Cuoco Pazzo Trattoria

When I arrived at the host stand I was informed that reservations were required, but since it was just me, they agreed to seat me at the bar. I was served quickly by the bartender. They do only have Pepsi products and for some reason that does not include Mountain Dew. I got a Starry and the Lasagna. The Lasagna was the best lasagna I’ve gotten at any restaurant during my travels, even dethroning my current top contender which was Bruno’s Little Italy in Little Rock (that one was on diners drive ins and dive). I mentioned the Starry as my drink was refilled with Water by accident. The bartender and I had a good laugh about it and it was no big deal. The staff is really friendly here. I definitely recommend the lasagna.

PASTA PASTA SOUP N PASTA. I ordered the zuppa alla stracciatella, fed my heart, warmed my soul.The wait-staff were attentive and considerate, my mom wanted a drink switch and they accommodated. The atmosphere was inviting. Thank you for having us ✨👨🏻‍🍳✨

Very nice small Italian restaurant with wonderful, authentic food. Every bite was delicious, service was excellent, prices reasonable. And the Limoncello cake we had for dessert was melt in your mouth luscious.

Overall: Great food all around, we will definitely be back at some point. The good: Friendly service and plenty to choose from, with low lighting to make the atmosphere charming and warm. Lobster ravioli was amazing and so was the chicken parm, with more than reasonable portion sizes and prices. The not-so-good: Service was much slower than expected, but we weren't in a rush and didn't mind. The manager even came over to apologize. Not a ton of seating and it can feel a little tight between tables. Food/drink: 8.5/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 8/10

Come on you guys, GO! This is the best Authentic Italian in Mount Pleasant. The owner's Davida and Paola take so much pride in the service, and the food! My go to is the lasagna, or Marsala . Tonight the Italian Meatloaf Special rocked me! Bartender David is the best!!

This was a very nice setting both outside and inside. The tables are nicely set up and the staff waz very friendly. My party of 4 said the food was delicious and I couldn't agree more. We ordered the calamari, veal parm, chicken parm sub Alfredo sauce, 2 manicotti dishes, and tiramisu for dessert. We enjoyed the calamari and ate it all but my grandparents said it was a bit overcooked (chewy) but like I said it still was good to me, haha. The veal and chicken were very good and of soft texture. The manicotti looked very good and my grandparents gave it a thumbs up. The dessert looked almost too cute to eat but it was very airy and light with slight coffee taste, perfect. I plan to come back here for sure.

June 15, 2025, 5:30 p.m., Father's Day: my 2 friends and I walk into the Trattoria and are greeted warmly. "Do you have reservations?" the hostess inquired. "No', I replied. BUT, there was one table for 3 right behind the hostess station. We took it! The service, by all involved was top notch. The menu, nicely done and not TOO much options. Perfecto! We were served a fabulous meal in a very short time. We were treated like celebrities, but not fawned over. I HIGHLY recommend this establishment for those who enjoy the type of service, food and beverages which can be had here. BRAVO!!!

Food is delicious, wine suggestion was great and our server Jim was amazing. Really good for a decent price.

One of the finest Italian restaurants anywhere. Excellent freshly prepared food , great wines and excellent service. The lemoncello cake is an incredible dessert to finish off a thoroughly enjoyable evening!

best italian in charleston!!!! the food is so yummy and authentic and the servers and hosts are so friendly!!

Overall: Great food all around, we will definitely be back at some point. The good: Friendly service and plenty to choose from, with low lighting to make the atmosphere charming and warm. Lobster ravioli was amazing and so was the chicken parm, with more than reasonable portion sizes and prices. The not-so-good: Service was much slower than expected, but we weren't in a rush and didn't mind. The manager even came over to apologize. Not a ton of seating and it can feel a little tight between tables. Food/drink: 8.5/10 Atmosphere: 8/10 Service: 8/10

This gem is conveniently located in the heart of Mount Pleasant in a stand alone building anchoring the Fairmount Shopping Center on Johnnie Dodds Blvd. There's plenty of parking which is always appreciated. The bright, beautiful, upscale dining room was surprisingly busy on this Wednesday evening, early into dinner service. Our server, Jim, approached us right away with menus and to tell us about the specials. My companion went with a garden salad and Pollo alla Griglia. I selected a Caesar with dressing on the side and one of the specials, the "stuffed" chicken breast. Bread was served quickly. Unfortunately, it was disappointedly underwhelming which perhaps was a good thing given what was soon to arrive. The Griglia was a large pounded and grilled chicken breast sautéed with mushrooms in a white wine sauce, which also lightly topped the accompanying generous portion of spaghetti. My tremendous chicken breast was actually pounded thin then prepared, jelly roll style and tucked in, filled with spinach, mozzarella and sliced cherry peppers ... then, baked ... wrapped in crispy prosciutto, topped with blistered cherry tomatoes, accompanied with a lightly pomodoro-sauced, adequate portion of penne. Both dishes were delizioso! We passed on desert but I couldn't leave without ordering a cannoli to go. Our server, Jim, was stellar. In case you were wondering, dinner was pricey, just a tad under $100 before tip, but this was fine dining and we didn't need to pay for parking to get the experience. If you haven't been, go ... if it's been a while, make your reservation! You'll love it.

The absolute best Italian! Martini was awesome! Bread great, food incredible!Service incredible!!

We really enjoyed this place! The food was delicious, the service was excellent and the ambiance delightful. I had the mussels, which were divine, served in a garlicky broth. Someone else got a chicken pasta dish, and said it was great. They also make great cocktails. The owner is fun, and comes around to each table to make sure everyone is satisfied. Super friendly and cozy. Funny how the best restaurants are usually in strip malls!

Food was so good and huge portions (we could have honestly shared the meal there was so much!). The complimentary bread and olive oil were delicious. Staff were welcoming and attentive. Large, open area with beautifully decorated tables and there is a screen at the front with a live feed from Venice. Plenty of parking as well! It's a must try!

We had heard the word that this was an underrated Italian spot in the area. The menu was very reasonable and had everything you could want: pasta, seafood, ravioli, veal, and delicious apps. Our waiter Jimmy really made the whole experience. He was top notch and a seasoned vet! He came across as an owner and was patient and guided us to all the food he knew would bring the table to life. We started with some wine and stuffed mushrooms and antipasti with prosciutto and mozzarella. The mushrooms were unbelievable! We all agreed that we picked the right place from that point on. We decided on lobster ravioli, shrimp and mussel pasta, veal Parmesan and chicken piccata. The entrees were all excellent and another bottle of wine was the perfect complement to round out the experience. They have a small bar as well to relax if you're in solo. This place has some great soul and we heard the chef hails from Sicily. Give them a try!

Food was very good. We had take Out. The order was correct hot ready and tasty. We will be back. Reminded us of Rome

Food was delicious, plentiful and reasonable prices - staff is professional and friendly

The food was absolutely delicious, we had mussels, mushrooms stuffed with their bolognese sauce and calamari for appetizers. My husband and I both got the grouper special which also had a few mussels and it was wonderful. My son got the lasagna and as much as he tried, he couldn't finish it, also delicious. My son in law got the veal piccata and he couldn't eat it fast enough, it was so good. And lastly, my daughter got the Caesar salad, also good but could have had a little more ' white lettuce ' as opposed to all the green. Our waiter was also good and recommended a delicious wine. We will all be going back !!

It was a nice place with great service and friendly employees. My companions got the salmon and fettuccine Alfredo and thought they were great. I mistakenly got the Chicken Parmigiana which is probably the worst that I ever had. Trader Joe's frozen chicken parmigiana was better. The restaurant's was micro-thin and all that I tasted was flour. I should have gotten the lasagna.

I loved it!! The service was stellar and the food was great too! It feels homey and welcoming inside. I'm so glad I found this gem. Easy parking all around as well. Highly recommend.

I was so pleasantly surprised for my first time at Cuoco Pazzo! Walking in, the ambience was lovely. The service was excellent and our waiter John had excellent recommendations on food and wine. We sat at a table but the bar area also looked nice to sit at. We fully enjoyed the complimentary bread and delicious oil. The papardelle pasta was delicious and cooked perfectly. The bolognese sauce was flavorful. The veal parmigiana was also done very well. The portion sizes were very generous for the price. Everything on their menu looked delicious so we will definitely be back to try some other dishes. I highly recommend making a reservation even on a weeknight because it was packed! I've had a hard time finding good Italian food in mount pleasant but this place was it!

Rainy Tuesday night visit on a work trip decided to stop by. Service was friendly and super polite. Server went over menu and some favorites she had. Went with calamari to start, followed by bread and oil. Main courses were chicken parmigiana and lasagna. Both were portioned well and had fresh Parmesan cheese added to both. Busy place by 6pm so I would suggest a reservation! Well lit dining room with fast service.

Took a chance on this local Italian eatery while on vacation and so glad that we did! We had a great experience, they played music softly and the restaurant was not loud. Seated immediately and served bread with the dipping sauce. We each ordered an entree and they were equally delicious. Lots of lobster in the ravioli, I could really taste the lobster and it was divine. Desserts were fabulous as well, if maybe a bit pricey. Not inexpensive by any means but worth it in my opinion. Honestly sad this restaurant isn't in our hometown!

When "bread" in an Italian restaurant is one step above Wonder Bread -- it foretells what is to come. Mushy + undersized lasagna with pasta barely detectable - $24 ! Heavily breaded chewy calamari Eggplant rollatini - same as lasagna - light on the eggplant - $16 Bruschetta nicely seasoned $14 Red sauce nicely balanced Olive Garden quality ------- almost

I had family in town who specifically requested fettucine alfredo, so I did a search of restaurants and found Cuoco Pazzo. I used to live only a few blocks from here and had never been, but I thought it was a good choice as we could walk Shem Creek afterwards. This is one of those hidden-gem type restaurants. The pricing is a steal for Mt P and the food was delicious (I had the gnocchi!). My waiter was less than helpful at suggesting which wine to pair with my meal, but that just goes to show that this is more of a down home, old school restaurant and not a fru-fru snooty spot. I will definitely be back and have already told lots of my local friends to check it out, too!

This delicious Italian restaurant was very deceiving since it is in a strip mall with an unappealing cement walls! Outside, the aroma of garlic was amazing! Inside, it was very old school (in my opinion), with table clothes and covered chairs. We were seated immediately, and for a Thursday night, we thought the restaurant was busy. We were immediately given bread and water, and a bowl of herbs that we had to add our own olive oil to. The bread was good, as was the oil. I ordered a side salad with a house raspberry vinaigrette, which was very good. Then came my gnocchi. Lite little pillows of delicious -ness. So so good. I thought there was a lot of sauce, although it was very tasty. They even sell it by the bottle! My husband had his go to on any Italian restaurant... Chicken Marsala. He thought it was one of the best he ever had. Prices were reasonable for what we ordered. We even had a dessert that we shared after learning all desserts were made in house. The limoncello cake was really delicious! If we come back to Mt. Pleasant, we would definitely come back here!

Such an un expected find. Tucked into a strip mall with a bunch of restaurants I walked in at about 7pm and it was packed!! I was struck by the beautiful decor. Much more elegant than typical. The service was excellent. The cocktail (Margarita) was top notch. And the Spaghetti Bolognese was out of this world - loads of meat!! I'd highly recommend this place

Cuoco Pazzo's is really good Italian food to us. We consistently get a delicious dinner and very good service. The ambience is also a step up and has a traditional elegant feel to it. Worth a try if you haven't been.

My wife and I came here for our anniversary, and had a lovely dinner. They recently moved to a bigger location in the same shopping center, and they have so much more space now. We started off with the appetizer special, which was fried shrimp with a Calabrian chili aioli. I loved the spice from the aioli, and the shrimp were super crispy. I got the veal pomodoro special, while she got chicken parmigiana off the menu. When they were delivered, grated Parmesan cheese was offered, which I initially declined. Once I tasted the pomodoro sauce, I realized that they under salted it, expecting people to add the Parmesan, which is a salty cheese. After adding Parmesan to it, it was great. For dessert, we got a tiramisu and a couple of the tiramisu martinis. The dessert was outshined by the martini, which was amazing.

Clams in white wine... lasagnas Italian bread with EVO Everything came Out if the kitchen to perfection Took home antipasto for Another meal Next day

Fantastic food, fantastic friendly service. Whenever i go out for dinner, i always go. To Cuoco Pazzo. Never been disappointed

I celebrated my elopement here with my closest family and friends (10 people) and they really hit the nail on the head with all the entrees! Prices are very fair, the quality is above average and the service was amazing! We never needed anything, they were there to make sure we were beyond taken care of! I didn't know this place existed until I was looking for Italian, which is our favorite! I am so happy to say I'll definitely be back! My family visits multiple times a year and they all said that this is our new staple place to go when they are here! Thank you for making our special night so smooth! 10/10 recommend!

Excellent ambiance, good food, great service, tolerable prices. Definitely worth a return!

Always good food. You crazy chef does not like to be questioned and is very short with customers. He can give me all the crazy he wants as long as the food is that good.

This is an Italian restaurant in a strip mall. But, the food is really good and reasonably priced. We had chicken Parmesan (21.95) and veal Parmesan (24.95). Peroni draft beers were teeth crackin' cold and only $6. The GM actually came to our table and apologized for not having pappardelle pasta. All good. Nice decor inside. The chocolate cake is outstanding too!

Best Italian food in Mt Pleasant!!!! Service is always great and the food is exceptional!! Meatballs are the size of baseballs and so good!

One of, if not the Best Italian restaurant I have ever been to. The atmosphere, food, and service remind me of a New Jersey Italian Restaurant! Simply Incredible!

This is Mount Pleasant's best kept 5 star find and secret! The food touched my Italian soul just like grandmothers! Their short ribs were so tender and the accompanying pasta's sauce was hearty and robust. What i loved the most was that the food wasn't overly seasoned..just enough to compliment but not mask the flavor of the beef and the tomatoes perfectly! The potion sizes were enough to share, and well you know in most Italian families food, really good food, is meant to be SHARED. Give this quaint ristorante a try!!!

Found this restaurant on a whim and it did not disappoint. John was our waiter and had the best recommendations. We had the calamari, lobster ravioli, papatelle, and the lasagna with a bolognese sauce added. Highly recommend the lasagna it was PHENOMENAL. All of the staff there was fabulous and so helpful. Will definitely be back. Also they do have gluten free pasta

Somehow I have overlooked doing a review on a restaurant I've dined at many times in the three years I've been living here. Maybe I was subconsciously protecting this gem of a restaurant from being overrun by customers making it hard to get a reservation. Well I can now correct this oversight. As I have seen stated in other reviews I too am originally from NJ where it seems like there is an Italian restaurant or pizzeria on every corner. I'm looking for Italian food similar to what we enjoyed there we originally stumbled upon Cuocco Pazzo at their smaller location 3 years ago. Since then they moved to larger space but still provided us with great food just like back in NJ. So I would say to anyone from NY/NJ this should be your go to restaurant whenever you are hankering (definitely not a NJ word) for real good Italian cooking in a wonderful setting.

Friendly service, big menu with tons of options, reminded me of those Mom & Pop Italian restaurants up north that I miss down south. It was clean and the food was good.

Very nice ambience. Casual yet elegant. The food was great. Simple Italian. Had the Aperol Spritz (delicious) eggplant rotellini and gnocchi. We are vegetarian and there were several options. Service was wonderful. Walked right in, we arrived at 5:10pm. Restaurant opens at 5:00pm.

Few things will make me want to leave my hood, much less cross that bridge into the Mt P area, except Cuoco Pazzo. Granted it's been a few years, thanks Covid, but yesterday I decided enough was enough! I wanted some pasta! This has always been my go to for good carbs that comfort me like only grandma's cooking can. Upon arrival, I was surprised they had moved into a bigger place, but happy to know they survived and thrived the last few years like the rest of us. I was sat immediately and thought I knew what I wanted till I was told about the specials. Seabass with mussels and pasta! Um, yes please! Food came out and I dove right in savoring the sauce and flavors of it all. Sadly, my portions were bigger than my stomach could hold, so now I have to finish leftovers. I don't mind at all, if I am to be fully honest!

First of all, the bruschetta is mind blowing. Best bruschetta I ever had! Fresh simple with the best of ingredients turned it into an incredible treat! Going back tomorrow night to further indulge. This place is a dream

We came after 9 closer to closing time on accident after a sailing excursion. I felt bad that we walked in so late but they were so sweet. Everyone was so nice and kept checking up on us. I've never left a yelp review but I felt like this place deserves it. Food was amazing and so was the service!

Location is very weird. It's in a strip mall with a furniture store, sports store and a Latino market. The decor is old school and kind of quirky. They had multiple box/temporary fans going as if they didn't have air conditioning. The service was great and they helped us pick out what we wanted but everything lacked seasoning and was pretty bland. Portion sizes were good but we probably won't come back.

If you're looking for delicious authentic Italian without a lot of the fuss then search no further. This is my kind of Italian restaurant very mom and pop tasty affordable. They have an excellent menu with most of the favorites most would recognize and some other varieties.

Solid Italian-American food. Family owned and reasonably priced. The staff is friendly and the food comes out fast.

Oh boy. Started off by ordering a bourbon and coke. The drink tasted like swamp water. Coke or in this case Pepsi needed a new canister. No good. Ordered the Veal Saltimbocca...terrible. The worst I have ever had. Features provolone and Prosciutto. The provolone was sliced sandwich provolone. Not grated from a block which is loaded with flavor but the kind you buy for quick sandwiches. The prosciutto was there but soggy? and the veal was not seasoned. The pasta tasted wonderful. Slightly overcooked but nice flavor. The chicken Marsala was sweet? Tasted different for sure. Not sure what it was. It was not chicken Marsala.

Wonderful hidden neighborhood gem...the absolute best fettuccine Alfredo I have ever eaten !

We visited Cuoco Pazzo on a Friday evening without a reservation. They seated us on the patio, within 10 minutes on a very busy night. The service was a little slow, but we didn't mind. We ordered drinks and an appetizer, both were brought in a reasonable amount of time. At that point, we ordered our food and just as we were finishing our appetizer, the food arrived. Everything looked and tasted amazing. I would definitely return and recommend dining here!

Yum! My mom loves pasta and this little spot did not disappoint. The menu has a great selection of you love pasta like she does. There was a great variety on the menu along with daily chef specials. I had the Fettuccine Basciola and it had pancetta and mushrooms. It was flavored very well and I loved every bite. The portion sizes are large , so both my mom and I had leftover for later to enjoy. The waitstaff was great and made some good recommendations. The restaurant itself isn't very big, but they do have some outdoor seating as well. It was a very wonderful meal and I will be back. Also, they are only open for dinner starting at 5p. I keep forgetting and randomly showing up early wondering why they aren't open, so don't be like me...wait til 5p.

Cuoco Pazzo on Johnnie Dodds Boulevard in Mount Pleasant is a great place to go for all things delicious and flavorful Italian food. I really like the location and the atmosphere that they have created here. Good experience every time I have been here.

We were back after quite an absence, but Covid, living many miles away are all factors keeping us. I say don't miss an opportunity to go here if you have one! You won't regret it one iota! Besides great service from our server "Jim" the food was spectacular, and then the company of our friends made this a fabulous evening to remember. I had the veal saltimbocca, which in my mind, was the best I ever had! Naturally we enjoyed a bottle of wine with this fine meal. Don't miss this place if you are reading this.

Old school Italian. Truly impressed. Went Mothers Day dinner. Marveled at the food coming out of kitchen as we waited for our order. I ordered alfredo with shrimp. It was enough for two people. You will not be disappointed.

Great service. Great food. Great people. I was looking for some good Italian food in the Charleston & Mount Pleasant area and Cuoco Pazzo delivered. The menu has a lot of variety. Whatever you are craving... they have. From the classics, seafood dishes, or a simple bruschetta. I love the fresh bread they give you to start, it goes well with some olive oil, black pepper, and their fresh Parmesan. Staff is very helpful and constantly checking in, even if they weren't serving us. The Wine menu looked very long. When I return (definitely coming back), I will try their moscato.