Charleston, S.C. — Chef Anthony Marini’s new restaurant, “The Pass,” creates an atmosphere like no other. Living a double-life as a unique sandwich shop by day, the 700-square-foot restaurant boasts just one table and transforms into a speakeasy-style dinner at night. Only one reservation is made each night, allowing 6-10 people to have an intimate dining experience.
The Pass’ Chef’s Table menu changes seasonally, about every 6-8 weeks supporting local and sustainable practices whenever possible. Unlike any other restaurant environment, the Chef’s Table experience begins at 7pm with a multi-course tasting menu for $89 per person. To create an even more personal experience, Chef Marini closes the doors to the public once the party has arrived, allowing the guests to ‘own’ the restaurant for that night.
“My most favorite thing about the kitchens I’ve worked is when guests were seated in the kitchen, experiencing all the fun I got to have on a daily basis,” says Marini. “People want to call it an ‘experience.’ I just want it to be a really fun evening with friends and family with some interesting surprises…including where you are sitting.”
Anthony Marini, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, started his formal career in his hometown of Philadelphia before making a move to Birmingham, Ala., where he opened his first restaurant, AMBA. After 2 successful years Marini opened (local) Restaurant and Cocktail Bar which was named Birmingham’s “Best New Restaurant,” while the Chef garnered the recognition of “Top Three Chefs” by Birmingham Weekly.
In 2015, Chef Marini competed on the CNBC show, “Restaurant Startup,” where he won with the first 100% guest food survey and eventually gained offers from both hosts, Joe Bastianich and Tim Love.
“There is no experience quite like this for a group in Charleston,” says Marini. “When you are the only table being served and you watch the chef make the food before your eyes, it’s an entirely different experience.”
The Pass is a market by day, elevated private Chef’s Table by night in the Cannonborough/ Elliotborough neighborhood of downtown Charleston, S.C. The Pass opened in July 2021.
SOURCE: The Pass