menu here isn’t your usual overwhelmingly long brunch menu - which I prefer - and every item on it is unique! Not where you’ll want to come if you want your typical eggs benny or stack of pancakes. I had a mind blowing “NC grits and greens” to which I added a side mushrooms, and a mimosa. One of the best brunch dishes I’ve ever had!

Wow, one of the best meals I’ve ever had. Open kitchen concept with a staff that really focuses on delivering quality. I will come back here often. Everything we tried was exuding quality and excellent tastes.

We came for dinner and everything exceeded expectations. Seems most people come for brunch / lunch but we say the menu for dinner looked really interesting and it did not disappoint. Started with the house baked focaccia with ramp butter - delicious. Next had the snap and snow pea salad with straciatella, prosciutto and mint which was so refreshing and then finished with the grilled shrimp with grits. Nice size shrimp and creamy grits - what else can you can ask for? Service was attentive and well paced. Highly recommend for a nice dinner on the south slope and would love to return for brunch or dinner again.

Outstanding bakery/restaurant! The egg salad sandwich & blueberry toast were outstanding. It really doesn’t matter what you order because it’s all 10/10! Leave with a loaf of bread & a bottle of wine to continue the experience at home! Do yourself a favor & get a loaf of bread to take away! It’s a little loud in the quaint restaurant; recommend outside seating if you’d like to chat.

Seasonal menu, such delicious and intentional food. Super local ingredients with unique pairing of items. A must! Bread, wine, everything is amazing! It’s the most exquisite mouthfeel one can have!

Came into Mother after seeing they made it into the Michelin Guide and wanted to check it out with my partner. It definitely didn’t disappoint. The space has a great vibe and everything we had was spot on. We loved the candle lit dining room. The lamb burger was on point, cooked perfectly and packed with flavor. Our service was great too. We thought our server was the owner, the way he spoke and held himself. He was friendly and joked with us. It seemed like he really knew his stuff when it came to the wines. He let us taste three different reds before we picked one and walked us through all of them. It was a nice touch. We’ll for sure be coming back soon and bringing friends.

We visited on Sunday afternoon (party of four). ~20-minute wait, then seated at a six-top and asked to share with two more guests due to the line. We ordered three lamb burgers and a croque madame. Coffee was good, but the food was lukewarm. Our server didn’t return after taking the order—no water refills, and ketchup took several asks. The first check-in was after our plates were cleared. At checkout, the POS defaulted to a 20% minimum tip, and the server stood over us as we paid, which felt pressuring given the service that day. Pros: coffee; convenient location. Cons: temperature of food, slow service, pressured tipping.

Excellent experience. Everyone we encountered were friendly and welcoming. The food, oh the food -- mouthwateringly delish. My friend and I agreed our choices were above expectations. My mushroom toast and my friend's Croque Madame were scrumptious. We will definitely be back. The seating is family style and we were fortunate it hadn't become crowded.

Mother and I, a love story. Their new curry chicken salad may be a new favorite. The curry isn't too overwhelming and the pickled fennel and onions are a nice bite to cut the fattiness. If you're looking to go enjoys glass of wine their hummus is a fresh snack that's great for a table of friends to share. These potatoes are a special on their dinner menu and they tasted like the adult version of a bag of sour cream and onion chips - in the BEST way. Forever and always one of our favorites!

Loved everything about this spot. Great music playing when you walk in, wonderful staff, beautiful aesthetic, and the food! And the wine! And the homemade bread! Every sandwich that we had was amazing - the Mortadella pesto sandwich, the Jamon Beurre, the Salmon Toast, and the non sandwich but very delicious quiche was a delight. The wine selection was expansive, unique, and I loved that they had retail bottles as well. We went home with the kale pesto focaccia, and it was so legendary. One of the staff members, Ashley, gave us a bunch of great suggestions for things to do while we were in Asheville and we ended up doing quite a few things on her list - The Arboretum (stunning) and South Slope Cheese (a long time favorite of mine) namely. Can't wait to come back in town and experience a few more. Mother will definitely be a repeat visit every time I come in town!

Nothing but excellent experiences here. I've had the lamb burger, falafel, hummus, blueberry toast, cappuccino, shortbread bar, and sourdough pan loaf from here. All were fantastic. Lamb burger is always perfectly cooked, all the fixings are well balanced and flavorful. Brioche bun is fluffy and light. I always get the side salad, perfectly dressed with a light vinaigrette. Falafel was perfectly crispy, moist inside, delicious fixings and a perfect pita wrap. Blueberry toast was not overly sweet, a very welcome surprise. It's decadent looking but surprisingly light. Hummus plate is light and fresh, great to share on a hot day. Iced latte was scrumptious as well. I wish they had some hot herbal teas available, but that's hardly a complaint! Always excellent service and warm staff. The vibe here is up-scale looking but laid-back in nature. Fantastic ingredients, small but well curated menu, excellent wine list (though I don't drink), and a great outdoor eating area.

Food beat my expectations and more I loved the French omelette with country sourdough bread. It had cultured creamy slightly salty butter which paired nicely on the bread. My wife really enjoyed her cured salmon on brown bread with pickled fennel. Saw some good looking bread hung out on the nearby wall. Service was prompt and friendly !

Great indoor/outdoor location. Do not offer flavored coffee but have extremely high quality espresso/coffee. All of the food is delicious!

I had a good breakfast here this morning. With it being Father's Day I was worried about a wait, and there was a line that formed before opening, but I was able to sit immediately at the bar. I found street parking right out front but I could see this being more difficult if I had arrived a bit later. It's such a nice bright space and they have a good drink menu which I couldn't tell at first just from the website/Yelp page. I ordered a black coffee and the eggs and grits but there were lots of other tempting options (breakfast sandwiches, hearty salads, etc). Everything came out pretty fast and my breakfast was really tasty, seasoned well and the egg was perfectly runny! I'm not a huge fan of grits to begin with but I was in the mood to try for a change and it did not disappoint. The asparagus and collard greens were a great healthy and colorful addition. Service was pleasant, it was a tad bit on the pricier side but I would recommend for a fast, healthy and more upscale bite. @azfitfoodfun

Mother is a small, but mighty little hidden gem on the South slope in downtown Asheville. No reservations, communal tables, indoor and outdoor seating available. This will be my third trip to Mother for lunch, but they are also open for dinner. The Jambon-Beurre from Mother is the sandwich that I crave! So simple, yet so delicious and filling. The simplicity of Parisian ham, on a baguette with salted butter. That's it, 3 simple ingredients. Uncle Thom ordered the Croque Madame, and our table also ordered the Confit Mushroom Toast. As always, zero complaints, three empty plates, and three happy people!

Mother is such a warm and inviting spot, with an aesthetic that feels like the perfect blend of modern charm and countryside coziness. Their bread is absolutely fantastic--I'm still kicking myself for not bringing some home! The locally sourced ingredients are incredibly fresh, and it really shows in every bite. The service was wonderful, and I loved the communal dining experience. We sat next to a lovely family, had a great chat, and got a little glimpse into each other's lives. I initially messed up my order and didn't realize one of the sandwiches I picked had pork in it, but the staff was super understanding and quickly brought out a falafel wrap instead. My boyfriend couldn't stop raving about the lamb burger--it was one of the best he's ever had. The only thing I'd change is having the option to pick the bread for each sandwich, which would take the experience to the next level. Oh, and the coffee is absolutely amazing! It's locally sourced from a farmer who exclusively sells to them, which makes it even more special. We're already looking forward to coming back and trying more from the dinner menu - particularly the Sicilian pizza as was recommended to me by a friend!

The restaurant itself is very very small, but if you are able to get in it is SO worth it!! The menu is pretty small but every single thing we had was absolutely delicious. The staff also CLEARLY loved their job and were so friendly and helpful!

I am grateful I had the experience to come here post hurricane. They are completely up and running, and the food is better than anything I ever had in New York City. I can't believe the pricing for such exceptional high-quality offerings. My friend and I split the tuna tartar, and a steak tartar, both of which were perfectly presented - delicious and melt in your mouth. I had a lobster pot pie, and truthfully, I didn't get much of the lobster, but it was still excellent, and my friend had the pork cheek which was surprisingly fall apart slow cooker perfection. We tried two desserts, including a coconut ice cream and a hazelnut pudding. Oh! And the starting dish was some of their homemade bread that they make each day as they are a bakery first. I had the pleasure of meeting the owner who made us feel like we were old friends. Is a really interesting space worth looking around. Small and so I would assume long lines on busy nights, but we got lucky in being able to get right in.

Loved our lunch here at Mother! We first showed up at their other location which is pretty much just a wine and bread shop, so the worker there redirected us to this location for the cafe menu with seating The aesthetic is so inviting, like modern meets countryside ---quiche: i havent had many but this is definitely the BEST I've ever had, fluffy and light! I only tried this because they were out of their house cured salmon but I'm glad I did (although I must come back for the salmon) ---mushroom toast: I wasn't a fan of this, but without us saying anything at all they brought out a 2nd one from the kitchen as they believed the 1st may have been made improperly. Talk about service! ---chocolate cremeux: rich and loved the addition of olive oil on top Bubbly wine the hubby ordered was so refreshing, would definitely come back next time we're in town. Note: they have a little outdoor patio/deck

Cozy little spot with indoor and outdoor tables, outstanding breads and thoughtful, well-crafted cuisine. This is comfort food, elevated and served with panache. Having seen French omelettes on cooking shows, I'd wanted to try a restaurant version and this was the first I'd come across. Mother's rendering was exquisite; I can now discern that the other omelettes in my life, while not without merit and good intentions, have been Seikos. This, my friends, was a Cartier.

We love this place in south slope. They make their own bread and supply it to many local restaurants. Brunch is great and busy (in a good way). Great and affordable wine selections and the food is gourmet level. Lively music and an open window atmosphere compliments your experience.

Super cute indoor outdoor hangout spot with a farm to table style brunch menu. We walked in and seated ourselves and were greeted quickly by friendly and knowledgeable waitstaff. The food was delicious and the quality of the food shined. Even the greens on the side were perfectly dressed and slightly seasoned - I ate every bite. Would go again when stopping through Asheville.

Today my friends and I got together to celebrate at Mother. One friend finished top 20 in the half marathon and the other just wrapped her divorce. Both were equally happy. I got the Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich - I wanted to eat it all but my full stomach said no. My marathon buddy got the French Toast - brioche, Apple, Crème Fraiche , dizzled Maple Syrup. Lastly the newly single friend got the French Omelette ( lighter fare , hmm...) The place was bustling, the staff cool and the food was excellent. Everything is homemade including the yummy bread. 10/10. I'm sorry I didn't get the names of our servers but they were outstanding. Kudo's to both front and back of the house at Mother.

Notably, there is a bakery under this name with a different location. This location is where they have expanded and opened up a cafe. The understanding I got is that if you want to sit down and eat a meal, this is the one to go to. However, if you want bread, they have the same bread at both places. And why wouldn't you want bread? The menu is small and the options pricey, but you're paying for a plant-lined space that is likely to remain packed on peak days, as well as some quality food. My fava bean falafel was rendered with a delightful medley of pickled and fresh vegetables and a cashew-based cream. Getting a side salad was also a good decision with the leaves being delicate, the radishes thinly shaved, and the dressing sharp. Getting bagels to go left me with some delicious sourdough creations for the week; smooth on the outside and richly flavored on the inside. A kale pesto bread bubbled nicely, and the kale mixed nicely with the spreads I used on my bread. It's a nice location, but I found it confusing where to go to get a table or order. I had more success than some other reviewers, but it does seem like this place needs to iron out service to ensure that everyone that wants food gets it.

The Jambon Buerre is all you need to know, but all of the food was outstanding. Great little café with fantastic service.

I had the most delicious breakfast!!! Every bite was incredible!!! Their menu is small but amazing! Seriously- get there! PS awesome wine!!!

Everything! The best food, the best bakery, the best Hungarian wine, the best servers. Sit at the bar where you can see all the action. Pretty impressive

I would argue that this hidden gem is hands down the best restaurant in Asheville. Every single meal here I've had is utterly perfect. I have literally teared up at some of their dishes. The ingredients are mostly locally sourced and so clean- as someone with sensitivities it can be very hard to find food that actually makes me feel good. I feel grateful a place like this exists. I almost regret every time I go to any other restaurant now because I compare it to mother. The ambiance is intimate and the staff completes the experience in their warmth and attention to detail. This place feels like restaurant as renaissance. I cannot recommend it enough.

I just had the Jamon sandwich but it was excellent. A very cool atmosphere. Will be back,

Brett was amazing and rolled out the red carpet for us! My husband and I stopped in for lunch recently and throughly enjoyed our meal and service. We sat on the patio because we had our dog in tow. It was her birthday (she had a party hat), and Brett treated her like royalty. We had a few drinks, a burger, and a falafel plate. Everything was so fresh and cooked to perfection. 5 stars all around, we look forward to another visit!

Had lunch here today, the croque madam and the omelette with sourdough toast and salad are tasty. These portions are huge. The service was excellent. Best bread in town with awesome food. We will be back.

Excellent. One of the best French omelette's I've had. Wonderful focaccia. Attentive service. A keeper!

Absolutely loved Mother in South Slope! The bread is killer. We shared the hummus - creamy & delicious - with crudite & their warm, toasty flatbread. I had the braised greens on marbled rye toast. The thick cut rye was tremendous! My husband had the jambon buerre and loved the crusty baguette. They also have a variety of coffee and alcoholic beverages depending on your mood. There is both indoor bar & tables with outdoor seating with umbrellas. They do offer table service and you can order to go at the counter. Loved the wall of bread!

Stopped in here for our first drink and food of the day. Was warm enough to sit outside. In February! The staff was friendly and helpful. Had the mushroom toast and a beer. Nice clean space and the price was reasonable. Knew it was good due to talking to several locals who said they eat here all the time. Would recommend.

I had excellent early evening snacks and coffee. The food tasted heavenly and service was above and beyond my expectations! Ambiance was excellent too!

The omelette was heavenly, and the salad was a nice light contrast. It was so good I went back with my family to order the jambon beurre sandwiches to take for lunch on a hike to Mingo Falls. They were perfect.

It's a small place and only serves a few things. It's a bit hipster so it might not be everyone's sensibility. People are very nice there though!

So ridiculously good! My friends took me here this weekend for brunch and it did not disappoint! All of their bread is made fresh in house and it is worth a trip just for that! Their menu is thoughtful and can accommodate vegetarian diets. I had the salmon toast and we shared the blueberry toast. Their ingredients are fresh and the portions are filling. I have no complaints! If you like coffee that was also amazing! Really cute spot!!

Some of the best food we've had in a long time! I had the Croque Madame, which was exquisite. I could have licked the plate, that bechamel sauce was so delicious! My husband had the lamb burger, which he raved about. I tried a bite and the flavor combination with all the toppings was delicious. I would say the prices were a bit high -- but would I pay them again for such delicious food? Yes. Wish there was more seating but what can I say? It's a popular place. It was a beautiful day for indoor/outdoor dining.

What a hidden gem! The food was fabulous and the atmosphere is just so welcoming and adorable. You feel like you're not in Asheville at what a nice spot to enjoy when we come from Black Mountain!

Got there right after their kitchen closed to get ready for dinner. After explaining that my wife had just had a medical procedure and had not eaten for 2 days, they whipped up a couple of great sandwiches on fresh baguettes. Great tasting and service.

What a great place! We were visiting from Chicago and this was close to where we were staying; we walked by it a couple times and decided we needed to stop in. We came for a late lunch and shared a lamb burger and side salad. It was SO good. We would definitely return for a full meal if we lived here. Food was great, as was the service.

Arrived at Mothers around 10 this morning, had an unbelievable breakfast/brunch. Came back for dinner and had one of the best dinner services ever. The restaurant had great vibes and the service was impeccable. Definitely coming here every time we're in Asheville.

I am giving Mother 2 stars. Only because the bread was so good! I went to the South Slope location and they've done a nice job renovating the little industrial building. The decor is welcoming with light woods and glass, and a view into the kitchen behind the bar. Their breads are phenomenal. The baguette, perfectly French! Their focaccia perfectly Italian! So on that front, they've got it covered. I have wanted to try their jambon & beurre on baguette- as that is my go-to lunch on the run whenever I go to Paris! There is nothing quite so pure and delicious as a baguette slathered with high quality French butter and sliced slightly salty lean ham. It's simple and classic but perfect! I had read about theirs & couldn't wait to try it. So...I went up to the counter and waited while the guy behind the bar continued his long conversation with a lady (obviously a regular, based on their conversation) who was eating her lunch. He didn't look up or acknowledge me at all. Then a young woman came out from the kitchen and just stared at me. She didn't say anything so asked if I could place a to go order. She raised her eyebrows, which I assumed meant, "sure what'll you have?". Again no words came out of her mouth. In my flustered confusion, I asked for a ham and CHEESE baguette. She responded with a snarky, "Uh, it's ham and butter." Again, no eye contact. No smile. No nothing! She punched the order into the tablet and spun it around to me. I guess I offended her deeply! WTF? So the service portion of my experience was less than stellar- and made me feel really embarrassed. I mean we all have bad days, so maybe that was it..or maybe that's just who she is. It didn't make me want to come back, so there's that. Then she handed me the sandwich and my receipt and ent back into the kitchen. You're welcome! The sandwich: well the bread was perfect! Crusty but tender, and perfectly baked but I have to say, for $14.00 including a tip for the lovely server who publicly admonished me!, there was literally one slice of ham with very very salty butter. Someone went way overboard on the salt! It may have been expensive flake salt but It absolutely ruined the sandwich, especially since there was more butter than ham. And the salt just killed everything! Unfortunately I didn't try it until I got home, or I would have happily gone back to let them know. But I don't think I would go back again- simply because of how nasty that server was and how unwelcoming it felt in there. Such a shame.

Very interesting and thoughtful menu but the food was overly seasoned so had to take small bites. The inside was too loud for conversation compounded by very loud, unpleasant music. There are 3 tables for 2 people each on a deck but you are not allowed to reserve. The waiter was very controlling and entitled. Will not go back.

You can feel the love right when you walk in. This translates to all of the staff and the menu items. The bread is like nothing I've ever had in my life. Run, don't walk.

Beautiful atmosphere with friendly staff. The food and bread are delicious. You can tell that each dish was thoughtfully created. Highly recommend!

I was there for 20 mins after ordering, i never received my latte, other people were helped around me, but not me. Really weird vibe that they only care about regulars. Really do not recommend this, go to any other coffee place and it would be miles better than this

Let me start by saying that I work in the service industry and I know what it's like when it gets really busy. What I didn't appreciate is it seemed they prioritized their regulars over others( this was obvious by how the manager/owner walked around and greeted people by name). I waited for about 20 minutes and watched as the manager/owner served two coffees to a man who was a regular and ordered after me. I was worried my order had been lost so I went up to the counter and asked about it. The man seemed annoyed and let me know he was making mine and that it was busy. The drink I received was good but I would not go back to be put on the backburner as they quickly serve their regulars.