Jargon Review: Is This Our New Favorite Restaurant in Asheville?

Table of Contents

After more than a decade of eating our way through Asheville, my husband and I have our go-to foodie spots and it can be hard to justify trying something new, especially with limited time in the city. But on a recent trip, we decided to change it up and ended up discovering a place that just might be our new favorite.

Enter Jargon in West Asheville. From the first cocktail to the last bite of dessert, it completely blew us away. I’m so glad we decided to try something new because this experience was truly exceptional.

Stepping Into Jargon

A chilled martini glass sits on a wooden restaurant table, garnished with a lemon twist and a green olive on a cocktail pick. In the background, there's a menu, a salt and pepper shaker set, a small vase with vibrant red and purple flowers, and softly lit dining tables with guests.

After enjoying a cocktail down the street at Character Study, we headed back out into the biting cold and made the short walk over to Jargon. We stepped inside and immediately welcomed the respite from the winter wind howling outside. As we were led to our table, I admired the ambiance of the restaurant, cozy and intimate with soft lighting. Everything you’d want in a neighborhood spot.

We perused the cocktail menu and I immediately knew what I was going to order. They had an elevated take on a dirty martini that had olive oil washed gin, peppercorn and herb olive brine, and a blue cheese stuffed olive. Who doesn’t love a blue cheese stuffed olive? Once the drink arrived, I took a sip and it was everything I wanted in a cocktail. And the olive was positively sinful.

My husband ordered a drink that was a spin on an old fashioned. It was brought to the table inside an ice cube that the waiter broke at the table. At first we were worried that this would be an instagrammy drink, all presentation that falls flat on taste but upon first sip, I saw my husband’s face light up and he proclaimed it a very tasty, boozy delight.

We were off to a great start and incredibly excited to take a look at the food menu.

One Bite In and We Were Hooked

A dark ceramic plate holds a serving of crispy roasted Brussels sprouts topped with chopped nuts and fresh herbs, artfully arranged over a smooth white sauce. The dish is set on a wooden table, with a clean white plate and silverware in the background, suggesting a refined dining experience.

After we placed our order, our waiter came over with an amuse bouche which I always think is such a wonderful touch. Who doesn’t love a little surprise to start the meal off with?

It was a spoon of butternut squash puree with toasted pepitas and pomegranate seeds. The flavors melded together perfectly and I sadly looked down at my spoon and felt like Patrick from Spongebob Squarepants when he realized he already ate his chocolate bar (is that too niche of a reference?)

The first dish arrived: Fried Brussels Sprouts.

Now, as a vegetarian, I’ve eaten a lot of brussels sprouts in my life and I’ve always enjoyed them but they aren’t usually anything too exciting. But my god, these brussels were life changing. If you think that’s a dramatic statement to make over some brussels sprouts then you need to visit Jargon. These were easily the best ones I’ve ever had. They were zesty from the citrus sauce and had a crunch from the pistachios that topped them. They were also perfectly crispy.

Eric and I barely spoke to each other as we devoured the dish. We probably looked slightly crazed. Listen, don’t judge us. We love food.

At this point, Jargon was inching up towards one of our favorite restaurants in Asheville solely from an appetizer and a few cocktails. Now that’s impressive. We were eager to try the mains.

With each dish on the menu, Jargon has included a suggested wine pairing so, though we were a bit tipsy from our cocktails, we ordered the pairings with the next dishes. They do offer half pours of wine too and we decided to be responsible and opt for those.

Dishes Worth Sharing (Or Not)

Two white plates on a wooden table feature elegant pasta dishes. The foreground plate holds wide ribbon pasta in a rich brown sauce, topped with shaved cheese, crispy garlic chips, and herbs, while the background plate contains roasted squash with whipped ricotta and a crumble topping.

For our mains, we actually ordered two small plates to share. The Charred Fall Squash which came with house-made stracciatella, pickled cherries, hazelnuts, all tossed in a brown butter vinaigrette and the Sunchoke Agnolotti that had mushrooms, sage, Grana Padano and brown butter.

I took a bite of both dishes. The Charred Fall Squash was tasty and creative with the pickled cherries and while it was good, I think the brussels and the agnolotti were far superior.

In fact, upon first bite of the Sunchoke Agnolotti I had to stifle a moan because it was that delicious. My husband was busy eating the other dish and I actually thought of telling him I was no longer sharing with him and eating the whole plate myself. Maybe even saying, “Babe, you wouldn’t like this. I’ll just finish it off.” But then I thought about karma and the fact that I loved him and begrudgingly urged him to try a bite. He exclaimed over the dish as much as I had.

After 10+ years of visiting Asheville, I had discovered a new favorite restaurant. Jargon, where have you been all of my life?

A Dessert You Have to Try

A white bowl holds a scoop of creamy Nutella gelato topped with a generous pile of crispy shoestring fries, blending sweet and savory elements. The dish is served on a plate lined with a piece of printed paper for a casual, playful presentation.

When our waiter, who was excellent by the way, came back over to ask if we wanted dessert. The answer was a hell yes.

We ordered the Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake which had bourbon whip cream and a pecan praline and…wait for it…the Nutella Gelato with Shoestring Fries.

Yes, you heard me. Jargon has a nostalgic take on the Wendy’s frosty and fries combination. Eric said he’d never tried that delicious sweet and salty treat as a kid and I knew that this dessert was going to blow his mind.

And it didn’t disappoint. Of course the Warm Chocolate Pudding Cake was decadent and delicious but the Nutella Gelato with Shoestring Fries is 100% a must order. They absolutely nailed it because I was immediately transported to my childhood. The crisp and salt from the shoestring fries mixed with the creaminess and flavor of the gelato. Heaven.

A New Favorite in Asheville

Jargon nails what most restaurants don’t: it takes an innovative spin on flavors you already know and love and presents them in the best way possible. The menu is also based on seasonal offerings and the ingredients are sourced from local growers. From the bar program to the food to the exceptional service, this is a 10/10 for me.
I’m already plotting my return trip to Asheville just so I can dine here again. If you’re looking for where to eat on your next trip to Asheville, Jargon is it.