Here on the Isle of Palms, Shan-non Lindsay’s first bartending gigs were at the Banana Cabana and the One-Eyed Parrot. When she had her little boy, she took a hiatus from the food and beverage industry and accepted a position with IBM. By the time her son reached his junior year in high school, Lindsay was ready to resume her role behind the bar.
That was 11 years ago, in 2014, when owner Bret Jones was opening The Dinghy. At the time, Lindsay’s husband Mike, who owns Mike Lindsay Construction, was renovating the building. The stars aligned when a position as daytime bartender at the new restaurant became available.
“The rest is history,” Lindsay, now a manager, said. “I love everything about this job, the team I get to work with, the different people I get to meet, the positive vibe and excellent location. We have live music every night and weekends during the day as well. It’s always fun, interesting and challenging. Every day is different because you never know what’s going to happen.”
Lindsay added that the tap room supports local breweries with 16 different options, including Holy City and Rusty Bull. Other regulars’ favorites include Jagerbomb shots, Jameson whiskey straight up and Dead Eye Vodka, a new local espres-so-flavored spirit. Lindsay added, “My favorite drinks I make are the ones when a customer comes in and isn’t sure what they want. Finding a fun ‘beach drink’ that they like is always rewarding for me and for them.”
When it comes to the bar menu, Lindsay said crowd favorite appetizers include the alligator bites. “People often try them for the first time on a dare and they end up loving them. Then they come back for it year after year.” Her go-to for the main course is the Cuban, which she said is hands down the best sandwich, made perfect by pairing with a side of plantains.
On this side of the bar, Lindsay spends her spare time traveling with girl-friends, working on the house she has lived in for 21 years, inshore fishing off a friend’s boat or dock, read-ing a good book, watching a documentary or hanging out with her lab Dixie, morkie Olive, her husband and new grandbaby Au-drey Grace. She concluded, “While I love traveling, I always love coming home. I’m blessed to live here.”
By Sarah Rose
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