It was announced in January that Wilmington-based USA InvestCo LLC had dissolved its partnership with Charlotte-based BlackFinn Ameripub and the restaurant, located at the Port City Marina, would be replaced by a new concept, Marina Grill.

Now, less than two months later, Marina Grill is opening to the public today. 

Rob Lanphier, chief operating officer of food, fun and beverage with USA InvestCo, said that he was able to retain about 60 percent of the staff during the transition.

“We wanted the fastest possible turnaround to get these staff members back to work,” Lanphier said. “And a six-week turnaround for a whole new menu, bar program and renovations is almost unheard of, but we got it done.”

Lanphier said all of Marina Grill’s dishes will be made to order, utilizing produce from farms within 100 miles of the Port City. He is working with local bakers for breads and desserts and Pat LaFreida meat purveyors of New Jersey, a nearly 100-year-old custom butcher shop that works will small purveyors across the country to deliver dry aged beef. The company grinds more than 50 specialty blends of hamburger every day, including one for Marina Grill. 

“We have a focused menu,” Lanphier said. “Instead of serving 10 different burgers we’ve got one great one. We start with a great product and we cook it well.”

Customers will find a variety of starters from crispy pork rinds and shaved country ham with hush puppies and honey butter to deviled eggs topped with fried oysters and sriracha. There’s also a calabash seafood sampler served with Old Bay aioli.

Sandwiches include a French dip, a lobster roll and the river dog; a smoked bacon wrapped hotdog with cheese, barbecue sauce and caramelized onions on a Hawaiian roll. 

As for entrees, lobster appears again, this time in the form of lobster mac and cheese. Fish and chips, grilled fish tacos, a campfire steak, baby back ribs and deep fried, spicy chicken served with pickles and Texas toast round out the menu. 
Brunch service is expected to begin on Saturday and Sunday in about six weeks.

Marina Grill has 25 beers on tap, as well as three wines, one champagne, kombucha from Panacea Brewing Company and cold brewed coffee from Lucky Joe Craft Coffee Shop. Ninety percent of the beers on tap are from the Carolinas, according to Lanphier.

Plans are still in the works to transform the space between Marina Grill’s outdoor patio and the Shell at Port City Marina into a concept Lanphier calls the Boat Yard. The Boat Yard will be designed to provide regular food and drink service from Marina Grill at outdoor tables, and also to host outdoor community events, such as the Beer, Bourbon & BBQ festival that will be held at the site on March 24.

Lanphier envisions the space, which will have direct boat access, as an outdoor entertainment hub, able to accommodate a variety of events from weddings and parties to farmers markets, wine and beer dinners, and concerts. 

Also still in the works is Marker 14, an upscale venue serving dinner and drinks at the neighboring building that was originally slated to house Vida Mexican Kitchen y Cantina. More details on Marker 14 are expected to be released in the coming weeks.  

Marina Grill is located at 18 Harnett St. and is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. 

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