I typically do not write negatively about an establishment, however Pelato did not meet up to the written hype. The server was horrible, she rushed everything, did not follow up, and forced the word "y'all" into every sentence despite not having a Southern Accent. Their "signature" dish, chicken parm was just OK. Their best thing was the Campanella Shrimp Limone, great flavor but was lukewarm warm. The Penne Carbonara clearly did not meet up to the NY Brooklyn standards. What was make this even more of a disappointment was they may have been 40% occupied at best for brunch. read more

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Over all price to food ratio is terrible. Pasta is very average and portions are small. It's one of those places they like to say you're supposed to "share" a little bit of everything and get many different items but really it's just because they want smaller portions at higher prices. My boyfriend and I went for his Birthday dinner spent $150 and we both were hungry after. They sat us in the back corner of the restaurant and they were so fast with the service it felt like we were being rushed through and we were done with our celebratory dinner in 45 mins. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

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I really liked the vibe. The staff was friendly. Food came out on time. It's an experience restaurant. It's not quiet, and everyone is chatting and enjoying company. Food was solid. Everyone liked their dishes. Prices on par with other restaurants downtown. We really enjoyed it and will be back. read more

Food was delicious. We got 2 pastas and 2 apps for 2 people. Atmosphere was great. Our server Ryan was excellent. read more

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 read more

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. read more

Went here for the first time on my birthday this past Saturday and it was amazing. Our server Frederick was such a sweetheart and answered all our questions. He even wrote me a little birthday card and made a makeshift cupcake with a candle. The food was so good we had the calamari crispy, chicken, Parmesan, and the shrimp lemon pasta. They were all amazing and I'd go back to try a few more of their other dishes. read more

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Best meal we have had in Charleston in sooo long. Pricy, but WORTH IT!! Our waitress Giana was also a gem. We really enjoyed her

A group of 6 of us had a disappointing meal at Pelato. We wrote a review that was several sentences long. Within 20 minutes, Pelato posted a L O N G scathing review of US, as customers. Given how fast Pelato posted, it's safe to say they re-used an email they'd sent to previous unhappy customers. Here's our bottom line: Charleston has good Italian restaurants. Pelato isn't among them. We wrote: The payment nonsense--must divide the bill evenly across our group of 6 people along with a mandatory 20% tip--put a damper on the entire evening. A silly and defensive response from management along with only okay food ensures that none of us will be returning or recommending the restaurant to friends. Charleston has excellent Italian restaurants--this isn't one of them. Pelato's defensive response: Hi. I'm sorry if our policies put a damper on the evening. We are completely up front about our payment details on our website, on OpenTable, and printed on the menu itself. Our restaurant is certainly not the first or only to implement a standard gratuity for larger groups of 6 or more, and our practice of splitting the check evenly up to 4 ways has worked wonderfully to eliminate delays for split check errors and to simplify the experience for our guests due to the nature of the shared dish experience at Pelato. It's rare to see such distain for this these policies as our typical guests appreciate the expediency and how up-front we are to set the expectation. In the future we hope you'll come back with a more positive attitude towards the food and service. Kind regards - PELATO read more

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! read more

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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! read more

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Exceptional. Every single food item was beyond expectations and service was super friendly. I would warn of over-ordering like we did, but absolutely reccomend trying all you can read more

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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! read more

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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! read more

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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. read more

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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! read more

Pelato - BUCATINI CACIO E PEPE, RIGATONI & ITALIAN SAUSAGE, RADIATORI VODKA and THE PELATO RAV - Italian Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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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! read more

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The atmosphere is lively and social making it a great place to go with friends or family. The food is flavorful and comforting especially the pastas and classic red sauce dishes which feel homemade and satisfying. High quality and overall experience make it a solid choice for a lively dinner. read more

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. read more

Pelato - Frozen lemonchello - Italian Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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We were able to snag an early 5:30pm reservation last minute. We were seated promptly and had a comfy table for our party of 3. Service was good, nothing over the top but totally fine. The manager (I think she was the manager) did stop by our table towards the end of the meal to check in. This is always a nice touch. We ordered 7 different dishes to share. Love the tapas/share style. Highlights were the burrata crostini, vodka pasta, and chicken parm. Honestly, there wasn't one dish we didn't like. I had read people thought the prices were a bit much for the portions but we honestly didn't feel this way. It's Charleston, eating out (especially at trendy and quality places) is not going to be cheap. As locals, we will def. Be back to try more dishes we didn't get a chance to try this time around. Add this to your list of places to try for sure! read more

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On a busy Friday nite the place was buzzing with positive energy (Indoors & out.) Our server, Nasser, carried us through the sharing of 6 delicious authentic Italian dishes... & the wine paring was spot on! An experience in dining - not your average date. Impressive & enjoyably delicious. Take your loved one. They'll be blown away. read more

Delicious! Ambiance, to the service to the food everything was amazing. Will definitely be returning! The vodka pasta did not disappoint read more

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Everything was microwave the reggaeton vodka taste like craft mac & cheese with a little. I drank the beans in my espresso. The potato garlic tasted like potatoes straight from the ground. The only good thing was the garlic bread. The chicken Parmesan was 2.5. read more

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 read more

Will, Ashley, and Tyler were incredible and made the whole dining experience one I will return to experience again. They were gracious to accommodate my dietary restrictions and every bite prepared was delicious. read more

Sunday sauce was excellent! Huge portion. Def enough for two. Also tried garlic bread and pistachio gelato... both were terrific. Our server, Jenna, was absolutely lovely. Sweet, kind and very efficient! Truly made dinner a better experience. read more

Price Portions Wine selection Service (John) excellent Nice ambiance - outside Food quality 6/7 read more

A fun new addition to CHS! Our server Raleigh was fantastic--great service, kind, and good recommendations! We ordered lots and enjoyed most all of it. Favorites were zucchini crisps, potato croquettes, and apple dessert! We were underwhelmed by the Vodka Pasta, but maybe credit that to all the overhype on the internet. (We still finished it all;) Biggest complaint was just some of the prices vs. quantity. Love a good tapas style meal but for $50-100 per person maybe some other portion options would be grand! Still, this is a must try for anyone visiting or local--and make sure to ask for Raleigh! read more

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Delicious meal. Loved the bread, mushrooms and pasta with vodka sauce. Our waiter Ryan was excellent . Will definitely come back read more

This place lived up to the hype! I went with 3 friends and we ordered garlic bread, panelle, potatoe croquettes, and salad to share as apps - you're served 3 pieces of bread and 3 croquettes so we cut them up to split and they were delish. We all ordered our own separate pastas and the vodka was 10/10. I wish the serving size was a tad bigger lol because it was the best meal ever. We ordered aperol spritz and frozen espresso martinis which were again, 10/10! And last but not least, the hazelnut gelato was to die for. Sarah was our cute server and gave us good recommendations and the service was great. It's a great vibe in there we'll be back soon! read more

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First time trying after hearing so many good things. The pasta was amazing. Most of what was recommended was what we had picked out besides a few items. We were a little disappointed in the apps being overly salty but the pasta was seasoned well. I would try again as maybe it was just an off night for the apps read more

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I had a reservation for myself and two friends. The day before, one friend became sick and asked to push the reservation. I called several times the day before and again the day of but couldn't get through. When I eventually did reach someone, I was able to move the reservation. Unfortunately, the new date no longer worked, and I canceled. I later noticed I had been charged a no-show fee and emailed politely asking if it could be waived, explaining the circumstances and the difficulty I had reaching someone by phone. I understand and respect cancellation policies, but the phone call I received in response was extremely disappointing. The woman who called was rude and dismissive and implied that I was being dishonest about trying to call, stating she would have answered if I had reached out. This felt unnecessary and disrespectful, especially given that she initiated the call. What was most frustrating was not the fee itself, but the lack of professionalism in how the situation was handled. If the answer was simply "no," that could have been communicated clearly and respectfully. Unfortunately, this interaction left a very poor impression and makes me hesitant to dine here in the future. I hope the restaurant considers how guest concerns are handled, as a more empathetic approach would go a long way. read more

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

Food was amazing, our servers have been extremely nice the couple of times my wife and I have gone. We've sat inside and outside in their patio and the ambiance is great with either location. read more

Incredible food and drinks all around! One friend got the frozen espresso martini (not pictured) and it was amazing. Surprisingly 4 people split the food below and we were full!! Small portions for some of the food but it's all super tasty and filling. Going back again with my parents in a few weeks and I am so excited. The patio we sat out on was super cute too and the restaurant is a lot bigger than I was expecting! read more

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Note - they do not allow separate checks or split by different amount. This turned our girls outing into a bit of a disappointment. Additionally food arrives staggered vs when the whole table is ready. There were 4 at our table with each getting her own meal for brunch. It was very very weird to have 1 at the table eating while the rest watched and then the 3 of us were done by the time the 4th arrived. Food and ambience was great, but the 2 issues above made the experience a disappointment. It is too presumptuous to assume a table will want to share portions and that the bill should be shared. read more

Justin was the best. Chatted with us all night and gave us amazing recommendations. - Rylee Justin is the best ask for him to be your server 100%. He is so fun and personable and even gave us boy advice! Very sweet man he deserves a picture on the picture wall. - Aly read more

Stopped in for a weekday double date last week, excited to get my Italian on! We were sat in the back dining room where the naughty kids are sent, in the back corner under a vent best placed in a deep freezer. After some musical chairs, we settled in and started to realize the volume we'd be competing with all night. Zero sound proofing = sore throats in the morning!! Food came conveniently in tiny plates of three - perfect for two (or four) for squabbles and messy splitting. Pasta was very well made and sauces delicious and as advertised. We had the burrata crostini (5/5 stars but over salted), the croquettes (3/5 stars), the arancini (good apparently/ didn't try as they had meat in them), the zucchini fries (1/5 stars- tasteless and sad), chickpeas fritters (2/5 stars- cardboardy) from the small plates. We selected the ravioli (in 9 perfect to share pieces! Ha!), the radiatore and the cacio e pepe from the main plates- nicely made house pasta, solid sauces - small portions though. We wrapped up with the (three!) mini ice cream sandwiches - the profiteroles were flavorless but the chocolate syrup carried them, thankfully. The highlight was our waiter who joked that the serving of three is a point of contention at every table. He was attentive throughout keeping our glasses filled and the food coming at a steady pace. The somm was well informed and very friendly through the Super Tuscan and barbera bottle pours. $300 of beige food later, we were still a little hungry and left collectively agreeing there are better Italian spots to choose from in town. read more