July/August New & Notable

Standard Oyster Company

Hickory

Belly up to the Standard Oyster Company’s bar for fresh seafood in a laid-back setting. A chalkboard menu lists the day’s carefully curated oysters, which are served raw on the half shell with house-made mignonette and horseradish cocktail sauce. Other seafood dishes like Cajun shrimp and grits and a Lowcountry boil have proven popular since the restaurant’s April opening.

2147 N. Center St.; (828) 322-1705; standardoysterco.com

Golden Fleece Slow Earth Kitchen

Asheville

Upscale Mediterranean delicacies find a home in the mountains at this new addition to Grovewood Gallery near The Omni Grove Park Inn. Slow-cooked lamb and wood-grilled whole red snapper highlight the dinner menu, alongside garden specialties like crispy brussels sprouts and braised gigante beans. The glamorous bar and dining room, revealed at its spring opening, feature leather chairs and dramatic lighting that reflects the vision of renowned North Carolina restaurateur Giorgios Bakatsias.

111 Grovewood Rd.; (828) 424-7655; goldenfleeceasheville.com

Magpie Meat & Three

Brevard

Appalachian food traditions shine at this new addition to the revitalized Brevard Lumberyard arts district. An array of wood-smoked meats can be combined with any three sides to create a classic Southern plate. Salvaged materials found on-site create a rustic, industrial look that enhances the relaxed atmosphere. Collards, grits, and house-made pickles were on the eatery’s initial menu when it launched in May.

170 King St.; (828) 877-3773; magpiemeatandthree.com