Four of us, including two industry pros, went a little crazy at The Madness – Sushi, Burger & Bar (https://www.themadnessavl.com/) this past Monday, ordering way too much food! Even though we were sharing, it was still way too much.
“There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche
Here’s the rundown in gallery (below) order:
- Toro: Excellent! As good as Toro gets!
- The Dumplings: Delicious. Perfect for sharing, they were a hit.
- Red Snapper Carpaccio: Excellent! Dipping pieces in that sauce had us all Oohing and Aahing.
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Takoyaki Balls: Okay. Sounded good to all of us. I was really looking forward to these. Unfortunately, some of the octopus pieces were overcooked and rubbery. It could have been a fluke, so if you’re willing to give them another chance, order these balls.
- The Rangoon Dip: Okay. Thick, mild crab dip. The dip itself was okay. None of us cared for the fried wontons with this dip. We felt the dip should shine, but wasn’t flavorful enough to stand up to these crisp, but neutral chips.
- The Madness Burger: Very Good. A fun showstopper. “The Madness takes pride in grilling burgers fresh to order. All of our burgers are made from half-pound Certified Angus Beef” Dig in, get messy. You’ll be happy you did.
- The Madness Bento Box: Very Good. One of two bento boxes on the menu. The other does not have additional Burger Slider or Specialty Roll options like this one.
- Hurricane Specialty Roll: Delicious. These rolls may sound mild, but they’ve added a little kick with sauces.
The Madness is casual with some indoor seating in a not-so-big space. The outdoor patio felt like it almost doubled seating. We counted ourselves lucky to get a table outside on a Monday night at just after 7:00pm.
The Madness is new-ish, opening in December, 2020. They’ve had to deal with supply shortages and staffing issues. I wouldn’t hesitate to go again. Some of those specialty rolls are calling my name. And a cocktail would be good, too. Didn’t have one this time, because we met for wine on the deck at one of our homes first and I had a solid drive home on I-26 afterwards.
Epicurean Notes:
- They’re located near Enka, west of West Asheville in a mall on Smoky Park Hwy.
- Reservations are not taken at this time.
- For a more in depth look at The Madness, read this Citizen Times article by Mackensy Lunsford: https://www.citizen-times.com/story/entertainment/2021/05/05/asheville-restaurateur-thrives-covid-pandemic-asian-fusion-new-sushi-burger-bar/7220695002/
- And for an interesting take on the possible future of Sushi in the US, take a look at this Grub Street article by Adam Platt: https://www.grubstreet.com/2021/05/rosella-nyc-restaurant-review.html
The Madness – Sushi, Burger & Bar
275 Smokey Park Hwy, Unit 251
Asheville, NC 28806
828 418 3166
