Haywood Common — Restaurant in Asheville

I’ve taken a long time to write this review, because my experiences here are mercurial. We came here all the time prior to Covid, and they once had wonderful odd sandwiches (shrimp wrap with tater tots inside? Yes, please!) and it was a family favorite. Since Covid, things have changed a little bit; that is to be expected.

I think the biggest change is that they no longer have table service and customers order at the bar. And the second biggest change is that food is not served on regular plates; rather on cafeteria-type metal trays with paper lining.

This is my son’s favorite spicy chicken sandwich in town. And he grew up here. The Haywood Common Chicken buffalo sandwich is his jam, which, at $20, is a pretty good deal.

I’ve had several meals here, but I try to avoid items that stick to the paper (more on that later). On my latest visit, I had the Pork bulgogi bowl, and, at $16, it was certainly not unreasonable.

I do have a big suggestion though. Since they stopped serving on regular plates and instead serve on metal with parchment, it presents a problem. I certainly don’t mind the aesthetic. And I understand that they won’t be washing as many dishes. But, the paper on the trays becomes a challenge depending on what you’re eating. The paper ends up getting very soggy and disintegrating a bit, and then you eat pieces of the paper. If this had happened once or twice I would think it was just me, but this also happened to friends and guests over the years. It seems most prevalent when there is a salad with dressing on the paper or some sort of french fry on the paper with a lot of cheese, such as the animal fries. Cheese and the other gooey toppings soak into the paper, the paper rips, and then you end up eating paper with your fries. This has happened half a dozen times. I host a radio show down the street, and we often take our guest out to the Whale on Sundays for a pint (the Whale is the pub that is connected to Haywood common). When the Whale guests want food, they come over to Hayward common and take it back to the Whale. And I’ve watched my guests struggle with the paper in the fries a lot. On this last visit with my son, I told the servers to please not put the paper down, even with their sweet potato fries.

I’m wondering if they could have some sort of solution to this. Just removing the paper should do it, but then you’re serving the fries on a metal tray. The same thing happened to a friend of mine when she was having a side salad. She just ended up eating a lot of paper as the salad dressing dissolved the paper barrier. Something for the management to consider.

The only other issue I have had with Haywood common has been addressed at least with these new little signs. As I said, we’ve been going to the Whale and Haywood, really since they both opened, and in the past I would take a pint from the whale over to Hayward common and enjoy my pint while I was waiting in line for food. But about a year ago one of the Haywood Common servers approached me and was very upset with me and told me that they had two separate liquor licenses and I wasn’t allowed to bring beer at all from the whale. She yelled. I totally understand that rule, but I had been doing it for so many years, that it felt a little odd for her to be yelling. She could’ve been more polite and discreet about it. But now they have signs up on all of the tables, so I guess I wasn’t the only one who was bringing pints from the whale over. I totally understand that they have two separate liquor licenses, I just wish that the server would have been nicer about it on the first time I was told, especially since I had been doing that behavior for years and nobody ever said anything.

Haywood Common remains my son‘s fave spicy chicken sandwich in town. And he loves him a spicy chicken sandwich. He’s been living in Asheville for 18 years, since he was in preschool, and has tried a lot of spicy chicken sandwiches, and he declares this to be the best one. So when he visits from college, we definitely put Haywood Common...

My spouse and I tried the recently opened Haywood Common in West Asheville next to Zia Taqueria and were generally favorably impressed.

Early on a Saturday evening we were able to snag a parking spot in the smallish lot on the side that is shared by the restaurant and The Whale, a new beer and wine bar that specializes in fairly obscure upper end beers. Haywood Common and The Whale also share an outdoor patio (it was too cool to sit out there this time) and an entrance at the parking lot side. However, we were told there is no common ownership between the two, though you can place a food order with Haywood Common and eat it in The Whale.

We started with craft cocktails. My wife had a smoky Burnt Orange Old Fashioned, which she loved, and I had the Basil Lemon Drop Martini, which was good but more like lemonade than a martini. Each was $10, the price of most of the drinks on the short special cocktail list. With the drinks we tried the Shrimp Hushpuppies ($9 for four, with a spicy sauce and shredded cabbage). They were tasty but of a rather odd consistency, with a well-fried exterior but soft, gooey filling. Grilled Brussel sprouts ($6) were fine, too.

As an entree I had the house burger, a single-patty with white cheddar, house mayo and caramelized onions on a potato bun ($12 with fries). I liked it, although I wouldn't put it up there with the burgers at Bull & Beggar or Foothills. My companion wanted to try the interesting sounding calamari sandwich, but it had been taken off the menu and replaced with a brined chicken sandwich. Say what?! Instead, she had the short rib sandwich ($14) but would probably have preferred the shrimp wrap. We each had a local draft beer with our meal ($6 for my Burial IPA and $5 for an Asheville Brewing LSD).

We didn't try the desserts (there was a choice of three, each $7), but they all sounded good.

It appears that the chef is trying to provide a local farm-to-table menu with some interesting combinations of flavors and ingredients while keeping prices moderate. I think the most expensive "large plate" on the menu is $19. I suspect that there will be some more changes of the menu and fine tuning of some of the current items.

The renovation of the old West Asheville building in my opinion is a mixed success. The high ceiling has the de rigueur exposed ducts, one wall is brick (real or faux?), with the main rectangular room split between the bar area and the dining seating, simple tables and chairs with a corner with sofas and a children's play area. Somehow it doesn't quite all come together and the design seems as yet a little unfinished. There is a front entrance, but customers coming in that door are directed by a sign on an old Royal typewriter that they need to go to the hostess station in the back. A bit of an awkward layout, and perhaps this could be fine tuned as well.

Service was friendly, and the restaurant seems well staffed. By 7:30 p.m. on Saturday evening most tables were occupied, but there wasn't anyone waiting.

Although most items are priced reasonably, the starters and drinks add up, and we ended up spending $95 for two including tax and tip, for two starters, two sandwiches, two cocktails and two draft beers.

All in all, it was a pleasant experience, and I suspect that after the chef and management settle in Haywood Common will become another successful West...

The drink was absolutely delicious (Appalachian mule maybe?) But that's the only good thing I have to say. For the price point I didn't enjoy the service. They tried to help me out with my soy allergy but as always it was a muuuuch bigger deal than it had to be, even though I called ahead. I lost precious time with my friends and for salsa night across the street, didn't get what I wanted to order (even though they told me on the phone it was fine), and nearly was served a soy containing food. I ordered the mussels. Those chorizo chunks were just way too much and overpowered the flavor, maybe smaller strips would be better next time y'all make this? And the liquid lacked any garlic, white wine, or onions so it was just a little bit too heavy and wasn't as tasty as mussels broth usually is. Usually I love that stuff! Anyway, it's fine but don't get too excited about this spot. You order your own food and when the staff is so messy with their food knowledge it says all your time and energy that you wanna spend with friends. Please, Asheville area restaurants, TRAIN YOUR STAFF ON ALLERGIES. It's not that hard. The top 6 can be listed in a handy sheet for the staff with each dish, you can give them cheat sheets or simply allow the cooks to come answer questions or whatever else. They even admitted to me they had a slip up that same day which gave me pause but anyway I had to eat and...