Diaz Group - Asheville

Fantastic! My husband and I followed a recommendation from a local shop owner, and we were not disappointed. In-fact I would say it was the best meal I have ever had. The food was so fresh and colorful and so flavorful. I had a filet mignon special, and my husband had a sea bass special. Service was great. The cucumber jalapeno margaritas were great also.

Have been to Salsa's perhaps a dozen times, and one of the items on my bucket list is to eventually eat one of everything on their menu. If you like Caribbean/Mexican themed dishes, there's nothing you won't enjoy.

Salsa’s is a must try. You will not be disappointed. From the food to ambiance to service, everything was perfection. When you go, try the pineapple marg and see if they have the grilled octopus tostadas. The flank steak with potatoes, rice, black beans, veggies and plantains was impeccable and the three meat fajitas were amazing, too. We will return soon!

Delicious! Great fresh seasonal food. A five-star restaurant except for slow service. But we ate outside and enjoyed it anyway. Best Mexican so far since we moved to Asheville.

We have been to Salsas many times over the years. In fact, it was one of the first restaurants that we visited when we moved back to Asheville, over 15 years ago. They have been around a long time, and thus, have worked hard to really understand who they are. They are part of the restaurant group with Modesto and Bomba and even so, they don’t suffer from the “sameness” that sometimes happens when multiple restaurants are under one umbrella. The good: Salsas has always had big portions, although several years ago, I heard a patron complain that the portions were smaller than they were years prior, but I can’t imagine what that would look like. The portions fill the plate. The food is always beautifully presented. My husband had the Ropa Vieja and I had the African j tuna special. The tuna was a tad bit overcooked, although they said it was seared. The first bites were specially overcooked, as they were the outside edges. But there was quite a bit more pink once I broke into the interior of the dish. Like many of the dishes, it was served with rice and beans and chimichurri and plantains. The fresh flavors and Caribbean accents, ensure that this is not just a typical “burrito“ place. Salsas feels fusion. But not in an over-the-top way. The actual salsas and toppings themselves, for instance, have lovely elements of fresh fruit, which brings a brightness to all of the dishes and compliments them. Cons No reservation policy, but, we decided to go the day after Valentine’s Day, which was a stroke of genius, because they were completely packed for Valentine’s Day, but very few people decided to come out on the 15th. Again, this is not your free-chips-and-salsa taco place, if you want chips and salsa you have to pay extra. Frankly, the plates are so big that you will not miss the free-chips-and -salsa available at the standard chains. Our server was, “OK“ but I saw other people flagging her down for the bill. She wasn’t super attentive, but she wasn’t completely absent. She checked all the boxes, but was not available if we wanted a refill of something. I also deeply do not like it when the servers do not offer Water. While I understand that it’s important for the restaurant to sell drinks, and the markup and margin on drinks is important to the bottom line, it should also be standard practice for the server to say “please take a look at our alcoholic beverages and also would you like a glass of water?” In fact, many tables did not have water, and I saw a few tables trying to flag servers down to ask for a glass of water. I understand that some restaurants find it wasteful to automatically have glasses of water on the table that nobody ever drinks, but I am enjoying the trend toward two empty glasses and a bottle of tapwater on the table if you need it. At a very minimum, the server should bring it up as an offering. I know this sounds like I’m picking on something silly, but people start drinking, especially tourists in town, and they forget to have water, and it’s just not a good combination. Tips on Seating and reservations: It’s a small place, so it is Cozy, and somewhat tight. Try to sit in one of the corners, if you’re sitting in the aisle or especially near the bathroom it gets a bit busy and bustling and annoying. Although they do not accept reservations, they will try to accommodate large parties if you call ahead. Tips on Ordering: The paellas are all excellent. There are a few standard menu items, but don’t get your heart set on something that you have and expect to see it every time on the menu, as it changes seasonally. Chef very much relies on local and seasonal ingredients, which is a blessing. That’s what makes it so lovely. Branch out! Try something new. Try the specials! Get out of your comfort zone! The margaritas here are the best in town. Especially when you order a margarita that has some sort of fruit element to it. In other places, there is often a hint of fruit, but here you really see the muddled fruit and can really taste it. Bravo.