Caroline’s kicks off brunch service with a creative menu featuring unique spins on classic dishes
by Lorne Chambers | editor
It had to happen sooner or later. We knew it was only a matter of time before Caroline’s Aloha Bar would start serving brunch. And for this, we can all rejoice. Consider it a Christmas present from owners Jennifer and Michael Kulick. Because with this husband and wife team behind it, you can bet there is going to be some wildly interesting offerings that will turn what you think of as “brunch food” on its ear. One sneak peek at the brunch menu, and our suspicions are correct. Beginning the first weekend in December, Caroline’s Brunch will be offered every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. The restaurant will then close for an hour as the kitchen prepares for standard dinner service for that evening.
According to Jen, brunch is something that they’ve wanted to do since opening Caroline’s late last year, but due to staffing shortages and pandemic concerns, they had to delay it’s launch. With the help of Carolina’s kitchen manager, Kyle Wilson, the Kulicks have put together a creative brunch menu that features interesting twists on brunch standards. “This isn’t your standard brunch,” warns Jen. “We were really going for creative twists on classic brunch items.”
The unique menu features things like Shrimp & Grit Balls, a Cajun Benedict, Peanut Butter & Banana French Toast, an Eggs Benedict Burger, and Red Curry Grit Bowl. There’s also something called a “Garbage Plate,” which consists of crispy-fried tater tots smothered with chorizo, ground beef, mushrooms, peppers, onions, eggs, cheese, and gravy. “We couldn’t really fit anything more,” reads the menu. Not to be overshadowed is Mike’s Famous Duck Club or The Luther Burger, which is two burger patties, bacon, and cheese sandwiched between two Krispy Kreme donuts.
“We’re trying to get the neighborhood back in here. This isn’t the same late night party spot it was before. I think brunch can help with that” says Jen, who along with her husband, Mike, also owned Caroline’s predecessor, Voodoo Tiki Bar & Lounge, which was known for its lively late nights. Since rebranding it to Caroline’s last year, the Kulicks have been going for a slightly quieter, neighborhood crowd. “Not that it’s no longer a fun place to come have some drinks, it is, but it’s also now a place you can bring your family and have a good meal too,” says Jen.
The brunch game is nothing new to the Kulicks and to fully appreciate how this beautifully bonkers of a brunch menu came about, we’ll help you connect the dots. But those familiar with the West Ashley couple’s journey might have fun doing so. For example, while a lot of restaurants call things on their menu “famous,” Mike’s Famous Duck Club really is famous. It was featured on Food Network’s Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives when Guy Fieri visited their other restaurant the Tattooed Moose. Sadly, West Ashley Tattooed Moose closed amidst the pandemic last year, but the Johns Island location is still open. But now, you can get the famous sandwich every Saturday and Sunday for brunch at Caroline’s Aloha Bar. But real disciples of the sandwich may know that original version of it actually started as a slider at Voodoo. So having it on the Caroline’s brunch menu kind of brings it back full circle.
Likewise for those familiar with the Peanut Butter and Banana-stuffed French Toast. It was a popular Tattooed Moose brunch item, but before that it was on the menu at another Kulick restaurant, Marie Laveau’s, which was in the old Liberty Café space in Avondale, which is now Pearlz Little Oyster Bar. But before it made it to Marie Laveau’s, the French toast was on the menu of the short-lived Voodoo brunch menu, so this too has found its way back to 15 Magnolia Road.
The Red Curry Grit bowl, which features shrimp and Chinese BBQ Pork Belly, bell peppers, onions, Creole gravy and red curry sauce over pepper-jack grits, also has Voodoo roots. The base to the red curry sauce was born from the red curry wings, which are now on the Caroline’s menu, but also was on the Red Curry Tacos at Voodoo. You know what else started at Voodoo? Tater Tots. No they didn’t invent tater tots, but they were doing it way back before it was cool, so in a way the aforementioned Garbage Plate also pays homage to Caroline’s predecessor.
In addition to food, Caroline’s general manager Andrew Truman has cultivated an equally creative brunch cocktail menu, that features unique twists on the standard Bloody Mary, several coffee drinks, and a hosts of new cocktails that are as beautiful as they are delicious. In addition to the regular brunch menu, there is also a kids menu for the little ones.
Caroline’s Aloha Bar is located at 15 Magnolia Road in the Avondale Business District. They are open weekdays at 3 p.m. and now on weekends at 11:30 a.m. for brunch.
