On December 6th, Chef Andres Kaifer and Alex Bridges, the team behind Customshop, the neighborhood restaurant in Elizabeth, opened Marina’s Tapas, the food stall and destination for traditional Spanish tapas, in Optimist Hall.
Marina’s Tapas is a tribute to Chef Kaifer’s great-grandmother, Marina, to honor the woman who instilled the importance of bringing people together through food. Like its sister Customshop, the food counter features ingredients sourced from local and regional farmers and purveyors. Marina’s will also serve a signature Sangria and Tinto De Verano and have Estrella beer available for purchase.
Chef Dre Cavazos, Customshop team member, heads the Marina’s team as the chef de cuisine. “It’s been truly amazing to witness Dre’s growth from when she started at Customshop to now,” says partner Alex Bridges in a statement. “Her position at Marina’s was a no-brainer when she expressed her interest in Spanish cooking and cuisine. Andres and I know she will thrive in this role.”
“This spot is extremely important to me because my childhood, my memories, and, now, my career has built up to this full-circle moment of honoring the strong women in my family,” states Chef Andres. “Now, as a first-time girl dad, I hope to inspire this same love of food in her as my bisabuela did in me, through innovating new ways to share classic tapas and traditional Spanish dishes with a twist to my community here in Charlotte.”
When deciding on where to open this tapas joint, Optimist Hall was an easy choice for the team given that it has a melting pot of cuisines from around the world.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming Andres and Alex into Optimist Hall as they bring Marina’s Tapas to life,” said Jay Levell, Optimist Hall Partner. “The two have undoubtedly made an impression on our city’s hospitality scene over the years, and we look forward to weaving their talent and expertise into our community here.”
Marina’s operates from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, offering traditional Spanish tapas, along with rotating specials:
Bocadillos
Manchego and jamón serrano
Salchichon and idiazabal
Chorizo and asiago
Tapas
Ensaladilla Rusa
potato and tuna salad
Pan con Tomate
grilled bread, grated tomato spread
Option to add manchego or boquerones (marinated anchovies)
Pintxos Gilda
Anchovy, olive and pickled pepper
Tortilla Española
Spanish omelette, romesco
Croquettes
Jamon serrano and manchego fritter
Albondigas
Meatballs, spiced tomato sauce
Gambas al Ajillo
Sauteed shrimp, sherry, garlic
Patatas Bravas
Fried potato, brava sauce, aioli
Pimientos del Piquillo Rellenos
Stuffed roasted piquillo peppers
Calamares Fritos
Fried calamari, lemon, coriander sauce
Plato Del Dia
Alternating special of the day
Offerings like garbanzos fritos, huevos rotos, paella, caldo gallego, etc.
Dessert
Tarta de Queso
Basque cheesecake
Flan
Caramel custard
Marina’s Tapas Food Stall is located in Optimist Hall at 1115 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28206.
Lisa is a staff reporter for What Now Media Group. She covers new restaurant, retail, and real estate openings across all of our markets. A true foodie, this Air Force veteran has lived all over the world — from Aviano, Italy to Nairobi, Kenya — but her favorite spot is NOLA for its rich history, architecture, culture, and of course, its good eats.
