When Jamie Wade founded Sand Hill Kitchen in the Candler/Enka community in January of 2017, she recognized a need for hearty local dishes made from scratch. Having worked in other restaurants for years, Jamie felt like it was time to try her own hand at owning a restaurant, and sharing some of her tried and true traditional family recipes made with love (one of these being her grandmother’s banana pudding!)
“I was working at a place here in town that closed,” said Jamie. “I looked into buying it, but it wasn't the right place for me. During that process, I got really excited about the idea of having my own place.”
As fate would have it, space at the BP gas station at the corner of Sand Hill Road and Sardis Road became available; a former location of Asheville Sandwich Company. Jamie jumped at the opportunity, and three weeks later Sand Hill Kitchen opened!
“I'm not sure there are a lot of gas station restaurants where all the food is made from scratch. We make everything and try to never cut corners. We have a great energy at Sand Hill that sets us apart from some other places. We have a killer tight-knit crew with very little turnover.”
The business’s mission is to create incredible food that makes people happy. They also use locally-sourced ingredients as much as possible. Flavors range from roots stemming from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to the Southern family kitchen. Homemade biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, and meatloaf sandwiches are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to their diverse menu, and the specials change daily. Their LOVE cheeseburger won Asheville’s 2018 Battle of the Burgers. A convenient drive-thru is also an option for foodies on the go.
“We employ several adults with disabilities who work a few hours a week to gain job skills. I think it's important to provide a place where folks can come be part of something fun, and maybe learn a few new skills. I see people coming together at the shop, and I'm glad to be able to provide that space.,” Jamie added.
Sand Hill Kitchen just celebrated its three-year anniversary, and there are no signs of business slowing down anytime soon! The restaurant has previously partnered with The Underground Cafe with DoughP Doughnuts to make cajun honey biscuits into fried chicken doughnut sandwiches for a Saturday brunch, and they plan on collaborating with more local businesses in the future. Some local products that you'll find at the kitchen include Firewalker Hot Sauce, Shanti Elixirs and more.
They’re open Monday through Wednesday 7am-3pm, Thursday through Friday 7am-8pm, and Saturday 8am-8pm. Orders can be placed online for pickup, and can also be delivered via Kickback AVL.
To learn more about what’s cooking at Sand Hill Kitchen, be sure to check out their Dig Local profile.
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