Fork & Dagger: The Local Joint still serves one of area’s best breakfasts

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.

When pondering ideas for more older Asheville brunch spots, I suddenly remembered The Local Joint. I’d not been there since before Covid, and I remember enjoying it. The only reason I haven’t visited more often is that the drive is a bit of a haul for me.

If there’s one thing a foodie knows, it’s that if a restaurant is attached to a gas station, it’s likely going to be worth the visit. This little diner is attached to the Amoco way out on Highway 19/74. You want to talk about a country diner? This is that spot.

The decor is simple; a no nonsense arrangement of booths with a long bar, reminiscent of a truck stop diner of the distant American past. It’s cute without much effort.

The server brought us coffee and water and a smile. We did notice Bloody Mary’s on other tables, but it was too early for us that day.

I really liked that there wasn’t an abundance of items to choose from on the menu. However, it still took us a while to order because everything looked so appealing.

I went with the biscuits and gravy with home fries, which was excellent. The biscuits and the gravy were certainly made from scratch. I added sausage patties and an egg, and this massive pile of wonder still topped out at only $13. Unbelievable these days.

She had the corned beef hash with an egg and rye toast, and it was delightful. This was obviously house-made, as well. Best corned beef I’ve had in quite a while. We also shared a bowl of grits and some fresh fruit. Both were outstanding.

We were both impressed by how tasty and affordable The Local Joint was, and how much we enjoyed the casual simplicity of the experience. We did have to wait about 20 minutes, which was completely worth it. I’m so glad to see a place like this doing well, and given this kind of low price point in 2026, I’m not surprised at all. This is absolutely a candidate for the best breakfast in town.