The Scheffer Group is proud to announce that Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian South and Jettie Rae’s Oyster House have both been recognized in Tripadvisor’s prestigious Best of the Best Awards. Vinnie’s South earned the #6 spot and Jettie Rae’s ranked #8 in the highly competitive Casual Dining category, recognizing them as two of the finest dining destinations in the United States.

Our Owner/Chef Eric Scheffer and Directors Jordan Taylor and Sean Cudmore have served as the main contact points between Moody Plumbing, Topwater Energy Solutions, and fellow Asheville restaurateurs, streamlining the logistics and administration of clean water access to multiple restaurants throughout Asheville. Our team has been helping to arrange routes and coordinate so that these resources are more affordable and accessible, and we’re making notable suggestions such as bringing in smaller tanker trucks so that more restaurant locations can receive the water they need

We are excited to announce that all Scheffer Group restaurants, including both Vinnie’s Neighborhood Italian locations, Gan Shan West, and Jettie Rae’s Oyster House, are now open and operating with clean, safe, and health department-certified potable water. Our hearts are full of gratitude as we welcome our beloved community back into our dining rooms. Over the past few days, it’s been a joy to see so many familiar, smiling faces, and we’re honored to provide a space for comfort, healing, and nourishment in these challenging times.

Nan brings her deep culinary roots and rich life experiences to every corner of Vinnie's South. From her beginning in Brooklyn, to 15 years in construction, to working her way through the culinary ranks to Executive Chef roles, Nan has done it all. Her leadership, warmth, and resilience unify the Vinnie’s family and make her an irreplaceable part of the team.

Andrew Parker, Head Dishwasher at The Original Vinnie’s, explains the importance of the dish pit, or the “water park” as he and his coworkers affectionately call it, and how it affects a restaurant in service.

“Food is the soul of a restaurant, and the cooks are the spirit behind it. The plates are what carry all of that, they are the pumping blood source. The dish pit is the heart.”

Chef Anai started at Vinnie's as a Pantry Cook, then worked her way up to become Head Chef of the #1 favorite restaurant in South Asheville.

In this article, learn more about Anai’s journey to Vinnie's South, and what it's like being a female in a male-dominated field.