Editor’s Note: Fork & Dagger is 828newsNOW’s anonymous restaurant review series, written by our independent Grub Scout—no freebies, no press perks, no agenda. Grub Scout pays full price, visits unannounced, and takes notes on food, service, atmosphere, and value. Each review reflects a recent, honest experience rated on our 1‑to‑5 fork scale. We aim to help you discover standout dining spots—from casual diners to white‑tablecloth affairs—one bite at a time.
In what seems like another lifetime, there was a fabulous bar and grill on Merrimon in North Asheville called Usual Suspects. It’s the stuff of legend for residents up that way.
Unfortunately, the owners retired and moved away in 2010. The building sat vacant for a while, and was eventually inhabited by a mediocre and boring restaurant that lasted a surprisingly long time … then it sat vacant again … and we all waited … and wondered…