A Spanish tapas spot from a familiar pair of Charlotte restaurateurs is now open
Spanish “snackies” are finally arriving at Optimist Hall, where Marina’s Tapas food stall has opened.
The casual food from the team behind beloved restaurant Customshop will be “super simple, nothing over-complicated … no-frills,” chef and co-owner Andres Kaifer told CharlotteFive. But still, “There’s a lot of love in the food.”
Of course there is love — because the whole identity of Marina’s is an ode to Kaifer’s Spanish great-grandmother, Marina, who ran a small tapería called Casa Alvarín in Spain, which still remains open 120 years later.
With that ethos in mind, Kaifer and his business partner, Alex Bridges, built a light, bright, open stall to emulate that streetside Spanish cafe feel at the Charlotte food hall.
With room for 650 people and 20+ food stalls, Optimist Hall is a foot-traffic haven and an “accessible space” for Spanish food, Bridges told CharlotteFive.
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The menu
Marina’s all-day menu items, ranging from $7 to $14, include tapas like:
Bocadillos, such as manchego and jamon serrano on Verdant bread
Ensaladilla Rusa, a potato and tuna salad
Tortilla Española, a Spanish omelet
Croquettes
Basque cheesecake and flan
Pintxos Gilda with anchovies, pickled pepper and olives
Patatas bravas
“I’m super excited about our patatas bravas, and I’m also just a sucker for fried potatoes,” Kaifer said. “I love the whole menu. It’s stuff I grew up eating.”
While tapas are the star players, customers can expect a plato del día, like garbanzos fritos or paella, in the future, too.
“We’re gonna get a feel for what sells the most and get a feel for Optimist Hall … and then eventually incorporate specials according to seasonal availability,” Kaifer said.
Most of these ingredients are sourced from local purveyors or imported directly from Spain. “Our offerings are a little bit different than what anyone else is offering here, food and beverage wise,” Bridges said.
One particular imported item is the La Sueca Sangria, made from Spanish Garnacha and Tempranillo. “It’s really, really good sangria.”
Renowned chef Jose Andres brought this sangria into North Carolina specifically for Spanish tapas restaurant, Cúrate, in Asheville. “As of right now, us and Cúrate are the only two that have that product in North Carolina,” Bridges said.
Alongside sangria, guests can grab Estrella or the traditional Spanish drink Tinto de Verano, which is a red wine and lemon-lime soda cocktail.
After spending months at the hall in preparation for Marina’s opening, Bridges said, “It seems like mom and dad don’t mind grabbing a beer while hanging out with the kids and grabbing dinner.”
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A women-run kitchen
What would great-grandmother Marina feel seeing a whole food stall named after her?
Kaifer smiled. “She would probably be extremely happy to see her name all over the place … who wouldn’t? I think she would love it,” he said.
The memory of Marina isn’t the only woman running the show here. Chef Dre Cavazos will lead 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,” Bridges said in a news release. “Her position at Marina’s was a no-brainer when she expressed her interest in Spanish cooking and cuisine.”
“She’s also the flan and cheesecake master,” Kaifer said. “She’s been part of the process since Day 1.”
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Marina’s will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Kaifer and his team are excited to honor the legacy of his great-grandmother and to bring “super simple, super Spanish and really straightforward” food to Charlotte, Bridges said.
Marina’s Tapas
Location: 1115 N Brevard St, Charlotte, NC 28206
Cuisine: Spanish
Instagram: @marinastapas
This story was originally published December 5, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
