Editor’s Note: Fork & Dagger is 828newsNOW’s anonymous restaurant review series, written by our independent Grub Scout—no freebies, no press perks, no agenda. Grub Scout pays full price, visits unannounced, and takes notes on food, service, atmosphere, and value. Each review reflects a recent, honest experience rated on our 1‑to‑5 fork scale. We aim to help you discover standout dining spots—from casual diners to white‑tablecloth affairs—one bite at a time.
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — If you’ve lived in Asheville for many years, as I have, then you probably miss having Bouchon downtown. It was the true birth of our local fine dining scene, and a destination for French cuisine unavailable anywhere else.
Though it has closed, its satellite location is thriving in Haw Creek in East Asheville. If you didn’t know it was there, I’m not surprised. It’s a little off the beaten path, tucked away in the woods. The perk of this is that it seems to be far more a locals’ haunt than one for tourists … Ils sont adorables.
The dining area feels like a farmhouse cottage. There is even a table for a large party that has China in a cabinet on the wall, as if you were at your Grand-mère’s cottage in the French countryside. It’s all thoughtfully appropriate.
For beverages, I had a glass of a nice grenache-syrah red blend, and she had a passable watermelon margarita.
We shared small plates of tasty seasoned olives with fennel, which was a nice addition, as well as liver pate and mousse with pickles, cornichons and crusty bread. These were standard fare, but tasted exactly as they should in the French tradition.
For my entrée, I chose the steak au poivre, my favorite beef dish from the French canon, a skirt steak covered in a peppered cognac cream sauce. It’s always a delight, and this was no exception. It was served with a flavorful assortment of seasonal vegetables. And, of course, who can resist the tasty frites in a tall cup on the side?
She went with the truite aux amandes (almond-crusted trout) with green beans and rice. This was the star of the night. Each ingredient was absolutely superb. I hope you get a chance to try this one.
For dessert, we had the house-made bread pudding with raspberries and vanilla bean ice cream … and what could be more French than that … besides my ordering a second glass of red wine?
All in all, it’s really good, especially if you’re the type of person who longs for French cuisine. The service was great, and it’s an extremely casual environment. I highly recommend it.
