The inside of Good Hot Fish in Asheville, North Carolina, is small, in contrast to the powerful smell of flavors that hit you from the outside as you walk up to Chef Ashleigh Shanti’s restaurant. Good Hot Fish is a counter-service fish fry that offers more than just perfectly seasoned, golden-fried fish. Shanti is also serving nostalgia from two different fronts.
As you walk up to the counter and look down, there’s a yellow counter filled with Jet Magazine cover copies. It reminds those who know of those moments spent at grandma’s with copies of the issues piled up in the corner. Then, between the good hot fish sandwich, sweet potato cabbage pancake, and the baked macaroni and cheese, it feels like you’re at a Friday fish fry or Sunday dinner at another family’s home.
As one Google reviewer put it: “This is a no frills, get in, smash great food in your face and leave content kind of place.”…