313 Franklin

313 Franklin is part of a complex that was previously an elementary school. There are also apartments and an event space (Dogwood) in the same building. In addition to street parking, there's a lot in the back that you can enter from Park Lane (look for the swing sets). The restaurant has kept a good deal of the school house look but it's delightfully updated and clean. Service is professional but very friendly. The Truffle Herb Fries are a fantastic choice for an appetizer, with way more truffle flavor than I've had on other variation of this dish. The ribeye steak I had was pretty good as well; perhaps not up to level of a high end NYC steakhouse but still plenty tasty.In a final touch of the school house theme the checks are presented in classic children's story books, which is fun.

We made reservations for this restaurant, a nicely converted school building in town. They were already busy on the weeknight when we arrived before 6 pm. We were promptly seated and offered water, appetizers, etc. My wife selected the salmon which she enjoyed along with garlic mashed potatoes and gravy.I had the fried catfish, fries and slaw.Her salmon had a delicious spinach crème sauce. My fish was good also, though a bit heavy on the breading.However I was disappointed in the garden variety fries, like something you would buy in the frozen food section of Walmart or Food Lion. I would have suggested some seasoned fries or a type of dip, perhaps brown gravy. They were just too plain. My slaw was good except for the red bell peppers, which I don't care for.Prices were reasonable $15-20 per meal. Plus beverage.As for the ambiance, we were told that they have live music on Friday and Saturday nights.However we could not help but feel overwhelmed with the noise levels in the dining room. It was just the chatter of other dinners but the hard surfaces on the tall ceilings and walls made sounds reverberate. When dining for pleasure with one's date, one hopes for genteel conversation, yet we could not really unless we really lifted our voices.Owners, consider sound absorption panels covered in fabric and attached to the ceilings or walls. They are affordable and will improve the ambiance greatly.Overall a good experience, but not a great one.

This is an old school house (1950?) that has been converted to a restaurant. Interior is beautiful with a refreshing feeling of comfort. Service was top notch and very friendly. Wide selection of food to satisfy any craving. The portions were not obnoxiousness huge like some places. Only complaint is they seem to over cook everything just a bit. Not enough to make me not want to come back but it seemed to be consistent as other tables complained also. May just be a bad night for the chef. Definitely on my list of places to return to.

Awesome atmosphere, food, drinks, and service. I got the fried green tomatoes, Mahi Mahi with mango chutney and the apple spoon bread. Also, the smoked old fashion. It was delicious. They also have a wonderful wine and borbon selection and specialty drinks. I would highly recommend this amazing place in a renovated elementary school. It is so innovative. Amazing what talented people can do!

Hands down one of the best restaurants in the area. They have great cocktails and the food is so good!I love the bit of history that comes with the restaurant being an old school house. It is beautiful inside with a modern and bright feel. Service has always been great, the two times I've been we sat at the bar.Started with the fried green tomatoes and pimento cheese. Amazing. The tomatoes melt in your mouth and pair very well with the cheese. 5/5The prime rib is the best I've ever had. The flavor is superb and the seasoning spot on. I like to get it with the horseradish sauce but it honestly doesn't need anything extra. 5/5My only regret is not getting pictures. Highly recommend!

The food was really yummy. I got the 14 oz ribeye, it was a thicker cut than I expected. The waitress was quick and attentive. The ambiance was very nice and welcoming.

The food was fantastic, and the ambiance was as delightful! Such a wonderful reuse of a space that likely holds lots of memories for the community. We ended up sitting near a gentleman who was previously a teacher in the school. It was a fantastic experience. We will definitely be back. The fig dark and stormy was a perfect sipping drink to go with our truffle fries and loaded chips, and the rolls are exactly like the lunch ladies used to make for us back in the day!

Had a great lunch at locally owed business. If you're not familiar with this spot don't let the look make you question whether you are at the right spot. Get on in there and you won't be disappointed. Service and ambiance were spot on.

We left Asheville temporarily to await power and water restoration after Helene and Hostess Terry graciously gave us a wonderful meal on the house for our trouble. We will gladly return for the great food, service and hospitality.

Love the food. It's a bit pricey, but you have to pay for quality these days. Lunch time has excellent deals and the food is still great! It's worth going in for the sit down.