Pelato

I have never had vodka sauce done the right way in my life. I have traveled all over this country and had many a fine meal but nothing compared to the time spent with the great people at Pelato. The pasta and sauces were fresh and delicious. The unique dining experience allowed my wife and I to share some amazing dishes. You CANNOT come here without getting the Radiatori Vodka as one of your dishes. The wait staff went above and beyond and Christine was such a great person to guide us through this experience. We can’t wait to visit again, but next time it will be a little closer to home. Looking forward to our next Nashville trip and letting our friends discover this amazing restaurant. Thanks again Christine, you were amazing

We had a fun time! Orderi g drinks at the walk-up window was charming. Our waitress, Christine, provided wonderful recommendations & her suggestions were spot on. The noise was a little loud from the acoustics on the porch, but otherwise a fantastic time.

All I can say is WOW! I won’t lie that I was a little worried this was an overhyped spot as I’ve seen it all over social media, but this has now become my favorite Italian spot in Charleston! Service was great, food was evidently fresh and homemade, and every dish had its own wow factor. Our personal favorites were the vodka pasta & chicken parm, but I would recommend everything we got. I am already planning our next visit to Pelato, because it was simply perfect!

My husband and I picked this place randomly on our first night in town celebrating our baby moon and I can not say enough good things about it. Ofc we didn’t have reservations and the girls at the host area were so sweet and squeezed us in immediately on a Friday night at dinner, then we had Sloan as our server and she was just as great! She was knowledgeable about all the food, efficient, sweet and even brought us a cute sparkler when we got dessert to celebrate our baby. I also will say I’m a bit hard to impress as I’ve been a server since I was 15 and she went absolve and beyond!! If you want great Italian and service go here and ask for Sloan!!

Excellent dining experience! Pelato has a great menu, everything on it tastes great I’m sure. We had 6 of their dishes and each was unique and delicious. Our server Mia, did a great job answering questions and providing good recommendations. Highly recommend a visit to Pelato!

Ryan was amazing! Everything was absolutely lovely- the food was beyond what I expected. I took my mom here for my birthday celebration and it was fabulous. We went to Sorelle last year and I feel like this completely surpassed the experience there. Payton the host was also so sweet and helpful! There wasn’t one dish I wouldn’t order again. My favorites were definitely the raditorre, the burnt broccolini and the stuffer eggplant bread. We will definitely be back!!

Amazing Italian food! We had such a great first time at this restaurant. Each dish that we had was unique and all had amazing flavor profiles. Perfect place for a date night or to celebrate a birthday. You can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. The whole staff was on point with making our experience nothing short of wonderful and Sarah had such great energy and was super knowledgeable! We will definitely be back!

Service was excellent here. Food was good overall just nothing incredible thus 4/5 stars. Extremely well run restaurant with great wine exceptional service and overall good food. Highlights were the charred broccolini and sausage pasta. Cacio e Pepe was solid as well.

Vibes 10/10 they do a great job curating the nyc feel We got the mozzarella, Caprese, meatballs, chicken parm, vodka pasta, ravioli, and gelato. Would recommend this to anyone Mozzarella, meatballs, and chicken parm were our favs. This is tapas style which is really fun but you definitely don't need as much as they recommend, 2 items per person is perfect.

Nice ambiance. Good accoustics. Beautiful outside patio. Andrew from Brooklyn was a good server. Very Italian family dinner feel. Sauces were like Nonna was in the kitchen. Loved the eggplant bread, Bombalitta, salad and vodka sauce. A nice piece of bread to sop up sauces would have been nice. Shrimp lemon was a bit too lemony. Nice addition to downtown and easy parking.

We had such a lovely dinner here. The weather was nice so we opted to sit on their patio which is absolutely stunning. The restaurant is bustling on the weekends so definitely make a reservation or get there early. The hostess' were pleasant and quickly sat us upon arrival. All of the servers and general managers welcomed us in and were pleasant. Our server was outstanding. The food is tapas style Italian. Everything we had was delicious for dinner. We tried the potato croquettes, stuffed mushrooms, meatballs, and their lemon shrimp pasta. Everything came out piping hot and full of flavor! Our favorites were the potato croquettes and the meatballs! We would order both again. All of our cocktails were delicious, as well. I feel like sometimes Italian places don't do cocktails well but these were so yummy, not too sweet, and you can tell they were freshly made. I tried the lemon margarita & my husband had both the scotch and bourbon cocktails. For dessert we had the tiramisu & their homemade bourbon pecan gelato. The tiramisu was disappointing in my opinion, it was just crunchy ladyfingers with mousse- not the way I like it. The gelato on the other hand was perfect! I'd stick with the gelato next time.

Pelato has been on our list of places to eat for a while now. We had a freind in town and we decided to check out what all the fuse was about. When we got there the place was packed!! Definitely loud, they sat us in the back porch area. Our server Justin was Aw-mazing and so was everything we ordered. I feel that we tried so many different dishes and all were so good. The only issue I had was that they serve all small plates, when I think Italian I'm not thinking tapas sized portions (and for the price). That being said, it's definitely worth checking out and enjoying their food! Their dessert were just as delicious and I would not recommend on passing those up. The frozen espresso martini was so good, could have had 3 of those! Give them a chance, as they are always working on the menu and the quality was excellent!

Pelato is a cozy Italian tapas-style spot that delivers big on flavor, even if the vibe is a bit more casual than expected. The décor leans more "neighborhood pizzeria" than fine dining, but once the food started coming out, we quickly forgot about that. Our server, Christine, was absolutely fantastic -- friendly, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about what she does. She gave us great background on the restaurant and helped us navigate the menu with perfect recommendations. Go see her if you go -- she made the experience even better! We tried a wide variety of dishes: Burrata Crostini, Burnt Broccolini, Chicken Parmigiana, Meatballs Al Forno, Baked Clams Oreganata, Drenched Fried Calamari, Campanelle Shrimp Limon, and the Eggplant Gnocchi special. One dish was better than the next -- beautifully prepared and full of flavor. We finished with the Rainbow Cookies and Zeppolis, both a sweet and satisfying ending. My only complaint: for a restaurant built around shareable small plates, the portions didn't quite fit the concept. For example, only three meatballs, three Burrata crostini, and three rainbow cookies per order -- which makes sharing awkward for groups of four. If you're promoting "shareable," there really should be at least four pieces per dish. It felt a little intentional to nudge a second order. That said, the food and service were excellent, and we'd absolutely come back -- just maybe with a plan to double up on our favorites next time!

Love the premise of Italian tapas! Our first time here did not disappoint. We sat on the covered patio, which thankfully became more covered and heated as the night went on, was always very comfortable. Our server was great! He was helpful and knowledgeable. The food was very good! The clams were really tasty, the pasta vodka was a little spicy but the flavor was great! Definitely recommend.

This was the last place I took my parents before they flew back home, and it was a WIN. I heard multiple times how incredible it was and how they are so glad I picked there. Woo! Vibes? Amazing. Beautiful covered patio. Fun Italian inside atmosphere. PARKING. What more do you need? Service was also amazing, super helpful at going over the menu and helped us choose the perfect amount of food for the three of us since everything is shareable. We asked for some bread to go with the rest of our chicken Parmesan and she got it out to us within 90 seconds. Incredible!! Food? To die for. Everything we got was delicious. I am still dreaming of the chicken Parmesan and pasta. And the made to order, fresh, warm mozzarella with balsamic. Basically all of it. We didn't have cocktails but I can't wait to come back and try those too. I think I will have to come until I try everything on the menu, and then come back for my favorites. This is a MUST try, for sure!!! I would recommend maybe sitting on the patio, we didn't, but it looks lovely out there and the inside could get a little on the too loud side. All in all, I already can't wait to come back!

Pelato Italian is basically what happens when "let's order a little of everything" becomes a lifestyle choice -- and I regret nothing. Everything here is built to share, which is perfect... unless you came hungry and don't actually want to share (guilty). The calamari with sweet peppers? Crispy, light, and so good I considered faking an allergy just to keep it to myself. The cacio e pepe is creamy, peppery pasta perfection -- simple but unforgettable. The chicken Parmesan is the kind of classic that makes you wonder why you ever wasted calories on the frozen version at home. And the Campanelle Shrimp Limone? Bright, lemony, and the exact dish you didn't know you needed until you tried it. The vibe is casual but with enough charm to make you feel like you stumbled into a neighborhood spot in Italy (if Italy also had Charleston accents). Pair it all with a glass of wine and friends who are willing to share, and you've got yourself a night. Bottom line: Come hungry, bring people who play nice with forks, and prepare for serious food envy when you see what's on the next table.

I had a fantastic experience at Pelato. I had a pre-dinner drink at the bar. The bartenders were very helpful and nice. For dinner we had almost everything on the menu. However, the broccolini and the vodka pasta were my favorite. I'd highly recommend giving this place a try! I'll definitely be back!

Pelato is the kind of place that makes dining out fun -- small plates meant for sharing, great drinks, and cozy vibes. I tried the white sangria and a frozen espresso martini (too good). We started with the garlic bread, fresh mozzarella, drunken calamari, and meatballs. The radiatori vodka and rigatoni sausage were both hearty and satisfying, but the crispy zucchini strings stole the show -- easily my favorite bite. The eggplant stuffed bread was another standout. I love that the menu is designed for sharing, but heads up -- some dishes come in 3s, which works perfectly for a trio but is trickier with larger groups. The interior is elegant but cozy - warning it is quite loud. The service was outstanding from start to finish. Pelato is definitely a spot I'll be coming back to again.

We just loved this place! We came in on a Wednesday early dinner without a reservation and were quickly seated outside, just love that we were able to get in. They serve tapa style flare with a focus on Italian classics. All the tapas were delicious! The Potato Croquettes were honestly amazing. They had perfect texture and the filling was well balanced between potato, cheese, and their aioli. The other stand out dish for me was the polenta and bolognese sauce dish. This was packed with flavor and creamy. I wish there was more polenta, because honestly this was wonderful. Honestly everything we selected was wonderful and fresh. Pasta = great! Meatballs = juicy! Dirty martini was bar none. The olives had great texture and the right amount of oil in the cocktail. Umut took care of us and was very helpful and patient. Overall a wonderful addition to Charleston and a must try. Also, there's a parking lot behind the restaurant with plenty of parking so easy to get to for locals !

We arrived without reservations and were told it'd be an hour wait. No worries. We heard this place was great, so we figured it'd be well worth the wait. So, we put our name in and headed for the bar. Luckily, there were a couple spots at the bar open, so we opted to eat there. The service at the bar was top notch. Friendly and very responsive to all our requests. Awesome! And then the food arrived... We opened with the meatballs. They showed up somewhat below room temperature and were just so-so. I've had much better meatballs at various chain Italian restaurants (e.g., Carrabbas, Buca di Beppo, etc). Then we got the baked clams. They were nothing special. Tasted mostly like breadcrumbs and the clams were tasteless and chewy. Got the ravioli and it was just blah. The marinara the rav came with was watery and unappetizing. Finally, we got the carbonara and the pasta was undercooked (and I don't mind al dente, but these were less cooked than that) and the cream sauce was tasteless and a waste of calories. All in all -- Ambiance - C+ - was loud and extremely busy. We could barely hear each other talk. Service - A - friendly, responsive. No complaints. Food - C- -- I've had better Italian food at places that cost a fraction of what Pelato charges. My girlfriend and I agreed that it was reminiscent of a meal youd expect to get at a restaurant in Disney World. Maybe even a cut below.

The bar was set high here with all the 5 star reviews! We did not find it to be a 5, but certainly a 4. The food was fresh and tasty, but didn't knock our socks off hence the 4. We got the prosciutto, garlic bread, arancini, vodka sauce and carbonara. Fav honestly was the bread! The Arancini doesn't come with any sauce which we found odd so we had to ask for some. Although they say the servings are small, we left feeling way too full and will definitely order less next time. Our server was great but she encouraged at least 4 dishes which simply is too much for normal eaters. We will go back for sure and try some different dishes. Only other comment is the noise level is off the charts so be ready !

Awesome experience! Our first true date night in over a year couldn't have gone better! Our server, Freddy, gave us amazing recommendations and was so thoughtful. We ordered 7 dishes but my stand outs I would get again are the shrimp campanelle and burnt broccoli. Next time I'd love to try some other vegetable dishes and the clams! Highly recommend Pelato!

Had reservations for 530 on a busy Saturday evening. Walked in a few minutes early, immediately greeted by super sweet hostesses and were immediately taken back to our table. Our waiter greeted us quickly and grabbed our drink orders while we perused the menu. Once our waiter returned with our drinks he went over the restaurant (family style, items come out as they're prepared, etc) and gave some recommendations. We went with the burrata with toasted sesame bread, chicken parmigiana, vodka pasta, and the zeppoles. Everything was outstanding. Have to say this might be hands down my favorite Italian I've had in Charleston. The servings sizes were quite small so know that you may have to order a few more dishes - not that it would be a problem as everything was delicious. Did expect the servings to be a bit larger, but this is also downtown Charleston. Looking forward to another visit - also there's a free parking lot!

A must visit when in Charleston! They have such high-quality food and an interesting system. Everything on their menu, including pasta, is considered a "small plate" meant to be shared or meant to order multiple items. Everything we got was fantastic. Highly recommend the crispy zucchini though. The staff is excellent at what they do and everyone is helping everyone out to ensure the best experience. Their bathrooms are also private and very clean. They have quite a few private bathrooms as well, so there's not usually a long wait or anything. Reservations recommended because they're very busy, but they do accept walk-ins. We had to wait about 45 minutes on a Thursday night because we didn't have reservations. Well worth it!

Came across this place searching for a newer place to go for Hubby's birthday. He loves Italian food but it's hard sometimes with him being Celiac as his options are limited. We saw they offered several options for GF so we decided to go! The place is right next to Edmund's Oast brewery and there's a good amount of parking. I would recommend making a reservation for even a weekday because when we got inside it was packed! They had a beautiful outdoor space with big windows, but we chose to sit inside. Our server Kalendar greeted us in a timely manner and gave us the spiel of this place. Brooklyn Italian food and served in smaller portions. I absolutely loved the concept because I enjoy eating smaller format items so you can try different ones instead of the big portions they normally give you at Italian joints. Burnt broccolini- 5/5 these were the BEST I've ever had. So much flavor and the perfect char on them. Devoured these up! Panelle- (chickpea fritters) 5/5 - I don't eat chickpeas but apparently I enjoy them smashed and fried. These were light and perfectly crispy. GF options -Campanelle Shrimp Limon, and Rigatoni and Italian sausage Both were excellent and the perfect portion! Gotta come back soon! Thank you for making GF and option for delicious Italian food! I

If I had an Italian grandmother this is what I imagine dinners at her house would be. Fresh, flavorful and filling, everything I tried was perfectly prepared. I will dream about the burrata probably every day and the bucatini is exactly what I needed in a pasta. The meatballs are also an absolute must order. I could have lived without the rigatoni, it was good but it wasn't a show stopper. I love that this place has mocktails, beautiful outdoor seating and and incredibly friendly team who helped make the dining experience! The manager came around to check on everyone and I always appreciate the added touch

You guys... a good meal, great cocktail, and incredible service all in one spot. I came here for a weekend brunch and it was busy but not too crowded. We made a reservation for outdoor seating and were sat promptly and met by a server soon after. The dishes are all shareable plates, so you get to try a bit of everything. The cocktails are unique and Italian-inspired, and SO good. I talked about this meal all weekend. 10/10 would recommend.

Phenomenal. I came for girls night on a Saturday and it was packed but service was still stellar. We ordered 4 plates to share: radiatori vodka, chicken parmigiana, meatballs al forno, and the daily special which I can't remember the name. The radiatori vodka was my absolute favorite and I will continue to order when I come here. I ordered the strawberry fields mocktail (twice) and need to make these at home!! Everything was full of flavor and nice to try multiple items! Will definitely come back again - the hype around this place ia valid.

I'm extremely disappointed with the experience at this restaurant. The four main courses came out at three different intervals, 10 minutes apart and two pasta dishes were overcooked. What should have been excellent dishes from a highly reviewed restaurant would be better at any local pizza spot. The management should really reevaluate their kitchen staff.

This place just screams home as an Italian American from New Jersey. The zeppoles in a bag as dessert almost made me cry. Start to finish 10/10. I loved the small plates style dishes, which feels so opposite Italian food (more family style). Every dish hit - no notes. Can't wait to return and try the rest of the menu!

We recently had a reason to go out and celebrate and I had heard of Pelato when I was in Nashville, so I wanted to check out the CHS location! I stalked OpenTable for a bit to find a reservation and after a week, a late dinner option that worked for us popped up! We arrived early because I was antsy, which worked out perfectly for us to grab a drink from their outdoor bar window! We started with the Pelato breeze and the limoncello margarita. Both cocktails were well balanced and refreshing, which is perfect in the (not yet summer) heat. We were seated a touch early, which was perfect, in the outdoor dining area. I had read reviews and crossed my fingers for indoor seating - I had heard the outside was incredibly loud. The place was booked and there was definitely chatter but I had no issues hearing my conversation or the staff! For the meal, we decided to order - mozzarella caprese (I wanted the burrata crostini but they were out), prosciutto di parma, crispy garlic potatoes, chicken parmigiana, bucatini cacio e pepe, rainbow cookies, and the dark chocolate budino. I also grabbed another cocktail, this time the Sicilian lemonade. The mozzarella and prosciutto were delicious but the rest of the meal was phenomenal! The crispy garlic potatoes are a must order, especially if you love garlic. I'm obsessed with bucatini and cacio e pepe so the two of them being together made my heart happy! So, so well balanced with just the right amount of pepper. The chicken parm is one of the best I've had - nice and thin, crispy, cheesy, saucy... For dessert, we INHALED the budino - very rich but with a thick layer of cream to balance it. I only had room for one of the rainbow cookies, and even though they are smaller than I expected (I'm used to them being a little chunky)they were packed with all the traditional flavors I love. Service was great - our waitstaff were all very friendly and well-educated on the menu and cocktails. Parking was very easy. I'd like to sit inside next time to see how that ambience compares, but we went on a lovely (but warm) evening and enjoyed the semi-open patio area. We've already texted our friends that we need a double date, so we will definitely be back!

Our favorite Italian restaurant we've tried in Charleston! The salad was honestly our favorite and want to go back to try more small plates and pastas! Service was super fast (under an hour for 3 people and 3 courses; almost too fast, would have liked to sit longer). Will be going back and probably buying a T-shirt too.

Loved the tapas like style dining. Service was good overall. Appreciate the GM always checking on us. The Pelato salad a must. Allow for the right amount of time to enjoy dinner. Definitely recommend

Top tier pasta spot! We tried a bunch of different dishes, some were fantastic, some just good. The hand made pasta and homemade rainbow cookies were a highlight for me. Salad was also great! It is very busy and loud so if you are looking for a quiet spot, go on the week day. Waitress was extremely helpful and always made sure we had drinks and anything we could need.

So glad we chose this restaurant for dinner during our trip! Amazing food, service and ambiance! We also ordered the garlic bread, chicken parmigiana, and ice cream sandwiches, very delightful. It was my husband's birthday celebration and they surprised us and gave him a cute sparkler to celebrate with the dessert. Also, parking was confusing??? maybe because we aren't from charleston but online said on site parking lot but everything like signage said we'd be towed or no parking so we were confused on that.

I had VERY high hopes for Pelato after reading reviews and following them on Instagram. After eating there, I was VERY disappointed. I'll start off with the environment. I love what they did with the B&B space. It was still open up top and had a lot of natural light coming in. They did cram A LOT of tables in there, though. Trying to walk to our tiny table in the corner was frustrating since they had about ten thousand employees walking around. A lot of the servers had a second server with them, people were running plates, people were running drinks and others were clearing off plates. Just so many bodies moving around at once and not a lot of space to do so. The tables were all very close together. I probably could have laid my head on the shoulder of the person at the table next to me. Our server and her partner were great. Attentive, knowledgeable about everything on the drink/food menu and incredibly nice. No issues there at all! The drinks were pretty solid, I'll give them that. My partner had a mocktail which was delicious. I had a glass of wine and the Pelato Breeze which was A+. The drinks did take quite a while to come out, but I didn't see but one or two people working the bar for the large amount of tables in the restaurant + outdoor space + two bars people were sitting at. Let's move onto the food... All of the plates are considered "small plates" and "shareable". I find that laughable as the plates were very small and some could be finished in one or two bites. Prosciutto Plate - cut fresh when ordered, tasted as prosciutto should taste. The parmesan on top was delicious and the balsamic was a nice touch. The meatballs - Listen, I love a good meatball. Our server had advised us that this was made with breadcrumbs, which was weird to tell me but I suppose if it would be a dietary restriction it is nice to know. There were three in a bowl. Presentation look good, so I was excited to try them, especially after reading great reviews online about them. I was a tad disappointed when I realized that they were ground Italian sausage. Don't get me wrong, I like Italian sausage - I've just never had it in a meatball form when there wasn't really any other kind of protein with it (beef, pork, etc). If it was ground up in a sauce, I may have enjoyed it more - but this was too much like just eating a sausage link. The marinara/sauce was very watery and lacked flavor. The burrata crostini came next. I love a good seeded bread loaf. After seeing it come out and having sesame seeds on it, I was so happy! Reminds me of the loaves I'd get from the bakery down the street in Brooklyn with my grandparents. Once it was placed on the table, I became a little sad seeing that the marinara/tomato sauce (whatever they call it there), which as I mentioned was very watery, had made the bread super soggy. It wasn't crusty at all. The burrata on top was topped with something SO SALTY that I could barely eat it. I like flavor and salt in my food, but this was way too much. I only took one or two bites before deciding I couldn't finish it. Next came the Pelato Rav. This lacked....everything. It was 3x3 squares, but not cut, just making it one large square. If that makes sense. I posted a photo with this review so you can see. It was just a sheet of ravioli, which was very al dente and kind of hard to eat. The filling didn't have any flavor to it. My partner basically folded it over and was able to eat it in two bites. It wasn't hot, either, which was sad. The campanelle shrimp limon was our next dish to come out. The shrimp was overcooked and made the "o" instead of "c" shape. They were rubbery and tough to eat. The flavor of this dish was pretty great, but the black pepper on top wasn't a good addition to it. The pasta was also undercooked. The chicken parmigiana was received last. I had seen photos and reviews of this and was looking forward to one dish I didn't think could be messed up - especially if you call yourself an Italian restaurant. Our chicken was SO thin, we could barely tell what what chicken and what was breading. Some parts of the chicken tasted burnt (either from the breading being burnt or the oil not being refreshed). I have made so many chicken cutlets in my life for a lot of Jewish holidays and gatherings. I've messed up and burnt some before but I would never serve it to anyone. The cheese on top was slightly melty but the rest of it seemed as though it sat under the broiler too long. With the red sauce, which lacked flavor, this was a very underwhelming dish. Desserts - the torta di mele was so so so dry. The apples on the edges tasted really great, but the cake itself was not good. The rainbow cookies made me want to cry. As someone who grew up in Brooklyn eating rainbow cookies and has rainbow cookies delivered ever year to her from there, these were nowhere close to "Brooklyn Italian". It lacked flavor and were so tiny. I will probably not return to this restaurant or recommend it.

Yall... ITS. SO. GOOD!!!! Prices are high, but the vibes and experience is everything!!! We got the campanelli and radiatori, as well as a frozen espresso martini (total of $59). We were suggested to order 3-4 dishes since the portions are small, and the timing of when the dishes come out are not consistent (like it won't come out all at once). So just keep that in mind, and I would also recommend making a reservation since this place is fairly new and is popular! Service is also amazing! They want you to enjoy the experience within a 2 hour time frame, but nonetheless so welcoming and accommodating. Would come again, and get more menu items!!

The service was phenomenal, the cocktail (Casanova) was so good, the appetizers were all fantastic, and I love the casual ambiance--stylish but not stuffy, city without the pretentiousness, no white table cloths here. Love me a budino and theirs was [chefs kiss]. Will 100% return.

Everything was amazing from top to bottom from the moment we walked into the door we knew we were going to be treated special. They actually pay attention to notes made during your reservation so if you have a special something you're celebrating or any food allergies or intolerances they will make note even before you arrive. The ambiance is lively such as an Italian Cafe can be and the acoustics or proof of this. The ambiance is wonderful boasting a brisk afternoon in Italy with subtle touches of elegance and pictures to make it feel like home. The food is carefully handcrafted and attention to detail is where it's at. An empty plage doesn't remain on your table for long and water carafes/drinks don't go unattended. The small plates are brought out Swifty for you to plate and enjoy sharing different tastes with your table. Absolutely loved the gluten free homemade rigatoni. Delightfully surprised at the portions for sharing. Can't wait to return and bring others to share in the experience!

Really enjoyed Pelato! great ambiance, you have to love a place you can go to have a good meal without having to engage in a fashion show!! The Service was outstanding. A waiter was intentive and funny and make sure we had everything we could possibly want. We started the night with a few slices of prosciutto de Parma and Parmesan Reggiano with a little balsamic and olive oil. Great prosciutto! And olive oil was pretty good also. We also shared a Pelato house salad. A great blend of lettuce, vinegar, peppers, provolone, salami and oregano. We opted for the Sunday sauce for the main entrée. Wonderful sauce with a combination of meatballs, pork ribs, sausages, and beef braciola. A big dish of fusilli on the side. It was wonderful. A nice Nero d'Avola was the perfect way to wash it down. Anthony came over and gave us a little history of the places in Nashville and Brooklyn Heritage. There's a nice decent size bar there Full bar so anything you could want is available. We've already made reservations again on another Sunday and bringing two more couples. It's good to have a great Italian American restaurant in Charleston!!

Wow this place was incredible! From the service to the drinks to every dish - it was such a standout experience and I can't wait to go back. The owners wife has celiac so there's a lot of gluten free dishes on the menu and their house made GF pasta might be the best I've ever had. I loved the panelle too. Incredible!

Wow! This place was amazing. Our server was very kind, helpful, and knowledgeable about the menu. The restaurant itself was beautiful we sat outside & the vibes were amazing. It is a small plates restaurant so def be prepared to order 2 dishes per person. The food was all amazing!! It's hard to choose a favorite but we LOVED the shrimp camponelle. We will 100% be coming back!

Every once in a while, a restaurant stirs a major buzz. Food boards are filled with questions and pictures of food. Tik Toks start popping up like crazy and everyone wants to try the place. This is the buzz Pelato has created. We made our reservation three weeks in advance which seems the norm. When we arrived, we were pleased to see that dedicated parking was available since they are right next door to Edmunds Oast. The atmosphere is lively with waiters bustling around taking orders. There is inside dining as well as a patio which is glassed in and airconditioned. If you don't have a reservation, you can get bar seating but be forewarned that these disappear fast. We arrived right as they opened, and they were gone in three minutes! We ordered their frozen cocktails; my wife got the Frozen Limoncello drop which was not too sweet and very refreshing. I ordered the Frozen Espresso Martini which had great coffee notes and was perfect for a hot day. We started with the Garlic Bread which can have melted parm sauce or a red sauce added, we got both. The melted parm was lick the bowl delicious. We frantically tried to mop up every drop. Next was the Street Style Arancini where we made use of the red sauce we ordered with the bread. They were light and delicate with bold flavors which were enhanced by the red sauce. The Crispy Garlic Potatoes had to be ordered. They were downright crunchy in a good way and the garlic aioli was a garlic lover's dream. We decided on another cocktail, the New York Sour. It had whiskey, orangecello, lemon, and a red wine float. I really loved the fact it was two toned and very boozy. We then had the Pelato Rav which was their take on ravioli. The pasta was a perfect Al Dente and loaded with cheese and zesty sauce. If you want to try this, get here early as it is limited availability. Our favorite dish was the Radiatori Vodka. I am not usually a vodka sauce fan, but this made me a believer. Perfectly cooked pasta with a vibrant sauce with a nice spice kick at the end, excellent! Of course, Chicken Parm is a staple, so we had to give it a go. The chicken was juicy and flavorful with a nice crispy fry accented by the cheese and sauce, probably in my top three. Finally, we ended the meal with their San Gennaro Zeppoles which arrive in the traditional paper bag. Hot and sugary they reminded me of a powdered donut but lighter with a slight lemony taste. Everything we ordered was outstanding and the service was friendly, efficient and on point. Put in your reservation now!

Welcome to Charleston, Pelato! We are so glad you're here. What an incredible spread of delicious options! Our service was speedy and the food came out as it was ready, rather than all at once. We enjoyed 5 different shareable pasta dishes and some apps while dining outdoors. The frozen espresso martinis were delicious, but a little too sweet to enjoy throughout the meal. The limoncello margarita was just perfect. We enjoyed the burnt broccolini and crispy garlic potatoes as appetizers and had every last bit of both plates. So good! While we enjoyed all of our main shareable dishes, the groups favorites were the radiatori vodka and the chicken parm. We can't wait to come back here! Extra bonus points for the parking lot!!

Very pricey with small portions, but DELICIOUS!!! Every single thing I had was amazing, and I am THRILLED to have finally found a GREAT vodka sauce in our area!! I haven't had a good one since I moved out of NYC, and this is it!! Bar is first come first served - love that! The staff is all so wonderful - welcoming, pleasant, and friendly. There is onsite parking, which is a TREASURE to have downtown! Can't wait to go back!!

Wow was this food amazing! classic Italian comfort. Ricky at the bar made it all that much more delicious with his infectious attitude and blue eyes. Thank you Pelato and Ricky! We will be back for sure!

Very attentive staff. "Tapas style" 2-3 plates per person. Some of the most delicious pasta I've had in the US. Vodka, shrimp limone, and cacio e Pepe was phenomenal. Things to improve: Would love a glass water pitcher.

We recently dined at this Italian tapas spot and, despite a rocky start, ended up having a truly wonderful experience. When we arrived, we were greeted by the hostess, Theresa, who unfortunately was extremely rude when I politely asked if we could be seated at a different table (we were initially placed right by the door). Not the welcome I had hoped for. I did speak to the manager, Ian, who couldn't have been kinder--he handled the situation with professionalism and made us feel truly cared for. From there, everything improved dramatically. We started with a non-alcoholic Peroni--something you don't see often, and it was actually quite good. Our server, Lea, was absolutely perfect: friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable without hovering. Food-wise, every dish we ordered was excellent: the burrata crostini, burnt broccolini, baked clams oreganata, chicken parm, and the rigatoni special. I especially appreciated that all of their pasta and desserts are made in-house, which really came through in the flavor and texture. I had expected tapas-sized portions based on other reviews, but we were pleasantly surprised--there was plenty of food for both of us, with leftovers to bring home. We dined on the patio, which was enclosed due to rain but clearly designed to open fully in nicer weather. While charming, it was quite noisy--next time I'd likely request a table inside for a more relaxed vibe. Prices are on the higher side, but the quality is absolutely there. As someone from Brooklyn who's picky about Italian food, I was impressed. The free parking lot is a huge plus and made the whole experience that much easier--no circling for street parking or dealing with a garage. Despite the initial hiccup, this place completely won us over. Excellent food, warm service (once seated), and a strong commitment to quality. We'll definitely be back!

The waitress was excellent and provided wonderful service. However, our experience with the chef was disappointing. While I understand and respect the chef's talent and the quality of the food, I was dining with a vegan guest who has specific dietary restrictions. Given the price of the dish, we had hoped the chef would be willing to make a few simple accommodations. Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Absolutely fantastic place! Pelato is a unique gem: beautiful interior, different seating areas (main room, side room, patio), amazing food served family style, and a buzzing atmosphere with attentive and sharp waiters. (we had Ashley and she was such an impressive delight!) The dishes come out when each is individually ready, intentionally spaced out perfectly for a wonderful experience! We had the garlic bread (red sauce was out of this world), the croquettes, vodka pasta, chicken parm, and our new favorite, the RAVIOLI (a must). At the end, we got the rainbow cookies on a whim (not something we normally would have gotten) and will definitely get them again! 10/10 killed it!

Our waitress was nice and explained the menu and suggested 2-4 plates per person. Initially, I was apprehensive about the ordering and plate size but it was perfect! We had a party of 4 and ordered garlic bread, calamari, croquettes, broccoli, meatballs, rice balls, and 4 pasta dishes. Plenty of food!

Definitely lives up to the hype. We were a table of 4 and our waiter suggested 3 dishes per person (which was definitely accurate; we had no left overs and everyone was satisfied, not stuffed) so we had almost the whole menu. Garlic bread w/ melted parm: excellent. Wasn't pulling like mozz cheese; was like a soup/ cream dip of cheese Fresh mozz and caprese: we got both. One plain in oil, one with balsamic and green tomatoes. Salty and delicious Prosciutto, chicken parm, meatballs, calamari, rigatoni with sausage: the meat eaters loved. That's all I got, I (vegetarian) didn't try them Potato croquettes, stuffed mushrooms, eggplant bread, ravioli and cacio e pepi: all excellent. Great flavors and I was glad the portions were so small so I could taste everything. The plates are really small: example the potato croquettes are 3 pieces so you're gonna cut and share. If you're used to big portions, like many Italian restaurants , just know that coming in. They say they're "Brooklyn Italian" and yes the flavor is on point for Brooklyn NY but the portions are more Spanish tapas. Dessert: rainbow cookies (not my jam so didn't even try but everyone else liked them), ice cream sandwiches were like cream puffs with ice cream: delicious and zeppoles were very good Inside and outside seating. High chairs available. More casual looking inside than I had thought. Parking lot was packed at 5:15 on a Thursday (shares w/ Edmonds Oast) but easily got a spot on the street. Definitely get reservations. Highly recommend, we will be back

The food was absolutely delicious! We got 5 tapas style dishes to share, and a dessert to share. Every single bite was incredible, beyond expectations! Gibran was our waiter, and he was awesome! Friendly, helpful, and made sure everything was perfect for us! This was our Anniversary dinner, and between the food, the service and the atmosphere, we couldn't have picked a better place! We will be going back!

Overpriced, small portions. I was not impressed with the service or the good. Won't be back.

From the moment I walked into this restaurant, I fell in love with it! The wonderful smell of Italian food, friendly staff, and cozy interior was a great first impression. The food - oh my goodness! It was so delicious and generous portions. The recommendation is to order about two small plates per person and share. We had these dishes: Burrata Crostini, Stuffed Mushrooms, Meatballs Al Forno, and The Pelato Rav. All were incredible. Our friends had similar dishes, but I ended up stealing their Fusilli Pesto because it was that good! For dessert, our server recommended the Torta Di Mele - a caramelized upside-down apple cake with vanilla gelato. WOW - it was fabulous. Their service here is impeccable - friendly, knowledgeable, and just the right amount of interaction. Empty dishes were removed promptly. We never felt rushed. There is a lovely wine list and cocktails and mocktails as well. The outdoor patio is spacious and lovely. I will come back on Sunday for a special dish they only serve then called, "Sunday Sauce", served family style. One small touch that I appreciate - plenty of free parking in an adjacent lot. I highly recommend this restaurant!

What a fun experience tonight! Tapas Italian where we all got to try a bunch of different items on the menu. The mouth watering Cacio e pepe was my favorite and I can't wait to have it again! The Radiatori Vodka has a great spice to it! Just the right amount of heat! Don't forget to order the burnt broccolini, grilled to perfection! The white Peach Sangria was a perfect summer drink to have while we waited for our table. This dinner experience was worth the small wait and I can't wait to go back because there are still so many other items on the menu I'd like to try!

Booked this place about a month before we visited. Of course it was seen on tiktok. Started with the amazing broccolini and the good calamari. For entrees ordered the lemon shrimp dish, pesto dish, chicken parm, and the sausage. By the time desert came around we trusted our waitress Erin so much after her previous suggestions we put the choice in her hands. She brought us the apple cake and it also did not disappoint. Only then did we find out they had been open just 8 weeks. As a group we could not believe it based on how well everything was executed the whole meal.