The Green Sage Coffeehouse and Café recently opened at 1800 Hendersonville Road, in the Dingle Creek Crossing shopping center. This is the second location for the eatery. The first opened in downtown Asheville three years ago, in the building that once housed Bean Streets Coffee Shop. After the coffee shop vacated, an ill-fated Asian restaurant occupied the location for a spell — but Green Sage was the first business to breathe life back into the building, a site with a history of community events and gatherings.
The Green Sage south mirrors the downtown location in food, feel and effort toward ecological responsibility. The menu features smoothies, granola, pancakes, omelets, soups, salads and sandwiches, with plenty of vegan and vegetarian options and local ingredients.
And though the original Green Sage is decidedly environmentally friendly, the south location takes that a step further. The 2,700-square-foot building boasts thermal solar panels on the roof, which are expected to heat about 80 percent of the hot water the restaurant uses. LED lighting and a custom-integrated heating system have been installed. Much of the wood used in the upfit of the building is reclaimed barn wood.
The restaurant plans to achieve a 4-star energy rating from the Green Restaurant Association, making it one of three 4-star-rated restaurants in the country.
For more information about Green Sage, visit http://thegreensage.net.
