The Madness- West Asheville/Candler — Restaurant in Asheville

Went on a Saturday night after the dinner rush. I had some people tell me this was their favorite restaurant in Asheville. I wanted to be impressed, I wasn’t. Atmosphere of a strip mall restaurant had me disappointed walking in. Lit sign had several bulbs out with others flashing as they were on their way out. Outdoor patio closed early. The bar took up nearly as much space as the dining so clearly that is a focus for the concept but the fam and I aren’t heavy drinkers. Walking in the door, the wait staff was oddly dressed with some wearing white tees with sharpie words drawn on, cotton overalls…. I get it, Asheville but maybe dress code or uniforms? Had to tell the waitress that it was our first time and ask about the concept and what was good. (Was expecting the fine experience of Cowfish in CLT but this is not that.) Waitress didn’t explain the concept but told us 15 things that she liked and that were most popular, for me that means nothing is great. Sign said “burgushi” on the wall but there were no burgushi options on the menu?? The Rangoon dip was very good, huge generous portion so I’ll tip my hat to that even though they overcooked the fried wontons. I spilt a black and blue burger and a cuban with someone I was with so got to try both. Even though this was a burger joint somehow the Cuban was better and that is even considering they used Hawaiian or otherwise sweet bread burger bun bottoms to assemble their cuban sandwhich. We made fries on one “madness fries” for a slight upcharge but it was just finely shredded faux crab with the smallest amount of sauce. It didn’t stick to the fries at all, had to use a fork to force it all in one bite. The shredded texture of the fake crab was blah and wasn’t “spicy” or flavored that much. Honestly, reminded me of this weird horror dream I used to have as a kid about what the inside of people looked like - hahaha - sorry. The low spice kind of rang true for all of it. Not a lot of blackened seasoning on the blackened burger. The ketchup was the spiciest thing, haha, and pretty good. I wonder what brand they use.. Had to ask for straws and for the water to be topped up. Waitress wasn’t rude, seemed sweet, but just didn’t know the place or some of the primary things. I would put that on management, not her. This might have once been a passion filled, cool place but that’s not what I got. I’m always happy to try new places but I have no desire to go back and am quite blown away that someone called this their favorite of all the options in AVL. I am a local if that helps any of you. I hate negative reviews but clearly someone has stepped away from this place that cares, so...

Alright folks, hold on to your hats 'cause I've got a wild food adventure to share with you! I recently found myself at The Madness, this crazy Sushi and Burger joint, and boy, oh boy, was it a ride! Let me break it down for you like only Ole Jimathy could.

First things first, I walked in and immediately felt the vibes. The place had this electric energy, like you're stepping into a world where sushi and burgers collide. It's a culinary madhouse, and I mean that in the best way possible! The staff was friendly, welcoming, and totally on top of things. Props to them for keeping up with the madness!

Now, let's get to the grub, my friends. I went all-in and ordered a roll of sushi and their notorious Madness burger, with a side of fries. Oh my goodness, the sushi roll was a taste explosion! The fish was fresh, the rice was perfectly seasoned, and the presentation was like a work of edible art. It was like taking a bite and being transported to flavor town! And the Madness burger? Holy cow! Juicy, flavorful, and piled high with Cream Cheese, Spicy Crab Salad and everything else a growing boy needs. This burger was a beast, and I devoured it like a champ!

To wash down this feast, I indulged in some craft beers from Greenman Brewery and Wicked Weed Brewing. The ESB from Greenman Brewery was a hoppy delight, perfectly balancing the richness of the burger and sushi. And the Appalachia beer from Wicked Weed Brewing? It had this crispness that cleansed the palate and made every bite even more satisfying. It was like a party in my mouth, folks!

In conclusion, if you're looking for a food experience that'll blow your taste buds away, The Madness is the place to be. It's a wild fusion adventure, where sushi and burgers meet in a symphony of flavors. The food is outstanding, the service is top-notch, and the atmosphere is pure madness (in the best way possible). So grab your friends, unleash your inner foodie, and dive headfirst into The Madness. You won't regret it, I...

I was a little hesitant to try this restaurant (sushi and burgers?)

I was pleasantly surprised. The menu was short and to the point. My server, Chloe, answered all of my questions about the menu and made suggestions. My sushi was fresh and delicious!

The service was good, but could have been better. I chalked it up to a newer business that was working out the details. The hostess was very friendly and Chloe greeted me within a reasonable time. The prices were in-line with what I would expect for fresh sushi.

I will return to try other things on the menu!

UPDATE: Unfortunately this place has gone down hill fast. The service has really become terrible.

There is one server in particular who ALWAYS seems to be there (pic attached). She has waited on me twice and both have been awful. The first time she took my order and then disappeared until she brought my bill. I had to ask all the other servers for everything. When I finally saw her, she was taking selfies at the sushi bar. When I asked to speak to the manager, I was told she was was in the parking lot (?). When she finally came in, I explained my poor service. The manager stated she wasn’t going to fire her over one complaint. Who said anything about firing her?

The second time I had an encounter with her she was bartending. She was very rude and asked “what did I want?” When I replied that I wanted to be seated, she said I should just seat myself. After doing so, I had to flag down a server to get a menu. They also charged my credit card twice for one meal.

As much as I don’t want to say this, The Madness off Smokey Park Hwy service has gone very downhill and I probably won’t be back.

There is another restaurant located off Merrimon Ave.

It was fun while...