The Purple Martin Grille and Cellar at the Chapin, S.C. property will be open to the public. It is the first venture for new Johnson & Wales graduate Tripp McDaniel, who has partnered with local restaurateur Jimmy Kokolis to operate the venue independently for the club.

 

The Purple Martin Grille and Cellar, a new independently owned restaurant, has taken over pre-existing space at the Timberlake Country Club in Chapin, S.C., the Cola Daily of Columbia, S.C. reported.

The space, formerly known as 2 Twenty 2, was recently bought by first-time restaurant owner Tripp McDaniel along Jimmy Kokolis, owner of the Zorba’s of Chapin restaurant, Cola Daily reported.

The two owners have created an entirely new menu with a larger variety of options for the club location, Cola Daily reported. According to McDaniel, the restaurant offers American fine dining with a more extensive wine and spirits menu than what was previously offered.

“We have a set menu with some signature entrees, but we have specials that change every day,” McDaniel said. “Our specials are usually a couple of seafood options along with some sort of butcher’s- block selection, whether that’s lamb or some type of steak.”

The Purple Martin Grille is a new venture for McDaniel, who just graduated from Johnson and Wales University’s Charleston, S.C. campus with a culinary arts degree this year, Cola Daily reported.

So far, McDaniel said, owning his own restaurant has been a challenge, but the experience has turned out actually better than he had expected.

“I run the day-to-day, and with Jimmy’s expertise I can get the questions answered that I may have, since this is my first restaurant,” he said.

McDaniel told Cola Daily that he has seen a positive response from customers so far, even though some people don’t realize yet that the Purple Martin has opened. But he and Kokolis will soon be marketing the restaurant more heavily, and installing a sign outside the country club to make it more easily identifiable.

Although the Purple Martin Grille is located at the country club, it is open to the general public, Cola Daily reported. The restaurant’s hours are from noon until 10 p.m., with the kitchen closing at 9 p.m.