Leo's House of Thirst 1055 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806

"We arrived with little expectation, armed with no knowledge but a Google algorithmic suggestion based on other places I liked. The food was fantastic, the wine was wonderful, but if I'm going to be completely honest there are lots of great places to eat or drink in Ashville, and a fair amount that do both well. What really sets Leo's apart is the service. Hands down the best service we experienced in town from any business. Expert recommendations, genuine smiles, fast but personable service. I really would choose amazing service with good food over mediocre service with amazing food but at Leo's you get both amazing food AND amazing service and you can't beat that."

"Everything was great except one big issue. This place is so popular yet they only have parking to accommodate a very limited number of cars. The restaurant next to it has more than enough parking, but instead of leasing some to Leo's, they monitor the lot for Leo's customers and call the tow trucks. Our entertainment was watching cars being towed. Leo's needs a new location or to work out an arrangement with the neighbor restaurant. We parked in the Aldi lot behind the restaurant."

"We ate at Leo’s on the last day of our holiday. It was a great meal!! We started with a glass of wine, they have a great selection of natural ones. Some of the food highlights were the devilled eggs which were so creamy. The crème brûlée was also fantastic, it had cheese in it which is really original. The ambiance while eating is great, I loved the picnic tables and string lights. It’s great too that they serve the food on local East Fork pottery."

"We had a perfect lunch here. The food was unique and delicious. Our server was passionate about the food and very knowledgeable about the wines, which were also wonderful. Highly recommend."

"I saw a picture of the grilled cheese on Instagram a month or so ago, and have been dying to try Leo's ever since. It did not disappoint. We came in on a rainy Thursday afternoon, and the host allowed me to look at all the seating options before choosing where we wanted to sit. The back deck was lovely, but was full except for bar seats, and the picnic tables in the back were a little wet from the drizzle, so we chose an inside table, right up front. It's a cozy atmosphere, with tables placed fairly close together, but not so much that you felt crowded. The wine list was extensive, with lots of by the glass options. I chose two wines from their 'draft' list. I prefer my reds to be served at room temperature, rather than cool, but I just held the glass in my hands for a few minutes to warm them up before I drank them. Both wines were excellent for the price! My friend is not a wine drinker, but picked a beer from their list (not nearly as extensive as the wine list, but inclusive of a few standard beer styles), and enjoyed it. We shared the steak tartar and a grilled cheese, and both were delicious. The steak tartar was seasoned perfectly, and served with an egg yolk in the middle, just as it should be. The fried onion strings gave a little bit of crunch, and the thin crostini's were a perfect accompaniment. The grilled cheese was chock full of a great blend of cheeses that gave it a great flavor profile with lots of depth, and while I'm not sure I have ever said this before, my only complaint might have been that there was a little too much butter used in the grilling. I know... too much butter?? Is that possible? It certainly didn't stop me from finishing my half of the sandwich, but it did make it feel a little greasy when combined with all the cheese! The salad that was served with the grilled cheese was simple, but perfectly dressed with a simple vinaigrette that balanced the richness of the sandwich. I will definitely be back to try more of the menu items. There were quite a few other things I wanted to try, like the deviled eggs! Our service was attentive but not overbearing, and all the staff were friendly and welcoming. I loved that they folded the napkins on our neighbor's table when they stepped outside for a minute (see photo). It's those little touches that make all the difference! Thanks Leo's for a great evening!"