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July 18, 2024
Where Chefs Eat: Customshop’s Andres Kaifer
Chef/owner seeks a variety of casual and fine dining experiences.
by TM Petaccia
Folks in the restaurant industry know good food, so we want to know where they eat when they’re not cooking. In this series, we ask a local chef, bartender, restaurateur, or food artisan to share their favorite restaurants in town and what they order there.
This week, we interviewed Andres Kaifer, chef/owner of Customshop in Elizabeth and the upcoming Marina’s Tapas, scheduled to open later this year in Optimist Hall. A Miami native, he took ownership of Customshop from Trey Wilson in 2022. When he’s not on the clock, Kaifer lists these six Charlotte eateries as his main go-tos.
Tonkotsu (pork) ramen with extras at Menya. TM Petaccia/UP
Menya Noodle Counter, Elizabeth
Noodle shop specializing in ramen and abura soba
Andres’order: Chicken katsu sando, cucumber tsukemono, gyoza, any of the ramen or soba noodle dishes
Andres’take: “Honestly it doesn’t matter what you eat at Menya its all delicious, but I would put that chicken sandwich first.”
L’Ostrica, Montford
Evening tasting menu concept also offering daytime chef’s market with sandwich specials and other prepared foods
Andres’order: Sandwich of the day, Sunday Supper”
Andres’take: “Chef Eric (Ferguson) and Cat (Carter) are awesome, and are so detailed in every aspect of the restaurant and it shows. If you don’t want to go for the tasting menu, go for Sunday Supper which is super chill, fun, and good.”
Herbed labneh at Restaurant Constance. TM Petaccia/UP
Restaurant Constance, Wesley Heights
Fine dining restaurant with a constantly changing menu, focusing on locally sourced ingredients
Andres’ order: Labneh with Naan
Andres’ take: “Hard to pick something because Chef Sam (Diminich) changes his menu so often.”
James Beard finalist Sam Hart creates various themed dinners, which change every few months. TM Petaccia/UP
Counter-, Wesley Heights
Tasting menu concept, with a rotating series of themed dining experiences
Andres’ order: Whatever the current theme is
Andres’ take: “Counter is such a cool experience, Chef Sam (Hart) and his team go above and beyond to make dining at Counter- not only delicious, but also super cool and extremely entertaining, Chef Faith (Morley’s) desserts are also some of the best I’ve had in Charlotte.”
RuSan’s, Dilworth
Sushi and other Japanese cuisine, operating over 20 years
Andres’ order: Crunchy Muy Bueno Roll, Double Deck Roll
Andres’ take: “It’s a basic no-frills super solid sushi spot. Very consistent.”
“Cubano” Cuban sandwich at El Puro. TM Petaccia/UP
El Puro Cuban Restaurant, LoSo
Cuban restaurant inspired by styles of pre-revolutionary Cuba
Andres’ order: Cuban sandwich, frita, Cuban coffee
Andres’ take: “I was born and raised in Miami, and El Puro is one of the only places that makes me feel like I’m back home. The vibe is cool, the live music is fun, and the food is delicious.”
