If you’re ever traveling between Charlotte and Greensboro and looking for something different for lunch, may I suggest the Florence Wine and Beer Garden in Mooresville? Not far off of Routes I-85 and I-77, Florence Wine and Beer Garden is a pretty unique offering for a lazy meal and totally worth the detour off the highway. Here’s what to expect when you visit!
Florence Wine and Beer Garden, Mooresville – Location, Interior
Located next to a residential area in the booming town of Mooresville, driving in you’ll stumble upon an industrial park that used to be Merino Mill (now Mooresville Mill). Florence Wine and Beer sits adjacent to the main complex building in a large brick structure next to a retaining pond. Hop outside and you’ll be greeted by a bright, yellow Vespa motor scooter along with a large patio full of 4-tops.
Pass through the entrance door and you’ll find yourself immediately in the counter order area. Florence Wine and Beer offers a small menu of focaccia, salads, pastas, and mains. It’s a short and tight menu with most of the Italian basics and probably designed for their quick-serve setup for easy operations. Order up some eats and beverages, grab a number and head on back to the dining area to find a table!
While the entrance and order area of Florence Wine and Beer feels a bit unimpressive, you’ll be blown away by what’s right behind the order counter and around the corner. Given this building used to be a powerhouse, you’ll find two main dining rooms at Florence Beer and Wine. Towering 40′ ceilings, weathered brick, and exposed steel work define the cavernous and open space. Large arched wall openings and windows allow a lot of natural sunlight to pour inside. US and Italian flags sit right outside the windows giving you a pop of color, waving in the win. It’s all a lot to take in on first visit!
You’ll find the main bar in the first dining room where you can grab your wine or beer, while the second dining room has a retail wine area. Large communal tables are scattered throughout the space, perfect for a large group or party. And don’t forget, there’s plenty of outdoor patio seating for good weather days.
Florence Wine and Beer Garden, Mooresville – Menu, Food
So how’s the food here? I would call it classic rustic Italian, nothing too fancy. The focaccia is served with some marinara sauce and balsamic vinegar, quite nice and satisfying. And my sea bass was nicely seared and plated with a fettucine alfredo side, a simple but satisfying meal. The menu is mostly in the $15 to $40 range and solid overall, you do pay a bit for the view and surroundings! I’d love to see them serve up some pinsa pizza or flatbreads here but we shall see.
Florence Wine and Beer Garden, Mooresville – Service, Conclusion
Service at Florence Wine and Beer Garden was friendly and prompt. The staff and owners are definitely excited about what they have to offer. While the interior is super interesting, stroll on outside if you’re visiting. Out back, behind the second dining roo, there’s a large courtyard area with potted greenery and Italian murals. To the side you’ll find more outdoor seating overlooking the cooling pond which has been spruced up with fountains, nice!
Overall I really enjoyed my visit to the Florence Wine and Beer Garden. It’s a unique spot offering up a lovely environment to quaff down a beer or sip on a glass of wine. The space is large and sprawling, giving you plenty of options to hang out with friends and family. You really can’t go wrong with a visit to this special space so just set your GPS to Florence Wine and Beer Garden! That short jaunt off the highway may just transport you to the lush gardens of Italy…
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