Hudson’s at Main Street: A Culinary Adventure You Don’t Want to Miss
Tucked away in a corner of the Main Street Village in North Columbus is Hudson’s at Main Street, its welcoming awning inviting you to experience “southern fine dining with a contemporary twist.” A rustic sophistication greets you at the door, with chandeliers sending warm light over the bustling servers and chattering guests. A certain familiarity and ease fills the air, with friendly waitstaff and local clientele welcoming you into this cozy space.
Both drink and dinner menus offer a wide variety of options for any palate, including a selection of kid-approved options. The epitome of casual fine dining, the food at Hudson’s is accessible yet gourmet, and the spice work is incredible.
Our brunch waiter’s recommendation, the breakfast burrito, exceeded all expectations. Bright, sophisticated flavors blend into something familiar – a memory, a taste of home – to create a symphony of comforting ingredients, masterfully combined. Within a soaring yet simple combination of ideas is a bright spot – parsley – the culmination of a culinary crescendo. This may be verging on an epic poem dedicated to a breakfast burrito, but it truly was that good.
The cocktail menu is also not to be trifled with. Your brunch can be accompanied by a mimosa flight if liquor is a bit strong for your morning, with flavors including cranberry, blood orange, and white grapefruit. If you prefer something a bit stronger, you could opt for a margarita flight with a variety of flavor options including passion fruit and guava.
If you are looking for a dinner fix, we promise you will not be disappointed. The charcuterie board features classics, such as white cheddar and blackberry jam, and more exotic options, including a drunken goat cheese, another cheese matured in coffee and lavender, and another made with stone-ground Dijon mustard. The crab cakes, light yet delectably moist, are perfectly accented by a tangy remoulade. The star of our dinner menu was the beef tips atop a bed of mushroom risotto. Comforting, saucy, and savory, the steak is cooked to perfection, and the flavor on the accompanying charred broccoli is chef’s kiss.
Mauri Fuqua, chef and owner of Hudson’s, recommends the cheddar garlic chicken and waffle, which she describes as “the perfect balance between crunchy, sweet, salty, and spicy.” She was taught to cook by her grandmother, who “always had us in the kitchen, cooking her recipes.” It is from this relationship that she found her passion. “I actually started out as a pastry chef, because that’s what we always did together. That’s what I’m super passionate about at the end of the day, and that is what I brought into this restaurant. We make everything in-house – the waffle batter, all of our desserts. Our recipes are all recipes I’ve come up with.” The proof lies in the pudding, or more accurately, her expertly crafted desserts – we highly recommend the cheesecake.
Not only was her mission to create and share wonderful food, it was to create a place for people to feel safe and valued. “I’m trying to create an environment where people actually like coming to work,” she says. “Everybody who works here comes to work because they actually like it. I spent a really long time in the restaurant industry, and most people are usually treated like they are easily replaceable. I don’t want anybody here to feel that way. I want people to feel like we want them to be here.”
Though she has no children of her own, Mauri considers her employees and her restaurant her babies. “I have plenty of teenagers here that I’ve kind of adopted as my own children. A lot of my employees have kids, and we all take care of them,” she explains.
The pandemic started right when they first opened their doors, yet they have stuck by their philosophy of everything in-house with the freshest ingredients. “Despite the fact that food cost has gotten ridiculously expensive, we still try to maintain the quality that we’ve had from the beginning,” Mauri says.
With a seasonally shifting menu, Chef Fuqua is dedicated to providing fresh and creative options for the foodies of Columbus. Hudson’s hosts quarterly pairing dinners, events which include a specially prepared four to five course meal coupled with a drink to maximize your pallets experience. A sommelier or liquor expert is also invited to attend and explain each pairing. In addition to these events, the restaurant looks forward to hosting outdoor events as the weather starts to warm up.
If you are looking for your next culinary adventure, or just a beautiful view of the sunset from their patio seating, Hudson’s will welcome you with open doors and the friendliest staff. To find out more about their specials, follow them on Instagram and Facebook @hudsonsatmainstreet. For a deeper dive into their menu, place a to-go order or to make a reservation, head on over to hudsonsatmainstreet.com or call (706) 507-5384.
By Sarah Algoe