Ashten's — Restaurant in Southern Pines

A testament to Southern elegance, culinary soul, and the beauty of an unhurried evening.

There are places you visit for dinner, and there are places, rare places, that remind you why we gather at a table at all. Ashten’s is the latter.

From the first step inside, the atmosphere draws you in: crimson walls, warm lamplight, rich wood, and a quiet hum that invites you to slow down. It feels less like a restaurant and more like someone’s cherished parlor, curated with history, warmth, and intention.

Service, led with care by Maddison, set the evening’s tone. Neither rehearsed nor distant, she moved with an intuitive grace, offering guidance, honoring silence, and treating the meal not as service, but as hospitality.

The evening opened with The Original Reuben Eggroll, familiar in spirit, inventive in form. It was the kind of appetizer that tells you, quietly, you are in skilled hands.

For the main course, the 12 oz. Brasstown Beef NY Strip, a dish grounded not only in flavor, but in place, an homage to North Carolina’s farms and fields.

Across the table, the Ashten’s Asher Blue Burger with Bacon, stood as proof that comfort food, when respected, can rise to something unforgettable.

To accompany it all, the Apple Cider Margaritas, rimmed with five-spice salt and garnished with thin ribbons of Granny Smith apple, echoed the season. Crisp, spiced, reflective, a drink meant to be sipped, not simply consumed.

And then came reverence in the form of dessert, Ashten’s Signature Salted Caramel Chocolate Cake, a decade in the making. Tall, dark, unapologetically rich. Each bite layered with the balance of sweet and salt, memory and indulgence. A finale that does not exit quietly.

What sets Ashten’s apart is not only culinary excellence, it is the respect for presence. This is a place that understands that dining, at its best, is an experience of connection. A meal not rushed, a table treated as a moment in time.

Five stars without hesitation. For the food, yes. But more importantly, for the artistry of...

If you have never been to Ashten's, you need to book a reservation ASAP! Seriously grab your friends or a date and GO! The restaurant itself is BEAUTIFUL from its pressed tin ceiling, hanging crystal chandeliers, romantic dim candle lighting, red dramatic walls, velvet chairs, and an intricate wood bar that was imported from England. The menu incorporates the finest of local NC ingredients to create Southern inspired gourmet dishes. The menu changes seasonally. The craft cocktails are fun and creative. I loved all the fizz in the cherry Blossom! My husband was a huge fan of the bourbon drinks. They have a nice selection of beer and wine also. For starters we enjoyed the Burrata, Low Country Crab Cake, Artichoke Heart Pops, and Rueben Egg Rolls. All were incredible. I honestly could not pick a favorite. For entrees, we enjoyed the Slow Braised Pork Shank, Crispy Mapleleaf Farms Duck, and Pan Seared VerLasso Salmon. Everything was cooked to perfection. The pork shank was tender and fell right off the bone. It was served over handmade gnocchi. The duck's skin was crispy served over crispy rice that was cooked in duck fat. The salmon was crispy on the outside with a delicious buttered Tamari glaze served over a coconut rice. We finished with a chocolate cake with a salted caramel frosting.... YUM! The service was also excellent. Madison (our server) went above and beyond explaining the details of the specials on menu items. She never allowed our drinks to go empty. Her warm and friendly personality added to a perfect dining experience. I can't wait to go back for Sunday supper and...

I know this restaurant is a main stay in Southern Pines. However, I want to use this review as a positive critique of the food so they can use this to make it better. I have had several business and personal visits to the restaurant over the years. Each time, I had come something was was wrong with the meal. My first experience was a business party, I ordered the pork chop and it came to me dangerously undercooked. I had to send back twice. Ultimately, I just went with the burger. Then again another business party, I tried the pork again and this time it was as hard as a puck. I sent it back and went with the burger again. This last time, I decided forego the pork choice and get a steak. I asked for it Medium. It came to me almost medium rare. It was cooked just above where it stopped mooing. It was highly disappointing. So I cut off sections on the outside that were almost medium and ate those and then I left the rest of the meat on the plate. I only did so because I hadn't had lunch and needed something in my stomach. The only thing that wasn't screwed up with all my meals was the salad and the deserts. To their credit, the did not charge me for my steak on my last visit and I was very appreciative. The coffee also is very watered down and on all 3 visits served lukewarm. I wish they would get something more robust. I'm just hoping that you can fix these issues so someone doesn't go through what I've...