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) — I’ll begin by being quite frank. The Madness on Merrimon has come a long way. I’ve been there several times over the last few years, and it was spotty at best. But this trip saw great improvements. They seem to have really dialed in the menu.
The thing I most like about the place is the concept. Offering sushi and burgers works for me. It feels very urban, like something you’d get in Manhattan. Tres chic, you know?
We began with cocktails. I had the same drink I always do, and it has always been perfect. The Yuzu Old Fashioned: Japanese whiskey, Yuzu extract and house bitters is an ideal concoction and an inventive take on a classic.
We also had the Okinawa Sunset, a taste of the Pacific Islands. Malibu Rum, apricot liqueur, pineapple and melon juice, with grenadine. Tastes like a Tiki Bar, if you’re into that sort of vibe.
On to the meal: The Yellowtail jalapeño appetizer was on par with some of the best I’ve had. Six pieces of Yellowtail tuna with fresh cilantro and a wasabi Yuzu sauce is a must-have.
The most fun items on the menu are the Bento Boxes, which we both ordered. You pick the type of slider you’d like (classic, mushroom & Swiss, Texan, etc.) and you can even opt for a Cuban sandwich. It also includes fries, edamame, gyoza (Chinese dumpling), a salad with ginger dressing and four pieces of sushi of your choice. My spicy tuna was very good.
There is a full-size burger menu. Next time, I’ll branch out and give one of those a try.
They have many sushi and sashimi a la carte. My test of any sushi restaurant is the Saba (mackerel) sashimi, and this was pretty good. It could’ve been sliced better to yield more flavor, but this mistake was forgivable.
The sushi options are comparable to any other restaurant, with your typical chef rolls like California, Dragon, Rainbow, Salmon Lemon and Spider, as well as classic rolls like eel avocado, shrimp tempura, Yellowtail and Philly.
Overall, I dig this spot, and it seems like a great bar to watch sports, if that’s your thing. You could take the family or large group there, but it’s probably not good for date night unless you ask to be seated in the far room, away from the noise. Verdict: Would recommend.
