Our first time to this newer establishment. While the name of the place doesn't scream Italian it's exactly that. Be forewarned. This place I'm told told changes menus every day. Food it served family style and it's a total cost per person. We had a vegetarian in our group so we were allowed to order items ala carte and the were several vegetarian options which was nice Food was excellent and our server Ana was spot on perfect. The place is on the smaller side some would highly recommended reservations From where I was seated I could see the bar and the bartender looked very interactive and everyone at the bar were having a lot of fun Congratulations to Volpe's we will be back! read more

We were excited to try Volpe's for the first time, but the evening ended with sticker shock. We were charged an extra $2 for "Rocks" on every drink that was served over ice. Charging customers extra simply for ice is something I've never encountered before, and it wasn't disclosed when ordering. Small surprise fees like this leave a poor impression and make guests question the final bill. Transparency goes a long way. UPDATE: After posting this review, Volpe's Hospitality Manager contacted me and stated that the restaurant does not charge for ice on mixed drinks and that the charges on our bill were an error by our server. Unfortunately, that explanation does not match what we were told at the restaurant. When I noticed the separate $2 "Rocks" charges and specifically questioned our server about them, she explained that while she could remove them, they were generally charged on liquor drinks served over ice. This wasn't an assumption on my part -- it was the explanation I was given when I asked about the charges. The bill also appeared consistent with that explanation. Both of my Bombay Sapphire drinks served over ice had separate $2 "Rocks" charges, while my Espresso Martini, which was not served over ice, did not. Both margaritas also had separate $2 modifiers. I appreciate management reaching out, but I'm troubled by the explanation that this was simply an isolated billing error because it directly conflicts with what we were told when we questioned the bill that evening. At minimum, there appears to be a significant disconnect between management's stated policy and what was being communicated and charged to customers. I'm updating my review to include this exchange so others can see the full context and make their own judgment. read more

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Loved this little joint! Took myself on a date for the Apertivo deal and Caesar salad and both were delicious! The menu changes daily so I can't wait to come back. The bartender, Germaine was lovely to chat with and the ambiance was soft and European! read more

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We were so excited to eat at Volpe's, we had heard amazing things and this dinner did not disappoint!!! I love that it's totally off the beaten track downtown, making it a quaint spot for a date or special celebration. The menus was not huge, which made things easy because it's best to order everything and split the dishes. It's more of a family style offering and it was the perfect amount of food for a 4, person party. The service was fantastic, the waiter explained each dish very well (especially the wine) which was super tasty. I'll let the photos tell the story but everything was amazing, just as good as Trattoria Luca back in the day on Bogard St. Put this on your list of amazing Italian eateries around town! read more

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Beautiful location and refreshing to be able to get in when this is the same chef that used to have my favorite Trattoria Luca and this is the sister restaurant to Coda del pesce. Staff is friendly and prompt to spot any needs at your table. The menu can be either fixed or Al a cart. It was 70 a person and we were able to taste all of the wonderful features which I recommend. The menu changes daily. He has a staple red sauce that should hopefully show up often with freshly made pasta. The flounder was in a rich buttery burre blanc style sauce. Class chicken parmigiana and the starters married together very well. Served family style there is enough to split everything. We left full! It was delicious! read more

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I tried Volpe's for the first time for their happy hour which came with a glass of wine and four samples. The burrata absolutely blew me away-- I don't even like burrata! I haven't tried their regular menu but if it tastes anything like this I'm sure it's amazing. The staff here is also so knowledgeable and seem like genuine, good people. The staff of a restaurant can make or break a place and here they are making it! read more

Volpe’s - Happy hour sampler - Italian Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Volpe is a new Ken Verdinski Italian restaurant in Charleston. His reputation precedes him. Tratoria Lucca's Sunday night family style dinner is this restaurants main theme. One price per patron and you get one of everything on the menu for a satisfying 4 course meal. You know it's good when after the meal everyone had a different favorite. mine was the one thing I was "so- so" about. The pacheco with broken meatballs and tomato sago was incredible and my favorite of the night. Bright yet savory and the pasta was cooked a little toothy. The chicken thigh scalloping was thin but incredibly moist and the pepper sauce was very umami and rich without being overbearing. Every antipasti was delicious and the panna cottage was a perfect end to the meal. except for the grappa and conversation as we talked about family and the delicious meal we just enjoyed read more

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We had an incredible experience at Volpe. It is an awesome spot for big groups with a family style setup and a set menu that changes daily, so just keep that in mind if you are a picky eater. The food was absolutely delicious, the atmosphere was warm and lively, and the service was phenomenal. Huge bonus that they also have a parking lot right across the street. Could not recommend it enough. read more

Volpe’s - Italian Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Got invited by Chef Kevin! The food, drinks and Italian hospitality were amazing. Would recommend for dinner if you're visiting or a local of Charleston. read more

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Best meal I've had since moving to Charleston, so far. This Italian restaurant mainly offers a price fixe menu that changes every day. I enclosed a pic of the menu we were offered the day we visited. Every item was delicious, even if the menu was difficult to decipher, but our server clarified everything that was offered. The crudo was actually a combination of wahoo, tuna, and Skate, much to the chagrin of one of my partners, lol. The only drawback, the place was loud. Hearing my tablemates required effort. read more

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Learned about this restaurant recently, went and tried it Thursday night. Had a reservation for four people at 6 PM. Easy parking was not crowded got seated immediately his family style and the menu changes daily. It was superior. I would recommend it. Only thing I would change is the music and I shared that with the staff, but they said the chef does not like Italian music playing over the intercom and I would suggest that the waiters and waitresses have a uniform so to speak black pants, white shirt our waiter is great. We have blue jeans on and it just kind of declared a classy restaurant will definitely return. read more

I came here for a work dinner and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the family style service. They were two pescatarians at dinner so they were great about accommodating us throughout the meal with each course. Wine menu was wonderful and the service was down to earth and flexible. This would be a great spot for a group dinner since there is lots of food. Again, everything was absolutely delicious. read more

A big disappointment. We didn't realize when we booked that there is only one menu with few options every day. Tasting menu is $70 per person which is overpriced for what you get. The food lacks flavor, is unimaginative and the portions are small. The service is below average. While the food was served in a timely manner, trying to get our waiters attention to clear the table and bring dessert was challenging. Also, they forgot to put the birthday candle on my friend's dessert. Small details can make or break an experience and this place does not live up to the hype. Pictures show the portion size for two. read more

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Olivia was our wonderful server. She knew the menu really well and led us to great wine choices. Everything was just delicious and as Olivia said, it may seem it is going to be a lot of food but it's all portioned just right so it works great. Don't miss the bread which is extra but so worth it. We were there on a Tuesday and they were busy but we could hear each other talking- wonderful evening!! read more

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OMG this food is out of this world! I loved this new Italian place on Rutledge. Quaint space and savory Italian dishes by a chef well Known in Charleston make this place a winner. read more

The Hungry Detective and Special Agent Deirdre had a wonderful first time experience at Volpe's located right in the heart of the medical district. Great views from the bar and tables to people watch with an open kitchen!!! Michael the bartender is top shelf and knows his stuff and selected a great white wine to accompany our meal!!! The food: We had the fixed menu which I suggest and started with a variety of cheese, arugula salad with pistachios and mushroom agrodolce, pasta and braised beef. Main Course: Flounder and Pork Cutlets Dolce: The key lime cheese cake is better than S*X!!! read more

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The food was so so good. This was my first time here and wasn't sure what to expect but it definitely was above my expectations. The service was excellent and the bartender really made the dinner a level better. It's a family style restaurant with an option to do the whole menu (menu changes often). We ended up doing a la carte and the portions were perfect for getting multiple items. The restaurant was a lot bigger (but still small) than I was expecting and it wasn't too squished together which was nice. Highly recommend! read more

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To say our dinner experience here was disappointing would be putting it mildly. I truly wish Volpe's the absolute best and hope they're able to grow from these early missteps. My partner and I dine around Charleston frequently and have never left before a dinner was finished. I'm not someone who typically leaves negative reviews, but my expectations and the reality of the evening were simply disconnected. The restaurant offers a four-course menu. It's four appetizers, one pasta, one meat, one fish, and a dessert, all adjusted based on the size of your party. There's also the option to order à la carte. Spoiler alert: We left after appetizers. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was overwhelming. The noise level was so high we couldn't hear our hostess, each other, or our server. Judging by the soundproof foam covering the ceiling, this is a known issue. Our table wasn't ready when we got there (not a big deal), and we were encouraged to grab a drink at the bar. The bartender was the bright spot of the night. He was friendly, fast, and personable. That said, for a restaurant aiming for a fine dining experience, it was jarring to see a can of Zyn's on the bar register. Our hostess was sweet but clearly overwhelmed, which is understandable in a new restaurant. I was surprised not to see a manager offering a helping hand. Unfortunately, the dining experience itself fell flat. Our server didn't greet us with any warmth and was cold and rude throughout our time dining here. He offered no "how are you tonight", just a scripted explanation of the menu before walking away. Even when he dropped food off, he essentially threw it down and walked away quickly. He never checked in with us again. As for the food, I came in with high expectations given the chef's James Beard nomination, but the dishes were bland and uninspired. Our four appetizers were shrimp arancini, a salad with bleu cheese, grapes, and olives, burrata with pesto, and sautéed mushrooms. The mushrooms and burrata were passable but forgettable. It was something any barely capable home cook could prepare. The shrimp arancini and salad were simply not good. After those courses, my dining partner and I decided to leave early. We asked to switch our bill to reflect à la carte pricing and wrapped up. No one asked if anything was wrong, no manager came to check in, and there was no sense of hospitality or concern. Overall, the experience seemed to suffer from a lack of leadership. I didn't see a manager on the floor once. One of the chefs even delivered a dish to a table while still wearing AirPods. Between the cheap plastic placemats, the overwhelming noise, and the lack of ambiance, it felt far from the elevated, romantic Italian dining experience that was promised. read more

Volpe’s - Salad & Mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Amazing food, service and experience. Family style with large portions. Highly recommended. read more

Given this is the same chef and owner of Coda de Pesce, which believe to be one of the best restaurants in Charleston, my wife and I were very excited. Unfortunately it did not come close. The restaurant design and decor were great, cool wood paneling on the ceiling, a very nice vibe. It was incredibly loud inside though. We arrived early and were seated immediately, service was great. We chose the tasting menu which gave you a small plate to share of everything on the menu, so we were able to sample the full offering. Appetizers, were good, not great. The pasta dish was the star of the evening and the pork Milanese and fish dish fell flat. Dry pork and under seasoned fish. All to say some crushed hopes of another Coda de Pesce level restaurant. Will probably will not return. read more

Every month my friends and I like to try something new. This time a charming, neighborhood, Italian restaurant new to the Charleston area was next. I'm very fond of Chef Ken Vedrinski's talents and they permeated through every bite. We chose the prefix menu and it was phenomenal. My favorite was the burrata which was very creamy with fresh veggies. Also, I'm a sucker for a great Ceaser salad and this was perfect. The pasta with local shrimp was flavorful and was a table favorite. The flounder was amazing and lastly, we had Lime & Amaretti Cheesecake. Each dish was a journey through the chef's vision and we loved it! Love the decor and waiter Christina was awesome she explained everything. Our friend had a shrimp allergy and the Chef accommodated her well. He made a similar dish just for her. I also got the Bellini in the bottle and it was great. I parked on the street and there's a garage very close by. I would definitely come back. read more

Volpe’s - Italian Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Great food, service, wait staff and ambiance. I've been there twice and will definitely go back. read more

We made our first visit to Volpe's recently. We went with friends who'd been there before. The atmosphere is great. Warm, inviting and welcoming. Our server was excellent. Nice young man, I want to say his name was Wilder but not certain. He was knowledgeable, friendly and did a really good job of taking care of us. Volpe's has a set family style restaurant. We were served several appetizers and most were very good. The shrimp appetizer had good flavor but the shrimp were mealy. Next was the pasta dish. A curly noodle in a clam sauce. It was excellent! ( and I don't even like clams!) next, the entree. The chicken parm was probably the best I've ever had. The Wahoo however was confusing. While it was breaded and obviously fried or sautéed, it was cold and raw. When we asked about it we were told that's how it's served. None of us ate the fish. If the fish was being served more or less sushi style the menu should have reflected that. The manager did come and speak to us, made apologies and was very nice. She gave us all a complimentary glass of prosecco. Dessert was fine. Here's the take away. For the most part the food was good. At $67 a person it's not cheap but not expensive. With a bottle of wine and a tip our tab was almost $250. A little steep for the casual dining experience. I would recommend trying this restaurant. We will probably go back and try it again. We are big fans of Volpe's sister restaurant Code DePesci. read more

Volpe’s - Chicken Parm - Italian Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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The BEST Italian chef in this part of USA!!! Was there for the soft opening on the 21st and did not have to order., They just brought 4 apps, a pasta, a fish and a chicken dish, and finished it up with a Budino..... The following weekend, the same prefixed way, but all the dishes were different... ALL Great!! read more

I was really looking forward to trying this. A new spot, nominated chef, and Italian food, what could go wrong? Apparently Lots. First thing you need to know? It's too loud... like WAY too loud. It's really tough to hear in there and that pretty much changes the whole mood. I went in expecting multi course fine Italian dining -- and was sorely disappointed. Other things to note: staff was not super professional and seemed worked thin (understandable with a new place), but there was no effort to atone for this from any manager or other staff member. Our server never checked in on us, other than to toss down plates, list off ingredients and leave. The service felt rushed, unprofessional, and lacked any polish you'd expect. The food lacked color and flavor. It felt uninspired and honestly just fell short of my expectations. Of the people we watched leave, many pushed out the doors looking quietly unimpressed. Everything felt just... bland. I hope they are in a slump or I just caught them on the wrong night. But with high expectations and strong competition, I don't know if this place honestly has what it takes to survive long term... the Charleston food scene is a dog eat dog world. read more

This was the best meal I've had in years! Chef Ken Vedrinski and team have created a true gem here on Rutledge Ave. The historic building with a classy/comfortable interior is very inviting. We sat at the Chef's table with a perfect view to the kitchen which was a nice surprise. The chairs are comfortable and the tables are far enough apart to allow private conversations. The ceiling baffles make it quiet even with a full house. The menu is verbal only and changes frequently to ensure items are fresh and in season. The price-fixe menu is the way to go here and everything is served family style. You could also order individual items. There were four of us and we split everything equally. With four very generous courses and many tasty dishes, we left the restaurant full and satisfied! The service is friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. Each dish was amazing! My food allergy (shellfish) was gracefully accommodated. I will share a picture of each dish here but let me say that I need a truckload of the Burrata to take home! I highly recommend this restaurant and hope to return soon. read more

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We enjoyed the bar and the dining experience. The food was delicious and the staff were great. We will go back. Ken has done it again !!

A delightful dining experience! We were sure what to expect and I must say that we were astounded. Christina was friendly and upbeat. She explained each offering as it was brought to the table. The good was DELICIOUS! If you don't dine here, you're missing out! read more

Dinner is served family style at your table ... the chef cooks and you enjoy the evening's offerings. You can also order only what you want from the evening menu. Delicious food, great service and lovely atmosphere! A very fun way to dine! read more

OPEN TIME. We had reservations at 5:00. Today. The restaurant wasn't open at 5. We stood out on the curb for 20 minutes. The hostess started to take in 1 at a time. Got in. Unfortunately there was a fowl smell. It smelled like sewer gas. We couldn't stomach the smell so we left. It was supposed to be our first time. read more

Chef Ken is back downtown and he is continuing to produce magical Italian dining experiences! Our party of 6 decided to do the pre fixe menu (family style)and it did not disappoint. Our taste buds were taken on an Italian culinary trip-the funghi, burrata, pastas, salad, triggerfish, breaded chicken cutlet and lime cheesecake were delicious -each course was fresh and presented in a timely manner. Definitely worth a trip downtown.. will certainly make a return trip. read more

I would like to start by saying we were beyond excited that chef was opening another restaurant here. We had loved Lucca so much. It felt special. This was sad to us. The "atmosphere" was cold and minimalist to be kind. Extremely loud in there and they were playing music that was really inappropriate for the restaurant and the volume went from normal to very loud. A college age couple walked in and walked out. The first course of shrimp and squid as well as the roasted mushrooms were fabulous. There was a salad that was fine, but the pasta dish of Sunday sauce on rotini while cooked perfectly was bland and nondescript. The fried flounder and pork were the star of the night. Delicious. Dessert of butterscotch budino was tasteless. The wine selection and pricing were good and the service was outstanding. read more

The reincarnation of Trattoria Lucca Monday family style night! So thrilled to be have Volpe open and it did not disappoint. The space even has the same charm as Lucca. Four courses of happiness and delicious plates. Our waitress was witty and made the experience even more enjoyable. Can't wait to come back. read more

Simply the best meal I've ever had. The dishes were so unique and delishes but not filling. I've been to Italy 5 times and had many wonderful meals, but the food at Volpe topped them all. read more

Everyone we encountered from reception to server to the floor manager gave us exceptional customer service. The tasting menu was interesting and the food was delicious. I really appreciated that they saved a special dessert I had requested for my son's birthday. read more

This is the best restaurant in Charleston. The multi-course chef's menu changes often and every time I've dined here, every course is delicious. Fantastic service too. Last night's paccheri pasta with sauce and meatballs were the best l've ever eaten. The marsala sauce also amazing. Don't miss out on this restaurant. read more

Excellent food! Loved it all! Hard to pick favorites since everything was so delicious but here goes - the burrata and the fusilli with shrimp were amazing. Will definitely be back! read more

service was the worst I have ever experienced in CHS. bartender and servers could care less. ruined a birthday dinner. slow inattentive and just rude. very disappointe because I have loved all of Chef Ken's restaurant. food was great. but couldn't overcome the terrible treatment. read more

OMG! If Yelp allowed for more than 5 stars, I would definitely go with 8 or 9, even 10. Without a doubt Volpe's is one of the best overall dining experiences that I have ever had. The food was incredibly good, the bartender ("Germaine") is totally entertaining, and the owner is fully engaged. I'm fortunate to have had a lot of great dining experiences in my life, but Volpe's has clearly catapulted to the top of my list. If you are a Charleston "local", or even just visiting Charleston for any reason, you do NOT want to miss Volpe's. read more

Convenient neighborhood restaurant near MUSC. Good service, ambience and great food!