The Bargello (https://bargelloavl.com/) Yarn begins in 17th Century Florence, Italy, when a set of chairs were discovered in Bargello Castle. They were covered in a new needlework style, now known as the Bargello style, after the castle. Those can be seen today in the same building (built in the 12th – 13th centuries), which is now the Bargello Museum.
History of the style’s origin is short on documentation, but long on legends of creation by both Italian and Hungarian noblewomen. After watching the de Medici television series, one legends I particularly like is that of a Hungarian noblewomen practicing the craft, including a Hungarian princess marrying into the de Medici family.
Fast forward a few centuries to Bargello, the recently opened restaurant in current day Asheville. Co-owner Martha Pollay took design inspiration for the Mediterranean-inspired eatery from her mother’s love of needlepoint and the Bargello stitch she loves to use. Specifically her mother’s bench and pillow done in the Bargello style.
So how is this yarn being spun?
As with Bargello needlework, hues of one color – blue in this case – and repeating geometric patterns have been used in Bargello, the restaurant’s, beautiful design.
Note the repeating arched design throughout the interior and on the exterior sign.
But what about the food?
I’ve known Peter Pollay for years and was thrilled to accept his invitation to do some sampling of Bargello’s menu. There were four of us at one of three high-tops overlooking the very open kitchen: myself and my friend Anne, along with another media person and her guest. By the way, all of these high-tops have easy to access outlets for your devices. It is in a hotel, after all, and sometimes you want to get a bite and work at the same time. I’m not sure about outlets at other types of tables & booths.
The evening was a wonder of moving parts in a smooth-running professional kitchen.
It began with Peter handing us the restaurant menu saying, “You can look, but not order. We’ll be sending dishes out for you all to share.”
Firstly, it can be exciting and fun to go out for a meal and tell your server, “please ask the chef to send out whatever he thinks we should try.” Secondly, it can be just a little scary because you never know what’s going to happen.
In this case, sixteen out of thirty one menu items rolled out to our table at a comfortable pace, one after the other. The flow was interspersed with questions and answers, note-taking, and a sampling of wine and cocktails.
Every. Single. Dish. Delicious. You may be thinking, of course they were. The kitchen knew who you were. Well, we specifically watched food going out to the “general dining room population”, and there was no noticeable difference. I’ll be going back, incognito and will be paying attention to see if there’s any difference in presentation, taste, etc.
Fascinating side note. One of the dishes we sampled was a tasty “Israeli Salad”. Ingredients had previously been those of a classic Israeli Salad, but had been seasonally adjusted. My friend Anne took one look and said, “This isn’t an Israeli Salad”. One of the other women at the table agreed. As it turned out, this other woman was Israeli – Israel-born, America-raised. An in-depth discussion of classic ingredients ensued, a little of which between these two, in Hebrew, just for fun.
Given current restaurant prices, Bargello’s menu is very reasonably priced. All the “For the Table” shareable plates were between $10 and $15. I could easily make a meal out of two. House-made pasta dishes are $17 – $21. All sides, like the Crispy Brussels Sprouts and Roasted Baby Sweet Potatoes we had were $10. Their incredible Cider Glazed heritage Pork Belly is $22, but three other “From the Farm” selections are more. Spice & Pepper Crusted Brisket (for 2-4 people) is $58, 32oz Bone-In Rib Eye is $70, and Joyce Farms Brick Chicken is $38.
The yarn Bargello is spinning is one of attention to detail, excellent service, delicious food you will not quickly forget, and a long-term plan to serve Asheville from this location.
Takeaway
If I were to boil this all down to one takeaway, it would be that you MUST go.
Epicurean Notes:
- Cocktails are lovely and truly craft cocktails.
- There’s an open-fire oven, open-kitchen area right on the lobby edge with counter seating for your viewing and dining pleasure.
- You can dine, snack, drink outside on a large patio that runs the width of the building. Choose to sit at a table or on soft seating while you watch the Biltmore Ave, Pack Square action.
- Current Days & Hours: OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK, BREAKFAST: 6:30 – 10 AM, LUNCH: 11 AM – 2:30 PM, DINNER: 5 – 10 PM
- Don’t forget, you don’t need to be a hotel guest to dine at Bargello or across the lobby at District 42.
- Bargello is located in the Hotel Arras ground floor lobby, 7 Patton Ave (corner of Patton and Biltmore), Asheville, NC 28801
READ MORE about District 42, Bargello’s sister eatery/bar across the lobby here: Asheville’s Most Beautiful Hotel.
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