Any chef who wants to make and serve grits should be required to learn how to make them from the kitchen of Early Girl Eatery. Most of the time girts have the consistency of wall paper paste, and the flavor to match, then you put a whole bunch of crap on them in order to choke them down. Well, with the grits at Early Girl, you don't need any of that. Salt and pepper are all you need. The key, I am told, is that they are fresh and stone ground. All I know is that they are great. The tofu scramble is very good, with lots of veggies, and the Early Girl Bennie, which I had without the eggs to make it vegan, is great. The freshness of the produce really comes out in the food. The veggie cup is also worth the $4 price tag. You get great fruit and no grapes! They could work on their coffee though. The first day I went there it was fine, the second day is was too strong, and I generally like my coffee strong.
(5)
Glenn B.
Breakfast all day long...can it get any better? I had the poached egg with tomato gravy over grit cakes; our family had fried chicken salad, black bean omelet, chicken salad plate, vegetarian chili, and the cobb salad. There were compliments all around. The prices are reasonable, the service very friendly, with everyone meeting and greeting us on the way in and on the way out. The wait service was very attentive, but not in your way if you want to sit and talk. The atmosphere is bright and cheery.
(5)
chris j.
Great food, great coffee.and great service. OJ was delicious. Would highly recommend this establishment . Don't miss when visiting downtown Asheville
(5)
Lauren H.
Love this place! The food is so delicious, the atmosphere is delightful and the price is right. I always take friends and family here who come to visit. It's a great example of an Asheville restaurant. Plus, they serve B-L-D, which is great! The wait can get long on the weekends for breakfast so I usually go for lunch or dinner.
(5)
Jim N.
Great food, had the chicken sandwich and the garlic potato pancakes. Delicious. 40mins wait to get a table for lunch but not a problem as we spent the time walking around.
(4)
Reggie G.
I really like the concept of Early Girl and almost everything about it, I just think the food falls a little bit flat. It is worth checking out though, it has a great location and a nice sunny dining room. They do a ton of local, sustainable ingredients and it has a wonderful mission.
(3)
Amy J.
The quality of food here is excellent. Like a number of other Asheville restaurants, they pride themselves on serving fresh, locally grown food, which I think helps to provide really good flavor and quality. I love all the vegetarian options and look forward to returning on my next visit to Asheville to try a lunch dish. A complaint I have is the absence of their vegetarian sausage on the menu - I know it's something they used to serve which I was looking forward to trying. The wait was also a little unexpected considering we went on a weekday morning, but it was during the holidays and Asheville is a touristy area, I suppose this is to be expected.
(4)
Nick Z.
The Early Girl Eatery was one of our first dining stops on a trip through the Appalachians and into the low country and was one of my favorites as well. We stayed with a local friend of ours and woke up to wander around and grab breakfast here. Thanks to our savvy friend, we walked in the restaurant and put our name on the list before wandering around. Had I been sitting there the whole time, the long wait may easily have soured the meal but instead we walked around downtown Asheville for a bit, worked up a good appetite, and came back just as our table opened up. While I savored my first "true" sweet tea of the trip, I got to know the menu and was impressed not just with the selections offered but also with the "eat local" options, like delicious breakfast sausage made nearby. It might be a yuppie thing to like, but I can appreciate any restaurant that goes out of its way to buy local. Breakfast was delicious, our waitress was charming, and the place had a very positive atmosphere. I love a busy, bustling joint to eat breakfast in. It's the most refreshing way to begin the morning.
(5)
Eileen O.
Nice warm cozy friendly atmosphere. big smiles from all who work there. Really enjoyed everything. Will definitely return.
(5)
Ben H.
This place had a really long wait - in fact, longer than Tupelo Honey when we went there. But eventually we got a seat and ordered. The service was okay. Locally-procurred food/farm-to-table is great and all, but I don't really care where the food comes from when it comes down to it. The more important issue for me is if the food is good or not. I had one of the specials - it was a broccoli omelette. It was just bad. The broccoli had a very weird taste to it and the eggs were not well cooked. I tried some other food and was not impressed. This restaurant seems to be hyped because it is "cute" and offers local food for vegetarians/vegans/super ecoconscious. I don't get it. TH was much better. 2
(2)
Lydia L.
The Early Girl Eatery had been a go-to pace for us while we lived in NC. It was always reliable with lots of fresh, regional food presented without artifice or extraneous fluff. Since we are veggies, we knew we would always find lots of selections and tended to go by the daily special board. It can get a little noisy but the local artists represented on the walls makes a good distraction. My big gripe with EGE is the restroom facilities. It is awkward to get the key, deal with the doors and locks at the facilities down the hall and somehow keep the hands germ-free. The service is usually cheery and the lines for a table can get long at weekends but there is enough of a distraction outside to make it worth the wait.
(4)
Rob T.
Short 20 minute wait, unique dishes cooked with local ingredients. I had the egg and pork scramble featuring delicious sweet potatoes, my wife had the breakfast bowl, which was amazing! Definitely worth the trip when you visit Asheville but probably a long wait on the weekends, restaurant is small.
(4)
Brian K.
Early Girl is my favorite spot to eat in Asheville. I'm there almost every morning for breakfast. Another reviewer was critical and I'll say this - they get it right every day. In fact over the past month they've gotten better. Dinner there is always fabulous ...
(5)
Therese G.
This was the only place in Asheville that we had a disappointing meal in. We went for dinner and our meal was mediocre at best. We started with the cheddar-broccoli hush puppies and they were not good. They tasted like nothing but fried cornmeal, barely had any flavor at all. We barely touched them but the server didn't seem very concerned that we didn't eat them. Go ahead and skip them. We then had the pan fried chicken and the pork tenderloin medallions, both with mashed potatoes and herbed gravy. Chicken was alright and so were the pork medallions but they were tiny! Three ultra thin slices were just not worth the price. The one bright spot with the meal was the jam served with the biscuits. Raspberry awesomeness. I believe they get it form a local farmer and you can actually purchase jars of it at the restaurant. Service was so so and a little confusing, we had three different servers. Maybe we should have gone for breakfast or lunch but we will probably not go back.
(2)
Bert B.
Good food and good service. 3 stars simply because they don't open until 9 on Sat/Sun. Some other reviews talk about the wait but that is at all Asheville breakfast joints. Got to get there as soon as they open to get in without a long wait.
(3)
Dave S.
This place is pretty good. I must admit to being slightly let down, but that was only because it had been built up so much for us by people we know. I do suggest going for dinner, because we managed to get right in. When we tried going for breakfast once we had over an hour wait that we abandoned. I got a quiche that ended up being great. My side salad was really good as well. We also ordered a biscuit because we heard they were great. It ended up being only average. Especially when compared to tupelo honey's biscuit. My wife got the vegetable plate, which I sampled. There was mac and cheese on the side, and it was only average as well. The broccoli casserole was incredible though. I definitely recommend going, but if you have to choose between here and Tupelo Honey, pick Tupelo Honey.
(4)
Kelly K.
A good variety of southern and healthy cuisine, and vegetarian friendly.
(5)
Robert T.
Worth the wait. Get here early if you don't want to wait a while for a table. Food was great and everyone was supper nice. Only down side was smelling the great food while having to wait
(4)
Shawn T.
Bean and cheese omelet was great. As a non-vegetarian I was impressed. You won't miss the meat.
(5)
Lauren R.
The vibe is hipster-indifferent. If you like the food, great. If you don't, that's too bad because no one seems really interested in asking you about your experience. That being said, the food was fresh and the breakfast options were plentiful. I was disappointed by the biscuits, though. A little heavy.
(3)
Allen L.
Our Ashevillian hosts took us here on our first day. I wimped out and had a cobb salad, which was perfect but I should have gone for something grander. My wife, on the other hand, took the advice of the host and had a cheeseburger which he had said was the best in Asheville. Apparently, he's correct. It's a pretty kid friendly place, indeed. The only problem with it, and any other eatery in Asheville is that we were there in summer and there is NO place to park. Hey, Asheville! Time to build some parking lots!
(4)
huong n.
we stopped here for a hearty breakfast to prepare us for a long drive to orlando. the food was delicious; the portions were huge, and we struggled to finish. the service was friend. i adored the decor - country with style.
(4)
Jeff R.
Is it worth it to wait an hour for eggs on a Sunday only half an hour after a place opens? No. But still, the eggs at Early Girl were good.
(4)
Julie L.
It's pretty good. I had a strange dish and I enjoyed it. I like the atmosphere. From the front, you couldn't tell how large it was. In any case, good sweet potato cakes. Really surprising - even my pepperoni pizza and cheeseburger loving roomie liked it.
(4)
Danny P.
Pretty tasty brunch! Can usually get a table under ten minutes at the busiest brunching hours. I've only had breakfast there, but the service and food are quite decent. Nothing spectacular, but good. Would recommend to friends.
(4)
Gina D.
Fun casual and delicious local spot. Perfect for lunch. Food was unique and creative. We had the garlic herb hush puppies with apple butter. I had a tasty grilled chicken salad with apples and walnuts. Expect a wait, though--always crowded. For Atlantans, this was very similar to Flying Biscuit.
(4)
Amy V.
I love the idea of fresh food from local venders. The menu was creative and had a good selection of choices. I didn't go crazy, but the salad was very good. There was a bit of a wait, but when you're in downtown Asheville there's plenty to do to keep busy. Early Girl keeps their atmosphere cozy with tables close and a large "patio-esque" dining area. You would never know from the cramped foyer that the place was as big as it is.
(4)
H. L.
I've eaten at the Early Girl twice. Once quite recently and the other time last May. I got the same breakfast each time, the Early Girl Benny, and am now totally addicted to it. If you're expecting Eggs Benedict, you might be disappointed. The Early Girl Benny is two poached eggs served over grit cakes with tomato gravy and avocado on top. Both times I got it with the addition of country ham. It was totally worth it! The service is excellent and the coffee is hot and plentiful.
(5)
Silvia D.
We really enjoyed this restaurant! The breakfasts were delicious, wholesome, and filling. The staff were lovely. Great atmosphere.
(5)
sarah c.
Probably one of my best meals every. Not only did I enjoy it, but the other three members all died of deliciousness too. We all shared the specials. Not only did we try dinner, we went back for brunch the following day. I can tell you they are doing it so right, its... its... its... oh I want to move to Ashville and work there.
(5)
Alejandro A.
Good, eclectic country food that will satisfy any country boy or any "Wall Street" broker. They don't take reservations and are packed because they are good, so leave your name with the host and wander for a while.
(4)
Craig G.
Do not get their fried green tomatoes. They're fried to a barely edible dark crisp... And it reminds me of a shity roadside diner.
(2)
stephanie c.
I dream about Early Girl. When I lived in Asheville, it was my favorite restaurant. I think it still may be. Nothing is over the top, but everything is made with quality and community in mind. I recommend it highly, especially for breakfast.
(5)
Roy K.
Great food all local fare. Went with a group and everyone groaned in delight as they ate their bfast. Went on a weekday so not a bad wait but I can imagine this place getting packed out on weekends.
(5)
Jason R.
Perfect roasted parsnips. That alone makes them excellent. And it's yet another reason why you should pay attention to the current specials. Overall, very good, fresh, and as local as reasonable food. The dishes are tight and well prepared. The mountain trout was amazing, with the substance of salmon but pure trout flavor. The cheeseburger's meat was juicy and flavorful, the basil mayo balanced well, and the cheese was a nice accent. The service was good, but there were few enough parties that service is easy. Our waitress was somewhat knowledgeable
(4)
Liz P.
AMAZING! The food was incredibly delicious. Our waitress was very friendly and even brought us over some jars of the jam we loved so much.
(5)
Lothar H.
Quit reading this and just go! It is really that good.
(5)
Maggy K.
My husband and I were staying in Asheville this past week and checked out the Early Girl Eatery as suggested by my cousin and her husband. I had the tempeh ruben sandwich which was absolutely delicious! My husband had a hummus, avocado, and bean sprout sandwich which was also very good. We both had a side of beets which were so fresh and delicious as well. I would definitely recommend eating here!
(4)
Alison F.
When a friend found out I would be passing through Asheville, she told me that I absolutely had to check out the food here. It did not disappoint. I had a yummy mock-chicken dish with delicious biscuits (mmmm!). The restaurant was filled with light and had an airy atmosphere.
(4)
Kerry K.
We had a nice breakfast here, food was good but did not match the hype.
(4)
Stacey F.
Enjoyed dinner here while visiting Asheville for a conference. We were a large group and they accommodated us nicely. I had the french onion soup (which was ok), and the Fried Chicken Salad (which was delicious). I also tasted my friend's Fried Green Tomatoes, which were good. Another friend's salad came with Grits Croutons - delicious!
(4)
J K.
Had an absolutely amazing dinner here. Huge bowls of black bean soup for $3, beautiful fresh salads, and the best veggie platter ever. The collard greens are a bit salty, but amazing. Highly recommend and will be revisiting when I return to Asheville!
(5)
Joann D.
This place fantastic and what every restaurant should be. Early Girl uses local food and makes everything from scratch. Isn't that what we should expect when we pay others to cook for us? The vegetarian cream gravy was heavenly and I am not a fan of gravy. There was a bit of a wait but it was worth it.
(4)
Lynn T.
Very cute restaurant with friendly staff. Was expecting greatness, based on other reviews but was somewhat dissapointed. I did not think the food was all that great. Just so-so.
(3)
Photon O.
The scramble with sausage and sweet potato was amazing. A friend also complimented the fried green tomatoes. However, the two people who ordered sandwiches ( grilled chicken and BBQ pork) were really disappointed. I recommend sticking with the breakfast items.
(4)
Baron V.
Just excellent. Really good stuff. Staff is all cute hipster girls it seemed, so that doesn't hurt.
(5)
Asheville A.
I want so much to like this place. The problem rests on the staff. Everytime I walk down Wall Street kitchen staff is standing around smoking and/or spitting on the sidewalk. The food is good but by all appearances it's not the cleanest crew. I also like walking into a place and not overhearing sexist and crazy conversations by the kitchen folks--who are right inside the front door.
(1)
Clark M.
My office is nearby and I eat here a lot. The food is fantastic, fresh, and local. The Cobb salad is my go to dish. You can avoid the crowd by hitting them up for dinner; compared to the lunch crowd dinner is a best kept secret. Though known for the healthy stuff, their burger is one of the best downtown and about a buck cheaper than some of the other fancy burgers you could choose from in the area.
(5)
Tara U.
I wish I lived in Asheville so I could eat here all the time. I've eaten here three times over two visits to the city, and I've never been disappointed. You can actually taste how fresh the food is! That's something that I never even thought was possible. Go here. Seriously.
(5)
Britt G.
I love Early Girl. I always bring visiting family and friends here, and have also chosen the Eatery for dates and special celebrations. Plus, as my girlfriend says, "Where else are you going to go when one person is craving pancakes and the other a veggie burger?" Their breakfast is absolutely amazing, especially their pancakes, and the vegan bean burger is so incredible that I can't make myself eat anything else whenever I'm there. My only complaint is that, as Caitlin S. said, the waitresses consistently seem to be either bored or slightly annoyed. They're not rude, but not incredibly friendly. It's worth the trip, though.
(4)
Jessica E.
Everything is always delicious here! Love their herb gravy and biscuits.
(5)
Jason L.
Before heading out on what would be a long day at the Biltmore Estate we decided to take a walk from our downtown hotel and find a hearty local breakfast. We decided to eat at the Early Girl Eatery since it had lots of positive reviews on Yelp. After reading through some of the previous reviews I have to say I am not as in love with this place as some of the other reviewers. The food was average and I have the experience to say this since I worked at a family owned breakfast/lunch joint for years when I was a teenager. It takes a lot to impress me breakfast wise since I can cook better breakfast food than my grandma (hopefully she doesn't see this). First and foremost the service was just lukewarm for me. No one seemed overly thrilled to have us there and our waitress for the most part was inattentive. When you have a dining room that isn't much bigger than a squash court it isn't that hard to keep tabs on who needs their drink topped off. The sig-o ordered the shrimp and grits since we have to try this at just about every new restaurant we go to. The grits weren't cooked long enough and the sauce accompanying the shrimp was a bit spicy (this coming from someone who can eat wasabi paste whole). Make sure to bring your Prilosec before ordering this dish or you will pay for it the rest of the day. I decided to order the sweet potato sausage scramble. Can't say I have ever seen a scramble with sweet potatoes before but since I am addicted to this Southern staple I had to try it. Sweet potatoes were very good but the scramble had way too many eggs for my liking. There wasn't anything memorable about this dish. The biscuit was ordinary but the raspberry jam was superb. The food wasn't strong enough to warrant another visit. The waitresses all looked like they were PMSing so hopefully the manager will keep some Midol stocked in the back so it won't be so obvious to the customers.
(2)
G R.
One of my favorite breakfast spots ... anywhere! I eat here at least once everytime I visit asheville. I've never been disappointed w/the food, and there are always many vegetarian (and vegan) options. Their vegertarian 'herb gravy' on biscuits is freakin' awesome. Service has been outstanding. This place could give lessons to several other local spots on how to treat customers. No attitude here! Thanks!
(5)
Joel C.
Early Girl is a pretty good place to eat downtown. However for breakfast I would pick the Sunny Point Cafe every time. On this visit I had an omlet that was underwhelming. The pumpkin ginger bread was very good though. If you are already downtown or the Sunny Point is too busy the Early Girl is good choice. Be prepared for a pretty long wait during peak times. It was shorter that Tupelo though. It is a shame that the first category that shows up for Early Girl is vegetarian. They have options but Southern is much more appropriate.
(3)
James D.
I'd give it 5 stars, but they were out of the two items I was hoping to get when i was seated. We stiil ended up having a great dinner so would highly recommend!
(4)
sadie m.
Happy pretty decor. Friendly silly waitstaff. Making a meal choice was the worst part, having to deny myself all the tempting options like free range fried chicken or the Cobb salad. I chose the local steroids free cheeseburger with fries and India spice tea. The burger was the best I've ever eaten in my life. No contest. Plenty of options for vegetarians and dessert lovers. I regret passing up the coconut cake. But there WILL be a next time! Must must must try if in Ashville NC!
(5)
Emily U.
If I lived in Asheville, Early Girl would be in my top rotation for breakfast and brunch without a doubt. Fun and creative menu, with ample veggie options. I always try vegetarian biscuits and gravy when the opportunity arises and EG's was the most delicious version I've had to date! The tofu scramble could have boasted more exciting taste sensations, but the excellent hot sauce they offered helped boost the flavor. I ate with a large party and everyone raved about their choices so overall: Early Girl WIN!
(4)
Merrick B.
So amazing. The best brunch I've had in a long time. Everything was fantastic, although the wait was a bit long and the service a bit slow.
(5)
Sanjeev B.
We got take out and so can't comment on the atmosphere. We ordered simple preparations -- shrimp and grits, grilled pimento cheese sandwich and collard greens with ham. The shrimp and gits were fairly spicy and overall good. The collards were excellent -- smoky due to the ham and not excessively vinegary. The sandwich was better than average but not notable, mainly since the pimento cheese was not memorable. Not bad, just not memorable. The food & the menu definitely has promise -- we'd return in heartbeat.
(3)
Natalie T.
One of the best spots in Asheville to eat breakfast. Normally a long wait, so u got to get there early. Yummy!
(5)
Kate F.
Awesome!! We went here based on some other Yelp reviews, and we were not disappointed. We went for brunch and had the Fried Green Tomato appetizer (awesome, hot and crunchy - great flavor), the porky bowl was a huge hit, an egg sandwich on a biscuit, which had real bacon and a great fluffy biscuit, and one strawberry-banana pancake, which was also delicious. It was family-friendly for sure, there were a lot of kids. The prices were reasonable, especially for the quality of the food. We would definitely recommend and will dream of going back!
(5)
London A.
We love this place! Came for lunch today and were nowhere in the area but couldn't pass up the opportunity for a good meal. I had an omelet with spinach, herbs, tomatoes and cheese. Everything was so fresh and came out piping hot. The home fries and biscuit was just right. My husband had the southern breakfast with the best stone ground grits ever. I hate grits in general and these made me rethink that. The children's menu is pretty extensive and I love that you can order the veggie plate for kids which is 3 side items and a biscuit. They even have old school kids toys when you sit down to entertain your kids. My favorite food item there has got to be the broccoli and cheddar hush puppies. You must try these out! You won't regret it. The daily specials always look so good and creative. Today there was tomato, spinach and pimento cheese quiche among a few other things. I have read reviews of people saying the wait staff is unfriendly but we haven't found that in the 2 times we've been there. Just imagine your good friend serving you; they aren't going to kiss your butt just because you are a customer. They are laid back but that isn't a negative thing in my mind. The only negative was the longish wait. We were told 30-40 minute wait and it was almost an hour. We did arrive right at noon on a saturday so I understand why. I was confused though because when we were seated the dining room wasn't even all the way full. The other negative: I was seated under something dripping water from the ceiling. No biggie just a little annoying. Love this place and we will be back!
(5)
Henry F.
Loved breakfast here. Lots of choices -- and not all them huge calorie feasts (that's a good thing)! Somebody noted that they don't open early on the weekends.
(4)
Ryan M.
Fantastic Brunch spot (not bad for dinner either), especially for the veggie inclined. Carne that I am however, they served me one of the best omelets I've had in the last ten years. Combined with great service and easy check splits, this is 5 stars enthusiastically. What biscuits, what jam, what hot sauce.
(5)
Matt K.
AWESOME breakfast! I only wish we had tried them for lunch or dinner. I had an omelet and Michele had the early girl benedict. Both were fabulous. We ended up here on a Monday morning because tupelo had a 45 minute wait and there really weren't any other places open. Had we known how good it was, it wouldn't have been our second choice. They serve great food and the waitresses know what it means to take care of their tables. Try it...it is awesome!
(5)
Lou L.
I recently took a trip to Asheville, NC and fell in love with the town. It is such a quaint place with an abundance of restaurants. I am so happy to have stumbled upon this restaurant for a Friday afternoon lunch. I ate the pulled pork sandwich with mac n' cheese. It was delicious! My friend even ordered this to go so he could have it as an afternoon snack. Everything seems extremely fresh. Definitely a go to restaurant if you are in the area!
(5)
Krista J.
I don't think their website did them justice. We loved having breakfast here. The vegetarian options are delious. Especially the sausage, made with grits and tempeh.
(4)
Elise H.
Visiting from out of town, this place was recommended. We went for an early dinner and was seated right away. The waitress was really nice and helpful with questions we had. I had the special soup of the day; cauliflower, and was very good and not overly plain. I wasn't very hungry when I was there but there were several items on the menu that seemed enticing for next time. Coloring on the table while we waited was a nice touch too, made the time go by faster :) Would definitely recommend this place.
(4)
b r.
The Early Girl is my favorite place in town to eat! They have delicious, local, organic food, plenty of vegetarian options, and everything is always delicious. The waitstaff is great, the specials they have are always creative and fresh, and the atmosphere is sunny, bright, open, and there are lovely plants hanging around. Brunch is always packed, so be sure to be ready to wait or get there early, but it's always worth it. They have great in house made veggie sausage, and their vegetarian white gravy is superb! The sweet tea is always good, the fried chicken is delicious, and the vegetarian reuben is the best I've had! This is the first place we take anyone visiting us, and everyone always loves it!
(5)
matt t.
Everything I love about Asheville is here at Early girl: warm friendly people and locally produced ingredients. I had a bean burger which was tasty but kind of fell apart. This place is just another reason to move out here. But right now its 75 degrees in San Diego...
(4)
Frank R.
A great combo of modern, veggie cuisine and old-style southern. So many items on the menu that I wanted to try. Daily special vegetables and desserts wereterific.
(4)
Jessica I.
It's pretty tasty. Good place for brunch or lunch. The service is descent. The prices were fair. I probably will back.
(3)
Clarence H.
Don't miss the lemon shaker pie, it is to die for.
(4)
Scott S.
Ordered Spinach salad with apples walnuts and grilled chicken. It was average. Ordered trout that was average too. The waiter was not attentive and rude. Appetizer never showed up.
(2)
DJ A.
If I lived in Asheville, I would brunch here every weekend. The atmosphere is warm and bright and the food is delicious. The pumpkin bread was especially delightful. The coffee is great too. What makes the food so special is that much is locally sourced and clearly prepared with an artisan's touch.
(4)
Justin M.
A friend of mine demanded that I go eat at the Early Girl when he heard I was traveling through Asheville, on the notion that after having their biscuits, my life would no longer be the same. He was absolutely right. I had the Shrimp and Grits breakfast special, with chorizo sausage, peppers, onions, and a tomato-based gravy. At first I was wary of getting shrimp and grits for breakfast, but I just had to try them. I am so glad that I did. Everything was cooked perfectly, and the server told us that even the grits were stone ground right there in the kitchen. My wife had the Local Sausage and Sweet Potato scramble, which I liked even better than my shrimp and grits. They must use organic free-range eggs, because I have never seen such a bright yellow or tasted such flavorful eggs from my local grocery store. The local sausage was very well-made, correctly seasoned, and delicious.... ...which brings me to the biscuits. Oh my Lord. I'm not a fan of white flour-and-lard based gravy, so I chose to forego it on my biscuits and eat them with butter and jam instead. From the outside, the biscuits looked as if they would be dry in the center, as the crust was quite crispy. However, upon further inspection, parting this piece of pastry perfection revealed an inside that was soft and moist as a cloud, and so delicious, I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. In a word, perfection. In the future, I will eat at the Early Girl on any chance I get.
(5)
Michael S.
I was expecting something a bit healthier. We had breakfast, and both our dishes were quite greasy. I actually sent back the shrimp and grits, which were swimming in bacon grease, in favor of the vegan tofu scramble. The food is pretty good, but if you are looking for something healthy, inquire about the grease factor first. What really saved the day was our server, who was very gracious, and made every effort to make sure we were happy.
(4)
Sarah S.
While on holiday in Asheville, it was recommended to try out this little eatery. Located in a super hip part of downtown, this hole in the wall is easy to miss, but worth a look! The decor is simple and cute and features lots of local art. The waitstaff could easily be the poster-children for the hipster generation, but are very friendly and helpful. Our waitress was beyond sweet and offered great recommendations for food. The menu features mostly (if not all) local and organic products. The restaurant's concept is fresh and local farm to table comfort southern food. While I am not usually a huge southern food fan, this eatery IS every part of it that I LOVE! The food was fresh, it was healthy (ironic, right!?!), it was unique and interesting, and it was absolutely delicious!! I without a doubt would say this was my favorite restaurant in what I consider a great "foodie" town! If you are in town, don't miss this great little place!!
(5)
Alberto C.
Scratch cooking... great breakfast eatery I visited on my North Carolina excursion. Located on "Wall Street" in Asheville, North Carolina, the entrance to the restaurant has a European street feel to it. Parking requires coins for street meter. The service was excellent and friendly. We had a party of four and everyone enjoyed their breakfasts (Southern Breakfast special, Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy, and the Southern Fried Catfish Special). The cooking seems to be creative as suggested by the daily specials (a.k.a. "3 mushroom omelet" - Portabello, Shiitake and Crimini mushrooms). Would definitely recommend! Found on Yelp! of course...
(4)
Gayle G.
I showed up about 2:30 for a late lunch. Promptly sat at a lovely window table, I began to peruse the menu. I was sad that I didn't make it for breakfast for shrimp & grits. I decided on a glass of tea and the Fried Green BLT with my side dish of, Hoppin' John. After about five minutes my plate arrived. Very simple. Just regular wheat toast with plenty of bacon, just one piece of lettuce. The fried green tomatoes were well done, almost overdone. The mayo, I think, had a lil' dijon mixed in. The sandwich was tasty, nothing fancy, something like my Gramma would make. And I love my Gramma. The hoppin' John was bad. Not just bad, but bad bad. The rice was old and dried out and crunchy. The beans were mushy and none of it was warm. I was shocked. I ordered a slice of red velvet cake to go, to eat at the airport while I was waiting for my flight. Once at the airport, I was excited for my cake. Boo hoo...not impressed at all. The red velvet was more of a fuschia. It was super dense, almost pound cake dense. The flavor wasn't there. I will say that the frosting was tasty. Three bites and I tossed it. I've NEVER tossed cake, cookies maybe, but not cake. (hehe) Overall, I was disappointed. I do realize that since it was the very end of the lunch shift, stuff may not have been the freshest. I'll give it another try, but only one and then I'm breaking up with the Early Girl.
(3)
David O.
Best biscuits and gravy ever!
(5)
Christopher R.
**Update** 3.5 stars if I could We went back again last week, and the lines were even longer which I will not complain about. It is what it is. Unfortunately, my experience was not nearly as good as when we ate there a couple years back. They gave me the wrong order and I had to wait while my partner ate his breakfast. I ordered grits and they were served REALLY undercooked. I was shocked that they would actually even bother bringing that to the table unless they want to give their diners a stomach ache. The waitress told me that I probably would not like them if they remade it anyway, so I took the cue and canceled the grits. The jam I liked so much the first time is now on the table in a ketchup squeeze bottle. That doesn't work. When I attempted to squeeze jam onto my biscuit the stuff was so thick that the whole top of the container literally flew off and I ended up with half a bottle of jam on my plate. My omelet was good when it arrived, and Len got to watch me eat it. Good coffee! I am not about to say I won't ever go back. Far from it. This place is SLAMMED during breakfast on the weekend, so I have to cut them some slack for that. I love the dining room. A lot. It is an incredibly warm and inviting space, and the vibe from the other diners was very nice. I would advise trying to skip prime time for breakfast and aim for a bit later. Brunch anyone? **************************************************Â*************************************** The line was long, but as Is often the case it was worth it. I ordered an omelet with local made cheddar, spinach, mushroom, and country ham. It came with home fries and a biscuit. My omelet was well made and not at all greasy. I'd say it was perfectly cooked. The home fries were excellent, long slow cooked and very tasty with the hot sauce they serve at the table. The biscuit was the best I have ever had. Oh my god. So so good. The jam at the table was really good too. Their coffee was nice and fresh. I loved my breakfast.
(3)
Iris S.
Visiting from DC. Went to Sunny Point the day before. This place is ok, but only ok. Especially compared to Sunny Point. What Sunny Point has over Early Girl: 1) the service -- got a fly in my water. asked the server for a new glass. never got one. asked for sweetener for coffee and never got that either. 2) the menu -- just not as many options as Sunny Point 3) the portions -- i'm not a huge eater but I was left still hungry after finishing my small omelet 4) the quality/taste -- everything was very mediocre including my BF's pancakes and my omelet. In general, it's a fine place to go if you are downtown but if you want to be wow'd, make the short drive over to Sunny Point.
(3)
Jake S.
Dang this food is delicious! Plus, they give you paper & crayons so you can make pictures! Okay! Good job!
(5)
Viet H.
I came into town to perform at the Laugh Your Asheville Comedy Festival and I was told by a friend to check this place out. After eating lunch there I can see why. Everything I put in my mouth was delicious. I ordered the pan-fried free range chicken covered in gravy and some sides. The biscuits were amazing. The staff was very friendly and attentive. When the waitress brought glasses of ice she happened to give us glasses that matched the color of the ones we had (we all had different color glasses). It's not that big of a deal and I don't even know if that was done on purpose but that's what I call paying attention to detail :-) I'll definitely come back to this place the next time I'm in town.
(5)
Crystal M.
This place is really good. The food was unexpectedly sophisticated and well executed. The service was also quite good, and the environment reasonably friendly...and they serve brunch drinks (yay). There was a lengthy wait on a weekend for brunch, which was a little unexpected to me, but it was worth it.
(4)
Joshua R.
I am quite sleepy and there are so many reviews to write... but Early Girl is a solid, great, sorta-southern restaurant in a good location with good people. Get it? Prices are fair, food will satisfy you deeply.
(5)
guido s.
I really like this place. They put a lot of pride and work into the food they serve. Which, you should enjoy. Nothing crazy or quirky about their food, just good solid entrees to please.
(5)
BLAUGRAN A.
Just got back from Asheville today and Early Girl is the first place I'm going to review. Why? Well the food was FANTASTIC! More on that in a bit though. We actually went to Early Girl Eatery as a second choice. It was a Summer Friday night and downtown Asheville was really buzzing about 8pm. We were actually headed to Tupelo Honey Cafe instead, but they had an hour wait. We were too hungry and it was getting too late so we decided to head over to Early Girl. Well what a blessing in disguise that was. Now I will say we'd have gone to Early Girl at some point during our stay anyway, so don't just think was dumb luck. So we were seated right away, though we lucked out at the time of night at that point as it was pretty full in there. I thought I'd recalled reading it was a "kid friendly" spot. Well it certainly looked that way. In fact the father and son next to us showed me that first hand as the little flicked food at his Dad and caught me as well. I didn't though because I was loving my dinner. Anyway, there were families of all ages there so if you've got kids you should feel more than comfortable taking the whole family. On to the food! Now I'm a picky eater. I'm getting better as I get older, but at some point as a child I went from eating just about everything to becoming quite picky. So when eating out I tend be picky and eat the food that's not quite as healthy for you. Still I love fresh ingredients and organic food. Well Early Girl Eatery was right up my alley as it's "farm to table" philosophy helps take something as ordinary as a hamburger to something special. And yes, as you might have guessed, I got the burger. The cheeseburger to be precise and I got it really plain. Well in this case that was the smart thing as the cheese they used was phenominal. It was an aged white cheddar that was graded. Now when the waitress told me the cheese was graded I was skeptical. Well while I still don't understand why the cheese was graded, let me tell you that it was DELICIOUS! The burger itself was fresh and delicious, yet even adding some ketchup couldn't take away from the taste of that white cheddar. Overall the burger was cooked to perfection and it was one of the best I've ever had and I'd be willing to bet the best in Asheville. The fries were quite good and fresh, cut from the potato taste and look. Wash it all down with a local brew (a mix of local brews available, though not each breweries whole lineup which seems to be typical of Asheville). My Dad loved his meal as well. He had the Grilled Chicken sandwich. Now I normally get dessert, but we passed as we were both full and I thought the dessert menu sounded a bit flat. As for the space and the decor, I loved it. I love their sign and that symbol is even on their glasses. NOTE TO THE OWNERS, I'd have bought some glasses if you made taller ones as well, and I'm a dude. Anyway, the space was bright and colorfully painted. It also had local artwork on the wall. While this seems typically Asheville, this fit the business and space better than most. Finally, a note on the service. The Service was very good. What really impressed me though was that every single employee that we passed on our way out the door, and there were three of them, either said "goodbye" or thanked us for coming. A couple of things of note. They share a bathroom with the offices adjacent to the building. You take one of the ladles with a key on it and head down the hall to use it. Not at all a problem,, but just in case you can't find it. It's on Wall Street which is a cool little side street downtown (the one with the iron statue on the end). There is a lot on the west end of the street or street parking on other streets around. If you're visiting Asheville, I'd say Early Girl Eatery is a must. Sadly we never made it back for breakfast, and believe me that was the plan. If you live in Asheville and you haven't been here yet, what are you waiting for?
(5)
Liz W.
Had the best breakfast there today! Spinach and potato pancakes with tomato gravy. Great atmosphere, friendly staff. Going again tomorrow.
(5)
Jason M.
Very very good shrimp and grits - get there when they open to avoid the rush.
(5)
Michael D.
Not so good last night: tiny half-dollar sized, overpriced crabcakes ($15); stale bread for kid's pb&j; veggie sides were bland and uninteresting; sweet potato bean cakes tasteless besides sweet potato. The mushroom soup and lemonade were great. The staff was typically 'too cool', yawning at the tourists, and not happy to see a toddler. Took too long to get the check, and lordy the kitchen was smoky, sending a haze throughout the place. Won't go back, even though I had remembered the place fondly from a decade ago.
(2)
arielle g.
After reading so many great reviews about Early Girl, I was excited to eat there during my trip to Asheville. A local even recommended it! It's a cute place to eat and our server was friendly. The food was decent, but nothing special. Early Girl is what I would call a "finer diner" and though the food didn't excite me as much as I had hoped, it has a good vibe and supports using local food and offering veggie options.
(2)
Joris M.
Very honest food, simple, locally-sourced and prepared with care; close to home cooking. Service is friendly and efficient. Small, but quality beer selection. Nice location overlooking the triangular park on Patton Avenue. Super kid-friendly, so if you do not appreciate the chatter of little ones, steer clear. I liked it, though.
(4)
Meg O.
I chose the Early Girl Eatery to celebrate my birthday brunch, which I think says it all. I've only eaten here three times, and every time I got the black eyed pea cakes with this lemony gravy, but man, I would pay for the recipe! They're incredible! Like so many restaurants in Asheville, the Early Girl boasts a lot of local, organic food. It was incredibly popular with the Bread Loaf crowd this summer. There were people who dined here for more times than I, and enjoyed lunch and dinner too. I really love the sunny dining room and the large wooden tables. The tomato-decorated windows on the outside are adorable too. Oh, how I miss Asheville!
(5)
John M.
Early Girl Eatery is one of our favorites in Asheville. We actually got some friends a gift cert here (see my review of Mellow Mushroom, also in Asheville) because we wanted to support the place. Asheville is a town that very much focuses on community agriculture and farming in general, and Early Girl fits nicely. They focus on locally procured food, with 50-75% of the food on your plate coming from a local source at any given time. They have some good wine and beer, and a friendly staff. Everything we had was very good, although I can't remember because to this day we're on a culinary tour of Asheville that we have yet to complete. It's just the kind of place you feel good about frequenting - it's good for Asheville and good for you too.
(5)
casey c.
what a wonderful way to be introduced to Asheville. I would absolutely LOVE having this restaurant here in Morgan Hill. There are similar places, but nothing in my neighborhood. The service was friendly. The food was healthy, fresh, fun, and delicious. I was sooo happy to be there. If I'm ever in Asheville again, I'll very happily go there again. I only had their breakfast so I'd love to check out their lunch and dinner menu!
(4)
Chris W.
Cold toast and no juice. My wife and I visited Asheville this week and quickly fell in love with Tupelo Honey just down the street. At the urging of my sister (fellow Yelper who specializes in Chicago and Los Angeles), we visited this breakfast spot. Never again. The food was lame (ultra-fatty country ham and a dried out breakfast egg biscuit sandwich) -- and they forgot our drinks. My wife says the banana bread was good. I say the Early Girl needs to head back to bed. Try Tupelo!
(1)
R M.
The staff here were incredibly friendly - really made the experience for us. We went for breakfast and the coffee was good, and the food sounded good on the menu but was really only OK when it actually came to eating it. I would probably go back again for a weekday breakfast, mostly because the atmosphere was great and the food was decent, just not 5 star like a lot of the reviews say :-)
(3)
Bonnie L.
Best place to go for brunch in Asheville, by far - particularly for those looking for vegetarian entrees. The servers are always friendly, the ambiance is fantastic, and the food is to die for. My favorites: the tofu scramble and the strawberry pecan pancakes. And you can't leave without trying a slice of the pumpkin bread - yummy! A caveat: the waits for Sat. brunches can be upwards of 35 min., so come early or be prepared to stroll along Wall Street.
(5)
Rose M.
I still love Early Girl, despite new breakfast restaurants opening in the city. There is a community spirit fostered by eating the large window filled dining rooms surrounded by families, couples, singles sitting, reading the paper and sipping coffee. The food is still delicious. In all the years of eating here I have never been disappointed. The wait staff keeps your cup of coffee full. I have no hesitation in recommending EGE looking for a unique breakfast and a true "AVL" dining experience.
(5)
Ian R.
Without a doubt my favorite eatery in Asheville. Simple down home food with a twist. Great example, my wife had a BLFGT sandwich. A Bacon Letuce Fried Green Tomato sandwich. She finally had to tell me that I could not have any more "tastes" of her delicious sandwich. Nothing against my meal either, I don't think there is a single thing on the menu that is not excellent. Do yourself a favor and search this place out.
(5)
Meloknee H.
long wait, great food. excellent egg scramble and delicious bread. love it.
(4)
Isana G.
I want to take Early Girl and transplant it to my neighborhood. I really liked the spacious yet cozy feel of the dining area. The service was awesome. Our waitress sat down with us and gave us info about Asheville neighborhoods (we were thinking of relocating). She also had awesome tattoos and I kind of had a girl crush on her and her awesome tattoos. But that's a moot point. The food was very good. Hubby and I split the broccoli cheddar hush puppies. I had a Cobb salad and he had eggs and something something. The hush puppies with garlic dipping sauce were the best I ever had. My salad was fresh and crunchy. Hub's breakfast was tasty. We ate, had a round of breakfast beers (VACATION!), and thoroughly enjoyed the laid-back vibe of the place.
(4)
Jennifer B.
It is too bad that I compare every restaurant in Asheville to Tupelo. I went for breakfast and it was tasty. I had a veggie omelet along with some green tea. The omelet was good but nothing to be blown away by. It was good and fresh though. The service was just OK. I found myself waiting a long time for my waitress to stop by even though it wasn't super busy. But it wasn't too bad. The parking here is a bit tricky and it could be hard to find a spot but within walking distance of most places downtown. A good spot for sure and I might try to make it back for lunch or some of those hush puppies people are yelping about!
(4)
Meredith D.
It's been a little while since I ate at Early Girl, but you see... my experience was so disappointing the first time around, I keep avoiding it to give it a second chance. I went with a party of 6 for brunch on a weekend, so the wait was expected. I am totally fine with waiting when it's worth it. Unfortunately, for me, it wasn't. Our server was nice, the ambiance is bright and cheery, and there was plenty to choose from on the menu. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing. I went with a black bean and cheese omelette, pretty standard, as I had gone on a morning run earlier and wanted some protein. My omelette was practically as flat as a pancake because there were barely any black beans at all. That was disappointing considering you can buy a can of black beans for less than a dollar. They're not really something you need to scrimp on. The fried potatoes as a side were fine, but just potatoes. Everyone else seemed to be pleased, so I feel a little bad about giving it such a low review, but it seriously made me never want to go there again since there are so many other places in Asheville I love.
(2)
Dan W.
yelp did it again! great place, lots of "local charm", very friendly and efficient staff, and of course excellent food. we had Classic Breakfast - best grits ever, good eggs. coffee refills without stress, very pleasant and friendly. nothing pretentious, just terrific!
(5)
H P.
I really love Early Girl. It's fresh local ingredients, cooked well with some creativity and a lot of flavor. Southern in spirit but not too tied to tradition. I highly recommend the Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble, especially combined with very careful, small dabs of the smoky Fire on the Mountain hot sauce they have. Get a biscuit with it and put some of their delicious jam on the biscuit. So good. For lunch I like to get a meat and two, such as fried catfish, or a daily special. It's good, real food. When you walk in, due to the weird layout of the space you basically have to walk through the kitchen, which can be a little loud and kitchen-smelling. But once you're through there, the dining area is sunny and pleasant. It's a child-friendly place, they give the kids a little bucket of toys. Probably not super sanitary, but if your kid goes to preschool, no doubt they've seen worse... Two somewhat comparable restaurants nearby are Rise N Shine and Tingles. I like Rise N Shine too for breakfast, but have had some pretty bad experiences with their service. Tingles is a little more diner and a little less Southern, and it's maybe more accessible (not as heavy with the seasoning, not as quirky with the recipes). There's also Tupelo Honey of course, which is quite good, but often has a long wait. Early Girl feels more "home style" and less restaurant-like than Tupelo Honey. I wouldn't hesitate to switch to Early Girl around the corner if there's a big line of tourists at Tupelo Honey.
(5)
Nicole M.
My guy and I spent Halloween weekend in Asheville for MoogFest and tried several Asheville restaurants during our stay. Early Girl was my fave, hands down. We ordered the Early Girl Benny and the Local Sausage and Sweet Potato scramble with biscuits and a side of vegetarian herb gravy. Every bite was super delicious. I'm not generally into eggs Benedict, but Early Girl's version with grit cakes instead of English muffins and an amazing tomato gravy rocked my world. It may have been the best breakfast entree I've ever had. There was a short wait (about twenty minutes for two), but the quick, friendly service, clean, bright atmosphere, and stellar food were so worth it. It'll be my first stop on my next Asheville adventure.
(5)
Laura P.
If you want some organic, southern food (w/ vegan options)- please come here for brunch! I had some amazing raspberry/banana pancakes that were to die for! Breakfast is served all day long, and do expect there to be a wait for this delicious food. Definitely was one of my favorite spots on my first trip to Asheville!
(4)
A J.
I will keep this short: Ordered the sausage and sweet potato scramble. Take out because I was alone and it was crowded and it was my first hour in Asheville ever and I wanted to explore. $10 for a meal I would eat again and again and again? Not too shabby. Can't wait to come back with my boyfriend and have a nice sit down meal.
(4)
Daniel H.
Went to the Early Girl for the first time last October. To be honest, I can't remember what we had at all. I just remember it being really good, and I loved the place's sense of style. Since moving to the area recently, we have returned once and had breakfast. When you enter, you walk right by/through the kitchen, which is pretty nifty. Nice to see a place that isn't afraid of you seeing behind the scenes. The place is pretty casual, with plants and local art hanging about, and bright cheerful colors and a laid back feel. Staff are very friendly, and are pretty good about giving you enough attention without smothering or becoming annoying. The food is the usual Asheville "locavore" take on a lot of great dishes, and there are meat and veg options aplenty. On the recent trip, I had the local sausage and sweet potato scramble, and it was delicious! Everything was super fresh and very flavorful. My girlfriend ordered a stack of the multigrain pancakes, which were good and very filling. Overall, we would have been satisfied splitting the scramble and just ordering a single pancake on the side as a treat. One slightly bad aspect, for the breakfast crowd at least, is that the coffee just wasn't very good. It's just a regular drip coffee, which is fine as long as it's tasty, but this stuff was thick and, well, just not good. We're a little snooty about coffee, but as long as you can stand to drink a couple of cups it's fine by us (unless our goal was great coffee, of course). This stuff we couldn't handle after the first cup and sip of the second. It may have just been an off day for it. At any rate, great food, great service, and a nice vibe from Early Girl. We'll definitely be back.
(4)
Vincent H.
I went for brunch on a Saturday because everyone said it was good and I have to say it was better than good! The wait could be long even for a table for 2 so I'd recommend getting there a bit early to put your name down. Don't wonder too far because it seemed like a lot of people in the line in front of us walked way to look at the shops close by and the hostess doesn't wait for ya so we got a table pretty fast by default. While everything looked delicious on the menu, I got the sausage and sweet potato scramble with a biscuit. Sooooo good, the biscuit was great (it's not the big fluffy kind but slightly drier and has a crunch) and the jam on the table was great with it. The scramble itself was so tasty, you can taste the sausage and the sweet potato was cooked just perfectly so it still had a bite to it. I was a bit worried it would come out like much. The best part was or service, I don't think I have had such a nice, attentive waitress. I seriously think she was one of the best I have ever hard. Next time I'm in town and I'm looking for brunch in downtown I'll defn go back to this place. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I'd want to try the place for dinner to see if it's just as good (which I bet it will be).
(4)
Joe Y.
We were in town for a week and ate here twice. The first time, we came because of Yelp reviews. They were right. It is like vegetarian soul food. Very hearty, nice selection, fresh, local ingredients, plenty of stuff for non vegetarians too. Our waitress was awesome. She was very attentive and everything was quick. Very kid-friendly place, which was great for those of us with kids. I ate the exact same meal two nights in a row because it was so damn good. The apple sauce tastes like the fresh kind my grandmother made decades ago and the other veggies were amazing. In an awesome food town, this was our favorite place.
(5)
Syrah M.
My husband and I stopped here for dinner on a road trip in August 2008. I'm still dreaming of my next visit..... We stopped because it was reccomended for its "made from scratch food using quality fresh produce and ingredients." It was more than we could have dreamed of! This place is the ultimate in terms of both health and social conscientiousness - ingredients come from as many surrounding sustainable and organic sources as possible, the menu is diverse, inclusive for all palates and every bite nourishing to both the body and soul. WE ATE: Grilled asparagus salad on a bed of greens topped with local goat feta cheese, cucumber salsa & tahini dressing; grilled marinated portobello mushroom and local heirloom tomato napoleon made with lots of local basil and chevre, and drizzled with homemade balsamic dressing; pan roasted free-range chicken with herb gravy, mashed local potatoes, yellow squash casserole and sauteed chard & beet greens. WE DRANK: Tim loved the French Broad Brewing Co. Scotch Ale from Asheville. The restaurant itself is on hip Wall Street in downtown Asheville, the ambiance both funky and comfortable at the same time (I loved the paintings on vintage textile canvas and cute homemade-seeming curtains), the prices are VERY REASONABLE and the staff is knowledgeable and fun. Places like this give hope to the sustainable agriculture & local food movement! This restaurant is really the gold standard that others around the country would be smart to model after.
(5)
Tasha W.
The Good: good service, nice atmosphere, yummy macaroni & cheese The Bad: not much selection for dinner (typical meatloaf/BBQ/fried chicken type fare), kinda noisy Overall not as great as I was expecting but still good. Probably better for breakfast.
(3)
Johnny W.
The brunch is quite good. I liked the sausage/sweet tater scramble and the BYO omelets. They've got a decent list of local beers and they do a very fine biscuit.
(4)
Zach C.
My girlfriend and I enjoyed our brunch here. Despite reading a few complaints in other reviews, we really enjoyed the service. Our waitress, Kylie, was eager to give advice on the menu and friendly from start to finish. Looking around, I noticed some other tables waiting just some time just to order, but we did not. I had the sweet potato and sausage scramble, which was interesting. Honestly, I wish I had tried the Porky just because it sounds so savory. The jam and biscuits were very nice, as was the coffee.
(4)
Dana F.
We arrived about 15 minutes before they opened on a Sunday morning and a line was already forming. Once the doors opened, we were seated right away and was greeted by our excellent waitress. She was cheerful and never let our coffee get too low. I went with the black bean omelette with home fries and biscuit and my BF got the grit cakes with poached egg and tomato gravy. While mine was delicious, my BF's was out of this world. The flavors were unique and complimented each other very well. My only complaint was that the biscuits were a bit disappointing compared to Tupelo's.
(5)
Jessica W.
My husband and I both said this is the best breakfast we have ever had! The bacon gravy is to die for! My husband got a platter with potatoes, bbq, eggs, and the bacon gravy on top...sounds wierd but so good! A must try when in Ashville!!
(5)
Nancy L.
Their jam is sooooo good! I ordered the local sausage & sweet potato scramble which was excellent, but I would go back just for the jam. Amazing!
(4)
Leah Y.
I prefer Tupelo- but we did have a good breakfast here too! Grits were different - lumpy and large? Not a huge breakfast selection either. But overall 4 stars and definitely worth checking out if you're in town for a couple days of breakfast!
(4)
Leslie S.
Early Girl was recommended by a friend who heard we were visiting Asheville, Loved the idea of fresh food prepared with local ingredients. Luckily we came after the lunch rush so the wait wasn't too bad. I am not a vegan but had the vegan chili since it was a cold day. It was fabulous and I never would miss the meat - fresh and a great spice. My husband had the soup special - NC candied squash that was out of this world. Also had a side of their homemade cornbread - delicious. Staff was great and recommended several other great local restaurants in downtown Asheville. We will be back again.
(4)
Sameer G.
Really good food. The fried green tomatos were fantastic, and other stuff was good too. This was our first introduction to southern food, and was pleasantly surprised. The only downside was that the portion sizes were pretty small (varies by dish), so we had to top off with some food at home afterwards.
(4)
Diane M.
My family was vacationing in the NC mountains and our trip of the day was taking us to the Asheville area. We decided Brunch was a good idea and went with the reviews for Early Girl Eatery! We were NOT sorry! Yes, there was a wait, but the food more than made up for the almost 1/2 hour wait. The omelets were PERFECT. Soft, fluffy and well, just wow. My tween daughter had the black bean and cheddar omelet and when I tasted it, I almost wished I had ordered it.My oldest also had an omelet which looked as beautiful as my daughters. I had the Early Girl Benny ( their version of Eggs Benedict) and it was fabulous(Grit cakes topped with tomato, spinach, poached eggs, tomato gravy and avocado) . Hubby had the lamb burger and he INHALED it, I swear! I did get a bite, and it was earthy lamby goodness. The youngest had a grilled cheese and honestly after the rest how could it not be anything but yummy?We also all split one strawberry banana pancake ( it was on special! We HAD too!) The biscuits were yummy and the on table jam made them even better! The waitstaff was friendly and attentive.The vibe was fun and relaxed with a little bit of funky. We will definitely be back whenever we are in Asheville!
(4)
Cunning L.
VERY fresh, portion sizes are perfect (not too big like cheesecake factory and not too small like some expensive places can be). Servers & staff are friendly as hell! If you're just drinking water, ask for a 2nd glass when you order food. Coffee is the best in the entire universe, and I wasn't even hungover. Make sure you check out the specials on the wall, and when you go to the bathroom, take the key on the wall! Amazing food - the only reason why it's not 5 stars is the service, while totally friendly, is not 100% attentive.
(4)
Brea G.
Breakfast all day - hooray! We had read about this place being crowded but went on a weekday afternoon and it wasn't. I had the black bean and cheddar omelette and it was tasty. The seating is actually upstairs from Tupelo Honey so it you get a window seat it's a really pleasant place to have a leisurely breakfast (even at 2pm!) Not sure if the jam was homemade (I think it may have been) but it was really good. good food / good prices / good service If I lived in Asheville I think this place would be a regular stop for breakfast.
(3)
Casey D.
Arrived first thing at 9am Saturday with a group outside the door. Was sat and food in front of us within 10min. Black Bean omelette, biscuits and herb gravy are highly recommended!
(5)
J Det D.
This is one of those places where the wait impacts my review. We had to wait over an hour to get a table. When we have to wait this long I expect that the food is going to be amazing because so many other people are there too, right? Not really. The food is ok, not amazing, not mind blowing, just ok food. I would probably give this place 3.5 stars for the food and 4 stars for the staff. The staff was really nice and sweet, but again, an hour wait for food that's ok? I'd wait that long for amazing food, not ok food.
(3)
Theresa W.
NOM NOM NOM!!! I usually don't get excited about breakfast but this was one of the best morning meals I have ever had. I bought the tshirt from this place so I could remember the name of it and tell all my friends to go there when driving through Asheville. Cute joint, sweet servers, all around great experience.
(5)
Melissa W.
Four stars as we have only had a quick lunch here. Pork Bar-B-Q sandwich won us over, as did the service. Like that they aren't trying to do too many things on their menu, but they have lots of choices. I noticed that the breakfasts are popular throughout the day. Good food, value and fast, efficient service. We look forward to another meal here soon!
(4)
Kay L.
Yum. YUM. Did I say yum? When we entered the bright dining room and I looked at the specials board, I knew it would be good. We had strawberry/chocolate chip pancakes, fried chicken/bacon salad (homemade poppy dressing was delish), and a southern breakfast, complete with homemade biscuit and grits. Loved it all. Only complaint - service was a bit slow. But we didn't care so much once we got our food.
(4)
Doug H.
Food and service are great with reasonable prices. Farm to table. Except at least a half hour wait.
(4)
Katie W.
We have eaten breakfast and dinner here. The dinner experince, our first visit, was a good one. The food was good and the staff nice. However, our next visit was breakfast. Food was good, but the waitress really annoying. We asked to change tables and she obliged. Unfortunately our new table was right next to a revolting man who insisted on telling his dining companion how he shot and hunted animals. So we asked to sit right at the end of the restaurant as far away from him as possible. The waitress refused to let us sit at the end of the restaurant as she said another person waited on that table and she would not get our tip. At the end of the meal when I paid she did that most annoying and totally unacceptable thing. She asked "do you want any change" This is disgraceful and shows no class at all. The change was actually only 1.29 and I had already put her tip to one side to put in her folder before we left. She came back with the 1.29 and threw it on the table. That was when I took the 20% tip that I had put aside and put it back in my pocket, along with the 1.29. Whilst we were happy with the food, we were not impressed with that sort of service so we do not go there anymore. There are plenty of other good breakfast places around town with nice staff.
(2)
Christine R.
Cute and cheerful space- we came here for our breakfast. We had a simple breakfast- lemonade and sweet tea and biscuit and egg, but it was super affordable and the service was great, even though our meal wasn't very big. We got flaky and crumbly biscuits with egg and cheese and tomatoes. Very good and filling! The space itself is like someone's kitchen- plenty of wooden kitchen tables and the like- I was actually seated in an old church pew. It was so bright and cheery and pretty - a perfect way to start the morning! The rest of the menu looked really good- lots of vegetarian and vegan options, incorporated into traditional Southern dishes. They also had a small selection of fun merchandise- we each bought a little tumbler with their super cute logo.
(4)
Bro H.
Place is good, but not staggeringly good as many folks led me to believe, and most importantly, it's probably not always going to be worth waiting 30-45 minutes for. I got the shrimp and grits, which was significantly spicier than I would have imagined for a breakfast dish, but rather tasty. I ordered banana bread to go, and that was fantastic. My girlfriend's scramble was good, but some of the sweet potatoes were undercooked. I got a side of hash browns, because they looked so damn good on other peoples tables, but they weren't quite as good as they looked. Anyway, the food was good, but we spent 32 bucks on breakfast after all was said and done (the banana bread was to go but if we'd ordered OJ or coffee, the cost would have been the same), so it better have been good. It also seems as if the long wait here is an expected part of the customer service experience, and while I'm glad I went once, I don't think I'd be a regular if I lived in the area.
(3)
nonya b.
Had the local sausage & sweet potato scramble. It was ok. Not great. Not sure how eco friendly using paper as a table cover is.... probably better to just use cloth. I'd try this place again... something else on the menu though.
(3)
Dale E.
We enjoyed our breakfast their very much
(5)
Meg C.
Another one of my favs. Breakfast, lunch & dinner plus they have "meat n' two" options. This place is always packed. My only complaint is, that in the summer, since there is no A/C it's a tad on the warm side.
(4)
Dazzle M.
First impressions were excellent. Great service, but breakfast entre was divine! Bright cheery atmosphere too. I want to go back and try the other menu item I struggled to make a decision over, The Breakfast Bowl. My Black Bean Omelet was Nom Nom (delicious :0).
(5)
Kenna C.
Always delicious! They have a set menu and also a chalkboard menu that changes daily. You wont be disappointed. Try the sweet potato egg scramble!
(5)
Ed D.
Enjoyed our start to the last three days here i Asheville with an Early Girl breakfast. My partner ordered the tofu scramble ...a favorite each day and I tried the special pancakes and potato cakes and eggs. A haven for vegan breakfasts, thanks!
(5)
Ginger C.
We had the omelette of the day...three mushroom omelet. Cooked perfect, tasted great. Cornbread was good too. Nice staff. Would like to go back and try lunch next time we are in Asheville.
(4)
Jeff G.
A decent vegan brunch... (grab the Scrambled Tofu, smother it with a side of Vegan Tomato Gravy, with some rye toast and grits) ... Get there early -- the place gets FULL (like your belleh).
(4)
Tammi T.
Awesome, awesome, awesome! If I were gonna open a restaurant, I would want it to be just like Early Girl. My man couldn't stop raving and dreaming about it. The food is super fresh. The Southern staples are perfectly delish. The staff is very friendly. Though, I just realized, the wait staff is all female. Now I know some of you might be like, "well, duh, look at the name" but that's actually a variety of tomato, Early Girl. But I digress. Every time I come to my favorite town, Asheville, I hit E.G. Last time I had the absolutely delectable "Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble". It was a year ago but I remember it like it was yesterday. Herc and I visited over Labor day. He had THE most banging lunch ever - Pan-fried Free Range chicken with Herb gravy. His two sides were sweet potatoes (good) and Macaroni and cheese (slammin'). I don't know what the heck is in that Herb gravy but it definitely makes you wanna slap somebody's mama, chile! My meal (cornmeal encrusted catfish) wasn't as exciting. Flavor was very mild. I like spices. The beet side dish was yummers . The potato salad didn't really do it for me though but I will readily admit that I am a potato salad snob and there are very few variations that are tolerable to me. Plus, it should be room temp! We came back the next day for B'fast. He had pancakes, and a biscuit sandwich with eggs & bacon and I had the typical Southern b'fast of biscuit, eggs, bacon and grits with a heaping side order of that delectable herb gravy. Holy tomaters were our tummies hippity-happy that morning. They also have great jam. We were fortunate enough to meet the maker of that jam, Walt of Imladris Farm in nearby Fairview, NC. He directed us to check out his farm which we happily did on a tour led by his pretty wife, Wendy and adorable son, Andy. Nothing like meeting the source of your meal. Awesome! Early Girl uses local, and therefore super fresh, ingredients. Their claim to greatness is that and their food is made from scratch. Yes it is, my friends. If you are looking for a high quality meal, do yourself a huge favor and make Early Girl Eatery one of your culinary stops. It's a Can't Miss deal.
(5)
Picky W.
I love the Early Girl, I love their food, I love the street they are located on, and I love John and julie the owners. They are good, young people who cares for their community, who cares for their workers and who serve honest food. I am a frequent customer and can say they are like my second home. I particularly love the creamy Grit and Shrimp, their simple and fresh desert and their meat &2s. Everything is so fresh, althought the portions are small, but just look at the food prices now a day and understand that it is so difficult to serve bulky and fresh food at a reasonble price. I would go there for every day meal.
(5)
Superstickmandan M.
went for a weekday lunch - several waitstaff provided great service - my girlfrend and i enjoyed sausage/sweet potato scramble and veggie breakfast bowl - good experience and several tempting menu options will make this a priority food stop when visiting asheville
(4)
Jeffrey A.
I really love going to this place. Walking down wall street always puts me a good mood before I even take a bite to eat. Good breakfast food. Way better than that Honey place.
(4)
CC P.
My boyfriend and I were in Asheville to see a band and it also happened to be his birthday weekend, so we thought we'd treat ourselves to dinner at the Laughing Seed (a little ways down from Early Girl). We passed EG on our way there and it smelled good and their menu looked tasty. However, we were craving Laughing Seed so we strolled on down only to discover that they are closed on Tuesdays (shucks!!!). So we thought, let's check out that place up the block again. We checked out the menu once more and decided to go on in. They were moderately crowded but we got a table right away overlooking the street. My boyfriend ordered the black bean sweet potato cakes and I ordered the lamb shank. I'm not kidding when I tell you that we were kind of stunned as to how delicious our food was. The black bean cakes were shaped like crab cakes, and were delicately spiced and accompanied by lime sour cream. My lamb was to DIE for! I don't know much about cooking, but this tasted like it had been tended to for hours and hours because the meat fell right off the bone, and it was a SUPER generous portion to boot. The veggie sides we chose were also quite yummers, and they serve you biscuits with a great chunky berry jam to top them with. As far as I can remember, they get a lot of their ingredients from local farms and do as much local business as they can. My only slight complaint would be that the service was a little indifferent... I don't think my waitress smiled at us once, and we're easy customers so she had no reason to be annoyed. I dunno... I like when people are happy, so I definitely notice when they don't or won't smile. For the price (under $12 for my entree), it couldn't be beat. With how good my lamb was, this dish could've easily gone for 17 bucks. But then I wouldn't have ever known how great it was because I'm kind of a cheap bastard when it comes down to it.
(4)
Trish D.
My very first visit here last weekend during Bele Chere and it was great! My Early Girl Platter was pimiento cheese, black-eyed pea hummus and avocado salad along with fresh melon and strawberries. I admit I had a slight bit of menu envy when I saw my niece's fried green tomato napoleon and then tasted it - delicious and so different! Some in our party had breakfast and sandwiches but everything looked so good and was fresh-tasting. There is a very small waiting area at the front and also outside which was quite warm at the end of July but once we were seated in the light and airy dining room. All was fine. A note: the restaurant is located in an office building and the restrooms are in the office building area. Fun detail - the restroom keys are attached to large kitchen utensils and hang on the wall beside the door. I would look forward to visiting here again and trying 4 or 5 new menu items!
(5)
Betsy A.
Great place . Comfy, friendly, good food. Southern style, but I had basic eggs and biscuit, just what I wanted. Good coffee and plenty of refills. I will be back! Loved Ali my server.
(5)
Colby C.
Follow the advice of other Yelpers - arrive early! They open at 9 AM - I arrived at 845 and there was a line...nearly 20 people! Service was very efficient, organized, and they kept the coffee and water flowing! Vegan Tofu Scramble is awesome. Lots of veg and great flavor. Biscuit with the raspberry jam (in the squeeze bottle on table) was great. I snuck in one of the special pancakes - Strawberry and Almond - delicious!!! Cannot wait to come back! Now I think I will walk back to Los Angeles to burn the calories!
(5)
Yohini S.
I had a chance to visit again after 3 years and happy to report that I am upgrading them to 5 stars! (Happy dance time! Oh yeahhh...) I decided to skip them during the weekend expecting a long wait time and came here on a Monday morning for breakfast. We did not have to wait at all and got seated immediately (First win for the day!). We were immediately given our coffee and they did a fantastic job with refills. (Coffee gods will give them tons of good coffee karma) I ordered the Benny which comes on grit cakes. I wasn't sure if I was going to really enjoy the grit cakes but ended up loving it. They serve food along with hot sauce, which is a lovely touch (in my humble opinion). Food was great, service came with a smile and food came from a farm. What's not to love???
(5)
Steven S.
As I've mentioned before, the people in Asheville are as friendly as you will encounter in Ireland or northern Brazil. The folks at Early Girl are mighty friendly. I came in around 4, and hadn't eaten all day, so I ordered the Mountain Trout (tender and delicious) with grits (just right) and collard greens. All divine. My server was super friendly. Great location --- my kinda place!
(5)
Kim F.
Amazing breakfast. Complex flavored and great specials. Everyone was satisfied. Worth a wait!
(5)
Amy P.
We went to Early Girl because it was one of the first to open in the morning downtown. The wait staff is friendly and the food is great. We both ordered daily specials (omelet and some awesome sunflower seed pancakes) and got plenty of good food. Only weird thing was the seating- we were seated next to another party of two that was about a foot away. Otherwise, great experience.
(5)
Christy C.
Early Girl Eatery is a great little spot for breakfast/brunch/lunch. There was a 20-30 minute wait for 2 on a Saturday morning which was 100% manageable with the free coffee they provide just to the right of the hostess area. I ordered the strawberry and sunflower seed pancakes (daily special) and a side of bacon, and my boyfriend ordered the trout breakfast. I will admit the though of trout for breakfast did not sound appetizing but it was actually quite good and not fishy tasting at all! The pancakes were absolutely delicious as well. The service was quick and the waitress was very friendly. I had several people ask if I would like a refill on my coffee, not just my waitress, which is always nice.
(4)
Randal M.
Best French fries I've had in a very long time. Burger had a delicious flavor. The patty was a little dry, but that is our fault because we ordered it well done. Next time I'd get medium to medium well. Also had the pan seared duck salad with sweet ginger dressing. It was amazing. Duck was perfectly cooked at medium. Recommend getting a side of bacon regardless of what you order. Wow! Delicious!
Great food. Specials run out quickly and the morning wait is long but the food is yummy and there are shops to look in while you wait.
(3)
Kristen P.
We were hungry, Early Girl Eatery had decent food. I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars - it was... Pretty Good. Not great, not spectacular, certainly not bad. Just pretty good. The coffee - meh, it was coffee. We needed coffee. Friend had the Sausage Sweet Potato Scramble - it was good, really interesting with big chunks of sweet potatoes, but somehow the flavors worked. She also got their special of Apple Cinnamon Pancakes on the side. For whatever reason, too dense, mayhaps? I didn't love them - meh. I ordered the Early Girl Benny - the grit cakes? They stole the show. Another interesting mix of flavors, and now something that I make at home. Honestly - I'm not sure if I'd be coming back to a Pretty Good restaurant when there are so many others in Asheville to try. Sorry, early girl. Food - 3 Drinks - 3 Service - 4 Value - 4
(4)
Dawn D.
We were on our last day of our Biltmore Christmas trip And stopped here before flying out. Excellent breakfast... Everything was delish. The banana bread was great, pancakes superb, and the double cut bacon was the best. My husband had the shrimp and grits and loved them too. Definitely worth the trip . Please note, GPS directs you the wrong way down the wrong road. But I called over and was able to find our way
(5)
Katie S.
Lots and lots of hype. Which means high expectations and long wait times. My Early Girl Benny was unique and crisp but it took 45 minutes for grits and poached eggs. The BEST part is the biscuit. And the quiche my mom got was divine. I'd go back for sure and try something new.
(4)
Ryan C.
Excellent establishment serving local food in an incredible way! I have been here both for lunch and breakfast. I had the burger for lunch which was fantastic and the black bean cakes for breakfast which were other-wordly. The atmosphere, the service, and the food are all top notch. If you are going for breakfast, get there early or be prepared for a wait. The establishment is small and intimate, but it is definitely worth it!
(5)
Denise H.
My daughters and I ate there at around 4pm on a Saturday. We were seated immediately and the service continued to be good throughout our visit. We had several questions and our server politely provided answers to them all. Our food was exceptional. We started with the broccoli cheddar hush puppies. They were excellent! Crispy on the outside and perfect on the inside. The garlic ranch and apple butter included for dipping provided very different (and both excellent) experiences. I ordered the seared duck in a citrus herb butter (daily special), along with macaroni and cheese, broccoli salad and a biscuit. I had only ever had duck deep-fried, so this was new. The server suggested I order it medium and it was cooked perfectly. The macaroni and cheese was prepared with a white cheese that I couldn't identify but enjoyed the tart taste of it. The broccoli salad had more raisins than I like, but I picked around them and enjoyed the rest. I usually don't eat biscuits, but the raspberry jam provided at the table was too difficult to resist. One other comment on the food ... they use thick-sliced bacon! My daughter had it on her club sandwich and bits of it were in my broccoli salad. Who doesn't love a thick slab of bacon!! The neighborhood includes many unique shops and experiences. I wish we could have spent more time there. The only negative of our entire experience was trying to get our 3/4 ton pickup out of the Wall St parking ramp. Next time I will drive a smaller vehicle or park further away and enjoy the walk.
(5)
Annika W.
I've been coming here for years now, and Early Girl remains a very solid option for breakfast and dinner alike. Though to give y'all a review with a bit of historical perspective, dishes were quite a bit cheaper some years ago - and used to be better. Early Girl food once seemed a lot fresher and lighter, with modern twists on the Southern classics, whereas recently it had veered more towards heavier, typical Southern: gravy, fried things, a rather limp lettuce leaf for decor. That aside, if you have no old and fantastic memories of this place, you'll likely still be happy. The flavors are great and just a notch above most other Southern places. Yes, I just complained about the gravy, but it was definitely a very flavorful gravy.
(4)
B N.
Def worth making a trip to! I ordered the breakfast porky bowl which was smothered with gravy (probably should get the gravy on the side if your not a gravy person). The pulled pork (which I NEVER would of thought would go so well with bfast was AMAZING!). Tried a couple bites of the sweet potato scramble... not anything special there - i agree with other yelpers, the sweet potato is a bit over powering - aside from that the dish is mediocre. The place is cute with local art hung up everywhere and for sale. of course with the high reviews there was a wait (plus is was saturday brunch). My wait for 2 people was about to be 40 minutes... I was too hungry and began walking towards another spot when about 5 minutes later a hostess was looking for 'any 2 people' for a table since there was a no-show...lets just say i jumped and waved and ran across the street to beat whom ever else was a 2 topper waiting... and no i dont fell bad, i was starving and REALLY wanted to try the place. :-) Def a place to go to! oh and the coffee is a bit strong but yum.
(5)
Aynne H.
My husband and I had a great breakfast there--so glad we got a chance to go there on our trip to Asheville. I had the cheddar and black bean omelet and it was a revelation; why did I never think to put black beans in an omelet? The hashbrowns and biscuits were also amazing and the service was great. Lots of great vegetarian choices. Don't hesitate--just go there!
(5)
Lyrad V.
Was excited to check out this place on our trip to Asheville, and it didn't disappoint. Located downtown, this place seems like the place to grab a bite on a Saturday morning. There is a nice vibe and energy to this place. Full of locals and out of towers. Food is locally grown, fresh, and in season. My husband and I went fairly early after they opened and avoided a long wait. I had to try the local sausage and sweet potato scramble. It was great, but a lot more food than I could eat in one sitting. My husband enjoyed his food as well. This place is definitely worth coming back to if we ever make it back to Asheville!
(5)
Alicia O.
WHAT are people talking about?!?! HORRIBLE FOOD!! SO excited for biscuits and gravy but the gravy WAS sooo salty I couldn't eat it! Also, the staff was RUDE!! Where's the southern charm...these hipsters were so cool they couldn't smile or even attempt to be friendly! Asheville is wonderful DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE!!!
(1)
Himanshu D.
Fantastic breakfast / brunch spot in Asheville. Mostly fresh locally procured foods on the menu. The fried green tomatoes were fantastic. Lots of vegetarian options. Some nice regional beers to choose from. Tasty and portions were just right. Overall friendly staff. Look forward to eating here again next time I'm in Asheville.
(5)
Kevin D.
My wife and I visited around lunchtime on a Monday. Food was good, not amazing. I had a black bean burger which was really delicious and obviously homemade. It was hard to eat however since it fell apart as soon as I picked it up. My wife had scrambled eggs with a multigrain pancake and home fries. I can't be sure, but the pancake didn't seem freshly cooked to me... it was a little rubbery. The service was slightly rude and careless. The waitress didn't seem to mind or care when she splashed coffee onto the table when refilling our cups, and she seemed annoyed when I asked for cream for the coffee. I would definitely be open to going back and giving it another chance on my next visit to Asheville.
(3)
Stone M.
Definitely the best meal that we had in Asheville. Great, rich and perfectly seasoned Southern comfort-food breakfast delight. Coffee was awesome too. Too many places make a memorable breakfast with crappy coffee. Kudos EGE
(5)
Bailey W.
You simply can't go wrong at Early Girl!
(5)
Virginia M.
Wonderful breakfast spot in Asheville. The wait is worth it! I had the early Benny and I tried the sweet potato hash. The potatoes were cooked perfectly. I would love to try this place for lunch.
(4)
Brock G.
Pleasant, cheery breakfast place
(3)
Rafi A.
There's a lot about this place I like. The people are friendly, the location downtown is convenient. The feel on the inside is perfect for a breakfast place, hard wood floors, lots of light, tables close enough together to feel cozy without being cramped. So why only two stars? The food and (a little bit) the service. I ordered an egg-white omelette with four ingredients ($1 extra for goat/feta cheese) and a coffee. The bill, with tip, came to $15. They counted "herbs" as one of the ingredients. Really? I need to pay extra to have the omelette be flavorful? In Asheville, that's a lot of money for an omelette, which I don't mind paying for a great breakfast. Unfortunately, it was anything but. The omelette was puny, neither enough egg white nor enough filling. I'm not paying for a scoop of potatoes--those are cheap carbohydrates. I want a good dose of protein and lots of vegetables--prepared well. I got neither. The waitress also refilled my coffee about eight inches from the cup. Droplets splattered everywhere, including on my dress shirt. Nothing wrong with a little presentation value, but not at the expense of my clothing. Sometimes even established, well-reviewed eateries need some critical review. This may be one of those times.
(2)
Gerald M.
Nice place with a real local feel. My omelette was terrific, but my daughters biscuit was a little hard & burnt on the bottom. Service was standard but I think she forgot about us at the end, we had to wait a while to settle up. All in all, subpar service and slightly above average food with a great Asheville aesthetic & locale.
(4)
Alex M.
The hostess was pretty rude. I asked about food that could be made gluten free and she just said they didn't have gluten free dishes but she thought maybe they could modify something. When I asked what, she just said "I don't know. Look at the menu." For a town that prides itself on being very GF-friendly, the place should at the very least have knowledgable staff, and I wish they would have marked the menu for dishes that could be adapted. I had heard good things about Early Girl's food, and I love the other restaurant they own, but after such negative encounter, I just decided to walk out.
(2)
Daniel H.
Love this place! Fast service! Great food! Friendly unpretentious servers! It has a very laid back atmosphere without skipping quality service This place always cones to mind when I'm passing through Asheville
(5)
Brian W.
Just got back from a trip to Asheville. We hit several of the top rated breakfast spots in town, and stopped by Early Girl on the last day. It could have just been what we ordered, but it was a bit of a let down. I ordered the Porky Breakfast Bowl, and it was...weird. The combination of flavors just didn't work for me. My girlfriend got the Egg Biscuit with meat and cheese, and thought it was a little bland and small, which I agreed with. We did have great service, and love the commitment to local, farm to table food. All of that put together = 3 stars.
(3)
P K.
Not my favorite in Asheville, but very good. The atmosphere is blah, service is friendly but slow (seems they are always short-staffed). Food was good the 3 times we went. Menu selections are limited. Worth trying but only if you are not in a hurry.
(4)
Michael E.
Cobb salad.............that is it....my first and only love at Early Girl and though other dishes on the chalk board on the wall catch my eye from time to time....I always come back to her. The best (plus it is only 1 block from work/3 from home)...so I how can I resist.
(4)
David S.
Below average breakfast joint. My "special" omelette was fine. My wife's early girl plate contains a big pile of cheese and either the fruit or guacamole was fermenting. Orange juice from a container. No reason to return.
(2)
Sam P.
Had a really good vegan tofu scramble. Was a little surprised it came with regular butter on the plate for the toast, when vegan was in the name of the dish. Rye bread was the only vegan bread option, but it was good with the jam on the table. Definitely recommend the tofu scramble. Pretty cool vibe to the place. Not a huge place, so there will likely be a wait.
(4)
Zack F.
Oh, wow, Yum! So plan to wait. Like really wait. But, trust me, it's worth it. This place is very down to earth without being overly earthy or hipster-only. It's not fancy, but it tastes good. There are a few misses here and there, but I walked out wanting to go back. The thing that really made my mouth water was the vegetarian Reuben. I'm not sure why considering the bread was not pumpernickel rye, I skipped the mayonnaise laden sauce, and the tempeh itself wasn't really all that seasoned. Still, something about the cheese and sauerkraut and horseradish mixed with the mustard and avocado I added was just so satisfying. Good sides and fun drinks round out the experience. It's a little bit boisterous as well.
Best Bacon? In Asheville? From a Vegatarian/Vegan resturant?? Yes. To all three. And the biscuits are not too bad, the only downside is that they are small and you get one. While my body does not see that as a downside, my heart aches for more. Overall, my only issue (and really I hate to be this picky) is that the Sweet Potato Scramble is wonderful except for the Sweet Potatoes. They are so sweet that they over power the rest of the dish. And the with the all the great local ingridents that come in the scramble, it is a shame the sweet potatoes kileld the rest of the taste. But everyone who tasted my scramble said I was crazy. So maybe I am crazy. But the staff is super sweet and very welcoming, which I mean it is the South, but its not "bless your heart" sweetness, it a geniune care. So what should you get? Biscuts....Bacon and whatever else. Seriousaly the bacon and the biscuits would make me fly from Phoenix to have them again. Or when I move back to Ohio, the 5hr drive. Either way, I want more.
(4)
Alan B.
Quintessential Asheville! Great service, spectacular farm-to-table eats! Early Girl is one of the reasons we love brunch in Asheville. The Early Girl "Bennie" was excellent and so were the banana walnut pancakes. Add some Smoked Habanero sauce to the potatoes and your tongue will thank you. Friendly service rounds out the casual dining experience. Don't forget the biscuits with a squeeze of local jam.
(5)
Joscelyn B.
Last time we visited Asheville we walked to Early Girl and the line was out onto the street and we were told 45 minutes til we could get a table, since it was our last day and we were leaving town, we opted to go elsewhere. Our most recent visit we were very lucky and walked right in and were seated in an almost empty dining room. The dining area is small, but cozy. Wait staff is all super friendly. We were greeted by the host with a huge welcome, and our waitress was very friendly. The food was also delicious. I ordered an omelet with bacon, cheddar, and spinach. It was awesome. It came with homefries which were also yummy, and choice of toast or biscuit, and I chose the wheat toast. It wasn't a crispy toast, it was soft, but tasty. The berry jam was also great! My boyfriend ordered the Porky Breakfast Bowl which has pork bbq, eggs, homefries, and bacon gravy. He said he really enjoyed it. We both also ordered orange juice, we debated over whether it's fresh or from a bottle and decided it was fresh, which makes sense given it was a little pricey for the size. Overall the service and food are great, and as long as there isn't a huge wait time, I suggest stopping in for breakfast!
(5)
Yolanda C.
This place was great for breakfast. In search for a local restaurant to eat on our trip we ran across Early Girl. Love the atmosphere, like grandma kitchen. We both order the Shrimp and Grits with were great. I also got the banana but to go, also awesome. If you are looking for a good home cooked meal with Asheville flare recommended this place Feliz Comiendo
(4)
Haley D.
I stopped here on my way home after a long weekend on Asheville. The food was excellent! The flavors were on point. I thought the prices were reasonable. I had the special: banana almond pancakes. They were perfectly moist with a balance of flavors and a nice crunch with little almond slivers. The gravy in the biscuit and gravy was really tasty. The grits were flavorful and not overdone. The atmosphere was bright and cheery with pleasant blue colors. The service was friendly. Yum!
(5)
Korrie B.
I'll keep this short since the mighty yelpers have spoken on this one. I had the sweet potato scramble. It was good and disappointing all at the same time. The good is it was loaded down and WAY more food than 1 person can handle. The bad? Where was this sausage that everyone has raved about? I had very little sausage and a ton of bacon. The sausage flavor was lost. He had the special pancakes (strawberry almond) and they were out of this world. Soo sweet and delicious. Servers were very nice and the whole dining area was run very well. I'll skip it next time until I've made the rounds a little better for breakfast/brunch.
(3)
S K.
Eggs Benny for lunch, very good. Everyone at our table commented on how much they enjoyed their meal.
(4)
Candice L.
I was amazed that I have lived here my entire line and had never even heard of this place. I had the chicken sandwich with fries. It was perfectly cooked and the fries were fresh. The place is small, but as I have found lately most of the great places I have eaten are small are amazing.
(4)
Kim W.
The Early Girl Benny. Excellent. Great service. Absolutely recommend. A must while in Asheville.
(5)
Marcella D.
Friends took me to the Early Girl on arrival here in Asheville. Service - very good. Food - EXCELLENT..... Went back again this morning......and will do many mornings in the future...!!!!
(4)
Lisa D.
Really great service. Probably the best we've had in Asheville. Really great for kids - our toddler loved the toy basket they brought out for him to play with as we waited for our food. The food was ok. Not the best we've had in Asheville but good. My husband had the biscuits and gravy and I had the granola and yogurt.
(4)
Chase A.
Having never been to Asheville, I and my group relied on Yelp to hook us up with a killer Southern breakfast. Yelp, you nailed it. We stuffed ourselves with sweet potato scrambles, hush puppies filled with cheddar and broccoli and dipped in apple butter, and a breakfast pork bowl -- a heaping pile of pulled pork mixed with home fried potatoes and covered in white gravy. Good lord, it was heavenly, and the perfect remedy to a terrible hangover. However, if you have a group of 4 or more, you should really call ahead. We had to wait close to an hour for a large table to be cleared, and then the service was good but not great. They were super cool about splitting all of our checks, which is a plus. Overall, I'd put this down at 4.5 stars, but I definitely want to emphasize that the food here is out of this world.
(5)
Rachel W.
Delicious lunch - highly recommend. Start with the broccoli and cheese hush puppies - amazing. I had the special Eggs Benny which was fabulous. Other delicious foods included fried eggplant, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, honeyed beets.
(4)
Mallory R.
This place is amazing!!! I always say all brunch places are the same but not true! This place has some very original items on the menu! The biscuit with homemade jelly is great! Also the fresh fruit is just that, very fresh in season fruit! Everything we had was great! The wait wasn't too long either!
(5)
Sarah F.
Easily my favorite breakfast point in Asheville. Whether you are a tourist traveling through or a local, eating here is a must. Anything on the menu is delectable. The hustle and bustle of this restaurant has always kept it close to my heart.
(5)
Jeffrey R.
First time here. The food was delicious. My wife had the quiche and I had the "build your own" omelette. We arrived at 11:15am and had to wait 45 minutes but it was worth it. Will come again.
(5)
Sara J.
We came to this place as a suggestion from friends who had eaten here during their visit. Overall? I would recommend this place for breakfast or dinner. I couldn't see it for lunch, though, the food was a little too heavy. I got sweet potato and black bean cakes with avocado salsa--they were great. I wish they had a little more texture, as it kind of felt like a puree with the occasional bean thrown in, but it had great flavor. I also got cucumber onion salad, which was great, and mac and chees,e which tasted pretty standard. The sauce was a little...crumbly? It wasn't creamy like I was expecting. My girlfriend got a porky breakfast bowl and her food was really good. The pulled pork was spot on, so kudos to that. She was super hungry as she had just played in a roller derby bout against the blue ridge roller girls and this soothed the hungry beast in her. Would definitely love to come to this place earlier when it is really hoppin' and judge the food again. Our service was good, but it was also pretty dead when we went so I can't really say if it's always like that.
(4)
Terry B.
Loved our lunch here!! The fried green tomato Napoleon was fantastic and I had the grilled chicken sandwich with goat cheese, bacon, tomato and spinach. It was fresh and delicious. The eggplant "fries" were amazing. Husband loved his as well, of course I can't remember what he had!!
(5)
Alexis A.
Country dining meets hipster. A few unique menu options, but overall experience was average.
(3)
je p.
The bright, sunny dining room is sure to be packed with diners, the home style grub is always delicious, the atmosphere is so vibrantly lovely & the service is incredulously quick. EG sources cheese, meat & many veggies in season from local farms, and they were doing it years before it caught on, and I so love them for it! Yes, there is often a looong wait for your table... But it's worth it! Go wander & enjoy Asheville's plenitude of talented buskers while you wait :)
(5)
Matt W.
I had one of the best bean burgers I've ever had here (note: I'm not a vegetarian, so I don't eat bean burgers very often, but it was delicious!). We heard about this place from a couple who were staying at our B&B and highly recommended it. I'm glad we listened. Service was pretty standard, but the food was great, I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Asheville!
Amazing experience! Asheville is known for hipsters and we stumbled across their hangout. One of the best restaurants I have eaten at in a long time. I had the porky and I would definitely recommend it.
(5)
Kellie K.
I wish I could tell you about something other than the granola here, but I've yet to be able to tear myself away from it long enough to order something else. At just $7.50, you get a bowl of delicious yogurt (or milk/soy milk) and a bowl of granola garnished with strawberries and bananas. It's a generous portion, and it's so light and refreshing while still being filling. The fella got the southern breakfast with sausage patties, over-medium eggs and grits for $8.00, and he says their grits are pretty darn good. As others have said, the wait can be a little frustrating, but we're early risers, so we got there at 7:20 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. opening on a Friday morning, and we were the first ones in line... but not by much. It's definitely a cool, hip vibe, and I love getting a table by the window so you can overlook the park.
(5)
Cha Cha M.
It's pretty good. That staff is always great. Food is pretty solid.
(3)
James R.
This is another top 5 breakfast place- just happens to be in Asheville also. Always good food. Down home southern cooking with a bit of a new age flare. Eaten here a few times in town and always great and the service is awesome. If you have the chance make sure to check it out.
(5)
Duane B.
This is a great unique breakfast spot. We went here twice while in Asheville. The breakfast bowl was excellent. Wife had grits for only second time in life and loved them.
(5)
Jennifer H.
If you are wanting farm-to-table low-country cooking in Asheville, this is the place to go. They serve breakfast all day so pancakes are always an option. I went with the veggie plate which is chose 4 sides. I chose Mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, and 2 special veggies of the day - sauteed collards and fried eggplant. Also switch the cornbread for a biscuit and asked for a side of veggie gravy. Delicious!
(5)
Stacy W.
This place was very rustic and small. Food was pretty good but not quite as good as other places in Asheville. Had the Ginger almond salad which was actually very fresh and flavorful! The pan fried chicken with sage gravy was not so great. Mac and cheese was cooked too long and lacked great flavor as well. Tables were packed too tight together so don't go if you like your own space. Overall, it was good but nothing to write home about.
(3)
Groove M.
Maybe we had a bad experience, but it was below our expectations. The food was subpar for all 4 of us. Given the time we waited and the quality we expected, we were very disappointed. Did not like the bacon gravy or the grits and they forgot the onions on an omelet.
(2)
Ron M.
Solid 4 stars. I had a catfish sandwich, perfection. I chose a ginger coleslaw as a side, wow was that great! Definite 5 star potential but I have to go back to try another dish.
(4)
Kristin F.
Ahhhh. Such good brunch food. Farm-to-table southern comfort at its finest. This was our second brunch stop during Asheville weekend and I was excited to finally sit down in the sunny dining room after a painless 25 minute wait (we grabbed World Coffee and stopped into a couple of shops to fill the time). I had the Early Girl Benny (grit cakes, tomato, spinach, poached eggs, tomato gravy and avocado) which was interesting- the grit cakes were extremely salty but the eggs and avocado evened it out. I also tried the strawberry pancake... while I usually avoid pancakes, waffles and french toast for breakfast (lathargic for the rest of the day), I couldn't stop eating this pancake. It was just so. good. Also, Asheville (across the board, from what I have tried) has amazing biscuits and jam. I'm also not even a biscuit person, but I made an exception for this deliciousness.
(5)
Rhonda D.
Recommended by locals, great location, great food. Definately will be back for the Early Girl Benny..it is amazing!
(5)
Ben K.
Great little breakfast spot that I would go back to. Ordered the sausage / sweet potato scramble and it was delicious. Also ask for hot sauce. They have local varieties and are really delicious as well. Service was fast and friendly. Bacon here is also out of control good.
(4)
Jen S.
Everyone talks about how great this place is... But I can make better breakfast at home. Its just... eh, normal? There isnt anything special about it. Its definitely not worth the 1hour wait.
(2)
Meghan N.
Early Girl is always on our list of must-visit places when we come to Asheville. I have celiac disease, and the staff and cooks have always been MORE THAN HELPFUL with my dietary restrictions. Not only have i never gotten sick, but the food is delicious. I cannot wait to visit more often when we relocate to Asheville!
(5)
Helen C.
The biscuits and vegetarian gravy were absolutely amazing. The scrambled tofu, not so much.
(4)
Scott O.
That this place has a four star average says more about the Asheville food scene than in does about Early Girl Eatery. It's a truly great breakfast place in a town packed full of truly great places to eat. Service is good and quick, food is creative, portion sizes are very good, and the food is delicious and fresh. There is free coffee while you wait (expect the place to be packed). Very well priced. Totally worth a trip.
(5)
Kay L.
This was fine but I'm surprised there weren't more gluten-free options on the menu, not even toast. Great coffee.
(3)
Jason C.
The atmosphere wasn't great, but the food was absolutely excellent!!! A little loud and tables were close, but worth it. Pumpkin & banana bread was amazing, omelette, ginger slaw, bean and sweet potato cakes were all extraordinary. And they serve Breakfast all day.
(5)
David W.
I'm conflicted about this place, and wonder if maybe we caught them on an off day. There were three of us for dinner on a Wednesday evening. We had to park down the street in the parking deck, but it was no problem. We were greeted pleasantly as we entered, and we were seated immediately. The space is in an older building and the wear of the years shows. The hostess pointed out the specials and left; so far so good. Our waitress came and got our drink order quickly, and seemed knowledgeable about the menu when she returned to take our dinner order. She did a great job with the additional appetizer order (broccoli cheese "hushpuppies") one of my companions added after seeing a neighboring table's order arrive. Our "hushpuppies" were really just fritters, but they were tasty enough. The breakfast fan in our group got pancakes and really enjoyed them, but was unable to finish more than half of the huge stack. She said they were really good and really sweet. I had the fried chicken, on the recommendation of the server, with collard greens and grits. The chicken was a boneless skinless breast, fried and covered in gravy. It was tasty, but not mind-blowing. The gravy was good, but it did ruin the crust on the chicken. The grits were coarse ground, not instant, and were cooked until tender, but were bland. The collards were fantastic, not overcooked and well seasoned. A hard, dry biscuit accompanied my meal. When fresh, it was probably pretty good, but the hours between its exit from the oven and its presence on my plate robbed it of moisture and appeal. The third member of the group enjoyed her omelette and home fries. So why only three stars? Two reasons: 1. Weird/inattentive service after the meal. After our food arrived, our waitress mostly disappeared. Another young lady noticed our empty glasses and brought a pitcher around. As she poured more tea into my glass I said "Thank you." She responded with a long, drawn out "yaaaaaaaaaaahhh." It wasn't exactly rude, but it certainly wasn't normal. 2. Dirt. The salt grinder on the table had multiple hairs stuck to the top. The one the I got from the empty table behind us had something brown mingled in with the fine salt dust on the top, but it was easy enough to dislodge and discard. The window ledge next to our table had not been wiped in a long long time, it was dusty and gross. The floor under the table was not exactly sticky, but it had the appearance of not having been cleaned recently. When are back in Asheville, I will give the Early Girl another chance, and maybe stick to the breakfast items. Hopefully, the place will have been scrubbed a little in the interim.
(3)
Erica B.
Long line. like, 1.5 hours? Shrimp and grits was pretty solid. Very good coffee. Pleasant staff. Cute interior.
(4)
Vicky L.
Excellent menu and fresh ingredients. The meatloaf was wonderful. If you enjoy home cooking but don't want to cook, this would be a good place to try. They also serve breakfast all day.
(4)
Whitney S.
One of the best breakfasts Ive ever had. I travel quite often and always search for the best breakfasts places. This is in my top ten so far. Had to wait about an hour, but certainly worth the wait! I ate the special this morning; strawberry and sunflower seed pancakes. I also added on a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit. Glad I got both! The pancakes could easily fill tou up, but both were so dang good I ate every last bite! I just couldnt stop. Their fresh squeezed orange juice was some of the best Ive had. Definitely give this place a try if you have the time!
(5)
May M.
The wait for Saturday lunch was atrocious. We were quoted 45 min, but ended up waiting an hour and a half. The food was not worth the wait at all. I'm sure the kitchen was not delivering their best effort given how busy it was. I also found the portions size to be a bit small for a sandwich and a salad entree. The bun was burnt, the fish was tiny and the lettuce on the salad was minimal. The service was friendly and for the most part attentive. The entire restaurant was a bit dingy, dusty and sticky. If you can judge the cleanliness on the dining room and entrance, I have to admit I'm concerned what the kitchen looked like. Overall I wouldn't make an effort to return.
(3)
Elliot C.
Insanely delicious breakfast. A long wait to get in but the service was excellent and the coffee hot and good.
(5)
Tom N.
I remembered having the tofu scramble here. The service was good and the food was good.
(3)
Liz D.
Perfect breakfast spot. Sweet potato scramble is great! There was a wait, even on a Monday morning. But it was worth it!
(4)
Julia R.
My favorite restaurant in Asheville! It's well known as a great breakfast place but I love their lunches and dinners as well.
(5)
Amelia M.
I usually think places that get this crowded, especially around tourist season, are overrated, this is not the case with Early Girl. Never a bad meal, never bad service. The food is excellent and the jam they serve is straight from heaven. The one downside is it should be avoided at all costs on the weekend for brunch. I recommend going at dinner because they serve breakfast all day or on a weekday. If you're visiting Asheville this place is a must.
(4)
Tori H.
I have mixed opinions about this place. It's cute, servers are friendly, food is pretty tasty, but it didn't WOW me like Tupelo Honey Cafe. I definitely like the seating and decor more....but the food here is just not as good. Now if I'm comparing to other average brunch places, it's pretty high on the list still. Omelet was just ok, French toast was good, home fries are more like almost skinless mushy potato chunks....but they are surprisingly tasty. Prices are decent. Worth a try. But I'm gonna stick with Tupelo. Ps. Having to pick a key to go to the bathroom down the hall is a novelty. Lol.
(3)
Rae A.
On spring break from Louisville and decided to have dinner at this place. The food was super good! Yummy vegan food with loads of flavor! It was a super charming environment and the people were friendly. Delicious food, definitely worth checking out!
(4)
Basil E.
This place is totally awesome. The food (breakfast) is totally creative and delicious. They have good biscuits and good jam on the table (not the crummy little mass produced packets you find everywhere else). Service is quick and efficient. You will enjoy your experience here.
(5)
Colleen M.
This place was good but nothing outstanding. The black bean burger wasn't very "burger-y" = more like re-fried beans on a bun. I didn't mind, as I love black beans, but it certainly wasn't what I was expecting. I should have gone with something else... also, the broccoli cheese Hush Puppies were also not great. Just ok but not worth ordering again. Definitely a bit on the burnt side and the garlic dipping sauce was rather runny. I hoped for something a little better from a place with so many decent reviews. I'll have to try something new on my next trip to Asheville.
(2)
Faith D.
Want to feel cool, hipster-y, and farm-friendly all rolled into one? Take a seat at Early Girl Eatery. This is a very popular joint and the wait can easily be 30 minutes. The food is very good. They give you some pastries to hold you over; yummy. I ordered the shrimp and grits and I enjoyed every bite. The service is attentive and the experience was enjoyable. It was easy to visit with friends over breakfast for an hour an a half...just like at home. I never felt rushed and that's probably why most people wait to get in. Next time you're hungry in Asheville, put your name on their list.
(5)
roi h.
HOLY COW! some of the best food i've had...EVER asheville, nc seems to be a little gem of awesome culinary delights, an early girl is on top of that list. organic, local, creative, farm to table comfort food. i had the PORKY. yes...the porky, i felt guilty ordering it, and guiltier still rolling out of the restaurant. it's bbq pork, scrambled eggs, home fries, farmstead cheese, smothered with creamy bacon gravy. i also found myself adding loads of O'Yeah Hot Sauce. honestly, i didn't want that bowl to end. the staff is SUPER friendly (genuinely so). definitely going back before i leave.
(5)
Marti D.
We went early on a week day to avoid the crowd. Worked well. No wait! Food was good as always but portion seemed small. Service very friendly
(4)
Hector S.
The only reason this place is even getting two stars is because of the great staff. The food was flavorless! I ordered a side beans and rice and had to send it back because the rice was undercooked and crunchy. The catfish twas just as disappointing with Chef that obviously doesn't know how to use any seasonings! I have no idea how this place got such great reviews from other people! Definitely not worth the $20 that I spent!
(2)
Jill C.
Food is outstanding but the service was absolutely horrible. We waited at least 15 minutes to get our check. The waiter finally came to our table after passing by numerous times and asked, "You waiting on your check?". Then it took him 5 minutes longer to bring it to us. Beverages were also not filled in an adequate amount of time. We will not be returning.
(2)
Randy R.
Good, simple breakfast staples at very reasonable prices. Not mind-blowing by any means and the service is a little bit indifferent (had to request a coffee refill and then the waitress only refilled mine and not the rest of the table's, despite some nearly empty mugs).
(3)
lori p.
I believe they may have served me the best bacon I have ever eaten. I never order bacon with breakfast, I'm a sausage girl. (don't go there!) so I tried it on a whim. Damn that was so good, I could eat it all day long. We split an order of biscuits and gravy and they were decent but nothing exciting. It was strange they they brought it out first before the rest of our food. Breakfast appetizer? I had grits because I had to and my husband had the big winner: Smokey Breakfast Bowl with pulled pork that was heavenly good. We did have to share a big table in the busy venue with two annoyingly chatty women but we ignore them. I'll be back next year for our conference, so save me some bacon!
(4)
Heather A.
We went for an early breakfast. My omelet was delicious and my companion's egg biscuit was, too. The waitress was the friendliest in Asheville, I think.
(4)
Josh B.
So we where greeted with friendly staff and received our drink order quickly and then we waited for over 10 minutes for a server to come take our order. Meanwhile there were 5 servers in the corner of the dining room talking about personal issues. After the food arrived it was decent but nothing standout. Overall an alright place but nothing I would crave enough to come back.
(3)
Emily K.
Best vegetarian biscuits and gravy I've ever had. Great service, good coffee and orange juice. We went for breakfast with the family, everyone enjoyed it and the toddler was welcomed with a basket of toys to keep him busy.
(5)
Alex D.
Stopped in here for our last meal in Asheville...very tasty breakfast. Never new grits could be so light and fluffy! Couldn't get enough of the biscuits with berry jam. Well worth the visit, but get there early if you want to avoid the wait.
(4)
Ashley D.
Not sure why this place got such good reviews. Our food was just average. I got the vegetarian bowl. On the menu it stated it would have cheese curds in it...I never saw any. All i saw was an extremely large number of black eyed peas.. like a whole cans worth. The gravy on top tasted excellent. My sister got the Porky bowl. Her pork bbq was very dry and nothing exceptional. When they brought us water it had no ice in it. Weird.
(3)
Amy M.
My son, Charlie and I, popped in for dinner and it was so yummy. We both opted for the cheeseburger, which I've had before, and it was delicious!!! Best burgers in town, I say!!! The garlic mashed potatoes were divine too!!! We love Early Girl!
(5)
Mary-Ann D.
Service wasn't the greatest and it is a bit cramped inside but it was all totally worth it because the food never disappoints. I had the Shrimp and Grits and my boyfriend had the Cheeseburger with fries and an Egg and Cheese Biscuit. The biscuit was dry. The Shrimp and Grits was phenomenal and his burger came with a basil mayo that was to die for and it complemented the burger patty very well. Definitely an Asheville favorite for me, but, then again it's VERY hard to find a bad local restaurant in Asheville. Or bad beer for that matter lol.
(3)
Ashley V.
A great little place for breakfast. The biscuits with homemade jellies from local partners are a delicious treat for your tastebuds. The creamy grits were my other favorite to the meal. If you can wait out the line, you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Sparkle T.
I had too good of a time during my recent visit to Early Girl. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and Early Girl did not disappoint. I had the Benny, which is served with a fried grit cake and tomato gravy. The grit cake was crisp and yummy, and actually had me fooled for a potato patty for a hot minute. The sauteed spinach and poached egg covered in tomato gravy made for one happy girl. It was hot, full of flavor, and the egg had a nice ooey yellow center.The tomato gravy wasn't exactly what I grew up with in grandma's kitchen, but it was still good in it's own Asheville way. The Hubbs had a more traditional two eggs and meat. He said the bacon was quite tasty with a good heady smoke flavor and his eggs were cooked to his liking. We both fell in lurv with the jam on the table. Black, sticky, but not overly sweet. It was fabulous! The atmosphere was quaint and the service was awesome. Everyone who took care of us from door to table was friendly and nice. I had a blast because it's a great place to people watch: from locals, motorcycle bandits, to B and D List celebrity sightings. Next time I'm back in town, Early Girl will be on my list. Come eat, sight see, and drown in fresh, hot, coffee!
(5)
Giannabrie F.
Great performance by Early Girl Eatery. I thoroughly enjoyed this place. The service was friendly, the portions were perfect, the food was fresh, the atmosphere was friendly and creative. Just a great spot!! Staying true to their name, I think I only saw female employees, which was interesting! It had an old-time modern feel. Like, I felt all of the women were milkmaids that came in and whipped up a home-cooked meal for the locals. They, like most restaurants in Asheville, use local farm goods as much as possible. Just a great spot that made you feel good upon arrival. They serve breakfast all day and they have vegetable and other specials daily. I didn't try it but they had a banana chocolate chip pancake they were highlighting during my visit...ummm, hello yummy! I opted for the black bean & sweet potato cake that came with 2 sides. My sides were cucumber/onion salad (marinated in a vinegar) and butternut squash casserole. I don't even know what was in that casserole but it was amazing. It was the perfect balance between sweet and savory. I noted a ginger and nutmeg flavoring. It was perfect. My dining partner ordered the pimento cheese sandwich which was amazing on their homemade bread. It came with fries that were very good as well. The service was okay but they were super busy and friendly about it, so I'll take it easy. I would return here any day of the week. Great for lunch or brunch especially.
(4)
Rev. Hannah D.
The food is really good. I have never had anything that was mediocre. The shrimp and grits are fabulous. The wait staff has always been polite and attentive.
(4)
Ellie B.
This is a great place for brunch! I loved the fresh squeezed orange juice and the egg and cheese biscuit. My husband liked the strawberry banana pancakes, too. We were both expecting fresh fruit on top, but it was just inside the pancakes (not exactly a complaint, just sayin'). Overall, the restaurant is cheerful, has friendly staff and a great menu selection. Hit this place up!
(4)
Hailey Q.
I had a very classic breakfast, but everything I had was outstanding. It was the best meal we had in Asheville. Their home fries are chunks of potatoes with onions sauteed in butter. They had a lot of flavor! I also got a scrambled egg with some amazing cheese - the egg was not over cooked and the cheese was super sharp! Then I had the fresh herb-vegetarian gravy and IT CHANGED MY LIFE! It is was the best gravy that I've ever had. Amazingly flavorful and creamy. Just really, really good. Everyone at my table really enjoyed their food. This is now on my list of places I must eat in Asheville.
(5)
Bobby B.
Just wasn't a fan. Food was...hrm...basic at best. Wait staff was slow and the ambiance was ok but kind of basic as well.
(2)
Mackenzie A.
This restaurant came recommended by a friend. My boyfriend and I went around 1pm on a Saturday for a late brunch and there was hardly a wait - maybe 5 minutes. We both ordered make your own omelette and I was disappointed that when mine arrived instead of bacon, they had put spinach on it. I still planned on eating it because I was STARVING and I was going to just order a side of bacon to make up for it. The problem was we didn't see our waitress until 15 minutes later and we both had finished our meals. We couldn't even flag her down, we didn't see her at all. Which is odd because it's a smaller restaurant. Overall everything was great except for that small mistake but she didn't even ask us how our meal was and just gave us the check. I didn't want to complain or anything especially because I had already eaten the omelette but she didn't give me any way to explain what had happened. I left pretty disappointed and will most likely not return. Would be great if I was vegetarian. If you're not, not that many great breakfast options.
(3)
Brian M.
The Benedict is amazing!
(5)
Lisa D.
Over Labor Day weekend I tried the Banana strawberry pancake special...so delicious. Too much for one person...next time we'll share:). Perfectly served scrambled egg too. Sat at a window seat overlooking the park. Great way to spend breakfast with my Sweetie.
(4)
Hanh L.
The restaurant looks very cute. I ordered omelet with bacon, country han, tomato, and mushroom but the dish was not as good as I expected. My husband had the meatloaf and it was alright.
(3)
fifita j.
It's ok but not sure what the big deal is.... We waited 45 minutes in line on a Sunday morning to get in. The pancakes were good but the quiche was not. The grits were decent but nothing out if this world. I probably would not stand in line again to eat here. I've had better brunch food.
(3)
Julie R.
First, this is not an all vegetarian restaurant; but, they offer plenty of veg options (more than most). I had the tempeh reuben sandwich that came with a side. The side I picked was tomato florentine soup. The soup was beyond delicious. It was creamy and sooo good! I was happy I got it. The reuben, likewise, was delicious. It had swiss cheese and sauerkraut on it, as well a good dressing and was on grilled bread - very tasty. Of the 3 vegetarian reubens I have had in the past couple days in Asheville, this was among the best; it definitly had the most tempeh on it (sometimes restaurants skimp on it). Besides the good food, the place is charming. The room overlooks the park and has these tall beautiful windows and plants. There's cool artwork on the wall and it's very sunny and bright - just a lot of charm. Early Girl is always crowded, and usually a wait. So, I decided to go at an off hour (2:30 on a weekday), and there weren't a lot of people there. The service was very good and the server very friendly and pleasant. I loved this place. With all my vegetarian options here in Asheville, it's getting harder and harder to pick a place to eat. I love it. Oh, the price was very reasonable. I have seen reubens anywhere from $6.50 to $10. I think this one was $9, and it came with the soup - not bad!
(5)
Beverly B.
Excellent lunch! I ordered fried green tomatoes over grits. Might not sound so great but don't be deceived. Highly recommend. My new fav place in Asheville.
(5)
Jason L.
food like mom makes but better. It's comfort food done right.
(4)
Chelsie M.
Not impressed whatsoever. The mushrooms were not fresh, the biscuits were mediocre, and our server was unfriendly. I live in Asheville, and I can tell you there are a lot better breakfast places. Shoot, Hardees has a better biscuit then this place. Just another overrated downtown Asheville resturarant.
(2)
Tracey G.
Great place to grab a place to eat! Was very loud inside! But over all great food!
(5)
Isaac S.
I can no doubt say this was my best breakfast experience while visiting Asheville. The food was delicious--I had an omelette and my companions had an American breakfast and grits and gravy. Everyone was really happy with their food. The service was friendly and prompt. The liked the atmosphere of bright colours for the morning. I will definitely return!
(4)
Alexa A.
I love this place. I have been here probably 20 times, and I live in Ohio, so you can imagine it's high on my list of places to hit when I go through Asheville. And listen, it's not perfect. Sometimes the portions are small (the breakfast fish) or sometimes the prices are kind of high. But so much of their food is local, and the servicepeople are all so real and so kind, and somehow the food always comes together in this delicious harmony that seems healthy even if I end up eating mostly bacon. The only thing to watch out for is the wait! For weekend brunches, this place can take a while to get into. Luckily it's located on a really fun street to explore, but all the same, if you're in a hurry and it's a weekend, I'd suggest going elsewhere. If you happen to be free on a weekday, though, definitely give Early Girl a try.
(4)
Cara A.
Delicious breakfast spot. Was recommended to me by a local friend and it was definitely worth the walk. The early girl Benny was fresh and delicious. Will return when I make it back to Asheville!
(4)
Matthew L.
Awesome brunch place. Cozy and eccentric. Plenty of Southern options and not vegan either which is good since im allergic to vegan places. See other reviews...
(5)
A E.
Was so impressed by the food here. The vegetarian bowl with black eyed peas and veggie gravy was better than expected. My friend had the early girl Benny...looked very good. I did have a biscuit with regular gravy, unfortunately the gravy had an overpowering smoke flavor that made it unappetizing. Service was good, it seems like the kind of place that is always busy so things are expected to be slow.
(4)
Kristin C.
This place is amazing! Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner...the local food sourced from local resources....highly recommend!! Not only is the food great, but the service is outstanding.
(5)
Patty D.
SOLID!!! Breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, this place rocks. Will come here every time I roll through Asheville for sure.
(5)
Dee O.
Great food. I got the tofu scramble with eggs. Biscuit was soft and fluffy. The potatoes I got on the side were okay. Service was very friendly. Tends to be pretty busy but the food comes out quickly. Will visit again!
(3)
Helen B.
A little expensive but very good. They use a lot of local and organic food, so of coarse it'll be a little more expensive. There are a lot of vegetarian sides and you can get a plate of four of them and cornbread for $11. The home-made lemonade was very good. The coffee is great. It has a very fun atmosphere and I'd go again.
(4)
Andrea C.
So, so good. The tofu veggie scramble is unique and super tasty - awesome if you don't want to start the day with a belly full of grease. That being said, the bite I had of my boyfriend's bacon was amazing (that's what she said) and I would definitely order a full-on grease-fest of a breakfast on a day that I had nothing to do but watch reruns of Law and Order: SVU.
(5)
Mary Beth S.
This place is worth the wait! For real. Or you could get up earlier, but I was on vacation and in no hurry. Let's start with the coffee. Seriously good and locally roasted, good for that aforementioned wait. I tried the Early Girl Benny with country ham and was delighted! Grit cakes, poached eggs, avocado and of course, country ham. Ah-maze-ing! The biscuit was meh, but it shared a plate with grit cakes, I mean, come on! The service was really good and efficient, not chatty which I appreciate. This is really a fantastic place for breakfast and I envy the Asheville locals who can eat here any time.
(5)
Robin C.
We arrived for a late lunch and were delighted to have no wait time. My friend and I both ordered vegetable platters. I noted that the menu pointed out that the broccoli salad and the collards contained meat, which is something that I appreciate knowing as a vegetarian. Her selection had the Lima beans, honeyed beets, Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. Mine also had the mashed potatoes, and, for the remaining three sides, I chose black eyed peas, ginger slaw and cucumber onion salad. We both received a piece of cornbread with our meals. It was a perfect balance between savory and sweet, with emphasis on the savory. My friend did not like her Lima beans, and her favorite side was the beets. I loved everything on my plate! Service was friendly and prompt.
(5)
Katie G.
Very knowledgable staff for gluten free options. Fast service and great food!!! Def worth the 20 min wait!
(5)
Paul K.
Meal was good, not great. Seemed fairly flavor-reserved. I liked it but not for the price it was at. I was a bit weirded out at the sugar dispenser having the sugar open to air, sneezing, etc as I do not believe they change them between guests, and the pot of jam they brought me I think might have had remnants of someone else's bread in it. Eh, minor things but whatever. I'd eat there again if I were in the area to try some other things out.
(3)
Pat F.
Shrimp and grits to die for, and for breakfast, too! Came here with DH on a weekend break to AVL. We've eaten here a few times before, but this was on a Saturday morning--crunch time for breakfast places. The joint was hopping, so they told us it would be about a 30-minute wait and to check back in a bit. We parked ourselves on the steps of the building facing the Flatiron and people-watched--very entertaining. About 15 minutes later, our name got yelled down the street and in we went. The service, food, and coffee were all outstanding, as usual. I took away one star because if any NC restaurant outside of Carrboro would be expected to have gluten-free baked goods, it's EG, but they didn't. Alas. Otherwise, I can't recommend it enough. Haven't had a bad experience here yet.
(4)
Chad H.
Early Girl may be billed as a vegetarian place but as a meat eater who hates "foo-foo" restaurants and after having two incredible breakfasts, I need to praise this place. It's worth the wait on the weekend. There will be a wait. I don't usually eat pancakes but the banana walnut pancakes on special were the possibly the best breakfast I've ever had. The sausage and sweet potato dish is also fantastic. EGE lives up to the hype.
(5)
David D.
Amazing as always, my wife and I try to hit this spot whenever we are in Asheville. I love the fresh ingredients, you can definitely tell when a restaurant buys local!! Great food!! The only reason I'm giving a 4star and not 5 is because the waitress didn't seem to want to be there. Otherwise 5 star.
(4)
Cayenne E.
Embracing the farm to table concept which is just not much of an option around where I live in Vegas, you can always find me enjoying my grub at Early Girl within 12 hours of arriving in Asheville. I've always had great service, I adore the diverse menu, and love their focus on serving local and supporting regional ag. There are lots of veggie options always available (we feasted on the black eyed pea fritters recently, yum), but I have found my favorite dishes to be pecan crusted local trout (or something similar depending on the menu). Prices are great, and I've found that my favorite way to enjoy meals here is to have a small crowd (about 3 friends with me is perfect) and order appetizers and dishes to share with the table so I can diversify my menu. I never have enough time (or stomach place) to nosh my way through everything on the menu that sounds good. Prices are absolutely reasonable, location is great, and I have never been dissappointed with the food and the service.
(5)
Meg B.
Just as good as the reviews promised. Had breakfast on a weekday while visiting town. The fried green tomatoes with goat cheese were a standout, as was the Sweet Potato and Sausage Scramble. The Early Girl Benny was also delicious, but the biscuit was a little dry for my taste - more like a scone in texture. I also tried some of my friend's Porky Breakfast Bowl and was blown away by the combination of ingredients and the flavor of the pulled pork. A must-visit while in town.
(5)
Ryan O.
Klitchy, hip, and cool farm-to-table place in downtown with great southern comfort food. I liked it so much I visited it twice for breakfast during my four day stay. It helps they open earlier than most other places on the weekends. I'm a huge fan of pork and their menu offers plenty of selection there. The Porky is an incredible scrambler of homefries, pork, eggs, and cheese that is a huge winner in the hangover cure department. Smothered on top of that is Benton's smoky gravy which makes for something that is pretty much the king of fatboy mountain. You can also get the Benton's gravy on the biscuits and honestly I don't know why you wouldn't unless you are vegan or something. The pancakes are pretty good too if you are looking for something less meat sweat inducing. The only thing I really wasn't crazy about was the bread pudding. It was more like just slices of bread than other bread pudding I've had. The texture was more reminiscent of fruit cake which was very strange. I got a kick out of the washroom key situation... there are keys on the wall attached to giant cooking utensils. Clever and fun way to smooth out the inconvenience of the lavatory being all the way down a hallway away from the restaurant. If you are going for breakfast on a Sunday, get there mega early. This place appears to be super popular as it was rammed even at 9am when I visited.
The service was SPECTACULAR!!! The food was SUPERB!!! Loved the ambience! My family and I love to eat organic and this place strives on farm to table specialties. They also support their local purveyors which is a big plus in my book!!! If you are in the Asheville area please don't pass up a chance to eat here once before you leave!!!
(5)
Robin B.
Found the Early Girl Eatery through a Yelp search during our visit to Asheville, NC. So phenomenal that we ate there for both breakfast on day 1 and dinner on day 2 of our 2-day stay. Atmosphere was welcoming, charming, bright, and comfortable. Staff were warm, attentive, and efficient. Menu had a plethora of appealing dishes for vegans, vegetarians, and meat lovers. For breakfast, I had the egg scramble with sausage, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and bacon which was served with a biscuit. My eyes nearly rolled back in my head it was all so good. And further, being from the Philadelphia area, I hadn't until then understood just how heart-soaringly good a biscuit can be. I'm a changed woman. My husband had a simpler breakfast which was just the Early Girl Eatery's stellar biscuits covered in a smoky bacon gravy. There was not a drop or speck of food remaining on his plate by the time we were done. He's talked about the dish every day since our visit. For dinner the following night we each chose the "Meat + 2" option from the menu. I selected the sweet potato and black bean cakes alongside ginger coleslaw and baked lima beans. The cakes were stellar - nice balance of savory and subtle sweetness topped with guacamole and sour cream. The coleslaw, amped up with both ginger (as expected) and dill (a pleasant surprise) was the best I've ever eaten. I enjoyed the beans as well but found that they were cooked with cabbage and carried more sweetness than I prefer. Certainly a solid dish though. My husband ordered their lamb shank which was on special and was served a HUGE, savory, perfectly cooked portion alongside his request for mashed potatoes (smooth and delicious) and collards (perfectly cooked and super tasty). Oh - and terrific beer, wine, and sparkling wine selections for uncommonly low prices to boot! We had a near religious food experience at the Early Girl Eatery. The only negative thing I can say is that we now carry a hole in our bellies that won't be able to be filled until the next time we travel from Philadelphia to Asheville.
(5)
Allison D.
I don't know what it was about this place that made me love it so much. It's almost like you could taste the love in the food...either that or they cast some kind of voodoo spell in the kitchen. I honestly don't even remember what I had; I just remember saying, "this is going on my best breakfasts list" halfway through the meal. Actually, I do remember two things that I ate...One was the bacon. I don't know what they did to it, but it was the best I've ever had in my life. The second was the raspberry jam on the table, because we bought two jars of it to take home, along with one of their adorable T-shirts and a bottle of hot sauce.
(5)
Sundi P.
Loved this place. We traveled from Brevard to Asheville looking for a breakfast place and I'm glad I found this place on Yelp. It was packed and the service was a little slow, but the food was great. My husband had the Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble and I had the Early Girl Benny which was great. My husband enjoyed the Scramble too.
(5)
Lexi T.
After being on the road for hours, I was looking forward to a delicious meal. They were pretty slammed at 7:30 on a Saturday, but the hosts were very friendly and accommodating: the wait time was accurate and not excessive for a busy evening (25 minutes); I had also asked for some bread as soon as we walked in to keep the kids at bay and he put in an order for biscuits right away. We waited about 15 minutes, went to the bathroom, and came out to the table set with drinks, biscuit, a basket of small toys and books, and brown paper on the table to draw on which kept the kids busy. The waiter was attentive and friendly. I ordered a bunch of sides as a meal: scrambled eggs with cheddar, home fries, and bacon. Kids loved the black bean omelette with toast and gobbled up the house-made jam. If I come to Asheville again I will most definitely return to Early Girl!
(5)
Lauren F.
Went back for an early dinner: grilled chicken sandwich. It was fantastic. The goat cheese made the sandwich. Macaroni and cheese was good too. The seating was a bit uncomfortable, especially since there weren't many people there at the time. We were placed at a table that was so close to another couple, it was almost like we were at the same table. If they hadn't been close to leaving, it would've gotten weird. Still, the food was good enough, I know I'll go back.
(4)
Nick G.
We ended up here because Tupelo Honey wait was too long and they wouldn't be able to sit us together. I'm glad we did because I think this place was much better. We waited for about an hour on a Sunday morning, so I would recommend getting here before 10am if possible. All of the menu items looked mediocre, but my opinion quickly changed once the plates started arriving. Everything was prepared spectacularly, but I'm certain that I was the luckiest of our bunch. I ordered the Garlic Potato Cakes. Once I realized these came with eggs and a biscuit it was a no-brainer. When they arrived,t hey had a tomato gravy on top and were cooked to perfection. They tasted a little like a hush puppy infused tater tot. They were very dense and very delicious. Eggs over medium were cooked to perfection and tasted like they were fresh off a farm. I added a side of double cut bacon, which was delicious as well. The coffee flowed freely and the food came quickly. Very pleased with this place.
(4)
Benjamin G.
Early Girl is another Asheville spot that is prime for breakfast time. Most of the places you need to check out typically have a line out of the door or a substantial line of locals and visitors filling the front of the establishment. Early Girl seems to have that in the bag. The breakfast fare is pretty casual. Eggs, toast, bacon, grits, scrambles, and all the fixins. I got the Early Girl Benny (I know, right?) which was spinach, a poached egg, avocado, tomato gravy on top of pan fried grit cakes. It was a nice, balanced (mostly) vegetarian/vegan breakfast. The poached egg was awesome and that tomato gravy was wonderful. I'd order it again in a heartbeat. My wife ordered the veggie tofu scramble. Great flavors, fresh veg, and all smiles. The service was fast and everyone was rather friendly. Gotta love that southern hospitality. I had even forgotten my sunglasses on the table and our server had them at the hostess stand for me when we came back. Super friendly and knew that it was me who had forgotten them. Definitely a solid choice and a must for any trip to Asheville. Looking forward to checking out the rest of the menu!
(4)
Joli D.
This was our last stop before leaving Asheville and it did not disappoint! Great location in downtown, super cute and cozy atmosphere. My husband had the porky breakfast bowl and I had the pan fried trout and eggs that was on special that day. We both loved our food and the service was great! This is a must go place while in Asheville.
(5)
Charlene G.
I've only eaten here once, but I'm looking forward to many return trips. The menu had lots of options and the daily specials were nicely laid out on the large chalkboard. I would definitely recommend this place for a great lunch spot, as well as good for small group dinners. The food was all very delicious and I would definitely recommend trying any of the local veggies. I'll be back and will provide more detail on the food in a later review.
(4)
Patrick H.
We went to Ashville today. Only used our credit card once today, at the Early Girl Eatery. Had our credit card number stolen and used at a sleep inn in Morgantown this evening. They were trying to make more purchases when our bank called. This was the only place we used our card and fraudulent charges occurred just miles away from here. We did not leave our card out or leave it at the restaurant. Long wait. Food was pretty good, biscuits and bacon were the best things on the table. Our server was very grumpy. I would never go back because of the credit card issue. Hard to prove what happened, but literally it was the only time we used any credit cards today. Will call manager and police tomorrow.
(1)
Chris M.
My wife and I recently spent a few days in Asheville. We had lunch at the Early Girl Eatery. I had black bean soup. It was good. I would return to try other items on their menu.
(3)
Stephen S.
Lunch 5/17....just dropped in for a couple of salads...we were very impressed... Eclectic place.....hipster type of atmosphere...lots of "interesting" people both eating and working there....great service....Tried to come back for Sat Brunch but the wait was 40 minutes.. I had the... Fried Chicken and Bacon Salad Green leaf lettuce topped with farmstead cheese, bacon, diced cucumber, tomato, grated carrots, fried chicken ....had a creamy garlic dressing...very fresh and well done.... Barb had... Cobb Salad Tomato, boiled egg, bacon, grilled chicken and avocado over chopped romaine, topped with farmstead cheese and Cobb dressing...also very impressive...generous portions, fresh and satisfying...
(4)
Kristin L.
After an afternoon at the breweries, we found ourselves nabbing a table for an early dinner at Early Girl Eatery. This restaurant is all about comfort food, and we got what we came in for: BBQ pork and mac and cheese for me, an omelet for my sister, eggs Benedict (for dinner!) for my husband. I like that they serve a breakfast menu all day long. The prices were reasonable, the drinks were tasty and the service was great. We loved the jam that came with the bread so much that we wound up buying a jar at the counter. A great alternative to Tupelo Honey Cafe when the wait is too long to justify.
(4)
Claire S.
Absolutely delicious! Be prepared for a wait as this is a local favorite!
(5)
Charly D.
It was a choice between Early Girl Eatery and the Tupelo Honey Cafe on a recent trip to Asheville. The deciding factor was that Early Girl offered an extensive list of "Farm to Table" fare. Sold. We meandered to the restaurant around 10 a.m. and low and behold there was a 30min. wait for the two of us. I was not surprised as this is what all the other reviews stated. Some people got very huffy at the wait time so be prepared because the staff get annoyed when you act like this is unacceptable. Here is the breakdown of everything: Wait Staff: Extremely friendly and helpful with any questions Decor: Eclectic, crowded seating so obviously...loud. Food: We both tried the Herb creamed Gravy and Biscuits with a side of potatoes. It was amazing. My only additive would be bacon but I think everything needs bacon. When the dish arrived it looked like an awfully small portion but after eating we were plenty full. We love the herb creamed gravy so much that we attempted to remake it the next morning.
(5)
Christina J.
The food and our waitress were stellar, the wait time and restaurant space were less than ideal. The beginning of our experience was a bit rocky. The girl at the hostess stand told us it was about a 15 minute wait but it turned out to be about 35 minutes and we gave up our spot at Tupelo Honey about 15 minutes into the wait so we were sort of kicking ourselves (totally worth it in the end though). Finally our names were called to be seated. The hostess took us to our table and it was up against the wall and really close to another table. The woman at the table next to us wouldn't budge to let me in so I tried to squeeze by, knocking over her pepper shaker in the process. A lot of the tables seem to be that way, although probably with nicer people seated at them. But the experience only got better from there. I had the Early Girl Benny and added sausage. The plate was HUGE, I couldn't eat it all on my own although I would have loved to have been able to, the food was that good. The grit cakes were large, the spinach sauteed and plentiful, and the tomatoes and avocado were perfectly ripened. My poached eggs were a little overdone and the yoke didn't really run much but the tomato gravy (which was my favorite part) made up for it and gave the dish the sauciness that was lacking with the yolk. The sausage seems like it's made in-house and comes from a local farm. Overall, I loved my dish.
(4)
Maria E.
Great food. Nice location. A bit of a wait but well worth it. The sausage and sweet potato scramble was delicious! Be sure to order the warm pumpkin ginger bread...yum!
(4)
One S.
I love this place. The food is delicious and reasonably priced, the waiters/waitresses are great and the ambience always special with rotating local art on the wall and a crowd to enjoy. Only downfall-they are incredibly busy and you need to wait a long time for brunch.
(5)
Emily T.
My boyfriend: "this was the best breakfast I've ever had." He got the pork bowl. Being a vegetarian myself, I got the biscuits and veggie gravy with homefries. MMMM. Also got a fruit bowl and it was $4 and kind of small. Idk about that, everything else was moderately priced so unless they're going out back and hand picking and cleaning my pears and bananas that needs to come down. Overall, this was a great, filling meal for a good price. Worth the wait. It was kind of hot in the restaurant but it was Memorial Day and very busy. The staff was pleasant. Could be better if they had megamosas (like many other places in the area) instead of small flutes of the wonderful drink to start your day.
(4)
Brad B.
Went here two mornings in a row when in Asheville a while back, their breakfast sausage scramble was my favorite.
(5)
Jesse F.
Hands down my favorite breakfast joint in Asheville. The menu rotates as everything they make is farm-to-table local foods. You WILL wait for a table here, just go put your name on the wait list and then go check out some of the local stores while you wait. The service is good, the food is amazing. The sweet potato has is always awesome, the biscuits and gravy super good....The staff is always friendly. I would highly recommend Early Girl.
(5)
Leslie J.
The food is home cooked which means that there are occasional days something isn't perfect. But mostly you can expect a good meal here. It's not fancy. More southern country. I have not had breakfast here quick I've heard is really good. It's a regular in the rotation of our restaurants.
(4)
Adam C.
I was traveling on business, looking for a good spot for coffee and breakfast. Nothing else was open at 7:30am in Asheville. Thank god for that!! This place is amazing. I had an exceptional cup of coffee and amazing breakfast. The service was outstanding and food was perfect and served promptly.. I will be going here again.
(5)
Emily H.
Great restaurant! Came here for a late lunch on a weekday and we were seated right away. I can see how it could get crowded and busy though during the weekend and popular times. My husband ordered the Vegan Tofu Scramble and I had the Tempeh Reuben with french fries. We really enjoyed the food and everything tasted very fresh. The 2 hot sauces that they have were good too. We had the red velvet cake for dessert and WOW was it delishhhh. Like another reviewer, the coffee is a bit strong. Gave me a stomach pains and headache right away. We will def. come back to try different menu items next time we are in Asheville! Reasonable prices and good service.
(5)
Shadia N.
Awesome banana bread----def try the hushpuppies. grits are perfect! Just be ready for a wait on a Saturday morning. It's worth it, just go walking around to the other stores on the street.
(4)
Kyle S.
I got the burger and it had to have been one of the best burgers I have ever had... completely unexpected. Was expecting a good lunch but holy cow what a burger!!! The rest of the menu looked great too!
(5)
Joe P.
Good food and friendly Love the jam. Go here. You will enjoy it.
(4)
Lauren R.
We went here for lunch during the week while on vacation. We were shown straight to the table and didn't have to wait at all. The pimento cheese sandwich was one of the best I've had. The entire meal was delicious and the staff was friendly. I'll definitely be back here the next time I'm in Asheville.
(5)
Rebecca B.
I would like to give them 3.5 stars. We went for dinner on a Saturday night. I like the whole concept of the place..the local ingredients...and the comfort food/diner atmosphere. I ordered the trout and while it was good, the portion was pretty small for the price. My partner ordered the fried chicken, and he was disappointment because it wasn't on the bone and there wasn't really any breading on it. We kept seeing everyone else's dishes coming out with huge portions, so we were hoping ours would be the same. Anyway, we are hoping to try it again for breakfast. We really wanted to like the place more...perhaps we ordered the wrong thing.
(3)
Harry K.
The best breakfast I have ever eaten! We were stuck in a snowstorm which left us stranded the night before in this quaint, beautiful "green" city. Luckily for us we were able to find this place via Yelp. We originally wanted to try Tupelo but it was closed until 11am due to the aftermath of the blizzard. We walked in and had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated. We ordered the shrimp grits, spinach & potato pancake, biscuit and gravy, and a chicken dish that tasted like a de-constructed pot pie. I am still yearning the shrimp & grits... as well as the spinach potato cakes!!
(5)
Sarah A.
Early Girl Eatery is so dang cute and delicious. The wait is always ridiculous, but since we're on vacation, we managed to get in straight away by showing up on a Tuesday morning (the day before, which was a holiday, the wait had been 55 minutes!). I love eating here every time we're in Asheville. It's veggie-friendly and the dining space is so cheerful. I got the mulitgrain pancakes this last time, which were excellent, by why no apples and pecans baked in? Or perhaps a french toast topped with berries? They seem to missing that side of brunch. It would be nice if there were a larger waiting area - or just a larger dining area to accommodate more guests. Only one brief warning - their T-shirts are adorable but everyone I know who has bought one (myself included) said that it shrunk up in the wash or got a hole quickly. Instead of wearing their shirt, just support them by eating there as often as possible.
(5)
Stella M.
Finally! A restaurant that knows how to make a good tofu scramble! Great texture, not too salty, spiced correctly to imitate eggs, and perfect proportion to yummy fresh veggies. Amazing with their house habanero hot sauce! The rye bread on the side was delicious as well. You can tell they use high quality bread. My husband ordered biscuits and veggie gravy with two scrambled eggs on the side. The gravy was creamy and savory and the proportion size was a good deal for $3.50. Not the best biscuit I have ever had but still pretty damn good. We were very happy with our breakfast.
(4)
Kyle W.
Very quick, affordable breakfast spot with plenty of options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Staff was really friendly and it's a very cute space. Mostly fresh, local ingredients. I heard it's insane during the brunch rush on weekends so try to go at an off time if you can!
(4)
Helena D.
Does this place really need another great review? Maybe not but what the hell. Like many others, I too had the Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble. And just like everyone else, I also loved it. The thing I would recommend- or advise- is that I normally order what I'm comfortable with and though I like sweet potatoes, they're not something I would normally go out of my way for. But since I was on vacation I was being more ambitious with my food selections and decided to order outside of my usual, safe, go-to. I'm glad I did (here and everywhere else as well). It was divine. The portion was also a decent size so it may look a tad smaller- it was exactly what I needed. The staff were great as well and so was the coffee. It's well worth the wait (if you end up in one). I only wish I lived in Asheville to go here and order something new every time. Their selection was unique and everything sounds great.
(5)
Peter Z.
The hosts and servers were all incredibly helpful and well-coordinated; by the end of the meal, three or four different employees had ran our food, provided refills, and checked up on us. My buddy and I sat at the bar just inside the entrance because we weren't worried about waiting for a table, so I never got to see the actual inside of the restaurant- this wasn't a problem though, just a possible shortcoming when it comes to a restaurant review. The environment was laid back even though all of the servers were quite busy, and everyone seemed to keep their cool despite a consistent line out the door from when we walked in until when we walked out. That constitutes three stars out of my four. The other star is for the quality of the food and coffee. Both were phenomenal and they even had a little spot at the end of the bar where one could refill their coffee. I bought an omelette with a side of home fries and both were delicious, fresh, and immediately devoured. Why not five stars? It was a bit pricey. $13 dollars for an omelette, home fries, and a coffee was more than I was expecting to pay when I walked in the door, but I can't complain as the service made up for it.
(4)
Keith B.
Awesome find. Came around 2 on a Thursday. We had a a group of 8 so needed to wait 20 minutes or so. Up front waiting is area is hot as heck...it's across from the kitchen. I went outside to cool off in the 'feels like 100' degree heat. Once we got back, it was cooler (not cold, but cooler) and we settled in and it was ok. We started with the Fried Green Tomatoes. Frig.in delicious. I could just eat a bowl of the grits that came with it. Based on the waiter's reco of the catfish sandwich, we went with that. It was OUTSTANDING. Light and flaky....and then the sauce they put with it....dammmmm It's one of those things that I will think about the next day. What was also cool is they served local beers...in chilled glasses. My wife and ordered 2 different ones (for $3.50 each!) and got to try some of Asheville's local.
(4)
Heather P.
I'll admit that it's not a usual five star dig. Then come to think of it, it's not your usual tourist trap either. One trap is Tupelo Honey, which is right around the corner from this gem. Do yourself a favor and pass up TH and head to Early Girl. We were walking in the area and wanted something other than Tupelo and as we passed a hotel concierge and asked what he recommended and he pointed us to Early Girl. My first impression of this place was Betty Boop meets Paula Deen. This was for dinner, so don't let the "early" part of the name fool you too much. I noticed on the menu that they serve their breakfast options all day and the other options start at 11am. The menu consists of many southern staples and farm-to-table options. Before I ordered I spotted someone's huge slice of red velvet cake, so I decided I would order my meal conservatively. I decided on the Cobb salad and I must say that it's the best Cobb salad I've had in a long time. It was so filling and delicious that I wasn't able to order dessert... maybe next time. The bathroom situation... Yes, I always check out the bathroom situation, doesn't everyone wash their hands before they eat too? The restaurant shares bathrooms with several other restaurants within the same building complex. You have to grab a key because of the city's mass amount of transients, they have to keep it locked. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that because I'll admit that it is a bit odd.
(5)
Canny F.
I ordered an egg biscuit with cheese, to go, because the line was a 1-2 hour wait and that would have delayed my food adventure. There was still a wait but I feel like dining in would have took longer so I chose a simple order. I was very disappointed in it. The biscuit was practically a rock and dry. They sprinkle shredded cheese on the egg and I guess I was expected the cheese to be melted but it was just fell out of the sandwich. It was not worth the price, wait, cost and calories.
(2)
Sarah W.
So. Much. Yum. My favorites are the black bean and cheddar omelet and the biscuits and gravy. I love me some biscuits and Early Girl's are perfect. I've had both the vegetarian and bacon gravy and can't decide which I like more, they're both so good. There's usually a bit of a wait almost always- a lil longer on the weekends but that's to be expected. However, the staff is pretty great about moving things along quickly. I like that the tables are covered in paper so I can draw while I wait for my food...I'm secretly 12. Try the local jam they have on the tables because it's to die for.
(5)
James D.
This is place is awesome, one of Asheville's best breakfast spots. The atmosphere is awesome, not too loud even with a full restaurant. Expect a wait because it is pretty popular and the seating is limited, but worth it. The staff is friendly, the service is great, and the food is fantastic. Highly recommend the local sausage and sweet potato scramble.
(5)
Felicia R.
I probably don't need to review this spot, because they already have so many wonderful reviews, but I WANT to! I got a rare Saturday off work, so I decided to take my little one downtown for brunch and window shopping. I've wanted to cone here for awhile but imagined a tight space and a long wait. When I got there, they hadn't opened yet so I got in the short line of people waiting to storm the doors. The dining area is actually larger than I was imagining based on past reviews. We got a great seat under the specials board. I didn't feel too close to my neighbors at all. Someone immediately brought over a basket of toys for my kid! I've never had a restaurant do that, blew me away and I would give them five stars for that! Got a mimosa and coffee. Mimosa was standard, but the coffee was incredible. I asked my server to please bring a biscuit as soon as she could, the wild, hungry beast next to me was beginning to growl ;-) Boom, two seconds later I had a biscuit and a happy baby! I ordered the Benny, added bacon. I was asked whether I would like toast or a biscuit. I assumed it would what my Benny would be served on, but it was on the side. If I would've known, I would've just told them to keep it, it was left untouched on my plate. I do agree with others that the menu needs better descriptions. I asked to add bacon to my Benny which was no problem, and the right choice! There was a delicious tomato gravy smothering my perfectly poached eggs, bacon, spinach and some soet of grit cake. I'm used to bennies served on English muffins. The cake was good, a solid foundation, but didn't add much flavor, or that nice crunch a English muffin does. I also don't believe I read about that in the description... I had a genuine conversation with my amazing server. She gave me great advice and was just overall wonderful! Before leaving she offered to get me a coffee to go!!! Its those little things that really take service to the next level. I wish I would've gotten her name to I could praise her publicly!!! Overall, great food, service and atmosphere. Prices are a little steep, but you're downtown. It's not anymore than I pay at sunny point for the two of us to eat. You won't be disappointed!
(5)
Connie L.
After hiking I just wanted a fresh hearty salad... And I got it! Got the toasted almond and ginger salad with chicken. The sunflower seeds and almonds added a nice crunch and filled me up! Friend loved loved loved his chicken sandwich with herbed goat cheese and cabbage with walnuts as his side. He devoured it in two seconds no joke. Overall a super cute and laid back restaurant to grab a casual meal!
(4)
Paisley B.
You might as well go see what it's all about. I give three and a half stars for the food and maybe a little extra star-worthy kudos for the ambiance. Very shabby chic. Very college-town bohemian. First of all..be prepared for a wait. The tables are close together so you'll be cozy with your neighbor. If you like the hustle and bustle of a weekend brunch then this is your scene. The soup of the day was good .. And the uncommon caraway added an unexpected zip. We liked the quiche of the day ...and the side salad was simple. The stone ground grits certainly taste that way. Although, I wish my cheesy grits had more umph to taste. The avocado and sprout sandwich was a little dry and I didn't love the soggy fries. Overall...It was cute and fun. Food was hunger-worthy. Not five stars in my book but just go check it out and see for yourself.
(4)
James H.
Waited about 70 minutes to be seated for a party of two! I did not realize this spot was that popular. So arriving at 10:00 resulted in a 11:10 brunch. I do dig the theme, and for me to summarize it, Rosie the Riveter comes to mind. Had the local sausage and sweet potato scramble which was extremely delicious. The price was very fair, and the quality of food was great. It's a place you have to visit at least once. But for a follow on visit, I would not wait over 30 minutes. Not the fault of the place but more on the extreme popularity of the establishment.
(4)
Jonnie D.
Is there a way I could give this no stars? Well, I'll settle for 1 if I must. Where do I even start? The moment I sat down and saw the specials, I thought, "Ooh, this omelet looks good." But, alas, being a vegetarian meant I needed to get it without the andouille sausage. When the waitress came around, she said she'd have to ask if they could make it without the sausage. She returned saying that they couldn't because the mixture had already been made. That should have set a warning light off in my head, but I settled and ordered the vegetarian breakfast bowl instead. Clearly, this was a mistake. The bowl consisted of black eyed peas (which were clearly cooked beforehand and over salted to cover the fact), scrambled eggs (once again pre cooked and not even scrambled??), spinach (still pre cooked and slimy), and nonexistent cheese curds. This food could have been good if it was actually cooked fresh but, unfortunately, they couldn't spend 15 minutes cooking beans and scrambling eggs and the dish suffered. This is a disgrace to southern food and should be avoided if possible.
(1)
Cryshtal A.
This eatery was recommended to us and dos not disappoint! We shared the Early Girl Benny which is their version of eggs benedict and is presented on a grit pancake. The flavours are incredible yet the dish feels light weight overall. A great shareable dish as we still couldn't finish. We each got a biscuit and had the locally made jam on our biscuits. Great atmosphere as well! A must visit spot in Asheville
(5)
Yeshanth J.
Brunch any day .. any time ! If you brunching here for the weekend, make sure... make sure to get a reservation. And it is definitely worth the wait. They do have a unique decor.. The restaurant starts with an semi open kitchen. This unique setup of theirs can work to their disadvantage.. sometimes you get welcomed by smoke. Everything that you tastes fresh. I have managed to get the taste of these entree items.. Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Catfish Sandwich and Tempeh Reuben. I liked all of them. In the grilled chicken sandwich, I like the way the chicken was cooked. Grilled chicken can yield a tough one but theirs were juicy. I loved their Reuben. Again, their reuben tastes good even without the bread. But with the filing, its a good ensemble. Catfish sandwhich tasted good but isn't one of their "must try" ones. My wife had the Avocado and Sprout sandwich and she didn't like it much. They do have an interesting way to lead you to their restrooms. Its another experience in my opinion :) Bottom line: Great food, Make reservations and leave satisfied :)
(5)
Shannon P.
I went one morning before work, very laid back vibe, almost like meeting family in grandma's big kitchen. I had the veggie breakfast bowl and it was enough for two meals. Will definitely eat here again.
(4)
Ed A.
Just had lunch at Early Girl and the meal was excellent! The only problem I have is that the restaurant needs a good cleaning. The window curtains are filthy, the ceiling fans are loaded with dust, the walls are dirty and even the light switches need cleaning. I would definitely go back for the food! ( After they clean )
(3)
Tiffany C.
Heyo, Early Girl! You're full of charm and I think we're besties now, don't you? Came here on a Saturday night with two great friends visiting from California. It was our first time to Asheville (myself included, though I've lived in NC for almost a year now) and we were disappointed to get the brush-off from schmancy places like Limones. Early Girl was friendly and welcoming to us out-of-towners with its bright and cheery spirit! The dining table we sat at was communal, which seems to echo the very love-Mother-Earth and love-thy-neighbor attitude so prevalent in Asheville. It's quite nice, actually. The tables are covered with brown paper and you can doodle on it while you wait for your waiter/order. (If you're good/witty enough, you'll end up on the hallway wall! Check it out!) The food is YUM. Really yum. I honestly had the best cream of mushroom soup of my life here - it was so flavorful and textured, creamy and warm, almost like a wild-rice dish rather than that usual soupy from-a-can taste. I also shared a meatloaf sandwich with a friend which was positively delicious. I really love it when dishes surprise you with new textures and spices, but without losing its original comfort. Loved this place and sad that I'll likely not be back any time soon. I hope some other weary traveler finds solace in this lovely place just like I did!
(4)
Carolyn H.
We stopped here on our road trip from Chicago to Charleston. The food was amazing. There was something for all types of diets. As if the food wasn't satisfying enough, the service was unbelievable. I'm pretty sure every employee stopped at our table to make sure we were happy with everything. I wish every restaurant was like this.
(5)
Richard R.
My wife and I had breakfast here in August 2015. We had a table with a view of a downtown park and shops. The food was very good. A breakfast platter with meat costs about $9. Good bread, nice decor. We'll go here again.
(4)
Be A.
I usually don't eat breakfast, but it seems like Asheville has a huge breakfast scene going on. I came in one morning and it was packed! I was literally seated next to two guys already having their breakfast. It was pretty much like sitting at their table because it was "bumping elbows" kind of close. It was different and odd, but it was ok because people from Asheville are so happy and polite. I actually met good people and had great conversations because of it. Everything on the menu looked great and I had a hard time making a choice but the waitress helped me out with a few suggestions of her favorites. For vegetarians looking for a place to eat you won't have a hard time here because they have plenty of vegetarian dishes. I can't wait for my next trip to Asheville. This place is for sure one of my first stops. It's a must! Tip for Yelp: GEAD
(5)
Jan M.
Cute place & we were lucky not to have a wait for a table. Unfortunately, service wasn't very good (Waitress kept us waiting before we could order & wasn't very friendly. We waited FOREVER for her to check back in on us & waited even longer for our check.) And onto the food: Pumpkin Ginger Bread was delicious -- do yourself a favor & order this! Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble was good, but could've been better. Porky Breakfast Bowl was better than the Sweet Potato Scramble -- I'd get this next time I visit.
(3)
Kimberly P.
Breakfast was delicious! I ordered a la carte off the sides menu and it was perfect. Can't go wrong with a scrambled egg and thick cut bacon. Service was excellent, and my server got extra brownie points for bringing me a to go cup of coffee.
(4)
Larry M.
Wandered in without any recommendations and was very impressed. Food was fresh and delicious. We enjoyed an omelet with oyster mushrooms, feta cheese and carmelized onions (daily special) and the grilled pimento cheese sandwich with tomatoes and spinach. Service was prompt and friendly. The hallway to the restrooms was covered with articles and reviews from Gourmet, Bon Appetit and other magazines - no surprise!
(5)
Randy V.
Went for a late morning breakfast on a weekday and waited about 30 minutes to be seated. There's plenty in the immediate area to check out so that was OK. The place smelled good when we went in which is always welcome. My wife and I both ordered a breakfast bowl after going back and forth with lots a seemingly great choices on the menu. Hers was vegetarian and I got mine "porky" with pulled pork and bacon gravy. Potatoes and eggs in the bowls were perfectly cooked and plentiful and the bacon gravy on mine was CRAZY good and, with the pork, made the dish! We also shared a side pancake which was pretty close to perfect, especially when paired with the local berry jam. I tried my best to finish. There was just so much I couldn't do it. Next time we're in town we'll be stopping back by again!
(4)
Cherin S.
Love love love this place. Food is fantastic. Highly recommend the Early Girl Benny. Wonderful. And the fresh squeezed lemonade is to die for especially on a gorgeous sunny Asheville day. Staff is so friendly and that creates such a great atmosphere that it is nothing to strike up convo with your neighbor !!! Love love love this place. Always busy but totally worth the wait.
(5)
Adam R.
This place belongs in East Nashville. It's a hipster wonderland. Tight girl jeans on guys, unnecessary piercings, and tattoos abound. Towards the food, however, all is quite tasty. The offerings are ample, and the quality is fresh. There are no preservatives and the entrees are not caked in salt. Perhaps a tad haughty at times, but then again, we are referencing your typical hipster.
(4)
Jennifer T.
My favorite breakfast place in asheville. Love all their food, fresh, yummy, healthy. I love the early girl Benny.
(5)
Jennie C.
I ate here on a Sunday morning. Great wait staff. When I came in, the hostess was unusually eclectically beautiful. She was also sweet. The food is overpriced, being in downtown Asheville. The 2-seater table I sat at with my boyfriend was parallel to another 2-seater table which was occupied. I felt highly uncomfortable with the close seating, and I would not call myself uncomfortable being in close proximity to people. The seating layout could be better. I recommend coming in on either a later non-weekend morning, or an afternoon. It's the Early Girl Eatery, so it's packed with early girls, boys, men and women. They probably think of themselves as Early Birds. Okay good, not such a big selection. Will probably come back again, because location is along a cobblestoned street, and I think those are positively quaint. Vegan + vegetarian friendly.
(3)
Caitlin M.
I just got a biscuit and the tempeh to go, but the vibe of this place seemed great- very Asheville-y! The biscuit was pretty basic, and I was disappointed because I had read rave reviews for them. But the tempeh was delicious! It was a nice sized portion for a side, and was covered in a delicious sauce- smoky and a little spicy. Yum! I would love to come back and try some other veggie dishes!
(4)
Stacy S.
I had the toku scramble - delish! Be ready to wait though, they are not fast at all. Took us 3 hours from when we added our name to the list to when we checked out starting at 11:00am on a Sunday. It's a little loud too, but food was good.
(4)
Holly K.
Sadly, I need not enjoy my meal here. The service was good which is always a plus! We had the fried green tomato napoleon and it was okay but not the best I have had by far. For dinner I went with their house benedict and to me it really had no flavor. I was hoping the egg yolk would infuse some flavor but then the egg was cooked hard which I am not sure if it was done intentional or not. The finance tried out their breakfast bowl and it tasted so smokey it really was not pleasant to eat. The flavors together were way to overwhelming. The fresh lemonade was delicious!
(2)
Amanda M.
Very nice atmosphere and great staff. Filled with friendly people. I had the apple walnut salad with grilled chicken. The salad had fresh feta cheese which was amazing, as it tasted freshly made however the salad portion was not veey big as I was still hungry when I finished my meal. My husband also had a salad fried chicken and bacon. He also said it was good however small. Overall we had a good experience but next time we will be getting one of the more unquie items on the menu as we had major order's regret when seeing everyone else's food as the sandwiches and omelettes looked amazing! Not very healthy but they looked amazing!
(3)
D'Yvonne K.
This place was recommended from a good friend. I visited Asheville for a wedding and this was one of the Bride's favorite places. I had the the back bean cheddar omelet with the homemade biscuit and it was simply delish.
(4)
Hannah S.
Early Girl Eatery is every tourists go to brunch spot and many locals quick pick up to go lunch. They have delicious garlic potato cakes (when you can get them) and the best fresh squeezed OJ. I have never been for dinner, and I hardly dine in since there usually are long lines most days. But I do order to go soups, salads or sausage and eggs at least once a week. Always delicious food and super friendly staff!
(4)
Matthew M.
I came here off of other great Yelp reviews and boy (Ironic) was it good! We tried eating here at about 1030 on a Monday in hopes that it wouldn't be too busy, but we still had to wait about 30 minutes for a table. It's worth the wait! It's located on a cute, old-fashioned, strip of down town. The wait staff was very friendly and super fast with service! It seems very small when you enter, but don't let that deter you. It's hard to see, but it opens up in the back, and it's a decent sized area back there. The staff does a great job weaving around tables and chairs back there. The food is OUTSTANDING. They support local food producers from the area. I had the piggy bowl, which was amazing! I also had some apple juice that tasted like it was squeezed out of an apple that was picked after I ordered it. Great, fresh ingredients and amazing food here. Don't pass it up!
(5)
Dan S.
Food was all clearly cooked ahead of time and either refrigerated or frozen. Then reheated in microwave for serving, first clue should have been that they didn't allow substitutions in the omelettes. Items on menu sounded interesting and may have been good if fresh but the microwaving killed all the flavor. I hope this was an abnormal day at the restraint given all the great reviews. Maybe a cook or two had called out.
(1)
Andi M.
Early Girl is larger inside than it appears from the outside and so they can seat a lot. We had Sunday breakfast there while visiting Asheville for the weekend. I had the quiche (spinach, sausage, and cheddar) with a side salad, and my husband had the black bean and cheddar omelet with a biscuit and side of smoked bacon gravy. The quiche could have been a little warmer (temperature-wise), but it was really good topped with both their homemade habanero sauce (available to go for $7), and some of their bacon gravy. The salad was delicious as well, with lots of fresh tomatoes and lettuce, sliced cucumbers, and grated Parmesan. The omelet was spectacular. We don't know what they did with their black beans, but they had an amazing flavor, with a little kick. Every bite had cheese, too. And the biscuit and gravy was wonderful. (We've never had smoked bacon gravy before, but we'll return just to have that again.) The coffee was good and strong, and service was efficient. Even if you are faced with a wait, their service is very fast, and their food is well worth it.
(4)
Charline H.
I really wanted to give this Asheville stop 5 stars after hearing from friends that frequently visited this lovely little town that it was a MUST on places to grab breakfast. The fresh take on farm-to-table southern was apparent by the local/seasonal ingredients, but we could not forget how tasteless the grits were. It was as if they just poured them out of a box and served them plain. Any southern man/woman cook knows that grits need to be "dressed". Flavor is key. We had: Fried Green Tomato Napoleon: Fried green tomatoes layered with fresh basil and herbed goat cheese, topped with salsa and balsamic dressing, served over grits Early Girl Benny: Grit cakes topped with tomato, spinach, poached eggs, tomato gravy and avocado, served with toast Overall: Good service and a low key atmosphere. Different and fun food. I would return on our next trip but order something different.
(4)
Chelsea Ellen A.
Oh my gosh! I can't believe I forgot to write a review last time I went to Asheville. Awesome beer selection! I had the white zombie in a can. This place really knows how to do good vegetarian food. The place itself was bright, clean, and just had all-around good decor. The waitstaff all had impeccable style, and our waitress gave off a calm, soothing aura. I got the veggie burger, and off all the bean pattys I've had in my life, this has gotta be top three. I will be coming back here next time I'm in A-ville (which I hope is soon.)
(5)
Kelsey Q.
Great breakfast. I got the tofu scramble, which was good, my husband got the sweet potato and sausage scramble, which was GREAT. Good coffee, friendly staff, very kid-friendly menu and vibe. It's a small place so I'd expect a wait on weekends, but that's the only downside I saw.
(4)
Aubrey W.
Early Girl Eatery was high on my list for the visit. I'm a big fan of breakfast, and this farm-to-table spot sounded fantastic. I wasn't disappointed. I ordered one of their specials that day, Garlic Potato Cakes, topped with a tomato gravy. They came with a biscuit and two eggs, which was more than enough for me! The orange juice was fresh-squeezed, which was delicious. Even the local raspberry jam was heavenly. Our breakfast at Early Girl Eatery was one of my favorite meals in Asheville, hands down. When we come back to town, I'll be returning to enjoy it again and again!
(5)
Bill D.
Really good food, early girl has a strong commitment to serving local and organic food and supporting sustainable business practices. One of the few restaurants left serving real food. Very friendly and courteous staff. The food is amazing and save room for dessert great homemade cakes!
(5)
Lianna N.
A great brunch option in Ashville. I was itching to try some southern breakfast and was not disappointed! My shrimp and grits were phenomenal. I also appreciated the biscuit with homemade jam (jam was part of the condiments found on the table along with ketchup salt and pepper, how cute). The only minus of eating here was our party had to be split up to accommodate us on that busy friday morning. Staff was friendly and all the other food I sampled from around the table was also delicious.
(4)
Ashleigh B.
We didn't do a great job of scouting the place prior to going but it was highly recommended to us. They don't have a great kids menu which is important to me when on a family vacation. Staff was pleasant but not overly friendly. We all had water and apparently you have to request ice, which seems odd to me. I had a spinach and bacon omelette and the spinach was already well cooked instead of fresh which I was not a fan of. Husband's omelette was okay. Daughter didn't touch her pancake because they had an odd taste. If you are looking for an eclectic place then this is it.
(3)
Carrie B.
Early Girl is a great Asheville restaurant--the food is always fresh, consistently delicious, and the setting is very quaint. Their meatloaf is one of my favorite dishes, although I've never had anything that I didn't like. Sometimes it does feel a little crowded, and the tables are quite close together. It can also get relatively loud. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for a private, romantic meal, but they are great for breakfast and lunch. They are also open early (hence the name), which can actually be a bit unusual for restaurants in Asheville. The restaurant is on a small one-way cobblestone street with sparse parking, but there is a City-owned parking garage on Wall Street (entrance on Otis St) that is free for the first hour and only $1/hour after that.
(4)
Corey Tess T.
That was the hippest breakfast ever! We used Yelp to find a breakfast spot on our trip to Asheville and came up with Early Girl. It was a good recommendation. The entrance area is a bit crowded, but once inside there are lots of tables. We were seated at a big farm table and shared it with another party. Which was cool because the style of the place is very laid back. They have jam on the table that is made in house, i think... it was really good on the big biscuits. The pancakes were so yummy too. I really enjoy places like this where its low key, casual but cute and there are items that taste like someone actually made them from scratch. I will make sure to visit again on my next trip.
(5)
Madame W.
This place looked great as we walked by and we're so glad we stopped in for lunch on our way through Asheville. The staff was extremely friendly. They have a great Southern, fresh menu with plenty of vegetarian options. The atmosphere was homey, cheerful, and welcoming. I would absolutely eat here again!
(5)
Leebee C.
Delish. Food was great, very fresh & satisfyingly healthy. A little bit o a wait, worth the quaint atmosphere.
(4)
Richie K.
Spent the last few days shuffling between Candler, West Asheville, and Downtown Asheville. So many things to eat...though very few in the former and numerous options in the latter locations. I'll be honest. Early Girl wasn't my first choice. Ms. BK was craving a fried chicken salad, though, and Early Girl had a fried chicken and bacon salad with green leaf lettuce, farmstead cheese, diced cukes, tomato, grated carrots, and your choice of dressing. Resigned to my fate, I ordered an apple walnut salad with tempeh, spinach, apples, chopped walnuts, and goat feta. While my salad certainly did the trick and Ms. BK seemed satisfied, I doubt we'll be rushing back to Early Girl next time we're in town. Too many options, too little time!
(3)
Jenny R.
I was let down. I saw that this place averaged four stars and there were lots of people waiting so why not give it a shot. As I waited outside, I started actually reading through the more recent reviews and saw four star reviews saying things like the food was cold or that it's not as good as it used to be. Confusing right?!?! Still I stayed. The place is larger than it appears, but still quite small inside. The server was pleasant and knowledgeable about the menu. I came with a fairly large party so got to try a bunch of things. Everything we had was just mediocre. The pancakes were dry, the mac & Cheese was tasteless, tomato soup was more like marinara sauce, burger bun was stale, pork breakfast bowl was very yummy, and the fried chicken was more batter than chicken. Maybe it was an off day, but I was disappointed. I would say 2.5 stars.
(2)
John C.
Worth the 45-minute wait. The breakfast food was outstanding and reasonably priced. I had a three mushroom omelette and seasoned home fries. Biscuits are made from scratch and come with fresh jam.
(5)
Hannah L.
They know how to make breakfast for sure! I went on a Saturday morning (11am) for brunch with a bunch of friends. The wait was long (45min) so we went to a nearby cafe to grab some espresso and strolled the streets to kill some time. When we finally got our food... all that waiting was so worth it. Servers are great and assertive and the kitchen sent out food quickly without error. Things we ordered: three mushroom omelet (daily special), early girl benny, porky breakfast bowl, and veggie breakfast bowl. I sampled everyone's and I was impressed at the quality of the ingredients for each dish being $10 or under. Three of my friends ordered early girl benny and all six eggs were perfectly poached. Veggie breakfast bowl tasted awesome with some smoked habanero sauce, and the omelet was perfectly seasoned. Oh, and they were cool with making that with egg whites. I don't live in Ashville but I am definitely coming back next time I am here.
(5)
Jessie T.
This little cafe was another delicious stop we had for lunch while in Asheville, NC for my weekend vacation. Like many of the other restaurants there, the ingredients were local and sooo good. I ordered the fried catfish sandwich with a side of their gluten-free potato salad which was amazing! The catfish was a little on the salty side, but was perfectly crispy. The restaurant itself was adorable and cozy and was well worth our visit for lunch. The location was also central to a bunch of cute shops and other eats!
(4)
Jaclyn B.
I came here for dinner with a large group and people really enjoyed it. They had to split us up, which was unfortunate, but we didn't have a reservation and only had to wait about 30 on a Friday night. I had the shrimp and grits and was overwhelmed by the spiciness, especially considering I had to pay extra to get a biscuit on the side. The biscuits were amazing. My friends all loved their meals and we especially appreciated to cake they brought us for our birthday. Good food, perhaps not the best location for large groups or special events.
(4)
Jimmy H.
Another one of Asheville's stellar restaurants. As is typically the case with farm to table restaurants, the food is extremely good and you never feel as though you're eating something processed or frozen. I've been here a few times and have had the Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit, Shrimp and Grits, and Multi Grain Pancakes. All stellar! **Disclaimer** The BEC biscuit will bring a tear to your eye while you're eating it. The bacon is thick and crispy with flavor that is out of this world. The biscuit is fluffy on the inside with a slightly crispy outside. I'm not sure what cheese they use but it ties it all together nicely. If you are looking for an appetizer, the Broccoli Cheddar Hush Puppies are phenomenal. Both the apple butter and the garlic dressing that come with it are really good. For those that like to combine sweet and savory I would go for the apple butter. The sencha green tea is also really good for those tea lovers out there (myself included). The only downside to this restaurant is the parking. Due to its location there isn't a dedicated parking lot for the restaurant so you will need to find street parking.
(5)
Emily S.
Ahhh! This place lives up to the hype. Home cooked, savory, and fresh food is a guarantee at Early Girl Eatery. My family and I arrived prepared for the wait, and I suggest you do the same. However, do not fret, because this place is definitely worth the wait! Luckily for us it was only 45 minutes and upon being seated at our table we were promptly greeted. I ordered the vegan tofu scramble and substituted wheat toast for rye. "Wow" is all I have to say because it was magnificent! You don't have to be a vegetarian to love that dish because the flavors all tasted so good together!! The service was fast and everyone was very friendly. I already can't wait to go back! Whether you're just visiting or live in Asheville, this restaurant is a must visit for absolutely everyone! 5 stars!!
(5)
Steve M.
A busy place! I stopped in a timely lunch time and waited for a seat to open up. It didn't take too long, about 15 minutes, till I was taken to a table to share with other small groups. The wait staff was friendly. I ordered the vegan tofu scramble and in about 15 minutes was greeted with a piping hot plate full of food! It was pretty at first bite how fresh it was. I guess I shouldn't be surprised but when places say local they don't always have food this fresh tasting. My only complaint would be there wasn't a ton of flavor in what I ordered but then again I could have added spices or sauces. My fault, not theirs. It was still a satisfying meal! When visiting Asheville this should be on your list of places to check out!
(4)
Roger C.
One of the best dinners I have ever had. Great staff and atmosphere. I had the fried chicken salad and my wife had the chicken sandwich. It is nice to see a restaurant use great ingredients for relatively simple but tasty dishes. Very nice to our 4 year old son.
(5)
Rita O.
A favorite breakfast/lunch place while in Asheville. Really good food -always worth the wait to be seated. Great service with friendly helpful waiters. Love their local made jam! I had the local chicken with fresh veggies and hubby had the special -seared duck with citrus sauce. Both excellent. Homemade coconut cake to share later -no need for dinner!
(5)
Andre B.
The wife and I needed a breakfast place and the wife was looking for something familiar so we decided to stop in at Early Girl. We had been here before and as I remembered it was good. I also remembered that there was quite a wait, but we were there on a week day around noon. On this occasion, we were able to walk right in. The menu is straight up southern breakfast type options to include shrimp and grits, eggs Benedict and omelets, etc. They also have salads, sandwiches and larger plates to include many vegan and vegetarian options as well. On this occasion, I was famished so I aimed to order a larger plate and chose the grouper special, which came with 2 sides. I chose the mashed potato and roasted beets. The fish portion was a good size, the mashed potatoes were creamy and the beets were done perfectly. The wife opted for a egg and trout dish that was also flavorful and satisfying. She also had some grits on the side. I still don't get the whole grit thing. The best one that I've had were loaded with cheese and the plain ones are very plain. The people next to us loaded theirs with so much salt and butter that it makes me wonder if the grit are just a vehicle for the salt and butter. Overall, Early Girl is between 3 and 4 stars but I will round up this time. I can't say that I would wait in line for a long time, as Asheville has many other good options.
(4)
Antoinette A.
I absolutely loved this place from the moment I spoke with the hostess. We came into the restaurant and there was about a 45 min wait. We put our name in and the hostess told us to grab some coffee and walk around the local shops and check back in 20 minutes. When we finally got seated, which was not a long wait at all, the waiter was super friendly and helped us pick out some great entrees for brunch. I ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes with Goat cheese over grits and I have to say that the combination of flavors was perfect. I would recommend this place to anyone living or vacationing to the Asheville area. 5 Starts for sure!!!
(5)
Melanie R.
We ate here for dinner after spending the day at the Biltmore. My cousin and his wife had honeymooned in the area and discovered this place, so they had recommended it. I loved being able to order breakfast even though it was dinner time! I enjoyed some biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon and grits. My husband had meatloaf and veggies. We were both pleased and found everything to be well cooked with great flavor. You could tell everything was made with very fresh and quality ingredients. We'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good place to eat in town.
(4)
Paula S.
WORST meal I have had in YEARS!!!!! The Mac and cheese was more like dry, Mac and white sauce. Mashed potatoes were terrible. How do you mess up mashed potatoes? The navy beans were undercooked - the eggs were overlooked - the black eyes tasted awful! Absolutely disappointed!!!!!
(1)
Emily E.
We really enjoyed our breakfast at Early Girl! The clear winners were the locally sourced pork sausage (srsly the best sausage I've ever eaten...) and the quiche of the day (caramelized onion, green tomato, and cheddar). Fun, quirky place - highly recommended!
(4)
Rebecca L.
Another reason why I love Asheville. Brunch here was a lovely experience. A group of us came on Saturday before noon and were seated within 5 minutes. The restaurant was very cozy and had a nice warm vibe inside. Very much how I hoped a farm to table restaurant would feel. My food was delicious. I ordered the Vegan Tofu scramble + biscuit which surprisingly was very satisfying and filling. I love the Vegan Tofu scramble and am still trying to replicate the recipe at home. The biscuit was only so-so, but the rest of the meal was amazing. Staff here were very friendly and I really enjoyed my meal here. Another win for Asheville in my book!
(4)
Nathan S.
An excellent experience: grilled pork, rough-cut grits, eggs; a simple meal executed as well as I've had. Service was great. Inexpensive.
(5)
J D.
First let me start off. The staff was super friendly and bumped us up to sit us. Everybody was cheerful, prompt, courteous, filled up drinks quickly, knew the menu well, etc. I'd give it a 5 star on service alone. Interior was full of smoke and overly hot, sweating inside. Quirky and fun atmosphere though. Though seemed full of only tourists. As for the food... not so good. We ordered two meals and shared everything. The biscuit was hard, almost scone like and fell apart into pieces, couldn't even finish it between two people, that bad. Collards were bland and overcooked, seasoning lacked, didn't finish between 2 people. The trout was so small for 16 bucks that I was kind of surprised, the seasoning was almost non existent on it also. Finished b/c it was only like 7 bites, maybe a 4 oz piece of fish. Grits were the worst I've ever had in my life. Like eating watered down porridge or grool. If this is your first time eating grits, I feel bad for you . And I've had awesome grits 100s of times before. The white beans were actually good, not great, but tasty, the only thing I ate. Catfish sandwich barely had any fish on it, was a bit overfried with a highly peanuty taste like the oil hadn't been changed out in awhile. Bun was standard. Maybe the breakfast food is good here, I don't know. The "southern" food is downright bad. Maybe it makes lots of money off the tourists just because of location. I don't really know but we were both really disappointed.
(2)
Blake A.
I have visited Early Girl a couple of times while in Asheville, and I'm a fan. The restaurant is known for it's breakfast and it's earned that reputation. I've tried a variety of meals and I've liked nearly all the dishes I've had, though I think my favorite is their biscuits and gravy. My only real complaint about Early Girl is noise pollution. It's a small space with nothing to cancel the echoing of voices, so you can imagine how loud it get's during peak breakfast times. Even still, I'd definitely recommend giving this restaurant a go! You won't regret.
(4)
Tyler M.
Fantastic breakfast at a great price! Veggie breakfast bowl was very tasty! Highly recommend
(4)
Chris H.
The Earlygirl restaurant has been my favorite during my visit to western NC this week. I highly recommend it. Excellent shrimp and grits, meatloaf sandwiches and the breakfasts are perfection. There is plenty of seating, although it is very popular there sometimes is a waiting line. A whole wall of windows lights up the place so it has a very pleasant atmosphere. The waitresses are all extremely helpful (and beautiful if I may say so), They all manage to quickly navigate through a maze of chairs, children and customers. If anyone is planning a visit to Asheville check it out for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
(5)
A B.
I can't wait to eat here again. Great specials and awesome regular menu. O'yeah hot sauce is also great.
(4)
Sam T.
Fantastic restaurant. Great service and good menu with lots of basic yet delicious food items. Interesting mix of southern/country flair and vegetarian + vegan options. Fried green tomatoes were especially good. Highly recommended.
(5)
Jill A.
Typically, if there is a wait for a restaurant, I don't stay. I don't believe in waiting for food, especially in a town like Asheville where you can turn the corner and find a spot without a wait. EGE is an exception though. I gladly waited 15 minutes to be seated to have their hearty, healthy breakfast. EGE has plenty of vegetarian options, and their gritcake was cooked to perfection.
(5)
Amy H.
It seems like every time we want to come here, the wait is too long or they are closed, but we FINALLY made it here for breakfast! We got there right when they opened. There was a line to get in, but we were seated quickly. I ordered the quiche of the day, which included spinach, green tomatoes and cheese curds. It was awesome! My husband got an omelet and he was very happy as well. All in all, I would say Early Girl lives up to the hype. You should definitely check it out!
(5)
Richard G.
Fantastic breakfast. All homemade, all interesting, and served quickly. Maybe the best breakfast I ever had.
(5)
Justin L.
First impressions are I am back in Austin. The place looks very welcoming from he onset. Smells lovely, hostess was very friendly, just the kind of place that I love. About twenty tables in the back, plenty of open ones 11am on a Tuesday. I guess most of the world has important things to do at his time. Really wanted to try the ramps, legumes, and country ham soup but felt like eggs instead. Went with the porky breakfast bowl. BBQ, eggs, and potatoes. Sounds like the holy trinity of southern cuisine! As expected, it was devine. Definitely a great brunch item. Very filling and savory. The gravy was wonderful. Best part was I had my meal within five minutes of ordering.
(5)
Annaleah M.
What a find this is (if you can find it)!!!! It's a gem!!! They focus on local ingredients, and take pride in their food. I had the special quiche...andouille, prosciutto, and local cheese. Also tried their banana bread and ginger pumpkin. Also had to try the biscuits based on reviews. The biscuit was fantastic, but the bacon gravy wasn't as fantastic as hyped-although it was good. I will definitely seek this out next time I'm in town.
(5)
Rick G.
WOW, at 8 : 30 on Sunday morning and people are already lining up to get seated at 9:00? The place must be good. We were not disappointed. I had the shrimp and grits, great! Wife had the EG bene. Also, fantastic. A great place but get there early, otherwise, be prepared to wait.
(5)
Tram N.
Love this eatery....though a little crowded. Need to come back.
(4)
Stacie G.
I like the combinations of food here. I tried the Fried Green Tomato appetizer with goat cheese-all the ingredients of this dish sounded weird together but were surprisingly delicious. We also had the Shrimp and Grits and the broccoli cheddar hush puppies (enjoyed both of those). They have great champagne mixers. some local brews, and also a wide variety of teas to drink. overall, It's worth a stop in and the price isn't bad either.
(4)
E A.
The ingredients are so incredibly fresh that they elevate every dish! Even a seemingly every-day hamburger or salad is simply amazing because of the quality. I can't wait to go back!
(5)
Brian W.
One of the best breakfast experiences I've ever had. This place is fantastic. A must on any visit to Asheville. I had the BBQ pork breakfast bowl and it was a work of art. Also bought the amazing berry jam and hot sauce that they feature on the tables. Can't wait to go back on my next visit to Asheville.
(5)
Alli C.
i'm listening.
(4)
Saroja M.
I got the black bean sweet potato cutlet things. They were interesting, in a very good way :) mashed potatoes were hella lumpy, but the waitress admitted that they were being remade, so I guess she got the message after so many plates of untouched mashed potatoes. Mac n cheese was a little strange - watery? Never had watery mac n cheese before o.O biscuit was delish :) didn't think their jam was as good as the other people raving about it, seemed pretty standard to me! I dunno. It was very good, but not mind blowing.
(3)
Good For The Palate R.
I had seen good reviews about Early Girl Eatery all over the internet. When our hostel-keeper also suggested it, I knew I had to go. Early Girl Eatery made me the best breakfast I have ever eaten. Every item on the plate was put there with love. They use local ingredients when possible and the care taken to make these foodstuffs is evident. I did bend my usual rule and ignored the Specials (even though their garlic and potato cakes sounded yummazing). I decided upon the local sausage and sweet potato hash with bacon, mushrooms and green onions. The sweet potatoes were super sweet and perfectly cooked and toothsome. Each bite had a piece of everything mixed in, and the eggs were fluffy and moist. The biscuit that came with the hash was the most perfect biscuit ever. I think they must use wheat flour. When I inquired I was told it was white flour, but I dont believe them (restaurants that keep secrets cook good food). These biscuits had beautiful little brown flecks of wheaty goodness in them. And they were accompanied by the most delicious berry preserves ever. I was too busy stuffing my face to ask what kind of berry it was, but it was soooo good. It had the same texture as confiture does in France and instantaneously took me back to my morning market trips on the Canal St. Martin. My companion got the Shrimp and Grits, his favorite dish ever. No instant grits here. Shrimp were perfectly cooked. "Best shrimp and grits ever", that's all he had to say. Early Girl also offered a local hot sauce called Fire from the Mountain. It was spicy and super flavorful and you could see all the little bits of peppers and I think mustard seeds in it. I was really disappointed they didn't have the hot sauce on my second trip, just tabasco. Their Porky Breakfast Bowl is tremendous, and exactly what you would expect. Prices are a bonus, very affordable.
(5)
Cassandra P.
Delish food! Lots of flavor and a variety of dishes. Great if your group has mixed eating habits (vegan, organic, carnivore) I can't imagine any of it tasting bad
(4)
Brian B.
You'd be a fool not to eat here. The food was fantastic, the prices were right, the service was quick (but not pushy), and the staff seemed genuinely happy to be there. Most complete breakfast experience I've had since I can remember. I could go on about what I ate, but hell, the breakfast menu was an ideal blend of quality standards with tasty ingenuity and I'm sure you'll find something you like. Next time I'm in town I'm making a bee-line for this place. You should too.
(5)
Ciara B.
I'm obsessed with local, hippie, breakfast places and Early Girl hit the spot! The vegetarian biscuit and gravy was DELICIOUS and filling (I'm pretty sure they put meat in mine, it was that good) and the pumpkin bread was super moist and mouth-watering. My boyfriend got a scrambled egg/sausage concoction and was equally satisfied with his non-veggie selection. It was surprisingly cheap considering the portion sizes and even though there was a bit of a wait (Veterans Day at noon = 20 min with people out the door) it was definitely worth it. The eatery is located in a great area for window shopping and although parking was a beast, I can't knock Early Girl for it.. great food and decor, big thumbs up!
(5)
Event L.
Could this be the busiest weekday breakfast place in NC? Farm-to-table meets hipster with a dash of local southern-ness thrown in for good measure! Steaming coffee in over-sized easy to handle mugs hits the spot while waiting just a few minutes for food. The Benny is delicious hands down - check out the other reviewers comments for validation. The breakfast bean bowl is outstanding - but order it with the Herb Sauce on the side because it can be thick and heavy. The biscuits seem to be made with a heavier flour than necessary, but remain fluffy and tasty nevertheless. Ditto for the pancakes, acknowledging the flavored specialty ones are slathered in sugary sweet add-ins made for a child's unrefined palate. HOWEVER - my experience with the Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble is nothing like the other posted reviews. Not what I expected and did not look like the lovely posted photos. Mine was just a mush of grill-hacked old chewy bacon/sausage with brown scrambled eggs and a few scallions. Were sweet potatoes in there really? It tasted like the brown coloration came from an all too heavy hand of what might be cumin or curry, which is not identified on the menu. This food experience tainted my view a bit of the place overall. The tall ceiling and sunny windows in the dining room and the pleasant wait staff are charming. But these assets are offset by a bit of unappealing uncleanliness of window ledges and heat returns. Not to mention the communal handling of the restroom key fobs required to access the lavatories. Mount a hand sanitizer dispenser nearby and request guests to be mindful of spreading germs. A full star was lost on this establishment as a result of these drawbacks. But I would return for a lunch or dinner experience out of curiosity about the many menu items that were not available during morning hours.
(3)
Caitlin S.
I liked the food. I liked the decor. I even liked the place's name. However, major, major deductions since every person in that place made me feel as though I was imposing. No waiter was friendly. While they were not mean, the 'tude was pure frost. So, final ruling is that while the place has so many bits in line to make me like them, I won't return because there are plenty of other eateries with good food AND good employees.
(3)
Anne B.
Go here. For brunch. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. Gorgeous, delicious biscuits, quiches to die for (they switch these up but always good!) and omelets any way you want them. Want an egg white omelet with all your favorite fixings? They will do it for you. Vegetarian? No problem. A bit of a tight space, but worth sitting with your chair up against your neighbors!
(4)
Max H.
My parents moved to South Carolina from Colorado (where I grew up) about a year ago. I graduated college and started working around the same time; it's been weird to think my parents moved away from my childhood home. So I was a bit skeptical when my brother and I came "home" to the South for Christmas. On the first day we took a trip to Asheville and stopped here for lunch. Long story short: I ordered the Fried Green Tomato BLT and fell instantly in love with my new "home." It was *incredible*. Thick layers of bacon, fresh lettuce, and of course perfectly sliced, breaded, and deep fried green tomatoes. It was divine. The other food was tasty but completely overshadowed by the BLT. The service was decent but not noticeably good. But fear not -- anything is forgivable for that sandwich.
(5)
Jojo F.
It was our last night in Asheville before heading back to the Mountain Light Sanctuary for a good night's sleep. We were wandering around town and came across Early Girl Eatery. We decided to check-in. Twenty minute wait. Is it worth it? Definitely so and yes. I opted for the Tempeh Reuben and my husband had the scrambled tofu with home fries. We also shared a basket of sweet potato hush puppies, which took us over the line, sweet Jesus. With all the really cool art on the walls, my senses were as full as my belly. I couldn't help but buy a little bird on a block painting, which was symbolic of our traveling days ahead. Early Girl Eatery, we shall meet again soon.
(5)
Angela B.
Enjoyed our meal there. The food was fresh the service was nice. It was totally worth the 45 min wait. Can't wait to go back and try other stuff on the menu. :)
(4)
Ashley B.
Awesome healthy breakfast options that were delicious!! Atmosphere was warm and inviting, just like the staff!
(5)
Lisa R.
We ate here based on a recommendation from a friend. Service was good and friendly, food delivery was quick (as breakfast should be). Also lots of specials that sounded delicious. I loved the pumpkin bread, OJ and biscuit, though I felt my sausage was overcooked. I was told and had read there were would be a bucket of toys on every table. I didn't see that... until I went to the bathroom and saw them in a pile near the high chairs. Surprised the staff didn't just bring one over when they saw I had a two-year-old in tow.
(3)
Elliott W.
As so many have commented, Early Girl was a pleasure. We made reservations for our party of 8 about an hour ahead of time on the first night of Belle Chere and were seated on arrival. Our servers were attentive and helpful. Our table shared an order of guac, hummus and pimento cheese spread to start. I had the special ribeye, mac and cheese and candied yams. The ribeye was a locally sourced pastured cow, and was cooked deliciously although a hair more well done than medium as ordered. If not for the medium well of the steak, I would have given the Early Girl five stars. To finish, I had a slice of chocolate Mayo cake, which was moist and delicious. Who knew.
(4)
Meg M.
It was good - but not worth the hour wait. Service wasn't bad but it wasn't great. Just kind of so-so. My husband liked his mac n cheese, but neither of the ladies with us loved the veggie plates they got. My friend green tomato sandwich was just ok, nothing special. If you are trying to just get 2 people a table, rather than 4, then I think you would get seated a lot quicker than we were.
(3)
Cara A.
Great food and even better service! Try the sweet potato/black bean cakes, good stuff. Lots of great veggie and vegan options, recommend!
(4)
David S.
Shrimp and grits....mmmm good perfectly spiced with andouille sausage, kind of like a jambalaya over grits. For 10 bucks I would have to say this is an Asheville best buy! I'm hooked for sure. The jam is local, I got a biscuit to balance out the spice of the shrimp and grits.
(5)
J B.
Unique, delicious brunch food that is particularly good for vegetarians . The first time I ate here, we had the most helpful and considerate server (husband with a nut allergy) who worked really hard to source all of their bread products and explain what menu items were safe. I gave 4/5 stars because there always seems to be close to an hour long wait, likely due to the rather mall dining room size.
(4)
Bridget S.
We just left Asheville after a short vacation there. This is one of the two places we stopped for breakfast and it was a perfect recommendation. I ordered the local sausage and sweet potato scramble, plus, I added avocado. It was delicious! My husband had the porky breakfast bowl and raved about it all day. The place is cute with a nice staff and quick service.
(5)
Ahava Y.
Had a very nice asian salad with still warm juicy roasted chicken on top. My husband had a turkey ruben sandwich and the cuke/onion side salad was super! My husband liked the Shaker lemon pie - made from think slices of whole (as in - rind on) lemons. Not a thing for me - too bitter. But it's great to see unique recipes served that please lemonheads like my husband.
(4)
Angie P.
A cute little diner & breakfast served all day?! YES, PLEASE! Upon my trip to Asheville last fall (to see my crush, Mayer Hawthorne) & googling for a good place to eat, I stumbled upon 'Early Girl Eatery'. I'm so glad I did! This diner is something out of your grandma's farmhouse! So here's the deets: Decor: country diner, farmhouse, grandma's house - so cute! Food: ah-maz-ing! I had the southern breakfast (2 eggs with grits & toast), I added bacon (perfectly crisp!), a pancake & fresh fruit. (Hey, I LOVE breakfast!) Everything had a good taste & was cooked perfectly. The fruit was fresh & full of flavor. Our waitress was terrific. She was quick & efficient with getting our food & drink orders & even with my picky boyfriend's instructions, she got everything right! This is a definite must stop on my (or your) trip to Asheville!
(5)
Pilar C.
The wait for Sunday brunch could be around 1 hour. We wait because was highly recommended and then... The wait was clearly compensated with excellent food and great services!! I ordered Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble, it was delicious! I was expecting regular breakfast flavor, but the taste of the food was just incredible.
(5)
Giggly C.
Excellent quiche of the day, leek, cheddar and prosciutto. Grits great, sauce great, but shrimp was not fresh and not so yummy. Excellent lemonade. Enjoyed the food
(4)
Lawry F.
Great breakfast. Had potato cakes and eggs, my other had sausage and cheese omelet - said was best she's ever had.
(5)
Calvin P.
Early Girl Eatery is theee place to go for breakfast when you're visiting Asheville. Even if "early" in your book means stumbling through the door at 10:45-ish. The place was packed, but we only had to wait 15 minuted to get a table. Early Girly prides itself on serving as much locally produced food as possible and it shows in the menu. Of course there's the classic shrimp and grits, which my wife had. She said it was just the right amount of spicy. I was tempted by the garlic potato pancakes which were on the special board. But I had to go with my tried and true, local sausage adn sweet potato scrambled eggs. The starchy sweetness of the potatoes was a perfect complement to the savory goodness in the sausage. Plus, shrooms and onion in the mix. Veryy nice. The thing that sent it over the top though was the jumbo size biscuit they give everyone, just because they are nice. I had it with the table jam which was a local grape that had a good strong tang to it and it was sweet but not too sweet. Endless cup of decent coffee. Fast and efficient staff. Prices that were just a tad above wa tyou'd pay at Shoneys and worth every damn penny.
(4)
Mercy S.
Showed up for a late breakfast on March 2, 2014, same day as the Mardi Gras parade. We were a party of four: 3 adults and a 5 year old boy. We went prepared to wait simply because it was a weekend and, of course, extra busy because the parade literally kicked off right in front of the Early Girl's door. The hostess said 45 minutes; we were seated in under half an hour because people ahead of us left. Their loss!! Delicious coffee, lots of locally sourced food and a great, friendly attitude. A previous poster seemed to take offense to the "tattooed and pierced" crowd...our waitress was both tattooed and pierced and couldn't have been sweeter. Then again, we have ZERO problems with people with body mods as we have some ourselves. Note to people visiting Asheville: Yes, we have a very lively tattoo community and some of these tattooed people might work at establishments you may frequent while paying us a visit. Don't..be..a..tool! Treat them like you would want to be treated and you may be surprised. Anyway, Early Girl is awesome and we will definitely be visiting again!!!
(5)
Melissa E.
Looking for a quick place to grab breakfast before heading back to Raleigh, we came across this small, local restaurant. We were told there would be about a 25 minute wait, which we expected, but almost as soon as we took a seat up front, we were offered two chairs at their "community table." Deciding to adopt the Asheville vibe, we went for it. We ended up on one end of an 8 person table, with only a single, older gal at the other end, so we basically dined privately anyway, oh well. The waitstaff all wore Early Girl Eatery T's, but donned their own style, (from a bright polka dot skirt, to red skinny jeans) from the waist down. I love this about Asheville; everyone is exactly themselves with no judgement whatsoever...the rest of the country should take some lessons. Our waiter was prompt, friendly and efficient and breakfast was tasty. I had the multi-grain pancakes which were light and fluffy, with a side of local sausage. The sausage was a little sweet for my taste; I prefer a little spice in mine. My husband ordered a bowl which consisted of fried home fries, topped with pulled pork, scrambled eggs, and gravy. It was delicious, as was his side of bacon. In the area where we were (right by Haywood Hotel), there doesn't seem to be much of an option for breakfast, other than this place and Tupelo Honey, which we've been unimpressed with in the past. I would definitely give this place a try.
(4)
Claire R.
We've been wanting to come here for the past few years but it never quite fit into our schedule when coming to Asheville. So we finally got around to coming and it was well worth the wait. First off, get here early and be ready to wait. For breakfast, I got the banana hot bread and an egg. They toast the hot bread and it's such a wonderful touch (and there were no nuts in it, another nice touch). The egg was also good (cooked properly) and was even salted (and not too much). Overall, well worth the wait.
(5)
Kenny R.
Oh yes! One of my fav's when in Asheville, especially for breakfast. This time I was giving a small tour to some out of towners. As usual, parking was a little bit of a chore, but that gave us more time to walk around and figure out where to eat. As soon as I saw the sign "Banana and strawberry pancakes" I knew where the girls would want to go. So we put our name on the list and were called in less than 5 minutes. First thing, "a round of frsh squeezed mimosa's while we wait, please" Then we looked over the menu, so much to choose from but I almost always go with the daily special. I got the fried trout with eggs and biscuit. I've had better trout filets there, but still great in my book. As always the biscuit and eggs were cooked to perfection. One of my counterparts got the pancakes, absolutely awesome. A little strong on the banana taste right off the bat, but very smooth and fluffy. My other counterpart went with Apple Walnut salad(mind you we were in town for a 2 day pig cookout, so needed to eat light). The fresh local goat feta was so creamy, but not quite as pungent of a flavor as I like. The rest of the salad very fresh and crisp. After all that and sharing some of each we felt full but yet not bogged down, ready to conquer the day, and for the long walk back to the car.
(5)
R P.
Liked the vibe and food here, the front is super-smoky since that's where the kitchen is. I had the Local sausage and sweet potato scramble. Also tasted a bit of the spinach cakes special, they were also very good. Definitely a good brunch place if you're in Asheville. Service was okay, but thankfully several of the servers/bussers availed themselves to help if we needed anything. The cakes looked awesome but I was way too full.
(5)
Morgan C.
Yes it was good . Great omelet with non pasterized cheese very good. Great pancakes wow good coffee friendly staff and customers. Cute place. Good prices yummy. A must.the toast was amazing. The butter wow the jam OMG! And in downtown.
(4)
Aaron J.
This is the best place for breakfast in Asheville. Try the sausage and sweet potato scramble! Quick tip, make sure you get up early to go get in line. The line starts forming up to 45 mins. early to get into this place on the weekends. The place is very small, so you'll have a bit of wait on your hands. The staff is amazing and the guy who makes the jams on the table is usually outside the store with a cart selling it. Pick up a jar for home use, it's delicious.
(5)
Paige T.
We met up with a friend at Early Girl whom made the suggestion...and I'm glad she did. Early Girl Eatery was an all-round positive experience. Since our little guy has gotten a bit older, eating out has become a lot more stressful, hence, we do not go it as much any more. Anyhow, when we do, though, it is always nice when the restaurant totally accommodates the family types. Right away we got a bucket full of toys, dinosaurs, spinning-tops, etc. (all of which our li'l man was not interested in, unfortunately). Despite all of that, our friend recommended that we take our tot to that hall for some exhaustive running and stair climbing activities! All good things. So, I just barely got to experience my meal here, actually, but I don't want to diminish the food, because it was really good, not amazing or anything, but good. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting from out of town. I ordered, buy hardly touched my house salad with chicken, but of the few bites I took, I was completely satisfied. Also, the curry soup would have definitely tasted better hot, but it was still pretty tasty at a tepid temp. You all should just go here, because the food was good and the service was really friendly, as they didn't roll their eyes at our kid throwing their toys on the floor and making a mess of his mac-n-cheese, which by the way I ate the left-overs several hours later-- not too bad :)
(4)
Hannah O.
We had the shrimp and grits and the brook trout breakfast special. It was good, not knock-your-socks-off good, but solid. They could have served a larger portion of trout; mine was about two inches wide and three inches long. Not a whole lot for a marketed special. The coffee was quite tasty.
(3)
Megan B.
Not as good as the nearby and more famous Tupelo Honey Cafe. The restaurant feels like a farmhouse inside but the tables are so close together it is difficult to walk around or hear the people you are eating with. The food was good, nothing exceptional. The biscuits were hard and not nearly as good as Tupelo Honey's.
(3)
Shauna C.
Wow I loved this place! I highly recommend the amazing burgers (locally sourced ingredients including the beef)...add mushrooms you won't be disappointed. I also liked the delicious fried chicken ...which was shockingly light! Very reasonable price-wise (although chicken was a tad pricey for lunch) I can't wait to check out the breakfast options next time!
(5)
Ben F.
This is my favorite restaurant in Asheville. I wouldn't consider it alternative in any way, but you do have to be a little open minded to enjoy your time there. The food is amazing and the service can't be beat. You walk into a smokey kitchen, only to find that there is an amazing dining area hidden in the back. Get into the Asheville spirit, and accept that you may have to share a table with total strangers. It's part of the experience. I highly recommend this place.
(5)
Robin G.
Loved everything about this place....the selection is outstanding, and the local food was great! Generous portions, good quality, with a flare in preparation. Wait staff attentive with good southern hospitality. old fashioned charm with very hip staff. Can't wait to return!
(5)
Jules S.
Early Girl eatery gets a lot of press because any place that features locally grown, organic food is the darling of food writers. Is it worth the hype? I think so. The most recent trip I took there was 7:15 am on a Friday morning. Apparently Asheville is not a morning town (maybe I should move there!) so it actually didn't open until 7:30. The nice thing was it was empty, unlike any time you try eating there on Sunday brunch! (Expect a long wait). Hubs had the local sausage and sweet potato scramble, I ordered the Early Girl grit cake Benny and we split an order of the quick bread (one piece of banana bread and one of pumpkin ginger pecan). The quick bread was definitely worth getting! The scramble was very good and, in fact, earned kudos and clapping as my husband left the restaurant! It's not often you can give direct feedback to the kitchen staff, but this setup allowed it and they seemed to appreciate it! My Benny came on top of a GIANT grit cake that was interesting. There was an option for a spinach potato cake special that I kind of wish I had ordered. the grit cake was topped with tomatoes, spinach, two eggs and a tomato gravy. I was not a fan of the tomato gravy, but it was well-executed and just wasn't my taste. I have also had the multi-grain pancakes that were Awesome. Our meals came with biscuits or toast and we had already forged ourselves so didn't devour the dry,dense biscuits. They had nice flavor but left a floury feel in the mouth that even the raspberry preserves couldn't prevent. It is in a down homey kind of place with grubby curtains and handmade pots for preserve and bong-looking sugar shakers. They offer Demerara sugar for coffee which I think makes coffee so much better and theirs is good to start with. I definitely look forward to returning to try more.
(4)
Josh S.
Had breakfast here. Cute place, good service and good food. Will be on my list next time I'm in town!
(4)
Todd P.
A very good place to try. Never have been disappointed. Always have had enough to eat and won't go away hungry.
(4)
Scott E.
A pretty basic diner. The interior was nothing to write home about, but its charm is in its simplicity. It feels like a hangout for locals, which I suppose it is. The Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble was very tasty. The coffee tasted noticeably better than Waffle House or similar diner-style Joe. It was good brewed coffee. I would like to try more items on the menu to get a better sense of their food quality, but it all sounded great and I saw nothing to counter the rumors I had heard of the place. I ate there at 0745 on a Monday morning, so it was empty, and I sat by the window overlooking Pritchard Park. The morning was warm and misty and I thoroughly enjoyed being up early and watching the day come. In that respect, the overall experience in the diner was really very nice. The staff was super friendly! Good, attentive waitress, and the kitchen staff greeted me as I entered and exited. I can definitely recommend Early Girl Eatery!
(4)
Casey H.
The tempeh reuben is delish...overall though the prices at this place are a tad high
(3)
Michael L.
After spending a bit of time poring over which restaurant we should go to, we finally chose this spot. Gotta make the most of your meals on vacation! Here's what we ordered Roasted Lamb Shank, Collard Greens, Broccoli cheddar hushpuppies ($13.95). The lamb shank was downright good. Must've been cooked for a while because it was fork tender. I'm glad that the spices used didn't overpower the meaty flavor of the lamb. (4) Broccoli cheddar hushpuppies- OMG. Ridiculously good. Not your typical semi-hard, bready hushuppy. The cheese and broccoli gave a very different texture (softer, almost crumbly in a good way). My only complaint is that the outside was a bit overfried/burnt. (4.5) Collards were ok (3). Pan-fried Mountain Trout - with a blackberry green tomato sauce, squash casserole, vegan potato salad ($12.95). A very small piece of trout with skin on. Taste was okay, but the blackberry green tomato sauce just didn't sit well with our palates. (3). The squash casserole was ok, but had a hint of sourness? Ack. (2.5) The vegan potato salad used a good amount of dill, and was a nice refreshing side. (3.5) Previous reviews mentioning the kind of off-putting service were kind of right. The hostess hustled us to our corner seat, pointed to the blackboard with the specials, and left before I could say "What?". Our waitress was okay, however. Overall: (3.75) Come here for the hushpuppies. Do it.
(4)
Matthew S.
Not great. Not sure what the hype is all about
(2)
Heather D.
There's usually a wait to get in! So get there early! One thing is the tables are very close! I felt like I was eating breakfast with the couple next to us! However the food is great! Had biscuits and gravy - but it was herb gravy which is great for people who don't eat meat but still want biscuits and gravy! They have a great hot sauce that I buy and stock up each time I am in town - called Oh Yeah Sauce!
(5)
Todd K.
Hands down, my favorite lunch place in town. Exceptional food with no pretense, drama or kitsch. I work downtown so eat here often and over the course of many years, have never had a bad or even so-so meal here. I don't want to pit Early Girl against their across the building competition (ahem) but Early Girls takes the prize - every time. You might wait a bit but on Wall Street, even that is a pleasing experience. Very highly recommended.
(5)
Kate S.
Early Girl Eatery is amazing! Started off with fresh squeezed OJ and some banana bread. As good as it gets! Ordered the sausage and sweet potato scramble. Beau had the black bean and chedder omelet. Enjoyed the yummiest of yummy strawberry jam w our wheat toast. Every. single. item. was made with lots of tlc! I would be in trouble if I lived in Asheville - I cleaned my plate! My only regret - I didn't bring home some strawberry jam...
(5)
Nicole R.
Next stop, Asheville! As my next stop across America, The Early Girl Eatery served up a fine meal without any of the Paula Deanesque qualities of typical of modern Southern comfort food. Maybe this isn't how Mom used to make it, but this is how she should have made it with fresh locally farmed ingredients. These guys actually list their suppliers on the website so you know where your meal is coming from. I tried the shrimp and grits, because I wanted to embrace my southern route. They were delicious. The shrimp were huge, the veggie and sausage stir fry savory and the grits were buttery. I only wish I could have tried more things on the menu. A must stop in Asheville. Early Girl Eatery, please publish a collection of favorite recipes, so that those of us who live far away can indulge in your delicious inventions.
(5)
Liss B.
Hipster place we had breakfast at. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Wait time was reasonable. Friendly attentive staff.
(3)
Laura K.
Great brunch! Creative menu with local farmers. And very delicious! Loved the Early Girl Benny! The homemade everything impressed me! The servers are attentive and team oriented. Loved how I felt I was visiting with home folks of Asheville here ( no tourists here that morning!)
(5)
Julie A.
NOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM Oh, I'm sorry I was just drooling all over the place. Best Breakfast I have ever had. That would be one of the reasons why I would want to move back to Asheville.
(5)
Annemarie B.
I've enjoyed Early Girl several times while visiting Asheville; twice for breakfast. Simply THE BEST omlette I've ever had! I dream about that omlette. A pot of tea, fresh berry jam for your toast -- simply Heaven. I've also enjoyed a fresh catfish entree for lunch. The staff is VERY attentive, the seating area in the back is sunshiney and complimented with local artwork -- if you can make it that far past the bakery items. It's a funky-artsy place in keeping with the Asheville spirit. Great place to people-watch. I highly recommend a visit.
(4)
Teresa L.
My friend and I each ordered vegetable plates. She has collard greens, mac & cheese, squash casserole and beets. I had blackeyed peas, mac & cheese, squash casserole and ginger slaw. The peas and slaw were fine, but not great. The squash was delicious. The mac & cheese was terrible. Cornbread was very good. I was slightly disappointed.
(3)
Jon L.
Actually it should be called....Not So Early Girl. On a recent trip to Asheville we were looking for a place to eat breakfast on a Sat morning before our golf game. This place doesn't open til after 9am. They do serve breakfast all day if you are into that. We ended up there for a late lunch after golf and had a good experience. It's very popular and well known, in a great location downtown off Wall St. I would highly recommend it if you don't mind a wait. The mushroom soup was exceptional, fresh and homemade with large shittake shrroms. The fresh local apple and walnut salad was tasty with a nice house dressing. The sweet tea was real good. The service can be sketchy, especially when busy. They have several big tables so it's popular with groups and especially families.
(4)
Matt W.
yeah i like early girl's food a lot, service is a bit under parr though, most servers seemed pretty smug, but not enough to keep me away
(4)
Angelica G.
What a cool place. After hours of driving and experiencing that particular all day in the car sort of hunger, we found ourselves at Early Girl Eatery on a Sunday facing a wait. The restaurant, which appears cramped at the entrance, expands into a sunlit dining room with art on every wall. Our server had many tables but our waters were never near empty and our plates came out perfectly. Although I read great things about the vegetarian options I selected the grilled chicken sandwich with the delicious herbed goat cheese, a recommend for sure.
(5)
Terry S.
Had a solid breakfast here before some hiking the other day. No complaints at all. I'd be a regular if I lived in the area!
(4)
Sarah M.
The fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and light salsa on top of grits was wonderful. It is a more dressed up version of fried green tomatoes (not the kind your mother probably made), but they were some of my favorite fried green tomatoes I have tried. My mom got a biscuit, apple sauce, black bean patties; she loved it & of course I took bites off her plates... it was great. The waitress was nice and the meal was reasonably priced. We both left happy and I will definitely go back next time I'm in Asheville.
(5)
James T.
This place just tied Maria's in Austin TX for my all time favorite breakfast joint. Everything was fresh and delicious. Please don't change a thing and we will be back as soon as we can!
(5)
Marcello L.
Been awhile, but I met friends there the other day. I had the Early Girl Benedict, I think it was called. It was quite tasty. My friends all enjoyed their meals too. The staff is always friendly, and the place is comfy.
(4)
Niki C.
Every time I am in Asheville I eat at Early Girl Eatery. Always breakfast no matter what time I am there, although I do want to try their dinner one of these days. Good (local) food, good service. Love it.
(5)
Ricky K.
My wife and I had heard from friends how great EGE is so when we went for a weekend we had to try it. The breakfast was phenomenal! It was so good on Saturday morning that we decided to not try a new restaurant on Sunday and went back to EGE. We each tried new meals and found everything to be perfect. Quaint atmosphere, friendly (busy) staff, great food, reasonable prices. Definitely a must for any foodie going to Asheville.
(5)
John E.
I debated over giving this four or five stars - we came in for a late lunch after a large breakfast, and weren't super hungry, but the light food we ordered was excellent. We had the early girl benny and the ginger salad with tempeh. I would have liked to go back to try a big breakfast, but their lighter fare was first-rate.
(5)
Jeff J.
LOVE THIS PLACE! Southern style comfort food with an organic local feel, words cannot explain, you have to go.
(4)
Rad N.
10 Stars for YUMMY! It is super busy, but worth the wait! I had fried green tomatoes & polenta, it was exceptional! A lot of fun and pretty healthy too.
(5)
Eva S.
Stopped in for breakfast during the busiest holiday weekend, the wait was about 45min but worth every minute! The food and service were both fantastic. I had the eggs benedict that came on a grit cake with diced tomato, sounds odd but it was so good! Everyone else we were with raved about their dishes as well, definitely give this place a try if you are in the area.
(5)
Tony R.
Long lines for average food. I've eaten here several times in the last 8 yrs. and it just keeps getting worse. Last weekend my biscuits and gravy arrived to the table so cold I thought maybe they pulled it out of the fridge and the biscuits tasted like something from the freezer section at Ingles. Coffee was good and hot though. Cheers to that. The dining room is clean and sunny and it is a good place for large groups. Just too expensive for the quality of the food.
(2)
Scott S.
We went for our first Early Girl experience on a windy, rainy Saturday, so I assume it was less crowded than normal. We didn't wait more than 5-10 minutes for a table for two, so that was a good start. We ordered just a sweet tea to drink, which was about the same as any other sweet tea you get, not too sweet. I ordered a make-your-own-omelet with four ingredients for $7.95, all local stuff. My wife got the daily quiche, which today was asparagus, parmesan, and bacon. Mine was certainly delicious, and I'm told hers was as well. My omelet was cooked to fluffy perfection, and was served with home fries and a biscuit, as well as the side of grits that I ordered. My only wish is that the menu was a little more detailed about what's in the food. There were some onions and peppers where I didn't expect them, although I should have assumed as much with home fries. The service was great. Everyone was very friendly, and we noticed the owner walking around talking to people. I really have no complaints, and we will certainly be back, and we'll be taking visiting friends there as well.
(4)
Mike G.
"The Benny". Grit cake topped with spinach, egg, marinara sauce and avocado. I'm from California and will pine for the day to return and enjoy this meal again. Service was excellent in spite of joint being slammed on Sun am.
(5)
Lisa B.
The Early Girl is a must for breakfast! You can make a meal out of their biscuits and gravy or have them as dessert after the Benny or tofu scramble. This restaurant is perfect for vegetarians, flexatarians, or meatatarians!
Ate here last Saturday night at about 8 or so, an hour before they close. I'm from Atlanta and it was our first time trying this place out. It was a really cute little place and we were seated right away - even though it was pretty busy! The restaurant was a lot more casual than I was expecting because it looks so dim from the outside. That being said, it's really charming! I ordered the Early Girl Benny and my boyfriend ordered the cheeseburger. We were served fairly quickly and DUG IN as we were pretty hungry. My meal consisted of a grit cake topped with tomato, spinach, poached eggs, tomato gravy and avocado. It was delicious!! I love breakfast food, especially for dinner. The eggs for perfectly cooked and all of the toppings on my grit cake were a perfect blend. I got a taste of the cheeseburger and was very pleasantly surprised. The basil mayo tasted like pesto, which I love! It was a great touch. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Asheville to try more dishes.
(4)
Larry M.
Oh, my gosh, this restaurant was phenomenal. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but once you are seated, it is bright and sunny and much more spacious than it appears to be. Service was friendly. Less than a ten minute wait at 10:00 a.m. on Monday morning in the summer. Multi-grain pancakes were superb: large, light but tasty. The special was a mixed mushroom omelet, and the fresh local mushroom were packed with flavor. Home fries were real: made on the griddle with lots of butter, not that fryolater junk. Biscuit was excellent, too. Favorite condiment: a smoked habanero sauce that was killer.
(5)
Kipper S.
It always breaks my heart to see a place that I find to be absolutely wonderful robbed of its potential 5 star ratings due to a few lack luster haters. Early Girl is one sweet tomato if you ask me. Bright and vibrant flavors erupt from each of their afternoon entrees and breakfast delights. It's a pleasure to eat locally cultivated ingredients, especially when they're prepared so well. The dining room here is spacious and wooden, and reminds me very much of home or a good friends house. It's inviting and captivating to say the least. Early Girl can be a bit busy at times, but with their prices and their culinary offerings, it's definitely worth the wait. P.S.-Skip the beer or juice and order yourself a coffee, it's roasted by regional artisans Counter Culture, and it's fantastic.
(5)
Catherine C.
I live all the way across the country and still think about the egg biscuit I had here almost 3 years ago now. Good God! Enough said.
(5)
sara k.
I'm thankful that I was told that I had to dine here while in Asheville. 'Cause I ate grits. And they were goo-ooood. Early Girl is downtown on a pleasant little avenue. I wish that the rain had lightened up, 'cause we could've explored it a bit more. But the warm, cozy setting was a welcome respite from the gray, wet cold. On the counter as we walked by to our table was a line of housemade cakes. My mom eyeballed the red velvet and ordered it up with her biscuit sandwich. It was awesome, especially with the freshly whipped cream. I settled on the classic scrambled eggs (very good) with grits (also very good), sausage (local and very good), and biscuit (good, but I prefer the crumbling, hot variety). The OJ was fresh squeezed and a perfect accompaniment to the meal. As was the coffee with raw sugar and cream. A great meal. Service was pretty decent, but a bit slow, even though there were only a couple of tables. I ordered the chocolate mayo cake with cream cheese frosting to go. Even two days later, when I remembered that I had it tucked away in a shopping bag, it was scrumptious. I'd definitely return. But I'd like to try Tupelo Honey, too.
(4)
Shirley W.
Based on yelp and friend recommendations, we stopped by here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch. Early Girl Eatery is described at southern cooking using fresh local ingredients. It was very busy and there was a 25 minute wait, but the food smelled good so we decided to wait. The look of the eatery was very bright and the staff was friendly. We were sat when promised and promptly greeted by our waitress. We started with the Broccoli Cheddar Hush Puppies served with apple butter and creamy garlic dressing. Better with the creamy garlic dressing and the jelly that was on the table. We also had the Shrimp and Grits, Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble and the quiche of the day with a side salad (shitake mushroom and farm fresh cheese). All items very good. The green salad was very refreshing and you tell that the ingredients were very fresh. Hopefully locally grown too. All in all, a great dining experience. Asheville is a vegetarian dream city. Lots of organic vegetarian choices.
(4)
Eric K.
We arrived at Early Girl Eatery one evening before the dinner rush so we were seated right away. (Now who's the early girl?) We weren't too impressed by the restaurant's lack of decor/theming, but the menu was pretty decent and offered a lot of tasty-sounding vegetarian and organic dishes. I opted for a bowl of their vegan chili, which itself was thick, chunky, very filling, full of flavor, and sweet-tasting. It was less than freezing while we were in Asheville, so this bowl of hot chili really hit the spot. For my entree, I opted for the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with herbed goat cheese spread, sauteed spinach, bacon and tomato. It was very flavorful and, hopefully, healthy. I do appreciate, too, that there is a wide variety of side items from which to choose other than French fries. I went with the squash casserole, which I also recommend. For being slow, the service was just so-so. I might try it again for breakfast, but I can't see it being a regular dinner place. Plus, $5.95 for kids' PB&J is a bit on the pricey side for parents.
(4)
Ingrid H.
Great breakfast! My friend had shrimp and grits which she said was wonderful and I had the early girl benny which was also great. My Benny was toast with spinach, tomatoes, avocado, poached egg and tomato gravy. Very yummy! I so recommend you give this place a try. We were there when they opened and there was a line at the door, but not a long wait.
(4)
Angela C.
Been here a few times when visiting Asheville and loved everything about it!
(5)
Solomon W.
EGE was no doubt on my radar while in the Asheville area, as it has been all over magazines and the internet as a go-to diner. I really liked the low-key office building location, and the service was quick and attentive. My Pimento Cheese sandwich was fantastic, for the most part. I liked the spinach and tomato inside; they broke up the richnesss of the cheese. I would have preferred my cheese a bit chunkier and less spread-like and tangier, but no worries. The thick-cut wheat bread was a nice base. The curried summer squash soup was very disappointing. It was bland, and the soggy texture was like something out of a can, though I can assure you that all of the main ingredients in the soup were "eco-friendly"--in all definitions of the phrase. The $7 price tag for sandwich and soup is a great price for a light dinner, so I would recommend EGE to anyone looking to eat somewhere cool on a budget. It is tucked back onto a smaller street, so it provides you with a cooler atmosphere to eat in.
(3)
Ginger N.
Came to Asheville for a girls weekend and this place was recommended so we decided to try it! Glad we did! Definitely a long wait, but well worth it. I had the black bean omelet and it was delicious! Check it out!
(5)
Dale F.
Went there for a quick lunch on the way to the airport. The food was excellent, fresh, and very tasty. I had the gumbo...superb, almost as good as anything I have ever eaten in New Orleans. The crab cake sandwich was excellent with a large crab patty, great pickles and fries. Others at my table had: Shrimp Poor Boy...huge roll, chock-full of tasty shrimp Small dinner salad...diverse ingredients and tasty Biscuit and gravy...excellent Grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries...wonderful
(5)
Rebecca C.
Didn't know this was a vegetarian eatery. I am a meat kinda girl. But with that said, the food was pretty decent. Flowers on the table were a nice added touch of "home grown" atmosphere they are trying to sell to their patrons. What I really loved about this restaurant was their careful attention and planning for children and babies. They brought out a bucket of wooden toys for Emma to play with. Made my visit that much more enjoyable, as Emma was totally occupied the entire dine-in. Thanks Early Girl for keeping my kid entertained and that Pimento Cheese Spread. Oh, and fresh jam. That was good too.
(3)
Jeremiah F.
Very cool place. My girlfriend and I went on a Sunday around noon. The wait wasn't too bad, about 45 minutes. We both wanted breakfast so she got the almond banana pancakes and I got the trout with eggs and grits. My plate was very good, but my girlfriend's pancakes were the best pancakes I've ever tasted. The local jam that they had was very good as well. We ended up buying a jar to take home.
(5)
Tony L.
Early Girl used to be one of my favorite downtown restaurants. In just over a year, their food and service has hit rock bottom. I used to come here for the amazing breakfast with their fresh biscuits and herb gravy. The butter was fresh from the creamery and the jams were from the best berries. The breakfast meats, eggs and pancakes were all made fresh and with delicious ingredients. The omelets had fresh creamery cheese...they were amazing. Making your mouth water? Too bad none of it tastes good any more. They somehow have settled to bring you the bare minimum for the same cost... They used to have an amazing meatloaf with fresh vegetables on the side. Now it's flavorless with a salty mess of veggies plopped on the plate. The Pan Fried Mountain Trout with green tomato blackberry sauce was my favorite. The last time I went, it was so disgusting I should have sent it back. I had it with the squash casserole, another of my past favorites, and it was more salt and casserole than squash. I'm sad that they went down the drain. Go to any other restaurant on that block...stay away from (I never thought I would say this) Early Girl.
(1)
Jeff L.
The biscuits and gravy were awful. The smoked flavor was overpowering and didn't taste natural at all.
(2)
Nell M.
We arrived on a sunday around 11am and were told to expect an hour wait. Boy was the wait worth it. I had the Porky breakfast bowl. The pork was flavorful, the potatoes were tender and crispy, the eggs were perfectly cooked and the bacon gravy...oh my gosh, the bacon gravy. I also ordered a biscuit which was flaky, warm and yummy. Their cakes and pies looked wonderful but I was way too full. I hope to go back to Early Girl next time I'm in Asheville.
(5)
Erin A.
Love this place! Eat here for brunch whenever I am traveling in the area. The fried green tomatoes are my fav! A must try!
(4)
Chef J J.
We clearly got lucky the day we visited for lunch as it was a fast 10 minute wait till we were seated. I would have expected a few more vegan options on the menu but was happy with black bean burger which clearly was house made and excellent. My husband was lured in by the sprout and avocado sandwich which he shared a bite of with me, one word YUMMY. I would happily visit again the next time I'm in Asheville. I can't give it a 5 stars because of a few picky reasons like a communal restroom shared with the rest of the building it's located in and lousy side street parking but clearly these issues don't seem to hurt them one bit as they were bustling busy and seem to be thriving.
(4)
Soo H.
This place is bright and cheery! I stopped by for lunch on a little break from my bbq tour. The pan fried catfish sounded good. It had a nice flavor from the corn meal with complimented the catfish flavor. It was a single filet which I'm guessing was half a small catfish. For me the portion size was a bit small. The biscuit was good. A bit like KFC biscuits but with better flavors. I liked this place. The food taste good and the staff were friendly. Next time I'm in town I'll try the breakfast menu.
(4)
D. B.
I love this quirky, down home restaurant . . . especially for breakfast. The food is organic and always seems to be fresh. Great choices for the vegetarian and they support/use local growers and suppliers. The atmosphere is very casual and homey . . . the staff always friendly.
(4)
Natasha M.
Went to Early Girl Eatery on a Saturday morning with a couple friends. I expected the 45-minute wait but it was well worth it. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. We had heard great things about this place so we decided to order a bunch of different breakfast items and taste-test as much as we could. I had an omelette with ham, bacon and spinach. Best ham I've ever tasted in my entire life plus the eggs were fluffy and moist - couldn't get any better. We also ordered the black bean and cheese omelette (which was fresh and flavorful) and the Shrimp & Grits (picture perfect with the perfect seasoning - good and spicy) and the biscuits and gravy (one of the best I've ever had). All of the food was amazing, but I'd have to say the highlight of my meal was the homemade jam at our table. I believe it was blackberry...well, whatever it was it was the most delicious thing I've ever put in my mouth. I couldn't stop eating the jam just by itself! I was amazed by our waitress - it was a packed house but she still managed to keep our coffee cups full, bring our food out steaming hot and get our check to us super fast so we could continue with our day. Excellent service to go with the excellent food. Next time I'm in Asheville I might just eat all my meals at Early Girl Eatery.
(5)
Scott W.
I had lunch here on a Saturday while visiting Asheville. After a 30 min wait I was seated at a table with a window view which overlooked the park across the street (I liked that). The service and food were both pretty good. I had a pimento grill cheese sandwich with potato soup. Although everything was OK I did not feel my experience was worth the 30 min wait.
(3)
JD L.
Great meal & great service. Definitely worth the 45-minute wait.
(5)
Thomas W.
This place is great. At 10am on a Thursday, we were seated immediately. The highlights were the Transcendent Porky Breakfast Bowl and the Perfectly-Executed Shrimp and Grits. You can't go wrong.
(5)
Tracey W.
At 9 a.m when this place is getting ready to open for breakfast, folks are lining up at the door. It is obvious that lots of time goes into the menu here. I had the veggie bowl this time around with 'iron and clay peas', spinach, scrambled eggs, farmers cheese and the best vegetarian herb gravy you'll ever taste. They are doing sooooo many things right at Early Girl! Visit them soon on the cutest little side street in downtown Asheville.
(5)
Kate N.
We visited Early Girl Eatery for a snack during a recent visit to Asheville. I had been meaning to try it due to some great yelp reviews and a fantastic looking veggie menu, so I was excited to get the chance to split a veggie reuben sandwich. It was great. Sometimes restaurants go wrong with veggie imitation sandwiches, but EGE went very right with this one. We also had some salad with tahini dressing which was very yummy. Definitely recommend EGE!
(4)
Sarah Ann B.
When I think back to Asheville, I slowly re-submerge myself into the smooth coaxing aroma of fresh, locally, and beautifully crafted food. I am perhaps slightly biased toward this place due to the fact my family's old farm, 'Narnia Farms', used to supply them with their breakfast sausage. Regardless, what they did with that meet could not be recreated at home. With excellent offerings of both meat and vegetarian dishes, this place catered to my every, constantly changing, teenage whim. While being a disgracefully picky eater as an angsty tween, Early Girl was somehow able to break down several food barriers I had, presumably, permanently raised in my food repertoire. Lo, and behold the delight of my parents, and my taste buds! I owe a lot to you Early Girl. Thanks :-)
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Breakfast Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Teresa P.
Any chef who wants to make and serve grits should be required to learn how to make them from the kitchen of Early Girl Eatery. Most of the time girts have the consistency of wall paper paste, and the flavor to match, then you put a whole bunch of crap on them in order to choke them down. Well, with the grits at Early Girl, you don't need any of that. Salt and pepper are all you need. The key, I am told, is that they are fresh and stone ground. All I know is that they are great. The tofu scramble is very good, with lots of veggies, and the Early Girl Bennie, which I had without the eggs to make it vegan, is great. The freshness of the produce really comes out in the food. The veggie cup is also worth the $4 price tag. You get great fruit and no grapes! They could work on their coffee though. The first day I went there it was fine, the second day is was too strong, and I generally like my coffee strong.
(5)Glenn B.
Breakfast all day long...can it get any better? I had the poached egg with tomato gravy over grit cakes; our family had fried chicken salad, black bean omelet, chicken salad plate, vegetarian chili, and the cobb salad. There were compliments all around. The prices are reasonable, the service very friendly, with everyone meeting and greeting us on the way in and on the way out. The wait service was very attentive, but not in your way if you want to sit and talk. The atmosphere is bright and cheery.
(5)chris j.
Great food, great coffee.and great service. OJ was delicious. Would highly recommend this establishment . Don't miss when visiting downtown Asheville
(5)Lauren H.
Love this place! The food is so delicious, the atmosphere is delightful and the price is right. I always take friends and family here who come to visit. It's a great example of an Asheville restaurant. Plus, they serve B-L-D, which is great! The wait can get long on the weekends for breakfast so I usually go for lunch or dinner.
(5)Jim N.
Great food, had the chicken sandwich and the garlic potato pancakes. Delicious. 40mins wait to get a table for lunch but not a problem as we spent the time walking around.
(4)Reggie G.
I really like the concept of Early Girl and almost everything about it, I just think the food falls a little bit flat. It is worth checking out though, it has a great location and a nice sunny dining room. They do a ton of local, sustainable ingredients and it has a wonderful mission.
(3)Amy J.
The quality of food here is excellent. Like a number of other Asheville restaurants, they pride themselves on serving fresh, locally grown food, which I think helps to provide really good flavor and quality. I love all the vegetarian options and look forward to returning on my next visit to Asheville to try a lunch dish. A complaint I have is the absence of their vegetarian sausage on the menu - I know it's something they used to serve which I was looking forward to trying. The wait was also a little unexpected considering we went on a weekday morning, but it was during the holidays and Asheville is a touristy area, I suppose this is to be expected.
(4)Nick Z.
The Early Girl Eatery was one of our first dining stops on a trip through the Appalachians and into the low country and was one of my favorites as well. We stayed with a local friend of ours and woke up to wander around and grab breakfast here. Thanks to our savvy friend, we walked in the restaurant and put our name on the list before wandering around. Had I been sitting there the whole time, the long wait may easily have soured the meal but instead we walked around downtown Asheville for a bit, worked up a good appetite, and came back just as our table opened up. While I savored my first "true" sweet tea of the trip, I got to know the menu and was impressed not just with the selections offered but also with the "eat local" options, like delicious breakfast sausage made nearby. It might be a yuppie thing to like, but I can appreciate any restaurant that goes out of its way to buy local. Breakfast was delicious, our waitress was charming, and the place had a very positive atmosphere. I love a busy, bustling joint to eat breakfast in. It's the most refreshing way to begin the morning.
(5)Eileen O.
Nice warm cozy friendly atmosphere. big smiles from all who work there. Really enjoyed everything. Will definitely return.
(5)Ben H.
This place had a really long wait - in fact, longer than Tupelo Honey when we went there. But eventually we got a seat and ordered. The service was okay. Locally-procurred food/farm-to-table is great and all, but I don't really care where the food comes from when it comes down to it. The more important issue for me is if the food is good or not. I had one of the specials - it was a broccoli omelette. It was just bad. The broccoli had a very weird taste to it and the eggs were not well cooked. I tried some other food and was not impressed. This restaurant seems to be hyped because it is "cute" and offers local food for vegetarians/vegans/super ecoconscious. I don't get it. TH was much better. 2
(2)Lydia L.
The Early Girl Eatery had been a go-to pace for us while we lived in NC. It was always reliable with lots of fresh, regional food presented without artifice or extraneous fluff. Since we are veggies, we knew we would always find lots of selections and tended to go by the daily special board. It can get a little noisy but the local artists represented on the walls makes a good distraction. My big gripe with EGE is the restroom facilities. It is awkward to get the key, deal with the doors and locks at the facilities down the hall and somehow keep the hands germ-free. The service is usually cheery and the lines for a table can get long at weekends but there is enough of a distraction outside to make it worth the wait.
(4)Rob T.
Short 20 minute wait, unique dishes cooked with local ingredients. I had the egg and pork scramble featuring delicious sweet potatoes, my wife had the breakfast bowl, which was amazing! Definitely worth the trip when you visit Asheville but probably a long wait on the weekends, restaurant is small.
(4)Brian K.
Early Girl is my favorite spot to eat in Asheville. I'm there almost every morning for breakfast. Another reviewer was critical and I'll say this - they get it right every day. In fact over the past month they've gotten better. Dinner there is always fabulous ...
(5)Therese G.
This was the only place in Asheville that we had a disappointing meal in. We went for dinner and our meal was mediocre at best. We started with the cheddar-broccoli hush puppies and they were not good. They tasted like nothing but fried cornmeal, barely had any flavor at all. We barely touched them but the server didn't seem very concerned that we didn't eat them. Go ahead and skip them. We then had the pan fried chicken and the pork tenderloin medallions, both with mashed potatoes and herbed gravy. Chicken was alright and so were the pork medallions but they were tiny! Three ultra thin slices were just not worth the price. The one bright spot with the meal was the jam served with the biscuits. Raspberry awesomeness. I believe they get it form a local farmer and you can actually purchase jars of it at the restaurant. Service was so so and a little confusing, we had three different servers. Maybe we should have gone for breakfast or lunch but we will probably not go back.
(2)Bert B.
Good food and good service. 3 stars simply because they don't open until 9 on Sat/Sun. Some other reviews talk about the wait but that is at all Asheville breakfast joints. Got to get there as soon as they open to get in without a long wait.
(3)Dave S.
This place is pretty good. I must admit to being slightly let down, but that was only because it had been built up so much for us by people we know. I do suggest going for dinner, because we managed to get right in. When we tried going for breakfast once we had over an hour wait that we abandoned. I got a quiche that ended up being great. My side salad was really good as well. We also ordered a biscuit because we heard they were great. It ended up being only average. Especially when compared to tupelo honey's biscuit. My wife got the vegetable plate, which I sampled. There was mac and cheese on the side, and it was only average as well. The broccoli casserole was incredible though. I definitely recommend going, but if you have to choose between here and Tupelo Honey, pick Tupelo Honey.
(4)Kelly K.
A good variety of southern and healthy cuisine, and vegetarian friendly.
(5)Robert T.
Worth the wait. Get here early if you don't want to wait a while for a table. Food was great and everyone was supper nice. Only down side was smelling the great food while having to wait
(4)Shawn T.
Bean and cheese omelet was great. As a non-vegetarian I was impressed. You won't miss the meat.
(5)Lauren R.
The vibe is hipster-indifferent. If you like the food, great. If you don't, that's too bad because no one seems really interested in asking you about your experience. That being said, the food was fresh and the breakfast options were plentiful. I was disappointed by the biscuits, though. A little heavy.
(3)Allen L.
Our Ashevillian hosts took us here on our first day. I wimped out and had a cobb salad, which was perfect but I should have gone for something grander. My wife, on the other hand, took the advice of the host and had a cheeseburger which he had said was the best in Asheville. Apparently, he's correct. It's a pretty kid friendly place, indeed. The only problem with it, and any other eatery in Asheville is that we were there in summer and there is NO place to park. Hey, Asheville! Time to build some parking lots!
(4)huong n.
we stopped here for a hearty breakfast to prepare us for a long drive to orlando. the food was delicious; the portions were huge, and we struggled to finish. the service was friend. i adored the decor - country with style.
(4)Jeff R.
Is it worth it to wait an hour for eggs on a Sunday only half an hour after a place opens? No. But still, the eggs at Early Girl were good.
(4)Julie L.
It's pretty good. I had a strange dish and I enjoyed it. I like the atmosphere. From the front, you couldn't tell how large it was. In any case, good sweet potato cakes. Really surprising - even my pepperoni pizza and cheeseburger loving roomie liked it.
(4)Danny P.
Pretty tasty brunch! Can usually get a table under ten minutes at the busiest brunching hours. I've only had breakfast there, but the service and food are quite decent. Nothing spectacular, but good. Would recommend to friends.
(4)Gina D.
Fun casual and delicious local spot. Perfect for lunch. Food was unique and creative. We had the garlic herb hush puppies with apple butter. I had a tasty grilled chicken salad with apples and walnuts. Expect a wait, though--always crowded. For Atlantans, this was very similar to Flying Biscuit.
(4)Amy V.
I love the idea of fresh food from local venders. The menu was creative and had a good selection of choices. I didn't go crazy, but the salad was very good. There was a bit of a wait, but when you're in downtown Asheville there's plenty to do to keep busy. Early Girl keeps their atmosphere cozy with tables close and a large "patio-esque" dining area. You would never know from the cramped foyer that the place was as big as it is.
(4)H. L.
I've eaten at the Early Girl twice. Once quite recently and the other time last May. I got the same breakfast each time, the Early Girl Benny, and am now totally addicted to it. If you're expecting Eggs Benedict, you might be disappointed. The Early Girl Benny is two poached eggs served over grit cakes with tomato gravy and avocado on top. Both times I got it with the addition of country ham. It was totally worth it! The service is excellent and the coffee is hot and plentiful.
(5)Silvia D.
We really enjoyed this restaurant! The breakfasts were delicious, wholesome, and filling. The staff were lovely. Great atmosphere.
(5)sarah c.
Probably one of my best meals every. Not only did I enjoy it, but the other three members all died of deliciousness too. We all shared the specials. Not only did we try dinner, we went back for brunch the following day. I can tell you they are doing it so right, its... its... its... oh I want to move to Ashville and work there.
(5)Alejandro A.
Good, eclectic country food that will satisfy any country boy or any "Wall Street" broker. They don't take reservations and are packed because they are good, so leave your name with the host and wander for a while.
(4)Craig G.
Do not get their fried green tomatoes. They're fried to a barely edible dark crisp... And it reminds me of a shity roadside diner.
(2)stephanie c.
I dream about Early Girl. When I lived in Asheville, it was my favorite restaurant. I think it still may be. Nothing is over the top, but everything is made with quality and community in mind. I recommend it highly, especially for breakfast.
(5)Roy K.
Great food all local fare. Went with a group and everyone groaned in delight as they ate their bfast. Went on a weekday so not a bad wait but I can imagine this place getting packed out on weekends.
(5)Jason R.
Perfect roasted parsnips. That alone makes them excellent. And it's yet another reason why you should pay attention to the current specials. Overall, very good, fresh, and as local as reasonable food. The dishes are tight and well prepared. The mountain trout was amazing, with the substance of salmon but pure trout flavor. The cheeseburger's meat was juicy and flavorful, the basil mayo balanced well, and the cheese was a nice accent. The service was good, but there were few enough parties that service is easy. Our waitress was somewhat knowledgeable
(4)Liz P.
AMAZING! The food was incredibly delicious. Our waitress was very friendly and even brought us over some jars of the jam we loved so much.
(5)Lothar H.
Quit reading this and just go! It is really that good.
(5)Maggy K.
My husband and I were staying in Asheville this past week and checked out the Early Girl Eatery as suggested by my cousin and her husband. I had the tempeh ruben sandwich which was absolutely delicious! My husband had a hummus, avocado, and bean sprout sandwich which was also very good. We both had a side of beets which were so fresh and delicious as well. I would definitely recommend eating here!
(4)Alison F.
When a friend found out I would be passing through Asheville, she told me that I absolutely had to check out the food here. It did not disappoint. I had a yummy mock-chicken dish with delicious biscuits (mmmm!). The restaurant was filled with light and had an airy atmosphere.
(4)Kerry K.
We had a nice breakfast here, food was good but did not match the hype.
(4)Stacey F.
Enjoyed dinner here while visiting Asheville for a conference. We were a large group and they accommodated us nicely. I had the french onion soup (which was ok), and the Fried Chicken Salad (which was delicious). I also tasted my friend's Fried Green Tomatoes, which were good. Another friend's salad came with Grits Croutons - delicious!
(4)J K.
Had an absolutely amazing dinner here. Huge bowls of black bean soup for $3, beautiful fresh salads, and the best veggie platter ever. The collard greens are a bit salty, but amazing. Highly recommend and will be revisiting when I return to Asheville!
(5)Joann D.
This place fantastic and what every restaurant should be. Early Girl uses local food and makes everything from scratch. Isn't that what we should expect when we pay others to cook for us? The vegetarian cream gravy was heavenly and I am not a fan of gravy. There was a bit of a wait but it was worth it.
(4)Lynn T.
Very cute restaurant with friendly staff. Was expecting greatness, based on other reviews but was somewhat dissapointed. I did not think the food was all that great. Just so-so.
(3)Photon O.
The scramble with sausage and sweet potato was amazing. A friend also complimented the fried green tomatoes. However, the two people who ordered sandwiches ( grilled chicken and BBQ pork) were really disappointed. I recommend sticking with the breakfast items.
(4)Baron V.
Just excellent. Really good stuff. Staff is all cute hipster girls it seemed, so that doesn't hurt.
(5)Asheville A.
I want so much to like this place. The problem rests on the staff. Everytime I walk down Wall Street kitchen staff is standing around smoking and/or spitting on the sidewalk. The food is good but by all appearances it's not the cleanest crew. I also like walking into a place and not overhearing sexist and crazy conversations by the kitchen folks--who are right inside the front door.
(1)Clark M.
My office is nearby and I eat here a lot. The food is fantastic, fresh, and local. The Cobb salad is my go to dish. You can avoid the crowd by hitting them up for dinner; compared to the lunch crowd dinner is a best kept secret. Though known for the healthy stuff, their burger is one of the best downtown and about a buck cheaper than some of the other fancy burgers you could choose from in the area.
(5)Tara U.
I wish I lived in Asheville so I could eat here all the time. I've eaten here three times over two visits to the city, and I've never been disappointed. You can actually taste how fresh the food is! That's something that I never even thought was possible. Go here. Seriously.
(5)Britt G.
I love Early Girl. I always bring visiting family and friends here, and have also chosen the Eatery for dates and special celebrations. Plus, as my girlfriend says, "Where else are you going to go when one person is craving pancakes and the other a veggie burger?" Their breakfast is absolutely amazing, especially their pancakes, and the vegan bean burger is so incredible that I can't make myself eat anything else whenever I'm there. My only complaint is that, as Caitlin S. said, the waitresses consistently seem to be either bored or slightly annoyed. They're not rude, but not incredibly friendly. It's worth the trip, though.
(4)Jessica E.
Everything is always delicious here! Love their herb gravy and biscuits.
(5)Jason L.
Before heading out on what would be a long day at the Biltmore Estate we decided to take a walk from our downtown hotel and find a hearty local breakfast. We decided to eat at the Early Girl Eatery since it had lots of positive reviews on Yelp. After reading through some of the previous reviews I have to say I am not as in love with this place as some of the other reviewers. The food was average and I have the experience to say this since I worked at a family owned breakfast/lunch joint for years when I was a teenager. It takes a lot to impress me breakfast wise since I can cook better breakfast food than my grandma (hopefully she doesn't see this). First and foremost the service was just lukewarm for me. No one seemed overly thrilled to have us there and our waitress for the most part was inattentive. When you have a dining room that isn't much bigger than a squash court it isn't that hard to keep tabs on who needs their drink topped off. The sig-o ordered the shrimp and grits since we have to try this at just about every new restaurant we go to. The grits weren't cooked long enough and the sauce accompanying the shrimp was a bit spicy (this coming from someone who can eat wasabi paste whole). Make sure to bring your Prilosec before ordering this dish or you will pay for it the rest of the day. I decided to order the sweet potato sausage scramble. Can't say I have ever seen a scramble with sweet potatoes before but since I am addicted to this Southern staple I had to try it. Sweet potatoes were very good but the scramble had way too many eggs for my liking. There wasn't anything memorable about this dish. The biscuit was ordinary but the raspberry jam was superb. The food wasn't strong enough to warrant another visit. The waitresses all looked like they were PMSing so hopefully the manager will keep some Midol stocked in the back so it won't be so obvious to the customers.
(2)G R.
One of my favorite breakfast spots ... anywhere! I eat here at least once everytime I visit asheville. I've never been disappointed w/the food, and there are always many vegetarian (and vegan) options. Their vegertarian 'herb gravy' on biscuits is freakin' awesome. Service has been outstanding. This place could give lessons to several other local spots on how to treat customers. No attitude here! Thanks!
(5)Joel C.
Early Girl is a pretty good place to eat downtown. However for breakfast I would pick the Sunny Point Cafe every time. On this visit I had an omlet that was underwhelming. The pumpkin ginger bread was very good though. If you are already downtown or the Sunny Point is too busy the Early Girl is good choice. Be prepared for a pretty long wait during peak times. It was shorter that Tupelo though. It is a shame that the first category that shows up for Early Girl is vegetarian. They have options but Southern is much more appropriate.
(3)James D.
I'd give it 5 stars, but they were out of the two items I was hoping to get when i was seated. We stiil ended up having a great dinner so would highly recommend!
(4)sadie m.
Happy pretty decor. Friendly silly waitstaff. Making a meal choice was the worst part, having to deny myself all the tempting options like free range fried chicken or the Cobb salad. I chose the local steroids free cheeseburger with fries and India spice tea. The burger was the best I've ever eaten in my life. No contest. Plenty of options for vegetarians and dessert lovers. I regret passing up the coconut cake. But there WILL be a next time! Must must must try if in Ashville NC!
(5)Emily U.
If I lived in Asheville, Early Girl would be in my top rotation for breakfast and brunch without a doubt. Fun and creative menu, with ample veggie options. I always try vegetarian biscuits and gravy when the opportunity arises and EG's was the most delicious version I've had to date! The tofu scramble could have boasted more exciting taste sensations, but the excellent hot sauce they offered helped boost the flavor. I ate with a large party and everyone raved about their choices so overall: Early Girl WIN!
(4)Merrick B.
So amazing. The best brunch I've had in a long time. Everything was fantastic, although the wait was a bit long and the service a bit slow.
(5)Sanjeev B.
We got take out and so can't comment on the atmosphere. We ordered simple preparations -- shrimp and grits, grilled pimento cheese sandwich and collard greens with ham. The shrimp and gits were fairly spicy and overall good. The collards were excellent -- smoky due to the ham and not excessively vinegary. The sandwich was better than average but not notable, mainly since the pimento cheese was not memorable. Not bad, just not memorable. The food & the menu definitely has promise -- we'd return in heartbeat.
(3)Natalie T.
One of the best spots in Asheville to eat breakfast. Normally a long wait, so u got to get there early. Yummy!
(5)Kate F.
Awesome!! We went here based on some other Yelp reviews, and we were not disappointed. We went for brunch and had the Fried Green Tomato appetizer (awesome, hot and crunchy - great flavor), the porky bowl was a huge hit, an egg sandwich on a biscuit, which had real bacon and a great fluffy biscuit, and one strawberry-banana pancake, which was also delicious. It was family-friendly for sure, there were a lot of kids. The prices were reasonable, especially for the quality of the food. We would definitely recommend and will dream of going back!
(5)London A.
We love this place! Came for lunch today and were nowhere in the area but couldn't pass up the opportunity for a good meal. I had an omelet with spinach, herbs, tomatoes and cheese. Everything was so fresh and came out piping hot. The home fries and biscuit was just right. My husband had the southern breakfast with the best stone ground grits ever. I hate grits in general and these made me rethink that. The children's menu is pretty extensive and I love that you can order the veggie plate for kids which is 3 side items and a biscuit. They even have old school kids toys when you sit down to entertain your kids. My favorite food item there has got to be the broccoli and cheddar hush puppies. You must try these out! You won't regret it. The daily specials always look so good and creative. Today there was tomato, spinach and pimento cheese quiche among a few other things. I have read reviews of people saying the wait staff is unfriendly but we haven't found that in the 2 times we've been there. Just imagine your good friend serving you; they aren't going to kiss your butt just because you are a customer. They are laid back but that isn't a negative thing in my mind. The only negative was the longish wait. We were told 30-40 minute wait and it was almost an hour. We did arrive right at noon on a saturday so I understand why. I was confused though because when we were seated the dining room wasn't even all the way full. The other negative: I was seated under something dripping water from the ceiling. No biggie just a little annoying. Love this place and we will be back!
(5)Henry F.
Loved breakfast here. Lots of choices -- and not all them huge calorie feasts (that's a good thing)! Somebody noted that they don't open early on the weekends.
(4)Ryan M.
Fantastic Brunch spot (not bad for dinner either), especially for the veggie inclined. Carne that I am however, they served me one of the best omelets I've had in the last ten years. Combined with great service and easy check splits, this is 5 stars enthusiastically. What biscuits, what jam, what hot sauce.
(5)Matt K.
AWESOME breakfast! I only wish we had tried them for lunch or dinner. I had an omelet and Michele had the early girl benedict. Both were fabulous. We ended up here on a Monday morning because tupelo had a 45 minute wait and there really weren't any other places open. Had we known how good it was, it wouldn't have been our second choice. They serve great food and the waitresses know what it means to take care of their tables. Try it...it is awesome!
(5)Lou L.
I recently took a trip to Asheville, NC and fell in love with the town. It is such a quaint place with an abundance of restaurants. I am so happy to have stumbled upon this restaurant for a Friday afternoon lunch. I ate the pulled pork sandwich with mac n' cheese. It was delicious! My friend even ordered this to go so he could have it as an afternoon snack. Everything seems extremely fresh. Definitely a go to restaurant if you are in the area!
(5)Krista J.
I don't think their website did them justice. We loved having breakfast here. The vegetarian options are delious. Especially the sausage, made with grits and tempeh.
(4)Elise H.
Visiting from out of town, this place was recommended. We went for an early dinner and was seated right away. The waitress was really nice and helpful with questions we had. I had the special soup of the day; cauliflower, and was very good and not overly plain. I wasn't very hungry when I was there but there were several items on the menu that seemed enticing for next time. Coloring on the table while we waited was a nice touch too, made the time go by faster :) Would definitely recommend this place.
(4)b r.
The Early Girl is my favorite place in town to eat! They have delicious, local, organic food, plenty of vegetarian options, and everything is always delicious. The waitstaff is great, the specials they have are always creative and fresh, and the atmosphere is sunny, bright, open, and there are lovely plants hanging around. Brunch is always packed, so be sure to be ready to wait or get there early, but it's always worth it. They have great in house made veggie sausage, and their vegetarian white gravy is superb! The sweet tea is always good, the fried chicken is delicious, and the vegetarian reuben is the best I've had! This is the first place we take anyone visiting us, and everyone always loves it!
(5)matt t.
Everything I love about Asheville is here at Early girl: warm friendly people and locally produced ingredients. I had a bean burger which was tasty but kind of fell apart. This place is just another reason to move out here. But right now its 75 degrees in San Diego...
(4)Frank R.
A great combo of modern, veggie cuisine and old-style southern. So many items on the menu that I wanted to try. Daily special vegetables and desserts wereterific.
(4)Jessica I.
It's pretty tasty. Good place for brunch or lunch. The service is descent. The prices were fair. I probably will back.
(3)Clarence H.
Don't miss the lemon shaker pie, it is to die for.
(4)Scott S.
Ordered Spinach salad with apples walnuts and grilled chicken. It was average. Ordered trout that was average too. The waiter was not attentive and rude. Appetizer never showed up.
(2)DJ A.
If I lived in Asheville, I would brunch here every weekend. The atmosphere is warm and bright and the food is delicious. The pumpkin bread was especially delightful. The coffee is great too. What makes the food so special is that much is locally sourced and clearly prepared with an artisan's touch.
(4)Justin M.
A friend of mine demanded that I go eat at the Early Girl when he heard I was traveling through Asheville, on the notion that after having their biscuits, my life would no longer be the same. He was absolutely right. I had the Shrimp and Grits breakfast special, with chorizo sausage, peppers, onions, and a tomato-based gravy. At first I was wary of getting shrimp and grits for breakfast, but I just had to try them. I am so glad that I did. Everything was cooked perfectly, and the server told us that even the grits were stone ground right there in the kitchen. My wife had the Local Sausage and Sweet Potato scramble, which I liked even better than my shrimp and grits. They must use organic free-range eggs, because I have never seen such a bright yellow or tasted such flavorful eggs from my local grocery store. The local sausage was very well-made, correctly seasoned, and delicious.... ...which brings me to the biscuits. Oh my Lord. I'm not a fan of white flour-and-lard based gravy, so I chose to forego it on my biscuits and eat them with butter and jam instead. From the outside, the biscuits looked as if they would be dry in the center, as the crust was quite crispy. However, upon further inspection, parting this piece of pastry perfection revealed an inside that was soft and moist as a cloud, and so delicious, I wanted to laugh and cry at the same time. In a word, perfection. In the future, I will eat at the Early Girl on any chance I get.
(5)Michael S.
I was expecting something a bit healthier. We had breakfast, and both our dishes were quite greasy. I actually sent back the shrimp and grits, which were swimming in bacon grease, in favor of the vegan tofu scramble. The food is pretty good, but if you are looking for something healthy, inquire about the grease factor first. What really saved the day was our server, who was very gracious, and made every effort to make sure we were happy.
(4)Sarah S.
While on holiday in Asheville, it was recommended to try out this little eatery. Located in a super hip part of downtown, this hole in the wall is easy to miss, but worth a look! The decor is simple and cute and features lots of local art. The waitstaff could easily be the poster-children for the hipster generation, but are very friendly and helpful. Our waitress was beyond sweet and offered great recommendations for food. The menu features mostly (if not all) local and organic products. The restaurant's concept is fresh and local farm to table comfort southern food. While I am not usually a huge southern food fan, this eatery IS every part of it that I LOVE! The food was fresh, it was healthy (ironic, right!?!), it was unique and interesting, and it was absolutely delicious!! I without a doubt would say this was my favorite restaurant in what I consider a great "foodie" town! If you are in town, don't miss this great little place!!
(5)Alberto C.
Scratch cooking... great breakfast eatery I visited on my North Carolina excursion. Located on "Wall Street" in Asheville, North Carolina, the entrance to the restaurant has a European street feel to it. Parking requires coins for street meter. The service was excellent and friendly. We had a party of four and everyone enjoyed their breakfasts (Southern Breakfast special, Pancakes, Biscuits & Gravy, and the Southern Fried Catfish Special). The cooking seems to be creative as suggested by the daily specials (a.k.a. "3 mushroom omelet" - Portabello, Shiitake and Crimini mushrooms). Would definitely recommend! Found on Yelp! of course...
(4)Gayle G.
I showed up about 2:30 for a late lunch. Promptly sat at a lovely window table, I began to peruse the menu. I was sad that I didn't make it for breakfast for shrimp & grits. I decided on a glass of tea and the Fried Green BLT with my side dish of, Hoppin' John. After about five minutes my plate arrived. Very simple. Just regular wheat toast with plenty of bacon, just one piece of lettuce. The fried green tomatoes were well done, almost overdone. The mayo, I think, had a lil' dijon mixed in. The sandwich was tasty, nothing fancy, something like my Gramma would make. And I love my Gramma. The hoppin' John was bad. Not just bad, but bad bad. The rice was old and dried out and crunchy. The beans were mushy and none of it was warm. I was shocked. I ordered a slice of red velvet cake to go, to eat at the airport while I was waiting for my flight. Once at the airport, I was excited for my cake. Boo hoo...not impressed at all. The red velvet was more of a fuschia. It was super dense, almost pound cake dense. The flavor wasn't there. I will say that the frosting was tasty. Three bites and I tossed it. I've NEVER tossed cake, cookies maybe, but not cake. (hehe) Overall, I was disappointed. I do realize that since it was the very end of the lunch shift, stuff may not have been the freshest. I'll give it another try, but only one and then I'm breaking up with the Early Girl.
(3)David O.
Best biscuits and gravy ever!
(5)Christopher R.
**Update** 3.5 stars if I could We went back again last week, and the lines were even longer which I will not complain about. It is what it is. Unfortunately, my experience was not nearly as good as when we ate there a couple years back. They gave me the wrong order and I had to wait while my partner ate his breakfast. I ordered grits and they were served REALLY undercooked. I was shocked that they would actually even bother bringing that to the table unless they want to give their diners a stomach ache. The waitress told me that I probably would not like them if they remade it anyway, so I took the cue and canceled the grits. The jam I liked so much the first time is now on the table in a ketchup squeeze bottle. That doesn't work. When I attempted to squeeze jam onto my biscuit the stuff was so thick that the whole top of the container literally flew off and I ended up with half a bottle of jam on my plate. My omelet was good when it arrived, and Len got to watch me eat it. Good coffee! I am not about to say I won't ever go back. Far from it. This place is SLAMMED during breakfast on the weekend, so I have to cut them some slack for that. I love the dining room. A lot. It is an incredibly warm and inviting space, and the vibe from the other diners was very nice. I would advise trying to skip prime time for breakfast and aim for a bit later. Brunch anyone? **************************************************Â*************************************** The line was long, but as Is often the case it was worth it. I ordered an omelet with local made cheddar, spinach, mushroom, and country ham. It came with home fries and a biscuit. My omelet was well made and not at all greasy. I'd say it was perfectly cooked. The home fries were excellent, long slow cooked and very tasty with the hot sauce they serve at the table. The biscuit was the best I have ever had. Oh my god. So so good. The jam at the table was really good too. Their coffee was nice and fresh. I loved my breakfast.
(3)Iris S.
Visiting from DC. Went to Sunny Point the day before. This place is ok, but only ok. Especially compared to Sunny Point. What Sunny Point has over Early Girl: 1) the service -- got a fly in my water. asked the server for a new glass. never got one. asked for sweetener for coffee and never got that either. 2) the menu -- just not as many options as Sunny Point 3) the portions -- i'm not a huge eater but I was left still hungry after finishing my small omelet 4) the quality/taste -- everything was very mediocre including my BF's pancakes and my omelet. In general, it's a fine place to go if you are downtown but if you want to be wow'd, make the short drive over to Sunny Point.
(3)Jake S.
Dang this food is delicious! Plus, they give you paper & crayons so you can make pictures! Okay! Good job!
(5)Viet H.
I came into town to perform at the Laugh Your Asheville Comedy Festival and I was told by a friend to check this place out. After eating lunch there I can see why. Everything I put in my mouth was delicious. I ordered the pan-fried free range chicken covered in gravy and some sides. The biscuits were amazing. The staff was very friendly and attentive. When the waitress brought glasses of ice she happened to give us glasses that matched the color of the ones we had (we all had different color glasses). It's not that big of a deal and I don't even know if that was done on purpose but that's what I call paying attention to detail :-) I'll definitely come back to this place the next time I'm in town.
(5)Crystal M.
This place is really good. The food was unexpectedly sophisticated and well executed. The service was also quite good, and the environment reasonably friendly...and they serve brunch drinks (yay). There was a lengthy wait on a weekend for brunch, which was a little unexpected to me, but it was worth it.
(4)Joshua R.
I am quite sleepy and there are so many reviews to write... but Early Girl is a solid, great, sorta-southern restaurant in a good location with good people. Get it? Prices are fair, food will satisfy you deeply.
(5)guido s.
I really like this place. They put a lot of pride and work into the food they serve. Which, you should enjoy. Nothing crazy or quirky about their food, just good solid entrees to please.
(5)BLAUGRAN A.
Just got back from Asheville today and Early Girl is the first place I'm going to review. Why? Well the food was FANTASTIC! More on that in a bit though. We actually went to Early Girl Eatery as a second choice. It was a Summer Friday night and downtown Asheville was really buzzing about 8pm. We were actually headed to Tupelo Honey Cafe instead, but they had an hour wait. We were too hungry and it was getting too late so we decided to head over to Early Girl. Well what a blessing in disguise that was. Now I will say we'd have gone to Early Girl at some point during our stay anyway, so don't just think was dumb luck. So we were seated right away, though we lucked out at the time of night at that point as it was pretty full in there. I thought I'd recalled reading it was a "kid friendly" spot. Well it certainly looked that way. In fact the father and son next to us showed me that first hand as the little flicked food at his Dad and caught me as well. I didn't though because I was loving my dinner. Anyway, there were families of all ages there so if you've got kids you should feel more than comfortable taking the whole family. On to the food! Now I'm a picky eater. I'm getting better as I get older, but at some point as a child I went from eating just about everything to becoming quite picky. So when eating out I tend be picky and eat the food that's not quite as healthy for you. Still I love fresh ingredients and organic food. Well Early Girl Eatery was right up my alley as it's "farm to table" philosophy helps take something as ordinary as a hamburger to something special. And yes, as you might have guessed, I got the burger. The cheeseburger to be precise and I got it really plain. Well in this case that was the smart thing as the cheese they used was phenominal. It was an aged white cheddar that was graded. Now when the waitress told me the cheese was graded I was skeptical. Well while I still don't understand why the cheese was graded, let me tell you that it was DELICIOUS! The burger itself was fresh and delicious, yet even adding some ketchup couldn't take away from the taste of that white cheddar. Overall the burger was cooked to perfection and it was one of the best I've ever had and I'd be willing to bet the best in Asheville. The fries were quite good and fresh, cut from the potato taste and look. Wash it all down with a local brew (a mix of local brews available, though not each breweries whole lineup which seems to be typical of Asheville). My Dad loved his meal as well. He had the Grilled Chicken sandwich. Now I normally get dessert, but we passed as we were both full and I thought the dessert menu sounded a bit flat. As for the space and the decor, I loved it. I love their sign and that symbol is even on their glasses. NOTE TO THE OWNERS, I'd have bought some glasses if you made taller ones as well, and I'm a dude. Anyway, the space was bright and colorfully painted. It also had local artwork on the wall. While this seems typically Asheville, this fit the business and space better than most. Finally, a note on the service. The Service was very good. What really impressed me though was that every single employee that we passed on our way out the door, and there were three of them, either said "goodbye" or thanked us for coming. A couple of things of note. They share a bathroom with the offices adjacent to the building. You take one of the ladles with a key on it and head down the hall to use it. Not at all a problem,, but just in case you can't find it. It's on Wall Street which is a cool little side street downtown (the one with the iron statue on the end). There is a lot on the west end of the street or street parking on other streets around. If you're visiting Asheville, I'd say Early Girl Eatery is a must. Sadly we never made it back for breakfast, and believe me that was the plan. If you live in Asheville and you haven't been here yet, what are you waiting for?
(5)Liz W.
Had the best breakfast there today! Spinach and potato pancakes with tomato gravy. Great atmosphere, friendly staff. Going again tomorrow.
(5)Jason M.
Very very good shrimp and grits - get there when they open to avoid the rush.
(5)Michael D.
Not so good last night: tiny half-dollar sized, overpriced crabcakes ($15); stale bread for kid's pb&j; veggie sides were bland and uninteresting; sweet potato bean cakes tasteless besides sweet potato. The mushroom soup and lemonade were great. The staff was typically 'too cool', yawning at the tourists, and not happy to see a toddler. Took too long to get the check, and lordy the kitchen was smoky, sending a haze throughout the place. Won't go back, even though I had remembered the place fondly from a decade ago.
(2)arielle g.
After reading so many great reviews about Early Girl, I was excited to eat there during my trip to Asheville. A local even recommended it! It's a cute place to eat and our server was friendly. The food was decent, but nothing special. Early Girl is what I would call a "finer diner" and though the food didn't excite me as much as I had hoped, it has a good vibe and supports using local food and offering veggie options.
(2)Joris M.
Very honest food, simple, locally-sourced and prepared with care; close to home cooking. Service is friendly and efficient. Small, but quality beer selection. Nice location overlooking the triangular park on Patton Avenue. Super kid-friendly, so if you do not appreciate the chatter of little ones, steer clear. I liked it, though.
(4)Meg O.
I chose the Early Girl Eatery to celebrate my birthday brunch, which I think says it all. I've only eaten here three times, and every time I got the black eyed pea cakes with this lemony gravy, but man, I would pay for the recipe! They're incredible! Like so many restaurants in Asheville, the Early Girl boasts a lot of local, organic food. It was incredibly popular with the Bread Loaf crowd this summer. There were people who dined here for more times than I, and enjoyed lunch and dinner too. I really love the sunny dining room and the large wooden tables. The tomato-decorated windows on the outside are adorable too. Oh, how I miss Asheville!
(5)John M.
Early Girl Eatery is one of our favorites in Asheville. We actually got some friends a gift cert here (see my review of Mellow Mushroom, also in Asheville) because we wanted to support the place. Asheville is a town that very much focuses on community agriculture and farming in general, and Early Girl fits nicely. They focus on locally procured food, with 50-75% of the food on your plate coming from a local source at any given time. They have some good wine and beer, and a friendly staff. Everything we had was very good, although I can't remember because to this day we're on a culinary tour of Asheville that we have yet to complete. It's just the kind of place you feel good about frequenting - it's good for Asheville and good for you too.
(5)casey c.
what a wonderful way to be introduced to Asheville. I would absolutely LOVE having this restaurant here in Morgan Hill. There are similar places, but nothing in my neighborhood. The service was friendly. The food was healthy, fresh, fun, and delicious. I was sooo happy to be there. If I'm ever in Asheville again, I'll very happily go there again. I only had their breakfast so I'd love to check out their lunch and dinner menu!
(4)Chris W.
Cold toast and no juice. My wife and I visited Asheville this week and quickly fell in love with Tupelo Honey just down the street. At the urging of my sister (fellow Yelper who specializes in Chicago and Los Angeles), we visited this breakfast spot. Never again. The food was lame (ultra-fatty country ham and a dried out breakfast egg biscuit sandwich) -- and they forgot our drinks. My wife says the banana bread was good. I say the Early Girl needs to head back to bed. Try Tupelo!
(1)R M.
The staff here were incredibly friendly - really made the experience for us. We went for breakfast and the coffee was good, and the food sounded good on the menu but was really only OK when it actually came to eating it. I would probably go back again for a weekday breakfast, mostly because the atmosphere was great and the food was decent, just not 5 star like a lot of the reviews say :-)
(3)Bonnie L.
Best place to go for brunch in Asheville, by far - particularly for those looking for vegetarian entrees. The servers are always friendly, the ambiance is fantastic, and the food is to die for. My favorites: the tofu scramble and the strawberry pecan pancakes. And you can't leave without trying a slice of the pumpkin bread - yummy! A caveat: the waits for Sat. brunches can be upwards of 35 min., so come early or be prepared to stroll along Wall Street.
(5)Rose M.
I still love Early Girl, despite new breakfast restaurants opening in the city. There is a community spirit fostered by eating the large window filled dining rooms surrounded by families, couples, singles sitting, reading the paper and sipping coffee. The food is still delicious. In all the years of eating here I have never been disappointed. The wait staff keeps your cup of coffee full. I have no hesitation in recommending EGE looking for a unique breakfast and a true "AVL" dining experience.
(5)Ian R.
Without a doubt my favorite eatery in Asheville. Simple down home food with a twist. Great example, my wife had a BLFGT sandwich. A Bacon Letuce Fried Green Tomato sandwich. She finally had to tell me that I could not have any more "tastes" of her delicious sandwich. Nothing against my meal either, I don't think there is a single thing on the menu that is not excellent. Do yourself a favor and search this place out.
(5)Meloknee H.
long wait, great food. excellent egg scramble and delicious bread. love it.
(4)Isana G.
I want to take Early Girl and transplant it to my neighborhood. I really liked the spacious yet cozy feel of the dining area. The service was awesome. Our waitress sat down with us and gave us info about Asheville neighborhoods (we were thinking of relocating). She also had awesome tattoos and I kind of had a girl crush on her and her awesome tattoos. But that's a moot point. The food was very good. Hubby and I split the broccoli cheddar hush puppies. I had a Cobb salad and he had eggs and something something. The hush puppies with garlic dipping sauce were the best I ever had. My salad was fresh and crunchy. Hub's breakfast was tasty. We ate, had a round of breakfast beers (VACATION!), and thoroughly enjoyed the laid-back vibe of the place.
(4)Jennifer B.
It is too bad that I compare every restaurant in Asheville to Tupelo. I went for breakfast and it was tasty. I had a veggie omelet along with some green tea. The omelet was good but nothing to be blown away by. It was good and fresh though. The service was just OK. I found myself waiting a long time for my waitress to stop by even though it wasn't super busy. But it wasn't too bad. The parking here is a bit tricky and it could be hard to find a spot but within walking distance of most places downtown. A good spot for sure and I might try to make it back for lunch or some of those hush puppies people are yelping about!
(4)Meredith D.
It's been a little while since I ate at Early Girl, but you see... my experience was so disappointing the first time around, I keep avoiding it to give it a second chance. I went with a party of 6 for brunch on a weekend, so the wait was expected. I am totally fine with waiting when it's worth it. Unfortunately, for me, it wasn't. Our server was nice, the ambiance is bright and cheery, and there was plenty to choose from on the menu. Maybe I just ordered the wrong thing. I went with a black bean and cheese omelette, pretty standard, as I had gone on a morning run earlier and wanted some protein. My omelette was practically as flat as a pancake because there were barely any black beans at all. That was disappointing considering you can buy a can of black beans for less than a dollar. They're not really something you need to scrimp on. The fried potatoes as a side were fine, but just potatoes. Everyone else seemed to be pleased, so I feel a little bad about giving it such a low review, but it seriously made me never want to go there again since there are so many other places in Asheville I love.
(2)Dan W.
yelp did it again! great place, lots of "local charm", very friendly and efficient staff, and of course excellent food. we had Classic Breakfast - best grits ever, good eggs. coffee refills without stress, very pleasant and friendly. nothing pretentious, just terrific!
(5)H P.
I really love Early Girl. It's fresh local ingredients, cooked well with some creativity and a lot of flavor. Southern in spirit but not too tied to tradition. I highly recommend the Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble, especially combined with very careful, small dabs of the smoky Fire on the Mountain hot sauce they have. Get a biscuit with it and put some of their delicious jam on the biscuit. So good. For lunch I like to get a meat and two, such as fried catfish, or a daily special. It's good, real food. When you walk in, due to the weird layout of the space you basically have to walk through the kitchen, which can be a little loud and kitchen-smelling. But once you're through there, the dining area is sunny and pleasant. It's a child-friendly place, they give the kids a little bucket of toys. Probably not super sanitary, but if your kid goes to preschool, no doubt they've seen worse... Two somewhat comparable restaurants nearby are Rise N Shine and Tingles. I like Rise N Shine too for breakfast, but have had some pretty bad experiences with their service. Tingles is a little more diner and a little less Southern, and it's maybe more accessible (not as heavy with the seasoning, not as quirky with the recipes). There's also Tupelo Honey of course, which is quite good, but often has a long wait. Early Girl feels more "home style" and less restaurant-like than Tupelo Honey. I wouldn't hesitate to switch to Early Girl around the corner if there's a big line of tourists at Tupelo Honey.
(5)Nicole M.
My guy and I spent Halloween weekend in Asheville for MoogFest and tried several Asheville restaurants during our stay. Early Girl was my fave, hands down. We ordered the Early Girl Benny and the Local Sausage and Sweet Potato scramble with biscuits and a side of vegetarian herb gravy. Every bite was super delicious. I'm not generally into eggs Benedict, but Early Girl's version with grit cakes instead of English muffins and an amazing tomato gravy rocked my world. It may have been the best breakfast entree I've ever had. There was a short wait (about twenty minutes for two), but the quick, friendly service, clean, bright atmosphere, and stellar food were so worth it. It'll be my first stop on my next Asheville adventure.
(5)Laura P.
If you want some organic, southern food (w/ vegan options)- please come here for brunch! I had some amazing raspberry/banana pancakes that were to die for! Breakfast is served all day long, and do expect there to be a wait for this delicious food. Definitely was one of my favorite spots on my first trip to Asheville!
(4)A J.
I will keep this short: Ordered the sausage and sweet potato scramble. Take out because I was alone and it was crowded and it was my first hour in Asheville ever and I wanted to explore. $10 for a meal I would eat again and again and again? Not too shabby. Can't wait to come back with my boyfriend and have a nice sit down meal.
(4)Daniel H.
Went to the Early Girl for the first time last October. To be honest, I can't remember what we had at all. I just remember it being really good, and I loved the place's sense of style. Since moving to the area recently, we have returned once and had breakfast. When you enter, you walk right by/through the kitchen, which is pretty nifty. Nice to see a place that isn't afraid of you seeing behind the scenes. The place is pretty casual, with plants and local art hanging about, and bright cheerful colors and a laid back feel. Staff are very friendly, and are pretty good about giving you enough attention without smothering or becoming annoying. The food is the usual Asheville "locavore" take on a lot of great dishes, and there are meat and veg options aplenty. On the recent trip, I had the local sausage and sweet potato scramble, and it was delicious! Everything was super fresh and very flavorful. My girlfriend ordered a stack of the multigrain pancakes, which were good and very filling. Overall, we would have been satisfied splitting the scramble and just ordering a single pancake on the side as a treat. One slightly bad aspect, for the breakfast crowd at least, is that the coffee just wasn't very good. It's just a regular drip coffee, which is fine as long as it's tasty, but this stuff was thick and, well, just not good. We're a little snooty about coffee, but as long as you can stand to drink a couple of cups it's fine by us (unless our goal was great coffee, of course). This stuff we couldn't handle after the first cup and sip of the second. It may have just been an off day for it. At any rate, great food, great service, and a nice vibe from Early Girl. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Vincent H.
I went for brunch on a Saturday because everyone said it was good and I have to say it was better than good! The wait could be long even for a table for 2 so I'd recommend getting there a bit early to put your name down. Don't wonder too far because it seemed like a lot of people in the line in front of us walked way to look at the shops close by and the hostess doesn't wait for ya so we got a table pretty fast by default. While everything looked delicious on the menu, I got the sausage and sweet potato scramble with a biscuit. Sooooo good, the biscuit was great (it's not the big fluffy kind but slightly drier and has a crunch) and the jam on the table was great with it. The scramble itself was so tasty, you can taste the sausage and the sweet potato was cooked just perfectly so it still had a bite to it. I was a bit worried it would come out like much. The best part was or service, I don't think I have had such a nice, attentive waitress. I seriously think she was one of the best I have ever hard. Next time I'm in town and I'm looking for brunch in downtown I'll defn go back to this place. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because I'd want to try the place for dinner to see if it's just as good (which I bet it will be).
(4)Joe Y.
We were in town for a week and ate here twice. The first time, we came because of Yelp reviews. They were right. It is like vegetarian soul food. Very hearty, nice selection, fresh, local ingredients, plenty of stuff for non vegetarians too. Our waitress was awesome. She was very attentive and everything was quick. Very kid-friendly place, which was great for those of us with kids. I ate the exact same meal two nights in a row because it was so damn good. The apple sauce tastes like the fresh kind my grandmother made decades ago and the other veggies were amazing. In an awesome food town, this was our favorite place.
(5)Syrah M.
My husband and I stopped here for dinner on a road trip in August 2008. I'm still dreaming of my next visit..... We stopped because it was reccomended for its "made from scratch food using quality fresh produce and ingredients." It was more than we could have dreamed of! This place is the ultimate in terms of both health and social conscientiousness - ingredients come from as many surrounding sustainable and organic sources as possible, the menu is diverse, inclusive for all palates and every bite nourishing to both the body and soul. WE ATE: Grilled asparagus salad on a bed of greens topped with local goat feta cheese, cucumber salsa & tahini dressing; grilled marinated portobello mushroom and local heirloom tomato napoleon made with lots of local basil and chevre, and drizzled with homemade balsamic dressing; pan roasted free-range chicken with herb gravy, mashed local potatoes, yellow squash casserole and sauteed chard & beet greens. WE DRANK: Tim loved the French Broad Brewing Co. Scotch Ale from Asheville. The restaurant itself is on hip Wall Street in downtown Asheville, the ambiance both funky and comfortable at the same time (I loved the paintings on vintage textile canvas and cute homemade-seeming curtains), the prices are VERY REASONABLE and the staff is knowledgeable and fun. Places like this give hope to the sustainable agriculture & local food movement! This restaurant is really the gold standard that others around the country would be smart to model after.
(5)Tasha W.
The Good: good service, nice atmosphere, yummy macaroni & cheese The Bad: not much selection for dinner (typical meatloaf/BBQ/fried chicken type fare), kinda noisy Overall not as great as I was expecting but still good. Probably better for breakfast.
(3)Johnny W.
The brunch is quite good. I liked the sausage/sweet tater scramble and the BYO omelets. They've got a decent list of local beers and they do a very fine biscuit.
(4)Zach C.
My girlfriend and I enjoyed our brunch here. Despite reading a few complaints in other reviews, we really enjoyed the service. Our waitress, Kylie, was eager to give advice on the menu and friendly from start to finish. Looking around, I noticed some other tables waiting just some time just to order, but we did not. I had the sweet potato and sausage scramble, which was interesting. Honestly, I wish I had tried the Porky just because it sounds so savory. The jam and biscuits were very nice, as was the coffee.
(4)Dana F.
We arrived about 15 minutes before they opened on a Sunday morning and a line was already forming. Once the doors opened, we were seated right away and was greeted by our excellent waitress. She was cheerful and never let our coffee get too low. I went with the black bean omelette with home fries and biscuit and my BF got the grit cakes with poached egg and tomato gravy. While mine was delicious, my BF's was out of this world. The flavors were unique and complimented each other very well. My only complaint was that the biscuits were a bit disappointing compared to Tupelo's.
(5)Jessica W.
My husband and I both said this is the best breakfast we have ever had! The bacon gravy is to die for! My husband got a platter with potatoes, bbq, eggs, and the bacon gravy on top...sounds wierd but so good! A must try when in Ashville!!
(5)Nancy L.
Their jam is sooooo good! I ordered the local sausage & sweet potato scramble which was excellent, but I would go back just for the jam. Amazing!
(4)Leah Y.
I prefer Tupelo- but we did have a good breakfast here too! Grits were different - lumpy and large? Not a huge breakfast selection either. But overall 4 stars and definitely worth checking out if you're in town for a couple days of breakfast!
(4)Leslie S.
Early Girl was recommended by a friend who heard we were visiting Asheville, Loved the idea of fresh food prepared with local ingredients. Luckily we came after the lunch rush so the wait wasn't too bad. I am not a vegan but had the vegan chili since it was a cold day. It was fabulous and I never would miss the meat - fresh and a great spice. My husband had the soup special - NC candied squash that was out of this world. Also had a side of their homemade cornbread - delicious. Staff was great and recommended several other great local restaurants in downtown Asheville. We will be back again.
(4)Sameer G.
Really good food. The fried green tomatos were fantastic, and other stuff was good too. This was our first introduction to southern food, and was pleasantly surprised. The only downside was that the portion sizes were pretty small (varies by dish), so we had to top off with some food at home afterwards.
(4)Diane M.
My family was vacationing in the NC mountains and our trip of the day was taking us to the Asheville area. We decided Brunch was a good idea and went with the reviews for Early Girl Eatery! We were NOT sorry! Yes, there was a wait, but the food more than made up for the almost 1/2 hour wait. The omelets were PERFECT. Soft, fluffy and well, just wow. My tween daughter had the black bean and cheddar omelet and when I tasted it, I almost wished I had ordered it.My oldest also had an omelet which looked as beautiful as my daughters. I had the Early Girl Benny ( their version of Eggs Benedict) and it was fabulous(Grit cakes topped with tomato, spinach, poached eggs, tomato gravy and avocado) . Hubby had the lamb burger and he INHALED it, I swear! I did get a bite, and it was earthy lamby goodness. The youngest had a grilled cheese and honestly after the rest how could it not be anything but yummy?We also all split one strawberry banana pancake ( it was on special! We HAD too!) The biscuits were yummy and the on table jam made them even better! The waitstaff was friendly and attentive.The vibe was fun and relaxed with a little bit of funky. We will definitely be back whenever we are in Asheville!
(4)Cunning L.
VERY fresh, portion sizes are perfect (not too big like cheesecake factory and not too small like some expensive places can be). Servers & staff are friendly as hell! If you're just drinking water, ask for a 2nd glass when you order food. Coffee is the best in the entire universe, and I wasn't even hungover. Make sure you check out the specials on the wall, and when you go to the bathroom, take the key on the wall! Amazing food - the only reason why it's not 5 stars is the service, while totally friendly, is not 100% attentive.
(4)Brea G.
Breakfast all day - hooray! We had read about this place being crowded but went on a weekday afternoon and it wasn't. I had the black bean and cheddar omelette and it was tasty. The seating is actually upstairs from Tupelo Honey so it you get a window seat it's a really pleasant place to have a leisurely breakfast (even at 2pm!) Not sure if the jam was homemade (I think it may have been) but it was really good. good food / good prices / good service If I lived in Asheville I think this place would be a regular stop for breakfast.
(3)Casey D.
Arrived first thing at 9am Saturday with a group outside the door. Was sat and food in front of us within 10min. Black Bean omelette, biscuits and herb gravy are highly recommended!
(5)J Det D.
This is one of those places where the wait impacts my review. We had to wait over an hour to get a table. When we have to wait this long I expect that the food is going to be amazing because so many other people are there too, right? Not really. The food is ok, not amazing, not mind blowing, just ok food. I would probably give this place 3.5 stars for the food and 4 stars for the staff. The staff was really nice and sweet, but again, an hour wait for food that's ok? I'd wait that long for amazing food, not ok food.
(3)Theresa W.
NOM NOM NOM!!! I usually don't get excited about breakfast but this was one of the best morning meals I have ever had. I bought the tshirt from this place so I could remember the name of it and tell all my friends to go there when driving through Asheville. Cute joint, sweet servers, all around great experience.
(5)Melissa W.
Four stars as we have only had a quick lunch here. Pork Bar-B-Q sandwich won us over, as did the service. Like that they aren't trying to do too many things on their menu, but they have lots of choices. I noticed that the breakfasts are popular throughout the day. Good food, value and fast, efficient service. We look forward to another meal here soon!
(4)Kay L.
Yum. YUM. Did I say yum? When we entered the bright dining room and I looked at the specials board, I knew it would be good. We had strawberry/chocolate chip pancakes, fried chicken/bacon salad (homemade poppy dressing was delish), and a southern breakfast, complete with homemade biscuit and grits. Loved it all. Only complaint - service was a bit slow. But we didn't care so much once we got our food.
(4)Doug H.
Food and service are great with reasonable prices. Farm to table. Except at least a half hour wait.
(4)Katie W.
We have eaten breakfast and dinner here. The dinner experince, our first visit, was a good one. The food was good and the staff nice. However, our next visit was breakfast. Food was good, but the waitress really annoying. We asked to change tables and she obliged. Unfortunately our new table was right next to a revolting man who insisted on telling his dining companion how he shot and hunted animals. So we asked to sit right at the end of the restaurant as far away from him as possible. The waitress refused to let us sit at the end of the restaurant as she said another person waited on that table and she would not get our tip. At the end of the meal when I paid she did that most annoying and totally unacceptable thing. She asked "do you want any change" This is disgraceful and shows no class at all. The change was actually only 1.29 and I had already put her tip to one side to put in her folder before we left. She came back with the 1.29 and threw it on the table. That was when I took the 20% tip that I had put aside and put it back in my pocket, along with the 1.29. Whilst we were happy with the food, we were not impressed with that sort of service so we do not go there anymore. There are plenty of other good breakfast places around town with nice staff.
(2)Christine R.
Cute and cheerful space- we came here for our breakfast. We had a simple breakfast- lemonade and sweet tea and biscuit and egg, but it was super affordable and the service was great, even though our meal wasn't very big. We got flaky and crumbly biscuits with egg and cheese and tomatoes. Very good and filling! The space itself is like someone's kitchen- plenty of wooden kitchen tables and the like- I was actually seated in an old church pew. It was so bright and cheery and pretty - a perfect way to start the morning! The rest of the menu looked really good- lots of vegetarian and vegan options, incorporated into traditional Southern dishes. They also had a small selection of fun merchandise- we each bought a little tumbler with their super cute logo.
(4)Bro H.
Place is good, but not staggeringly good as many folks led me to believe, and most importantly, it's probably not always going to be worth waiting 30-45 minutes for. I got the shrimp and grits, which was significantly spicier than I would have imagined for a breakfast dish, but rather tasty. I ordered banana bread to go, and that was fantastic. My girlfriend's scramble was good, but some of the sweet potatoes were undercooked. I got a side of hash browns, because they looked so damn good on other peoples tables, but they weren't quite as good as they looked. Anyway, the food was good, but we spent 32 bucks on breakfast after all was said and done (the banana bread was to go but if we'd ordered OJ or coffee, the cost would have been the same), so it better have been good. It also seems as if the long wait here is an expected part of the customer service experience, and while I'm glad I went once, I don't think I'd be a regular if I lived in the area.
(3)nonya b.
Had the local sausage & sweet potato scramble. It was ok. Not great. Not sure how eco friendly using paper as a table cover is.... probably better to just use cloth. I'd try this place again... something else on the menu though.
(3)Dale E.
We enjoyed our breakfast their very much
(5)Meg C.
Another one of my favs. Breakfast, lunch & dinner plus they have "meat n' two" options. This place is always packed. My only complaint is, that in the summer, since there is no A/C it's a tad on the warm side.
(4)Dazzle M.
First impressions were excellent. Great service, but breakfast entre was divine! Bright cheery atmosphere too. I want to go back and try the other menu item I struggled to make a decision over, The Breakfast Bowl. My Black Bean Omelet was Nom Nom (delicious :0).
(5)Kenna C.
Always delicious! They have a set menu and also a chalkboard menu that changes daily. You wont be disappointed. Try the sweet potato egg scramble!
(5)Ed D.
Enjoyed our start to the last three days here i Asheville with an Early Girl breakfast. My partner ordered the tofu scramble ...a favorite each day and I tried the special pancakes and potato cakes and eggs. A haven for vegan breakfasts, thanks!
(5)Ginger C.
We had the omelette of the day...three mushroom omelet. Cooked perfect, tasted great. Cornbread was good too. Nice staff. Would like to go back and try lunch next time we are in Asheville.
(4)Jeff G.
A decent vegan brunch... (grab the Scrambled Tofu, smother it with a side of Vegan Tomato Gravy, with some rye toast and grits) ... Get there early -- the place gets FULL (like your belleh).
(4)Tammi T.
Awesome, awesome, awesome! If I were gonna open a restaurant, I would want it to be just like Early Girl. My man couldn't stop raving and dreaming about it. The food is super fresh. The Southern staples are perfectly delish. The staff is very friendly. Though, I just realized, the wait staff is all female. Now I know some of you might be like, "well, duh, look at the name" but that's actually a variety of tomato, Early Girl. But I digress. Every time I come to my favorite town, Asheville, I hit E.G. Last time I had the absolutely delectable "Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble". It was a year ago but I remember it like it was yesterday. Herc and I visited over Labor day. He had THE most banging lunch ever - Pan-fried Free Range chicken with Herb gravy. His two sides were sweet potatoes (good) and Macaroni and cheese (slammin'). I don't know what the heck is in that Herb gravy but it definitely makes you wanna slap somebody's mama, chile! My meal (cornmeal encrusted catfish) wasn't as exciting. Flavor was very mild. I like spices. The beet side dish was yummers . The potato salad didn't really do it for me though but I will readily admit that I am a potato salad snob and there are very few variations that are tolerable to me. Plus, it should be room temp! We came back the next day for B'fast. He had pancakes, and a biscuit sandwich with eggs & bacon and I had the typical Southern b'fast of biscuit, eggs, bacon and grits with a heaping side order of that delectable herb gravy. Holy tomaters were our tummies hippity-happy that morning. They also have great jam. We were fortunate enough to meet the maker of that jam, Walt of Imladris Farm in nearby Fairview, NC. He directed us to check out his farm which we happily did on a tour led by his pretty wife, Wendy and adorable son, Andy. Nothing like meeting the source of your meal. Awesome! Early Girl uses local, and therefore super fresh, ingredients. Their claim to greatness is that and their food is made from scratch. Yes it is, my friends. If you are looking for a high quality meal, do yourself a huge favor and make Early Girl Eatery one of your culinary stops. It's a Can't Miss deal.
(5)Picky W.
I love the Early Girl, I love their food, I love the street they are located on, and I love John and julie the owners. They are good, young people who cares for their community, who cares for their workers and who serve honest food. I am a frequent customer and can say they are like my second home. I particularly love the creamy Grit and Shrimp, their simple and fresh desert and their meat &2s. Everything is so fresh, althought the portions are small, but just look at the food prices now a day and understand that it is so difficult to serve bulky and fresh food at a reasonble price. I would go there for every day meal.
(5)Superstickmandan M.
went for a weekday lunch - several waitstaff provided great service - my girlfrend and i enjoyed sausage/sweet potato scramble and veggie breakfast bowl - good experience and several tempting menu options will make this a priority food stop when visiting asheville
(4)Jeffrey A.
I really love going to this place. Walking down wall street always puts me a good mood before I even take a bite to eat. Good breakfast food. Way better than that Honey place.
(4)CC P.
My boyfriend and I were in Asheville to see a band and it also happened to be his birthday weekend, so we thought we'd treat ourselves to dinner at the Laughing Seed (a little ways down from Early Girl). We passed EG on our way there and it smelled good and their menu looked tasty. However, we were craving Laughing Seed so we strolled on down only to discover that they are closed on Tuesdays (shucks!!!). So we thought, let's check out that place up the block again. We checked out the menu once more and decided to go on in. They were moderately crowded but we got a table right away overlooking the street. My boyfriend ordered the black bean sweet potato cakes and I ordered the lamb shank. I'm not kidding when I tell you that we were kind of stunned as to how delicious our food was. The black bean cakes were shaped like crab cakes, and were delicately spiced and accompanied by lime sour cream. My lamb was to DIE for! I don't know much about cooking, but this tasted like it had been tended to for hours and hours because the meat fell right off the bone, and it was a SUPER generous portion to boot. The veggie sides we chose were also quite yummers, and they serve you biscuits with a great chunky berry jam to top them with. As far as I can remember, they get a lot of their ingredients from local farms and do as much local business as they can. My only slight complaint would be that the service was a little indifferent... I don't think my waitress smiled at us once, and we're easy customers so she had no reason to be annoyed. I dunno... I like when people are happy, so I definitely notice when they don't or won't smile. For the price (under $12 for my entree), it couldn't be beat. With how good my lamb was, this dish could've easily gone for 17 bucks. But then I wouldn't have ever known how great it was because I'm kind of a cheap bastard when it comes down to it.
(4)Trish D.
My very first visit here last weekend during Bele Chere and it was great! My Early Girl Platter was pimiento cheese, black-eyed pea hummus and avocado salad along with fresh melon and strawberries. I admit I had a slight bit of menu envy when I saw my niece's fried green tomato napoleon and then tasted it - delicious and so different! Some in our party had breakfast and sandwiches but everything looked so good and was fresh-tasting. There is a very small waiting area at the front and also outside which was quite warm at the end of July but once we were seated in the light and airy dining room. All was fine. A note: the restaurant is located in an office building and the restrooms are in the office building area. Fun detail - the restroom keys are attached to large kitchen utensils and hang on the wall beside the door. I would look forward to visiting here again and trying 4 or 5 new menu items!
(5)Betsy A.
Great place . Comfy, friendly, good food. Southern style, but I had basic eggs and biscuit, just what I wanted. Good coffee and plenty of refills. I will be back! Loved Ali my server.
(5)Colby C.
Follow the advice of other Yelpers - arrive early! They open at 9 AM - I arrived at 845 and there was a line...nearly 20 people! Service was very efficient, organized, and they kept the coffee and water flowing! Vegan Tofu Scramble is awesome. Lots of veg and great flavor. Biscuit with the raspberry jam (in the squeeze bottle on table) was great. I snuck in one of the special pancakes - Strawberry and Almond - delicious!!! Cannot wait to come back! Now I think I will walk back to Los Angeles to burn the calories!
(5)Yohini S.
I had a chance to visit again after 3 years and happy to report that I am upgrading them to 5 stars! (Happy dance time! Oh yeahhh...) I decided to skip them during the weekend expecting a long wait time and came here on a Monday morning for breakfast. We did not have to wait at all and got seated immediately (First win for the day!). We were immediately given our coffee and they did a fantastic job with refills. (Coffee gods will give them tons of good coffee karma) I ordered the Benny which comes on grit cakes. I wasn't sure if I was going to really enjoy the grit cakes but ended up loving it. They serve food along with hot sauce, which is a lovely touch (in my humble opinion). Food was great, service came with a smile and food came from a farm. What's not to love???
(5)Steven S.
As I've mentioned before, the people in Asheville are as friendly as you will encounter in Ireland or northern Brazil. The folks at Early Girl are mighty friendly. I came in around 4, and hadn't eaten all day, so I ordered the Mountain Trout (tender and delicious) with grits (just right) and collard greens. All divine. My server was super friendly. Great location --- my kinda place!
(5)Kim F.
Amazing breakfast. Complex flavored and great specials. Everyone was satisfied. Worth a wait!
(5)Amy P.
We went to Early Girl because it was one of the first to open in the morning downtown. The wait staff is friendly and the food is great. We both ordered daily specials (omelet and some awesome sunflower seed pancakes) and got plenty of good food. Only weird thing was the seating- we were seated next to another party of two that was about a foot away. Otherwise, great experience.
(5)Christy C.
Early Girl Eatery is a great little spot for breakfast/brunch/lunch. There was a 20-30 minute wait for 2 on a Saturday morning which was 100% manageable with the free coffee they provide just to the right of the hostess area. I ordered the strawberry and sunflower seed pancakes (daily special) and a side of bacon, and my boyfriend ordered the trout breakfast. I will admit the though of trout for breakfast did not sound appetizing but it was actually quite good and not fishy tasting at all! The pancakes were absolutely delicious as well. The service was quick and the waitress was very friendly. I had several people ask if I would like a refill on my coffee, not just my waitress, which is always nice.
(4)Randal M.
Best French fries I've had in a very long time. Burger had a delicious flavor. The patty was a little dry, but that is our fault because we ordered it well done. Next time I'd get medium to medium well. Also had the pan seared duck salad with sweet ginger dressing. It was amazing. Duck was perfectly cooked at medium. Recommend getting a side of bacon regardless of what you order. Wow! Delicious!
(5)Robert K.
On my first visit to Asheville, years ago, I made a bee-line to Tupelo Honey Café, based upon recommendations and press. After staying at Sweet Peas Hostel, I was walking around downtown and found this (somewhat) hidden gem! Let the battle for best breakfast begin. Having visited a couple of times now, I am impressed with the Asheville twist on breakfast staples. I always appreciate a farm to table restaurant and it is even better when the prices don't break the bank. One of these days I am going to have to visit for lunch or dinner to sample some of the other southern options, but due to friendly service and feel-good food, Early Girl is already tops on my list. Both times I have visited a line has formed before opening, so you may wish to show up a few minutes early to avoid a wait.
(4)Shealin E.
Great food. Specials run out quickly and the morning wait is long but the food is yummy and there are shops to look in while you wait.
(3)Kristen P.
We were hungry, Early Girl Eatery had decent food. I wish I could give this place 3.5 stars - it was... Pretty Good. Not great, not spectacular, certainly not bad. Just pretty good. The coffee - meh, it was coffee. We needed coffee. Friend had the Sausage Sweet Potato Scramble - it was good, really interesting with big chunks of sweet potatoes, but somehow the flavors worked. She also got their special of Apple Cinnamon Pancakes on the side. For whatever reason, too dense, mayhaps? I didn't love them - meh. I ordered the Early Girl Benny - the grit cakes? They stole the show. Another interesting mix of flavors, and now something that I make at home. Honestly - I'm not sure if I'd be coming back to a Pretty Good restaurant when there are so many others in Asheville to try. Sorry, early girl. Food - 3 Drinks - 3 Service - 4 Value - 4
(4)Dawn D.
We were on our last day of our Biltmore Christmas trip And stopped here before flying out. Excellent breakfast... Everything was delish. The banana bread was great, pancakes superb, and the double cut bacon was the best. My husband had the shrimp and grits and loved them too. Definitely worth the trip . Please note, GPS directs you the wrong way down the wrong road. But I called over and was able to find our way
(5)Katie S.
Lots and lots of hype. Which means high expectations and long wait times. My Early Girl Benny was unique and crisp but it took 45 minutes for grits and poached eggs. The BEST part is the biscuit. And the quiche my mom got was divine. I'd go back for sure and try something new.
(4)Ryan C.
Excellent establishment serving local food in an incredible way! I have been here both for lunch and breakfast. I had the burger for lunch which was fantastic and the black bean cakes for breakfast which were other-wordly. The atmosphere, the service, and the food are all top notch. If you are going for breakfast, get there early or be prepared for a wait. The establishment is small and intimate, but it is definitely worth it!
(5)Denise H.
My daughters and I ate there at around 4pm on a Saturday. We were seated immediately and the service continued to be good throughout our visit. We had several questions and our server politely provided answers to them all. Our food was exceptional. We started with the broccoli cheddar hush puppies. They were excellent! Crispy on the outside and perfect on the inside. The garlic ranch and apple butter included for dipping provided very different (and both excellent) experiences. I ordered the seared duck in a citrus herb butter (daily special), along with macaroni and cheese, broccoli salad and a biscuit. I had only ever had duck deep-fried, so this was new. The server suggested I order it medium and it was cooked perfectly. The macaroni and cheese was prepared with a white cheese that I couldn't identify but enjoyed the tart taste of it. The broccoli salad had more raisins than I like, but I picked around them and enjoyed the rest. I usually don't eat biscuits, but the raspberry jam provided at the table was too difficult to resist. One other comment on the food ... they use thick-sliced bacon! My daughter had it on her club sandwich and bits of it were in my broccoli salad. Who doesn't love a thick slab of bacon!! The neighborhood includes many unique shops and experiences. I wish we could have spent more time there. The only negative of our entire experience was trying to get our 3/4 ton pickup out of the Wall St parking ramp. Next time I will drive a smaller vehicle or park further away and enjoy the walk.
(5)Annika W.
I've been coming here for years now, and Early Girl remains a very solid option for breakfast and dinner alike. Though to give y'all a review with a bit of historical perspective, dishes were quite a bit cheaper some years ago - and used to be better. Early Girl food once seemed a lot fresher and lighter, with modern twists on the Southern classics, whereas recently it had veered more towards heavier, typical Southern: gravy, fried things, a rather limp lettuce leaf for decor. That aside, if you have no old and fantastic memories of this place, you'll likely still be happy. The flavors are great and just a notch above most other Southern places. Yes, I just complained about the gravy, but it was definitely a very flavorful gravy.
(4)B N.
Def worth making a trip to! I ordered the breakfast porky bowl which was smothered with gravy (probably should get the gravy on the side if your not a gravy person). The pulled pork (which I NEVER would of thought would go so well with bfast was AMAZING!). Tried a couple bites of the sweet potato scramble... not anything special there - i agree with other yelpers, the sweet potato is a bit over powering - aside from that the dish is mediocre. The place is cute with local art hung up everywhere and for sale. of course with the high reviews there was a wait (plus is was saturday brunch). My wait for 2 people was about to be 40 minutes... I was too hungry and began walking towards another spot when about 5 minutes later a hostess was looking for 'any 2 people' for a table since there was a no-show...lets just say i jumped and waved and ran across the street to beat whom ever else was a 2 topper waiting... and no i dont fell bad, i was starving and REALLY wanted to try the place. :-) Def a place to go to! oh and the coffee is a bit strong but yum.
(5)Aynne H.
My husband and I had a great breakfast there--so glad we got a chance to go there on our trip to Asheville. I had the cheddar and black bean omelet and it was a revelation; why did I never think to put black beans in an omelet? The hashbrowns and biscuits were also amazing and the service was great. Lots of great vegetarian choices. Don't hesitate--just go there!
(5)Lyrad V.
Was excited to check out this place on our trip to Asheville, and it didn't disappoint. Located downtown, this place seems like the place to grab a bite on a Saturday morning. There is a nice vibe and energy to this place. Full of locals and out of towers. Food is locally grown, fresh, and in season. My husband and I went fairly early after they opened and avoided a long wait. I had to try the local sausage and sweet potato scramble. It was great, but a lot more food than I could eat in one sitting. My husband enjoyed his food as well. This place is definitely worth coming back to if we ever make it back to Asheville!
(5)Alicia O.
WHAT are people talking about?!?! HORRIBLE FOOD!! SO excited for biscuits and gravy but the gravy WAS sooo salty I couldn't eat it! Also, the staff was RUDE!! Where's the southern charm...these hipsters were so cool they couldn't smile or even attempt to be friendly! Asheville is wonderful DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE!!!
(1)Himanshu D.
Fantastic breakfast / brunch spot in Asheville. Mostly fresh locally procured foods on the menu. The fried green tomatoes were fantastic. Lots of vegetarian options. Some nice regional beers to choose from. Tasty and portions were just right. Overall friendly staff. Look forward to eating here again next time I'm in Asheville.
(5)Kevin D.
My wife and I visited around lunchtime on a Monday. Food was good, not amazing. I had a black bean burger which was really delicious and obviously homemade. It was hard to eat however since it fell apart as soon as I picked it up. My wife had scrambled eggs with a multigrain pancake and home fries. I can't be sure, but the pancake didn't seem freshly cooked to me... it was a little rubbery. The service was slightly rude and careless. The waitress didn't seem to mind or care when she splashed coffee onto the table when refilling our cups, and she seemed annoyed when I asked for cream for the coffee. I would definitely be open to going back and giving it another chance on my next visit to Asheville.
(3)Stone M.
Definitely the best meal that we had in Asheville. Great, rich and perfectly seasoned Southern comfort-food breakfast delight. Coffee was awesome too. Too many places make a memorable breakfast with crappy coffee. Kudos EGE
(5)Bailey W.
You simply can't go wrong at Early Girl!
(5)Virginia M.
Wonderful breakfast spot in Asheville. The wait is worth it! I had the early Benny and I tried the sweet potato hash. The potatoes were cooked perfectly. I would love to try this place for lunch.
(4)Brock G.
Pleasant, cheery breakfast place
(3)Rafi A.
There's a lot about this place I like. The people are friendly, the location downtown is convenient. The feel on the inside is perfect for a breakfast place, hard wood floors, lots of light, tables close enough together to feel cozy without being cramped. So why only two stars? The food and (a little bit) the service. I ordered an egg-white omelette with four ingredients ($1 extra for goat/feta cheese) and a coffee. The bill, with tip, came to $15. They counted "herbs" as one of the ingredients. Really? I need to pay extra to have the omelette be flavorful? In Asheville, that's a lot of money for an omelette, which I don't mind paying for a great breakfast. Unfortunately, it was anything but. The omelette was puny, neither enough egg white nor enough filling. I'm not paying for a scoop of potatoes--those are cheap carbohydrates. I want a good dose of protein and lots of vegetables--prepared well. I got neither. The waitress also refilled my coffee about eight inches from the cup. Droplets splattered everywhere, including on my dress shirt. Nothing wrong with a little presentation value, but not at the expense of my clothing. Sometimes even established, well-reviewed eateries need some critical review. This may be one of those times.
(2)Gerald M.
Nice place with a real local feel. My omelette was terrific, but my daughters biscuit was a little hard & burnt on the bottom. Service was standard but I think she forgot about us at the end, we had to wait a while to settle up. All in all, subpar service and slightly above average food with a great Asheville aesthetic & locale.
(4)Alex M.
The hostess was pretty rude. I asked about food that could be made gluten free and she just said they didn't have gluten free dishes but she thought maybe they could modify something. When I asked what, she just said "I don't know. Look at the menu." For a town that prides itself on being very GF-friendly, the place should at the very least have knowledgable staff, and I wish they would have marked the menu for dishes that could be adapted. I had heard good things about Early Girl's food, and I love the other restaurant they own, but after such negative encounter, I just decided to walk out.
(2)Daniel H.
Love this place! Fast service! Great food! Friendly unpretentious servers! It has a very laid back atmosphere without skipping quality service This place always cones to mind when I'm passing through Asheville
(5)Brian W.
Just got back from a trip to Asheville. We hit several of the top rated breakfast spots in town, and stopped by Early Girl on the last day. It could have just been what we ordered, but it was a bit of a let down. I ordered the Porky Breakfast Bowl, and it was...weird. The combination of flavors just didn't work for me. My girlfriend got the Egg Biscuit with meat and cheese, and thought it was a little bland and small, which I agreed with. We did have great service, and love the commitment to local, farm to table food. All of that put together = 3 stars.
(3)P K.
Not my favorite in Asheville, but very good. The atmosphere is blah, service is friendly but slow (seems they are always short-staffed). Food was good the 3 times we went. Menu selections are limited. Worth trying but only if you are not in a hurry.
(4)Michael E.
Cobb salad.............that is it....my first and only love at Early Girl and though other dishes on the chalk board on the wall catch my eye from time to time....I always come back to her. The best (plus it is only 1 block from work/3 from home)...so I how can I resist.
(4)David S.
Below average breakfast joint. My "special" omelette was fine. My wife's early girl plate contains a big pile of cheese and either the fruit or guacamole was fermenting. Orange juice from a container. No reason to return.
(2)Sam P.
Had a really good vegan tofu scramble. Was a little surprised it came with regular butter on the plate for the toast, when vegan was in the name of the dish. Rye bread was the only vegan bread option, but it was good with the jam on the table. Definitely recommend the tofu scramble. Pretty cool vibe to the place. Not a huge place, so there will likely be a wait.
(4)Zack F.
Oh, wow, Yum! So plan to wait. Like really wait. But, trust me, it's worth it. This place is very down to earth without being overly earthy or hipster-only. It's not fancy, but it tastes good. There are a few misses here and there, but I walked out wanting to go back. The thing that really made my mouth water was the vegetarian Reuben. I'm not sure why considering the bread was not pumpernickel rye, I skipped the mayonnaise laden sauce, and the tempeh itself wasn't really all that seasoned. Still, something about the cheese and sauerkraut and horseradish mixed with the mustard and avocado I added was just so satisfying. Good sides and fun drinks round out the experience. It's a little bit boisterous as well.
(4)Kathryn E.
Yummy!!! This was my second trip to this popular eatery that tourists and locals enjoy. We popped in on a Friday afternoon to grab some lunch and were delighted by our choices. I tried the sweet potato black bean cakes (which recipe is on the website, btw), dressed with sour cream and guacamole...AHHHH. High five. Fantastic meal. My dish came with two sides of my choosing and a biscuit (which was hard, but forgivable). My grits and broccoli salad did not go together (or with my entrée), but both were tasty. My friends enjoyed their burgers and sammies quite a bit. Friendly interior, good prices, breakfast all day. No mistakes here! Add it to your list of places to dine.
(4)Matt T.
Best Bacon? In Asheville? From a Vegatarian/Vegan resturant?? Yes. To all three. And the biscuits are not too bad, the only downside is that they are small and you get one. While my body does not see that as a downside, my heart aches for more. Overall, my only issue (and really I hate to be this picky) is that the Sweet Potato Scramble is wonderful except for the Sweet Potatoes. They are so sweet that they over power the rest of the dish. And the with the all the great local ingridents that come in the scramble, it is a shame the sweet potatoes kileld the rest of the taste. But everyone who tasted my scramble said I was crazy. So maybe I am crazy. But the staff is super sweet and very welcoming, which I mean it is the South, but its not "bless your heart" sweetness, it a geniune care. So what should you get? Biscuts....Bacon and whatever else. Seriousaly the bacon and the biscuits would make me fly from Phoenix to have them again. Or when I move back to Ohio, the 5hr drive. Either way, I want more.
(4)Alan B.
Quintessential Asheville! Great service, spectacular farm-to-table eats! Early Girl is one of the reasons we love brunch in Asheville. The Early Girl "Bennie" was excellent and so were the banana walnut pancakes. Add some Smoked Habanero sauce to the potatoes and your tongue will thank you. Friendly service rounds out the casual dining experience. Don't forget the biscuits with a squeeze of local jam.
(5)Joscelyn B.
Last time we visited Asheville we walked to Early Girl and the line was out onto the street and we were told 45 minutes til we could get a table, since it was our last day and we were leaving town, we opted to go elsewhere. Our most recent visit we were very lucky and walked right in and were seated in an almost empty dining room. The dining area is small, but cozy. Wait staff is all super friendly. We were greeted by the host with a huge welcome, and our waitress was very friendly. The food was also delicious. I ordered an omelet with bacon, cheddar, and spinach. It was awesome. It came with homefries which were also yummy, and choice of toast or biscuit, and I chose the wheat toast. It wasn't a crispy toast, it was soft, but tasty. The berry jam was also great! My boyfriend ordered the Porky Breakfast Bowl which has pork bbq, eggs, homefries, and bacon gravy. He said he really enjoyed it. We both also ordered orange juice, we debated over whether it's fresh or from a bottle and decided it was fresh, which makes sense given it was a little pricey for the size. Overall the service and food are great, and as long as there isn't a huge wait time, I suggest stopping in for breakfast!
(5)Yolanda C.
This place was great for breakfast. In search for a local restaurant to eat on our trip we ran across Early Girl. Love the atmosphere, like grandma kitchen. We both order the Shrimp and Grits with were great. I also got the banana but to go, also awesome. If you are looking for a good home cooked meal with Asheville flare recommended this place Feliz Comiendo
(4)Haley D.
I stopped here on my way home after a long weekend on Asheville. The food was excellent! The flavors were on point. I thought the prices were reasonable. I had the special: banana almond pancakes. They were perfectly moist with a balance of flavors and a nice crunch with little almond slivers. The gravy in the biscuit and gravy was really tasty. The grits were flavorful and not overdone. The atmosphere was bright and cheery with pleasant blue colors. The service was friendly. Yum!
(5)Korrie B.
I'll keep this short since the mighty yelpers have spoken on this one. I had the sweet potato scramble. It was good and disappointing all at the same time. The good is it was loaded down and WAY more food than 1 person can handle. The bad? Where was this sausage that everyone has raved about? I had very little sausage and a ton of bacon. The sausage flavor was lost. He had the special pancakes (strawberry almond) and they were out of this world. Soo sweet and delicious. Servers were very nice and the whole dining area was run very well. I'll skip it next time until I've made the rounds a little better for breakfast/brunch.
(3)S K.
Eggs Benny for lunch, very good. Everyone at our table commented on how much they enjoyed their meal.
(4)Candice L.
I was amazed that I have lived here my entire line and had never even heard of this place. I had the chicken sandwich with fries. It was perfectly cooked and the fries were fresh. The place is small, but as I have found lately most of the great places I have eaten are small are amazing.
(4)Kim W.
The Early Girl Benny. Excellent. Great service. Absolutely recommend. A must while in Asheville.
(5)Marcella D.
Friends took me to the Early Girl on arrival here in Asheville. Service - very good. Food - EXCELLENT..... Went back again this morning......and will do many mornings in the future...!!!!
(4)Lisa D.
Really great service. Probably the best we've had in Asheville. Really great for kids - our toddler loved the toy basket they brought out for him to play with as we waited for our food. The food was ok. Not the best we've had in Asheville but good. My husband had the biscuits and gravy and I had the granola and yogurt.
(4)Chase A.
Having never been to Asheville, I and my group relied on Yelp to hook us up with a killer Southern breakfast. Yelp, you nailed it. We stuffed ourselves with sweet potato scrambles, hush puppies filled with cheddar and broccoli and dipped in apple butter, and a breakfast pork bowl -- a heaping pile of pulled pork mixed with home fried potatoes and covered in white gravy. Good lord, it was heavenly, and the perfect remedy to a terrible hangover. However, if you have a group of 4 or more, you should really call ahead. We had to wait close to an hour for a large table to be cleared, and then the service was good but not great. They were super cool about splitting all of our checks, which is a plus. Overall, I'd put this down at 4.5 stars, but I definitely want to emphasize that the food here is out of this world.
(5)Rachel W.
Delicious lunch - highly recommend. Start with the broccoli and cheese hush puppies - amazing. I had the special Eggs Benny which was fabulous. Other delicious foods included fried eggplant, mac & cheese, mashed potatoes, honeyed beets.
(4)Mallory R.
This place is amazing!!! I always say all brunch places are the same but not true! This place has some very original items on the menu! The biscuit with homemade jelly is great! Also the fresh fruit is just that, very fresh in season fruit! Everything we had was great! The wait wasn't too long either!
(5)Sarah F.
Easily my favorite breakfast point in Asheville. Whether you are a tourist traveling through or a local, eating here is a must. Anything on the menu is delectable. The hustle and bustle of this restaurant has always kept it close to my heart.
(5)Jeffrey R.
First time here. The food was delicious. My wife had the quiche and I had the "build your own" omelette. We arrived at 11:15am and had to wait 45 minutes but it was worth it. Will come again.
(5)Sara J.
We came to this place as a suggestion from friends who had eaten here during their visit. Overall? I would recommend this place for breakfast or dinner. I couldn't see it for lunch, though, the food was a little too heavy. I got sweet potato and black bean cakes with avocado salsa--they were great. I wish they had a little more texture, as it kind of felt like a puree with the occasional bean thrown in, but it had great flavor. I also got cucumber onion salad, which was great, and mac and chees,e which tasted pretty standard. The sauce was a little...crumbly? It wasn't creamy like I was expecting. My girlfriend got a porky breakfast bowl and her food was really good. The pulled pork was spot on, so kudos to that. She was super hungry as she had just played in a roller derby bout against the blue ridge roller girls and this soothed the hungry beast in her. Would definitely love to come to this place earlier when it is really hoppin' and judge the food again. Our service was good, but it was also pretty dead when we went so I can't really say if it's always like that.
(4)Terry B.
Loved our lunch here!! The fried green tomato Napoleon was fantastic and I had the grilled chicken sandwich with goat cheese, bacon, tomato and spinach. It was fresh and delicious. The eggplant "fries" were amazing. Husband loved his as well, of course I can't remember what he had!!
(5)Alexis A.
Country dining meets hipster. A few unique menu options, but overall experience was average.
(3)je p.
The bright, sunny dining room is sure to be packed with diners, the home style grub is always delicious, the atmosphere is so vibrantly lovely & the service is incredulously quick. EG sources cheese, meat & many veggies in season from local farms, and they were doing it years before it caught on, and I so love them for it! Yes, there is often a looong wait for your table... But it's worth it! Go wander & enjoy Asheville's plenitude of talented buskers while you wait :)
(5)Matt W.
I had one of the best bean burgers I've ever had here (note: I'm not a vegetarian, so I don't eat bean burgers very often, but it was delicious!). We heard about this place from a couple who were staying at our B&B and highly recommended it. I'm glad we listened. Service was pretty standard, but the food was great, I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Asheville!
(5)Rebecca S.
Come one, come all! Carnivores, pescetarians, vegetarians, vegans and anyone else. Delicious, homemade, yet southern chic food in a cozy southern down home styled restaurant. Yes, there is a screen door. I created a veggie plate. It was all good, but the vegan friendly sautéed cabbage with walnuts special was the star. I took a taste of my hubby's meatloaf. I'm not a big meatloaf fan, but I was sold. The sweet potato black bean cakes left me wanting more. I'm only in Asheville for the weekend, but I'll be back before I leave. For sure!
(4)Matt M.
Amazing experience! Asheville is known for hipsters and we stumbled across their hangout. One of the best restaurants I have eaten at in a long time. I had the porky and I would definitely recommend it.
(5)Kellie K.
I wish I could tell you about something other than the granola here, but I've yet to be able to tear myself away from it long enough to order something else. At just $7.50, you get a bowl of delicious yogurt (or milk/soy milk) and a bowl of granola garnished with strawberries and bananas. It's a generous portion, and it's so light and refreshing while still being filling. The fella got the southern breakfast with sausage patties, over-medium eggs and grits for $8.00, and he says their grits are pretty darn good. As others have said, the wait can be a little frustrating, but we're early risers, so we got there at 7:20 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. opening on a Friday morning, and we were the first ones in line... but not by much. It's definitely a cool, hip vibe, and I love getting a table by the window so you can overlook the park.
(5)Cha Cha M.
It's pretty good. That staff is always great. Food is pretty solid.
(3)James R.
This is another top 5 breakfast place- just happens to be in Asheville also. Always good food. Down home southern cooking with a bit of a new age flare. Eaten here a few times in town and always great and the service is awesome. If you have the chance make sure to check it out.
(5)Duane B.
This is a great unique breakfast spot. We went here twice while in Asheville. The breakfast bowl was excellent. Wife had grits for only second time in life and loved them.
(5)Jennifer H.
If you are wanting farm-to-table low-country cooking in Asheville, this is the place to go. They serve breakfast all day so pancakes are always an option. I went with the veggie plate which is chose 4 sides. I chose Mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes, and 2 special veggies of the day - sauteed collards and fried eggplant. Also switch the cornbread for a biscuit and asked for a side of veggie gravy. Delicious!
(5)Stacy W.
This place was very rustic and small. Food was pretty good but not quite as good as other places in Asheville. Had the Ginger almond salad which was actually very fresh and flavorful! The pan fried chicken with sage gravy was not so great. Mac and cheese was cooked too long and lacked great flavor as well. Tables were packed too tight together so don't go if you like your own space. Overall, it was good but nothing to write home about.
(3)Groove M.
Maybe we had a bad experience, but it was below our expectations. The food was subpar for all 4 of us. Given the time we waited and the quality we expected, we were very disappointed. Did not like the bacon gravy or the grits and they forgot the onions on an omelet.
(2)Ron M.
Solid 4 stars. I had a catfish sandwich, perfection. I chose a ginger coleslaw as a side, wow was that great! Definite 5 star potential but I have to go back to try another dish.
(4)Kristin F.
Ahhhh. Such good brunch food. Farm-to-table southern comfort at its finest. This was our second brunch stop during Asheville weekend and I was excited to finally sit down in the sunny dining room after a painless 25 minute wait (we grabbed World Coffee and stopped into a couple of shops to fill the time). I had the Early Girl Benny (grit cakes, tomato, spinach, poached eggs, tomato gravy and avocado) which was interesting- the grit cakes were extremely salty but the eggs and avocado evened it out. I also tried the strawberry pancake... while I usually avoid pancakes, waffles and french toast for breakfast (lathargic for the rest of the day), I couldn't stop eating this pancake. It was just so. good. Also, Asheville (across the board, from what I have tried) has amazing biscuits and jam. I'm also not even a biscuit person, but I made an exception for this deliciousness.
(5)Rhonda D.
Recommended by locals, great location, great food. Definately will be back for the Early Girl Benny..it is amazing!
(5)Ben K.
Great little breakfast spot that I would go back to. Ordered the sausage / sweet potato scramble and it was delicious. Also ask for hot sauce. They have local varieties and are really delicious as well. Service was fast and friendly. Bacon here is also out of control good.
(4)Jen S.
Everyone talks about how great this place is... But I can make better breakfast at home. Its just... eh, normal? There isnt anything special about it. Its definitely not worth the 1hour wait.
(2)Meghan N.
Early Girl is always on our list of must-visit places when we come to Asheville. I have celiac disease, and the staff and cooks have always been MORE THAN HELPFUL with my dietary restrictions. Not only have i never gotten sick, but the food is delicious. I cannot wait to visit more often when we relocate to Asheville!
(5)Helen C.
The biscuits and vegetarian gravy were absolutely amazing. The scrambled tofu, not so much.
(4)Scott O.
That this place has a four star average says more about the Asheville food scene than in does about Early Girl Eatery. It's a truly great breakfast place in a town packed full of truly great places to eat. Service is good and quick, food is creative, portion sizes are very good, and the food is delicious and fresh. There is free coffee while you wait (expect the place to be packed). Very well priced. Totally worth a trip.
(5)Kay L.
This was fine but I'm surprised there weren't more gluten-free options on the menu, not even toast. Great coffee.
(3)Jason C.
The atmosphere wasn't great, but the food was absolutely excellent!!! A little loud and tables were close, but worth it. Pumpkin & banana bread was amazing, omelette, ginger slaw, bean and sweet potato cakes were all extraordinary. And they serve Breakfast all day.
(5)David W.
I'm conflicted about this place, and wonder if maybe we caught them on an off day. There were three of us for dinner on a Wednesday evening. We had to park down the street in the parking deck, but it was no problem. We were greeted pleasantly as we entered, and we were seated immediately. The space is in an older building and the wear of the years shows. The hostess pointed out the specials and left; so far so good. Our waitress came and got our drink order quickly, and seemed knowledgeable about the menu when she returned to take our dinner order. She did a great job with the additional appetizer order (broccoli cheese "hushpuppies") one of my companions added after seeing a neighboring table's order arrive. Our "hushpuppies" were really just fritters, but they were tasty enough. The breakfast fan in our group got pancakes and really enjoyed them, but was unable to finish more than half of the huge stack. She said they were really good and really sweet. I had the fried chicken, on the recommendation of the server, with collard greens and grits. The chicken was a boneless skinless breast, fried and covered in gravy. It was tasty, but not mind-blowing. The gravy was good, but it did ruin the crust on the chicken. The grits were coarse ground, not instant, and were cooked until tender, but were bland. The collards were fantastic, not overcooked and well seasoned. A hard, dry biscuit accompanied my meal. When fresh, it was probably pretty good, but the hours between its exit from the oven and its presence on my plate robbed it of moisture and appeal. The third member of the group enjoyed her omelette and home fries. So why only three stars? Two reasons: 1. Weird/inattentive service after the meal. After our food arrived, our waitress mostly disappeared. Another young lady noticed our empty glasses and brought a pitcher around. As she poured more tea into my glass I said "Thank you." She responded with a long, drawn out "yaaaaaaaaaaahhh." It wasn't exactly rude, but it certainly wasn't normal. 2. Dirt. The salt grinder on the table had multiple hairs stuck to the top. The one the I got from the empty table behind us had something brown mingled in with the fine salt dust on the top, but it was easy enough to dislodge and discard. The window ledge next to our table had not been wiped in a long long time, it was dusty and gross. The floor under the table was not exactly sticky, but it had the appearance of not having been cleaned recently. When are back in Asheville, I will give the Early Girl another chance, and maybe stick to the breakfast items. Hopefully, the place will have been scrubbed a little in the interim.
(3)Erica B.
Long line. like, 1.5 hours? Shrimp and grits was pretty solid. Very good coffee. Pleasant staff. Cute interior.
(4)Vicky L.
Excellent menu and fresh ingredients. The meatloaf was wonderful. If you enjoy home cooking but don't want to cook, this would be a good place to try. They also serve breakfast all day.
(4)Whitney S.
One of the best breakfasts Ive ever had. I travel quite often and always search for the best breakfasts places. This is in my top ten so far. Had to wait about an hour, but certainly worth the wait! I ate the special this morning; strawberry and sunflower seed pancakes. I also added on a bacon, egg and cheese biscuit. Glad I got both! The pancakes could easily fill tou up, but both were so dang good I ate every last bite! I just couldnt stop. Their fresh squeezed orange juice was some of the best Ive had. Definitely give this place a try if you have the time!
(5)May M.
The wait for Saturday lunch was atrocious. We were quoted 45 min, but ended up waiting an hour and a half. The food was not worth the wait at all. I'm sure the kitchen was not delivering their best effort given how busy it was. I also found the portions size to be a bit small for a sandwich and a salad entree. The bun was burnt, the fish was tiny and the lettuce on the salad was minimal. The service was friendly and for the most part attentive. The entire restaurant was a bit dingy, dusty and sticky. If you can judge the cleanliness on the dining room and entrance, I have to admit I'm concerned what the kitchen looked like. Overall I wouldn't make an effort to return.
(3)Elliot C.
Insanely delicious breakfast. A long wait to get in but the service was excellent and the coffee hot and good.
(5)Tom N.
I remembered having the tofu scramble here. The service was good and the food was good.
(3)Liz D.
Perfect breakfast spot. Sweet potato scramble is great! There was a wait, even on a Monday morning. But it was worth it!
(4)Julia R.
My favorite restaurant in Asheville! It's well known as a great breakfast place but I love their lunches and dinners as well.
(5)Amelia M.
I usually think places that get this crowded, especially around tourist season, are overrated, this is not the case with Early Girl. Never a bad meal, never bad service. The food is excellent and the jam they serve is straight from heaven. The one downside is it should be avoided at all costs on the weekend for brunch. I recommend going at dinner because they serve breakfast all day or on a weekday. If you're visiting Asheville this place is a must.
(4)Tori H.
I have mixed opinions about this place. It's cute, servers are friendly, food is pretty tasty, but it didn't WOW me like Tupelo Honey Cafe. I definitely like the seating and decor more....but the food here is just not as good. Now if I'm comparing to other average brunch places, it's pretty high on the list still. Omelet was just ok, French toast was good, home fries are more like almost skinless mushy potato chunks....but they are surprisingly tasty. Prices are decent. Worth a try. But I'm gonna stick with Tupelo. Ps. Having to pick a key to go to the bathroom down the hall is a novelty. Lol.
(3)Rae A.
On spring break from Louisville and decided to have dinner at this place. The food was super good! Yummy vegan food with loads of flavor! It was a super charming environment and the people were friendly. Delicious food, definitely worth checking out!
(4)Basil E.
This place is totally awesome. The food (breakfast) is totally creative and delicious. They have good biscuits and good jam on the table (not the crummy little mass produced packets you find everywhere else). Service is quick and efficient. You will enjoy your experience here.
(5)Colleen M.
This place was good but nothing outstanding. The black bean burger wasn't very "burger-y" = more like re-fried beans on a bun. I didn't mind, as I love black beans, but it certainly wasn't what I was expecting. I should have gone with something else... also, the broccoli cheese Hush Puppies were also not great. Just ok but not worth ordering again. Definitely a bit on the burnt side and the garlic dipping sauce was rather runny. I hoped for something a little better from a place with so many decent reviews. I'll have to try something new on my next trip to Asheville.
(2)Faith D.
Want to feel cool, hipster-y, and farm-friendly all rolled into one? Take a seat at Early Girl Eatery. This is a very popular joint and the wait can easily be 30 minutes. The food is very good. They give you some pastries to hold you over; yummy. I ordered the shrimp and grits and I enjoyed every bite. The service is attentive and the experience was enjoyable. It was easy to visit with friends over breakfast for an hour an a half...just like at home. I never felt rushed and that's probably why most people wait to get in. Next time you're hungry in Asheville, put your name on their list.
(5)roi h.
HOLY COW! some of the best food i've had...EVER asheville, nc seems to be a little gem of awesome culinary delights, an early girl is on top of that list. organic, local, creative, farm to table comfort food. i had the PORKY. yes...the porky, i felt guilty ordering it, and guiltier still rolling out of the restaurant. it's bbq pork, scrambled eggs, home fries, farmstead cheese, smothered with creamy bacon gravy. i also found myself adding loads of O'Yeah Hot Sauce. honestly, i didn't want that bowl to end. the staff is SUPER friendly (genuinely so). definitely going back before i leave.
(5)Marti D.
We went early on a week day to avoid the crowd. Worked well. No wait! Food was good as always but portion seemed small. Service very friendly
(4)Hector S.
The only reason this place is even getting two stars is because of the great staff. The food was flavorless! I ordered a side beans and rice and had to send it back because the rice was undercooked and crunchy. The catfish twas just as disappointing with Chef that obviously doesn't know how to use any seasonings! I have no idea how this place got such great reviews from other people! Definitely not worth the $20 that I spent!
(2)Jill C.
Food is outstanding but the service was absolutely horrible. We waited at least 15 minutes to get our check. The waiter finally came to our table after passing by numerous times and asked, "You waiting on your check?". Then it took him 5 minutes longer to bring it to us. Beverages were also not filled in an adequate amount of time. We will not be returning.
(2)Randy R.
Good, simple breakfast staples at very reasonable prices. Not mind-blowing by any means and the service is a little bit indifferent (had to request a coffee refill and then the waitress only refilled mine and not the rest of the table's, despite some nearly empty mugs).
(3)lori p.
I believe they may have served me the best bacon I have ever eaten. I never order bacon with breakfast, I'm a sausage girl. (don't go there!) so I tried it on a whim. Damn that was so good, I could eat it all day long. We split an order of biscuits and gravy and they were decent but nothing exciting. It was strange they they brought it out first before the rest of our food. Breakfast appetizer? I had grits because I had to and my husband had the big winner: Smokey Breakfast Bowl with pulled pork that was heavenly good. We did have to share a big table in the busy venue with two annoyingly chatty women but we ignore them. I'll be back next year for our conference, so save me some bacon!
(4)Heather A.
We went for an early breakfast. My omelet was delicious and my companion's egg biscuit was, too. The waitress was the friendliest in Asheville, I think.
(4)Josh B.
So we where greeted with friendly staff and received our drink order quickly and then we waited for over 10 minutes for a server to come take our order. Meanwhile there were 5 servers in the corner of the dining room talking about personal issues. After the food arrived it was decent but nothing standout. Overall an alright place but nothing I would crave enough to come back.
(3)Emily K.
Best vegetarian biscuits and gravy I've ever had. Great service, good coffee and orange juice. We went for breakfast with the family, everyone enjoyed it and the toddler was welcomed with a basket of toys to keep him busy.
(5)Alex D.
Stopped in here for our last meal in Asheville...very tasty breakfast. Never new grits could be so light and fluffy! Couldn't get enough of the biscuits with berry jam. Well worth the visit, but get there early if you want to avoid the wait.
(4)Ashley D.
Not sure why this place got such good reviews. Our food was just average. I got the vegetarian bowl. On the menu it stated it would have cheese curds in it...I never saw any. All i saw was an extremely large number of black eyed peas.. like a whole cans worth. The gravy on top tasted excellent. My sister got the Porky bowl. Her pork bbq was very dry and nothing exceptional. When they brought us water it had no ice in it. Weird.
(3)Amy M.
My son, Charlie and I, popped in for dinner and it was so yummy. We both opted for the cheeseburger, which I've had before, and it was delicious!!! Best burgers in town, I say!!! The garlic mashed potatoes were divine too!!! We love Early Girl!
(5)Mary-Ann D.
Service wasn't the greatest and it is a bit cramped inside but it was all totally worth it because the food never disappoints. I had the Shrimp and Grits and my boyfriend had the Cheeseburger with fries and an Egg and Cheese Biscuit. The biscuit was dry. The Shrimp and Grits was phenomenal and his burger came with a basil mayo that was to die for and it complemented the burger patty very well. Definitely an Asheville favorite for me, but, then again it's VERY hard to find a bad local restaurant in Asheville. Or bad beer for that matter lol.
(3)Ashley V.
A great little place for breakfast. The biscuits with homemade jellies from local partners are a delicious treat for your tastebuds. The creamy grits were my other favorite to the meal. If you can wait out the line, you won't be disappointed!
(4)Sparkle T.
I had too good of a time during my recent visit to Early Girl. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and Early Girl did not disappoint. I had the Benny, which is served with a fried grit cake and tomato gravy. The grit cake was crisp and yummy, and actually had me fooled for a potato patty for a hot minute. The sauteed spinach and poached egg covered in tomato gravy made for one happy girl. It was hot, full of flavor, and the egg had a nice ooey yellow center.The tomato gravy wasn't exactly what I grew up with in grandma's kitchen, but it was still good in it's own Asheville way. The Hubbs had a more traditional two eggs and meat. He said the bacon was quite tasty with a good heady smoke flavor and his eggs were cooked to his liking. We both fell in lurv with the jam on the table. Black, sticky, but not overly sweet. It was fabulous! The atmosphere was quaint and the service was awesome. Everyone who took care of us from door to table was friendly and nice. I had a blast because it's a great place to people watch: from locals, motorcycle bandits, to B and D List celebrity sightings. Next time I'm back in town, Early Girl will be on my list. Come eat, sight see, and drown in fresh, hot, coffee!
(5)Giannabrie F.
Great performance by Early Girl Eatery. I thoroughly enjoyed this place. The service was friendly, the portions were perfect, the food was fresh, the atmosphere was friendly and creative. Just a great spot!! Staying true to their name, I think I only saw female employees, which was interesting! It had an old-time modern feel. Like, I felt all of the women were milkmaids that came in and whipped up a home-cooked meal for the locals. They, like most restaurants in Asheville, use local farm goods as much as possible. Just a great spot that made you feel good upon arrival. They serve breakfast all day and they have vegetable and other specials daily. I didn't try it but they had a banana chocolate chip pancake they were highlighting during my visit...ummm, hello yummy! I opted for the black bean & sweet potato cake that came with 2 sides. My sides were cucumber/onion salad (marinated in a vinegar) and butternut squash casserole. I don't even know what was in that casserole but it was amazing. It was the perfect balance between sweet and savory. I noted a ginger and nutmeg flavoring. It was perfect. My dining partner ordered the pimento cheese sandwich which was amazing on their homemade bread. It came with fries that were very good as well. The service was okay but they were super busy and friendly about it, so I'll take it easy. I would return here any day of the week. Great for lunch or brunch especially.
(4)Rev. Hannah D.
The food is really good. I have never had anything that was mediocre. The shrimp and grits are fabulous. The wait staff has always been polite and attentive.
(4)Ellie B.
This is a great place for brunch! I loved the fresh squeezed orange juice and the egg and cheese biscuit. My husband liked the strawberry banana pancakes, too. We were both expecting fresh fruit on top, but it was just inside the pancakes (not exactly a complaint, just sayin'). Overall, the restaurant is cheerful, has friendly staff and a great menu selection. Hit this place up!
(4)Hailey Q.
I had a very classic breakfast, but everything I had was outstanding. It was the best meal we had in Asheville. Their home fries are chunks of potatoes with onions sauteed in butter. They had a lot of flavor! I also got a scrambled egg with some amazing cheese - the egg was not over cooked and the cheese was super sharp! Then I had the fresh herb-vegetarian gravy and IT CHANGED MY LIFE! It is was the best gravy that I've ever had. Amazingly flavorful and creamy. Just really, really good. Everyone at my table really enjoyed their food. This is now on my list of places I must eat in Asheville.
(5)Bobby B.
Just wasn't a fan. Food was...hrm...basic at best. Wait staff was slow and the ambiance was ok but kind of basic as well.
(2)Mackenzie A.
This restaurant came recommended by a friend. My boyfriend and I went around 1pm on a Saturday for a late brunch and there was hardly a wait - maybe 5 minutes. We both ordered make your own omelette and I was disappointed that when mine arrived instead of bacon, they had put spinach on it. I still planned on eating it because I was STARVING and I was going to just order a side of bacon to make up for it. The problem was we didn't see our waitress until 15 minutes later and we both had finished our meals. We couldn't even flag her down, we didn't see her at all. Which is odd because it's a smaller restaurant. Overall everything was great except for that small mistake but she didn't even ask us how our meal was and just gave us the check. I didn't want to complain or anything especially because I had already eaten the omelette but she didn't give me any way to explain what had happened. I left pretty disappointed and will most likely not return. Would be great if I was vegetarian. If you're not, not that many great breakfast options.
(3)Brian M.
The Benedict is amazing!
(5)Lisa D.
Over Labor Day weekend I tried the Banana strawberry pancake special...so delicious. Too much for one person...next time we'll share:). Perfectly served scrambled egg too. Sat at a window seat overlooking the park. Great way to spend breakfast with my Sweetie.
(4)Hanh L.
The restaurant looks very cute. I ordered omelet with bacon, country han, tomato, and mushroom but the dish was not as good as I expected. My husband had the meatloaf and it was alright.
(3)fifita j.
It's ok but not sure what the big deal is.... We waited 45 minutes in line on a Sunday morning to get in. The pancakes were good but the quiche was not. The grits were decent but nothing out if this world. I probably would not stand in line again to eat here. I've had better brunch food.
(3)Julie R.
First, this is not an all vegetarian restaurant; but, they offer plenty of veg options (more than most). I had the tempeh reuben sandwich that came with a side. The side I picked was tomato florentine soup. The soup was beyond delicious. It was creamy and sooo good! I was happy I got it. The reuben, likewise, was delicious. It had swiss cheese and sauerkraut on it, as well a good dressing and was on grilled bread - very tasty. Of the 3 vegetarian reubens I have had in the past couple days in Asheville, this was among the best; it definitly had the most tempeh on it (sometimes restaurants skimp on it). Besides the good food, the place is charming. The room overlooks the park and has these tall beautiful windows and plants. There's cool artwork on the wall and it's very sunny and bright - just a lot of charm. Early Girl is always crowded, and usually a wait. So, I decided to go at an off hour (2:30 on a weekday), and there weren't a lot of people there. The service was very good and the server very friendly and pleasant. I loved this place. With all my vegetarian options here in Asheville, it's getting harder and harder to pick a place to eat. I love it. Oh, the price was very reasonable. I have seen reubens anywhere from $6.50 to $10. I think this one was $9, and it came with the soup - not bad!
(5)Beverly B.
Excellent lunch! I ordered fried green tomatoes over grits. Might not sound so great but don't be deceived. Highly recommend. My new fav place in Asheville.
(5)Jason L.
food like mom makes but better. It's comfort food done right.
(4)Chelsie M.
Not impressed whatsoever. The mushrooms were not fresh, the biscuits were mediocre, and our server was unfriendly. I live in Asheville, and I can tell you there are a lot better breakfast places. Shoot, Hardees has a better biscuit then this place. Just another overrated downtown Asheville resturarant.
(2)Tracey G.
Great place to grab a place to eat! Was very loud inside! But over all great food!
(5)Isaac S.
I can no doubt say this was my best breakfast experience while visiting Asheville. The food was delicious--I had an omelette and my companions had an American breakfast and grits and gravy. Everyone was really happy with their food. The service was friendly and prompt. The liked the atmosphere of bright colours for the morning. I will definitely return!
(4)Alexa A.
I love this place. I have been here probably 20 times, and I live in Ohio, so you can imagine it's high on my list of places to hit when I go through Asheville. And listen, it's not perfect. Sometimes the portions are small (the breakfast fish) or sometimes the prices are kind of high. But so much of their food is local, and the servicepeople are all so real and so kind, and somehow the food always comes together in this delicious harmony that seems healthy even if I end up eating mostly bacon. The only thing to watch out for is the wait! For weekend brunches, this place can take a while to get into. Luckily it's located on a really fun street to explore, but all the same, if you're in a hurry and it's a weekend, I'd suggest going elsewhere. If you happen to be free on a weekday, though, definitely give Early Girl a try.
(4)Cara A.
Delicious breakfast spot. Was recommended to me by a local friend and it was definitely worth the walk. The early girl Benny was fresh and delicious. Will return when I make it back to Asheville!
(4)Matthew L.
Awesome brunch place. Cozy and eccentric. Plenty of Southern options and not vegan either which is good since im allergic to vegan places. See other reviews...
(5)A E.
Was so impressed by the food here. The vegetarian bowl with black eyed peas and veggie gravy was better than expected. My friend had the early girl Benny...looked very good. I did have a biscuit with regular gravy, unfortunately the gravy had an overpowering smoke flavor that made it unappetizing. Service was good, it seems like the kind of place that is always busy so things are expected to be slow.
(4)Kristin C.
This place is amazing! Breakfast, Lunch, or Dinner...the local food sourced from local resources....highly recommend!! Not only is the food great, but the service is outstanding.
(5)Patty D.
SOLID!!! Breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner, this place rocks. Will come here every time I roll through Asheville for sure.
(5)Dee O.
Great food. I got the tofu scramble with eggs. Biscuit was soft and fluffy. The potatoes I got on the side were okay. Service was very friendly. Tends to be pretty busy but the food comes out quickly. Will visit again!
(3)Helen B.
A little expensive but very good. They use a lot of local and organic food, so of coarse it'll be a little more expensive. There are a lot of vegetarian sides and you can get a plate of four of them and cornbread for $11. The home-made lemonade was very good. The coffee is great. It has a very fun atmosphere and I'd go again.
(4)Andrea C.
So, so good. The tofu veggie scramble is unique and super tasty - awesome if you don't want to start the day with a belly full of grease. That being said, the bite I had of my boyfriend's bacon was amazing (that's what she said) and I would definitely order a full-on grease-fest of a breakfast on a day that I had nothing to do but watch reruns of Law and Order: SVU.
(5)Mary Beth S.
This place is worth the wait! For real. Or you could get up earlier, but I was on vacation and in no hurry. Let's start with the coffee. Seriously good and locally roasted, good for that aforementioned wait. I tried the Early Girl Benny with country ham and was delighted! Grit cakes, poached eggs, avocado and of course, country ham. Ah-maze-ing! The biscuit was meh, but it shared a plate with grit cakes, I mean, come on! The service was really good and efficient, not chatty which I appreciate. This is really a fantastic place for breakfast and I envy the Asheville locals who can eat here any time.
(5)Robin C.
We arrived for a late lunch and were delighted to have no wait time. My friend and I both ordered vegetable platters. I noted that the menu pointed out that the broccoli salad and the collards contained meat, which is something that I appreciate knowing as a vegetarian. Her selection had the Lima beans, honeyed beets, Mac and cheese and mashed potatoes. Mine also had the mashed potatoes, and, for the remaining three sides, I chose black eyed peas, ginger slaw and cucumber onion salad. We both received a piece of cornbread with our meals. It was a perfect balance between savory and sweet, with emphasis on the savory. My friend did not like her Lima beans, and her favorite side was the beets. I loved everything on my plate! Service was friendly and prompt.
(5)Katie G.
Very knowledgable staff for gluten free options. Fast service and great food!!! Def worth the 20 min wait!
(5)Paul K.
Meal was good, not great. Seemed fairly flavor-reserved. I liked it but not for the price it was at. I was a bit weirded out at the sugar dispenser having the sugar open to air, sneezing, etc as I do not believe they change them between guests, and the pot of jam they brought me I think might have had remnants of someone else's bread in it. Eh, minor things but whatever. I'd eat there again if I were in the area to try some other things out.
(3)Pat F.
Shrimp and grits to die for, and for breakfast, too! Came here with DH on a weekend break to AVL. We've eaten here a few times before, but this was on a Saturday morning--crunch time for breakfast places. The joint was hopping, so they told us it would be about a 30-minute wait and to check back in a bit. We parked ourselves on the steps of the building facing the Flatiron and people-watched--very entertaining. About 15 minutes later, our name got yelled down the street and in we went. The service, food, and coffee were all outstanding, as usual. I took away one star because if any NC restaurant outside of Carrboro would be expected to have gluten-free baked goods, it's EG, but they didn't. Alas. Otherwise, I can't recommend it enough. Haven't had a bad experience here yet.
(4)Chad H.
Early Girl may be billed as a vegetarian place but as a meat eater who hates "foo-foo" restaurants and after having two incredible breakfasts, I need to praise this place. It's worth the wait on the weekend. There will be a wait. I don't usually eat pancakes but the banana walnut pancakes on special were the possibly the best breakfast I've ever had. The sausage and sweet potato dish is also fantastic. EGE lives up to the hype.
(5)David D.
Amazing as always, my wife and I try to hit this spot whenever we are in Asheville. I love the fresh ingredients, you can definitely tell when a restaurant buys local!! Great food!! The only reason I'm giving a 4star and not 5 is because the waitress didn't seem to want to be there. Otherwise 5 star.
(4)Cayenne E.
Embracing the farm to table concept which is just not much of an option around where I live in Vegas, you can always find me enjoying my grub at Early Girl within 12 hours of arriving in Asheville. I've always had great service, I adore the diverse menu, and love their focus on serving local and supporting regional ag. There are lots of veggie options always available (we feasted on the black eyed pea fritters recently, yum), but I have found my favorite dishes to be pecan crusted local trout (or something similar depending on the menu). Prices are great, and I've found that my favorite way to enjoy meals here is to have a small crowd (about 3 friends with me is perfect) and order appetizers and dishes to share with the table so I can diversify my menu. I never have enough time (or stomach place) to nosh my way through everything on the menu that sounds good. Prices are absolutely reasonable, location is great, and I have never been dissappointed with the food and the service.
(5)Meg B.
Just as good as the reviews promised. Had breakfast on a weekday while visiting town. The fried green tomatoes with goat cheese were a standout, as was the Sweet Potato and Sausage Scramble. The Early Girl Benny was also delicious, but the biscuit was a little dry for my taste - more like a scone in texture. I also tried some of my friend's Porky Breakfast Bowl and was blown away by the combination of ingredients and the flavor of the pulled pork. A must-visit while in town.
(5)Ryan O.
Klitchy, hip, and cool farm-to-table place in downtown with great southern comfort food. I liked it so much I visited it twice for breakfast during my four day stay. It helps they open earlier than most other places on the weekends. I'm a huge fan of pork and their menu offers plenty of selection there. The Porky is an incredible scrambler of homefries, pork, eggs, and cheese that is a huge winner in the hangover cure department. Smothered on top of that is Benton's smoky gravy which makes for something that is pretty much the king of fatboy mountain. You can also get the Benton's gravy on the biscuits and honestly I don't know why you wouldn't unless you are vegan or something. The pancakes are pretty good too if you are looking for something less meat sweat inducing. The only thing I really wasn't crazy about was the bread pudding. It was more like just slices of bread than other bread pudding I've had. The texture was more reminiscent of fruit cake which was very strange. I got a kick out of the washroom key situation... there are keys on the wall attached to giant cooking utensils. Clever and fun way to smooth out the inconvenience of the lavatory being all the way down a hallway away from the restaurant. If you are going for breakfast on a Sunday, get there mega early. This place appears to be super popular as it was rammed even at 9am when I visited.
(4)Monica I.
This place was amazing! The food was delicious and wait staff was very friendly. I got the sweet potato black bean cakes with honeyed beets and sautéed cabbage. I had never had beets before, but they were absolutely delicious, everything on my plate was! My husband got the southern breakfast and he claims it was the best bacon he's ever had before. He also ate all of his grits which he usually doesn't like. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone, really great!
(5)Shantele M.
The service was SPECTACULAR!!! The food was SUPERB!!! Loved the ambience! My family and I love to eat organic and this place strives on farm to table specialties. They also support their local purveyors which is a big plus in my book!!! If you are in the Asheville area please don't pass up a chance to eat here once before you leave!!!
(5)Robin B.
Found the Early Girl Eatery through a Yelp search during our visit to Asheville, NC. So phenomenal that we ate there for both breakfast on day 1 and dinner on day 2 of our 2-day stay. Atmosphere was welcoming, charming, bright, and comfortable. Staff were warm, attentive, and efficient. Menu had a plethora of appealing dishes for vegans, vegetarians, and meat lovers. For breakfast, I had the egg scramble with sausage, mushrooms, sweet potatoes, and bacon which was served with a biscuit. My eyes nearly rolled back in my head it was all so good. And further, being from the Philadelphia area, I hadn't until then understood just how heart-soaringly good a biscuit can be. I'm a changed woman. My husband had a simpler breakfast which was just the Early Girl Eatery's stellar biscuits covered in a smoky bacon gravy. There was not a drop or speck of food remaining on his plate by the time we were done. He's talked about the dish every day since our visit. For dinner the following night we each chose the "Meat + 2" option from the menu. I selected the sweet potato and black bean cakes alongside ginger coleslaw and baked lima beans. The cakes were stellar - nice balance of savory and subtle sweetness topped with guacamole and sour cream. The coleslaw, amped up with both ginger (as expected) and dill (a pleasant surprise) was the best I've ever eaten. I enjoyed the beans as well but found that they were cooked with cabbage and carried more sweetness than I prefer. Certainly a solid dish though. My husband ordered their lamb shank which was on special and was served a HUGE, savory, perfectly cooked portion alongside his request for mashed potatoes (smooth and delicious) and collards (perfectly cooked and super tasty). Oh - and terrific beer, wine, and sparkling wine selections for uncommonly low prices to boot! We had a near religious food experience at the Early Girl Eatery. The only negative thing I can say is that we now carry a hole in our bellies that won't be able to be filled until the next time we travel from Philadelphia to Asheville.
(5)Allison D.
I don't know what it was about this place that made me love it so much. It's almost like you could taste the love in the food...either that or they cast some kind of voodoo spell in the kitchen. I honestly don't even remember what I had; I just remember saying, "this is going on my best breakfasts list" halfway through the meal. Actually, I do remember two things that I ate...One was the bacon. I don't know what they did to it, but it was the best I've ever had in my life. The second was the raspberry jam on the table, because we bought two jars of it to take home, along with one of their adorable T-shirts and a bottle of hot sauce.
(5)Sundi P.
Loved this place. We traveled from Brevard to Asheville looking for a breakfast place and I'm glad I found this place on Yelp. It was packed and the service was a little slow, but the food was great. My husband had the Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble and I had the Early Girl Benny which was great. My husband enjoyed the Scramble too.
(5)Lexi T.
After being on the road for hours, I was looking forward to a delicious meal. They were pretty slammed at 7:30 on a Saturday, but the hosts were very friendly and accommodating: the wait time was accurate and not excessive for a busy evening (25 minutes); I had also asked for some bread as soon as we walked in to keep the kids at bay and he put in an order for biscuits right away. We waited about 15 minutes, went to the bathroom, and came out to the table set with drinks, biscuit, a basket of small toys and books, and brown paper on the table to draw on which kept the kids busy. The waiter was attentive and friendly. I ordered a bunch of sides as a meal: scrambled eggs with cheddar, home fries, and bacon. Kids loved the black bean omelette with toast and gobbled up the house-made jam. If I come to Asheville again I will most definitely return to Early Girl!
(5)Lauren F.
Went back for an early dinner: grilled chicken sandwich. It was fantastic. The goat cheese made the sandwich. Macaroni and cheese was good too. The seating was a bit uncomfortable, especially since there weren't many people there at the time. We were placed at a table that was so close to another couple, it was almost like we were at the same table. If they hadn't been close to leaving, it would've gotten weird. Still, the food was good enough, I know I'll go back.
(4)Nick G.
We ended up here because Tupelo Honey wait was too long and they wouldn't be able to sit us together. I'm glad we did because I think this place was much better. We waited for about an hour on a Sunday morning, so I would recommend getting here before 10am if possible. All of the menu items looked mediocre, but my opinion quickly changed once the plates started arriving. Everything was prepared spectacularly, but I'm certain that I was the luckiest of our bunch. I ordered the Garlic Potato Cakes. Once I realized these came with eggs and a biscuit it was a no-brainer. When they arrived,t hey had a tomato gravy on top and were cooked to perfection. They tasted a little like a hush puppy infused tater tot. They were very dense and very delicious. Eggs over medium were cooked to perfection and tasted like they were fresh off a farm. I added a side of double cut bacon, which was delicious as well. The coffee flowed freely and the food came quickly. Very pleased with this place.
(4)Benjamin G.
Early Girl is another Asheville spot that is prime for breakfast time. Most of the places you need to check out typically have a line out of the door or a substantial line of locals and visitors filling the front of the establishment. Early Girl seems to have that in the bag. The breakfast fare is pretty casual. Eggs, toast, bacon, grits, scrambles, and all the fixins. I got the Early Girl Benny (I know, right?) which was spinach, a poached egg, avocado, tomato gravy on top of pan fried grit cakes. It was a nice, balanced (mostly) vegetarian/vegan breakfast. The poached egg was awesome and that tomato gravy was wonderful. I'd order it again in a heartbeat. My wife ordered the veggie tofu scramble. Great flavors, fresh veg, and all smiles. The service was fast and everyone was rather friendly. Gotta love that southern hospitality. I had even forgotten my sunglasses on the table and our server had them at the hostess stand for me when we came back. Super friendly and knew that it was me who had forgotten them. Definitely a solid choice and a must for any trip to Asheville. Looking forward to checking out the rest of the menu!
(4)Joli D.
This was our last stop before leaving Asheville and it did not disappoint! Great location in downtown, super cute and cozy atmosphere. My husband had the porky breakfast bowl and I had the pan fried trout and eggs that was on special that day. We both loved our food and the service was great! This is a must go place while in Asheville.
(5)Charlene G.
I've only eaten here once, but I'm looking forward to many return trips. The menu had lots of options and the daily specials were nicely laid out on the large chalkboard. I would definitely recommend this place for a great lunch spot, as well as good for small group dinners. The food was all very delicious and I would definitely recommend trying any of the local veggies. I'll be back and will provide more detail on the food in a later review.
(4)Patrick H.
We went to Ashville today. Only used our credit card once today, at the Early Girl Eatery. Had our credit card number stolen and used at a sleep inn in Morgantown this evening. They were trying to make more purchases when our bank called. This was the only place we used our card and fraudulent charges occurred just miles away from here. We did not leave our card out or leave it at the restaurant. Long wait. Food was pretty good, biscuits and bacon were the best things on the table. Our server was very grumpy. I would never go back because of the credit card issue. Hard to prove what happened, but literally it was the only time we used any credit cards today. Will call manager and police tomorrow.
(1)Chris M.
My wife and I recently spent a few days in Asheville. We had lunch at the Early Girl Eatery. I had black bean soup. It was good. I would return to try other items on their menu.
(3)Stephen S.
Lunch 5/17....just dropped in for a couple of salads...we were very impressed... Eclectic place.....hipster type of atmosphere...lots of "interesting" people both eating and working there....great service....Tried to come back for Sat Brunch but the wait was 40 minutes.. I had the... Fried Chicken and Bacon Salad Green leaf lettuce topped with farmstead cheese, bacon, diced cucumber, tomato, grated carrots, fried chicken ....had a creamy garlic dressing...very fresh and well done.... Barb had... Cobb Salad Tomato, boiled egg, bacon, grilled chicken and avocado over chopped romaine, topped with farmstead cheese and Cobb dressing...also very impressive...generous portions, fresh and satisfying...
(4)Kristin L.
After an afternoon at the breweries, we found ourselves nabbing a table for an early dinner at Early Girl Eatery. This restaurant is all about comfort food, and we got what we came in for: BBQ pork and mac and cheese for me, an omelet for my sister, eggs Benedict (for dinner!) for my husband. I like that they serve a breakfast menu all day long. The prices were reasonable, the drinks were tasty and the service was great. We loved the jam that came with the bread so much that we wound up buying a jar at the counter. A great alternative to Tupelo Honey Cafe when the wait is too long to justify.
(4)Claire S.
Absolutely delicious! Be prepared for a wait as this is a local favorite!
(5)Charly D.
It was a choice between Early Girl Eatery and the Tupelo Honey Cafe on a recent trip to Asheville. The deciding factor was that Early Girl offered an extensive list of "Farm to Table" fare. Sold. We meandered to the restaurant around 10 a.m. and low and behold there was a 30min. wait for the two of us. I was not surprised as this is what all the other reviews stated. Some people got very huffy at the wait time so be prepared because the staff get annoyed when you act like this is unacceptable. Here is the breakdown of everything: Wait Staff: Extremely friendly and helpful with any questions Decor: Eclectic, crowded seating so obviously...loud. Food: We both tried the Herb creamed Gravy and Biscuits with a side of potatoes. It was amazing. My only additive would be bacon but I think everything needs bacon. When the dish arrived it looked like an awfully small portion but after eating we were plenty full. We love the herb creamed gravy so much that we attempted to remake it the next morning.
(5)Christina J.
The food and our waitress were stellar, the wait time and restaurant space were less than ideal. The beginning of our experience was a bit rocky. The girl at the hostess stand told us it was about a 15 minute wait but it turned out to be about 35 minutes and we gave up our spot at Tupelo Honey about 15 minutes into the wait so we were sort of kicking ourselves (totally worth it in the end though). Finally our names were called to be seated. The hostess took us to our table and it was up against the wall and really close to another table. The woman at the table next to us wouldn't budge to let me in so I tried to squeeze by, knocking over her pepper shaker in the process. A lot of the tables seem to be that way, although probably with nicer people seated at them. But the experience only got better from there. I had the Early Girl Benny and added sausage. The plate was HUGE, I couldn't eat it all on my own although I would have loved to have been able to, the food was that good. The grit cakes were large, the spinach sauteed and plentiful, and the tomatoes and avocado were perfectly ripened. My poached eggs were a little overdone and the yoke didn't really run much but the tomato gravy (which was my favorite part) made up for it and gave the dish the sauciness that was lacking with the yolk. The sausage seems like it's made in-house and comes from a local farm. Overall, I loved my dish.
(4)Maria E.
Great food. Nice location. A bit of a wait but well worth it. The sausage and sweet potato scramble was delicious! Be sure to order the warm pumpkin ginger bread...yum!
(4)One S.
I love this place. The food is delicious and reasonably priced, the waiters/waitresses are great and the ambience always special with rotating local art on the wall and a crowd to enjoy. Only downfall-they are incredibly busy and you need to wait a long time for brunch.
(5)Emily T.
My boyfriend: "this was the best breakfast I've ever had." He got the pork bowl. Being a vegetarian myself, I got the biscuits and veggie gravy with homefries. MMMM. Also got a fruit bowl and it was $4 and kind of small. Idk about that, everything else was moderately priced so unless they're going out back and hand picking and cleaning my pears and bananas that needs to come down. Overall, this was a great, filling meal for a good price. Worth the wait. It was kind of hot in the restaurant but it was Memorial Day and very busy. The staff was pleasant. Could be better if they had megamosas (like many other places in the area) instead of small flutes of the wonderful drink to start your day.
(4)Brad B.
Went here two mornings in a row when in Asheville a while back, their breakfast sausage scramble was my favorite.
(5)Jesse F.
Hands down my favorite breakfast joint in Asheville. The menu rotates as everything they make is farm-to-table local foods. You WILL wait for a table here, just go put your name on the wait list and then go check out some of the local stores while you wait. The service is good, the food is amazing. The sweet potato has is always awesome, the biscuits and gravy super good....The staff is always friendly. I would highly recommend Early Girl.
(5)Leslie J.
The food is home cooked which means that there are occasional days something isn't perfect. But mostly you can expect a good meal here. It's not fancy. More southern country. I have not had breakfast here quick I've heard is really good. It's a regular in the rotation of our restaurants.
(4)Adam C.
I was traveling on business, looking for a good spot for coffee and breakfast. Nothing else was open at 7:30am in Asheville. Thank god for that!! This place is amazing. I had an exceptional cup of coffee and amazing breakfast. The service was outstanding and food was perfect and served promptly.. I will be going here again.
(5)Emily H.
Great restaurant! Came here for a late lunch on a weekday and we were seated right away. I can see how it could get crowded and busy though during the weekend and popular times. My husband ordered the Vegan Tofu Scramble and I had the Tempeh Reuben with french fries. We really enjoyed the food and everything tasted very fresh. The 2 hot sauces that they have were good too. We had the red velvet cake for dessert and WOW was it delishhhh. Like another reviewer, the coffee is a bit strong. Gave me a stomach pains and headache right away. We will def. come back to try different menu items next time we are in Asheville! Reasonable prices and good service.
(5)Shadia N.
Awesome banana bread----def try the hushpuppies. grits are perfect! Just be ready for a wait on a Saturday morning. It's worth it, just go walking around to the other stores on the street.
(4)Kyle S.
I got the burger and it had to have been one of the best burgers I have ever had... completely unexpected. Was expecting a good lunch but holy cow what a burger!!! The rest of the menu looked great too!
(5)Joe P.
Good food and friendly Love the jam. Go here. You will enjoy it.
(4)Lauren R.
We went here for lunch during the week while on vacation. We were shown straight to the table and didn't have to wait at all. The pimento cheese sandwich was one of the best I've had. The entire meal was delicious and the staff was friendly. I'll definitely be back here the next time I'm in Asheville.
(5)Rebecca B.
I would like to give them 3.5 stars. We went for dinner on a Saturday night. I like the whole concept of the place..the local ingredients...and the comfort food/diner atmosphere. I ordered the trout and while it was good, the portion was pretty small for the price. My partner ordered the fried chicken, and he was disappointment because it wasn't on the bone and there wasn't really any breading on it. We kept seeing everyone else's dishes coming out with huge portions, so we were hoping ours would be the same. Anyway, we are hoping to try it again for breakfast. We really wanted to like the place more...perhaps we ordered the wrong thing.
(3)Harry K.
The best breakfast I have ever eaten! We were stuck in a snowstorm which left us stranded the night before in this quaint, beautiful "green" city. Luckily for us we were able to find this place via Yelp. We originally wanted to try Tupelo but it was closed until 11am due to the aftermath of the blizzard. We walked in and had to wait about 30 minutes to be seated. We ordered the shrimp grits, spinach & potato pancake, biscuit and gravy, and a chicken dish that tasted like a de-constructed pot pie. I am still yearning the shrimp & grits... as well as the spinach potato cakes!!
(5)Sarah A.
Early Girl Eatery is so dang cute and delicious. The wait is always ridiculous, but since we're on vacation, we managed to get in straight away by showing up on a Tuesday morning (the day before, which was a holiday, the wait had been 55 minutes!). I love eating here every time we're in Asheville. It's veggie-friendly and the dining space is so cheerful. I got the mulitgrain pancakes this last time, which were excellent, by why no apples and pecans baked in? Or perhaps a french toast topped with berries? They seem to missing that side of brunch. It would be nice if there were a larger waiting area - or just a larger dining area to accommodate more guests. Only one brief warning - their T-shirts are adorable but everyone I know who has bought one (myself included) said that it shrunk up in the wash or got a hole quickly. Instead of wearing their shirt, just support them by eating there as often as possible.
(5)Stella M.
Finally! A restaurant that knows how to make a good tofu scramble! Great texture, not too salty, spiced correctly to imitate eggs, and perfect proportion to yummy fresh veggies. Amazing with their house habanero hot sauce! The rye bread on the side was delicious as well. You can tell they use high quality bread. My husband ordered biscuits and veggie gravy with two scrambled eggs on the side. The gravy was creamy and savory and the proportion size was a good deal for $3.50. Not the best biscuit I have ever had but still pretty damn good. We were very happy with our breakfast.
(4)Kyle W.
Very quick, affordable breakfast spot with plenty of options for vegetarians and meat-eaters alike. Staff was really friendly and it's a very cute space. Mostly fresh, local ingredients. I heard it's insane during the brunch rush on weekends so try to go at an off time if you can!
(4)Helena D.
Does this place really need another great review? Maybe not but what the hell. Like many others, I too had the Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble. And just like everyone else, I also loved it. The thing I would recommend- or advise- is that I normally order what I'm comfortable with and though I like sweet potatoes, they're not something I would normally go out of my way for. But since I was on vacation I was being more ambitious with my food selections and decided to order outside of my usual, safe, go-to. I'm glad I did (here and everywhere else as well). It was divine. The portion was also a decent size so it may look a tad smaller- it was exactly what I needed. The staff were great as well and so was the coffee. It's well worth the wait (if you end up in one). I only wish I lived in Asheville to go here and order something new every time. Their selection was unique and everything sounds great.
(5)Peter Z.
The hosts and servers were all incredibly helpful and well-coordinated; by the end of the meal, three or four different employees had ran our food, provided refills, and checked up on us. My buddy and I sat at the bar just inside the entrance because we weren't worried about waiting for a table, so I never got to see the actual inside of the restaurant- this wasn't a problem though, just a possible shortcoming when it comes to a restaurant review. The environment was laid back even though all of the servers were quite busy, and everyone seemed to keep their cool despite a consistent line out the door from when we walked in until when we walked out. That constitutes three stars out of my four. The other star is for the quality of the food and coffee. Both were phenomenal and they even had a little spot at the end of the bar where one could refill their coffee. I bought an omelette with a side of home fries and both were delicious, fresh, and immediately devoured. Why not five stars? It was a bit pricey. $13 dollars for an omelette, home fries, and a coffee was more than I was expecting to pay when I walked in the door, but I can't complain as the service made up for it.
(4)Keith B.
Awesome find. Came around 2 on a Thursday. We had a a group of 8 so needed to wait 20 minutes or so. Up front waiting is area is hot as heck...it's across from the kitchen. I went outside to cool off in the 'feels like 100' degree heat. Once we got back, it was cooler (not cold, but cooler) and we settled in and it was ok. We started with the Fried Green Tomatoes. Frig.in delicious. I could just eat a bowl of the grits that came with it. Based on the waiter's reco of the catfish sandwich, we went with that. It was OUTSTANDING. Light and flaky....and then the sauce they put with it....dammmmm It's one of those things that I will think about the next day. What was also cool is they served local beers...in chilled glasses. My wife and ordered 2 different ones (for $3.50 each!) and got to try some of Asheville's local.
(4)Heather P.
I'll admit that it's not a usual five star dig. Then come to think of it, it's not your usual tourist trap either. One trap is Tupelo Honey, which is right around the corner from this gem. Do yourself a favor and pass up TH and head to Early Girl. We were walking in the area and wanted something other than Tupelo and as we passed a hotel concierge and asked what he recommended and he pointed us to Early Girl. My first impression of this place was Betty Boop meets Paula Deen. This was for dinner, so don't let the "early" part of the name fool you too much. I noticed on the menu that they serve their breakfast options all day and the other options start at 11am. The menu consists of many southern staples and farm-to-table options. Before I ordered I spotted someone's huge slice of red velvet cake, so I decided I would order my meal conservatively. I decided on the Cobb salad and I must say that it's the best Cobb salad I've had in a long time. It was so filling and delicious that I wasn't able to order dessert... maybe next time. The bathroom situation... Yes, I always check out the bathroom situation, doesn't everyone wash their hands before they eat too? The restaurant shares bathrooms with several other restaurants within the same building complex. You have to grab a key because of the city's mass amount of transients, they have to keep it locked. Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned that because I'll admit that it is a bit odd.
(5)Canny F.
I ordered an egg biscuit with cheese, to go, because the line was a 1-2 hour wait and that would have delayed my food adventure. There was still a wait but I feel like dining in would have took longer so I chose a simple order. I was very disappointed in it. The biscuit was practically a rock and dry. They sprinkle shredded cheese on the egg and I guess I was expected the cheese to be melted but it was just fell out of the sandwich. It was not worth the price, wait, cost and calories.
(2)Sarah W.
So. Much. Yum. My favorites are the black bean and cheddar omelet and the biscuits and gravy. I love me some biscuits and Early Girl's are perfect. I've had both the vegetarian and bacon gravy and can't decide which I like more, they're both so good. There's usually a bit of a wait almost always- a lil longer on the weekends but that's to be expected. However, the staff is pretty great about moving things along quickly. I like that the tables are covered in paper so I can draw while I wait for my food...I'm secretly 12. Try the local jam they have on the tables because it's to die for.
(5)James D.
This is place is awesome, one of Asheville's best breakfast spots. The atmosphere is awesome, not too loud even with a full restaurant. Expect a wait because it is pretty popular and the seating is limited, but worth it. The staff is friendly, the service is great, and the food is fantastic. Highly recommend the local sausage and sweet potato scramble.
(5)Felicia R.
I probably don't need to review this spot, because they already have so many wonderful reviews, but I WANT to! I got a rare Saturday off work, so I decided to take my little one downtown for brunch and window shopping. I've wanted to cone here for awhile but imagined a tight space and a long wait. When I got there, they hadn't opened yet so I got in the short line of people waiting to storm the doors. The dining area is actually larger than I was imagining based on past reviews. We got a great seat under the specials board. I didn't feel too close to my neighbors at all. Someone immediately brought over a basket of toys for my kid! I've never had a restaurant do that, blew me away and I would give them five stars for that! Got a mimosa and coffee. Mimosa was standard, but the coffee was incredible. I asked my server to please bring a biscuit as soon as she could, the wild, hungry beast next to me was beginning to growl ;-) Boom, two seconds later I had a biscuit and a happy baby! I ordered the Benny, added bacon. I was asked whether I would like toast or a biscuit. I assumed it would what my Benny would be served on, but it was on the side. If I would've known, I would've just told them to keep it, it was left untouched on my plate. I do agree with others that the menu needs better descriptions. I asked to add bacon to my Benny which was no problem, and the right choice! There was a delicious tomato gravy smothering my perfectly poached eggs, bacon, spinach and some soet of grit cake. I'm used to bennies served on English muffins. The cake was good, a solid foundation, but didn't add much flavor, or that nice crunch a English muffin does. I also don't believe I read about that in the description... I had a genuine conversation with my amazing server. She gave me great advice and was just overall wonderful! Before leaving she offered to get me a coffee to go!!! Its those little things that really take service to the next level. I wish I would've gotten her name to I could praise her publicly!!! Overall, great food, service and atmosphere. Prices are a little steep, but you're downtown. It's not anymore than I pay at sunny point for the two of us to eat. You won't be disappointed!
(5)Connie L.
After hiking I just wanted a fresh hearty salad... And I got it! Got the toasted almond and ginger salad with chicken. The sunflower seeds and almonds added a nice crunch and filled me up! Friend loved loved loved his chicken sandwich with herbed goat cheese and cabbage with walnuts as his side. He devoured it in two seconds no joke. Overall a super cute and laid back restaurant to grab a casual meal!
(4)Paisley B.
You might as well go see what it's all about. I give three and a half stars for the food and maybe a little extra star-worthy kudos for the ambiance. Very shabby chic. Very college-town bohemian. First of all..be prepared for a wait. The tables are close together so you'll be cozy with your neighbor. If you like the hustle and bustle of a weekend brunch then this is your scene. The soup of the day was good .. And the uncommon caraway added an unexpected zip. We liked the quiche of the day ...and the side salad was simple. The stone ground grits certainly taste that way. Although, I wish my cheesy grits had more umph to taste. The avocado and sprout sandwich was a little dry and I didn't love the soggy fries. Overall...It was cute and fun. Food was hunger-worthy. Not five stars in my book but just go check it out and see for yourself.
(4)James H.
Waited about 70 minutes to be seated for a party of two! I did not realize this spot was that popular. So arriving at 10:00 resulted in a 11:10 brunch. I do dig the theme, and for me to summarize it, Rosie the Riveter comes to mind. Had the local sausage and sweet potato scramble which was extremely delicious. The price was very fair, and the quality of food was great. It's a place you have to visit at least once. But for a follow on visit, I would not wait over 30 minutes. Not the fault of the place but more on the extreme popularity of the establishment.
(4)Jonnie D.
Is there a way I could give this no stars? Well, I'll settle for 1 if I must. Where do I even start? The moment I sat down and saw the specials, I thought, "Ooh, this omelet looks good." But, alas, being a vegetarian meant I needed to get it without the andouille sausage. When the waitress came around, she said she'd have to ask if they could make it without the sausage. She returned saying that they couldn't because the mixture had already been made. That should have set a warning light off in my head, but I settled and ordered the vegetarian breakfast bowl instead. Clearly, this was a mistake. The bowl consisted of black eyed peas (which were clearly cooked beforehand and over salted to cover the fact), scrambled eggs (once again pre cooked and not even scrambled??), spinach (still pre cooked and slimy), and nonexistent cheese curds. This food could have been good if it was actually cooked fresh but, unfortunately, they couldn't spend 15 minutes cooking beans and scrambling eggs and the dish suffered. This is a disgrace to southern food and should be avoided if possible.
(1)Cryshtal A.
This eatery was recommended to us and dos not disappoint! We shared the Early Girl Benny which is their version of eggs benedict and is presented on a grit pancake. The flavours are incredible yet the dish feels light weight overall. A great shareable dish as we still couldn't finish. We each got a biscuit and had the locally made jam on our biscuits. Great atmosphere as well! A must visit spot in Asheville
(5)Yeshanth J.
Brunch any day .. any time ! If you brunching here for the weekend, make sure... make sure to get a reservation. And it is definitely worth the wait. They do have a unique decor.. The restaurant starts with an semi open kitchen. This unique setup of theirs can work to their disadvantage.. sometimes you get welcomed by smoke. Everything that you tastes fresh. I have managed to get the taste of these entree items.. Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Catfish Sandwich and Tempeh Reuben. I liked all of them. In the grilled chicken sandwich, I like the way the chicken was cooked. Grilled chicken can yield a tough one but theirs were juicy. I loved their Reuben. Again, their reuben tastes good even without the bread. But with the filing, its a good ensemble. Catfish sandwhich tasted good but isn't one of their "must try" ones. My wife had the Avocado and Sprout sandwich and she didn't like it much. They do have an interesting way to lead you to their restrooms. Its another experience in my opinion :) Bottom line: Great food, Make reservations and leave satisfied :)
(5)Shannon P.
I went one morning before work, very laid back vibe, almost like meeting family in grandma's big kitchen. I had the veggie breakfast bowl and it was enough for two meals. Will definitely eat here again.
(4)Ed A.
Just had lunch at Early Girl and the meal was excellent! The only problem I have is that the restaurant needs a good cleaning. The window curtains are filthy, the ceiling fans are loaded with dust, the walls are dirty and even the light switches need cleaning. I would definitely go back for the food! ( After they clean )
(3)Tiffany C.
Heyo, Early Girl! You're full of charm and I think we're besties now, don't you? Came here on a Saturday night with two great friends visiting from California. It was our first time to Asheville (myself included, though I've lived in NC for almost a year now) and we were disappointed to get the brush-off from schmancy places like Limones. Early Girl was friendly and welcoming to us out-of-towners with its bright and cheery spirit! The dining table we sat at was communal, which seems to echo the very love-Mother-Earth and love-thy-neighbor attitude so prevalent in Asheville. It's quite nice, actually. The tables are covered with brown paper and you can doodle on it while you wait for your waiter/order. (If you're good/witty enough, you'll end up on the hallway wall! Check it out!) The food is YUM. Really yum. I honestly had the best cream of mushroom soup of my life here - it was so flavorful and textured, creamy and warm, almost like a wild-rice dish rather than that usual soupy from-a-can taste. I also shared a meatloaf sandwich with a friend which was positively delicious. I really love it when dishes surprise you with new textures and spices, but without losing its original comfort. Loved this place and sad that I'll likely not be back any time soon. I hope some other weary traveler finds solace in this lovely place just like I did!
(4)Carolyn H.
We stopped here on our road trip from Chicago to Charleston. The food was amazing. There was something for all types of diets. As if the food wasn't satisfying enough, the service was unbelievable. I'm pretty sure every employee stopped at our table to make sure we were happy with everything. I wish every restaurant was like this.
(5)Richard R.
My wife and I had breakfast here in August 2015. We had a table with a view of a downtown park and shops. The food was very good. A breakfast platter with meat costs about $9. Good bread, nice decor. We'll go here again.
(4)Be A.
I usually don't eat breakfast, but it seems like Asheville has a huge breakfast scene going on. I came in one morning and it was packed! I was literally seated next to two guys already having their breakfast. It was pretty much like sitting at their table because it was "bumping elbows" kind of close. It was different and odd, but it was ok because people from Asheville are so happy and polite. I actually met good people and had great conversations because of it. Everything on the menu looked great and I had a hard time making a choice but the waitress helped me out with a few suggestions of her favorites. For vegetarians looking for a place to eat you won't have a hard time here because they have plenty of vegetarian dishes. I can't wait for my next trip to Asheville. This place is for sure one of my first stops. It's a must! Tip for Yelp: GEAD
(5)Jan M.
Cute place & we were lucky not to have a wait for a table. Unfortunately, service wasn't very good (Waitress kept us waiting before we could order & wasn't very friendly. We waited FOREVER for her to check back in on us & waited even longer for our check.) And onto the food: Pumpkin Ginger Bread was delicious -- do yourself a favor & order this! Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble was good, but could've been better. Porky Breakfast Bowl was better than the Sweet Potato Scramble -- I'd get this next time I visit.
(3)Kimberly P.
Breakfast was delicious! I ordered a la carte off the sides menu and it was perfect. Can't go wrong with a scrambled egg and thick cut bacon. Service was excellent, and my server got extra brownie points for bringing me a to go cup of coffee.
(4)Larry M.
Wandered in without any recommendations and was very impressed. Food was fresh and delicious. We enjoyed an omelet with oyster mushrooms, feta cheese and carmelized onions (daily special) and the grilled pimento cheese sandwich with tomatoes and spinach. Service was prompt and friendly. The hallway to the restrooms was covered with articles and reviews from Gourmet, Bon Appetit and other magazines - no surprise!
(5)Randy V.
Went for a late morning breakfast on a weekday and waited about 30 minutes to be seated. There's plenty in the immediate area to check out so that was OK. The place smelled good when we went in which is always welcome. My wife and I both ordered a breakfast bowl after going back and forth with lots a seemingly great choices on the menu. Hers was vegetarian and I got mine "porky" with pulled pork and bacon gravy. Potatoes and eggs in the bowls were perfectly cooked and plentiful and the bacon gravy on mine was CRAZY good and, with the pork, made the dish! We also shared a side pancake which was pretty close to perfect, especially when paired with the local berry jam. I tried my best to finish. There was just so much I couldn't do it. Next time we're in town we'll be stopping back by again!
(4)Cherin S.
Love love love this place. Food is fantastic. Highly recommend the Early Girl Benny. Wonderful. And the fresh squeezed lemonade is to die for especially on a gorgeous sunny Asheville day. Staff is so friendly and that creates such a great atmosphere that it is nothing to strike up convo with your neighbor !!! Love love love this place. Always busy but totally worth the wait.
(5)Adam R.
This place belongs in East Nashville. It's a hipster wonderland. Tight girl jeans on guys, unnecessary piercings, and tattoos abound. Towards the food, however, all is quite tasty. The offerings are ample, and the quality is fresh. There are no preservatives and the entrees are not caked in salt. Perhaps a tad haughty at times, but then again, we are referencing your typical hipster.
(4)Jennifer T.
My favorite breakfast place in asheville. Love all their food, fresh, yummy, healthy. I love the early girl Benny.
(5)Jennie C.
I ate here on a Sunday morning. Great wait staff. When I came in, the hostess was unusually eclectically beautiful. She was also sweet. The food is overpriced, being in downtown Asheville. The 2-seater table I sat at with my boyfriend was parallel to another 2-seater table which was occupied. I felt highly uncomfortable with the close seating, and I would not call myself uncomfortable being in close proximity to people. The seating layout could be better. I recommend coming in on either a later non-weekend morning, or an afternoon. It's the Early Girl Eatery, so it's packed with early girls, boys, men and women. They probably think of themselves as Early Birds. Okay good, not such a big selection. Will probably come back again, because location is along a cobblestoned street, and I think those are positively quaint. Vegan + vegetarian friendly.
(3)Caitlin M.
I just got a biscuit and the tempeh to go, but the vibe of this place seemed great- very Asheville-y! The biscuit was pretty basic, and I was disappointed because I had read rave reviews for them. But the tempeh was delicious! It was a nice sized portion for a side, and was covered in a delicious sauce- smoky and a little spicy. Yum! I would love to come back and try some other veggie dishes!
(4)Stacy S.
I had the toku scramble - delish! Be ready to wait though, they are not fast at all. Took us 3 hours from when we added our name to the list to when we checked out starting at 11:00am on a Sunday. It's a little loud too, but food was good.
(4)Holly K.
Sadly, I need not enjoy my meal here. The service was good which is always a plus! We had the fried green tomato napoleon and it was okay but not the best I have had by far. For dinner I went with their house benedict and to me it really had no flavor. I was hoping the egg yolk would infuse some flavor but then the egg was cooked hard which I am not sure if it was done intentional or not. The finance tried out their breakfast bowl and it tasted so smokey it really was not pleasant to eat. The flavors together were way to overwhelming. The fresh lemonade was delicious!
(2)Amanda M.
Very nice atmosphere and great staff. Filled with friendly people. I had the apple walnut salad with grilled chicken. The salad had fresh feta cheese which was amazing, as it tasted freshly made however the salad portion was not veey big as I was still hungry when I finished my meal. My husband also had a salad fried chicken and bacon. He also said it was good however small. Overall we had a good experience but next time we will be getting one of the more unquie items on the menu as we had major order's regret when seeing everyone else's food as the sandwiches and omelettes looked amazing! Not very healthy but they looked amazing!
(3)D'Yvonne K.
This place was recommended from a good friend. I visited Asheville for a wedding and this was one of the Bride's favorite places. I had the the back bean cheddar omelet with the homemade biscuit and it was simply delish.
(4)Hannah S.
Early Girl Eatery is every tourists go to brunch spot and many locals quick pick up to go lunch. They have delicious garlic potato cakes (when you can get them) and the best fresh squeezed OJ. I have never been for dinner, and I hardly dine in since there usually are long lines most days. But I do order to go soups, salads or sausage and eggs at least once a week. Always delicious food and super friendly staff!
(4)Matthew M.
I came here off of other great Yelp reviews and boy (Ironic) was it good! We tried eating here at about 1030 on a Monday in hopes that it wouldn't be too busy, but we still had to wait about 30 minutes for a table. It's worth the wait! It's located on a cute, old-fashioned, strip of down town. The wait staff was very friendly and super fast with service! It seems very small when you enter, but don't let that deter you. It's hard to see, but it opens up in the back, and it's a decent sized area back there. The staff does a great job weaving around tables and chairs back there. The food is OUTSTANDING. They support local food producers from the area. I had the piggy bowl, which was amazing! I also had some apple juice that tasted like it was squeezed out of an apple that was picked after I ordered it. Great, fresh ingredients and amazing food here. Don't pass it up!
(5)Dan S.
Food was all clearly cooked ahead of time and either refrigerated or frozen. Then reheated in microwave for serving, first clue should have been that they didn't allow substitutions in the omelettes. Items on menu sounded interesting and may have been good if fresh but the microwaving killed all the flavor. I hope this was an abnormal day at the restraint given all the great reviews. Maybe a cook or two had called out.
(1)Andi M.
Early Girl is larger inside than it appears from the outside and so they can seat a lot. We had Sunday breakfast there while visiting Asheville for the weekend. I had the quiche (spinach, sausage, and cheddar) with a side salad, and my husband had the black bean and cheddar omelet with a biscuit and side of smoked bacon gravy. The quiche could have been a little warmer (temperature-wise), but it was really good topped with both their homemade habanero sauce (available to go for $7), and some of their bacon gravy. The salad was delicious as well, with lots of fresh tomatoes and lettuce, sliced cucumbers, and grated Parmesan. The omelet was spectacular. We don't know what they did with their black beans, but they had an amazing flavor, with a little kick. Every bite had cheese, too. And the biscuit and gravy was wonderful. (We've never had smoked bacon gravy before, but we'll return just to have that again.) The coffee was good and strong, and service was efficient. Even if you are faced with a wait, their service is very fast, and their food is well worth it.
(4)Charline H.
I really wanted to give this Asheville stop 5 stars after hearing from friends that frequently visited this lovely little town that it was a MUST on places to grab breakfast. The fresh take on farm-to-table southern was apparent by the local/seasonal ingredients, but we could not forget how tasteless the grits were. It was as if they just poured them out of a box and served them plain. Any southern man/woman cook knows that grits need to be "dressed". Flavor is key. We had: Fried Green Tomato Napoleon: Fried green tomatoes layered with fresh basil and herbed goat cheese, topped with salsa and balsamic dressing, served over grits Early Girl Benny: Grit cakes topped with tomato, spinach, poached eggs, tomato gravy and avocado, served with toast Overall: Good service and a low key atmosphere. Different and fun food. I would return on our next trip but order something different.
(4)Chelsea Ellen A.
Oh my gosh! I can't believe I forgot to write a review last time I went to Asheville. Awesome beer selection! I had the white zombie in a can. This place really knows how to do good vegetarian food. The place itself was bright, clean, and just had all-around good decor. The waitstaff all had impeccable style, and our waitress gave off a calm, soothing aura. I got the veggie burger, and off all the bean pattys I've had in my life, this has gotta be top three. I will be coming back here next time I'm in A-ville (which I hope is soon.)
(5)Kelsey Q.
Great breakfast. I got the tofu scramble, which was good, my husband got the sweet potato and sausage scramble, which was GREAT. Good coffee, friendly staff, very kid-friendly menu and vibe. It's a small place so I'd expect a wait on weekends, but that's the only downside I saw.
(4)Aubrey W.
Early Girl Eatery was high on my list for the visit. I'm a big fan of breakfast, and this farm-to-table spot sounded fantastic. I wasn't disappointed. I ordered one of their specials that day, Garlic Potato Cakes, topped with a tomato gravy. They came with a biscuit and two eggs, which was more than enough for me! The orange juice was fresh-squeezed, which was delicious. Even the local raspberry jam was heavenly. Our breakfast at Early Girl Eatery was one of my favorite meals in Asheville, hands down. When we come back to town, I'll be returning to enjoy it again and again!
(5)Bill D.
Really good food, early girl has a strong commitment to serving local and organic food and supporting sustainable business practices. One of the few restaurants left serving real food. Very friendly and courteous staff. The food is amazing and save room for dessert great homemade cakes!
(5)Lianna N.
A great brunch option in Ashville. I was itching to try some southern breakfast and was not disappointed! My shrimp and grits were phenomenal. I also appreciated the biscuit with homemade jam (jam was part of the condiments found on the table along with ketchup salt and pepper, how cute). The only minus of eating here was our party had to be split up to accommodate us on that busy friday morning. Staff was friendly and all the other food I sampled from around the table was also delicious.
(4)Ashleigh B.
We didn't do a great job of scouting the place prior to going but it was highly recommended to us. They don't have a great kids menu which is important to me when on a family vacation. Staff was pleasant but not overly friendly. We all had water and apparently you have to request ice, which seems odd to me. I had a spinach and bacon omelette and the spinach was already well cooked instead of fresh which I was not a fan of. Husband's omelette was okay. Daughter didn't touch her pancake because they had an odd taste. If you are looking for an eclectic place then this is it.
(3)Carrie B.
Early Girl is a great Asheville restaurant--the food is always fresh, consistently delicious, and the setting is very quaint. Their meatloaf is one of my favorite dishes, although I've never had anything that I didn't like. Sometimes it does feel a little crowded, and the tables are quite close together. It can also get relatively loud. I wouldn't recommend this restaurant for a private, romantic meal, but they are great for breakfast and lunch. They are also open early (hence the name), which can actually be a bit unusual for restaurants in Asheville. The restaurant is on a small one-way cobblestone street with sparse parking, but there is a City-owned parking garage on Wall Street (entrance on Otis St) that is free for the first hour and only $1/hour after that.
(4)Corey Tess T.
That was the hippest breakfast ever! We used Yelp to find a breakfast spot on our trip to Asheville and came up with Early Girl. It was a good recommendation. The entrance area is a bit crowded, but once inside there are lots of tables. We were seated at a big farm table and shared it with another party. Which was cool because the style of the place is very laid back. They have jam on the table that is made in house, i think... it was really good on the big biscuits. The pancakes were so yummy too. I really enjoy places like this where its low key, casual but cute and there are items that taste like someone actually made them from scratch. I will make sure to visit again on my next trip.
(5)Madame W.
This place looked great as we walked by and we're so glad we stopped in for lunch on our way through Asheville. The staff was extremely friendly. They have a great Southern, fresh menu with plenty of vegetarian options. The atmosphere was homey, cheerful, and welcoming. I would absolutely eat here again!
(5)Leebee C.
Delish. Food was great, very fresh & satisfyingly healthy. A little bit o a wait, worth the quaint atmosphere.
(4)Richie K.
Spent the last few days shuffling between Candler, West Asheville, and Downtown Asheville. So many things to eat...though very few in the former and numerous options in the latter locations. I'll be honest. Early Girl wasn't my first choice. Ms. BK was craving a fried chicken salad, though, and Early Girl had a fried chicken and bacon salad with green leaf lettuce, farmstead cheese, diced cukes, tomato, grated carrots, and your choice of dressing. Resigned to my fate, I ordered an apple walnut salad with tempeh, spinach, apples, chopped walnuts, and goat feta. While my salad certainly did the trick and Ms. BK seemed satisfied, I doubt we'll be rushing back to Early Girl next time we're in town. Too many options, too little time!
(3)Jenny R.
I was let down. I saw that this place averaged four stars and there were lots of people waiting so why not give it a shot. As I waited outside, I started actually reading through the more recent reviews and saw four star reviews saying things like the food was cold or that it's not as good as it used to be. Confusing right?!?! Still I stayed. The place is larger than it appears, but still quite small inside. The server was pleasant and knowledgeable about the menu. I came with a fairly large party so got to try a bunch of things. Everything we had was just mediocre. The pancakes were dry, the mac & Cheese was tasteless, tomato soup was more like marinara sauce, burger bun was stale, pork breakfast bowl was very yummy, and the fried chicken was more batter than chicken. Maybe it was an off day, but I was disappointed. I would say 2.5 stars.
(2)John C.
Worth the 45-minute wait. The breakfast food was outstanding and reasonably priced. I had a three mushroom omelette and seasoned home fries. Biscuits are made from scratch and come with fresh jam.
(5)Hannah L.
They know how to make breakfast for sure! I went on a Saturday morning (11am) for brunch with a bunch of friends. The wait was long (45min) so we went to a nearby cafe to grab some espresso and strolled the streets to kill some time. When we finally got our food... all that waiting was so worth it. Servers are great and assertive and the kitchen sent out food quickly without error. Things we ordered: three mushroom omelet (daily special), early girl benny, porky breakfast bowl, and veggie breakfast bowl. I sampled everyone's and I was impressed at the quality of the ingredients for each dish being $10 or under. Three of my friends ordered early girl benny and all six eggs were perfectly poached. Veggie breakfast bowl tasted awesome with some smoked habanero sauce, and the omelet was perfectly seasoned. Oh, and they were cool with making that with egg whites. I don't live in Ashville but I am definitely coming back next time I am here.
(5)Jessie T.
This little cafe was another delicious stop we had for lunch while in Asheville, NC for my weekend vacation. Like many of the other restaurants there, the ingredients were local and sooo good. I ordered the fried catfish sandwich with a side of their gluten-free potato salad which was amazing! The catfish was a little on the salty side, but was perfectly crispy. The restaurant itself was adorable and cozy and was well worth our visit for lunch. The location was also central to a bunch of cute shops and other eats!
(4)Jaclyn B.
I came here for dinner with a large group and people really enjoyed it. They had to split us up, which was unfortunate, but we didn't have a reservation and only had to wait about 30 on a Friday night. I had the shrimp and grits and was overwhelmed by the spiciness, especially considering I had to pay extra to get a biscuit on the side. The biscuits were amazing. My friends all loved their meals and we especially appreciated to cake they brought us for our birthday. Good food, perhaps not the best location for large groups or special events.
(4)Jimmy H.
Another one of Asheville's stellar restaurants. As is typically the case with farm to table restaurants, the food is extremely good and you never feel as though you're eating something processed or frozen. I've been here a few times and have had the Bacon Egg and Cheese Biscuit, Shrimp and Grits, and Multi Grain Pancakes. All stellar! **Disclaimer** The BEC biscuit will bring a tear to your eye while you're eating it. The bacon is thick and crispy with flavor that is out of this world. The biscuit is fluffy on the inside with a slightly crispy outside. I'm not sure what cheese they use but it ties it all together nicely. If you are looking for an appetizer, the Broccoli Cheddar Hush Puppies are phenomenal. Both the apple butter and the garlic dressing that come with it are really good. For those that like to combine sweet and savory I would go for the apple butter. The sencha green tea is also really good for those tea lovers out there (myself included). The only downside to this restaurant is the parking. Due to its location there isn't a dedicated parking lot for the restaurant so you will need to find street parking.
(5)Emily S.
Ahhh! This place lives up to the hype. Home cooked, savory, and fresh food is a guarantee at Early Girl Eatery. My family and I arrived prepared for the wait, and I suggest you do the same. However, do not fret, because this place is definitely worth the wait! Luckily for us it was only 45 minutes and upon being seated at our table we were promptly greeted. I ordered the vegan tofu scramble and substituted wheat toast for rye. "Wow" is all I have to say because it was magnificent! You don't have to be a vegetarian to love that dish because the flavors all tasted so good together!! The service was fast and everyone was very friendly. I already can't wait to go back! Whether you're just visiting or live in Asheville, this restaurant is a must visit for absolutely everyone! 5 stars!!
(5)Steve M.
A busy place! I stopped in a timely lunch time and waited for a seat to open up. It didn't take too long, about 15 minutes, till I was taken to a table to share with other small groups. The wait staff was friendly. I ordered the vegan tofu scramble and in about 15 minutes was greeted with a piping hot plate full of food! It was pretty at first bite how fresh it was. I guess I shouldn't be surprised but when places say local they don't always have food this fresh tasting. My only complaint would be there wasn't a ton of flavor in what I ordered but then again I could have added spices or sauces. My fault, not theirs. It was still a satisfying meal! When visiting Asheville this should be on your list of places to check out!
(4)Roger C.
One of the best dinners I have ever had. Great staff and atmosphere. I had the fried chicken salad and my wife had the chicken sandwich. It is nice to see a restaurant use great ingredients for relatively simple but tasty dishes. Very nice to our 4 year old son.
(5)Rita O.
A favorite breakfast/lunch place while in Asheville. Really good food -always worth the wait to be seated. Great service with friendly helpful waiters. Love their local made jam! I had the local chicken with fresh veggies and hubby had the special -seared duck with citrus sauce. Both excellent. Homemade coconut cake to share later -no need for dinner!
(5)Andre B.
The wife and I needed a breakfast place and the wife was looking for something familiar so we decided to stop in at Early Girl. We had been here before and as I remembered it was good. I also remembered that there was quite a wait, but we were there on a week day around noon. On this occasion, we were able to walk right in. The menu is straight up southern breakfast type options to include shrimp and grits, eggs Benedict and omelets, etc. They also have salads, sandwiches and larger plates to include many vegan and vegetarian options as well. On this occasion, I was famished so I aimed to order a larger plate and chose the grouper special, which came with 2 sides. I chose the mashed potato and roasted beets. The fish portion was a good size, the mashed potatoes were creamy and the beets were done perfectly. The wife opted for a egg and trout dish that was also flavorful and satisfying. She also had some grits on the side. I still don't get the whole grit thing. The best one that I've had were loaded with cheese and the plain ones are very plain. The people next to us loaded theirs with so much salt and butter that it makes me wonder if the grit are just a vehicle for the salt and butter. Overall, Early Girl is between 3 and 4 stars but I will round up this time. I can't say that I would wait in line for a long time, as Asheville has many other good options.
(4)Antoinette A.
I absolutely loved this place from the moment I spoke with the hostess. We came into the restaurant and there was about a 45 min wait. We put our name in and the hostess told us to grab some coffee and walk around the local shops and check back in 20 minutes. When we finally got seated, which was not a long wait at all, the waiter was super friendly and helped us pick out some great entrees for brunch. I ordered the Fried Green Tomatoes with Goat cheese over grits and I have to say that the combination of flavors was perfect. I would recommend this place to anyone living or vacationing to the Asheville area. 5 Starts for sure!!!
(5)Melanie R.
We ate here for dinner after spending the day at the Biltmore. My cousin and his wife had honeymooned in the area and discovered this place, so they had recommended it. I loved being able to order breakfast even though it was dinner time! I enjoyed some biscuits and gravy, eggs, bacon and grits. My husband had meatloaf and veggies. We were both pleased and found everything to be well cooked with great flavor. You could tell everything was made with very fresh and quality ingredients. We'd definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good place to eat in town.
(4)Paula S.
WORST meal I have had in YEARS!!!!! The Mac and cheese was more like dry, Mac and white sauce. Mashed potatoes were terrible. How do you mess up mashed potatoes? The navy beans were undercooked - the eggs were overlooked - the black eyes tasted awful! Absolutely disappointed!!!!!
(1)Emily E.
We really enjoyed our breakfast at Early Girl! The clear winners were the locally sourced pork sausage (srsly the best sausage I've ever eaten...) and the quiche of the day (caramelized onion, green tomato, and cheddar). Fun, quirky place - highly recommended!
(4)Rebecca L.
Another reason why I love Asheville. Brunch here was a lovely experience. A group of us came on Saturday before noon and were seated within 5 minutes. The restaurant was very cozy and had a nice warm vibe inside. Very much how I hoped a farm to table restaurant would feel. My food was delicious. I ordered the Vegan Tofu scramble + biscuit which surprisingly was very satisfying and filling. I love the Vegan Tofu scramble and am still trying to replicate the recipe at home. The biscuit was only so-so, but the rest of the meal was amazing. Staff here were very friendly and I really enjoyed my meal here. Another win for Asheville in my book!
(4)Nathan S.
An excellent experience: grilled pork, rough-cut grits, eggs; a simple meal executed as well as I've had. Service was great. Inexpensive.
(5)J D.
First let me start off. The staff was super friendly and bumped us up to sit us. Everybody was cheerful, prompt, courteous, filled up drinks quickly, knew the menu well, etc. I'd give it a 5 star on service alone. Interior was full of smoke and overly hot, sweating inside. Quirky and fun atmosphere though. Though seemed full of only tourists. As for the food... not so good. We ordered two meals and shared everything. The biscuit was hard, almost scone like and fell apart into pieces, couldn't even finish it between two people, that bad. Collards were bland and overcooked, seasoning lacked, didn't finish between 2 people. The trout was so small for 16 bucks that I was kind of surprised, the seasoning was almost non existent on it also. Finished b/c it was only like 7 bites, maybe a 4 oz piece of fish. Grits were the worst I've ever had in my life. Like eating watered down porridge or grool. If this is your first time eating grits, I feel bad for you . And I've had awesome grits 100s of times before. The white beans were actually good, not great, but tasty, the only thing I ate. Catfish sandwich barely had any fish on it, was a bit overfried with a highly peanuty taste like the oil hadn't been changed out in awhile. Bun was standard. Maybe the breakfast food is good here, I don't know. The "southern" food is downright bad. Maybe it makes lots of money off the tourists just because of location. I don't really know but we were both really disappointed.
(2)Blake A.
I have visited Early Girl a couple of times while in Asheville, and I'm a fan. The restaurant is known for it's breakfast and it's earned that reputation. I've tried a variety of meals and I've liked nearly all the dishes I've had, though I think my favorite is their biscuits and gravy. My only real complaint about Early Girl is noise pollution. It's a small space with nothing to cancel the echoing of voices, so you can imagine how loud it get's during peak breakfast times. Even still, I'd definitely recommend giving this restaurant a go! You won't regret.
(4)Tyler M.
Fantastic breakfast at a great price! Veggie breakfast bowl was very tasty! Highly recommend
(4)Chris H.
The Earlygirl restaurant has been my favorite during my visit to western NC this week. I highly recommend it. Excellent shrimp and grits, meatloaf sandwiches and the breakfasts are perfection. There is plenty of seating, although it is very popular there sometimes is a waiting line. A whole wall of windows lights up the place so it has a very pleasant atmosphere. The waitresses are all extremely helpful (and beautiful if I may say so), They all manage to quickly navigate through a maze of chairs, children and customers. If anyone is planning a visit to Asheville check it out for breakfast, lunch or dinner.
(5)A B.
I can't wait to eat here again. Great specials and awesome regular menu. O'yeah hot sauce is also great.
(4)Sam T.
Fantastic restaurant. Great service and good menu with lots of basic yet delicious food items. Interesting mix of southern/country flair and vegetarian + vegan options. Fried green tomatoes were especially good. Highly recommended.
(5)Jill A.
Typically, if there is a wait for a restaurant, I don't stay. I don't believe in waiting for food, especially in a town like Asheville where you can turn the corner and find a spot without a wait. EGE is an exception though. I gladly waited 15 minutes to be seated to have their hearty, healthy breakfast. EGE has plenty of vegetarian options, and their gritcake was cooked to perfection.
(5)Amy H.
It seems like every time we want to come here, the wait is too long or they are closed, but we FINALLY made it here for breakfast! We got there right when they opened. There was a line to get in, but we were seated quickly. I ordered the quiche of the day, which included spinach, green tomatoes and cheese curds. It was awesome! My husband got an omelet and he was very happy as well. All in all, I would say Early Girl lives up to the hype. You should definitely check it out!
(5)Richard G.
Fantastic breakfast. All homemade, all interesting, and served quickly. Maybe the best breakfast I ever had.
(5)Justin L.
First impressions are I am back in Austin. The place looks very welcoming from he onset. Smells lovely, hostess was very friendly, just the kind of place that I love. About twenty tables in the back, plenty of open ones 11am on a Tuesday. I guess most of the world has important things to do at his time. Really wanted to try the ramps, legumes, and country ham soup but felt like eggs instead. Went with the porky breakfast bowl. BBQ, eggs, and potatoes. Sounds like the holy trinity of southern cuisine! As expected, it was devine. Definitely a great brunch item. Very filling and savory. The gravy was wonderful. Best part was I had my meal within five minutes of ordering.
(5)Annaleah M.
What a find this is (if you can find it)!!!! It's a gem!!! They focus on local ingredients, and take pride in their food. I had the special quiche...andouille, prosciutto, and local cheese. Also tried their banana bread and ginger pumpkin. Also had to try the biscuits based on reviews. The biscuit was fantastic, but the bacon gravy wasn't as fantastic as hyped-although it was good. I will definitely seek this out next time I'm in town.
(5)Rick G.
WOW, at 8 : 30 on Sunday morning and people are already lining up to get seated at 9:00? The place must be good. We were not disappointed. I had the shrimp and grits, great! Wife had the EG bene. Also, fantastic. A great place but get there early, otherwise, be prepared to wait.
(5)Tram N.
Love this eatery....though a little crowded. Need to come back.
(4)Stacie G.
I like the combinations of food here. I tried the Fried Green Tomato appetizer with goat cheese-all the ingredients of this dish sounded weird together but were surprisingly delicious. We also had the Shrimp and Grits and the broccoli cheddar hush puppies (enjoyed both of those). They have great champagne mixers. some local brews, and also a wide variety of teas to drink. overall, It's worth a stop in and the price isn't bad either.
(4)E A.
The ingredients are so incredibly fresh that they elevate every dish! Even a seemingly every-day hamburger or salad is simply amazing because of the quality. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Brian W.
One of the best breakfast experiences I've ever had. This place is fantastic. A must on any visit to Asheville. I had the BBQ pork breakfast bowl and it was a work of art. Also bought the amazing berry jam and hot sauce that they feature on the tables. Can't wait to go back on my next visit to Asheville.
(5)Alli C.
i'm listening.
(4)Saroja M.
I got the black bean sweet potato cutlet things. They were interesting, in a very good way :) mashed potatoes were hella lumpy, but the waitress admitted that they were being remade, so I guess she got the message after so many plates of untouched mashed potatoes. Mac n cheese was a little strange - watery? Never had watery mac n cheese before o.O biscuit was delish :) didn't think their jam was as good as the other people raving about it, seemed pretty standard to me! I dunno. It was very good, but not mind blowing.
(3)Good For The Palate R.
I had seen good reviews about Early Girl Eatery all over the internet. When our hostel-keeper also suggested it, I knew I had to go. Early Girl Eatery made me the best breakfast I have ever eaten. Every item on the plate was put there with love. They use local ingredients when possible and the care taken to make these foodstuffs is evident. I did bend my usual rule and ignored the Specials (even though their garlic and potato cakes sounded yummazing). I decided upon the local sausage and sweet potato hash with bacon, mushrooms and green onions. The sweet potatoes were super sweet and perfectly cooked and toothsome. Each bite had a piece of everything mixed in, and the eggs were fluffy and moist. The biscuit that came with the hash was the most perfect biscuit ever. I think they must use wheat flour. When I inquired I was told it was white flour, but I dont believe them (restaurants that keep secrets cook good food). These biscuits had beautiful little brown flecks of wheaty goodness in them. And they were accompanied by the most delicious berry preserves ever. I was too busy stuffing my face to ask what kind of berry it was, but it was soooo good. It had the same texture as confiture does in France and instantaneously took me back to my morning market trips on the Canal St. Martin. My companion got the Shrimp and Grits, his favorite dish ever. No instant grits here. Shrimp were perfectly cooked. "Best shrimp and grits ever", that's all he had to say. Early Girl also offered a local hot sauce called Fire from the Mountain. It was spicy and super flavorful and you could see all the little bits of peppers and I think mustard seeds in it. I was really disappointed they didn't have the hot sauce on my second trip, just tabasco. Their Porky Breakfast Bowl is tremendous, and exactly what you would expect. Prices are a bonus, very affordable.
(5)Cassandra P.
Delish food! Lots of flavor and a variety of dishes. Great if your group has mixed eating habits (vegan, organic, carnivore) I can't imagine any of it tasting bad
(4)Brian B.
You'd be a fool not to eat here. The food was fantastic, the prices were right, the service was quick (but not pushy), and the staff seemed genuinely happy to be there. Most complete breakfast experience I've had since I can remember. I could go on about what I ate, but hell, the breakfast menu was an ideal blend of quality standards with tasty ingenuity and I'm sure you'll find something you like. Next time I'm in town I'm making a bee-line for this place. You should too.
(5)Ciara B.
I'm obsessed with local, hippie, breakfast places and Early Girl hit the spot! The vegetarian biscuit and gravy was DELICIOUS and filling (I'm pretty sure they put meat in mine, it was that good) and the pumpkin bread was super moist and mouth-watering. My boyfriend got a scrambled egg/sausage concoction and was equally satisfied with his non-veggie selection. It was surprisingly cheap considering the portion sizes and even though there was a bit of a wait (Veterans Day at noon = 20 min with people out the door) it was definitely worth it. The eatery is located in a great area for window shopping and although parking was a beast, I can't knock Early Girl for it.. great food and decor, big thumbs up!
(5)Event L.
Could this be the busiest weekday breakfast place in NC? Farm-to-table meets hipster with a dash of local southern-ness thrown in for good measure! Steaming coffee in over-sized easy to handle mugs hits the spot while waiting just a few minutes for food. The Benny is delicious hands down - check out the other reviewers comments for validation. The breakfast bean bowl is outstanding - but order it with the Herb Sauce on the side because it can be thick and heavy. The biscuits seem to be made with a heavier flour than necessary, but remain fluffy and tasty nevertheless. Ditto for the pancakes, acknowledging the flavored specialty ones are slathered in sugary sweet add-ins made for a child's unrefined palate. HOWEVER - my experience with the Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble is nothing like the other posted reviews. Not what I expected and did not look like the lovely posted photos. Mine was just a mush of grill-hacked old chewy bacon/sausage with brown scrambled eggs and a few scallions. Were sweet potatoes in there really? It tasted like the brown coloration came from an all too heavy hand of what might be cumin or curry, which is not identified on the menu. This food experience tainted my view a bit of the place overall. The tall ceiling and sunny windows in the dining room and the pleasant wait staff are charming. But these assets are offset by a bit of unappealing uncleanliness of window ledges and heat returns. Not to mention the communal handling of the restroom key fobs required to access the lavatories. Mount a hand sanitizer dispenser nearby and request guests to be mindful of spreading germs. A full star was lost on this establishment as a result of these drawbacks. But I would return for a lunch or dinner experience out of curiosity about the many menu items that were not available during morning hours.
(3)Caitlin S.
I liked the food. I liked the decor. I even liked the place's name. However, major, major deductions since every person in that place made me feel as though I was imposing. No waiter was friendly. While they were not mean, the 'tude was pure frost. So, final ruling is that while the place has so many bits in line to make me like them, I won't return because there are plenty of other eateries with good food AND good employees.
(3)Anne B.
Go here. For brunch. Trust me, you will not be disappointed. Gorgeous, delicious biscuits, quiches to die for (they switch these up but always good!) and omelets any way you want them. Want an egg white omelet with all your favorite fixings? They will do it for you. Vegetarian? No problem. A bit of a tight space, but worth sitting with your chair up against your neighbors!
(4)Max H.
My parents moved to South Carolina from Colorado (where I grew up) about a year ago. I graduated college and started working around the same time; it's been weird to think my parents moved away from my childhood home. So I was a bit skeptical when my brother and I came "home" to the South for Christmas. On the first day we took a trip to Asheville and stopped here for lunch. Long story short: I ordered the Fried Green Tomato BLT and fell instantly in love with my new "home." It was *incredible*. Thick layers of bacon, fresh lettuce, and of course perfectly sliced, breaded, and deep fried green tomatoes. It was divine. The other food was tasty but completely overshadowed by the BLT. The service was decent but not noticeably good. But fear not -- anything is forgivable for that sandwich.
(5)Jojo F.
It was our last night in Asheville before heading back to the Mountain Light Sanctuary for a good night's sleep. We were wandering around town and came across Early Girl Eatery. We decided to check-in. Twenty minute wait. Is it worth it? Definitely so and yes. I opted for the Tempeh Reuben and my husband had the scrambled tofu with home fries. We also shared a basket of sweet potato hush puppies, which took us over the line, sweet Jesus. With all the really cool art on the walls, my senses were as full as my belly. I couldn't help but buy a little bird on a block painting, which was symbolic of our traveling days ahead. Early Girl Eatery, we shall meet again soon.
(5)Angela B.
Enjoyed our meal there. The food was fresh the service was nice. It was totally worth the 45 min wait. Can't wait to go back and try other stuff on the menu. :)
(4)Ashley B.
Awesome healthy breakfast options that were delicious!! Atmosphere was warm and inviting, just like the staff!
(5)Lisa R.
We ate here based on a recommendation from a friend. Service was good and friendly, food delivery was quick (as breakfast should be). Also lots of specials that sounded delicious. I loved the pumpkin bread, OJ and biscuit, though I felt my sausage was overcooked. I was told and had read there were would be a bucket of toys on every table. I didn't see that... until I went to the bathroom and saw them in a pile near the high chairs. Surprised the staff didn't just bring one over when they saw I had a two-year-old in tow.
(3)Elliott W.
As so many have commented, Early Girl was a pleasure. We made reservations for our party of 8 about an hour ahead of time on the first night of Belle Chere and were seated on arrival. Our servers were attentive and helpful. Our table shared an order of guac, hummus and pimento cheese spread to start. I had the special ribeye, mac and cheese and candied yams. The ribeye was a locally sourced pastured cow, and was cooked deliciously although a hair more well done than medium as ordered. If not for the medium well of the steak, I would have given the Early Girl five stars. To finish, I had a slice of chocolate Mayo cake, which was moist and delicious. Who knew.
(4)Meg M.
It was good - but not worth the hour wait. Service wasn't bad but it wasn't great. Just kind of so-so. My husband liked his mac n cheese, but neither of the ladies with us loved the veggie plates they got. My friend green tomato sandwich was just ok, nothing special. If you are trying to just get 2 people a table, rather than 4, then I think you would get seated a lot quicker than we were.
(3)Cara A.
Great food and even better service! Try the sweet potato/black bean cakes, good stuff. Lots of great veggie and vegan options, recommend!
(4)David S.
Shrimp and grits....mmmm good perfectly spiced with andouille sausage, kind of like a jambalaya over grits. For 10 bucks I would have to say this is an Asheville best buy! I'm hooked for sure. The jam is local, I got a biscuit to balance out the spice of the shrimp and grits.
(5)J B.
Unique, delicious brunch food that is particularly good for vegetarians . The first time I ate here, we had the most helpful and considerate server (husband with a nut allergy) who worked really hard to source all of their bread products and explain what menu items were safe. I gave 4/5 stars because there always seems to be close to an hour long wait, likely due to the rather mall dining room size.
(4)Bridget S.
We just left Asheville after a short vacation there. This is one of the two places we stopped for breakfast and it was a perfect recommendation. I ordered the local sausage and sweet potato scramble, plus, I added avocado. It was delicious! My husband had the porky breakfast bowl and raved about it all day. The place is cute with a nice staff and quick service.
(5)Ahava Y.
Had a very nice asian salad with still warm juicy roasted chicken on top. My husband had a turkey ruben sandwich and the cuke/onion side salad was super! My husband liked the Shaker lemon pie - made from think slices of whole (as in - rind on) lemons. Not a thing for me - too bitter. But it's great to see unique recipes served that please lemonheads like my husband.
(4)Angie P.
A cute little diner & breakfast served all day?! YES, PLEASE! Upon my trip to Asheville last fall (to see my crush, Mayer Hawthorne) & googling for a good place to eat, I stumbled upon 'Early Girl Eatery'. I'm so glad I did! This diner is something out of your grandma's farmhouse! So here's the deets: Decor: country diner, farmhouse, grandma's house - so cute! Food: ah-maz-ing! I had the southern breakfast (2 eggs with grits & toast), I added bacon (perfectly crisp!), a pancake & fresh fruit. (Hey, I LOVE breakfast!) Everything had a good taste & was cooked perfectly. The fruit was fresh & full of flavor. Our waitress was terrific. She was quick & efficient with getting our food & drink orders & even with my picky boyfriend's instructions, she got everything right! This is a definite must stop on my (or your) trip to Asheville!
(5)Pilar C.
The wait for Sunday brunch could be around 1 hour. We wait because was highly recommended and then... The wait was clearly compensated with excellent food and great services!! I ordered Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble, it was delicious! I was expecting regular breakfast flavor, but the taste of the food was just incredible.
(5)Giggly C.
Excellent quiche of the day, leek, cheddar and prosciutto. Grits great, sauce great, but shrimp was not fresh and not so yummy. Excellent lemonade. Enjoyed the food
(4)Lawry F.
Great breakfast. Had potato cakes and eggs, my other had sausage and cheese omelet - said was best she's ever had.
(5)Calvin P.
Early Girl Eatery is theee place to go for breakfast when you're visiting Asheville. Even if "early" in your book means stumbling through the door at 10:45-ish. The place was packed, but we only had to wait 15 minuted to get a table. Early Girly prides itself on serving as much locally produced food as possible and it shows in the menu. Of course there's the classic shrimp and grits, which my wife had. She said it was just the right amount of spicy. I was tempted by the garlic potato pancakes which were on the special board. But I had to go with my tried and true, local sausage adn sweet potato scrambled eggs. The starchy sweetness of the potatoes was a perfect complement to the savory goodness in the sausage. Plus, shrooms and onion in the mix. Veryy nice. The thing that sent it over the top though was the jumbo size biscuit they give everyone, just because they are nice. I had it with the table jam which was a local grape that had a good strong tang to it and it was sweet but not too sweet. Endless cup of decent coffee. Fast and efficient staff. Prices that were just a tad above wa tyou'd pay at Shoneys and worth every damn penny.
(4)Mercy S.
Showed up for a late breakfast on March 2, 2014, same day as the Mardi Gras parade. We were a party of four: 3 adults and a 5 year old boy. We went prepared to wait simply because it was a weekend and, of course, extra busy because the parade literally kicked off right in front of the Early Girl's door. The hostess said 45 minutes; we were seated in under half an hour because people ahead of us left. Their loss!! Delicious coffee, lots of locally sourced food and a great, friendly attitude. A previous poster seemed to take offense to the "tattooed and pierced" crowd...our waitress was both tattooed and pierced and couldn't have been sweeter. Then again, we have ZERO problems with people with body mods as we have some ourselves. Note to people visiting Asheville: Yes, we have a very lively tattoo community and some of these tattooed people might work at establishments you may frequent while paying us a visit. Don't..be..a..tool! Treat them like you would want to be treated and you may be surprised. Anyway, Early Girl is awesome and we will definitely be visiting again!!!
(5)Melissa E.
Looking for a quick place to grab breakfast before heading back to Raleigh, we came across this small, local restaurant. We were told there would be about a 25 minute wait, which we expected, but almost as soon as we took a seat up front, we were offered two chairs at their "community table." Deciding to adopt the Asheville vibe, we went for it. We ended up on one end of an 8 person table, with only a single, older gal at the other end, so we basically dined privately anyway, oh well. The waitstaff all wore Early Girl Eatery T's, but donned their own style, (from a bright polka dot skirt, to red skinny jeans) from the waist down. I love this about Asheville; everyone is exactly themselves with no judgement whatsoever...the rest of the country should take some lessons. Our waiter was prompt, friendly and efficient and breakfast was tasty. I had the multi-grain pancakes which were light and fluffy, with a side of local sausage. The sausage was a little sweet for my taste; I prefer a little spice in mine. My husband ordered a bowl which consisted of fried home fries, topped with pulled pork, scrambled eggs, and gravy. It was delicious, as was his side of bacon. In the area where we were (right by Haywood Hotel), there doesn't seem to be much of an option for breakfast, other than this place and Tupelo Honey, which we've been unimpressed with in the past. I would definitely give this place a try.
(4)Claire R.
We've been wanting to come here for the past few years but it never quite fit into our schedule when coming to Asheville. So we finally got around to coming and it was well worth the wait. First off, get here early and be ready to wait. For breakfast, I got the banana hot bread and an egg. They toast the hot bread and it's such a wonderful touch (and there were no nuts in it, another nice touch). The egg was also good (cooked properly) and was even salted (and not too much). Overall, well worth the wait.
(5)Kenny R.
Oh yes! One of my fav's when in Asheville, especially for breakfast. This time I was giving a small tour to some out of towners. As usual, parking was a little bit of a chore, but that gave us more time to walk around and figure out where to eat. As soon as I saw the sign "Banana and strawberry pancakes" I knew where the girls would want to go. So we put our name on the list and were called in less than 5 minutes. First thing, "a round of frsh squeezed mimosa's while we wait, please" Then we looked over the menu, so much to choose from but I almost always go with the daily special. I got the fried trout with eggs and biscuit. I've had better trout filets there, but still great in my book. As always the biscuit and eggs were cooked to perfection. One of my counterparts got the pancakes, absolutely awesome. A little strong on the banana taste right off the bat, but very smooth and fluffy. My other counterpart went with Apple Walnut salad(mind you we were in town for a 2 day pig cookout, so needed to eat light). The fresh local goat feta was so creamy, but not quite as pungent of a flavor as I like. The rest of the salad very fresh and crisp. After all that and sharing some of each we felt full but yet not bogged down, ready to conquer the day, and for the long walk back to the car.
(5)R P.
Liked the vibe and food here, the front is super-smoky since that's where the kitchen is. I had the Local sausage and sweet potato scramble. Also tasted a bit of the spinach cakes special, they were also very good. Definitely a good brunch place if you're in Asheville. Service was okay, but thankfully several of the servers/bussers availed themselves to help if we needed anything. The cakes looked awesome but I was way too full.
(5)Morgan C.
Yes it was good . Great omelet with non pasterized cheese very good. Great pancakes wow good coffee friendly staff and customers. Cute place. Good prices yummy. A must.the toast was amazing. The butter wow the jam OMG! And in downtown.
(4)Aaron J.
This is the best place for breakfast in Asheville. Try the sausage and sweet potato scramble! Quick tip, make sure you get up early to go get in line. The line starts forming up to 45 mins. early to get into this place on the weekends. The place is very small, so you'll have a bit of wait on your hands. The staff is amazing and the guy who makes the jams on the table is usually outside the store with a cart selling it. Pick up a jar for home use, it's delicious.
(5)Paige T.
We met up with a friend at Early Girl whom made the suggestion...and I'm glad she did. Early Girl Eatery was an all-round positive experience. Since our little guy has gotten a bit older, eating out has become a lot more stressful, hence, we do not go it as much any more. Anyhow, when we do, though, it is always nice when the restaurant totally accommodates the family types. Right away we got a bucket full of toys, dinosaurs, spinning-tops, etc. (all of which our li'l man was not interested in, unfortunately). Despite all of that, our friend recommended that we take our tot to that hall for some exhaustive running and stair climbing activities! All good things. So, I just barely got to experience my meal here, actually, but I don't want to diminish the food, because it was really good, not amazing or anything, but good. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone visiting from out of town. I ordered, buy hardly touched my house salad with chicken, but of the few bites I took, I was completely satisfied. Also, the curry soup would have definitely tasted better hot, but it was still pretty tasty at a tepid temp. You all should just go here, because the food was good and the service was really friendly, as they didn't roll their eyes at our kid throwing their toys on the floor and making a mess of his mac-n-cheese, which by the way I ate the left-overs several hours later-- not too bad :)
(4)Hannah O.
We had the shrimp and grits and the brook trout breakfast special. It was good, not knock-your-socks-off good, but solid. They could have served a larger portion of trout; mine was about two inches wide and three inches long. Not a whole lot for a marketed special. The coffee was quite tasty.
(3)Megan B.
Not as good as the nearby and more famous Tupelo Honey Cafe. The restaurant feels like a farmhouse inside but the tables are so close together it is difficult to walk around or hear the people you are eating with. The food was good, nothing exceptional. The biscuits were hard and not nearly as good as Tupelo Honey's.
(3)Shauna C.
Wow I loved this place! I highly recommend the amazing burgers (locally sourced ingredients including the beef)...add mushrooms you won't be disappointed. I also liked the delicious fried chicken ...which was shockingly light! Very reasonable price-wise (although chicken was a tad pricey for lunch) I can't wait to check out the breakfast options next time!
(5)Ben F.
This is my favorite restaurant in Asheville. I wouldn't consider it alternative in any way, but you do have to be a little open minded to enjoy your time there. The food is amazing and the service can't be beat. You walk into a smokey kitchen, only to find that there is an amazing dining area hidden in the back. Get into the Asheville spirit, and accept that you may have to share a table with total strangers. It's part of the experience. I highly recommend this place.
(5)Robin G.
Loved everything about this place....the selection is outstanding, and the local food was great! Generous portions, good quality, with a flare in preparation. Wait staff attentive with good southern hospitality. old fashioned charm with very hip staff. Can't wait to return!
(5)Jules S.
Early Girl eatery gets a lot of press because any place that features locally grown, organic food is the darling of food writers. Is it worth the hype? I think so. The most recent trip I took there was 7:15 am on a Friday morning. Apparently Asheville is not a morning town (maybe I should move there!) so it actually didn't open until 7:30. The nice thing was it was empty, unlike any time you try eating there on Sunday brunch! (Expect a long wait). Hubs had the local sausage and sweet potato scramble, I ordered the Early Girl grit cake Benny and we split an order of the quick bread (one piece of banana bread and one of pumpkin ginger pecan). The quick bread was definitely worth getting! The scramble was very good and, in fact, earned kudos and clapping as my husband left the restaurant! It's not often you can give direct feedback to the kitchen staff, but this setup allowed it and they seemed to appreciate it! My Benny came on top of a GIANT grit cake that was interesting. There was an option for a spinach potato cake special that I kind of wish I had ordered. the grit cake was topped with tomatoes, spinach, two eggs and a tomato gravy. I was not a fan of the tomato gravy, but it was well-executed and just wasn't my taste. I have also had the multi-grain pancakes that were Awesome. Our meals came with biscuits or toast and we had already forged ourselves so didn't devour the dry,dense biscuits. They had nice flavor but left a floury feel in the mouth that even the raspberry preserves couldn't prevent. It is in a down homey kind of place with grubby curtains and handmade pots for preserve and bong-looking sugar shakers. They offer Demerara sugar for coffee which I think makes coffee so much better and theirs is good to start with. I definitely look forward to returning to try more.
(4)Josh S.
Had breakfast here. Cute place, good service and good food. Will be on my list next time I'm in town!
(4)Todd P.
A very good place to try. Never have been disappointed. Always have had enough to eat and won't go away hungry.
(4)Scott E.
A pretty basic diner. The interior was nothing to write home about, but its charm is in its simplicity. It feels like a hangout for locals, which I suppose it is. The Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble was very tasty. The coffee tasted noticeably better than Waffle House or similar diner-style Joe. It was good brewed coffee. I would like to try more items on the menu to get a better sense of their food quality, but it all sounded great and I saw nothing to counter the rumors I had heard of the place. I ate there at 0745 on a Monday morning, so it was empty, and I sat by the window overlooking Pritchard Park. The morning was warm and misty and I thoroughly enjoyed being up early and watching the day come. In that respect, the overall experience in the diner was really very nice. The staff was super friendly! Good, attentive waitress, and the kitchen staff greeted me as I entered and exited. I can definitely recommend Early Girl Eatery!
(4)Casey H.
The tempeh reuben is delish...overall though the prices at this place are a tad high
(3)Michael L.
After spending a bit of time poring over which restaurant we should go to, we finally chose this spot. Gotta make the most of your meals on vacation! Here's what we ordered Roasted Lamb Shank, Collard Greens, Broccoli cheddar hushpuppies ($13.95). The lamb shank was downright good. Must've been cooked for a while because it was fork tender. I'm glad that the spices used didn't overpower the meaty flavor of the lamb. (4) Broccoli cheddar hushpuppies- OMG. Ridiculously good. Not your typical semi-hard, bready hushuppy. The cheese and broccoli gave a very different texture (softer, almost crumbly in a good way). My only complaint is that the outside was a bit overfried/burnt. (4.5) Collards were ok (3). Pan-fried Mountain Trout - with a blackberry green tomato sauce, squash casserole, vegan potato salad ($12.95). A very small piece of trout with skin on. Taste was okay, but the blackberry green tomato sauce just didn't sit well with our palates. (3). The squash casserole was ok, but had a hint of sourness? Ack. (2.5) The vegan potato salad used a good amount of dill, and was a nice refreshing side. (3.5) Previous reviews mentioning the kind of off-putting service were kind of right. The hostess hustled us to our corner seat, pointed to the blackboard with the specials, and left before I could say "What?". Our waitress was okay, however. Overall: (3.75) Come here for the hushpuppies. Do it.
(4)Matthew S.
Not great. Not sure what the hype is all about
(2)Heather D.
There's usually a wait to get in! So get there early! One thing is the tables are very close! I felt like I was eating breakfast with the couple next to us! However the food is great! Had biscuits and gravy - but it was herb gravy which is great for people who don't eat meat but still want biscuits and gravy! They have a great hot sauce that I buy and stock up each time I am in town - called Oh Yeah Sauce!
(5)Todd K.
Hands down, my favorite lunch place in town. Exceptional food with no pretense, drama or kitsch. I work downtown so eat here often and over the course of many years, have never had a bad or even so-so meal here. I don't want to pit Early Girl against their across the building competition (ahem) but Early Girls takes the prize - every time. You might wait a bit but on Wall Street, even that is a pleasing experience. Very highly recommended.
(5)Kate S.
Early Girl Eatery is amazing! Started off with fresh squeezed OJ and some banana bread. As good as it gets! Ordered the sausage and sweet potato scramble. Beau had the black bean and chedder omelet. Enjoyed the yummiest of yummy strawberry jam w our wheat toast. Every. single. item. was made with lots of tlc! I would be in trouble if I lived in Asheville - I cleaned my plate! My only regret - I didn't bring home some strawberry jam...
(5)Nicole R.
Next stop, Asheville! As my next stop across America, The Early Girl Eatery served up a fine meal without any of the Paula Deanesque qualities of typical of modern Southern comfort food. Maybe this isn't how Mom used to make it, but this is how she should have made it with fresh locally farmed ingredients. These guys actually list their suppliers on the website so you know where your meal is coming from. I tried the shrimp and grits, because I wanted to embrace my southern route. They were delicious. The shrimp were huge, the veggie and sausage stir fry savory and the grits were buttery. I only wish I could have tried more things on the menu. A must stop in Asheville. Early Girl Eatery, please publish a collection of favorite recipes, so that those of us who live far away can indulge in your delicious inventions.
(5)Liss B.
Hipster place we had breakfast at. Nice relaxed atmosphere. Wait time was reasonable. Friendly attentive staff.
(3)Laura K.
Great brunch! Creative menu with local farmers. And very delicious! Loved the Early Girl Benny! The homemade everything impressed me! The servers are attentive and team oriented. Loved how I felt I was visiting with home folks of Asheville here ( no tourists here that morning!)
(5)Julie A.
NOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM Oh, I'm sorry I was just drooling all over the place. Best Breakfast I have ever had. That would be one of the reasons why I would want to move back to Asheville.
(5)Annemarie B.
I've enjoyed Early Girl several times while visiting Asheville; twice for breakfast. Simply THE BEST omlette I've ever had! I dream about that omlette. A pot of tea, fresh berry jam for your toast -- simply Heaven. I've also enjoyed a fresh catfish entree for lunch. The staff is VERY attentive, the seating area in the back is sunshiney and complimented with local artwork -- if you can make it that far past the bakery items. It's a funky-artsy place in keeping with the Asheville spirit. Great place to people-watch. I highly recommend a visit.
(4)Teresa L.
My friend and I each ordered vegetable plates. She has collard greens, mac & cheese, squash casserole and beets. I had blackeyed peas, mac & cheese, squash casserole and ginger slaw. The peas and slaw were fine, but not great. The squash was delicious. The mac & cheese was terrible. Cornbread was very good. I was slightly disappointed.
(3)Jon L.
Actually it should be called....Not So Early Girl. On a recent trip to Asheville we were looking for a place to eat breakfast on a Sat morning before our golf game. This place doesn't open til after 9am. They do serve breakfast all day if you are into that. We ended up there for a late lunch after golf and had a good experience. It's very popular and well known, in a great location downtown off Wall St. I would highly recommend it if you don't mind a wait. The mushroom soup was exceptional, fresh and homemade with large shittake shrroms. The fresh local apple and walnut salad was tasty with a nice house dressing. The sweet tea was real good. The service can be sketchy, especially when busy. They have several big tables so it's popular with groups and especially families.
(4)Matt W.
yeah i like early girl's food a lot, service is a bit under parr though, most servers seemed pretty smug, but not enough to keep me away
(4)Angelica G.
What a cool place. After hours of driving and experiencing that particular all day in the car sort of hunger, we found ourselves at Early Girl Eatery on a Sunday facing a wait. The restaurant, which appears cramped at the entrance, expands into a sunlit dining room with art on every wall. Our server had many tables but our waters were never near empty and our plates came out perfectly. Although I read great things about the vegetarian options I selected the grilled chicken sandwich with the delicious herbed goat cheese, a recommend for sure.
(5)Terry S.
Had a solid breakfast here before some hiking the other day. No complaints at all. I'd be a regular if I lived in the area!
(4)Sarah M.
The fried green tomatoes with goat cheese and light salsa on top of grits was wonderful. It is a more dressed up version of fried green tomatoes (not the kind your mother probably made), but they were some of my favorite fried green tomatoes I have tried. My mom got a biscuit, apple sauce, black bean patties; she loved it & of course I took bites off her plates... it was great. The waitress was nice and the meal was reasonably priced. We both left happy and I will definitely go back next time I'm in Asheville.
(5)James T.
This place just tied Maria's in Austin TX for my all time favorite breakfast joint. Everything was fresh and delicious. Please don't change a thing and we will be back as soon as we can!
(5)Marcello L.
Been awhile, but I met friends there the other day. I had the Early Girl Benedict, I think it was called. It was quite tasty. My friends all enjoyed their meals too. The staff is always friendly, and the place is comfy.
(4)Niki C.
Every time I am in Asheville I eat at Early Girl Eatery. Always breakfast no matter what time I am there, although I do want to try their dinner one of these days. Good (local) food, good service. Love it.
(5)Ricky K.
My wife and I had heard from friends how great EGE is so when we went for a weekend we had to try it. The breakfast was phenomenal! It was so good on Saturday morning that we decided to not try a new restaurant on Sunday and went back to EGE. We each tried new meals and found everything to be perfect. Quaint atmosphere, friendly (busy) staff, great food, reasonable prices. Definitely a must for any foodie going to Asheville.
(5)John E.
I debated over giving this four or five stars - we came in for a late lunch after a large breakfast, and weren't super hungry, but the light food we ordered was excellent. We had the early girl benny and the ginger salad with tempeh. I would have liked to go back to try a big breakfast, but their lighter fare was first-rate.
(5)Jeff J.
LOVE THIS PLACE! Southern style comfort food with an organic local feel, words cannot explain, you have to go.
(4)Rad N.
10 Stars for YUMMY! It is super busy, but worth the wait! I had fried green tomatoes & polenta, it was exceptional! A lot of fun and pretty healthy too.
(5)Eva S.
Stopped in for breakfast during the busiest holiday weekend, the wait was about 45min but worth every minute! The food and service were both fantastic. I had the eggs benedict that came on a grit cake with diced tomato, sounds odd but it was so good! Everyone else we were with raved about their dishes as well, definitely give this place a try if you are in the area.
(5)Tony R.
Long lines for average food. I've eaten here several times in the last 8 yrs. and it just keeps getting worse. Last weekend my biscuits and gravy arrived to the table so cold I thought maybe they pulled it out of the fridge and the biscuits tasted like something from the freezer section at Ingles. Coffee was good and hot though. Cheers to that. The dining room is clean and sunny and it is a good place for large groups. Just too expensive for the quality of the food.
(2)Scott S.
We went for our first Early Girl experience on a windy, rainy Saturday, so I assume it was less crowded than normal. We didn't wait more than 5-10 minutes for a table for two, so that was a good start. We ordered just a sweet tea to drink, which was about the same as any other sweet tea you get, not too sweet. I ordered a make-your-own-omelet with four ingredients for $7.95, all local stuff. My wife got the daily quiche, which today was asparagus, parmesan, and bacon. Mine was certainly delicious, and I'm told hers was as well. My omelet was cooked to fluffy perfection, and was served with home fries and a biscuit, as well as the side of grits that I ordered. My only wish is that the menu was a little more detailed about what's in the food. There were some onions and peppers where I didn't expect them, although I should have assumed as much with home fries. The service was great. Everyone was very friendly, and we noticed the owner walking around talking to people. I really have no complaints, and we will certainly be back, and we'll be taking visiting friends there as well.
(4)Mike G.
"The Benny". Grit cake topped with spinach, egg, marinara sauce and avocado. I'm from California and will pine for the day to return and enjoy this meal again. Service was excellent in spite of joint being slammed on Sun am.
(5)Lisa B.
The Early Girl is a must for breakfast! You can make a meal out of their biscuits and gravy or have them as dessert after the Benny or tofu scramble. This restaurant is perfect for vegetarians, flexatarians, or meatatarians!
(5)Lee M.
I ate at Early Girl today for the third or fourth time - lunch today. It's becoming one of my favorite restaurants, and I'm starting to make it a priority to eat here when I'm in Asheville. First, and most important, if you can, order something with bacon in or on it. They have the best bacon I've ever eaten. Today, I had their avocado and sprout sandwich and a cup of cream of shiitake soup. The sandwich usually comes with tomato and hummus on it as well. I'm not a hummus eater, so I asked them to substitute bacon, which they did with no problem. It was a really good sandwich. But it couldn't hold a candle to the soup. Mushroom soup can be bland and insipid. This wasn't. It was rich, earthy and redolent of mushrooms, and had considerable depth of flavor. The mushrooms hadn't been completely puréed, but instead were left a bit chunky so the soup had some texture, which was nice. It was very, very good. I highly recommend that you get their lemonade. It's real lemonade - fresh, and with the perfect balance of sour to sweet. It's so rare that you find real lemonade anymore that you should order it every time you have a chance. So far, the quality of the meals I've had at Early Girl has been very consistent. I haven't had anything there that wasn't first-rate, well cooked, and delicious. The service can be slow, but the waitstaff has been pleasant, friendly, and helpful. I recommend to all my friends when they come to Asheville.
(5)Natalie K.
Ate here last Saturday night at about 8 or so, an hour before they close. I'm from Atlanta and it was our first time trying this place out. It was a really cute little place and we were seated right away - even though it was pretty busy! The restaurant was a lot more casual than I was expecting because it looks so dim from the outside. That being said, it's really charming! I ordered the Early Girl Benny and my boyfriend ordered the cheeseburger. We were served fairly quickly and DUG IN as we were pretty hungry. My meal consisted of a grit cake topped with tomato, spinach, poached eggs, tomato gravy and avocado. It was delicious!! I love breakfast food, especially for dinner. The eggs for perfectly cooked and all of the toppings on my grit cake were a perfect blend. I got a taste of the cheeseburger and was very pleasantly surprised. The basil mayo tasted like pesto, which I love! It was a great touch. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in Asheville to try more dishes.
(4)Larry M.
Oh, my gosh, this restaurant was phenomenal. It doesn't look like much from the outside, but once you are seated, it is bright and sunny and much more spacious than it appears to be. Service was friendly. Less than a ten minute wait at 10:00 a.m. on Monday morning in the summer. Multi-grain pancakes were superb: large, light but tasty. The special was a mixed mushroom omelet, and the fresh local mushroom were packed with flavor. Home fries were real: made on the griddle with lots of butter, not that fryolater junk. Biscuit was excellent, too. Favorite condiment: a smoked habanero sauce that was killer.
(5)Kipper S.
It always breaks my heart to see a place that I find to be absolutely wonderful robbed of its potential 5 star ratings due to a few lack luster haters. Early Girl is one sweet tomato if you ask me. Bright and vibrant flavors erupt from each of their afternoon entrees and breakfast delights. It's a pleasure to eat locally cultivated ingredients, especially when they're prepared so well. The dining room here is spacious and wooden, and reminds me very much of home or a good friends house. It's inviting and captivating to say the least. Early Girl can be a bit busy at times, but with their prices and their culinary offerings, it's definitely worth the wait. P.S.-Skip the beer or juice and order yourself a coffee, it's roasted by regional artisans Counter Culture, and it's fantastic.
(5)Catherine C.
I live all the way across the country and still think about the egg biscuit I had here almost 3 years ago now. Good God! Enough said.
(5)sara k.
I'm thankful that I was told that I had to dine here while in Asheville. 'Cause I ate grits. And they were goo-ooood. Early Girl is downtown on a pleasant little avenue. I wish that the rain had lightened up, 'cause we could've explored it a bit more. But the warm, cozy setting was a welcome respite from the gray, wet cold. On the counter as we walked by to our table was a line of housemade cakes. My mom eyeballed the red velvet and ordered it up with her biscuit sandwich. It was awesome, especially with the freshly whipped cream. I settled on the classic scrambled eggs (very good) with grits (also very good), sausage (local and very good), and biscuit (good, but I prefer the crumbling, hot variety). The OJ was fresh squeezed and a perfect accompaniment to the meal. As was the coffee with raw sugar and cream. A great meal. Service was pretty decent, but a bit slow, even though there were only a couple of tables. I ordered the chocolate mayo cake with cream cheese frosting to go. Even two days later, when I remembered that I had it tucked away in a shopping bag, it was scrumptious. I'd definitely return. But I'd like to try Tupelo Honey, too.
(4)Shirley W.
Based on yelp and friend recommendations, we stopped by here on a Sunday afternoon for lunch. Early Girl Eatery is described at southern cooking using fresh local ingredients. It was very busy and there was a 25 minute wait, but the food smelled good so we decided to wait. The look of the eatery was very bright and the staff was friendly. We were sat when promised and promptly greeted by our waitress. We started with the Broccoli Cheddar Hush Puppies served with apple butter and creamy garlic dressing. Better with the creamy garlic dressing and the jelly that was on the table. We also had the Shrimp and Grits, Local Sausage and Sweet Potato Scramble and the quiche of the day with a side salad (shitake mushroom and farm fresh cheese). All items very good. The green salad was very refreshing and you tell that the ingredients were very fresh. Hopefully locally grown too. All in all, a great dining experience. Asheville is a vegetarian dream city. Lots of organic vegetarian choices.
(4)Eric K.
We arrived at Early Girl Eatery one evening before the dinner rush so we were seated right away. (Now who's the early girl?) We weren't too impressed by the restaurant's lack of decor/theming, but the menu was pretty decent and offered a lot of tasty-sounding vegetarian and organic dishes. I opted for a bowl of their vegan chili, which itself was thick, chunky, very filling, full of flavor, and sweet-tasting. It was less than freezing while we were in Asheville, so this bowl of hot chili really hit the spot. For my entree, I opted for the Grilled Chicken Sandwich with herbed goat cheese spread, sauteed spinach, bacon and tomato. It was very flavorful and, hopefully, healthy. I do appreciate, too, that there is a wide variety of side items from which to choose other than French fries. I went with the squash casserole, which I also recommend. For being slow, the service was just so-so. I might try it again for breakfast, but I can't see it being a regular dinner place. Plus, $5.95 for kids' PB&J is a bit on the pricey side for parents.
(4)Ingrid H.
Great breakfast! My friend had shrimp and grits which she said was wonderful and I had the early girl benny which was also great. My Benny was toast with spinach, tomatoes, avocado, poached egg and tomato gravy. Very yummy! I so recommend you give this place a try. We were there when they opened and there was a line at the door, but not a long wait.
(4)Angela C.
Been here a few times when visiting Asheville and loved everything about it!
(5)Solomon W.
EGE was no doubt on my radar while in the Asheville area, as it has been all over magazines and the internet as a go-to diner. I really liked the low-key office building location, and the service was quick and attentive. My Pimento Cheese sandwich was fantastic, for the most part. I liked the spinach and tomato inside; they broke up the richnesss of the cheese. I would have preferred my cheese a bit chunkier and less spread-like and tangier, but no worries. The thick-cut wheat bread was a nice base. The curried summer squash soup was very disappointing. It was bland, and the soggy texture was like something out of a can, though I can assure you that all of the main ingredients in the soup were "eco-friendly"--in all definitions of the phrase. The $7 price tag for sandwich and soup is a great price for a light dinner, so I would recommend EGE to anyone looking to eat somewhere cool on a budget. It is tucked back onto a smaller street, so it provides you with a cooler atmosphere to eat in.
(3)Ginger N.
Came to Asheville for a girls weekend and this place was recommended so we decided to try it! Glad we did! Definitely a long wait, but well worth it. I had the black bean omelet and it was delicious! Check it out!
(5)Dale F.
Went there for a quick lunch on the way to the airport. The food was excellent, fresh, and very tasty. I had the gumbo...superb, almost as good as anything I have ever eaten in New Orleans. The crab cake sandwich was excellent with a large crab patty, great pickles and fries. Others at my table had: Shrimp Poor Boy...huge roll, chock-full of tasty shrimp Small dinner salad...diverse ingredients and tasty Biscuit and gravy...excellent Grilled chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries...wonderful
(5)Rebecca C.
Didn't know this was a vegetarian eatery. I am a meat kinda girl. But with that said, the food was pretty decent. Flowers on the table were a nice added touch of "home grown" atmosphere they are trying to sell to their patrons. What I really loved about this restaurant was their careful attention and planning for children and babies. They brought out a bucket of wooden toys for Emma to play with. Made my visit that much more enjoyable, as Emma was totally occupied the entire dine-in. Thanks Early Girl for keeping my kid entertained and that Pimento Cheese Spread. Oh, and fresh jam. That was good too.
(3)Jeremiah F.
Very cool place. My girlfriend and I went on a Sunday around noon. The wait wasn't too bad, about 45 minutes. We both wanted breakfast so she got the almond banana pancakes and I got the trout with eggs and grits. My plate was very good, but my girlfriend's pancakes were the best pancakes I've ever tasted. The local jam that they had was very good as well. We ended up buying a jar to take home.
(5)Tony L.
Early Girl used to be one of my favorite downtown restaurants. In just over a year, their food and service has hit rock bottom. I used to come here for the amazing breakfast with their fresh biscuits and herb gravy. The butter was fresh from the creamery and the jams were from the best berries. The breakfast meats, eggs and pancakes were all made fresh and with delicious ingredients. The omelets had fresh creamery cheese...they were amazing. Making your mouth water? Too bad none of it tastes good any more. They somehow have settled to bring you the bare minimum for the same cost... They used to have an amazing meatloaf with fresh vegetables on the side. Now it's flavorless with a salty mess of veggies plopped on the plate. The Pan Fried Mountain Trout with green tomato blackberry sauce was my favorite. The last time I went, it was so disgusting I should have sent it back. I had it with the squash casserole, another of my past favorites, and it was more salt and casserole than squash. I'm sad that they went down the drain. Go to any other restaurant on that block...stay away from (I never thought I would say this) Early Girl.
(1)Jeff L.
The biscuits and gravy were awful. The smoked flavor was overpowering and didn't taste natural at all.
(2)Nell M.
We arrived on a sunday around 11am and were told to expect an hour wait. Boy was the wait worth it. I had the Porky breakfast bowl. The pork was flavorful, the potatoes were tender and crispy, the eggs were perfectly cooked and the bacon gravy...oh my gosh, the bacon gravy. I also ordered a biscuit which was flaky, warm and yummy. Their cakes and pies looked wonderful but I was way too full. I hope to go back to Early Girl next time I'm in Asheville.
(5)Erin A.
Love this place! Eat here for brunch whenever I am traveling in the area. The fried green tomatoes are my fav! A must try!
(4)Chef J J.
We clearly got lucky the day we visited for lunch as it was a fast 10 minute wait till we were seated. I would have expected a few more vegan options on the menu but was happy with black bean burger which clearly was house made and excellent. My husband was lured in by the sprout and avocado sandwich which he shared a bite of with me, one word YUMMY. I would happily visit again the next time I'm in Asheville. I can't give it a 5 stars because of a few picky reasons like a communal restroom shared with the rest of the building it's located in and lousy side street parking but clearly these issues don't seem to hurt them one bit as they were bustling busy and seem to be thriving.
(4)Soo H.
This place is bright and cheery! I stopped by for lunch on a little break from my bbq tour. The pan fried catfish sounded good. It had a nice flavor from the corn meal with complimented the catfish flavor. It was a single filet which I'm guessing was half a small catfish. For me the portion size was a bit small. The biscuit was good. A bit like KFC biscuits but with better flavors. I liked this place. The food taste good and the staff were friendly. Next time I'm in town I'll try the breakfast menu.
(4)D. B.
I love this quirky, down home restaurant . . . especially for breakfast. The food is organic and always seems to be fresh. Great choices for the vegetarian and they support/use local growers and suppliers. The atmosphere is very casual and homey . . . the staff always friendly.
(4)Natasha M.
Went to Early Girl Eatery on a Saturday morning with a couple friends. I expected the 45-minute wait but it was well worth it. The staff is very friendly and welcoming. We had heard great things about this place so we decided to order a bunch of different breakfast items and taste-test as much as we could. I had an omelette with ham, bacon and spinach. Best ham I've ever tasted in my entire life plus the eggs were fluffy and moist - couldn't get any better. We also ordered the black bean and cheese omelette (which was fresh and flavorful) and the Shrimp & Grits (picture perfect with the perfect seasoning - good and spicy) and the biscuits and gravy (one of the best I've ever had). All of the food was amazing, but I'd have to say the highlight of my meal was the homemade jam at our table. I believe it was blackberry...well, whatever it was it was the most delicious thing I've ever put in my mouth. I couldn't stop eating the jam just by itself! I was amazed by our waitress - it was a packed house but she still managed to keep our coffee cups full, bring our food out steaming hot and get our check to us super fast so we could continue with our day. Excellent service to go with the excellent food. Next time I'm in Asheville I might just eat all my meals at Early Girl Eatery.
(5)Scott W.
I had lunch here on a Saturday while visiting Asheville. After a 30 min wait I was seated at a table with a window view which overlooked the park across the street (I liked that). The service and food were both pretty good. I had a pimento grill cheese sandwich with potato soup. Although everything was OK I did not feel my experience was worth the 30 min wait.
(3)JD L.
Great meal & great service. Definitely worth the 45-minute wait.
(5)Thomas W.
This place is great. At 10am on a Thursday, we were seated immediately. The highlights were the Transcendent Porky Breakfast Bowl and the Perfectly-Executed Shrimp and Grits. You can't go wrong.
(5)Tracey W.
At 9 a.m when this place is getting ready to open for breakfast, folks are lining up at the door. It is obvious that lots of time goes into the menu here. I had the veggie bowl this time around with 'iron and clay peas', spinach, scrambled eggs, farmers cheese and the best vegetarian herb gravy you'll ever taste. They are doing sooooo many things right at Early Girl! Visit them soon on the cutest little side street in downtown Asheville.
(5)Kate N.
We visited Early Girl Eatery for a snack during a recent visit to Asheville. I had been meaning to try it due to some great yelp reviews and a fantastic looking veggie menu, so I was excited to get the chance to split a veggie reuben sandwich. It was great. Sometimes restaurants go wrong with veggie imitation sandwiches, but EGE went very right with this one. We also had some salad with tahini dressing which was very yummy. Definitely recommend EGE!
(4)Sarah Ann B.
When I think back to Asheville, I slowly re-submerge myself into the smooth coaxing aroma of fresh, locally, and beautifully crafted food. I am perhaps slightly biased toward this place due to the fact my family's old farm, 'Narnia Farms', used to supply them with their breakfast sausage. Regardless, what they did with that meet could not be recreated at home. With excellent offerings of both meat and vegetarian dishes, this place catered to my every, constantly changing, teenage whim. While being a disgracefully picky eater as an angsty tween, Early Girl was somehow able to break down several food barriers I had, presumably, permanently raised in my food repertoire. Lo, and behold the delight of my parents, and my taste buds! I owe a lot to you Early Girl. Thanks :-)
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