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just returned and it was pretty good. note: i am not particularly familiar with korean food, so authenticity, etc is out my ken. we started with the poached dumplings; very fresh tasting, i can understand the bland complaint above, but the accompanying sauce helps - we liked them. i had the eel stonebowl, which was good. the waitress stirred it together at the table, and, at my request added all the spicy condiment. it barely had any heat, although good flavor; i'll have to see if they can kick it up a bit. banchan were good, although a bit sweet across the board (may be typical, see note above) and, as jeff notes, the kimchee was mild compared to the others in my limited experience. my wife had a seafood and noodle soup in a red, peppery broth, and it was very good. (fyi for the squeamish, at least some seafood dishes will feature head-on shrimp, tentacles, other like squigglies - we had a good laugh over the reaction some of our family members would likely have.) portions were pretty good; i cleaned mine out, and am full, my wife brought home about a pint of soup. prices were ok; pre-tip with bar tab was $51. service was quick, knowledgeable, and attentive enough with 2 staff tag-teaming us. we'll be back.
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It's been mentioned in some of the Asheville threads in the last few weeks. I hear good things though I haven't been there.
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re: Jeff C.
Jeff C.
Jan 29, 2012 01:27 PM
So we tried this place for dinner Friday. We arrived at 5:30, and I'm glad, because thirty mins. later every table in the place was taken. Seriously, if you go on a weekend, go before six or after eight, or you'll be left standing in narrow doorway watching people stuff exotic yummies in their faces not three feet away. As for the food: Lord knows I'm no Korean food expert, but Stone Bowl seems authentic enough to me. It's certainly not "fusion," thank god, and though some may balk at prices that are comparable to those for similar fare in Charlotte, Atlanta, or New York, where else are you going to get authentic Korean in WNC? We were greeted promptly and warmly. The server was also prompt, warm and helpful, if a bit shy. We ordered the excellent fried dumpling app., which would've been more excellent had it arrived BEFORE the entrees instead of with. We both had the Stone Bowl special with spicy pork, which flexitarian wife especially enjoyed. If you are an unrepentant carnivore, however, you'll probably want to go with one of the more meat-centric entrees as this one has a higher percentage of rice and vegetables, a sort of Korean fried rice topped with a fried egg. All entrees also come 6-7 small side dishes, called "banchan." These were uniformly delicious, though the kimchee could've packed more punch. No full bar. Limited selection of beer and wine. Dessert was the two mints that came with the check. (None offered nor listed on the menu.) Total, pre-tip, for two beers, an appetizer, and two entrees with the aforementioned banchan sides: $47. Verdict: Good already, possibly great once they work out the new restaurant kinks.
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re: Jeff C.
We have been twice. The kimchi soup is fantastic, steamed dumplings bland, and stone bowl a huge portion of rice. Salted mackerel also very interesting, service is shaky with lots of food going to wrong tables and incomplete courses sent ...a ie half of table waiting for their dishes.
We like it and will return.
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