The former Asheville Sandwich Co. building at 794 Haywood Road is now home to Finest, a fresh take on sandwich shops that’s built on co-owner/founder Mike Bean’s deep appreciation for Italian American and Northeast deli traditions, as well as co-owner and director of beverage, events and front of house Gab Bonfiglio’s Certified Cicerone Level 2 beverage experience.
A popular pop-up at local farmers markets, Finest seeks to be an affordable spot for Asheville residents to hang out on a daily basis. Open Wednesdays-Sundays, the business will serve breakfast and lunch daily, plus brunch on weekends. Additional offerings include a walk-up “egg window,” where customers may order a bodega egg sandwich, vegan fritter sandwich and hot broths; grab-and-go sandwiches and salads; pickles, olives and deli salads; and a deli case and grocery.
The beverage program curated by Bonfiglio includes local draft beers; low-ABV, nationally distributed brews (e.g., Miller High Life, Narragansett and Peroni), niche wines; Vermouth-based cocktails; elevated nonalcoholic options; and a custom house drip coffee blend roasted by Underground Baking Co. and Independent Roasters. The interior design aspires to transport guests to a midcentury Italian delicatessen, using red tiles sourced from 1970s Genoa, Italy, a collection of vintage furniture, baby photos of the staff and food-themed children’s toys…