ASHEVILLE DINING II: THE BULL AND BEGGAR

I was back in Asheville this past weekend on a getaway with my daughter, and we were eager to try a restaurant we hadn't been to before: 

THE BULL AND BEGGAR

37 PAYNES WAY, 

ASHEVILLE, NC, 28801

828/575-9443

The restaurant is located in the hip River Arts District of Asheville.  It's been sort of a rundown area until fairly recently.  The location is along the French Broad River (3rd largest river in the US) where there is a great running/biking/walking trail.  It's an old industrial park that's being redone into a huge artists' area with restaurants, bars, breweries, galleries and more.

We walked up to the restaurant and there's a cool wine bar on one side of it and at the end of the area there is a big brewery that was packed.

Very cool fire pit in front of the wine bar next door.

There was a GORGEOUS sunset as we were entering the restaurant so we stopped quickly for a few pics.

The restaurant itself is very cool inside - and we entered and were taken to an upstairs seating area that had a great vibe overlooking the entire restaurant below.

thebullandbeggar

The menu looked enticing, and we decided we'd go with small plates versus a large meal.

We started with 6 oysters and their amazing mignonette.  We got 2 each of 3 different oysters and I loved that they came with labels:

Our server was fabulous and he recommended these oysters based on what we liked - not too briny and small.  These were perfect.

We then ordered drinks - my daughter's signature drink from her wedding last June (Vodka, St Germain and Grapefruit with mint).  DELISH!

Our next dish was melted Raclette cheese (from Switzerland as you can see by the adorable flag that accompanied the dish) over small potatoes, picked onion, cornichons and mustard.  SO GOOD!

After a bit we ordered the octopus.  It was prepared like no other octopus that I've had with a green sort of pesto sauce and yummy lima beans. We ate every bite!

Next up we wanted a salad, and they prepared this one to perfection.  It was butter lettuce with a buttermilk dressing but that blue cheese was KILLER!

And this dish was (for me) the absolute winner!  It was a warm roasted pumpkin with ricotta cheese.  The picture does not do it justice.  It tasted like FALL on a plate - decadent, sweet and savory all at once.

And yes, we splurged and ordered desserts.

I went with a baked apple and caramel concoction that was rich and creamy and yummy.

And Caroline went with her "GO TO" dessert - chocolate.  This chocolate tart was very dense and dark and BONUS: there was sea salt!  It was to die for!

We had a fabulous evening together at The Bull and Beggar.  It has such a fun atmosphere and was bustling without being over the top loud.  It just feels like a place you were lucky you found and were able to get a reservation for - yet another Asheville gem!