Hickory Tavern — Restaurant in Asheville

Updated review, leaving old underneath. The service has severely gone downhill as of late. This is our go to spot for quick, good food. Unfortunately, the orders have been messed up the last 3 times we’ve ordered. (We don’t go in often as we have 4 picky eaters and usually have to mix and match from multiple places when we eat out). Tonight we ordered fish and chips with sub fries for sweet potato fries. Tavern burger with tavern greens. Side of cheesy grits. The only part which was correct was the cheesy grits. We received chicken tenders and regular fries, the burger was not prepared as requested, and the tavern greens salad had been replaced with a house salad. We called after getting home and seen the order, initially to just get the items prepared correctly and go pick up. But tonya, the server which we spoke to, started to go through a breakdown of excuses about “outside management” and suggested that we were calling to “scam the restaurant”. This is the first time we’ve even called to have the order fixed as it was completely wrong, we usually just deal with what we have because all the food is good and it’s more trouble than it’s worth to drive back out to get an order fixed. But upon hearing her mention people scamming the restaurant and suggesting that’s what we were doing, we wanted a full refund. This is the last time we will be going here until the service issues are fixed. I truly don’t know what’s happened to this place, but it’s seriously become one of the worst places for food service in Asheville.

Food is great and in person service has always been phenomenal, however calling an order in is all but impossible. Rarely is the phone answered. We usually have to go order there and wait. Highly recommend the cedar salmon with tavern greens. Or tavern greens ordered as a large to make a meal itself. Kiddos love the sweet potato fries and cheesy grits, hubbys go to is the fish and chips. Haven’t ordered/tried anything that...

ABANDONED BAR!

So I’ve been to this place a couple times now. The first time was about 3-4 months ago. I went to the bar side and noticed there wasn’t a bartender. Waited a few minutes, still no bartender. After about 10-15 minutes a bartender finally showed up. Then had some difficulty getting her attention, which took a few more minutes because she wasn’t making any eye contact or even acknowledging that I was there. I finally got her attention literally by waving both my hands. I finally was able to place my order, which was a cocktail and Burger & Fries. The bartender made and served my drink, still not once making eye contact. My burger and fries arrived about 10 minutes later. I had finished my cocktail by the time my food arrived, looked up to order another cocktail, and no bartender. I was planning to order more cocktails, but after waiting at least another 10 minutes for someone to show back up I just decided to leave. The bar area wasn’t busy at the time. They’re were only two other people at the bar. It was kind of a bizzare experience really.

A few days ago I decided to go back because I had just finished purchasing a few books at the Barnes & Noble across the street and wanted some lunch. I went to the bar side again, and almost exactly the same experience. No bartender for long periods of time. When they did show up, no eye contact, on they’re phone texting. Just a very unwelcoming experience. This time I ordered my food to go because I just didn’t want to be there. Not a good experience twice. Don’t think I’ll be going back...

Awesome trivia! Mediocre food. Since one primarily visits restaurants for the food, I have to give them 3 out of 5 stars. I had the burger and fries (just the standard burger - not one of the fancy ones). Burger was far from the best in the world. Lacked flavor, in my opinion (even with the mayo, mustard, ketchup and pickles). Fries were good, but were very likely Sisco fries (or another type of frozen fry). Husband got the philly cheesesteak sandwich, which he said was good, but, again, nothing to crow about; fries came with his too. I was least impressed with the kid's macaroni and cheese we ordered our daughter. $5.79 for a large kids mac and cheese, which turned out to be, more or less, Kraft Mac and Cheese (which I can buy and make at home for less than $5.79). We also got a brownie sundae for dessert. Again, it was good, but we definitely could make better at home. Brownie was a little dry. Our bill, before tax and tip, was $40 and some change; we visited P.F. Changs (just down the street from Hickory Tavern) the week before, and our bill was exactly the same, but the food was 100% better. P.F. Changs, however, doesn't have trivia, and trivia was definitely the highlight of the evening! We love the points system Hickory Tavern uses and how we're told the general topics for each round. Like I said... 3 stars out of 5. We'll definitely be back, but it'll purely be for the trivia (and maybe the cheesecake, which was the one good item on the menu, in my opinion - a friend ordered it and let...