Welcome to the charming city of Hendersonville, North Carolina. In the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains about 30 minutes south of Asheville, this historic city delivers a vibrant dining scene, making it a culinary destination worth exploring. During our recent visit to Hendersonville NC we dined at some of the very best restaurants in Hendersonville, NC.
Hendersonville is most well known for apples, but this beautiful and modern small mountain town has wonderful places to enjoy some great food and plenty of things to see and do as well.
How did they compare to the many other restaurants we've tried during our mountain town visits? We'll let you know! We have compiled a list of our personal picks for the best restaurants in Hendersonville, NC, ranging from pizza joints to upscale eateries.
These are all restaurants we dined at during our visits to Hendersonville NC over the years and these are picks from our own personal experience.
Alright, enough chatter! Grab your fork, and let's go eat some great food at the very best restaurants in Hendersonville NC!
Disclosure: Visit Hendersonville invited us and meals and activities were complimentary; however, all opinions, information, and photos are our own and they did not ask us to influence our thoughts, comments, or the content of this article. All opinions are our own - we believe in putting our readers first.
Best Restaurant in Hendersonville NC
Great restaurants are a combination of excellent food, outstanding atmosphere, and attentive service. In Hendersonville NC, the choices for magnificent spots to eat are virtually endless. Hendersonville really delivers.
We've tried many of the different Hendersonville restaurants over the years during our many visits to this wonderful North Carolina mountain town, but the list below contains our personal favorites. These restaurants deliver great food time and time again.
You won't be disappointed!
Postero
Postero is an upscale but casual restaurant in an old bank building in downtown Hendersonville proved to be one of our favorites during our recent visit.
This two-story restaurant serves up "a dash of modern-day flavor to the traditional recipes we’ve loved for so long". They offer a full bar, and an open kitchen as well, that was busy yet never frantic, the entire time we were there.
The menu includes starters like Shrimp Ceviche, Burrata Toast, and Pork Belly and Watermelon.
For entrees, the menu includes: Steak, scallops, chicken, pork tenderloin, and pan roasted salmon.
We started off with the Burrata Toast, which was excellent, and then we ordered the Steak and Pan Roasted Salmon.
The Steak was sliced, grilled 8 oz. bistro tender, summer corn & tomato salad, avocado, sunflower seed chili crisp, and queso blanco. The Salmon was pan roasted salmon, summer panzanella with tomatoes, Red Onions, cucumbers, summer squash, warm back & whole grain mustard vinaigrette.
Both dishes were absolutely fantastic, and the array of flavors was super fresh and blended wonderfully together. We really enjoyed our entrees immensely.
We saved a little room for dessert and ordered the Banana and peanut butter pudding and the dark chocolate pot de creme. Both, just wonderful, and not too large as well.
Our meal at Postero was one of the best we've had anywhere, and we look forward to returning on our next visit to Hendersonville.
Shine
We loved Shine as well, also in downtown Hendersonville. It is a cozy spot intended for gathering with friends and enjoying some of the most creative dishes in town.
We began our visit by arriving about an hour prior to our reservations and heading up to the top of the restaurant to hang out at their rooftop bar. There is plenty of bar space and tables that all provide a delightful view of the surrounding city.
We enjoyed a few drinks, relaxing and talking until it was time to head downstairs for our reservations. One note on the rooftop bar: they only serve drinks, no food.
We were seated at a nice table towards the front of the restaurant, facing the downtown area. To start with, we ordered some drinks and the stuffed shitake mushrooms as an appetizer. They were amazing and topped with delicious hollandaise sauce.
While waiting for the mushrooms, we looked over their pretty large menu and tried to narrow down our selections. We finally asked our server for her recommendations and ended up going with the shrimp tortellini and crab cakes.
Both dishes came out quickly from the kitchen. The shrimp tortellini was beautiful, with the multi-colored pasta and topped with fresh parmesan cheese. It tasted even better than it looked! The crab cakes were great as well, and Chesapeake Bay style and served on top of rice.
Despite being full, we couldn't resist ordering dessert after our server's enticing us with the menu. We ended up trying the cheesecake and berry cobbler. Later we learned their multiple pastry chefs make their desserts in house. The desserts were fabulous, and that cheesecake was huge.
The food and atmosphere at Shine was excellent and our server was just wonderful, helpful and attentive. We really enjoyed both the rooftop bar and our dinner in the dining room. We'll definitely be back, and in fact, we ended up visiting the rooftop bar again before we left Hendersonville.
They even have a roof-top bar that serves drinks only, but provides nice seating and rooftop views of the town. We hung out here a couple of nights during our visit. Definitely a great place to visit before or after dinner at Shine, or just to take a break while visiting downtown Hendersonville.
Mezzaluna
Located alongside the charming shops and historic buildings of downtown Hendersonville NC is Mezzaluna Brick Oven and Tap House.
From the moment you step through the doors of this casual and contemporary eatery, you'll feel the inviting atmosphere that is reminiscent of a rustic Italian trattoria, complete with a roaring wood-fired oven that fills the air with the irresistible aroma of freshly baked pizza, their speciality.
While their main offering is brick oven pizza and cold beer, they serve up, they also have lots of other Italian flavors and menu options.
Their outdoor seating was full, so we fortunately got a seat indoors near the large front windows, which provided a pleasant view of the happenings in downtown Hendersonville.
We started with some wine and a cold local draft beer, then ordered the Grouper bites as an appetizer, followed by a pizza for our entrée. We're big grouper fans, and the bites were delicious. I'll admit, we were skeptical, but we ordered them based on a recommendation from our server.
Our pizza arrived shortly after we finished the grouper, and the pizza was excellent. Not too greasy, and cooked just right, with that classic brick oven taste, smell, and texture. They definitely know how to make a great pizza.
We were eating there for lunch and passed on the desserts. I'm glad we did, as the food was plenty enough for us for lunch and then some.
If you enjoy a great pizza with a cold beer, Mezzaluna should be your go to place when visiting Hendersonville!
Flat Rock Wood Room
Located just a few minutes from down Hendersonville is Flat Rock Wood Room, which specializes in a unique combination of food: BBQ and Neopolitan Pizza. The theme common theme here is "wood-fired", and the food is amazing.
Flat Rock Wood Room is located in a very large old home with a huge front porch that offers outdoor seating. As soon as you step into the Flat Rock Wood Room, you're greeted by a warm, rustic ambiance, evoking the feeling of a cozy mountain cabin. The wooden interiors, coupled with the aroma of wood-fired pizza and barbecue, set the stage for a dining experience that's as comforting as it is delicious.
The menu is a mouth watering mix of barbecue meats, gourmet wood-fired brick oven pizzas, other wood-fire food options and traditional southern sides. Each dish, from the succulent pulled pork to the crispy, chewy pizza crust, is a testament to the flavor provided by cooking with wood.
We started off with some wood-fired cheese bread, with an oil and herb dipping sauce. Absolutely fantastic.
While munching on the bread, we agonized over what to choose from all the wonderful sounding menu items. Our waitress finally gave us a few recommendations, and we ordered. Being a huge shrimp and grits fan, I had to try their BBQ shrimp and grits and Jenn ordered the burnt ends. Both dishes were fantastic tasting, and very unique.
The smoky BBQ sauce on the shrimp and grits really made the dish, and not only gave it a unique and delicious flavor, but made the overall dish different from any other shrimp and grits dish I had tried. In fact, I would say this was my favorite shrimp and grits I've ever had.
The burnt ends were moist, hot, and covered in a deliciously smoky and sweet sauce. Again, just excellent and very well prepared.
I want to say that Flat Rock Wood Room is a real hidden gem in Hendersonville, but given how full the parking lot was, I'm not really sure how hidden it is anymore.
Regardless, it's definitely a place you should have on your must visit list. The food at Flat Rock Wood Room is just wonderful, and the wood-fired flavor that is added to nearly every dish on the menu really makes it stand out.
Mike's on Main
Mike's on Main is another great spot in downtown Hendersonville. The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the menu has all your comfort food favorites. It's a great place to visit if you're looking for something laid back and casual when dining out.
Mike's on Main has its roots in Hendersonville history because it occupies the former Justus Pharmacy, a landmark in Hendersonville that dates back to 1890. Mike's on Main preserves an air of nostalgia while serving up delicious food.
Step inside, the vintage soda fountain shop ambiance is as much a part of the dining experience as the food itself. The original pharmacy cabinets, antique soda fountain, and checkered floor all contribute to a unique, retro atmosphere that's both cozy, inviting and familiar to an older generation.
Mike's on Main's menu is not on delicious, but diverse as well, offering a range of items including soups, salads, and sandwiches. Where Mike's really shines is breakfast.
Breakfast standouts are the Breakfast specials, the breakfast Monte Cristo, and the biscuits and gravy. They even have my favorite, eggs benedict as well.
Patrons also rave about the salads, Patty Melt and milkshakes, which are touted as some of the best in town. Mike's even serves breakfast all day.
The staff at Mike's on Main add to the overall experience with their expertise and friendly demeanor. They're locally known for creating a comfortable atmosphere, making each visitor feel welcomed.
With its rich history, charming ambiance, and mouthwatering menu, Mike's on Main is a must-visit destination when exploring the top restaurants in Hendersonville. We highly recommend a visit to Mike's on Main for breakfast.
Final thoughts on the Best Restaurants in Hendersonville NC
Wrapping up, Hendersonville NC is full of wonderful restaurants just waiting for you to try.
The city's overall culinary scene is very diverse, especially for a mountain town, where finding diverse options is often a challenge. From savory signature dishes that capture the spirit of the region, to the impeccable service and cozy ambience that makes each dining experience unique, Hendersonville's restaurants are wonderful.
But remember, these are just a snapshot of the best restaurants in Hendersonville that we have tried and enjoyed. There are many others, and many on our short list to visit during our future visits to Hendersonville.
Perhaps you've dined at an unforgettable spot in Hendersonville or other surrounding areas in North Carolina that we've missed? Share your favorite dining experiences!
Ultimately, the best way to truly appreciate the great food offered by Hendersonville NC is to experience it for yourself.
