Azalea Bistro

Absolutely fantastic French restaurant. Charming, homemade, excellent ingredients that you can't find everywhere. Order the caviar and crab cake. Caviar Crepes also a must. Unique desserts. Seasonal menus. Make Reservations ask for Alex.

We came here in October for our anniversary and then again for my husbands birthday. The food is perfection! The Chef certainly knows what he's doing and it shows in every course. The staff is freindly and helpful with recommendations. This is my happy place. You definitely get what you pay for and more. We'll be back in July for my birthday. Absolutely worth the 3 hour drive to dine here!

Hands down the best restaurant in the area!! We’ve eaten here several times and each time we say it’s the best meal we’ve ever had!! Garret and his team are top notch!! Hailey and Alex, front of the house are wonderful, and provide excellent service. The food is unique, and the flavors are amazing! The menu changes weekly, Chef Garrett takes so much pride in every ingredient and sources from local farms! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!! 10 ⭐’s

We had lunch there during the arts festival for the first time. I had read reviews and news articles about it and they were all positive. We were not disappointed. Very tasteful decor and the food was SO good. We are already planning a trip back from our home in Waynesville. The chef came out to ask how we liked our food and I suggested he open a restaurant near us. Highly recommend!

A French restaurant owned by a 4x James beard nominated chef in a small mountain town of 700 piqued my interest enough to walk from the truck stop into town and treat myself to a nice dinner.

I don’t think I’ve ever been to a French restaurant before tonight. I opted for the 4 course meal.

After failing to order a Diet Coke, my server graciously offered to make me a mocktail and started making suggestions. I asked him to surprise me and he made me a really nice old fashioned without the alcohol. It was great.

First, I was fully prepared to eat my meal and head to the bar and grill next door if I left with more of an appetite. If you leave here hungry, see a doctor immediately. You may be feeding an unknown child, parasite or worm.

I came in hungry and left stuffed as a tick.

I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised, but similar to popular bbq, things will sell out. With help from the service team, we made it work, and I’m glad I ultimately went with what they suggested.

I think the coolest thing about the experience was to learn that the main courses change weekly, likely with a different twist on the main protein choices.

The presentation speaks for itself, and I’ve included pictures of everything put in front of me.

The food was extremely rich in both flavor and satiety. The dessert was one of the best I’ve had.

It’s an easy place to recommend trying at least once. I have a feeling for most of you, if you aren’t returning it’s simply because this little tucked away restaurant isn’t in your normal path of travel.

My waitress, full of southern charm, didn’t let me leave empty handed and sent me home with a full container of the leftover sweet tea. It was a very nice finishing touch and made for an enjoyable walk back to the truck sipping on sweet tea and listening to the bugs in the trees.

Until a few days ago, I hadn’t heard of Saluda, North Carolina, but it has a certain charm to it that certainly makes it special.

If I could give 10 stars I would! Absolutely incredible experience. Staff is very friendly and attentive. Award winning Chef came out to deliver food which made the experience even better! We used to drive an hour to Charlotte for this experience and will no longer!

We stopped in for the first time today while in Saluda for the Arts Festival and had a very lovely experience.

When we first walked up, it appeared there'd be a hostess at the stand outside but after waiting a few moments, no one appeared. A waiter came out to wait on outside tables & hubby asked him if a hostess would be seating us and he said normally, yes but there were only two of them so he ushered us inside. We were seated by Alex within a few minutes once he cleared the table & reset it which was good.

Azalea Bistro is a very classic French restaurant and it was decorated with clean lines in a light pallet with linen draped tables. I especially loved the stained glass around the entrance door.

Hayley was our waitress & she did an outstanding job taking care of us and explaining the menu. Saturday & Sundays you can do the endless brunch which allows you to have as many small portioned brunch plated as you want. Hayley explained most people will try three which is what we did.

We started with the poached eggs over a biscuit with spicy ham served with truffled fries. Omg!!!! Perfect portion and absolutely delicious.

For our second choice, we had the 4 cheese omlet with grits. The omlet was perfect but those grits were out of this world! The were a more unprocessed grit but how they were prepared was almost like a souffle the were so light. I could eat them all day long.

Lastly, we chose for myself a berry stuffed puffed pastry with perfectly ripe sliced pear and hubb6 chose the fluffy french toast with bacon. Words don't do either justice as they were a just the perfect amount of sweet after two savory courses.

We had the pleasure of briefly speaking to chef & owner whom was out there helping Alex & Hayley keep things moving by expediting food. He was very friendly and quick to answer our questions.

For this level of food we will gladly pay a bit more as it was very worth it. We definitely will be back!

I cannot describe how satisfied my wife and I were with our dining experience at Azalea. We both chose the 4 course option and were able to try a little bit of everything.

The charcuterie board was expertly assembled with flavors that complimented and set itself apart from other boards we've ordered. The escargot was completely different than any other and was absolutely amazing. No scooping them out of the standard dish, slathered in butter. They were mixed with a medley of garlic, onions, and mushrooms, on a bed of what we discovered were black panko bread crumbs. It was so good my wife split it with me when in the past she wouldn't go near escargot.

The she crab soup was to die for and far out shone any other crab or lobster bisque in recent memory.

Entrees next, both of which were quite good. The favorite was the duck breast, cooked to perfection and combined with light mashed potatoes, asparagus, mini onions, and an amazing demi glaze.

And finally the dessert. The chocolate torte... I have no words, just do it.

Our only regret is not trying the 10 course chef selected menu, but it gives us a reason to visit the area again next time we're in the state 😋

Absolutely blown away! Best meal I have eaten In a long time! Our server Hailey was incredible and made everything absolutely perfect! Every bite was scrumptious! Can’t recommend this enough and I can’t wait to return soon! 💜

Wonderful French Bistro, with a lowcountry flair, in the heart of Saluda. This is a must stop on our way through the mountains of western N.C. Alex and Haley are always glad to see us and the menu is superb, with new daily offerings. Sunday (and now Sat as well I believe) is brunch with menu items and an endless brunch available. I wish google would offer a "favorite" star option as an upgrade to a five star review. Bon appetit,,,Y'all!

Enjoyed the loveliest birthday dinner at Azalea Bistro last night! For those that aren't familiar with a prix fixe menu style, it might seem a little confusing, but it's a great way to get to taste lots of different dishes that the chef has obviously put a lot of time and energy creating and plating. His artistry shines through in each dish. Each pair of us shared a "2 main + 4 starter" course dinner. Rather than actually having to share the plates, everything that could be split was split ahead of time and plated separately. In the instance of the corn, lobster, and crab cake, which was already portioned, one plate was brought out for us to share.

Each dish was exemplary. The she crab soup was velvety (fluffy was a word that was thrown around our table) and seasoned perfectly.

The escargot and mushroom saute was perfectly cooked (not a single bite that felt rubbery, as escargot can be if not prepared properly). What a refreshing take to not have them swimming in butter and garlic, but instead with a light creamy sauce and earthy mushrooms and pearl onions.

The crepe and caviar served with the corn and lobster cake was to die for. I'm not even sure what was inside but all together that dish was amazing.
Charcuterie board was a work of art, and had amazing selections of meats, pickled veg and cheeses. On a normal day, that could have been dinner on its own!

The flavors on the fried green tomato dish were lovely, although I wish the vinaigrette had been a little more emulsified. Especially with the waitress pouring it over the tomatoes at the table. It almost seemed like a broken sauce until she mentioned it was a vinaigrette. Since the base and oil split apart when she poured it, it wasn't quite as impressive. But still delicious.

Our only hiccup was that our filets were not cooked as ordered when they arrived, for half of the table. However, upon letting our server know, she quickly pivoted, took the plates away, switched the order of the entrees for us and went ahead and brought our duck dish while they corrected the filets.

The duck confit dish might have been my favorite of them all. The confit was melt in your mouth, the truffle croquettes were soft inside with a nice crunchy exterior, and a truffle flavor that was complementary but not overwhelming. Adding a bite of the coddled egg to the richness of the duck and croquette added a wonderful velvety texture.

The filets were perfect upon re-delivery, and were completely replated. Sweet flavors mingled with the savory from the beet foam and salty (perfectly) potatoes, in addition to the melt in your mouth steak.

The sous vide salmon just melted in your mouth. I only had a small bite since I didn't actually order it, but they raved and my bite was delicious.

Finally my friends had the kitchen pick a dessert for us for my birthday. I would not have thought of adding peach flavor to a creme brulee but it was amazing. Light and creamy and just enough caramelized sugar to give a crunch but not so much to create a thick shell to crack through. A perfect finish.

The wines we chose were great. Their list is extensive by the glass, and even though we didn't order by the bottle, the selections there were even more varies and well curated.

Our server was great fun. It was not what I would have expected from a French bistro with a prix fixe menu, but she was eager to please, happy to be there, and very friendly. No pomp and circumstance here. Just southern charm. Totally willing to defer to the other waitress when specific questions about the food were asked that were beyond her expertise. It was a refreshing experience. For some, it could have detracted from the fine dining experience, but we loved it.

I read some of the other (lots of fake and ugly) reviews here and I would encourage anyone who eats here to write the review this place deserves. A hidden gem in the mountains of WNC. You would be remiss to not drive to Saluda to check them out!

W.O.W.!!!!
We "accidentally" stumbled upon this super cute restaurant. We had the endless brunch and other lunch items. Everything was fantastic. Very delicious! Our waitress was outstanding. She knew every little bit about the menu and was very knowledgeable and professional.
We went ahead and made dinner reservations in 2 weeks. Excited to try the menu.

Had dinner here for the first time. Amazing experience. Our server Alexander was attentive and helpful. The food was delicious and exquisitely presented. The wine flight accompanying the meal was thoughtfully chosen. The atmosphere was quiet and artistically elegant without feeling pretentious. It is definitely a place where food is art and the flavor and texture combinations are creative and intentional. The pace of dining is relaxed. This is NOT Applebees where you get a lot of food for a little money and get it fast. I would say the food quality, level of service and price are comparable to high end restaurants in LA Or NYC. It’s fortunate to have such an experience available locally.

We visited Azalea Bistro for a friend's birthday. We enjoyed a wonderful brunch. The service was wonderful. Seating was comfortable. The coffee was the best cup of coffee I've had in the region. It was simple, balanced,
and flavorful. But the food! It was delicious. I never thought I would love a green bean omlette. You have to try it. The French breakfast was fabulous. French toast, yes. Really, everything was wonderful. Thank you for making our day.

The dinning experience at Azalea is one of the best the in the south east. I highly recommend you let the chef take on you a culinary journey. Flavor, adventure, knowledge, it’s all there. You will not be disappointed. Thank you Chef!

We love visiting Saluda. We really really love visiting since this gem opened up. I highly recommend.

Oh and the wine list is curated perfectly. I suggest doing wine pairings with each course.

We really enjoyed our lunch in this picturesque mountain town. I had the chicken, and my husband had the azalea burger. Both were tasty. I especially enjoyed the succotash that came with the chicken. We are excited to return one day to try out their dinner menu!

I had heard about Azalea Bistro for several years. I sincerely don't know why it took me so long to finally check it out. I love French food!
So, Saturday, April 2, 2022, my best friend and I met in Hendersonville and drove down to Saluda for lunch. Azalea is absolutely everything and more than what I expected. The bistro has a warm and welcoming atmosphere. The wait staff (shout out to Hayley!) is phenomenal. Hayley guided us through the menu and you could obviously tell she is a fellow "foodie" and loves working at this bistro. The food was SO good it's hard to explain. Let me just say that my friend and I were muttering delighted expletives with each bite. We shared the Escargot Saute' (you've got to try this!), the Cake and Caviar Duo with carmelized shallot crepe (I mean, really people), Merguez Baguette with Frittes (don't even think about going to an ordinary sandwich shop again), Bibb salad (what???) and chocolate espresso creme' brûlée' ( need I say more?). Oh! And the She Crab Soup--perfectly velvety and flavorful. I could sip on this all day long! Chef Garrett Tallent even came out to talk with us---perfectly charming chef! I will definitely be coming back and am planning on trying the tasting menu on my birthday. It is definitely worth the drive from Asheville or Greenville!

Excellent dinner experience. I was in town for work and liked the looks of their menu. The escargot appetizer was rich and tasty. I was almost full after, so I ordered the arugula salad with poached apples and added two braised scallops. This was also fantastic with candied walnuts; the scallops were perfect. Great meal, great service!

I can't say enough good things about the food here. We were nervous coming into an empty restaurant around lunch time on a Saturday, but I think we just hit it at a lull in customers. Thankfully, we took the gamble and tried it anyway. Don't let the cloth table covers scare you off, the staff was very welcoming. The chef's special was a honey and herb blackened chicken penne with aged blue cheese creme sauce, and I'm glad we went with it. It was so rich and creamy! Fingers crossed that it makes it to the permanent menu! The she-crab soup and short rib sandwich were nothing short of amazing. Will definitely add this place to our routine!

I prefer lunch here, since you have the option to ball out but also have access to a reasonable ($15) lunch menu. The crab and lobster cake with truffle fries is a steal at that price point, in my opinion. The she crab soup is great, the specials are great, the service is great, the presentation is beautiful. It’s so much less fuss than going to Asheville and dealing with parking, traffic, etc. The only problem is deciding on just one thing to order from that mouthwatering menu!