The Blackbird

Great date night place! Wonderful food, excellent customer service, and marvelous drinks.
For starters, we had calamari, it was good, nothing special, probably would try something else for an app next time around.
I had the wild mushroom and goat cheese ravioli, extremely rich, but delicious. The beau had the prime rib, which he devoured and said that it was cooked just right, some of the best he has had!
We didn’t get a chance for dessert, we were so stuffed — just another great excuse to come back and try this place out again!

After I read the Unilocal reviews and got a recommendation from the hotel I was really excited to eat at blackbird. Our group of four was in town for a meeting. Upon our arrival at 6:30 there weren’t many diners. I think they were short staffed because the only tables that were seated seemed to be in one server’s section. Which meant he was a little inattentive to us. The bourbon selection was good (we sampled quite a few). The cheese board and charcuterie were excellent, well proportioned. Before I post my review of my meal I will say that everyone else at the table enjoyed their meals. I ordered the arugula salad and the mushroom risotto. The arugula salad with sherry vinaigrette sounded lovely (I love arugula). The arugula was flat and so was the dressing. The mushroom risotto was also flat. I never add salt to any dish but I needed to this evening. Maybe the bourbon fried my taste buds but I was not impressed. There wasn’t any salt/​pepper on the table unfortunately and trying to flag our server was an exercise in futility. My partners in crime ordered trout and ribs and as I mentioned, they enjoyed their dishes. Not me. With so many options in Asheville, I’ll likely not return. Too bad. It’s such a lovely song.

Good food. Good service. Nice beer and wine options. Sweet potato pudding bread is killer.

Have to say that this is LAST time we will eat here. As residents, we have so many more options, and just happened to choose this restaurant as a last minute after movie snack. As it was «restaurant week» whatever. we ended up eating and that made us sure we would never return. It was earlyish and the restaurant itself was practically empty. The servers were fine, but dishes were slow to arrive. Salads had no taste… calamari starter could have fed an army with dipping sauce with NO subtlety at all, fried chicken. tough and yuk and the worst. the braised shortribs. Not short ribby at all, tough. and FULL OF FAT. Awful. Three of us had it and three of us complained. And finally the cocoanut cake. Heavy and way too sweet. Done.

Went for NYE and ordered from the prefix 4-​course menu. Food was good, but not the absolute best I’ve had in Asheville. But for $ 65 per person, we got what we paid for. The service was adequate, but nothing to rave about. Granted, the place was very busy.

This is a solid 3.5−3.75 star deal.
We were in Asheville for a night on our way back to ATL after spending Christmas in the northeast, and needed a spot for a great meal with our 2 friends and their 3 little guys. Of course, nabbing a table for 6.5 people (one’s in a highchair, soooo…) the night before NYE with just a couple hours notice was going to be a challenge. Chestnut couldn’t fit us in, but Blackbird was happy to oblige for a 7:30pm table.
I will say off the bat: a few of the diners were quick to throw some side-​eye at the sight of kids. Mind you, they weren’t loud or particularly rambunctious, but it seemed like their mere presence bothered a few of the uppity clientele. Take that for whatever it’s worth. That said, the staff was welcoming and attentive.
The boys had kid’s sliders and fries (yes, Blackbird has some kids offerings, but they are not on the menu — just ask!), and to start, the table split some truffle Parmesan fries and a house-​made charcuterie board (the terrine is BOMB — even if you aren’t typically a terrine person) with a bottle of the Entrada Cabernet.
On to the entrees: They were out of the bone-​in cowboy ribeye, but were able to substitute a tasty boneless version (the Mister called it, «good — not the best steak I’ve ever had, but really good» — he found it a little fattier than he would ideally have liked). Our one friend was very happy with his crispy duck, and his wife and I both went with the angus burgers topped with lobster, which came accompanied by hand-​cut fries. The lobster was super-​tender, and the burgers appropriately juicy. No major complaints aside from wishing the Thermidor had been a teeeeeny bit thicker.

We had the pleasure of dining at The Blackbird on my birthday, Christmas Eve. There was a special menu that evening. I had the tenderloin and my fiancé had the lamb. Our entrées were amazing. The side dishes that accompanied the entrées were so flavorful and delicious; I even learned I could love a brussel sprout! :)
Our server recommended wine to pair with our entrées and we greatly enjoyed it. I also had a piece of their coconut cake for dessert and it was beyond expectations! We were just sad we could not dine there again before leaving Asheville to return home to Raleigh. We were staying at the Aloft hotel and found it a little odd that the hotel did not recommend this restaurant as it is not only so close to the hotel, but also because it was fabulous. We are very glad we found it on our own and I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an intimate setting with delicious food and wine.

I must say, we chose The Blackbird mostly for the coconut cake. I didn’t think too much about what I was going to eat first. Is that wrong?
Anyway, our first impression was good. We were seated immediately at the time of our reservation at a prime window seat. The restaurant is very loud, so be prepared. My husband is hard of hearing so this makes a difference to us.
Our waters were filled immediately, and our friendly server took our drink orders. We also requested the jalapeño cornbread to start, which was light and crumbly and very tasty.
I decided to go light and ordered the soup of the day, a black bean with bacon, and the arugula salad. My husband had the smoked and grilled pork chop, which was the biggest, fattest pork chop I have ever seen, and it was presented beautifully. We both enjoyed our meals. Because we wanted to enjoy the coconut cake when we weren’t full, we took it to go.
Fast forward to 10 minutes later when we couldn’t wait any longer for just a taste. The cake slice itself is huge and perfect for two. But alas, for me, the hype about that cake was just that at first.
I was expecting a light and fluffy cake. Instead, the cake itself is very dense, with an even more dry texture when served cold. I would make the suggestion to allow it to sit before serving, as the cold really takes away from the flavor, and maybe they do this when it is served in house? I know there is a delicate balance there because it does have a custard filling and it probably should be refrigerated, but leaving it out to rest, or even popping it in the microwave for 10 seconds before serving, could possibly help it live up to expectation. As it was, after trying it cold and being disappointed, we allowed it to sit. The longer it did, the better it tasted.
Our weekend in Asheville was a culinary delight, with so much good food in a short amount of time. Overall, The Blackbird was a nice part of the experience.

We are here for Thanksgiving dinner and were very pleased with the experience. The food was all excellently prepared (not their normal menu) and, unlike other reviewers, we didn’t find the coconut cake to be dry at all! It was a favorite at our table, and the one complaint was that the portion could have been about half as much. There’s an extensive wine list running the range of prices and varieties, as well as some inventive cocktails. All in all, a pleasant evening with warm service from bar manager Sharae.

We came to visit Asheville and had no idea about good restaurants in the area. A couple of people recommended the black bird so we went there and it was a disaster.
We went on a Thursday so it wasn’t too crowded but our experience started with a staff member spilling water over my pants and my shoes, I’m really not a negative person and that boy seemed to be new so I told him not to worry about it. I mean, it’s just water.
As soon as we ordered the ribeye steak and the duck we got excited because the menu sounded creative and delicious at the same time.
Reality was that the steak, which is by the way one of the priciest in the area, was not medium rare as order but well done. For my friend being a steak lover this was a NoGo, especially looking at the price of that piece of meat which was pretty much ruined when they served it well done.
My duck seemed to be warmed up from the day before, at least it was super dry like it spent a night in the fridge.
I wanna be fair and say that the sides on the plate were excellent and supportive to each other in taste and texture. Though the cooking of the steak and the duck was nothing but a disappointment.
If you act like one of the most sophisticated restaurants in town, please also make it happen.

Komme aus Deutschland und freue mich auf ein gutes Steak, folge auch den Empfehlungen und bin so zu einem mit abstand schlechtestem Steak was ich bisher gegessen habe für einen aber sehr gepfefferten Preis gekommen. Wie man ein Stück so gutes Rindfleisch (Ribeye) so sehr durchbraten kann, bestellt wurde Medium rare, ist mir ein Rätsel.

This place was not good like the reviews state. The sandwich of the day was Ahi Tuna and this looks like tuna out of a can. With all of the other options in the area, I certainly would not come back.

This is a phenomenal restaurant that we arrived at because of the menu and the feedback we read online.
The customer service and attention to our needs was incredible. It had been a long time since we’d service. While the hostess was very friendly and sat us right away on our reservation time, Michael was superb in providing recommendations that exceeded the promises. My wife had the Catch of the Day, item, which was the Ref Drum special. I had the Cowboy Ribeye. That was one of the best steaks I’ve had.
The food was great, and very nice atmosphere. I highly recommend that you visit this restaurant if you’re in the area. Also see if you could sit at a table where Michael will take care of you.

With the number of good or very good restaurants to choose from in this area, any player needs to step up their game.
For The Blackbird, the atmosphere was its lead. I must say though, as attractive as a window seat LOOKS — don’t do it unless you don’t mind every complete stranger staring.
Regardless, casual with class atmosphere. Classic with the trendy edge.
The wait staff was exceptional. Answered all the questions knowledgeably; drinks, menu, suggestions, special and desserts.
My friend had the seafood risotto and i had the 28 day aged NY strip. A NY strip is far from my favorite beef, but any beef dry aged 28 days? Yea, I’m in.
The strip was tender — for a NY strip. Juicy, done perfectly between med rare and med. The sides — meh. They need help. My friend LOVED the seafood risotto.
As for dessert, my friend had the chocolate torte and i had the homemade salt and caramel ice cream. Wonderful!
So, if the atmosphere is very good, the food very good, and the service very good, — why only 3 stars?
Well. .. As i said at the top, in the culinary world of Asheville, you need to step up your game. There was nothing here that made me say, «This place is AWESOME!» Especially when you consider the hefty price tag — out the door + tax & tip =$ 170.00. Three drinks, two entrees and two desserts. Hmmmm. My NY Strip alone paid for the waiters night!
Bottom line — great food and atmosphere that needs to find it’s own mojo and a better price point!

We decided to try Blackbird — based on some friends recommendation and the positive Unilocal reviews. Very modern décor — we were seated at a window table, thinking that people watching might be fun — big mistake. Very strange having a «date night» meal with a couple hundred strangers walking by gawking at you — yea, what was I thinking, right?
Table service was very good. The wine list was limited and I thought expensive. Supposedly, they are known for there steaks and seafood. I had the ribeye and although good, it was not great. She had the tuna special, big piece of fish, but tasteless. The highlight of the meal was the HUGE piece of coconut cake — very good.
We came away less than impressed, given the reviews other have written. Considering Asheville’s fine options for upscale dining, I think you can do a lot better for the money.

It’s a very tasty restaurant with great tasting food. It has a very warm and clean design inside. It’s well maintained and can sit probably 80 or so people. The hostess was very friendly and helpful as well as our waiter. They bring out complimentary bread that contains 4 different kinds (although on the 2^nd time we just got 4 same breads).
We ordered the Ashley Farms Chicken 2 Ways (one grilled, one fried, $ 22). The chicken was well cooked and juicy. The ribeye was also well cooked and juicy ($ 34). It wasn’t chewy either. The grilled salmon was good ($ 25) but it wasn’t out of this world. Restaurants of this caliber serve the same good quality salmon. The Surf and Turf was good ($ 16) but the lobster was lacking. It was just the claws and no tail, but for $ 16 it’s not bad.
It’s a great option in Asheville for great food, great service, and a nice clean design. I would recommend this place.

Had a quick dinner at the bar. Service was attentive. Had a seared halibut and scallops with English pea risotto. It was very good. I would have preferred all scallops, even though the Halibut was perfectly cooked.

The Blackbird is one of my favorite restaurants for a nice romantic evening.
A lot of these reviews have gone in to just how awesome the food is, specifically their shrimp and grits which are a real fave of mine, but I want to take a moment to make sure that you pay attention to one of Blackbird’s most brilliant features.
No, not the fact that they have nearly unlimited parking available in the Aloft parking deck, although that is a super nice feature. A parking deck next to a restaurant? Yes!
No, what everyone seems to be missing here are the desserts, and what you need to pay attention to are the desserts.
You would be doing yourself an amazing favor if you came here specifically for desserts. Most people may view the desserts as an afterthought of their meal, but at the Blackbird the meal is the prelude to the real stars of the show. Do not be distracted. Save yourself for true joy.
There are two absolutely unparalleled confectionary items available here that you must try, the coconut cake and the mocha torte. I wish that I had the power in my words to convey the praise that these sweet treats deserve. If you’re walking down the street past The Blackbird you are doing yourself a disservice each time you don’t stop in for these examples of dessert perfection. Even if you’re not hungry, or you just had dessert somewhere else, they’re that good.
The coconut cake tastes like owning a massive house on Tybee Island. It oozes sophistication. The texture of the cake is heavenly, and showcases the perfect balance of sweetness that never cloys with a touch of salt. Coconuts evolved eons ago so that they could become a part of this cake today.
Oh, but to visit here by yourself would be unwise because then you’d be faced with a truly heart wrenching situation of choosing between the coconut cake and the mocha torte, its equal in excellence. I’m certain that when I say torte you envision some sort of squat, dense pie. The reality couldn’t be further from the notion.
Blackbird’s mocha torte is a tower of chocolate chiffon, mocha mousse, and whipped cream. It is the Burj Dubai of desserts. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating but not by much. The different textures of the layers sing a beautiful three part harmony on each forkful. Aside from the coconut cake I haven’t had a better dessert in Asheville.
How can one place offer two of the best desserts in the city/​county/​state? How do more people not know about this?
I’m glad I have a chance to tell you, I just hope you listen. I can only hope that you treat yourself and run to The Blackbird to enjoy these marvels of the pastry world. I want you to be enlightened, and then become the bodhisattva… ushering the rest of humanity towards sweet sweet Nirvana.

Well. Its Friday night in Downtown Asheville. Windchill is in the negatives, so its freezing out. We originally wanted to try Curate, but they had an hour and 45 min wait, soo, we decided to go somewhere else. We walked down and found this restaurant, so decided to give it a try. No reservations were available but since the bar was first come first serve we took two of the seats and chilled for a little bit, Ordered drinks and later got our food, I ordered the Surf and Turf burger, which sounded like a great idea, but once I got it, didn’t really enjoy it as much, felt like it needed more seasoning or some extra sauces to make it taste like something for the price. Wifey got the Scallops which she claimed were great. Maybe next time I’ll try something else and make my mind then, but i was not heavily impressed since its rated pretty high here.

To be honest, we only chose to dine at Black Bird because we are procrastinators and it was the only somewhat appealing option available to us on a busy vday weekend. I don’t know how we got so lucky! The food and service were fabulous and we sincerely appreciated the gracious southern hospitality, which resulted in a suburb dining experience.
Now for the deets…
I ordered the Ginny Tonic to sip on and it was quite tasty. Loved the unusual pairing of Rosemary vs. the standard cucumber for Hendrick’s. It was a nice size and reasonably priced as well.
For starters, we had the calamari, which was tasty, but not special. In hindsight, we should have ordered the truffle fries which appeared to ball out of control.
For mains, I got the trout, brussel sprouts, and lemon thyme risotto. The trout, which is a fish I don’t even think I historically like, was divine! The risotto was so expertly cooked it inspired me to revise the way I prepare risotto at home. The sprouts were good, but I favored the broccolini on my husband’s plate, which had a nice char on it. He had the mahi mahi and was equally as satisfied with his fish as I was with mine.
Even though I could only make it through half of my meal, we knew we needed to get the coconut cake for dessert, which we were instantly mesmerized by any time we saw another’s order passing by our table. It was as fabulous as it looked. However, could have been served 5 degrees warmer.
The icing on the cake of our dining experience (hehe), was the chef coming out to introduce herself during our meal. We had requested a copy of the menu signed by the chef when we made our reservation and she had just wanted to make sure we had a nice meal and share her appreciation. Such a nice gesture!
We had a lovely experience and this restaurant which competes well in the crowded Asheville food scene. And

Great ambiance, great service, and amazing food! Traveled to Asheville from Miami to spend Thanksgiving and made reservations for dinner. It was absolutely delicious!
I had the butternut squash soup, NC snapper and butternut risotto, and the GF chocolate truffle. The other dishes were also delicious– Turkey, steak, pecan pie, and apple pie.
I will definitely come back! Thanks so much for making our Thanksgiving dinner so memorable.