The Admiral

Everything we had was great (sprouted broccoli appetizer, ribeye, chocolate cake, Jeffrey cocktail). The ribeye in particular was a standout - perfectly cooked and rested with a crispy crust. One of the best steaks we have had and we have had many. My husband liked that they presented the steak sliced so that we could immediately see that it was cooked correctly.

The atmosphere on a crisp winter day made for a most memorable anniversary dinner. Our server was incredibly kind and pleasant. Our halibut in its artichoke sauce was amazing - we licked our plates clean! We were so surprised when we were brought a delicious dessert and a candle were brought out after we had eaten. The Admiral never ceases to please!

Wonderful "neighborhood" restaurant. We dined on NYE, and the menu was superb! Well presented, interesting flavors, service was excellent, and a cozy, enjoyable atmosphere. The cocktails are thoughtful and wonderful, as is the wine menu. We will be back again and again!

We enjoy The Admiral as a couple, usually dining at the bar, but also like to take friends from out of town, as we did last night. The food is excellent, with a variety of veg and meat/fish offerings. Our server David was friendly and professional. The vibe is pure AVL! And our guest commented on the comfortable space and lighting.

We had an incredible dining experience. The food was delicious! Our server, Abbey, was fantastic. She was very friendly, helpful, and patient. She is very good at her job. We were treated with warm welcoming smiles when we arrived. The hostess was very friendly and gave a very kind birthday wish (we had made a reservation and noted that we were celebrating). Our meals were wonderful! I enjoyed the black cod, it was cooked perfectly. I really enjoyed the combination of the fish with the airy puree, it made the dish feel very light and delicate. The duck cavatelli was made very well. There was a perfect balance of chorizo to the duck, very yummy. We ordered the pawpaw crème brûlée which we never had before, it was very nice. It was very good as a crème brûlée but the ginger cookies that were served alongside really elevated the dish. We just can't say enough good things about our dining experience at The Admiral and we look forward to our next visit.

What a fantastic meal! We definitely over ordered, but it was worth it. The mussels and oysters are fresh and so flavorful. Every dish we had was incredibly tasty. I think the menu might change slightly as compared to the one on their website, possibly for seasonality. We had a sweet potato appetizer with whipped feta that was incredible. The roast chicken was cooked perfectly, and was seasoned well. The cocktails were tasty and strong. The service was fantastic. The atmosphere warm, intimate, with a thoughtful playlist setting the mood. I absolutely recommend this fine restaurant!

We celebrated a double birthday at The Admiral, and honestly, it was perfect. I don’t say that lightly. It’s rare to have a night where every dish, every moment, and every detail just lands exactly the way you hope it will. The steak tartare is still the best in Asheville. No contest. The bucatini was rich and comforting in all the right ways, and the mussels were incredible. That broth alone could be a whole meal with a baguette and a bottle of wine. The anchovy tartine was bursting with flavor, and the duck breast was one of the best we’ve had anywhere. Chef Austin and the team made the whole night feel special. Nothing forced, nothing overly formal, just genuinely warm hospitality and food that showed real care. It was the perfect way to celebrate two birthdays, and we left talking about it the entire ride home. Five stars, easily. The Admiral continues to be one of the standout restaurants in West Asheville.

My beef tartare looked nothing like on the photos. Pale beef with a yolk and pile of crusty bread. No pickles or any sauce. Was well seasoned, but I guess the chef forgot most of the ingredients on the plate! I was looking for this one encouraged by the photos . Artichoke dip I think was lovely, filet mignon cooked nicely, but overpriced a bit considering not too attractive plate. Martini espresso ok . Service was good but not great - my beef tartare came after all the dishes arrived and it was the only cold dish we’ve ordered. I wish I have my tartare picture captured so you could compare ! All the photos of this European dish were so yummy looking - mine was not. I

It’s a nice place with very good service but a bit underwhelming on the seasoning. The foie gras was excellent and seasoned well, the beef tartar could have used more salt and pepper. I’m not OK with the crostinis as the only salty thing on the board. The steak and lamb were good but not amazing; again, under seasoned protein doesn’t excite as much. Generally, red meat can handle a lot of salt, simply said, and it does need it. I don’t have the picture of the lamb because it originally came out a little raw and had to go back to the oven. The drinks (each worth $15) were not strong enough for my taste. Their service is excellent though. When I was waiting for my lamb they brought a little cheese platter with home made tomato jam; it was delicious. The quality of ingredients is impressive but they’re pricey: ca. $215 for two people (4 cocktails, no desert or coffee), and they don’t have espresso which is always a little disappointing to me. They’re not perfect on the flavor profile but they’re trying. The issues I’ve described can be fixed very easily, if they decide to upscale their customer experience even more.

We had the Beef Tartar, blackened trout and porkchop followed by a peach cornbread dessert. Photos included. The beef tartar, trout and pork chop were delicious. Our waiter (who looked and sounded a bit like Jimmy Fallon) was attentive and informed. One of our party had food allergies and they were very accommodating. This is a very busy neighborhood and parking can be precarious. I am under the impression that the desert would be best served warm, but it was cold and the cornbread was stale tasting. But over all, a good restaurant worth your visit. It can be inexpensive or expensive, depending on entree and drinks. Not overpriced for Asheville, by any comparison. My suggestion is to add this to your list of new places to dine if you have not been here.