Editor’s Note: Fork & Dagger is 828newsNOW’s anonymous restaurant review series, written by our independent Grub Scout—no freebies, no press perks, no agenda. Grub Scout pays full price, visits unannounced, and takes notes on food, service, atmosphere, and value. Each review reflects a recent, honest experience rated on our 1‑to‑5 fork scale. We aim to help you discover standout dining spots—from casual diners to white‑tablecloth affairs—one bite at a time.
Recently, I decided I’d begin a periodic series where I get a beer and some quick food. Installment one is about Zillicoah Beer Co. and Master BBQ on Riverside Drive.
I was so excited to find out that my favorite brewery in town reopened a few weeks ago. Zillicoah was washed away during Tropical Storm Helene, and neither the owners nor anyone else knew what the future held. It took nearly a year, but they returned, with the same charm, old-world style beers and some new collaborations.
I highly recommend the Kolsch, and soon they’ll have an Oktoberfest, which is always just sublime. My favorite collaboration this time was the IPA created with RAD Brewery.
Even if you aren’t into beer, they offer wines from Botanist and Barrel, as well as a cider on tap.
Once you’ve ordered your beers and secured your picnic table, head over to the Master BBQ food truck, which offers delightful Filipino soul food unique for Asheville. This is legacy cuisine inspired by their great-grandmother’s restaurant in Manila that opened more than 80 years ago.
We started with pork lumpia, savory fried spring rolls filled with pork, cabbage, carrots and onions. These knocked my socks off, especially when dipped in the spicy vinegar sauce. There’s also a veggie version.
Next was the BBQ Sampler: skewers of chicken, pork and pork belly, grilled to perfection, paired with traditional yellow rice seasoned with garlic, turmeric and annatto extract. It also comes with a side of pickled cucumbers. These are not to be missed. I went back for a side of them to take home.
In fact, the lumpia was so good that I went home with an order of that, too.
Make sure to go for the diner-style crinkle fries. I mean … How can you not? There were quite a few other dishes I can’t wait to try next time.
Each dish goes really well with the various sauces, which feels like the key to this cuisine.
I really can’t say enough about this brewery, the barbecue or the environment offered here, complete with benches for lounging beside the banks of the French Broad River. If you’re lucky, you’ll visit on one of these cool fall nights when they have a fire going. I adore this place, and I think you will too.
