A small concrete building located in West Asheville is hardly a place you can imagine feeling immediately at home in. There is something about this restaurant that provides some sort of at home, 50’s, retro vibe. Low lighting adds to its ambience by providing just enough brightness to the evening. Sitting at the bar, as reservations are often required months in advance, we started the night off with a Manhattan complimented with chocolate bitters. If that did not have us licking our lips, the chicken liver toast sure did.
Woah, back up, some of you might be thinking chicken liver…. WT#? But don’t knock it until you try it, it is a perfect dish to accompany the white asparagus. As are the sweetbreads, which were cooked to perfection, something very easy to overdo. One of the lovely things about this bar, the staff was attentive but not too much, so you can enjoy your conversation in between the perfectly timed food delivery. There is definitely thought put into the presentation and delivery. Every course was tastefully done.
We really wanted to find something wrong with The Admiral, so we ordered duck. Ah, the duck. Bacon fat was used to crisp the skin side, offering a hint of smokey flavor without overpowering the protein. So… the duck for the win. Taking one for you, our readers, we ordered two desserts- Cremé Caramel and Chocolate Cherry Torte paired with Grand Marnier of course. The torte, heavenly. Cremé Caramel was the only disappointment during our visit.
The Admiral has long been recognized for great cuisine, and it lives up to its reviews. The addition of Chef Justin Burdett, formerly of Local Provisions, seems to have been the right move to continue carrying on its wholesome tradtion.
Reservations are a must. Sometimes you can sit at the bar by showing up about 4:55 p.m. and waiting for the doors to open at 5:00 p.m.
What we love.
It is simply a no bullshit kind of place. What you see is what you get, and it just feels so nice.
400 Haywood Road
West Asheville, NC 28806
Monday-Sunday 5:00 pm – 9:30 pm
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