TALL JOHN’S IS A VERY GOOD RESTAURANT
LOCATED CENTRALLY IN NORTH ASHEVILLE’S HISTORIC MONTFORD DISTRICT
Tall John's serves outstanding food and drink for daily dinner and Sunday brunch. Chef/Owner Trevor Payne's menus focus on familiar dishes prepared with care and precision. Menus are updated regularly (often multiple times a month), inspired by seasonal ingredients, the culinary team’s interests, and Trevor’s extensive library of cookbooks. It's elevated dining with a laid-back twist. Reservations are available, but walk-ins are always welcome!
FAQs
Reservation & Waitlist Policy
Reservations are available for dinner and Sunday brunch—tap here to book.
Walk-ins are always welcome! Our bar, kitchen counter, patio (weather permitting), and a portion of the dining room are reserved for walk-in guests. Even when online reservations are full, walk-in seating may still be available.
Call 828-782-5514 before you arrive to check the wait and add your name to the waitlist if there is one.
We hold your table for 15 minutes after your reservation time. After that, we may release it to other guests. If you’re running late, please call 828-782-5514 as soon as possible, and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
Seating Policy
We are unable to seat parties larger than 6 people, including those in high chairs or wheelchairs. This limit applies both to walk-ins and reservations. We apologize for any inconvenience; our restaurant is located in a historic building and does not have space for table seating for more than 6.
For larger gatherings, full restaurant buyouts may be available. Please email hello@talljohns.com to inquire about availability and pricing.
Outdoor Seating
In-season, we have dog-friendly outdoor seating on our 36-seat outdoor dining patio. Well-mannered dogs are welcome. The patio, which offers both sunny and shady seating options, is open during both brunch and dinner service. Outdoor seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis (no reservations).
The patio is available subject to weather. If it’s been rainy or there’s rain in the forecast, the patio probably won’t be open. Keep this in mind when bringing your dog. If in doubt, call ahead!
Is Tall John’s the best restaurant in Asheville?
In many ways, yes. From another perspective, there are many great restaurants in Asheville, NC; why choose just one to be “the best restaurant?" To be less humble for a moment: many people (including the MICHELIN Guide) do consider Tall John’s to be one of the best restaurants in Asheville, and if you read our reviews, lots of patrons say we’re their favorite. What’s the difference between “favorite” and “best?” That’s a philosophical discussion to have over a glass or two of wine, probably at Tall John’s, which is at least a very good restaurant, if not the best.
Kitchen Service Fee
Tall John’s is committed to pay equity & transparency: we include (and will not remove or adjust) a 5% Kitchen Service Charge on each check, which goes directly to kitchen wages. This is transparent compensation for our talented culinary team. If we just raised the prices on the food, that wouldn’t be transparent. Your tip cannot legally be shared with members of the kitchen team—this is why we include the service fee on our checks rather than having a tip sharing policy.
Accessibility
A designated accessible parking space is behind the building, with a sidewalk connecting it to the ramp at our front entrance. If the parking space or ramp is blocked, please call 828-782-5514 and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Dietary Restrictions
While our menu does have vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free & dairy-free items, we don’t have an extensive selection of these options. We are happy to make substitutions & accommodate preferences whenever we are able.
Private Parties
The restaurant is available to book for full buyout events. We have capacity for 40 people with exclusive use of our dining room & full-service bar. Email us at hello@talljohns.com to inquire.
