12 Bones Smokehouse
| Address: | 5 Foundy Street, Asheville, NC 28801, USA |
| Phone: | +1 828-253-4499 |
| Site: | 12bones.com |
| Rating: | 4.5 |
| Working: | 11AM–6PM 11AM–6PM 11AM–6PM 11AM–6PM 11AM–6PM Closed Closed |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 7
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Sarah Keister
I must say that if you could marry 12 Bones Sauces and Turkey Sandwich (both 5+ stars) with hearty, moist, fall off the bone Texas-style ribs/brisket it would be a match made in epicurean heaven!! As it were, I would only go back for the customer service, sauces and turkey sandwich, because the ribs though adequately sized, did not have much meat and at that, we had to bite it off the bone on 3 out of 4 half racks that were considerably overcooked and tough (1 star, though perhaps "average" by local stds?) The brisket wasnt as tasty as we have had or had hoped for a place so popular, it reminded us more of plain roast beef. True, we ordered take-out an hour before they closed in order to avoid the crowds, however we watched them pack it right off the grill ate it freshly hot upon getting home (8 mins elapsed) -- maybe that made a difference in the quality of food experience we received? My parents and I started eating BBQ after they moved to Austin, TX 2 years ago and now remember why we werent attracted to SE versions of ribs and brisket... I invite you to try The Gristmills extraordinary ribs or even Rudys Texan-Fast-Food-like version. Both are highest quality. I will rave about Jake + Lauras customer service, Jalepeno Hot Sauce/Blueberry Chipotle marinade, a deliciously surprising turkey sandwich and will hope that other customers receive better quality ribs/brisket on their visits to validate the crowds that gather there...
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G Besarien
We try to go once every couple of months.I have never bothered getting anything but the ribs. The lines are often long but the meat has never disappointed. I always check the hours to make sure they are open on the day and time we are shooting for.The shack itself isnt much to look at but every plate that comes out has been a thing of beauty, at least until there is nothing left but bones. Helpful, polite, and efficient staff and reasonable prices. I should say that we have never eaten at the one in Arden either, so I can only recommend the rib eating experience down by the river. Also while the blueberry chipotle sauce is tasty and immensely popular, it is a little on the hot side for my wimpy palette. The brown sugar regular sauce is delicious too and is just spicy enough to bring out the best of the meat flavor without making my tongue sting.. Just about everyone else on the planet including most little kids can handle the blueberry stuff though. Dont miss the corn pudding Most of the other sides are perfectly okay but forgettable. I get two orders of corn pudding every time now and carry home whatever I cant eat there. I consider everything there dessert-a-plenty and have therefore never tried the actual desserts on the menu. Five stars because the ribs and corn pudding are that good. Nobody goes to a BBQ shack for the décor and the ambiance even in Asheville.
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Michael Hall
BBQ Heaven!! Seriously, had no idea what to expect since my girlfriend and I only looked up some of the best spots in Asheville and we stumbled upon this place. As it turns out, Im really, really into street art, so my opinion became biased as soon as we pulled up to the place. Its placed smack dab in the middle of an industrial area with construction, old tractor trailers, warehouses and like I said, tons of street art. Definitely sit outside, it almost feels like your in a foreign country almost, its so different from any place youll go in Asheville. The blueberry chipotle ribs were amazing, but the real stars of the show are the side items! The corn bread pudding, smoked potato salad and the crispy onions that come piled high on their wedge salad. Youll definitely need to be taken out on a stretcher, but in this case, you certainly wont mind. Seems to be a local favorite, but if youre just in Asheville for a few days- this place is NOT to be missed!
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Brittany Hale
Really great ribs! My husband and I split a half rack meal. We asked them to split the half rack in half so we could try two different rubs. We had the brown sugar and the blueberry chipotle. Im more of a pulled pork person, BUT these were some of the best ribs Ive ever had! They werent huge but they were meaty and very little fat. Im not one for spice but I am going to say the blueberry chipotle was my favorite! You get the sweet taste of fresh blueberries then you feel a little heat from the chipotle. Add some of the vinegar sauce to that and its out of this world! The baked beans were fantastic! They were more vinegary than sweet which I really enjoyed. The corn pudding was truly damn good as 12 claims on their menu. We did split a meal, however if we had each had separate plates we would have spent over $40 plus drinks. The food is excellent but it is a little expensive, hence my 4 star review. Totally worth the splurge if youre passing through!!
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Bruce Lafone
This place is ALL hype, Asheville is such a hipster city and this place is a perfect example of it. True BBQ is all about simplicity: Good quality meat, a good rub, and a good smoke is all you need. Unfortunately some people screw it up with weird flavors like Blueberry- Chipotle, Kiwi- Strawberry, or Watermelon. Have been twice now just to give them a couple chances. Verdict: Greasy pulled pork (I know it will be fatty but come on, grease should not pool on the bottom of the plate). Ribs were dry, Brisket was so dry we could not even eat it, and there was no smoke flavor to the meat! The only reason I gave it 2 stars is because the sides were pretty good. Jalapeno grits were on point and the I really liked the collard greens. If you are like me and enjoy true, simple, properly cooked/ smoked BBQ there are much better choices in and around Asheville. Try Moes, Luellas, or Okie Dokies. Nothing fancy or any bizarre flavors, just BBQ done right.
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Jack Whealan
One of the best meals Ive ever had in my life was at this place. To give you some idea of how awesome this place is, theyre only open for lunch ... And theyre only open Monday through Friday . The owners are so good at providing what they do for lunch on weekdays that they dont even have to work the dinner shift or weekends! I believe this restaurant won an award for their blueberry Chipotle ribs - they are to die for. Throw in some of the sides like jalapeno grits and you are in heaven. I have been spoiled in my professional career when it comes to food. I have eaten at some very expensive places from New York to London . This place is absolutely wonderful - dont let the appearance fool you . You will have the best ribs youve ever had . Throw in the availability of all that wonderful Asheville beer and you have a line out the door all the time. Restaurants with long lines always attract me. This place always has a line - always
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Brittni Quarles
My husband and I dined at 12 bones, I was worried initially because the demand was so high that to eat at this little place, that there were boatloads of people seemingly being dumped off at the front door to dine here for lunch. I had to be at work by 3 and it looked like it was going to be awhile to get my food, boy was I wrong, the staff turned up the heat and got us in and out faster than I could have imagined, the mac and cheese was good and the ribs were yummy, My husband felt the ribs could have been better, I am not sure if it was just the time of day that we came or our pallets where just not accustomed to that particular style of ribs, or maybe they had to cook them faster than usual, all I know is I had a great experience, and I definitely want to give it another try, the writings on the walls were AWESOME and the tin pans we were served with made me feel like I could relax and dig in.
