Because in case you haven’t heard, fancy fish eggs are all the rage right now.
Caviar is all the rage these days.
According to The New York Times, “caviar bumps” — that is, the act of taking a small spoonful of this delightful delicacy and slurping it directly off the back of your hand — has become so en vogue, that restaurants and bars across Manhattan are selling micro-hits of these fanciful fish eggs for $20 a pop.
While caviar has long served as a luxury accoutrement in high-end restaurants and hotels around the world, a new caviar bar dedicated to all things pearly fish roe opened in Charleston recently, and has quickly and quietly established itself as one of the coolest reservation in town.
“We have regulars coming in once a week now which is great, but also a very pleasant surprise,” Zero George General Manager Simon Stilwell told Forbes. “Another surprise has been the high demand.”
Set on the piazza of a restored 19th century mansion in Charleston’s Historic Ansonborough neighborhood, The Caviar Bar at Zero George’s intimate tasting experience starts with a caviar presentation of Regiis Ova caviar along with classic accompaniments like crème fraîche, house-baked brioche, perfect six-minute soft eggs, lemon and potato chips.
The Caviar Bar at Zero George in Charleston.
The tasting, which is expertly curated by Zero’s executive chef Vinson Petrillo and beverage director Megan Mina, can be paired with a limited selection of champagnes and wines just for the occasion. Of course, as Charleston is a spirits heavy town, hand crafted cocktails from the restaurants ground floor bar are always on offer.
“Our knowledgeable team aptly guides everyone from first timers to caviar aficionados through the experience,” Simon Stilwell said. “Plus, the à-la-carte menu offers something for everyone, and guests can enjoy non-caviar dishes like our Wagyu Beef Sandwich or oysters.”
Serving as one of the Charleston’s most elegant boutique hotels, the restaurant at Zero George has long been a foodie favorite for locals and travelers alike. After a renovation that saw the expansion of five new “extended stay” residences on property in 2021, the decision to expand their culinary offerings including the Caviar Bar was born.
Oysters being served at The Caviar Bar in Charleston, South Carolina
“In the wake of the pandemic and with the addition of The Residences at Zero George, we noticed an increase in the length of stays at Zero George,” Zero George General Manager Simon Stilwell told Forbes. “Hotel guests were staying longer and with that, requests for an à-la-carte complement to the heralded cuisine of Zero Restaurant + Bar increased as well.”
Offering two separate reservations times at 6 and 6:30 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, The Caviar Bar can only accommodates up to eight guests per seating. Reservations can be made on RESY and start at $65 per-person.
“If you’ve had a bad experience with caviar, this will change your mind. If you’ve had good experiences, this will only make it better,” Simon Stilwell told Forbes. “We knew this would be a niche offering but are happy to see the love and enjoyment of caviar is out there!”