By Pamela Brownstein
The Lunch Bunch shed its daytime appetite and gathered after dark on Dataw Island to taste the culinary divinity that is served nightly at Sweetgrass Restaurant and Bar.
The views of the boats and the water, the excellent service and the incredible food made for a wonderful dinner.
Owner Lauren Tillapaugh was a gracious hostess and described the emphasis on local ingredients and having a seasonal menu. They partner with many local establishments to highlight the best the Lowcountry has to offer.
We started with three appetizers: Sweetgrass deviled eggs, seafood nachos, and sweet chips with chunky blue cheese. The chips were so indescribably awesome: homemade sweet potato chips with warm blue cheese dressing.
For salad, Daniel ordered the “Hot and Hot Fish Club” made with local tomatoes, fried okra, lima beans, corn, bacon and greens. It was excellent. For soup, I tried something new: Peach gazpacho. I like the traditional gazpacho — Nikki got that, made with tomatoes and cucumbers, and it was really good — but the peach was so unique and fabulous. Tess and I were trying to pinpoint the subtle flavors, and when Lauren told us the
ingredients, I never would have guessed jalapeños gave it the slight kick.
For entrees, Nikki had grilled flounder with collard greens and fried green tomatoes. Her husband, Bubba, liked the grilled shrimp with fries and corn and lima bean succotash.
Buck ordered the sirloin steak with a baked potato and roasted beets, which were very yummy, while Daniel had the crab cake sandwich.
I loved my salmon linguine: grilled salmon served on a bed of linguine with tomatoes, capers, lemon butter and grated Parmesan.
But Tess’ praline chicken and mac won as the must-have because you can’t get anything like it anywhere else: lightly fried chicken breast in a caramel pecan sauce over homemade
macaroni and cheese. Seriously delicious.
Thanks to our server Ashley, the chefs, bartender and the Lauren and Jeff for making such a memorable dining experience.
Sweetgrass Restaurant and Bar is located at 100 Marina Drive at the Dataw Island Marina on Dataw Island. They are open for dinner every evening from 5 to 9 p.m., except on Wednesday. And Sunday brunch and lunch are served from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 843-838-2151 or visit www.sweetgrassdataw.com.
