Photography by Jane Kortright
Pineapple Ink Tavern refuses to be put in a box. “With all the changes coming to downtown, we had to change ourselves to keep up,” says Manager Jillian Cary. “It’s a great spot and we want to help downtown grow.”
The love for the community, the can-do attitude and the creative menu continue to make P.I.T. a savory downtown spot. Though the restaurant still has a Cuban flair, its offerings have expanded while the hours have changed slightly. Although they’re open only Friday through Sunday, they have added brunch options to those weekends.
Head Chef Joziah Ballinger has a lineup of breakfast and lunch menu items anchoring some new recipes to become favorites quickly. Luckily, the classic Cubano sandwich is always available. Ballinger’s current favorite is the Grits with Blackened Seasoned Shrimp and a Chorizo Sausage Cream sauce with peppers and onions.
Bridging the gap is the crispy Hot Honey Chicken Biscuit, prepared with a house-made buttermilk biscuit. Try pairing it with a mimosa flight for a truly southern combination. For a sweeter breakfast, there are Tres Leches Pancakes and a French Toast special that rotates monthly.
Dinner follows a similar theme with well-known staples alongside new twists. Guests can try the P.I.T. chicken wings with signature Pineapple Express sauce or the El Churrasco skirt steak with chimichurri sauce. Shareables include empanadas of spinach, beef or chicken and bruselas — fried Brussels sprouts topped with Tajín, aioli and cotija cheese.
With a top-tier rum selection and inventive combinations, Pineapple Ink bar cocktails are perfect solo or can be paired beautifully with food. Rum, distilled from sugar cane, has been part of Cuban culture for centuries. The selection at this little Augustan oasis includes a whisky-barrel-aged rum and Cut & Dry Coconut Rum, specifically kept on hand for the Rum & Joy dessert cocktail made with Amaretto, Mozart chocolate cream, coconut rum and cream. The flavors of the tropical drink are inspired by an Almond Joy® candy bar.
Signature cocktails Open Door Policy (rum, pineapple, lime, ginger and walnut) and Afternoon Delight (rum, strawberry, mint and lime) remain on the menu. But there are new fusions like the Tropical Royal, a pineapple martini topped with champagne, and they have added a mocktail and other non-alcoholic options.
The P.I.T. taps have local beers from Savannah River Brewing Company and Tapped 33, Creature Comforts, Steel Hands and even a special lager designed specifically for Pineapple Ink from SweetWater Brewing.
Likewise, P.I.T. is opening its dining room as an event space for private parties during the week. Seating up to 60 people, the intimate setting can accommodate bridal luncheons and baby showers, team retreats, staff dinners and holiday parties. It is available for buffet setups for less formal events or fine-dining celebrations of multi-course meals.
Open Friday and Saturday 10 a.m.–10 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.–8 p.m., Pineapple Ink Tavern has something special for everyone!
Seen in the August/September 2025 Issue of Augusta magazine
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