Daniel B.
Yelp
We had a phenomenal experience at The Admiral in West Asheville. For me, this restaurant may top the more popular and award-winning Curate downtown (https://www.yelp.com/biz/c%C3%BArate-asheville-2). The food, drink, and service were outstanding. Over the last two decades, the more I've eaten at restaurants, the less I've been "wow'd" and had my "mind blown" by new dishes and unique ingredient/flavor combinations. Unexpectedly, The Admiral delivered on this front. I was expecting good/great, but not amazing. This was amazing. Both my wife and I were very impressed. If you're visiting Asheville, I highly recommend The Admiral.
The Admiral has been around since December 2007. The cuisine is New American. Fine-dining-type dishes, but not in a stuffy atmosphere. My sister, who has lived in Asheville for most of her life, told me that she used to come to the bar here circa 2008. If I recall correctly, this used to be more of a local hangout. Over the years, the restaurant evolved and made a name for itself. Word got out and this became one of *the* places to eat in a city already known for its excellent food scene. If a restaurant stands out in Asheville, then you know it's good.
I do have to admit I was a little put off by some of the language on Resy at the time I booked our reservation. Things like same-day cancellations "may trigger a fee of $25.00 per guest" and the cancellation policy "MUST be firm." "No shows and same day cancellations are the plague of the industry and we ask of you now to uphold your end of this commitment as we are thrilled to provide on our end." Not that a cancellation policy like this is unheard of, but maybe it could be communicated in a nicer way.
The restaurant takes reservations up to 45 days out. I was able to get us a Saturday night reservation only two days out, but it was at 9pm on the covered patio. Along with the main dining room and covered patio, they also have an uncovered patio with picnic tables with umbrellas. Both patios are heated during colder weather. The covered patio even has a stone fireplace. The restaurant is cozy. It has a low-key exterior. Inside, what we saw in-person was an upgrade from photos I'd seen online. Among other things, they upgraded the dining room and patio furniture and added a new ceiling. The place looks more refined now, befitting of the cuisine. The vibe is sophisticated casual.
Here's what we got:
Boards
* Beef Tartare ($19) - horseradish cheddar, pickled red onion, chili aioli, 64-degree egg, crostini
Salads and Vegetables
* Radish ($12) - XO sauce, pickled melon rind
* Sprouting Cauliflower ($14) - whey bechamel, country ham, bread crumb
Entrees
* Scallops ($35) - rainbow chard, pickled elberberries, chili pepper nage
* Pork Chop ($39) - Anasazi beans, kale, tomato gastrique
Drinks
* Amigo Viejo cocktail ($16) - Espolon Tequila Blanco, Campari, Vermut Lacuesta Extra Dry, Pamplemousse, Yellow Chartreuse
* Dr. Feelgood mocktail ($12) - Ghia non-alcoholic apertif, lemon, soda
* Complimentary digestif with our check
Every dish was presented beautifully and each tasted as good as it looked. Also, every dish was memorable. Overall, ingredient quality and execution was superb.
The Beef Tartare was the most memorable dish to me. I recommend it. I believe it's been a mainstay on The Admiral's menu for years. We loved how they presented it like a cheese and charcuterie board, allowing us to customize and mix and match the different ingredients. The tartare and egg were incredible. Melt-in-your-mouth.
The Radish was super creative. I've never had XO sauce (an Asian seafood sauce) in a fine-dining, New-American type dish. It gave the salad an unexpected and distinct Cantonese, maybe even Southeast Asian, flair. I don't think this dish is for everyone, but it's perfect for adventurous diners. We both really liked it and I'd order it again.
My wife put it best when she described the Sprouting Cauliflower as like the grown-up gourmet version of broccoli with cheese. It was on another level.
The entrees were terrific. The Scallops were well-cooked. They were fresh and flavorful. The chili pepper nage (sauce/broth) was relatively thick and creamy. Delicious. The pork chop was sizable. It was juicy and savory. The flavoring was addictive. My wife said I was "obsessed" with the Anasazi beans. These may have been the best beans I've had anywhere. Taste and texture were exceptional.
The drinks were yummy. The Amigo Viejo was complex -- smoky, acidic, and sweet, but balanced. The Dr. Feelgood was citrusy and packed with flavor. It was so tasty, I could've chugged it one go, but instead I savored it. A digestif was brought out with our check. It was strong, and a nice surprise at the end.
Our server was Wesley B and he was fantastic. He was personable and attentive. We really enjoyed having him as our server.
Note: I believe there's only one restroom for guests. An employee noticed me waiting and let me use the employee restroom.