Bargello — Restaurant in Asheville

TL;DR: The service was horrible, and the food was almost worse. You’ll find much better fare if you walk just a bit farther down the street.

I don’t usually leave reviews, but I felt I had to this time. I’m not sure how this place has such a high rating; our experience was the worst I’ve had in years.

After we arrived, we waited 30 minutes before our waitress introduced herself, and even then we were only noticed after we flagged her down. That long wait ended up being par for the course over the rest of our evening. The waitstaff had some sort of trade-off system, so random waitresses brought our food and a (different) random waitress took away our plates, seemingly without any efficient coordination—again, we were forgotten for half-hours at a time. The end result was that we were frequently forgotten about, and the waits between each course, as well as our wait for our bill, were incredibly long. It seems that our experience was not unique, as two other groups who arrived after us also had to wait over twenty minutes to place their orders or get anything other than a glass of water.

Even when our waitress managed to remember us, the service was mediocre at best. Half our interactions involved her swooping by our table, adding or removing plates from the table, and leaving without any sort of further interaction. We have been to other restaurants in WNC, including two on the same street, and the service at all those locations was much better. The waitstaff at those other locations took the time to ensure we were enjoying our experience and helped us get the best their restaurant had available. Asheville certainly has better to offer.

Even ignoring our experience with the waitstaff, I don’t think I could justify giving this restaurant more than one star—one star is probably too much. Our food was bland, oily, and unpleasant. The only thing I liked was the pita bread with hummus, and even that was rather tasteless in comparison with the hummus we got at other places in WNC. The brussel sprouts tasted more like ash than vegetables, the bucatini cacio e pepe was worse than the kraft mac and cheese my daughter makes (in the microwave), and the butternut squash pizza was essentially a cold salad on a cold, slightly crunchy, and tasteless base. We hoped that dessert would at least be nice, but even that disappointed. We ordered both the chocolate cake and the creme brûlée, and both were honestly barely palatable. The presentation was fine, but the textures were horrible, and the flavor was barely there.

Perhaps we ordered the worst dishes on the menu. Perhaps we visited at a very busy time. Perhaps our waitress had had a (very, very) bad night. It is perfectly possible that our experience was an outlier, that it was not indicative of the quality Bargello has to offer. But if any aspect of our evening—the service, the food, the atmosphere—was normal for Bargello, then I can honestly say I could not recommend this restaurant to my...

My husband and I have not been out for Valentines Day in seven years. From making the reservation to the treat we found in our leftovers when we get home, it was an amazing experience. My husband is a lineman, and two days before our dinner date, he was told he may be sent to Ohio for a winter storm. I called and asked for clarification on the cancelation policy. Erica was extremely helpful and kind and they said they'd let us cancel the day before given the circumstance. As luck would have it, he didn't have to leave and dinner was on. The hostess was incredibly kind, genuine and funny. She sat us and came back around to top off our waters before our attentive waitress, Blaze, was able to take our order. Our booth seat was awesome, as we got to people watch all night, dinner and a show! Our old fashions were the best we've ever had, and the food was absolutely phenomenal, from the presentation to the complex but complimentary flavors. The real MVP was Greg. Greg delivered each course to the table. There was a mix up with two of our dishes, just the wrong thing was brought out, but he immediately brought out the correct dish. It was not an inconvenience at all and we laughed about it, just enjoying the atmosphere and sense of humor of the amazing staff. After the second mix up, Greg came by and asked if we were local and proceeded to apologize for the mix up by comping one of our meals and offering a $50 gift card to come back!! We were absolutely floored at the level of customer service and kindness by Greg. Whatever you're paying this man, it's not enough! We insisted that we were totally fine and having an incredible time and he said our understanding was appreciated. We will absolutely be back to this amazing establishment. If that weren't enough, when we got home, we found he had given us 4 macaroons and 2 chocolate covered strawberries as an extra treat. Greg, you rock!!!! As people who do not get out often, and took a risk going out on V-Day, it was one of our most memorable...

During a recent stroll through town, my husband and I decided to stop at Bargello after a friend recommended it. Initially, we were just looking for a restroom, but the moment we walked in, we were warmly greeted by Tia, who graciously showed us around and introduced us to the lovely menu. We had originally planned to dine elsewhere to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary, but the inviting atmosphere and Tia’s kindness made us change our plans. We made a reservation right then and there—a decision we’ll never regret.

Bargello is truly an aesthetically pleasing place. The moment you step inside, you’re captivated by the stunning aesthetics—from the marble tabletops that seamlessly match the exquisite light fixtures to the luxurious leather-paneled walls. The thoughtfully chosen color palette creates a harmonious and elegant ambiance that is both sophisticated and welcoming. It’s truly a feast for the eyes—just as much as the food is for the palate.

Our server, Tiffany, was truly outstanding. She took the time to explain every detail on the menu and offered thoughtful recommendations, making us feel genuinely cared for. The manager, Kyle, also went above and beyond to make us feel loved and welcomed, creating an atmosphere of warmth and hospitality that set the tone for the entire evening.

The food was nothing short of extraordinary. We began with the hummus, which was absolutely divine—the butternut squash added a delightful touch. Next, we indulged in the pasta with short rib and pork, which was cooked to perfection and bursting with flavor. We concluded our meal with the tiramisu and an Irish Bailey’s—a truly decadent finish to an unforgettable dining experience.

Bargello made our anniversary celebration truly special, and we are grateful for the remarkable hospitality, exceptional cuisine, and breathtaking ambiance. We will undoubtedly return and highly recommend this hidden gem to anyone looking for an unforgettable...