Sink your teeth into this!

West Asheville – Have you been to Foothills Butcher Bar and Kitchen (https://www.foothillslocalmeats.com/) yet? It’s one of my go-to spots for an in-house butcher and what they call “honest meats”. 

Open for a while now, but easy to miss if you don’t know where to find them, look for Foothills tucked away at the back of a small, L-shaped mall right next to the West Asheville Ingles Market. See satellite MAP here: https://goo.gl/maps/GwLFRsmJ8ET2 

But wait! Not only can you get fresh cuts of meat, you can also order from their kitchen menu (eat-in or to-go), and full bar! 

“Our West Asheville Butcher Bar and Kitchen is a family-friendly destination for eat-in or take-out, grabbing a pint of local beer or a casual cocktail after work, or swinging by to pick up fresh grocery staples or your weekly Meat CSA package from our butcher counter.”

Yes, I took a picture of their glassware. Can’t you just imagine an Old Fashioned or other whiskey drink in that tumbler, served with an awesome grilled steak?

I went for a “classic” and ordered the Foothills Burger ($13). Take two luscious ground beef patties, top with lettuce, tomato, onion, house pickles, ketchup, mustard, Dukes (mayo, for the uninitiated), and american cheese, on a sesame seed bun from Annie’s Bakery.

Rarely [?] do I eat an entire burger in one sitting, let alone a double-patty burger. But yes I did! So delicious, with a perfect char. And the fries held their own, too. 

If memory serves, the sandwich pictured next was on the “specials board”. According to the lunch pal that placed the order, it was completely tasty! Very tender, easy-to-bite meat, pickles, mustard, mayo, and melty cheese.

I’m a huge fan of Charcuterie Boards, but feel Foothill’s Butcher’s Tray ($14) is a little out of the ordinary. Perhaps more of a purist’s take. The assorted house made deli meats and Charcuterie are on the “heavier” side, encouraging savoring the meat for the meat’s sake rather than putting it on a cracker and topping it with relish or chutney – which I also love.

Take sink-your-teeth-in bites and savor what it is your’re eating. Also on the tray are local mustard and “fixin’s” like pickles and pickled onions. You can add local cheese selection for $3, which is what happened here.

A good Reuben ($13) is always one of my top lunch choices. Foothills makes theirs with thin sliced, house cured pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, thousand island dressing, served on Annie’s Bakery marble rye bread. And, boy, was it delicious! Portioned generously with just the right amounts of pastrami, sauerkraut, and cheese. This is what I’ll be getting the next time.

They have a cold case toward the back of the shop that keeps a nice selection of fresh products chilled. I didn’t check with them, but I’m betting you could order ahead if you wanted special cuts or a large quantity of something specific.

And for a special treat for the pups! Nice.

There’s just one caveat: seating is of the metal type and slightly narrow with side supports for the seat back. Interpret that as seating may not be the most comfortable for some folks.

Epicurean Notes:

• Sunday Brunch with full bar and specialty cocktails is offered from 11am to 3pm. See the menu here.
• They park their Food Truck at Hi Wire Brewing’s Big Top Taproom at 2 Huntsman Place, Asheville NC 28803. Visit this page for days/hours and a link to order and pay online for dine-in or take out.
• Their Catering menu and details are here.
• Foothills offers two types of CSAs:
  • Meet Share CSA – “‘Heat and eat” dishes, seasoned meats for easy cooking, and Foothills house deli meats all created by Chef Dave Kane”
  • Butcher Shop CSA – “Fresh, uncooked, unseasoned beef, pork, and chicken for your fridge or freezer. For folks who love to buy in bulk!”

Foothills Butcher Bar & Kitchen (https://www.foothillslocalmeats.com/)
697 Haywood Rd Unit E
Asheville, NC 28806
Phone: (828) 417-7081