Kindred, Davidson

Kindred sits in a restored early-1900s pharmacy building on Davidson’s Main Street, and it’s the meal most of our Lake Norman guests end up talking about afterwards. It’s a family restaurant in the truest sense — run by Joe and Katy Kindred — and the cooking is generous rather than fussy: handmade pasta, whatever’s good locally that week, and the milk bread that arrives warm and has developed a following of its own. Order it. The room is exposed brick, soft light and close-set tables, which makes it lively rather than hushed; it suits a celebration but won’t make anyone feel underdressed. Reservations open well in advance and the prime evening slots go quickly, so book as soon as your dates are confirmed. If you miss out, bar seats are held back for walk-ins and are arguably the best in the house. It’s a ten-minute drive from most of our Lake Norman homes, and Davidson’s Main Street is worth arriving early for: independent bookshops, a coffee roaster and the college campus, all within a couple of blocks. Weeknights are noticeably calmer than weekends.