MeZzAlUnA
SpEcIaLiZeS
In WoOd-FiReD
PiZzAs AnD
HoMeMaDe
PaStAs
ViSiToRs SaVoR
CuLiNaRy DeLiGhTs In
Downtown Hendersonville
NoRtH CaRoLiNa
When Hendersonville, North Car-
olina, was established in the mid-
1800s, one of its founders decreed
that Main Street should be wide
enough to turn around a coach
pulled by four horses. Although the
horse-and-carriage days are over,
that wide, winding Main Street con-
tinues to benefit the Blue Ridge
Mountain town.
Downtown Hendersonville boasts
24 independent restaurants, and
several of them offer alfresco din-
ing on the spacious sidewalks.
Never Blue, a tapas-style restau-
rant with worldly flavors, rolls up its
garage-door front on pleasant
evenings. Diners enjoy powerful
cocktails, creative tacos and deca-
dent desserts topped with house-
made ice cream.
Postero, another Main Street stand-
out, presents New American fare that
is both familiar, yet innovative. The
chicken and waffles is garnished
with foie gras maple syrup, and kim-
chi rémoulade tops the lunchtime
burger. The menu changes season-
ally and showcases local ingredients.
International flavors abound in the
heart of downtown. Mezzaluna spe-
cializes in wood-fired pizzas and
homemade pastas. Although its
menu is Italian, its craft beer lineup is
heavy on local labels. Just up the
street, Umi serves fresh sushi and
sashimi, and several bento boxes for
those who want to try a little of every-
thing. Sol Y Luna combines the cui-
sine of California and Mexico for
flavorful entrees and killer margari-
tas.
As shoppers peruse the boutiques,
gift shops and galleries along Main
Street, they enjoy midday snacks
from several downtown eateries. The
sweet smells wafting from McFarlan
Bakery have drawn in customers for
more than 80 years. Homemade
apple turnovers, bear claws and cake
doughnuts keep customers coming
back. Newcomer HVL Donuts packs
a lot of flavor into its tiny space with a
walk-up window. Its artisan doughnuts
come traditionally glazed or topped
with such unexpected additions as
bacon crumbles or a bourbon glaze.
For more information about these
Hendersonville restaurants and
other downtown attractions, go to
www.VisitHendersonvilleNC.org or
call (800) 828-4244.