Out with the old, in with the new. What Now Charleston previously reported Kultura will be relocating this fall, and now acclaimed restaurateur Luis Martinez is set to bring a fresh concept to 73 Spring St.
Martinez, who owns the Asheville taco shop Tequila Rosita and curates the menu for Foothills Watershed, told What Now Charleston that he wanted to bring his new concept to Charleston because he knows and loves the city’s vibrant culinary scene.
“A lot of people in the Charleston industry know me,” he said. “It’s funny because I think more people know me over there than actually in Asheville.”
Xolo will serve Oaxacan-inspired cuisine.
“The inspiration is that I’m Oaxacan, born and raised from Oaxaca in the south of Mexico,” Martinez said. “What I’m trying to do is bring in a different type of food and try to showcase the Mexican expression of cuisine and culture. I think we will be a big addition to the main food scene over there.”
While the menu is still in development, Martinez said the restaurant will offer two distinct services: breakfast and lunch, with dinner available just two nights a week.
“In the morning we’ll have breakfast–breakfast tacos, breakfast burritos, masa pancakes and chilaquiles,” he said. “Then two days at night, probably Friday and Saturday, we’ll have a different type of menu with a focus on Oaxacan food.”
The restaurant will also offer coffee and pastries alongside breakfast, and Martinez is working on sourcing natural wines from Ensenada for the dinner service.
Martinez said the interior of Xolo will follow a similar theme to Kultura, but he plans to make it his own by incorporating indigenous pieces bringing the culture to life.
While Xolo’s official opening date hasn’t been announced, the team is aiming for late fall. They’re waiting for Kultura to complete its move, which is expected in October.
