River's Coffee House — Restaurant in Ashville

Where do I even begin? Everything about this place is my favorite thing. I walked in, and I don't even remember what was playing, but it took me back to the early 2010s indie scene. The interior is so beautiful, she has impeccable taste. I wish I had known she did lunch before I went over to Ashbrook. No shade to Ashbrook Grill, but this place has soup! Delicious soup even! Made in house, and you can taste every bit of love she's put into it. I got a vanilla cold brew with honey lavender syrup, a jelly donut, and, after sampling this month's soups, I bought a big container of her goulash. I can't wait to see March's soups and sandwiches.

But let me tell you about how delicious my order was:

The cold brew was out of this world. It has such a terrific, full-bodied flavor. She did me the kindness of taking the edge off of it with half and half when I told her how I usually take my coffee. I'm not brave enough to take it black, but I bet anyone who does will also love that very first sip. As much as I loved the sample she gave me, I still wanted to try it with the honey lavender syrup. I'm obsessed with lavender-flavored foods and drinks. I got a 12oz of that because I'm a lightweight when it comes to caffeine. But with how delicious it is, I might just have to lean into my coffee addiction. I cannot stress enough how good the coffee is here.

The jelly donut is also delicious. I especially love the firmness of the donut itself. It's smooth without being too soft or flimsy. My donut was high quality for sure. The flavor of the dough was perfect too. It's not too sweet either, so it dances well with the powdered sugar and the raspberry filling, allowing those flavors to take center stage, while also commanding respect as a supporting actor. 10/10 donut, I can't wait to try the other ones.

And finally the goulash: I'm not usually a big soup person. It's not the first thing I order when I go to a restaurant. But that soup just might change that about me. It has a robust tomato base that serves to bring out all the flavors of the other ingredients. It tastes homemade. It tastes like an old family recipe that's stood the test of time and brings everyone together for a second bowl. From that little sample she gave me, I knew I didn't just want a little bowl of it. I needed the tub. $15 a tub is a steal for something this good.

The owner herself is a lovely person. I liked her from the start of our interaction. She's incredibly down to earth, and you can just tell by talking to her and soaking in her vibe why the food and coffee tastes so good. I felt nothing but love and peace when I walked into this little coffee house. She put her heart and soul into every corner of this place and into every drop of coffee and into every bit of food. I think I will be a regular here. Truly this is my absolute favorite place to eat and grab coffee now. No other place I've been to can hold a candle. I'm just thankful it happens to be in the little town I moved to. I will most certainly be telling my friends and family...

River's Coffee House is the definition of a hidden gem. Ashville is off the beaten path of route 23, so it's not well-placed to simply stumble across. I go on all kinds of road trips in search of places like River's Coffee House, but had not someone at another excellent coffee shop in other area suggested it, I could likely have gone another year or two before stumbling across it on my own.

I'm glad I got the advice to check it out. It's a small place, but if you are seeking "authenticity," this place is for you. The atmosphere is welcoming, and it oozes with small town charm.

But you won't be coming here for the atmosphere. You'll likely be more interested in the extensive drink menu and wide variety of food offerings that go far beyond what you would expect in a typical cafe, at least in my experience. I talked extensively with the owner, and the food is made on site with quality ingredients and, if the reaction of a regular that was picking up some food while I was there is accurate, it tastes great (I was just there for the coffee, which was very good).

I could keep raving about the place, but let me sum up my feelings by saying that if you are in the area, make it a point to stop in. If you aren't in the area, it's worth a trip to check out. I know I'll definitely be...

If you’re in Ashville and find yourself torn between which coffee shop to choose from, go to River’s. The owner has been making all things pastries/sweets professionally for the last 15 years. Almost all things are made from scratch with even many of the sauces too. I ordered a vanilla donut, biscuits and gravy, and cold brew. The donut literally melts in your mouth and the dough doesn’t remind me of the taste or texture of any donut I’ve ever had. Very original flavor, in my opinion. Biscuit and Gravy was so yummy and filling with a biscuit so good, I wish I bought any extra one. Note to self: Individual Biscuits are also available for purchase. So happy there is a morning option in Ashville that I know will be consistently good every...