Leo's House of Thirst — Restaurant in Asheville

I saw a picture of the grilled cheese on Instagram a month or so ago, and have been dying to try Leo's ever since. It did not disappoint. We came in on a rainy Thursday afternoon, and the host allowed me to look at all the seating options before choosing where we wanted to sit. The back deck was lovely, but was full except for bar seats, and the picnic tables in the back were a little wet from the drizzle, so we chose an inside table, right up front. It's a cozy atmosphere, with tables placed fairly close together, but not so much that you felt crowded. The wine list was extensive, with lots of by the glass options. I chose two wines from their 'draft' list. I prefer my reds to be served at room temperature, rather than cool, but I just held the glass in my hands for a few minutes to warm them up before I drank them. Both wines were excellent for the price! My friend is not a wine drinker, but picked a beer from their list (not nearly as extensive as the wine list, but inclusive of a few standard beer styles), and enjoyed it. We shared the steak tartar and a grilled cheese, and both were delicious. The steak tartar was seasoned perfectly, and served with an egg yolk in the middle, just as it should be. The fried onion strings gave a little bit of crunch, and the thin crostini's were a perfect accompaniment. The grilled cheese was chock full of a great blend of cheeses that gave it a great flavor profile with lots of depth, and while I'm not sure I have ever said this before, my only complaint might have been that there was a little too much butter used in the grilling. I know... too much butter?? Is that possible? It certainly didn't stop me from finishing my half of the sandwich, but it did make it feel a little greasy when combined with all the cheese! The salad that was served with the grilled cheese was simple, but perfectly dressed with a simple vinaigrette that balanced the richness of the sandwich. I will definitely be back to try more of the menu items. There were quite a few other things I wanted to try, like the deviled eggs! Our service was attentive but not overbearing, and all the staff were friendly and welcoming. I loved that they folded the napkins on our neighbor's table when they stepped outside for a minute (see photo). It's those little touches that make all the difference! Thanks Leo's for a...

The food was absolutely excellent. We shared multiple dishes and were blown away by the quality, care, presentation and flavor. HOWEVER, the service was absolutely horrible. We were treated like ‘we didn’t belong.’ We asked for clean side plates and got an attitude. Like, who doesn’t bring multiple side plates for shared tapas? We asked for a cork for our $50 bottle of wine and we’re told there are no corks available. They also felt the need to ‘warn’ us about the $3 cork fee like that was going to change our minds. How are there no corks available when we just opened a bottle? We also had to ask for a chiller for our sparkling wine. That should come out with the bottle. More attitude. One person in my party asked to break $100 bill so we could tip the kitchen, we were told they couldn’t break it. What? It definitely felt like the servers were being petty and judge mental, they were acting like we couldn’t afford to be there. I could have purchased two or more of everything on the menu! I was fresh from work and wearing just regular street clothes with work shoes…guess that wasn’t good enough. I wish I could go back for the food, but the service was so bad that I don’t think we’ll be returning. That’s sad. The elitist FOH staff absolutely ruined the experience. We are both service industry and typically tip at least 40-50%, but those b-words got less than 10% (and we NEVER do that, that’s how bad they were.) If you wanna risk it, make sure you dress rich or they won’t give you the time of day. They could have made over $100 gratuity but failed. Maybe next time I’ll get takeout just for the beef cheeks and artichokes, but definitely not subjecting myself to that...

I have extensive experience in the service industry and understand that everyone can have off days, including staff and customers. I always try to give the benefit of the doubt for that reason. However, my recent experience at your establishment was disappointing. While one server provided good service, the majority of the front-of-house staff did not meet expectations.

I found several staff members, from the host to others, to be unwelcoming and rude. This does not reflect the spirit of Asheville. Instead of fostering a warm atmosphere, the staff seemed to huddle together, judging customers rather than engaging positively. Their communication about parking came across as frustrated and unhelpful rather than informative.

When visiting a wine bar or restaurant, guests expect a pleasant experience, especially when they are paying for it. It’s important for staff to demonstrate kindness and professionalism, regardless of the circumstances. Unfortunately, this was not my experience during my visit.

Wine options seemed great, but wouldn’t order more because of the attitude. My honest opinion of the food was less than desirable. All of that could change with a better attitude. I see I am not the only one who has experienced the...