All you can eat

If you like mussels you will love Bouchon.

Monday – Wednesday Bouchon offers all you can eat mussels for $18, which comes out to be inexpensive, even if you only have one serving.  The servings are huge.  I couldn’t finish my first serving.  Don’t let me discourage you, my server said he had just finished waiting on a table of six adults — who each had three servings!

There are five different styles of mussels to choose from so you can stick with a favorite, or try something new each time.

Bouchon also offers a full menu if you can’t catch them on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday.

The mussels were delicious, but the restaurant was pretty cool too. My friend and I were sat in the corner right next a fireplace, which made it feel cozy and welcoming.

Great restaurant, try it out let me know what you think of this cozy little place.

The only time you’ll ever say “Forget the beer” in Asheville

Top of The Monk

Asheville is known for its beer scene.  People go to Asheville just to visit the many breweries, hop on a booze cruise or cycle away on the downtown pub cycle.

With that being said, where do you get the cocktails?  The answer is from a place you would least expect.

Thirsty Monk is a popular beer bar among Asheville locals and tourist, but were talking cocktails so, how does this relate?

Recently Thirsty Monk expanded, above their downtown location is a new scene called Top of the Monk, which is exactly what it sounds like…on top of Thirsty Monk.  Top of the Monk offers handcrafted cocktails that are seriously like nothing you have ever tasted.

So many places now claim they have handcrafted something-or-another, and that’s what I assumed when I first arrived.  I thought handcrafted meant they squeezed the lime in my Whiskey Ginger for me.  This experience was quite different than what I expected though.  Everything they make the drinks with (except the liquor, because that would be ridiculous) is made with fresh ingredients by your bartenders.

The drink pictured above is an Unusual Negroni, which is exactly what it tasted like.  With the fresh subtle taste of Gin it had and unusual taste that was quite enjoyable.

The cocktail menu changes frequently so there is always something new and tasty to try.

In the bar there is a set of post office boxes.  I’m thinking…”What is this?” I didn’t ask, but when the bartender handed me my drink she handed me a key.  She explained, each time you order a drink you get a key to pick a snack from the post office boxes. What?? Amazing.

Top of the Monk

I still get excited about my snack every time I go to Top of the Monk.

Great place, go check it out. Let me know what you think!

Lucky Otter. Lucky you.

Lucky for you all, this first post is going to be about a fantastic restaurant I’ve discovered, Lucky Otter.  You can find Lucky Otter on Haywood road right in the heart of West Asheville.

This small local restaurant serves up delicious Cali-Burrito Mexican style food.

Like most local restaurants in Asheville, there is a selection of hand-crafted beers on tap, and like most Mexican restaurants they offer, as claimed by Asheville Citizen Times, a “mean margarita.”

Like I mentioned, the food is fresh and amazing, but the quirky culture is what ties it all together.  They have an outside patio, where dogs are welcome.  The inside is warm and inviting.  When you walk in you automatically feel relaxed in the small mix-matched area.

Directions for dining at Lucky Otter:

• Go to the counter
• Order your food
• Take a seat

Now you ask, how do they know what table to bring my food to?  OK you probably didn’t ask that, but I’m going to tell you anyway.

Lucky Otter — Asheville NC

They find you by the toy car they give you while ordering.

What a fun place. Try it out and comment to let me know what you think.