A Culinary Legacy—Asheville’s Oldest Restaurant
Cuisine From Near & Far
Welcome to Stoney Knob Café
Asheville’s Most Eclectic Hideaway
The Dermas Family
Drama
The Legend of Stoney Knob Café
A Tale of Dreams, Destiny, and a Dash of Divine Culinary Mischief
Like all great legends, this one begins with a dream, the American Dream, to be exact. The year was 1947, the world still dusting itself off from war, and one intrepid Greek soul, Gus Dermas, boarded a ship bound for the land of opportunity. His homeland—Mikro Horio, Greece—faded into the horizon, but the fire in his heart burned bright. He sought adventure, fortune, and, above all, love.
New York City became his proving ground. Gus cut his teeth in the grand dining halls of bustling hotels, sharpening his skills, feeding the hungry masses, and learning the rhythm of a restaurant’s heartbeat. But then—plot twist—Uncle Sam came calling. Drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict, Gus served his adopted country before returning stateside, where destiny nudged him southward to Greensboro, North Carolina.
It was the era of segregation and sit-ins, but Gus had already made up his mind—every person deserved a good meal. His restaurant welcomed all, not as an act of rebellion, but because, as Gus put it, “We’re all human beings, and everyone deserves a good meal.”
Then came 1962, and whispers of a charming mountain town called Weaverville reached Gus’s ears. Something about these rolling Blue Ridge peaks reminded him of home, and in that moment, the idea of Stoney Knob Café was born. He built it off of Merrimon Avenue, poured his heart into every dish, and—just a few years later—found the love he had crossed an ocean to discover. Enter Ismini, the woman who would become his partner in business, life, and legend. For the next 35 years, the two ran their beloved café side by side, raising not just plates of exquisite food but two sons—John and Yotty.
Now, there’s a rumor that Yotty was actually born in the kitchen and was grilling lamb chops before he took his first breath. Could be true. Who’s to say?
What is true is that the brothers grew up immersed in the restaurant world, learning the art of hospitality from their parents while dreaming of their own adventures. And adventure they sought. After exploring the world, gathering inspiration, and sharpening their own creative instincts, the brothers returned to where it all began. In an act of love, Gus and Ismini passed the torch, entrusting their sons with the soul of Stoney Knob.
“This place is our blood, our livelihood, our heritage,” John says.
Ismini and Gus Dermas- Founders 1962
But the brothers had their own vision—a wilder, bolder, kaleidoscopic evolution of the diner their father built. In 2000, they transformed Stoney Knob into an eclectic, theatrical, multi-sensory experience. Whimsy reigns supreme—James Bond rubs elbows with Superman, velvet Elvis keeps watch, rare films flicker in the background, and global music spins an exotic spell.
And the food? A worldly masterpiece. Inspired by their travels, John and Yotty infused the menu with Mediterranean magic and a sprinkle of international delight. Not content with just one immersive space, they later unveiled The Red Room and The Mediterranean Room, each with its own unmistakable personality.
Their creation is equal parts art, theatre, and feast, where the ordinary dissolves and the extraordinary takes its place.
So, is Stoney Knob just a restaurant? Hardly.
It’s a story, a dream, a living work of art. And lucky for you, you’re invited to be part of it.
