ASHEVILLE – A West Asheville wine bar and restaurant adds daytime service; a beloved brewery prepares to reopen by releasing its first beer since Tropical Storm Helene; local dining events, including a hot dog bash, fish fry and Cajun cuisine cooking competition.
Leo’s House of Thirst opens for breakfast and lunch
Leo’s House of Thirst, a 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Award semifinalist for Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program, has extended its service to include breakfast and lunch at 1055 Haywood Road.
Breakfast is served from 9 a.m.-Noon, lunch is from Noon-4 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. Dinner begins at 4 p.m. and the restaurant closes at 9 p.m. on Sundays and 10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday.
James Beard semifinalist Leo’s House of Thirst has extended its hours and added breakfast and lunch service.
Breakfast menu highlights include Belgian waffles with blueberry compote and beef short rib hash.
The beverage program includes espresso, coffee, iced teas, and wine selections, like cava, prosecco and champagne.
The lunch menu features light bites and shareables, like caviar, oysters, deviled eggs, as well as full plates, like the shrimp roll made with seranno relish, Meyer lemon, green peppercorn, cilantro, radish and creamy butter on a brioche roll.
Several dishes, including the beets and berries, which include farro, quinoa, asparagus mousse, zatar and sauv blanch vin, are available for breakfast and lunch.
Leo’s House of Thirst has something for daytime and evening customers as a breakfast and lunch menu debuted alongside its dinner and wine menus.
A $25 lunch special that includes a sandwich, soup and salad, is offered Tuesday-Thursday. On Tap Tuesdays, all tap wine bottles are $25 each, or $15 for a half-bottle.
More: 2025 James Beard Awards semifinalists announced with Asheville chefs, restaurants named
Zillicoah Beer Co. brews again
Zillicoah Beer Co. has achieved a significant milestone in its monthslong recovery from Tropical Storm Helene. The Woodfin brewery has produced its first post-Helene beer, available for retail purchase over the Fourth of July weekend.
Zillicoah’s brewery and taproom at 870 Riverside Drive was submerged by an estimated 6 feet of floodwaters from the French Broad River, which reached a record 24.67 feet during Helene last fall.
Zillicoah Beer Co.’s IPA releases over Fourth of July weekend. It’s the first post-Tropical Storm Helene beer brewed.
More than nine months later, Zillicoah’s taproom remains closed for renovations, with a tentative reopening scheduled in mid-August.
Gearing up for its highly anticipated comeback, Zillicoah is releasing an IPA, brewed with pilsner malt, wheat and Azacca and El Dorado hops, with peach and other fruity notes and a 60 IBU. It will be sold as a 16-ounce 4-pack for $13 each.
The Zillicoah IPA may be purchased to-go ― curbside pick-up only ― at the brewery from Noon-5 p.m. July 4 and Noon-4 p.m. July 5-6. Customers must present a valid ID to purchase.
Zillicoah Beer Co.’s IPA is the first post-Tropical Storm Helene beer brewed. It will be available for to-go purchase over the Fourth of July weekend.
Orders may be reserved online at zillicoahbeer.com; customers are asked to place orders only if they are available to pick up during the allotted drive-thru times.
Zillicoah’s flagship lagers are planned to return, including the Helles, Kellerpils, North German Pils and Mittelfruh styles. Several collaboration beers with other local breweries will be released later.
More drive-thru retail sale weekends are expected to be announced in the lead-up to reopening day.
More: Zillicoah Beer Co. closer to reopening brewery, taproom after Tropical Storm Helene
Take a tour of Asheville’s culinary and craft beverage scene by attending these upcoming events.:
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Tips, comments, questions? Email tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow @PrincessOfPage on Instagram/Bluesky.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Zillicoah’s first beer, Leo’s new breakfast menu, a fish fry, more
