Café Mamma Mia! with Mediterranean-inspired pastries and meals

ASHEVILLE — A new restaurant with a Broadway-inspired name that gives customers “a touch of Mediterranean love” is now open downtown.

On June 10, Mamma Mia! Café opened at 46 Haywood St., Suite 11 in the atrium of the Haywood Park Building.

Mamma Mia! Cafe offers breakfast, lunch and snacks including fresh homemade baked goods like traditional Mediterranean pastries, sandwiches, coffee and fresh fruit smoothies that can be enjoyed immediately or packed to go.

“I wanted to offer a place where people could relax but also eat healthy,” said owner Stephen Herrington.

The menu of Mamma Mia! Café

Herrington’s family recipes and the Broadway show “Mamma Mia!” inspired the entrepreneur to leave the corporate world and open a coffee shop.

Herrington said he loves the Abba-inspired musical and has seen the live production nearly 15 times while living in New York and three more times while living in Charlotte.

Herrington said the recipes have been in his family for many years and represent many regions.

Herrington, originally from Venezuela, said his father’s side of the family is from Spain and his mother’s side is from France.

“In Venezuela, we also have a lot of influence from Greek, Portuguese and Middle Eastern cuisine,” he said. “We have a lot of immigrants from those areas, so I grew up eating a mix of all those cuisines.”

The display case is filled with treats such as profiteroles, savoury croissants, blueberry cakes and cream cheese pastries made with fresh ingredients and no preservatives. Mango and coconut rice puddings are also on offer.

The pastries are prepared in a commercial kitchen and transported to the cafe daily. The products may be served hot. He explained that the cafe uses an oven instead of a microwave to reheat the pastries to preserve their quality, so it may take a few extra minutes.

Sandwich options include the Little Venice, which features steak and American cheese served on fresh, warm bread. It costs $6.95.

The Mediterranean Veggies, a vegetarian option, features Gouda and Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, avocado, mayonnaise, ketchup and mustard, served on fresh hot-pressed bread, and sells for $10.99.

Lasagna for two costs $17.95.

The Mamma Mia! Café beverage menu features hot and iced teas, milkshakes, fresh fruit smoothies and soft drinks.

Herrington prides himself on his coffee menu, which includes coffee and espresso drinks made from beans sourced from Italy and Spain, although he keeps the names of the suppliers secret.

A coffee revival

Nearly 20 years ago, Herrington said he owned a restaurant in Miami before moving to New York and then Charlotte.

He said he was ready to return to the restaurant industry after working for eight years in the corporate health care industry in supply chain management, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Working remotely allowed him to move from Charlotte to Asheville.

Over the past year, Herrington has created a café concept, decided on a business name and searched for the perfect intimate venue in the Haywood Park building.

“When I saw this space, it was completely empty. I said to the owner, ‘I have an idea to bring this beautiful place to life,’” Herrington said.

He transformed the old nail salon by adding a small kitchen and a service counter.

Murals from Greece and landscapes from other Mediterranean cities as well as thematic accents are present on the wall.

The hidden lounge of the café is designed like a living room with comfortable armchairs, lamps and wall art.

Outside the cafe, he embellished the atrium with Mediterranean-style chairs, tables, lanterns, plants and welcome banners. Existing design elements and hanging windows that let in natural light help brighten the space.

Herrington said he has received numerous comments from neighboring business tenants and customers complimenting the revitalization.

The commercial building houses offices, service businesses and retailers, such as Nirvana Hair Studio and Mountain Radiance Medical Spa, and is connected to the Haywood Park Hotel, Isa’s Bistro and Bier Garden.

The Mamma Mia! Café is located inside the building and does not have a street entrance. The main door is between The Chocolate Fetish and Charmed Boutique.

Herrington said tenants were limited in their dining options and asked the landlord to provide them with a place where they could get a quick bite to eat, but not a fast food joint. Hotel guests were looking for a place nearby to get coffee and breakfast in the morning.

Herrington said his goal for Mamma Mia! Café is to provide a relaxing environment, great coffee and fun times for customers.

“My goal is to make them happy and satisfied,” he said. “When they’re here, they can relax or dance if they want. They can enjoy their time. … If you feel like dancing to a ‘Mamma Mia!’ song, you can dance here.”

Mamma Mia Coffee!

Or: 46 Haywood Street, Suite 11

Hours: Mamma Mia! Café’s current hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday. Herrington plans to extend weekend hours.

Info: Website and social media pages are coming soon. For more information, visit Mamma Mia! Café on Google Maps.

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Tiana Kennell is the food and culinary reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at [email protected] or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a Citizen Times subscription.