Linnette’s at the Dunlin's Coastal Cuisine
Linnette’s at The Dunlin bills itself as ‘comforting coastal cuisine with a modern edge.’ They offer a seafood-forward menu with vegetables that change with the season. Because Linnette's is located on the second floor of The Dunlin Auberge Collection Hotel, its menu is a nod to local produce and dairy from surrounding farms, as well as seafood from nearby waters. I’ve enjoyed both lunch and dinner there, and the setting is formal and subdued in the evening and a little more casual for lunch.
If you have time, start with a creative cocktail at the Willet Room downstairs. ‘The Swizzle’ is my current favorite, made with agricole rum, pineapple juice, pecan and black tea orgeat, falernum, mint, and an Aperol float. I had to look up half the ingredients, but it was delicious. In case you are wondering, falernum is a spiced Caribbean liquor, and orgeat is an almond-flavored syrup used in Mai Tais. It sounds sweet, but I didn’t find it to be so. If you want something a little drier, try the Blue Ribbon Tomato Martini. It’s made with gin, dry vermouth, blue ribbon pickle brine, and a pickled green tomato. It’s more martini than tomato in flavor, but it pairs well with the grilled cheese I ordered at Linnette's.
I know it sounds ordinary, but since nothing here is ordinary, try the grilled pimento cheese and tomato soup. The sourdough bread is delicious, and the sandwich is cut into strips for dipping into the soup made with San Marzano tomatoes.
Linnette's front porch burger is hearty and fresh, served with those delicious, light, thin-cut fries. We added the truffle fries.
For dinner, start with the Riverhouse bread. If you know me, you know I don’t usually like paying extra for bread (what is that about?), but this one is worth the cost. It’s made with emmer semolina for a nice texture and cultured butter made in the European style, with a tangy flavor. It’s topped with Bulls Bay salt. Now, that’s about as local as you can get.
I know, that was a lot of discussion about bread and butter. Everything else we ate at Linnette's was just as good. The sweet potato gnocchi is delicious, made with local sweet potatoes, pomegranate, and sage. The local catch is always a good choice and is served with greens and sea island peas, another of Linnette's nod to the Lowcountry culture.
Whether you are celebrating a special occasion or just having a relaxing lunch, you’ll enjoy both the expertly prepared dishes and the beautiful setting at Linnette's. I love an English-style tea, so my next stop at Linnette's will be for afternoon tea.
