The Ordinary in downtown Charleston, SC is anything but. A restaurant that calls itself a "fancy seafood and oyster hall" definitely knows how to spice up the ordinary seafood dishes. It, however, does not have a specific gluten free menu. No worries though, as our server, Graham, was so well versed in the menu items that he rattled off ingredients to make sure we had as safe a meal as possible.
The Ordinary was busy on a Friday night and with the upstairs loft, it had plentiful seating. Graham informed us that the building was formerly a bank, but the high ceiling and arched windows were covered up when the building was in use as a bank. The bank vault is still in place behind the oyster bar! A James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant 2013 Finalist and run by the same team as another great Charleston restaurant, FIG, The Ordinary strives to support local fisherman and farmers. Bon Appetit named it one of the Top 10 Favorite Oyster Bars across America.
With the menu set up like "tapas," we ordered a variety of dishes to enjoy several different types of seafood. We started out with a half pound of cold boiled shrimp. We substituted melted butter for the cocktail sauce, as it had Worcestershire Sauce and Graham could not confirm its gluten free status. The shrimp came out in a bowl of ice with seaweed accent and fresh lemon. Cold boiled shrimp are always a great gluten free, corn free, egg free option.
We also tried the Pickled Shrimp, Cumin, and Coriander. It had a nice flavor with a little kick. Again, a small portion, but enough for two people to split.
Our last tapa dish to arrive was the Blacked Wahoo Salad with yogurt and soft herbs. The Wahoo had a good flavor and the yogurt had a little spice which paired well with the Wahoo.
After Graham told us that they fry their Sea Salt Potato Chips first in the day and switch out the oil daily, making them gluten free, we had to try them. They had a great crunch and were perfect to dip into the yogurt from the Wahoo Salad.
I was really impressed with the knowledge of gluten free items and the options available to those who are gluten free. It is always fun to be able to order fresh potato chips or fries because they take care with the fryer. The Ordinary is a fun seafood restaurant with a great atmosphere and an interesting mix of menu items to choose from. You won't find the traditional fried seafood on the menu, but you did not want to be "ordinary" anyway, did you??
The Ordinary
544 King St.
Charleston, SC 29403
www.eattheordinary.com
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