There is a new restaurant on Market Street, and let me tell you, it’s a must-visit if you live in or are visiting Charleston. The Latin and South American flared cocktail bar boasts a cultivated menu and specialty drink list, that is sure to please even the harshest critic.
I had the pleasure of visiting the adorable spot while down south this past February.
We dined on: Yellowfin Tuna Poke, Snapper Ceviche, Oysters, Sweet Plantains, Gingerline Smash Burger, Street Tacos (Chicken Tinga, Spicy Chorizo, Baja Shrimp), Shrimp & Grits, Mahi Mahi, Cubano and the Roasted Beat Salad. I recommend all of them.
Intrigued by the palate-pleasing menu and the refreshing ambiance, I reached out to the Gingerline, and had a wonderful chat with Gingerline’s General Manager, Maureen Samu to get a little more insight on the restaurant and what’s to come:
Being on Market Street, do you mainly cater to tourists, or have you cultivated a local following/clientele as well?
We have been lucky to establish a solid local presence at Gingerline; with that being said, due to our location, foot traffic also accounts for a large amount of our business.
In the past year and a half, what has been the biggest milestone(s) for Gingerline?
I would say the start of the spring season has been our biggest milestone as we have been able to open for lunch, brunch and dinner and within the next few weeks will be running a seven-day operation.
Who designed the tropical aesthetic? It’s vibrant, fresh and simply darling.
Jenny Keenan did an amazing job designing the ambiance of Gingerline.
What inspired the Latin & South American flare on the cuisine?
My background in hospitality is greatly influenced by Latin Caribbean and South American cuisine. When moving to Charleston to open Gingerline I felt that the flavors paired well with design and branding, and I really believed the combination of local ingredients would bring something unique to Charleston.
Are there any new menu items being added for summer 2023?
Regarding the menu, we aspire to change seasonally; however, we will be using specials and events to highlight new items in our first summer season, moving to a menu change come fall 2023.
What is the chef’s favorite dish or recipe? Our waiter let us try some banana ketchup while visiting in February, and we were impressed! Additionally, all the dishes we tried were fantastic.
Honestly, the Banana ketchup is one of Chef’s favorite sauces in the kitchen, along with our shrimp and grits, it really incorporates tropical notes with a lot of Southern love.
As far as your coastal-inspired cocktails go, can diners expect to have a fresh signature cocktail each season, being a cocktail bar and all? If so, what’s to come for summer 2023?
Our menu in whole will change with our food menu come Fall, but we will have some fun additions for both spring and summer.
Gingerline | Lively Cocktails + Coastal Cooking | Charleston’s newest cocktail destination with a food menu to match. #GingerlineCHS #JuiceWorthTheSqueeze
gingerlinechs.com |@gingerlinechs
To see my lifestyle, fashion, and beauty selects on the daily, be sure to head to styleelyst.com and follow me on social @styleelyst | Psst. keep your eyes peeled for my column The Style List in the 2023 issues of both Greenwich and Darien Lifestyle Magazines.
