-
Chef Mike Lata’s “The Ordinary” in Charleston, South Carolina is Anything But!
August 29, 2016 / Stephanie Miskew / 10 Comments
After recently dining at The Ordinary in Charleston, South Carolina, I’d have to say Chef Mike Lata’s “fancy” oyster bar and seafood hall is nothing short of – EXTRAordinary! Ensconced in an historic bank building with soaring ceilings and quaint architectural details, we were smitten by this charming eatery. Every aspect of our experience made it abundantly clear why the restaurant garnered a coveted James Beard Award nomination for Best New Restaurant in 2013.
The inviting bar at The Ordinary
Awarded “Best Chef Southeast” by the James Beard Foundation in 2009, Chef Lata is widely considered a pioneer of Charleston’s vibrant culinary scene. His first establishment, FIG (short for “Food Is Good”), which he opened in 2003 with partner Adam Nemirow, set Charleston’s culinary bar high. While FIG celebrates the bounty of the Lowcountry, The Ordinary pays homage to the “merroir” (the oceanic version of “terroir”) of the coastal Carolinas. Using unique types of seafood in inventive, yet not highly manipulative preparations is an intrinsic part of the not-so-ordinary experience.
In addition to the fabulous coastal cuisine, another highlight at The Ordinary is its spectacular staff. Although we made reservations in advance, we decided to dine at the bar (highly recommend!) and our team of bartenders/servers expertly guided us through the menu and wine list. These passionate ambassadors made exploring the menu a delightful adventure, recommending delectable dishes including savory Smoked Oysters with Saltines and Hot Sauce, a fresh and flavorful Porgy Ceviche with Avocado and Cucumber, heavenly Steak Tartare with Crispy Oysters & Horseradish and peel and eat BBQ White Shrimp (worth the mess!) served with charred bread to sop up all the heavenly sauce. Since I’m not a fan of raw oysters, Steve “volunteered” to knock back a sampling of these coastal gems which were exceptional!
We looooved their Champagne by the glass!
Smoked Oysters with Hot Sauce = DIVINE!
On par with The Ordinary’s passion for coastal cuisine is their enthusiasm for wine. The wine list offers a wide range of offerings from around the globe specifically selected to complement the menu. But, if you’re looking for your usual Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon, you’re not going to find it here. The Ordinary is definitely the place to go for vinous exploration featuring esoteric selections including a sparkling German Sekt, a Corsican red blend of Sciaccarello and Nielluccio and entire sections devoted to Pink & Orange wines and Sherry. The list is rounded out nicely by a selection of delicious craft cocktails, daiquiris, vermouths, beers and ciders as well as 31 different types of rum from five countries.
We started with their stellar Champagne by the glass, the Laherte Frères Ultradition Brut. It was crisp and vibrant with a refreshing minerality – the perfect choice to prime our palates! We continued to sample a variety of wines with our delicious dishes including another bubbly, the frothy, fresh Albert Mann Cremant d’Alsace, as well as the 2015 Dirty & Rowdy “Familiar Blanc,” a quirky white blend from California. A citrusy Chenin Blanc from the Loire’s Château de Fosse-Sèche rounded out the whites before we sampled our only red wine of the night, a 2014 Domaine de la Pinte Poulsard “Pinte Bien.” You see, red wines are in the minority at The Ordinary, outnumbering reds 25 to 10. Given this extraordinary seafood-focused menu – it totally works!
Steak Tartare with Crispy Oysters – YUM!!!
The peel & eat BBQ White Shrimp were TOTALLY worth the effort!
So next time you’re in Charleston and hankering for an exceptional meal featuring some of South Carolina’s best seafood, be sure to visit The Ordinary. I’m sure your experience will be nothing short of extraordinary.
The Ordinary
544 King Street
Charleston, SC
843.414.7060
www.eattheordinary.comCheers,
August 29, 2016 / Stephanie Miskew / 10 Comments
Grilled Swordfish with Romesco Sauce #WineWednesday Wine of the Week: 2014 Masút Pinot Noir Eagle Peak, Mendocino, CA
10 thoughts on “Chef Mike Lata’s “The Ordinary” in Charleston, South Carolina is Anything But!”
Leave a Reply
Stephanie Miskew thinks life is better with wine and she wants to help you enjoy it to the fullest! As a Certified Sommelier, her real world advice on tasting wine like a pro, discovering which wines you truly love, picking the perfect bottle for any occasion and creating magical food and wine pairings will have you looking like a wine expert in any situation.
Recent Posts
A Masterclass in Life, Legacy & Italian Wine with Gaia Gaja
While our everyday wines are the vinous equivalent of a cozy blanket or comfy pair of slippers we slip into at the end of the day, at the other end of the spectrum are wines that are more akin to haute couture – think Chanel, Gucci or Dior. These “haute” wines are so meticulously-made, terroir-driven and exquisite, they imprint themselves… Read More
Wine Word of the Week: Residual Sugar
Key to learning about wine, sweet wines in particular, is a little term called Residual Sugar which is our Wine Word of the Week. While there are many factors that ultimately determine the perception of sweetness in wine, residual sugar is the actual amount of sugar left in a wine after the alcoholic fermentation – which can end in a… Read More
Crispy Prosciutto: Why it’s The Perfect Culinary Accessory + How to Pair it with Wine
Audrey Hepburn’s legendary tiara in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Julia Roberts’ dazzling diamond and ruby necklace in Pretty Woman. Marilyn Monroe’s sexy signature Max Factor Ruby Red lipstick in Some Like it Hot. The perfect accessory can truly take a look from “meh” to “MARVELOUS,” and the same can be said for food as well. You see, crispy prosciutto IS the… Read More
Heirloom Tomato, Peach + Corn Salad with Burrata + Crispy Prosciutto
Ahhhh the bounty of late Summer! When I see all the beautiful produce at the Farmer’s Market, it REEEALLY makes me want to do this. The ripe, multicolored heirloom tomatoes seem to long for a drizzle of grassy green olive oil and generous sprinkle of crunchy Maldon sea salt, while the fragrant, downy peaches are begging to be bitten into,… Read More
Wine Word of the Week: Grape Clone
If you’re anything like me, the word “clone” immediately conjures a host of 1970’s B-movies featuring body-copying aliens who seek to wreak havoc on the human race. When it comes to grapes, however, that source of many 70’s childhood nightmares couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, a GRAPE clone is actually a very good thing! While most plants… Read More
Recent Podcast
The Wine Atelier Podcast #23: François Matton, Owner of Provence’s Château Minuty
There aren’t many wines that can boast the popularity of rosé in recent years. Much like the Duchess of Sussex, this imminently appealing wine seemed to come out of nowhere and take the world by storm. Years later, we STILL can’t seem to get enough, and our desire shows no signs of waning anytime soon. But the truth is, rosé… Read More
I’ve checked their Instagram feed and I’m still drooling, their food looks amazing and I’m sure it tastes heavenly.
Soooo heavenly, Hailey! Thanks for stopping by:)
Too bad I live halfway across the globe, The Ordinary sounds like my kind of place!
What I like about them is their focus on sustainability and how vocal they are. This is the kind of approach I hope to see in all restaurants, one that’s focused both on the environment and on the locals.
We’ll visit the Charleston museum in a couple of weeks and The Ordinary is the perfect spot for our family, so fancy and yet it seems so cozy.
Sounds like a fun family trip, Amanda – Enjoy!!!
We live in Cleveland and my husband isn’t the travelling type, you are sooo lucky! This is just the excuse I needed to visit Charleston, how can hubby say no to this?
Exactly, Tammy! He can NOT say no to a road trip to Charleston to go to The Ordinary – have fun!!!
OMG What great recipes! You are making me hungry!! I am going to try and cook every one of these.
Thanks, Lady! Hope you enjoy xoxo