New restaurant will host grand opening on October 7
Special to IFN
Florence Wine & Beer Garden, a new Italian restaurant, has opened in a spectacular 100-year-old building that once served as the powerhouse for the Mooresville Cotton Mills.
It took two years for owner Michal Bay to renovate the structure at 518 S Church Street in Mooresville’s Merino Mill complex. Bay preserved its historic red brick, soaring 50-foot-high ceilings, and tall archways. He added outdoor lighting and patio seating for al fresco dining overlooking a pond.
“It was worth all the effort,” he said. “The atmosphere really transports you. We wanted to create a place that feels a little magical.”
Currently in its soft opening phase, the restaurant will host its grand opening on Tuesday, October 7, at 11 a.m. Complimentary samples of the menu will be available.
Florence Wine & Beer Garden highlights classic Italian pastas, salads, and entrees with the freshest ingredients. The menu is evolving. Customer favorites so far include the Burrata salad, with soft Italian cheese, arugula, tomatoes, diced peaches, walnuts and champagne vinaigrette; the Fiorentina pasta, with fettuccine in a creamy bacon and spinach sauce; and the Chicken Parmesan, a classic comfort entree with Parmesan, buffalo mozzarella, and a lighter mozzarella known as fior di latte.
Diners seeking hearty fare can savor the lasagna with a ground-beef Bolognese sauce, creamy bechamel and Parmesan, or the Ragu Della Casa, ribbon-shaped Pappardelle pasta with slow-cooked, Bologna-style beef ragu.
Lighter dishes include sea bass and salmon with either creamy pasta or arugula tomato salad on the side.
Vegetarians can enjoy the Gnocchi Al Forno, featuring oven-baked gnocchi with tomato sauce, bechamel, and Parmesan. For vegans, there’s the Toscana, a savory combination of fettuccine, plant-based ragu, and cannellini beans. Gluten-free pasta is available.
Pair your meal with a wine from Italy, France, or Spain, including Prosecco on tap. Desserts include cannoli, tiramisu, limoncello mascarpone cake, hot honey peach cheesecake, and several chocolate specialties. Future additions to the menu include lamb and beef entrees.
“We make everything fresh for both our lunch and dinner service. When a dish sells out, it’s gone, because we want to every plate to be the best quality,” Bay said.
Merino Mill is home to three other restaurants from Michal Bay, Picasso Mediterranean, The Barcelona Burger & Beer Garden and Aliño Pizzeria, along with Main St. Antiques & Design Gallery.