Asheville Restaurant Review: Chef Mo's

Chef Mauricio Abreu, Chef Mo to his friends, has been an Asheville icon since he moved to the city. During his time in Asheville he worked for several high profile kitchens before setting out on his own. His first venture was a little eatery and catering operation he called Chef In Motion. Mauricio made many friends and loyal customers during this time and they have all followed him to his new operation, Chef Mo's Original Restaurant and Bar. Now, in his new location on Hendersonville Road, chef is serving his same great cuisine to the hungry folks in south Asheville.

Quiet Dining At Chef Mo's

His loyal customers often comment on the out of the way location but that's the way Chef likes it. It allows him the time and opportunity to make the food that he wants and to make new friends with each new table. The quiet and cozy atmosphere in the dining room is one of the distinguishing features of Chef Mo's. If you are looking for a quiet place to dine and enjoy the company of your friends, family or co-worker's Chef Mo's is the place for you. Tables are spacious and have plenty of room, the dining room is not crowded and the bar is located away from diners.

Local Asheville artist Jonas Gerard has been friends with Chef Mo for years. The two have collaborated on the decor of Chef's dining room. Jonas provides dozens of art works each year for Chef to hang on his walls. The two even team up for special fund raising events, combining the allure of Chef Mo's food with the eye catching beauty of Jonas Gerard's paintings.

Hours Of Operation - Lunch Monday through Friday 11 AM until 2 PM

Dinner Monday through Saturday 5PM until 9:30 PM (or until done)

Phone Number - (828) 274-3533

Website - http://www.chefmo.com/

Facebook - Chef Mo's Asheville

Reservations On Open Table - Chef Mo's

Twitter - @ChefmoAsheville

Chef Mo's is a cozy spot for a nice meal out and it is also a great spot for enjoying after work cocktails. The bar is bright, spacious and inviting with plenty of seating and two televisions. The bar, and restaurant, is full service with a complete set of liquors, cordials, wine and beer. Now, since the restaurant is in Beer City (Asheville NC) no review would be complete without a mention of the great beers Chef has on tap. The choices vary regularly with seasonal favorites produced by Highland Brewing Company, French Broad Brewing, Catawba Brewing and the many other great breweries that make Asheville their home.

Bar Snacks and Tapas At Chef Mo's

Chef Mo also has a special menu for his bar patrons. Folks who choose to sit at the bar or those who just prefer the atmosphere of bar dining are treated to tapas sized portions of the regular dinner menu. In addition to this chef also has appetizers and entrees only available at the bar. Two of my favorites, and possibly the best values in bar food in Asheville, are the Scallops with Sofrito and Hanger Steak Bites.

The Best Private Dining Room In Asheville

One of the reasons why Chef Mo's is so popular among his loyal clientele is his private dining room. The room seats up to 45 people comfortably and comes with all that is great about Chef Mo's Restaurant. Rates are reasonable and room/corkage fees can be waived with a minimum guarantee. Guests can order off the regular menu or work with Chef to create a special menu for any occasion. The room is spacious, quiet and cozy; just right for a surprise birthday, rehearsal dinner or business meeting. Two of the groups that utilize Chef Mo's private dining room are the Zeb Vance Debate Society and Mission-St. Joseph's Hospital.

Chef Mo has a great weekly wine special. He sells all the bottles on his wine list for $10 off, Monday through Wednesday. This is on top of his already low prices for wine. When I asked him about this he said that "wine is a reason for people to come together and enjoy a great meal, have a good conversation and to enjoy themselves. I want to do whatever I can to help my friends and customers enjoy great wine".

Bottles on Chef Mo's wine list are very affordable and range from $24-$50 before the discount. His list is a fantastic blend of old and new world vintages and has something for everyone. A few of my favorites are the Urban Malbec, the Seeker Pinot Noir and the Lan Reserva. Mo and his bar staff have worked hard tasting and sampling wines in order to bring the highest quality wines to his table at the most affordable prices. By taking the time to choose the best wines Chef Mo is able to list bottles comparable to the finest wines served in the best restaurants around the world.

Nightly Drink Specials

Chef Mo prides himself on having some of the most delicious cocktails in Asheville. The regular cocktail menu features classics like the St. Charles and Mojito as well as some of his own creations. One of the most popular drinks on the list, and my favorite, is the Key Lime Martini. This beverage is refreshing and delicious and tastes surprisingly like Key Lime Pie. In addition to the drink menu Bryan, the sharp dressed mohawk wearing bar tender, creates a new special cocktail each night. Some of his recent creations include Spicy Mango Margarita and The Captains Mojito. Like Chef Mo's on Facebook to receive the latest updates to the bar and dinner specials.

Chef Mo's is located in the Forest Center South on Hendersonville Road. The address is 900 Hendersonville Road, suite 201. The restaurant is located on the second floor and is accessible from the back parking lot. There is plenty of parking available for cars, trucks and vans of all sizes.

• From the north (downtown, Merrimon Avenue, Biltmore Village) - Take Hendersonville Road (Highway 25 South) south from Biltmore Village. Pass under I-40 and continue south until you pass the Ingles which will be on the leftt. You will see Forest Center South on the left as well. Turn left onto Seminole Drive, which is just past Forest Center, and follow it to the back of the building. If you reach the turn for the Blue Ridge Parkway you have gone too far.
• From the south (Arden, Skyland, Biltmore Park) - Take Hendersonville Road (Highway 25 North) north going towards Biltmore Village. Cross under the Blue Ridge Parkway and continue north for about 1.5-2 miles. When you pass Deanwood Circle on the right you are getting close. The next right turn is Seminole Street, turn right and park in the back of the building. Chef Mo's is the first suite and is marked with a sign.
• From the east or west - Drive into Asheville on I-40. Get off on exit 50 heading south (50 A from the west and 50 B from the east). After exiting the highway head south on Hendersonville Road (Highway 25) until you pass the Ingles which will be on the left. Look out for Forest Center South and Seminole Street, turn left here and park in the back.