A new wine bar and restaurant has opened in downtown Fresno. It’s a ‘mom-n-mom’ business
Mussels steamed in white white wine and butter. Grazing boards full of fresh fruit and cheeses. Raw beef carpaccio served with a baguette.
And wine. Lots of wine.
These are all on the menu at Fresno’s newest wine bar, the Lune Wine Bar & Eatery.
It’s in downtown Fresno, on Fulton Street in the T.W. Patterson building near Tulare Avenue. It’s a block or two from the Brewery District.
Lune (pronounced Loon) is the French word for moon.
The wine bar and restaurant is from the brains behind Fig & Honey, the catering company known for its charcuterie boards and grazing tables lavishly covered in meats, cheeses and other snackable goodies.
Women owned businesses
Lune is a separate business. It’s in the same spot where the owners opened a breakfast-and-lunch business with a market and cheese lounge in summer 2021.
Now that spot has been transformed into Lune.
Allison Cassabon and Kellie Lopez are behind both businesses (and still running catering company Fig & Honey).
Instead of a mom-n-pop business, they consider themselves a “mom-n-mom” business, said Cassabon. (Cassabon has two kids and Lopez has one, with another on the way.)
The became fast friends when they met working at the prepared foods department at Whole Foods in their teens 18 years ago. In early April, they opened Lune.
There are no big investors. They’ve got some employees, but mostly it’s just them making sure everything gets done.
“It’s women owned and operated; it’s just us,” said Lopez. “A lot of people don’t know that.”
Lune has a European flair. There are lit candles, gold draperies and a window seat. The pair did much of the work themselves to save money, including the black-and-white checkered floors that Lopez hand painted.
Artist Elowyn Dickerson did the murals, and the space was designed by Tami Waters of Tipping Pointe Design.
The wine
Neither owner is a sommelier or chef, though they’ve gotten help from professionals. They want to keep the business approachable.
“We’re not a snobby wine bar,” Cassabon said.
You can get wine by the glass or bottle, or buy a bottle to take home.
Most of it comes from California, some from wineries such as Kings River Winery in Sanger and Harmony Cellars near Cambria.
More European wine is coming soon, along with cider and beer.
One recommendation from the owners? The Lapis Luna wine, from a woman-owned California winery.
“The wine is really good and it’s at a really good price,” Lopez said.
Glasses on the menu range from $8 to $18.
You can also get a jug of house red wine brought to the table. It’s got a Fig & Honey label and comes from Pianetta Winery in Paso Robles.
The food
Some wine bars are all about the wine, with a little something to eat available so you don’t get too loopy.
But not here.
“The food is just as important,” Cassabon said. “It’s a full restaurant.”
With no grill and only a mini ventilation hood, Lune is limited in what it can serve. But you wouldn’t know it from looking at the menu.
There’s that beef carpaccio — delicate slices of bright coral raw beef served with arugula, Dijon aioli and Parmesan.
Another dish has a supple ball of burrata (a cheese made from mozzerella and cream), cut open and drizzled with olive oil and herbs de Provence. It’s served with proscuitto and toasted bread.
The European-inspired menu has dishes to share and main entrees, ranging from $5 to $25. There are salads, paninis for lunch, french fries and of course, a grazing board with cheese, fruit and cured meats.
There are artistic desserts, including one called Starry Night reminiscent of the night sky with star-shaped meringues, blackberry sauce and a sprinkle of edible gold.
Lune is open for lunch and dinner, with a break in between, three days a week. It’s not the type of place a downtown worker would pop in for a quick bite. It’s more of a sit down and have a leisurely experience type of place.
The owners hope people will stop by when they’re hitting up beer gardens or cocktail bars in the Brewery District.
“We’re just excited to be downtown and be part of the revitalization,” Cassabon said.
Details: 938 Fulton St. Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. 559-216-0975.
This story was originally published April 20, 2023 at 9:29 AM.
