What’s Clean
At Over Easy Cafe, approximately 75% of the ingredients are sourced from local organic farms. The ham is from Benton’s Country Ham which uses pork from certified organic Berkshire Hogs that are pasture-raised on small farms. The eggs are clean and local as is the produce when in season. Several Gluten-free options are offered, as well as a few vegan choices.
What’s Served
The offerings resemble a brunch menu which changes a bit based on seasonality. However, some menu staples are the Smash Burger, Porridge, Huevos Rancheros, Eggs Benny, and the Dutch Baby Pancake to name a few. Don’t miss their famous Cinnamon Buns which sell out quickly. The beverage menu includes sparkling wines and ciders, teas, kombucha, OJ, and coffee.
What I Ordered
On two separate visits, I ordered the Eggs Benny, the Classic Pancake, the Gluten-Free Chai Spice Hotcake, and the Fall Veggie Omelet. Although everything sampled was outstanding, the standouts were the amazing Eggs Benny and the sinful Chai Spice Hotcake. For starters, the egg yolks in the Eggs Benny were some of the deepest orange colored yolks I’ve ever seen. The biscuit base, which by the way was perfect by itself, was topped with goat cheese and strawberry basil preserves…wait what? Tetragonia leaves followed, topped with Benton’s Ham, perfectly poached eggs, tender pickled shallots, hollandaise, and microgreens. Yep, somehow the unusual combination of unlikely ingredients for an Eggs Benedict worked, and amazingly well. Seriously, the best Eggs Benny to date, just wow!! The Chai Spice Hot Cake was nothing short of spectacular as well, again one of the best to date and certainly the best Gluten-free pancake ever! With a center depth of a half-inch, typically…actually always, except in this instance, I am not a fan of thick pancakes. However, this pancake was outrageously good and in a league of its own. Made with bananas and soy milk, the hotcake had slightly crispy edges and a soft interior that popped with amazing flavors in every bite. My words do not do it justice, please try for yourself and leave a review.
The Vibe
Over Easy Cafe hugs the sidewalk in downtown Asheville. Sporting a funky hipster vibe…there’s nothing fancy here. The restaurant is on the smaller side and occupies a space in an older building. Tables are available outside along the front sidewalk. We did visit during Covid so it was difficult to get a solid feel for the inside since it was strictly take-out.
The Takeaway
Over Easy Cafe is a clear standout; the food is two steps above and an easy top 5 Clean Foodie pick for Asheville NC. The kitchen’s creativity with local and unusual ingredients is astounding, as well as their knack for combining unlikely ingredients. Celery root remoulade, pickled bird’s beak peppers, corn jelly, and maple reduction drizzle are just a few of their masterful kitchen creations. The delish factor is off the charts as well, especially with their breakfast foods. Expect to be impressed at the no-frills Over Easy Cafe
