12 Bones Smokehouse — Restaurant in Asheville

Solid, consistent, overall great. Certainly consistently one of my favorite restaurants in WNC.

12 Bones has been around for a while for a reason. Their reputation with the locals and visitors alike is excellent. They’re one of the few restaurants in the area that doesn’t have a ton of turnover with employees. The owners, along with their staff, are down to earth, humble, hardworking and kind. They serve some of the best ribs I’ve ever eaten (During my 4 year stint in the Mid-West, I’ve had the Memphis, St. Louis and Kansas City experience—12 Bones exceeds them all, in my opinion). Their sweet tea is great. The quality, creativity and nod-to-traditional southern side choices are (mostly) all pretty stellar (aside from their sub-par baked beans and mac-n-cheese—every thing else is good to go). Unlike a lot of bbq restaurants, I believe the variety, creativity and quality of their side dishes sets them apart.

What to order: If you’re a sauce on your ribs kind of person, I suggest Blueberry Chipotle Ribs. If you’re more of a purist, their brown sugar / naked ribs come highly recommended by friends. Lastly, their Smoked Turkey Sandwich Plate is also a go-to for me. Honestly, their pulled pork is mediocre, but does serve as an excellent vehicle for their super tasty sauces. Their sauces make up for the flavor and nuance that is lacking in their pulled pork (pulled pork is not the worst, but it’s certainly not the best).

Side dishes: Mashed Sweet Potatoes, Collard Greens Jalapeño Cheese Grits, & Corn Puddin’ are always recommended. Pro tip: put some of their jalapeño bbq sauce on top of your collards, the acidity balances and highlights the semi-sweet, richness of their amazing collards.

Great food, great vibe, and great people....

Venturing into 12 Bones Smokehouse SOUTH for dinner after a brisk day at ArborFest turned out to be a promising decision, made upon the recommendation of a friend. Arriving around 6 PM, we were greeted by the early signs of the evening rush, signaling the popularity of this local haunt. The restaurant operates straightforwardly, where patrons place their orders at the register before taking a seat. This system contributes to the casual, down-to-earth atmosphere that welcomed us.

Eager for a substantial meal, I opted for the full rack of ribs, seasoned simply with salt and pepper, expecting a feast to satiate my hunger. We found ourselves seated, and it was only a short time before our meals arrived.

My friends found much to enjoy in their dinners. As for myself, the generous portion of ribs proved a challenge to conquer; I managed about half, acknowledging my ambitious order. While the ribs boasted a good flavor, they leaned towards the dry and overcooked side for my taste. I've always preferred juicier ribs, and though these were satisfactory in taste, they only partially met my expectations in texture.

Despite my preference for the ribs, the overall experience at 12 Bones Smokehouse SOUTH was positive. Everyone at the table was satisfied with their meals and the accompanying sides, contributing to a pleasant end to our day. The ambiance, friendly staff, and quick service made our dinner a cozy respite from the cold.

For those in the area, especially after a day full of activities, 12 Bones Smokehouse SOUTH offers a hearty dining option. While my rib experience was a slightly off-mark from my juicier preferences, the overall quality of the food and the warm, welcoming environment make it a place...

Food was mediocre nothing like when the first restaurant opened down on the river. At the end when we went to put our food in boxes we flipped over the the container that the wings were in and there were drips of blood in the container. The drops were dry other than where the oil from the chicken met it. We cut the chicken open and the chicken was done. Someone had a finger cut and it was not bandaged I’m sure. When we told management we were not treated with remorse. I brought the container that we had and showed it to them and let them know we did not eat the chicken but the chicken was not bleeding. The manager said, “we’ll just give me the chicken”. He took the chicken disappeared and then came back and said “o it had to be the chicken.” No sorry no apology nothing. My husband asked for an explanation as he ate a piece and if he comes with a blood borne disease in the next six months we will need to take legal actions. The manager said,” I mean we can refund the chicken or refry it. We did not want a refund we need an explanation as this is dangerous. As a nurse I can with my whole heart say this was not blood from the chicken yet blood that dropped down. However even with the excuse we were told we were served raw chicken. The health department will be contacted in regards to this matter. This isn’t the same place Obama raves about. We have a video of the manager saying “no one is cut”. Admitting to there being blood as well as we have contacted the CDC who advised us to ask for the container and we were denied and told they didn’t know what trash can it was put it clearly acknowledging the problem. However we are concerned with health issues this may cause...