A friend of mine and I were travelling to Asheville and were looking for a nice restaurant as we are both employed in the food service industry. I am a server, but she has worked as a server, pastry chef, line cook, sous chef and executive chef in multiple casual and fine dining locations. \r
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We walked into Zambra (it was suggested by a friend for a great place to get a glass of wine and an appetizer) and were greeted by a friendly host staff and seated immediately at a bar table. A very talented jazz group was playing in the corner and the trendy decore created a classy yet casual atmosphere. \r
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We were handed a menu, a specials menu and an alcohol menu. We were immediately dazzled by the martini list and decided to get a martini instead of a glass of wine. \r
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We had to send our server away twice because we couldn't decide on which of the interesting menu selections we would try. We did, however, quickly decided we would eat our entire meal at Zambra instead of just beginning our meal there. After our knowledgable server explained some of the menu items and gave suggestions, we narrowed our decision to six dishes between the two of us. \r
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She went behind the bar and made our drinks herself, and it was the absolute best flavored martini I have ever had. Each mixer was made in house, and the martinis were oversized and...effective. Throughout the course of the meal, we each ordered two more. \r
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Our six dishes were a cheese plate, spring rolls, lamb, tuna-stuffed pepper, a pork dish and a veal dish. Every dish played with an interesting balance. Whether it was savory/sweet, sweet/salty, spicy/creamy, etc., there was interest and complexity in flavor, texture and presentation. \r
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The server brought each dish out in the order we requested, and gave us plenty of time for cigarette breaks (as the restaurant is completely non-smoking). We finished the meal with a goat cheese brownie topped with ice cream. The check for both was less than ninety dollars.
Pros: Food, martinis, service, entertainment, value
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