Food at Wicked Weed Brewing in Asheville

[Jeff C.]

I know the beer is good, but how's the food? We have tried to eat there twice now, and both times the wait was over an hour.

[Jeff C.]

Followup to my followup visit: Actually, I think this is the fourth time we've been, but anyway...recently they posted on their Facebook page that they were going to be closed for two days for what was described as "employee retraining." Now, I'm vain but not enough to suggest that my comments below had a thing in the world to do with this. However, I am pleased to report that the service last night was exemplary. In fact, the whole crew--from the young man in the open brewing area downstairs explaining the brewing process to the waitress who served our apps and bison burgers--could not have been more friendly. And, because I know the hopheads are wondering, the hot beers to try now are a saison made with kumquats, another made with French Broad Chocolate Lounge chocolate and raspberries, and the exemplary smoked maple porter. Finally, they have installed sweet gas-powered fire pit in the front courtyard and hope to have an outdoor bar installed by summer for those of us who prefer to get our drink on outdoors. Yet another reason to hope warm weather returns soon...

[miss piggy]

That FBCL saison is amazing! And the porters (i tried the regular offering as well as the special "Johnny Cash Hey Porter" on Saturday). I may be addicted to this place, seriously. Their beer is just too good. That said, I still say opt for the housemade chips instead of fries and don't go into it thinking that its going to be an amazing meal. It's good bar food done pretty darn well. Agreed, bison burger is money. We've had excellent table service through and through but the front of house is abysmal. We were thoroughly entertained on Saturday at the communal bar table watching the surly seater consistently tell patrons that there would be a 20-30 minute wait as 4-5 tables sat empty in the small dining area. People on the list would wait for a bit, staring at the vacant seats, then go up to her and say "is that table ours?" and she'd finally seat them! Asheville.

[Jeff C.]

Thanks for the heads-up on the chips. The fries are limp and undercooked--serving them in a tin can just makes it worse because they steam. And, now that you mention it, the hostess was rather surly when we asked if we could have a booth. But she was the exception. "Bar food done pretty well" nails it. But when the beer is this good, it goes down pretty easy...

[caiogirl]

I had the bison burger which I thought was really good. My boyfriend had the fried chicken and kim chee sandwhich, he didn't care for it at all...Service was pretty bad. I'd go back for the burger though :)

[miss piggy]

I also love that kale salad! The fried chicken sandwich is great too, and the cheese plate divine. To echo what myself and others have said earlier - I'm also not a *huge* beer fan and every one I've tried so far has been awesome. I think I may have tried them all . :)

[Jeff C.]

Followup visit: At the end of the bar, enjoying some almonds and beers. On a return trip from the bathroom, a server turned and ran right into me with a tray full of beers, spilling some in the floor and a little on my arm. I stopped. He stopped. And just looked at me like he wanted to punch me in the face. No apology. No "Did I get any on you?" Nothing but stink-eye. Then he just walked off...

[brentk]

Nothing unusual there. Just another day in the Asheville dining scene. The town has more than its share of servers with attitude,

[Jeff C.]

I can only hope service like that isn't a regular occurrence. I've lived here for twelve years, and that kind of hostility is a first for me.

[Carolina Epicurean]

Hi Jeff. Hope that server was just having a bad day, but still not excusable. I've had two salads: arugula + apple + pecan + brule-feta + black pepper honey and the black kale + northern beans + merguez + grilled halloumi. Both were good, but the black kale was outstanding! Also had the sticky toffee pudding + cardamom anglaise + orange chutney. Very good, but a little too much caramel for me. Wouldn't stop me from getting it again.

As for the beer, I'm not a big beer drinker, but tried 2 or 3 and loved all of them. What does that mean? Even people that don't go much for beer like their brew? Seems like beer lovers in Asheville are all raving about their beers, though.

[Jeff C.]

The beer is the show, no doubt. They've really raised the bar for local microbrewing. Still, as I indicated above, the food feels like an afterthought. And I will NEVER sit at the end of the bar again.

[miss piggy]

Sorry to hear the server made you feel uncomfortable, Jeff. I've actually had excellent service here every time (2x at bar, 2x at table) - in fact we've commented on how friendly and attentive everyone has been especially considering they are always slammed. So hopefully a one-off.

[brentk]

I was just in Asheville a few weeks ago and had an experience with a waitress that I was characterize as passive aggressiveness. I left the restaurant it was so bad and went to another place where I had a great waitstaff experience. I think in Asheville, some servers have an attitude of cool disdain for those they don't perceive to come from the "alternative" social strata as they do. It may not be widespread but I have heard others complain about it as well. BTW, I really enjoy visiting Asheville and most of the time my trips pass without incident.

[Jeff C.]

Finally got in the place yesterday, though I had to go at four in the afternoon to do it. Sampled four different beers, from a brown ale to a double I.P.A., each
exemplary. As for the food...the pulled pork sandwich, though obviously very fresh, had no smoke flavor whatsoever. (In fairness, it is not identified as "BBQ pulled pork.") The truffled popcorn snack was stale. The rosemary marcona almonds, however, are a perfect accompaniment to the beer. The best thing I ate was an odd but delish med. burger topped with short rib meat ans crispy shallots. The shoestring potatoes that come with the sandwiches are forgettable. Verdict: Get the almonds, try a couple of those spectacular beers, and, for now, take your dinner money elsewhere.

[miss piggy]

I had the bison burger, hubby had the short rib - both excellent. Beer is fantastic, service was great, space is cool...this one is a winner in my book.

[miss piggy]

We've been twice more since my last post (kind of addicted to this place!) so here are some more food updates. I was not a fan of my black bean burger - it was mushy and bland. Shoestring fries that time around were a little cold and undercooked too. My husband had the bratwurst - big and juicy, very good. Yesterday we had the pulled pork sandwich and the fried chicken. LOVED the chicken - that miso mayo was delicious and really different. Pulled pork was good too, and the thin, crispy bread that both sandwiches were served on was excellent. Again, fries were ever so slightly undercooked but we still wolfed them down. It's not the best food in town but it's pretty darn good for a busy bar. The beer is phenomenal. And next time I want to try the cheese plate - it looked really nice.

[brentk]

I had a fried chicken and kim chee sandwich with miso mayonnaise there today for lunch. Sounded more interesting than it tasted, frankly. My dining colleague had the black bean burger with pimento cheese and fried okra and thought it rather bland.

Based only on those two items, I would say that the menu sounds more interesting and creative than the delivered product, though I would say the sample size was too small to deliver a definitive opinion.

[Jeff C.]

Thanks. Maybe the lines will lessen after the new wears off.

[forestd]

Was in there on Monday and had a great bratwurst with Lusty Monk mustard and good kraut. The burger I saw the guy next to me eating looked very good also.