A Q&A with Anthony Marini of The Pass and his latest concept, The Italian Boy (After Dark)
In early 2024 a car crashed into The Pass, a deli and market in downtown Charleston and a beloved lunch spot for both locals and visitors. After many months of takeout and delivery only, The Pass has not only reopened their dining room for lunch but also debuted a new dinner concept, The Italian Boy (After Dark), in the same space. Wednesday through Saturday at 7 p.m., the dining room transforms into The Italian Boy for this 2-hour experience ($110/person) which includes a cocktail, antipasti, crudo, pasta, and panino imbottito, with reservations on Resy. We spoke with chef Anthony Marini, who has a background in fine dining, to learn more.
The Local Palate: Was the car accident an opportunity for growth?
Anthony Marini: Not initially. I was looking for a restaurant property a year before the accident. When the community latched onto our story, I bagged the idea (for now) of a more traditional restaurant in favor of expanding The Pass to several locations [in the Charleston area]…