I’ve had the chance to visit Asheville post Hurricane Helene (September 2024) twice and it’s been great to see the area recover slowly after that horrific weather event. One new addition that hit my radar screen was Potential New Boyfriend, a fun spot out in W. Asheville that’s hard to describe. And after one visit, color me impressed! There was so much thought put into this place and it was recently named to Eater’s Best Third Place in the country for 2025 and I understand why. Here’s what to expect when you visit and why you should absolutely visit if you enjoy dessert!
Potential New Boyfriend, Asheville – Location, Interior
Located on the funky Haywood Road, Potential New Boyfriend sits on a quiet corner of the street, unobtrusively. Red brick exterior, a “Protect the Dolls” stenciled overhead, there’s not a lot of signage or ways to identify the place. Poke your head in and you’ll be taken to a different time and place, I’d describe it as an early 70s, Stranger Things motif! Thankfully being an old person, it all felt comfortable and recognizable to me. Imagine a super comfy and cozy living room with a bit of warmth and high design. Think shiny leather couch, warm velvet seating and kitsch (lava lamp, art desgins, old school TV playing vintage shows, art-deco speakers). You really have to sit back and take it all in at first but someone definitely had an eye and imagination when filling out the interior! In back is the service counter where they’ve got the turntable and some albums for some soothing music. Now plop yourself down into a chair and get ready to sit back, grab a bite and relax.
Potential New Boyfriend, Asheville – Menu, Food-Drink
The menu at Potential New Boyfriend is tightly curated and a lot of fun. Small nibbles (grilled cheese sandwiches) and charcuterie along with sundaes and desserts. Wash it all down with an apertif or cocktail (creatively named) while you sit back in conversation with some vinyl spinning up the tunes. The menu also offers cocktail-dessert pairings which I took advantage of. For my visit I did an amaro cocktail along with a coconut tres leches cake, dee-lish! Just a very cool way to end the evening, the quality of the desserts here are quite good and tasty.
Potential New Boyfriend, Asheville – Service, Conclusion
Service at Potential New Boyfriend was excellent! Young and friendly staff that knows the ins and outs of the menu is helpful given the uniqueness of items on the menu. They’ll provide tons of details and guide you to what pairing may suit you best. And while it’s hard to describe Potential New Boyfriend I can tell you for sure that it’s a must visit if you’re in the W. Asheville area. Is it a listening lounge, dessert bar, charcuterie spot or cocktail bar? The answer may be all of the above but in the end, it’s a place that you can sit back, relax in, feed a craving and leave happy. Love to see all the thought and care put into this business, Asheville is really lucky to have Potential New Boyfriend. Don’t miss it if you’re visiting the area and need a great way to finish your evening!
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