Mother’s Day seemed like the perfect excuse to finally visit Corner Kitchen, one of Asheville’s most beloved restaurants — and somehow, despite living here for years, I’d never been.
Opened in 2004 by chef Joe Scully and Kevin Westmoreland, the farm-to-table staple in Historic Biltmore Village operates out of a more than120-year-old pebble-dash cottage and has built a reputation for Southern-inspired, locally sourced cuisine, cozy atmosphere and resilience after surviving severe flooding, including damage from Tropical Storm Helene in 2024.
Luckily, it occurred to me a month ago to get a reservation. I knew it would be impossible to get a table there on such an important holiday had I waited too long.
Spoiler, it was worth it. My mom was very excited.
We began with cocktails. My mom had a mocktail, which she enjoyed, though it was a bit too sweet. The Clark Stanley was a housemade thyme-lemon shrub and blackberry soda.
My partner chose a mimosa with grapefruit juice, and we both thought it was quite nice.
I went with the Boojum Brewing Tropical IPA. It was nice, and it only had 6 percent alcohol, which is far lower than most fruity beers one comes across in town.
On to the food
Mom chose the Biltmore Basic: two scrambled eggs with bacon, cheddar grits and gluten-free toast. Sometimes there’s nothing wrong with basic, and this dish proved that.
My partner went with the S.C. Strawberry and Feta Salad, which contained fancy greens, whipped feta, hot honey pistachios, pickled ramps, balsamic reduction and lavender honey vinaigrette, to which she added grilled chicken. She thought it was pretty good, but it seemed forgettable.
I decided on a non-traditional brunch dish, and I was very pleased with my decision. The Biltmore Village Reuben: housemade corned beef, braised sauer kraut, melted Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing and griddled rye bread. It was simply perfect and satiated a craving I’d had for quite a while. Not only that, but I must say that the seasoned French fries were some of the best in recent memory. I loved this meal.
Our server was great, the free coffee while you wait was acceptable and the environment was coz and they get bonus points for presenting every mother with a single red rose. Classy touch, Corner Kitchen.
Overall, I’d say this is a great place to take the family. Great vibes and affordable offerings.