Mondo's Italian Restaurant

This dinner definitely hit the spot for my entire family after a long day of traveling. Although we wish we could’ve received quicker service throughout our time here, we still thoroughly enjoyed the food. I even had enough for leftovers. 😋

Hidden delicious gem! Mondo's is tucked away in the corner of this little James Island shopping center. The café lights bring warms to the outdoor space, perfect for an intimate friend or date night. This time was a Bestie friend dinner day, and we opted for the outside bar. The staff was extremely helpful, managing the bar patrons and making us feel attended to with checkins. I personally enjoy the outdoor eating experience the best (when not buggy). The atmosphere takes me to Europe and is just the right volume for good conversations. Ever since I've tried the chicken marsala I've not ordered anything else! The flavor is amazing! If you choose to add a meat or chicken know that they are all great options and cooked perfectly. The grilled, blackened, breaded, chicken or all cooked juicy and to perfection.

What a great find this place was! We arrived at 4:15 where there were already people lined up! Everyone was friendly. Service was very good! Food was wonderful! Every thing was homemade and portions were large! It was such a great value for the price too! Would definitely visit again!

This was hands down one of the worst dining experiences I’ve ever had in Charleston — and that’s saying something for a city known for hospitality. Our waitress was impatient, unprofessional, and flat-out rude from the start. Amateur hour × 10,000. We always get along playfully with restaurants and staff — a little lighthearted sarcasm, some banter — and it’s almost always appreciated. Not here. We made a joking comment about being “pissed off” that certain menu items were unavailable due to renovations, and instead of taking it in stride, the waitress actually closed our menus in our hands and walked away. To make matters worse, she gave false information about menu items listed on the restaurant’s own website — and when we pointed it out, she doubled down, got nasty, and insisted we were “wrong.” She was 1000% mistaken. On top of that, she dismissed dietary restrictions entirely. My wife is vegan, and when we asked for a simple pasta with olive oil and garlic, the waitress flat-out refused without even checking with the chef, saying the kitchen “can’t accommodate modifications.” That’s not just unhelpful — it’s disrespectful. From there, the service spiraled. No manager ever came by to check in. Instead, a random employee (not even our server or a manager) walked over and told us to leave — completely unwarranted, given that we had already placed an order and had done absolutely nothing inappropriate. And finally, as we left, a group of employees stood by the door flipping us off. Yes, flipping off paying customers. The entire experience was disgraceful. Between the lies, the hostility, the disregard for dietary needs, the lack of management oversight, and the outright unprofessionalism, this restaurant should be ashamed of how it treats guests. Charleston has too many great options to ever waste your time here.

Incredible food and good atmosphere!! My husband and I were blown away by both the chicken piccata and the chicken parmesan. The flavors were on point and the red sauce was amazing. Some of the best Italian food we have ever had. The only concern I had was that the indoor seating area was fairly noisy but this would be quickly solved with some sound boards on the walls. Top notch!! We would love to come back!

My sister and her grown-up children love coming here. They decided to bring me for dinner when I was visiting. They loved many of the dishes, and it seemed that this place is reworking their menu and adding some new items and changing some favorites, which they weren't too pleased with. I ordered the fried artichoke goat cheese appetizer, manicotti, with a meatball add-on. It was all very good!! I would definitely recommend going here for a good, tasty meal.

Excellent spot to indulge in some delicious Italian cuisine. It doesn't matter what you order here, because it will be great no matter what. The food portions are pretty big, and the prices are something to take advantage of. If you're hungry for some Italian food on James Island, Mondo's is the place to go. Do be aware that the restaurant gets packed within 30 minutes of it opening usually, so plan accordingly. They do have an outdoor bar if you'd like to have a couple of drinks while you wait for your table. The smaller dining space is necessary due to their small kitchen. Apart from that, I highly recommend this restaurant for dinner and for any occasion.

This place was sooo good! Everything was great. We were seated immediately, the server was nice, the drinks were great, and the food was top notch. Would love to come back next time we’re in the area.

Do not go here unless you want to be depressed comparing all other Italian food places to this restaurant. In all seriousness, this is the best Italian food I've ever had. We went here once last year and thought we maybe hyped it up too much in our heads...it couldn't be as good as we remembered. Wrong! It was still amazing a year later. All food comes with free (fresh) bread. We ordered Arancini as an appetizer. My entree was Baked Rogatoni (cooked well done). Both were incredible! The marinara sauce is absolutely fantastic. The dishes are big so I did take some of my entree home with me. Even as leftovers 2 days later...it was just as good. Service was great! The place is small, but there are talks of expanding the restaurant. This is good news because there was a long wait after we left. Once again...already dreaming of my next visit here!

This is a James Island Favorite. We all had great meals starting out with the classic Mondo's bread and olive oil. I opted for the special of the Shrimp and Sausage Diavola. $23. It was good, but not the best dish I've had at Mondo's. I felt it was a little salty, probably due to the olives. Our table also had Mushroom Ravioli and Rigatoni with hot sausage. They were raving about their meals. Both were excellent. The service was excellent and friendly as always. The environment is always lively with a good James Island crowd. You can come here dressed up or in shorts. Great place for tourists to find since it's tucked in the side of a shopping center.

Best restaurant on James island, in my opinion! Yes, it can sometimes be difficult to find a seat, and they will close takeout orders if they are too busy, but there's a reason for that! The bartenders outdoors are always amazing, and really knowledgeable with their wine pairings. All of the pasta dishes are sooo fresh and yummy I can't even begin to choose one over another. Highly recommend the artichoke appetizer, I have dreams about this dish. If you are looking for a great date night spot, this is it!

I was celebrating my birthday with my family at Mondo's Italian Restaurant. Mondo's is located on James Island at the Shoppes on Folly. The inside had nice tables that would seat 40-50. There is a smaller outdoor seating area under a canopy. Our waiter was excellent. He was friendly and helped us with our selections. He brought drinks and warm bread with dipping oil and freshly grated cheese to the table. The food came out quickly. I had the classic spaghetti with meat sauce and meatballs. The sauce was amazing with great flavor. The portions were generous, and I felt like I received a lot of food for my money. Because the food is so good, I recommend getting there early as there was a line waiting to get in. If you love Italian food as much as I do, you will love Mondo's Italian Restaurant.

Get there early if you can because there will undoubtedly be a crowd! Once you get in you'll see why this is such a popular place that's a favorite amongst locals. Much more casual and affordable than most Italian restaurants, which makes it even better. The food was all really good and authentic. Big portions and lots of options, Mondo's is a must try!

This place is incredible. My favorite Italian in Charleston - simply blows everyone else out of the water. Highly recommend!!

Mondo's Italian Restaurant is located on James Island in the Shoppes of Folly Rd. Mondos is dine in or curb side pick up only. Get there early! A long line forms outside and goes around the building. Now I know why. The food is AMAZiNG! And I am Italian...lol. The dining room seats about 40 people. Our server was a delight! He was truly proud to work there and explained all the specials to us. He allowed us to explore the menu while we made our wine selection. He brought fresh, warm bread with dipping oil and cheese. So good! The vibe was relaxed. People were talking and happy. Everyone seated had drinks and delicious bread while waiting for the food to come out. The food came out quickly. I ordered the sweet potato gnocchi. This is tender gnocchi stuffed with sweet potato, brown sugar and cinnamon with panchetta. It was like having dessert pasta. Such a sweet flavor complimented by a white cream sauce and crispy panchetta. The portions are nice and big and prices are reasonable for the high quality ingredients and freshness of the food. I left Mondos feeling full and satisfied. If you want delicious, authentic Italian food with excellent service, I recommend Mondos Italian Restaurant.

I've never been to a restaurant where I had to wait in a line to get in, so exclusive. This was a highly rated and recommended spot so we got here a few minutes before it opened (4:30) and there was already a line of a dozen folks. It was a Saturday evening so it makes sense that it would be busy. We waited in line about 20 minutes or so before we were seated by the hostess. They also have an outdoor patio with heaters and bar seating was available for those who didn't want to wait for a table. The inside is cozy yet spacious and they were consistently providing take-out to customers. Our server Todd was excellent and he brought us complimentary focaccia-like bread and olive oil, always a nice way to begin a meal. For my entree, I got their Chicken Linguine, which has fresh linguine , tomatoes, olives, red onions, garlic, olive oil, white wine, and basil tossed with sliced grilled chicken. It was from their lighter sauces portion of the menu and although the flavors were indeed light, the sauce was (too) plentiful and I could've done with less. The flavors were great and the pasta was cooked nicely. Loved the green olives! I also tried the Fresh Spaghetti with Garlic and Oil: Sliced garlic browned in olive oil, red pepper, parsley & chicken stock as well as the Pesto Penne: Basil walnut pesto & sundried tomatoes with fresh made penne. Both of these dishes tasted good, and we all finished our plates. Prices were fair and service was great. We knew there was a line of people waiting outside so out visit was about an hour total but we didn't feel pressured to leave. I can see why this spot is so popular and plenty of folks come to dine-in and take-out.

The food and the service were great! We got there early (around 4:45) and didn't have to wait at all. I can't believe it's been around this long and we just tried it! We will definitely be back!

Mondo's is a gem. The restaurant is tucked away in the corner of the plaza, and doesn't have the biggest dinning room, but does make up for it in every other way. Service is great, and the food is excellent. Not to mention, the prices are unbeatable for an Italian spot. Would definitely recommend this place.

Having recently bought a house in Charleston, we went to Mondo's Italian for the first time tonight at the suggestion of a local friend. I have this tradition at the end of a great meal, whenever possible, to express my gratitude to the Chef and Back of the house staff. The open kitchen at Mondo's made this easier to do on a busy Saturday night. Rick (our waiter) and Michelle (waitress in training) were both standing at the pass and I said that if I had to describe our meal at Mondo's in one word it would be ....Salvation! sal·va·tion noun preservation or deliverance from harm, ruin, or loss. It was all that and more! Our meal began with their wonderfully light and savory Focaccia Bread served with a dish of fruity Olive oil and a small ramekin of Grated Parmesan Cheese. I knew that I would need some of it for dipping during the meal so amazingly I was able to exercise restraint. If you find yourself in need of more, they have second (or third) rounds as a menu item at $6.00 Well worth it! We ordered the Steamed Mussels and I appreciate the offering of several different flavor profiles. We chose the Roasted Garlic Cream sauce. I have a confession: when I order mussels at a restaurant it's a bit self serving because my girlfriend is usually good for 3, maybe 4 of the small ones and I get to eat the rest....FYI, she ate almost half the bowl and proclaimed these mussels as the best she ever had! They were incredibly tender with absolutely no chew. The sauce was well balanced and light for a cream sauce. For entrees, she ordered the Eggplant Parmesan , I'll get to that in a minute, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention the salad that came with it. Many Italian places give a salad with certain meals and it is notoriously a handful of Mesclun greens, some onions, and dressing. At Mondo's they really go the extra mile on their included salad. Fresh mixed greens, mushrooms, zuchinni, tomatoes, Carrots sunflower seeds and a lovely Balsamic dressing in a very generous portion. Back to the Eggplant...luscious, thicker than usual slices of eggplant layered with Spinach, cheese and their darn near perfect marinara sauce, baked Il Forno till the cheese is browned and the edges Carmelized and crisp. Again the portion was ample and we took half of it home. I ordered the Pasta Aglio e Olio (Garlic with Oil) with the addition of Sautéed Shrimp. The Angel,Hair pasta was perfectly chewed and Al dente. Rick told me it was the Chef's favorite so order it I did. It's this Chef's favorite now too! (Yes, I'm a retired Chef) This dish was simply perfect! After all that, we muscled our way through a piece of Flourless Chocolate Cake that came topped with whipped cream and Luxardo Cherries with their sauce. A perfect ending to a most amazing meal. Being from NJ, I asked Rick to tell me who in the kitchen is from NJ" because I would put this meal up against anything I've had back home. He replied "the owner is from NJ" I must say I wasn't at all surprised.

Unfriendly hostess. Everything I tasted was out of this world. The place was fully packed by 5pm.

Delicious- authentic- awesome. Outside bar was good ambiance w/ heat lamps while waiting (no rezzies accepted so about 30 min wait) . Excellent service. Enjoyed the Caesar salad with anchovies and arracini app. Butternut squash soup was so yummy too. Everyone at the bar had a fave- bolognese sauce & mushroom ravioli were hot topics.

Hands down one of my favorite places to go for any special occasion on James Island. The Italian dishes are customizable exactly to what you're in the mood for. The wait can get pretty long if you don't get there early, so enjoy a bottle of wine at the outdoor bar while you wait. Gotta try the mussels! Great staff and intimate indoor ambiance.

This place is a hidden gem. Staff was good and attentive. Drinks were good. The food was absolutely fantastic! Anytime we are in Charleston this will be at the top of our list.

AMAZING dinner at Mondos tonight. Exceptional service across the board. We started with drinks on the patio with a lovely knowledgeable bartender and were seated inside shorty after. Our server (I believe his name was David?) was so sweet and helpful. Star of the show were these mussels with a garlic cream sauce topped with 3 scallops. Our entrees were SO good too (forgot to take a pic). Melissa helped us out too and we just adore her. 10/10 recommend! It's economical, huge portions, and lovely staff.

Mondo's is a great Italian restaurant on James Island. The food here is fantastic. I personally love the Alfredo with prosciutto and snow peas but everything is delicious. Nice little outside bar so you can have a cocktail while waiting for a table. Service is great.

You know the food is great when people start lining up for a 4:30 pm opening! This is delicious, Italian comfort food at a great value. Lovely atmosphere, friendly service and a great menu. Did I say warm, fresh baked bread for every table? Oh my! I always have to pace myself to save room for dinner. We love the pesto pasta, spaghetti and meatballs, and lasagne to name a few of the dishes we've tried. We always end up taking some home because the portions are generous. I highly recommend!

I meant to say: I was reminded of the Seinfeld episode about the soup natzi! No pasta for us! Spell check did it again.

I read a review that it was the best restaurant in the area and that it fills up fast. We took a chance last time we were nearby on a weekend trip and both proved to be true. Would go back without hesitation. Nice place with inside and outside seating, small don't does fill up. Food was amazing. Wish it was closer - I would go all the time.

Wow! This place exceeded all expectations. I've driven past at least a thousand times but never noticed Mondo's, as it is a bit tucked away. Both meals we ordered were fantastic, the pasta tasted really fresh and the sauce was cooked to perfection. I appreciated the free bread and olive oil for the table, and enjoyed the great service. Such a fun atmosphere with an incredible menu.

Best Italian restaurant on James Island! Always crowded so get there early!! My favorite place to get Eggplant Parmigiana!! Jan H

Just learned about Mondo's recently, I've now had it twice in one week. One of the best parts personally is it's only 3 minutes away from me. I sat outside at the bar both times and the bartender was great, think his name was John? He was very personable and kind, answered any questions I had and had great recommendations. All the cocktails I had were great, and so was the bread as an appetizer! For my meal I had Gemelli with Parmesan Cream Sauce with blackened chicken, and omg I can't get over it, it's phenomenal. New favorite pasta dish! Sitting at the bar was a great vibe, I need to check out the seating inside once it get colder. Everyone is very friendly. I'll definitely be making this a weekly regular! So so so good, can't say enough about it!

Holy crap I can't believe I am just now experiencing Mondos! The only thing negative I can say is in regards to myself not experiencing it sooner and all of the amazing meals I've missed out on!!! Our server Jared was fantastic. He was extremely witty, jovial, and insightful about the menu. He walked us through, said menu, opening our eyes to the endless options available. When we were paralyzed in awe of everything available, Jared was quick to offer recommendations. I ended up getting the rigatoni in vodka sauce with spicy sausage and it was one of the greatest Italian dishes, if not the greatest dish, I have ever tasted! I don't live anywhere near Mondos but will be adding it into my regular rotation!

Mondo's is a spot to savor. Great Italian food prepared with love. I had a tasty side salad and eggplant parm. Others had veal scampi and various pasta dishes. All were winners. The restaurant is hidden in the corner of a James Island shopping center. Worth a trip.

Strip mall? Wedged between an orthodontics office and a sonic burger. You e would y think it would be good but it is. Fairly priced, unpretentious staff and good food. Veal Parma was great, so were mussels and spaghetti and meatballs.

This place was surprisingly good. didn't expect much because it was in a strip mall but everything we got was good. Their bread was amazing and had tomatoes and cheese on it. The arancini was amazing, it could have been more warm but maybe it was just sitting out. The gnocchi and mushrooms was the best part of that dish. The sauce was good but the chicken was too salty. Other than that I'm still impressed with the food quality.

The bartender outside was really good. We got a table inside earlier than we thought we would. Laura was our waitress. She is the bomb!! Great service, so nice and helpful!! The food was super good, also. Laura made the night!! Great service and great recommendations from her re food.

Mondo's is insane. I have never tasted pasta so good and it's my primary food group. You can tell the food is all made in-house. 10/10 reccomend this place if you're looking for indescribably tasty Italian food for a good price.

Im from chicago and im telling you this is the best pasta youll ever have. I ordered the prosciutto, best decision ever. I dont normally post reviews so you know this place is so good

Just okay, not blown away. Service was outstanding though Update The leftovers were outstanding. A day in the fridge softed up the rough edges and maybe I wasn't famished.

Soooo good. Crazy authentic. Service was fast, knowledgeable and attentive. The place is tiny so get there early. Without having to do fancy Italian (melting or wild olive) this place is worth the wait.

Quality all around. Service, food, space, drinks... I've been here more than a few times and will be back several more. Whether it's the special or regular menu, I've enjoyed everything I've gotten here.

Mondo's is all of the things I love - unassuming and freaking delicious. Unless you have a large party, no reservations. Show up early and get on the list. At a certain point on busy nights (see Friday & Saturday for sure), they'll just tell you the list is longer than they can seat. If we're going on the weekend, we shoot to be there as close to 5 as possible. They have limited hours and are closed on Sunday and Monday. That's really the only bad, and truly, they deserve a break! The beauty of this busy place is the charming little patio bar they've created. For a small little restaurant in a strip mall, they have done a beautiful job creating a charming outdoor bar where you can sip on a glass of wine while you wait for a table. In the summer, the frose is a must! The food is wonderful. They start you with some slices of incredible homemade focaccia bread topped with some sort of tomato basil mismash. I would come here just for this bread. The pasta dishes are just fantastic. I absolutely love the Baked Rigatoni and I must admit, I struggle to get anything else because I dream about this dish. The first time I visited Mondo's, our server suggested we add a meatball to it. I am forever grateful to her. It's an awesome little addition for a teeny upcharge! Portions are sizeable and prices are reasonable. We rarely finish everything (and you best believe I squirrel that bread away to eat with my leftovers). Great place to bring friends and family! Casual atmosphere with great bites.

Great location. Good food-sandwiches, breakfasts, good staff. Nice outdoor dining area.

We found it difficult to find the restaurant, since we are unfamiliar with the area. However, once we found it, it was an amazing find. The restaurant is quaint and family friendly. Our server was engaging and amazing. The food was absolutely astounding. Some of the best Italian food we've ever had at reasonable prices.

We have been here several times, and it's definitely a wonderful dining experience every time! We always sit outside, which is a very comfortable, Italian-like atmosphere. The wait staff are always friendly and accommodating. We have never felt rushed, even when there is a very long line of people waiting to be seated (always a great sign in my opinion!). We ordered the fried risotto balls as an appetizer,, but they were sooo delicious We ate them so quickly I didn't get a picture! My bad, take my advice and get them, lol! My husband got the spaghetti and 3 meatballs because he's addicted to them, and I try something new each time. Tonight it was manicotti with their delicious marinara sauce and a meatball. It was scrumptious, and such a large portion, my Togo box is the size of a baby, lol! If you haven't been there, or it's been awhile since you've been there, enjoy one of these beautiful Fall evenings in our little slice of Italy on James Island!

I do not know how I only just dined at this place, but I'm so glad I did. Everything was amazing. From the service to the food and everything in between. The ambiance is awesome. Our server gave us the run down and how many endless possibilities their menu offers. You can take a dish and make it your own in so many ways. I went with the parmesan risotto and added blackened salmon. The combination was bursting with flavor. This is officially my favorite Italian restaurant in Charleston.

4 stars only because if the ambiance. Loved everything They made pescatore for me. So nice !!!!

Always great food and great service! We arrived around 5:45 and they had about a 30-40 minute wait.... They open at 4:30. We ordered a bottle of wine and sat out on the patio, great afternoon to sit outside. Once our table was ready, we were seated and immediately greeted by our server, Megan. She was awesome! We ordered another bottle of wine and a a few appetizers, which consisted of bruschetta and the prosciutto wrapped artichokes stuffed with goat cheese. I totally forgot to take a picture of them that both were delicious. Then the meal arrived....oh my everyone's dish was amazing! I had the chicken linguine. I was linguine, tossed with garlic and olive oil, red onions, olives, tomatoes, and very thinly sliced grilled chicken. It was light and delicious ( this is the only thing I got a picture of). We ordered dessert which was a chocolate chip cannoli and a flourless chocolate cake. Topped with cherries. Amazing! I highly recommend but arrive early if you don't want to wait. It is always packed.

Stopped here on the way to Kiawah island. Amazing Italian food and fabulous service!

Love the food. Service is always very good and fast. Not many good Italian restaurants and to have this one so close to home is ideal.

Had a birthday dinner for our daughters friend, last night. The service was great and the food outstanding. The Spaghetti and Meatballs was amazing. Red sauce and meatballs were very good and seasoned well. I recommend Mondos to anyone seeking great Italian, in a laid back atmosphere.

The food is fabulous!! Just wish they'd change up the menu a bit every now and then. The service is always great. Just wish they could accommodate larger groups. But highly recommend.

Unfortunately, we just went to Mondo's to celebrate a family member's graduation, and they refused to seat our party of 7. Although I understand that some restaurants don't sit large parties, we were more than happy to split our group into two just so we could enjoy the food and ambience at Mondo's. Sadly, we were turned around and we absolutely will not be back to try again. Southern hospitality? Not here.

Dinner was absolutely delicious!! The Arancini balls were my favorite. All pastas are freshly made in-house daily. We had great service too. if you're in the mood for some authentic Italian food look no further!

Fantastic pasta and great salad at a price commensurate with the quality. First trip to Mondo yesterday for 4 of us was a great success. Two couples split 2 salads - were delicious, especially the arugula salad. Mushroom ravioli was perfect, eggplant Parmesan had wonderful crispy edges but not over cooked (a situation in other restaurants that happens far too often) and they substituted pasta with sauce for the salad it usually comes with. Pesto pasta special with chicken was gobbled up. Dinner companion said veal parmigiana was perfect. No dessert, since we were all full, and still took home four more meals worth! We will be coming back. We want to try everything on the menu.

Excellent experience at Mondo's! It's a popular place so expect a wait. They have a beautiful outdoor area to wait in and grab a drink if you desire. We started with some arancini that was fantastic - highly recommend. Second the Gorgonzola salad - really great - made for a meal or share amongst the table. For our entrees we had the Gemini Parmesan dish with blackened chicken, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken parmesan, and Gorgonzola pasta with both sweet and hot sausage. The Gorgonzola past was delicious, but if you don't like the pungent flavor of Gorgonzola - avoid the dish. Our service was excellent! Will go back again!

I absolutely love it here. It's hard to get in, but if you're lucky enough, it's amazing.

Let me start by saying that pre Covid we dined here at least twice a month. We always wondered why the owner kept the very angry looking hostess on staff. She would never smile and honestly wreaks of misery. So fast forward to today, we finally went back and she's still there and crabby as ever! In fact she pretended she didn't even know us. In addition, she sat 2 parties that were in line behind us before seating us. We were actually the last party she sat for the evening. I was going to complain but my sweet husband asked me to let it go so I did. Onto the food. It's still good! I love the veal parm and husband enjoys the vodka sauce. It's a shame that we dislike the fact that you can't make a reservation and that we are dealing with a hostess that doesn't sit you in order of arrival and is just unhappy as they come. We simply will not go unless on a rare occasion.