I've been visiting Jack of the Wood for nearly a decade, and though it pains me, after last night, I must write up my experience and share why this place is nothing like the friendly pub it used to be.
It was apparently a singer songwriter night, and someone interupted our meal to ask us for tips for the singer onstage. Â We were sitting in the very back of the place, no view of the stage, and were clearly not engaged in the performance so I'm not sure why we were interrupted. Â When I inquired about the special of the day and how it compared with another item on the menu, the waitress shrugged and had no insight for me.
But what frustrated me most was the beer situation.
Asheville is a beer destination. Â I've seen it grow from it's pre-Highland days into the mecca it is today. Â I visit pubs and restaurants based on their beer selection and the knowledge of the staff, and while JotW had a decent selection, their staff was certainly lacking.
When I went to JotW last night, I asked some simple questions about a couple of beers on the menu, finally settled on a 7% ABV Farmhouse Ale, and was disappointed when the waitress brought me a half-pour of the beer. Â I asked why that was, and she told me it was "expensive" and came in a small keg. Â
I asked her, rather nicely, why they didn't list on the menu that some beers come in half-pours, and she blew me off, and just said it was "expensive." Â It took her running back to the bartender three times before I could order a second beer, because there was no rhyme or reason why a 7% ABV Farmhouse Ale was a half pour, and a 9% ABV beer was a full pour. Â
Put prices on your menu, please, and explain which beers come in 8 oz. sizes instead of the standard American pint size. Â It's not too much to ask, and on a city that now relies on Beer tourism, it's a pretty basic request!
I love Jack of the Wood for several different aspects. Â First off, it's a great place for entertainment. Â On a few nights a week, you'll have people just show up with instruments in hand and jam in the corner. Â The music is outstanding, it just gets a bit loud in there that you cannot hear the people across the table from you.
They have a decent beer selection and server their own beers. Â Apparently they also own Green Man brewery. Â Good stuff. Â Some of my favorite NC beers before I even tried it here. Â
Finally the food. Â The food is hit or miss. Â The rueben and the fish and chips rock here but the nachos were bland. Â
One note is this place is very popular and you may end up sharing a table with total strangers. Â But hey, that's one of the great things about Asheville. Â People are so friendly here!
Took a day trip to Asheville last weekend with my boyfriend and his sister. This was our third stop of the day. I really can't tell you why I loved this place so much, but I really, really loved this place. The ambiance mid-afternoon was perfect. The bartender was friendly. They had plenty on tap, both Green Man and other - definitely something for everyone.
We really just had a great time and enjoyed our experience.
I think I'm probably considered a regular at Jack, so maybe take this review with a grain of salt. If I didn't like it so much I wouldn't keep coming back, so there's a good reason for the regularity. I'll break this down by day of the week, rather than a single experience, since I've been in on multiple occasions every night of the week. I never go in before 7pm, so this is a review of Jack in the evening.
Sunday- Good music usually (and no cover almost always). Tends to be lively early, then dies down fast. Â I could be wrong but I think Amanda and Daniel are usually tending bar, both super nice and helpful.
Monday- Is trivia night. That's pretty much all Monday has going for it, starting at 7:30. Gets pretty busy most of the time, and packed in the winter time when there's nothing else to do and it's still dark outside at 7:30. As soon as trivia is over, maybe around 9, the bar is a ghost town, except on the rare occasions they have live music, which doesn't seem to be the norm for Mondays. I think that like Sunday, Amanda and Daniel are tending bar. The host for trivia night is very nice and keeps the crowd entertained throughout. I typically like to play alone just for the challenge of beating multi person teams on my own, though as another reviewer pointed out, there are one or two very large teams who simply due to sheer numbers will win the vast majority of the time. Teams should be limited in number to even this out, and I don't go on Monday nearly as much as I used to because of this (I'm talking to you, team "Smarty Pants").
Tuesday- Typically live music, no particular theme to the night. Amanda and Joe were there just last night. Steady crowd, probably busier than pretty much any other place in town, and stays that way usually until 11 or 12. The music is rarely bad.
Wednesday- Is old time music jam night. Basically it's an open mike night so various local musicians will make their way in and play songs together. Some nights it's good, other nights it's more the musicians talking amongst themselves trying to figure out what to play. I met my current girlfriend there so Wednesday does hold a special place for me at the moment.
Thursday- Bluegrass jam. Similar to Wednesday, except all bluegrass open mike. Thursday is one of if not my favorite night to go. The music is always great, the crowd is lively, and it stays busy a bit later. I highly recommend.
Friday/Saturday- Are so similar I'll just review them together. Very busy, full typically by 7-8pm (later in the Summer when it gets dark later) Bands are almost always great, and vary somewhat in genre but are typically some form of bluegrass/rock/country. Some absolutely fantastic bands have been in Jack the last several years. Service is relatively quick considering the amount of business. Gets very loud, don't expect any meaningful conversations. Tipping the bartenders well will pay off in faster service and better pours, but then this is true of most non chain bars. The bouncer can be kind of a dick, but I suppose that's a bouncer's job. I've known several people who've had issues with him.
In short, enjoy Jack of the Wood, it's one of the best I've ever been to.
A large group of us, 10 to be exact, stopped by Jack of the Wood for dinner and drinks on a Friday night. Â We got there early and ended up spending a good 3+ hours at the pub because we were enjoying ourselves that much. Â Coincidentally, it was the same night a popular local band was playing - the female Americana trio Underhill Rose. Â Boy, were they impressive (and beautiful).
A folk group from Nashville known as The Danberrys served as the opening act. Â When it soon came time for Underhill Rose to take stage, the pub was packed with patrons. Â Standing room only. Â Our group was lucky to have secured a large table hours earlier. Â Either Underhill Rose has a large following or Jack of the Wood is very popular. Â I'm guessing both.
Jack of the Wood is home of the Green Man Ales. Â Jack of the Wood is named after the "Green Man," which is a face surrounded by leaves. Â The decoration or ornament originated in Europe and is found carved into many churches and English pubs. Â Jack of the Wood in Asheville is a British and Celtic-themed pub with dark woods and a communal, laid back atmosphere. Â There's games (darts), indoor and outdoor seating, and live music seven nights a week.
The bar has a versatile menu of pub fare. Â Dishes small, medium, and large, to share with others or to eat by one's self. Â The cuisine is a step above typical bar food, with higher quality, locally sourced ingredients and creative dishes. Â I was really eyeing the Rabbit Ragout ($15). Â It's made from rabbit from nearby Imladris Farms, outside of Asheville, in a town called Fairview (where, coincidentally, we were staying). Â It also comes with fresh herbs and BBQ kale chips.
I ended up trying the Rabbit Wings (a special appetizer that day), Bison Nachos ($12), Pub Salad ($10), and Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Sandwich.
The rabbit "wings" were deep-fried to a glistening, golden brown. Â Light batter. Â Whatever seasonings and/or marinades they used on the hare tasted superb. Â The rabbit meat was tender and tasty. Â There wasn't a whole lot of meat and lots of bones, which is normal for rabbit. Â The wings were served atop a bed of shredded carrots. Â How fitting.
The bison nachos consisted of Carolina-raised bison meat, cheese, fried jalapenos, cilantro, lettuce, tomatoes, chipotle sour cream, and salsa verde (green sauce). Â These were hearty nachos with a smoky flavor. Â They really hit the spot and made for a great shareable plate. Â We enjoyed it.
The pub salad contained mixed greens and lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, broccoli, carrots, sunflower seeds, and croutons. Â I ordered balsamic vinaigrette on the side as my dressing. Â Needless to say, this was a very healthy dish. Â The greens and other veggies were ripe and fresh. Â The salad was simple and colorful with plentiful portions. Â It was served in a bowl.
We got some of the few remaining chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches. Â They taste exactly how they sound. Â Two large chocolate chip cookies with a heaping scoop of vanilla ice cream in the middle. Â On top, whipped cream. Â Super rich, sweet, and heavy. Â Consider splitting this one, though it'll be messy.
We entered the pub early, but we were told by our server and the manager if we wanted to stay, we'd have to pay a cover charge since the bands were playing. Â I believe cover was $8 per person. Â We gladly paid and stayed.
Natalie was our server. Â She did a wonderful job keeping the food and drink orders straight between the 10 of us.
Overall, we had a good time at Jack of the Wood and I would come back.
Like most of the places we visited in Asheville, a great beer selection! I stuck with the Rocket Girl Lager. There was a cajun band from NYC the night we were playing (and only a $5 cover). It has a nice, laid back atmosphere and the service was great. Next time, I'd like to try the food as well.
Review Source:My friend and I visited this establishment on a Friday evening. Â We seated ourselves and waited a little longer than a typical wait to be approached. Â Our server was friendly and was prompt with service for the rest of our visit. Â My friend ordered the bison burger and fries, which she enjoyed. Â I had the hemp nut burger with no bun and fries. Â I consume a low gluten diet and have pleasantly discovered that I enjoy the taste of the burger more without the bun. Â I requested toppings on my burger: Â blue cheese with grilled onions and mushrooms. Â There were also tomato, pickles, lettuce and red onion present. The burger was tasteless and dry. The toppings would have added flavor, but they were scanty. Â The fries were mediocre. Â I was nourished at the end of the meal, but my mouth cried out for more flavor.
Review Source:This is a really cozy bar below the Laughing Seed. Â We got our vegan grub on, then walked downstairs to have a drink. Â We really loved the Celtic theme and the stained glass accents around the bar. Â I wished for the original Wicker Man soundtrack to be on, but the band was a pretty good substitute.
The beers had my brew snob husband's eyes rolling back in his head with delight. Â I had two Yellow Cake martini's. Â They were so delicious I would've had three if they weren't so wonderfully strong! Â Two had me tipsy and this is no complaint.
We will definitely be back next time we visit Asheville!
The only reason this is a 4 and not a 5 is the bar tender was miserable. Short guy, black hair and did not want to be working. Everyone else was great. We went for 3-4 hours two nights in a row while visiting Asheville. Loved the music and atmosphere. I will go every time am in Asheville. Just hope the bartender has moved on to something he enjoys.
Review Source:We were walking around Asheville on a cold December day and got so lucky that we were walking by jack of the woods right when we were ready for a warm up.  We seemed to have walked in to the most authentic local  pub in downtown.  Great vibe to this place.  The couple bar tenders we interacted with we're all outstanding and friendly which just added to the fun.  Great decor, great service and what seemed to be a great local crowd. Won't pass this place up on our next visit.
Review Source:Visiting from Charleston, SC and looking for something interesting and unique, we stumbled into this super cool pub on what looked like an open jam night. The jam was really great and impressive at a total of 13 musicians. Our server, Patrick was very friendly and welcoming after a long day on the road. Excellent service topped by fantastic food. We enjoyed a BBQ Duck pasty to start. Absolutely delicious. For the main courses we savored the Rabbit Ragout and the Reuben. WE can't say enough about this place. The atmosphere was charming and again our server was super cool. Thank you for something new and terrific. Our only qualm was the pompous windbag that joined the table next to us and single handedly ruined their meal and basically raped our audio sensory perception for the last 15-20 mins we were there. Apparently he jams with the musicians there sometimes.
Review Source:Simply put, all the food is amazing for pub food, fish & chips are amazing, fish tacos are excellent. Local ingredients, great local beer. And they serve rabbit! Awesome! The servers are good, there just aren't enough of them so it may be slow getting drinks/food. But it's worth the wait. Also, fantastic live Irish music!
Review Source:Day trip to Asheville landed us on the streets at around four in the afternoon.  We weren't sure where we were going to eat dinner so we stopped into  Jack of the Woods to figure it out and have a beer.  Well it ended up being two rounds.  Great selection of beers and live music--no --good, quality live music.  We stumbled onto a gem that no doubt the locals are well aware of.  We ended up sharing a fish and chips as well. Excellent service for such a busy bare bones bar!  Definitely will go back
Review Source:I went here with three other people. Â Seating was difficult but we found a nice booth in the corner. Â Our waitress was pleasant. Â She took our drink orders right off the bat. Â She came back about 5 minutes later and took our food orders. Â (Still no drinks). Â After about 15 minutes we asked her where our drinks were. She looked shocked and said she would be right back. Â A few minutes later our food came out. Â Then our waitress came back and said that someone must have taken our drinks and she apologized and put in another order. Â Needless to say it was a solid 30 minutes before we even received our first round of drinks... No concessions were made by the restaurant despite our obvious disappointment. Â The food was average. Â I am giving this one star because the service was completely unacceptable.
Review Source:I really really enjoyed this place.
We came here on a Sunday night and it was busy and there was an Irish band playing in the corner. The atmosphere was great and seating was communal; we enjoyed talking to the various groups of people that sat down with us. The beer menu wasn't super large, but had a ton of stuff from local breweries that we enjoyed trying. Service was great, especially considering it was so busy. Bathroom were clean (+1 for any bar!).
Next time I'm in Asheville I plan to come here for a drink.
My sister and I rolled into Asheville at 2:30 on a Wednesday afternoon - not always a good time to grab some good eats and we were STARVING! Yelp to the rescue! My phone showed Jack of the Woods within walking distance and some complimentary reviews, so we went for it, and I'm glad we did. Due to the hour, it was super quiet inside, so I have no idea how it gets on a Sat night. The interior was welcoming and cozy, and we were greeted right away. The guy that waited on us was great and had some great recommendations for the food. We ended up trying the scotch eggs, fish tacos, and a fillet of fried cod. Delicious! The fish tacos weren't exactly in the style of "mexican", but very good. And the cod was to die for with its tender juicy fish and flaky batter crust.
The scotch eggs were a little on the expensive side ($7 for one egg!), but oh so worth it. That was probably one of the best scotch eggs I've ever had!
While we were there we both tried the Green Man Wheat. It was good, but I wasn't super impressed. I'm told the IPA is pretty good, but we didn't have time for a second beer, so that will have to be next time's choice.
Sandy and I found this cute hippie-looking restaurant upon riding our bicycles around town on Sunday afternoon. Â Bunch of people sitting outside at the tables so we went inside for a beer and noticed a very cool bunch of folks jamming some music out on fiddles and other wood instruments. Â
We sat down and ordered a sample of their micro-brewed beers. Â GOOD START!! Â yum yum!!! Â We sampled some amazing IPA's and a porter that KNOCKED MY SOCKS OFF! Â
We ordered a couple of house salads and a cheese and garlic fries. Â The salads were big and all homemade dressings!! Â I had the Russian and it was really tasty! Â I haven't had Russian or Thousand Island since I gave up on commercial salad dressings 10 yrs ago (for homemade or better ingredients-organics when possible). Â The fries were handcut large fries (not dipped in flour or other crap...so fresh) and loaded w/ cheddar cheese and a modest amount of garlic. Â My partner was in dire need of carbs and I am not one for cheese or gravy on my fries so I let him devour most of them. Â A bit oily but I think that is par for the course w/ stuff on top. Â The salad was an ample size and fairly priced. Â The beers were like 3.50 a pint! Â We don't even get those prices in the bay area!!! Â YUMMY!
Our server was ok. Â He seemed busy, but not real personable. Â I had to jump up and get a couple waters after sitting in the booth for like 10 min. Â I was dying of thirst! Â I'd go back again gladly next time we are in Asheville!!!
Awesome place. So good we went back Saturday night after a good meal elsewhere and enjoyed it just as much as the night before. This is more of a divey music bar than a restaurant, something my lady found seriously appealing. It's dark, funky, and the music is good and loud, just like The Earl or other night spots I'm used to.
We came in Friday night to eat, took a minute to find a spot but we got seated in the back which was a plus, we were able to talk pretty well without shouting. I had two beers here, the cask of their ESB being the best, and a burger which was dead on perfect. After eating we got up to get a better view of the music, the band was a sort of jazz/blues feel and very 'hip', we stayed for four songs before rolling out tired, full, and a little buzzed. The next night was just as good, just as fun.
Decided to grab a light dinner there on a Saturday night. Â Wife and I were able to find a table in the corner and grab a few beers. Â
Server was extremely helpful in helping pick beers to fit tastes. Â
We had Scotch Egg, and then split a sandwich. Be aware, Lusty Monk mustard is really good, but it does pack a punch. Â Know this when using it.
All of the good: Beer, food, atmosphere, knowledgeable staff.
Big detractor for me:
If there is a cover for a band that is to play at 8, someone will come around to the tables to collect. Â To me that was tacky, and I saw it chase off a few groups who might have otherwise stayed and drank more (us included). Â
If not for being told I had to pay $14 or leave, I would have given 4, or maybe even 5 stars as everything else was that good.
We stumbled into Jack of the Wood per a recommendation from a friend back home during our visit in November and it was probably one of the highlights of our trip. It happened to be a bluegrass band night. The place was packed but one of the waitresses found us a table pretty quickly. We were happy to see a mix of Asheville brews and regional ales. The Shephards pie was tasty along with the fish and chips. My husband thought he'd be adventurous and try the Hunstman pie special but I think it was a little too out of his comfort zone eating duck and rabbit.
Overall it was a fun little place on a Thursday night. The music was upbeat and the atmosphere was friendly. We'd definitely stop here again.
I loved basically everything about this place. Â Great beers on tap, perfect atmosphere for a local pub. Â Some people have commented that the bartenders are rude, but I didn't see that at all; they knew a ton about their beers, and were quick to suggest one of their own beers after we told them what we normally drank. Â Scotch Eggs were delicious.
The reason there is no fifth star is this; we went in on a Monday night, and were able to get in and get spots in time for trivia. Â No complaints about the actual trivia, my complaint is the team of 20 something people that sits near the door and acts like its half-way fair that they're allowed to have a team that big. Â Its a joke, imo, and management should do something about it. Â Cap the amount of people allowed on a team, or you're just going to have these same pricks winning every Monday. Â Screw those people.
Ah the Wood...............this well established bar has lovers and haters. Â Folks love the live music, but think it is too loud. Â Others enjoy the beer selection, but the bartenders are jerks. Â Still others love the wide mix of folks hanging out there, though it is a bit too hippy for some.
All and all this is a place to good to grab enough drinks that you don't care who is playing what, what you are drinking or who is sitting beside you.
Jack of the Wood was just what we were looking for the other night... It was gorgeous outside, cool but not cold, breezy, a perfect night to sit outside and drink a beer. Â When we passed Jack of the Wood, with its outside benches absolutely deserted, we figured we couldn't go wrong. Â And we were right. Â They have a great beer list, and we sat outside for nearly two hours watching the sun set and talking to the folks who came outside to smoke.
Inside seemed pleasant enough, and not nearly as crowded as I would have thought based on reviews here. Â There was a live Irish band, and I would have happily spent a few hours inside had it not been so damn nice outside. Â It also smelled like fish n chips, nearly enough to make me break down and order it... of all the once-living things I miss eating, fish n chips certainly ranks up there...
One star off for not really having anything I could ever eat, but I feel that's a tiny quibble, since I don't really go to Irish bars to eat anyway. Â I go to drink, and I salute any Irish bar that has a well-rounded beer list and a perfect outside seat.
We managed to find an Asheville bar with what looked like no actual Asheville residents, except the two that came with us. Jack of the Wood is a woody, Irish pub downstairs from Laughing Seed. That's what led us there, we were waiting for a table for over an hour at Laughing Seed (so worth it btw).
So the scene is very average and crowded. But the real negative here was the rude bartender we got our drinks from. When i asked him what the brown nut ale was like...he said "it's an ale thats nutty and brown". Wow, thanks for that. Maybe i'm just used to bartenders who are excited about beer and know what they're talking about, but this response seemed insulting.
I wouldn't recommend coming here for a night out unless you want a place that's super-average.
I spent the night in Asheville the other day and my friend and I wandered into this amazingly cool little bar because it was right across the street from our hotel.
This may be on my top 3 best bars I've ever been to, for a few reasons:
1. I walked in, and the minute i passed the threshold i felt transported to Ireland circa 300 years ago. It's like I teleported and time-traveled all at once.
2. The 10 or so musicians gathered in the corner doin' their thing, feeding off of each other's vibes and improvising, playing celtic and bluegrass music.
3. The food. Mmmmm...
4. The beer. I'm not a big beer drinker, but their Highland Celtic was pretty good.
I. Love. This. Place.
Fantastic place. Â After cultivating a deep antipathy for "Irish pubs" (because most of them resemble TGIFridays), what a revelation to visit a pub that features an all original, and yet classic interior design. Â Add to that the fact that they brew their own beer, and that it is excellent, and you have a great little joint. Â
Also, when we visited, there was great live music. Â All acoustic, if you closed your eyes, you could imagine it sounded like a country pub in the days of yore. Â Yes, days of yore.
We ducked into JOTW just looking for a bite to eat and some good local brews and we got a whole lot more! Maybe we weren't expecting much, but what an experience!
The place was wall-to-wall with people from 7 to 70 all smiling and having a good time. The celtic band in the corner was doing their thing (even though every song suspiciously sounded like "Turkey in the Straw"), but it wasn't too loud that we couldn't have a nice conversation.
We grabbed some stools by the stairway that goes into the Laughing Seed and were helped straight away by a nice server. The brews were yummy and the food was too. The crowd-size was a bit overwhelming, but everyone was having such a good time! Can't wait to go back.
Great selection of beer but no TV to watch the game. Â Bathrooms were pretty clean though :)
OK, OK, so you're kind of a hippie and/or don't watch sports. Â This place is like a jam session meet up spot for local instrument players (I stop short of collectively calling them musicians).
And great music too. Â It would be even better if you could hear them. Â A spontaneous circle of guitars, fiddles, banjos, and the like, formed around what I think was the stage and just started jamming. Â
The problem was it wasn't very organized and it sounded jumbled. Â Some dude, or multiple dudes, started singing, but you couldn't hear them. Â
So the bottom line is, there was no game on, and I wanted to enjoy the local entertainment in lieu of that, but it was hard because the music just wasn't very good.
But if a pick up game of banjo music is your thing, bring your instrument and call next.
I remember stumbling down the streets of Asheville and kind of falling into this bar, which is very quaint looking on the outside, and remember thinking that it seemed like I had left the real world behind and someone fallen down the rabbit hole into a Bloomsday drinking festival. Which is basically my impression of what every day must be like in Dublin.
Did this place have an authentic Irish thing happening? Oh, hell yes. I'd say it felt like I had just travelled in a time machine powered by shamrocks and blarney stones. There was weird celtic jam band-ery. There was more than a lot middle aged white people doing that kind of dancing that they could only do here and maybe in their bedrooms. There was Guinness and potatoes and there was bad breath. Authentic as hell, friends.
I was drinking the Guinness with a friend here and at one point, a little out of it, maybe, I leaned back on my stool and, feeling the spirit flowing through my veins, exclaimed, "I love Bono! Bono for President!" And I was greeted with a resounding, "Aye!"
I'd love to say that the hour and a half that I spent in this adorable little pub was a cultural experience, but honestly, I was just drinking beer, listening to the music, and watching the lads and lassies do their sweet, nasty thing like the crazy middle aged leprechauns that they are. In fact, if I could be so arrogant to title this particular review, it'd be "Portrait of an artist as a young drunk."
I really want to award four or even five stars to Jack of the Wood, so dearly do I love it. It's by far my favorite bar in Asheville and has such an authentic Irish pub feel (minus the peat fire and resident red-nosed village drunk in sweater vest). I adore the micro brew, especially the Porter, and many items on the menu and excellent (the vegan curry is delicious).
However, the service is astonishingly wretched -- an ongoing problem for about a decade now. And what's worse is that the waitstaff is competent and well-intentioned, so it's not the fault of the servers. The problem is that Jack is so popular and often so crowded, but rarely staffs more than 2 or 3 servers. So if you can grab a table you still have to wait for eons to be noticed and your order taken, and then it takes forever to get your order (yep, even beer) and then, invariably, something's wrong with the order and you sit there debating whether or not to flag down a harried server to ask for your food to be re-made, or just eat what you got.
I recently ordered the rice and curry which, mysteriously, came without rice. We ordered the tuna and tomato melt, but we got no tomato. It's little things, but those little things are what make or break service, in my opinion. And Jack's food isn't cheap, so my expectations are a bit higher.
On the other hand, they serve an awesome bread, cheese and chutney plate. For under $7 you get toasted whole grain bread, coconut chutney, pickled onions and an obscenely large hunk of herbed farmer's cheese. These cheese itself is at least $6 worth. Oddly, Jack tends to run out of toast and cheese (???!!!) but if you can score this appetizer, do it. That, a pitcher of Porter and a good Celtic jam session and you couldn't do better in Dublin.