13 Italian Restaurants In South Carolina That Locals Always Reserve Early
South Carolina has carved out a surprising reputation for fantastic Italian cooking, and locals know exactly which tables to claim before everyone else does.
From Charleston to Myrtle Beach, certain Italian spots fill up so fast that waiting until the last minute means watching other people enjoy your dream dinner.
I have spent enough evenings scrambling for reservations to know that the best Italian restaurants in this state reward early planners with handmade pasta, wood-fired pizza, and dining rooms that feel like you just discovered a delicious secret.
These 13 spots are the ones locals guard on their calendars, the places where a confirmed reservation feels like winning a small victory before you even taste the food.
1. Le Farfalle, Charleston
Some evenings in Charleston, I swear half of Harleston Village is refreshing the reservation page for Le Farfalle before they even finish breakfast.
You will find this modern Italian favorite at 15 Beaufain St, Charleston, SC 29401, tucked on a quiet street that looks deceptively calm compared to the energy inside.
I remember walking in for a late dinner and realizing that every table around me had clearly been booked days in advance, while I had lucked out with a last-minute slot.
Plates of handmade pasta kept landing on nearby tables with that confident rhythm that only a well-tuned kitchen can hold.
My own fusilli arrived with a rich sauce that shut down any conversation at the table for a few minutes in the best possible way.
If you want to feel like a regular here, the real move is to reserve early, stroll in relaxed, and act as if your favorite table has been waiting for you all day.
2. Wild Olive, Johns Island
There is a special kind of glow that hits Wild Olive on Johns Island whenever the evening crowd realizes they were smart enough to reserve ahead.
This cozy spot for rustic Italian cooking sits at 2867 Maybank Hwy, Johns Island, SC 29455, an unassuming stretch of road that has become a pilgrimage route for serious pasta fans.
One chilly night, I pulled into the packed parking lot, clutching my reservation confirmation like a prized ticket while hopeful walk-ins clustered by the door.
Warm rosemary focaccia, crispy calamari, and plates of house-made pasta moved through the dining room with the kind of momentum that made every table feel in on a secret.
I remember a plate of gnocchi so light it practically disappeared the moment my fork touched it, and suddenly my plan to save room for dessert started to look very optimistic.
Locals know that weekends fill up fast here, so if you want to be part of the nightly island ritual instead of watching it from the waiting bench, you reserve early and arrive hungry.
3. Melfi’s, Charleston
Few places in Charleston trigger the same quiet panic about booking early as the small, clubby dining room at Melfi’s.
This grown up Italian spot hides in plain sight at 721 King St, Charleston, SC 29403, with a narrow facade that does not hint at how quickly every seat disappears.
I once tried to stroll in without a reservation and ended up at the bar listening to a very satisfied couple explain that they always book weeks in advance for their Wednesday date night.
When I finally did things the smart way and reserved, I sat down to a table covered in crisp linen, a sharp Caesar salad, and a plate of pasta that made the whole room feel pleasantly slowed down.
The combination of Roman-style pizza, carefully made pasta, and that intimate, wood-trimmed room gives Melfi’s the energy of a spot that people guard on their calendar.
If you are building a Charleston itinerary around Italian cravings, this is one of those places where you lock in a time early and then schedule the rest of your day around it.
4. Renzo, Charleston
On Huger Street, Renzo is the little dining room that constantly proves how powerful a tiny space and a big reputation can be.
You will find it at 384 Huger St, Charleston, SC 29403, where a short list of tables and a wood-fired oven keep locals hovering over the reservation system.
My first visit came after I watched a friend get turned away twice because they assumed a walk-in would magically open up, which meant I learned from their mistakes and booked ahead.
Inside, the room feels relaxed and quietly focused, with staff sliding out pizzas, pastas, and creative small plates that give the menu a confident, slightly rebellious streak.
I still remember a night when every seat was taken, the door kept swinging with hopeful late arrivals, and my table felt like front row tickets to a show built around dough and seasonal toppings.
For a place this small, locals know that Renzo rewards people who plan ahead, so securing a reservation early is less about fuss and more about respecting how good the evening is going to be.
5. Jianna, Greenville
Downtown Greenville changes tempo the moment you ride the elevator up to Jianna and step out to see Falls Park glowing just beyond the windows.
Jianna sits at 600 S Main St, Suite 200, Greenville, SC 29601, perched above the street with a balcony view that pairs perfectly with twirling forkfuls of fresh pasta.
I once booked a table here for a Sunday evening and watched the reservation times vanish throughout the week while friends sent panicked texts asking if there was space left for them.
Inside, the open kitchen, house-made pasta, and a steady stream of plates topped with cacio e pepe or braised beef strozzapreti give the room an energy that feels both polished and relaxed.
My own plate of spaghetti with roasted tomatoes and basil tasted so straightforward and bright that I briefly considered ordering a second round and calling it research.
Locals know that the balcony seats and peak dinner hours go first, so if you want that view of the falls with your pasta, reserving early is the smartest move you can make.
6. Trattoria Giorgio, Greenville
Some restaurants in Greenville whisper about reservations, and Trattoria Giorgio politely insists on them.
You will find this long-running downtown favorite at 121 S Main St, Greenville, SC 29601, tucked among the trees and lights that line Main Street in the evening.
One night, I called for a weekend slot, and the host gently suggested a much earlier time if I did not want to risk missing out altogether, which told me everything I needed to know about demand.
Inside, the room feels quietly old-world, with white tablecloths, carefully paced courses, and plates of linguine, veal, and seafood that lean classic in the best way.
I still think about a simple pasta dish there, perfectly cooked and dressed just enough, that reminded me how satisfying restraint can be when a kitchen trusts its ingredients.
Reviews frequently mention calling ahead because the dining room fills, so locals treat reservations here as a basic part of planning an evening downtown rather than an optional extra.
7. Villa Tronco, Columbia
In Columbia, Villa Tronco feels less like a restaurant and more like a long-running neighborhood tradition that people happily reserve into their schedule.
This historic Italian institution lives at 1213 Blanding St, Columbia, SC 29201, inside a 19th-century firehouse that has been serving Italian dishes since the 1940s.
I remember walking through the heavy door and realizing I was stepping into a place that families had been introducing to new generations long before I was even born.
Plates of lasagna, veal, chicken parmigiana, and house specialties came out of the kitchen in generous portions, while nearby tables shared stories that clearly started many visits ago.
On a busy night, I watched the staff juggle birthday dinners, date nights, and big family tables, and it was obvious that people had planned these meals well in advance.
Locals know that when you want a classic Italian night in Columbia, especially on weekends or event nights, you call Villa Tronco early and claim your piece of that long-running story.
8. Il Giorgione, Columbia
Devine Street has plenty of charm, but Il Giorgione is the stretch where locals quietly compete for the best reservation times.
This neighborhood Italian favorite sits at 2406 Devine St, Columbia, SC 29205, a compact space that has been drawing regulars since it opened in 2012.
I grabbed a midweek reservation once and still ended up in a room that felt like a neighborhood party where everybody somehow knew at least one other table.
Thin-crust pizzas, seasonal pasta specials, and carefully composed plates moved out of the kitchen with a rhythm that suggested the cooks recognized half the orders by name.
My own evening involved a simple pasta, a shared pizza, and that pleasant moment when you realize you misjudged how full you would be but keep eating anyway.
Between the snug dining room and steady local following, Il Giorgione is one of those Columbia spots where you book ahead, stroll in feeling slightly smug, and watch last-minute hopefuls hover by the door.
9. Michael Anthony’s Cucina Italiana, Hilton Head Island
On Hilton Head Island, Michael Anthony’s is the spot where special occasions, vacations, and plain old cravings collide on the reservation log.
You will find it at 37 New Orleans Rd, Suite L, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, in a modest plaza that hides a very polished Italian dining room.
I once booked a table here for a trip and watched the online availability shrink day by day, which only made me more excited for the evening.
Inside, the service feels quietly precise, the atmosphere leans elegant but relaxed, and the menu stacks the hits with house-made pasta, veal, seafood, and carefully plated desserts.
My plate of fresh pasta with a delicate sauce was one of those dishes that made conversation slow down while I tried to memorize each bite.
With more than two decades behind it and a reputation as a premier Italian destination on the island, locals and returning visitors know to reserve early, especially during vacation season.
10. Ombra Cucina Italiana, Hilton Head Island
If you ask Hilton Head locals where they book early for Italian, Ombra’s name arrives faster than most.
Ombra Cucina Italiana sits in the Village at Wexford at 1000 William Hilton Pkwy, Suite G2, Hilton Head Island, SC 29928, and somehow manages to feel both neighborhood cozy and special occasion ready at the same time.
The night I visited, the dining room was buzzing before sunset and the staff was calmly checking off reservations while turning away late hopefuls who had assumed Tuesday would be quiet.
Plates of regional Italian dishes, from delicate seafood preparations to rich pasta, kept appearing with that smooth confidence that comes from an award-winning kitchen.
I remember finishing an entree and realizing I was already plotting a return visit in my head, which is always a good sign.
Since reservations are easily booked online and the restaurant is a proven local favorite, island regulars treat early booking here as standard practice, especially during busy weeks and holidays.
11. Ciao Italian Restaurant, Myrtle Beach
In Myrtle Beach, Ciao is the place where the dining room fills so consistently that locals talk about reservation strategy the way others discuss traffic routes.
You will find Ciao Italian Restaurant at 5223 N Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, in the Pine Lakes area, where a modest exterior hides a warmly lit, upscale bistro atmosphere.
I once booked a midweek table and still heard the host politely tell several walk-in parties that the only option was a much later seating.
Inside, the menu leans into comforting Italian classics with scratch-made sauces, seafood specials, and careful attention to presentation that makes every plate feel a bit celebratory.
My own visit featured a rich pasta entree that had me mopping up the last traces of sauce with bread while promising myself I would make better decisions next time.
Between the long run since 2006 and its reputation as one of the city’s top Italian spots, locals know that reserving early at Ciao is the only guaranteed path to a relaxed, unhurried dinner.
12. Villa Romana Italian Restaurant, Myrtle Beach
Along Kings Highway, Villa Romana feels like a time-honored Italian stage where every evening performance starts with a stack of reservations.
This long running favorite sits at 707 S Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, close to the heart of the beach traffic but wrapped in its own old school charm once you step inside.
I booked here for a family visit and watched the dining room fill steadily until every table seemed occupied by people who clearly knew they were in the right place.
Hearty portions of pasta, veal, and house specialties moved through the room while accordion music and friendly servers kept the mood lively without feeling rushed.
My own plate disappeared quicker than I planned, which is always the risk when the sauces and portions both lean generous.
Given its decades-long reputation and popularity with both locals and repeat vacationers, Villa Romana is exactly the kind of spot where smart diners reserve early, then relax knowing their table is waiting.
13. Luigi’s Trattoria, Myrtle Beach
In the Dunes neighborhood of Myrtle Beach, Luigi’s Trattoria is the cozy Italian hideout that never seems to stay a secret for long.
You will find it at 503 61st Ave N, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577, tucked just off the main drag in a spot that looks calm right up until dinner service starts.
I once grabbed an early reservation here and was very glad I did, because by the time my entree arrived, the dining room felt completely claimed by regulars, golf groups, and families who clearly knew the drill.
Plates of fresh-baked lasagna, seafood specials, and classic pasta dishes moved around the room with a friendly rhythm that matched the warm, family-run vibe.
My own meal ended with that pleasantly full feeling that makes you mentally add a place to your permanent beach trip rotation.
Because the room is not huge and word of mouth has done its work, locals treat Luigi’s as a booked-ahead destination, especially in peak season when the mix of regulars and visitors fills every seat.