Asheville – The southern-style restaurant “Daddy Mac’s Down Home Dive” will replace the Wild Wing Café located at 162 Biltmore Ave. The wing spot closed its doors on Sunday, July 25. After two decades of owning Wild Wing franchises, owner Dave McFarland closed both locations in Knoxville and Asheville to create his own restaurant brand.
The Asheville location is Daddy Mac’s second storefront—the restaurant first opened in Knoxville, TN.
”Thank you, Asheville for the warmest of welcomes and for your tremendous support over the last 16 1/2 years. Please continue to visit us at our Arden Wild Wing Cafe, located at 65 Long Shoals Rd,” said McFarland in a Facebook post.
Daddy Mac’s will offer southern style dishes inspired by his grandparents, who first taught him how to cook as a child. The restaurant’s name derives from McFarland’s paternal grandfather, Charles McFarland. It’s scheduled to open in late August.
“Daddy Mac’s was inspired by my grandparents. The best things about me came from them,” said McFarland on Daddy Mac’s website.
Everything served at Daddy Mac’s is made from scratch. The menu contains southern staples with a twist, including the “Bar-B-Que-Terrie Board,” a large charcuterie platter with an array of smoked meats, sides and crackers. Other dishes include “Redneck Tacos,” pulled pork and slaw piled on southern hoe cakes; “Burnt ends mac,” mac ‘n cheese with pimento cheese, white queso and Cheerwine barbecue sauce; “The down home,” a burger with candied bacon, pimento cheese and fried green tomato.
Rooted in family
Almost everything on the menu includes a variation of a pickle. This is inspired by McFarland’s grandparents, who made homestyle pickles for him as a child. Patrons can order dishes including fried pickle chips, boiled peanuts in pickle juice and “pickle de gallo,” a chunky salsa with pickles instead of tomatoes.
“Our menu is deeply rooted in the recipes and personalities of owner Dave McFarland’s four grandparents, so we like to say Daddy Mac’s is steeped in family tradition and pickle juice,” details the restaurant’s website.
The restaurant anticipates serving local and proprietary craft beers and cocktails. A unique, Southern flair is found in all drinks on the menu. “Nana’s Puddin’” includes banana Cruzan rum with rumchata and a housemade peanut brittle rim; “Chimney Hot” is just Jack Fire and Cheerwine.
Daddy Mac’s will host live music throughout the week with the upstairs serving as an event venue. Renovations are currently taking place to transform the former Wild Wings location to a Southern-style atmosphere.