As a local, I've been frequenting Wild Olive since 2015 but felt tonight was pretty underwhelming. Though the Caesar salad was delicious the Suppli al Telefono was fried (which was not in the description), and also mysteriously void of sausage and spinach. With a glass of wine before tip $48 did not seem justified. I feel the old days were just better.... read more

The wife and I finally got around to dining at the Wild Olive. We really liked it. My main complaint it that they don't have a traditional spaghetti with meat (beef or pork) sauce dish. Their meat sauce is lamb. And the meatballs are infused with cheese Unfortunately, I am not a lamb person. And cheese is a no go. Second best dish is the Penne with sausage. It was real tasty. Since I am not a cheese person, I elected to hold the cheese. The house red was real good and at an exceptional value for $8/glass. The wife had a rose. Service was great and the ambiance was quaint. I can see going back to have drinks and dinner at the bar next time. Can you guess why they have a fork and olive as their logo? read more

Wild Olive - Penne with sausage - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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Wild Olive is a nice restaurant. Great food. Excellent service. Relaxing atmosphere. We started with an appetizer - Crispy Calamari with marinara, garlic aioli and lemon (8/10). The flavor was great, although it could have been a little more crispy. For the main dishes we ordered were: - Wild Boar Elbow Pasta (9/10) - excellent flavor and tender pasta - Chicken Parmesan (9/10) with short pasta alfredo, marinara, mozzarella, arugula - Ricotta and Goat Cheese Gnocchi with marinara, mozzarella, basil (9/10) I highly recommend Wild Olive. We will definitely return. The only negative we experienced was due to weather. It rained a LOT while we were in the restaurant, and the parking lot flooded. We could not get to our car without walking through 4-6 inches of water, which was just outside the front door. I had to take my shoes off, roll my pants up to my knees, and wade through the water. There was no dry path to the car in any direction, not even through the flowerbeds. Wild Olive should consider at least raising a portion of the parking lot to create a path to the cars in case it rains heavily. read more

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Their food and service is fabulous. I always go for the special and only once it had too much salt otherwise wonderful. Do not miss their delicious desserts!! read more

Good food but not worth the awful management. Jason has an attitude problem and threatens patrons. He is a liability to the restaurant.

Such an amazing experience here... Gave heard so many wonderful things and it live us to it's word!!! Wood fired steak with mashed potatoes and Chicken Parm with GF penne pasta. So yummy. Cute restaurant with an at home feel. Would love to return. The service was incredible and made you feel like family. Quick service with a smile. Amazing eats! read more

Wild Olive - Steak and Mashed potatoes - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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I said in my last review that I would be back to try the chicken parm and I'm a man of my word. Ever since I made a reservation, I was excited to get in there and it did not disappoint. The service here is amazing and this visit was no different. This time we started with the bread service, arancini, and shared a special mushroom soup that our server recommended. If they have this soup on special, you need to get it as we were practically licking the bowl. As I said, the chicken parm lived up to the hype from when I saw someone order it last time. I would say this is a must have dish and would have a hard time ordering anything else next time. read more

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For a few years this has been on my list and finally tonight I was able to experience. This is seriously one amazing restaurant. With everything from The grounds outside to the aesthetics on the inside being perfect you are sure to enjoy yourself. The vibe inside is so cozy with delicious aromas floating through the air. The food is top level talent. Our server was so knowledgeable about her descriptions of the menu. She was very attentive and polite. This is one of my favorites and I will put it in my top 5!! I will be back. read more

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Wild Olive has been my family's go-to for years - always good food, a great atmosphere, and friendly service. Last week, however, we left feeling that the bloom may finally have gone off the rose. The food was so salty. The menu has been slightly changed, and unfortunately not for the better. The scallops, usually perfectly cooked, were ruined by being submerged in a sea of grits. The mushroom pasta was overwhelmingly over-salted, and the short ribs were oddly short on flavor. At least the elk was delicious, as it always is. This happened to us once before but the food was back to normal on a subsequent visit. Could there be a seasonal chef in the kitchen? read more

The Wild Olive on Johns Island, SC, is on our top 10 list for return visits because this gem brings authentic Italian flavors to the Lowcountry. Known for its hard to find authentic Italian flavors and a warm, inviting atmosphere, this charming restaurant is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. The exceptional Italian cuisine will have you going back for more too. The menu at Wild Olive tastefully blends traditional Italian recipes with unique flavor profiles and combinations. We always start out with the best calamari we have ever found and their garlic aioli sauce and marinara round this appetizer out to great meal starter. My husband pretty much always orders the Chicken Parmesan in any Italian restaurant but he said this one is exceptional. I hit upon the "Sunday Gravy" Lasagna and when it's in the menu, you better grab it. A savory combination of venison, elk and ribeye this is a a fabulous combination. I would say my number one favorite meal. The bar area was full and looked to have quite an extensive selection of adult beverages. The wood everywhere gives it a comfy, cozy, even rustic vibe that makes you feel relaxed.  Excellent hostess to table service with southern charm. Beautifully landscaped it's like pulling into a park where ironically there is pretty ample park-ing. So happy this fantastic find is only minutes from our home. We will go back again and again! read more

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Beat Italian in The entire Charleston area period. I grew up in the Northeast and have lived in Boston. Wild Olive not only elevates Italian food, but still reminds you of the prime italian cooking up north. 5 stars! I love the staff, ambiance, and the food. read more

Started with a couple reds. Sat in bar where we kicked off with some warm olives, bread and octopus, which were all fantastic. Entrees were elk and bucatini that were both fabulous!! Added some broccolini, polenta, and even a meat ball because we just had too, lol. Finished with a chocolate cake. Service was great. Even before we ate, as we waited, when the bartender returns your CC receipt and thanks you, using your name, thats adds to their level of appreciation and service. We will be back. read more

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My husband and I came here for our first date night since having our baby and it was the perfect spot. The ambiance was perfect, the decor is so unique and beautiful, the food was delicious, and the service was great. I had a dirty martini and a glass of the house white and my husband had a couple of the Low Tide beers. We shared the bruschetta with ricotta, wild mushrooms, and celery root, and the charred octopus. Highly recommend both. For dinner my husband got the chicken Parmesan and I had the pappardelle. We had to take leftovers home! I was tempted by the dessert menu but honestly just couldn't eat any more. We'll definitely be coming back here! read more

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Last night, my family and I celebrated part two of my birthday at Wild Olive! This place is very special to me, as it was here that my partner and I had our first date. It was exciting to share this incredible spot with my family who had never been before. The ambiance at Wild Olive never fails to impress; it's always cozy and beautiful. We were a group of seven and sat at the community table under beautifully draped grapes--a setup that added a fun and intimate touch to our celebration. However, it's worth noting that for groups larger than seven, seating is at the community table in the bar area, which can be a bit loud. A little heads-up for those planning to bring a cake: there's a cake cutting fee. We opted to save the cake my sister made for when we got home, which just meant enjoying it in the comfort of our pajamas--a cozy end to a fantastic evening! As always, I highly recommend Wild Olive, especially to any chicken parm lovers out there. My dad, who is quite the connoisseur, claimed it was the best chicken parm he's ever had. That's a big statement coming from him! read more

Wild Olive - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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Everything on the menu never diappoints from the wine to the desert. Their knoki is amazes amazing. No matter what your entree is!

AMAZING!! From the service to the food! Cannot rave about this place enough! Everything was amazing. The one thing I would fix/change is that there's a lot of add-ons to the charred octopus that takes away/overpowers from the octopus taste, so we wouldn't order that again. Everything else was amazing. It was crowded but not too loud. read more

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First time . Delicious chicken parm for my husband. I had a caesar salad with a meatball. We also ordered a side of the smashed potatoes. So good. Our server Riley was very attentive and knowledgeable about the whole menu. Great portions. Will definitely be going back. read more

My children treated me to dinner at Wild Olive for Mother's Day. This is a beautiful and rustic restaurant that almost looks like a house from the street. But the line of cars waiting to turn in was a hint that this place is something special! There was plenty of parking, but the dining area is small and intimate. You need to make reservations if you want to dine at Wild Olive at least 2 weeks in advance. It's worth it! As soon as we were seated our waiter took drink orders and offered the specials. The food is authentic Italian cuisine. There is something for all tastes from delicious pastas, lasagna and pennes to elk and duck stuffed delicacies. I had the gnocchi stuffed with goat cheese and spinach. There is a full bar available. You will find many options to compliment your meal. We started with homemade bread with Olive oil and spices. We then had the Suppli Al Telefono, a risotto fritter stuffed with sausage, spinach and cheese...amazing! If you like dessert you won't be disappointed. They have tiramisu, silk pie, cheese cake and Italian Smores pie to name a few. Excellent food and service. We will be back to enjoy more of the menu. Highly recommend! read more

Wild Olive - Beautiful and elegant venue - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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Maybe the best meal we had in Charleston. Service 10/10 Food 10/10 Ambience 8:20 This was outside of downtown, which was great since parking is a bear downtown. But I suggest reservations because the food is good and it is no secret. We made reservations, arrived on time and had zero wait. I am sorry I forgot our server's name because he was fantastic. (Maybe Kevin from DC?) But you really care about the food: Warm Olives - cool presentation, includes olives, beans and garlic kept warm above a flame. Bread service - sorry, it was just okay. Tons of places fo the bread olive oil thing much better. Bruschetta - FREAKING FANTASTIC. Make sure you order this. Pickled onions, arugula, cheese, it just works. Very non-traditional Caesar Salad - I just did not care for their version, maybe I am more of a Caesar purist. Chicken Parm - delightful, really well done. Scallops - another fantastic dish. Bolognese - another solid choice and plentiful. Triggerfish - I love trigger and this was gone well. I was not as thrilled with the accompanying vegetables. S'more Pie - huge service, upper part phenomenal, lower crust a bit too dense for me. Sticky Cake - AMAZING, so good I wanted to bath in it. Perfect meal: Bruschetta Olives Scallops Sticky cake read more

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I was absolutely blown away by my experience at Wild Olive. This restaurant was hands down one of the best I have ever been to, and the best Italian food in the southeast. I consider myself to be very selective with Italian food having grown up Italian in NJ, but I can confidently say this food blows many NY/NJ restaurants out of the water. To start, the restaurant itself is beautiful. I loved the dim lighting and when you walked in seeing walls lined with bottles of wine and jarred sauce. There is a communal table in one of the dining areas, but we were seated at a regular table in another dining area. Our waitress Nikki was so sweet, she helped us select an amazing Pinot Noir to pair with our meal and convinced someone to try the special lamb ragu for an entree (spoiler alert, it was amazing). The appetizers were all delectable. My personal favorite was the calamari just because it is a classic, it was so perfectly crisp and had a nice twist with a garlic aioli on top. The risotto fritters were perfect, I would highly reccomend them, and the bruschetta was a refreshing twist on an Italian classic. Now the star of the show: the chicken parmesan. This was without a doubt, one of the best chicken parms I have ever had. The chicken was perfectly cooked, crispy, and packed with flavor in every bite. The arugula was a perfect touch, it really brought some lightness and color to the dish. The pasta was also lovely, I liked that it had a light alfredo sauce on it, differentiating it from the rest of the dish. Overall, I truly cannot recommend this restaurant enough, I am counting down the days until I can come back! read more

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Wow. The restaurant itself is beautiful - super nice without feeling stuffy or too fancy. Service was phenomenal - our server, Colin, was great and went above and beyond with highlighting his favorites on the menu and helping with recommendations. We ordered the lasagna and scallops and grits and both were fantastic. I would highly recommend! read more

Always a wonderful experience! Service is fantastic, vibe is great. They brought a candle with dessert for a birthday, which was so kind. Standouts were the chicken parm and the ribeye with truffle potatoes. A steak isn't something I'd normally order at an Italian restaurant. Our son ordered it and it was the best steak and potatoes I've tasted in a long time. I'll be ordering it next time because it was flawless! Completely melts in your mouth and the potatoes are incredible! Wild Olive never disappoints. read more

Wild Olive - Grilled Grass-Fed Rib Eye Steak - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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The food here is stellar every time we go. Tried a special they had for pan seared triggerfish and it was worth every penny. The desserts are top notch and the staff are friendly and helpful. Will definitely be back. Intimate dining area with small tables. read more

Wild Olive - Pan seared triggerfish - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

I have been to Wild Olive many times over the years, and love it every time! My husband and I always order different things and are never disappointed. Make sure you grab a reservation ahead of time, this place fills up fast! We recently tried the bruschetta. I appreciated the unique take- it had no tomatoes or balsamic, but arugula, goat cheese, and a variety of mushrooms. Super tasty! He got the fish special, which he said was perfectly cooked and fresh. I got the bolognese, which was meaty and filling. I have to say, compared to the previous pasta dishes I've had here, it was a little disappointing. I blame myself for this more so that the dish itself, though (I ordered poorly). It tasted exactly as it should, it was just more boring and less unique than the other dishes I've had (papparadelle, agnolotti). The lights are dim and it is a cute spot for a date night. Dishes can come out a little slowly, which I find reassuring that the plates are fresh! read more

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Best calamari in Charleston, and best chicken parm. Lovely cozy space and great service.

Absolutely incredible experience. From the beautiful interior and decor to the quick and helpful service, this place is everything. We got the ragu and agnolotti and both were incredible. The wine was delicious as well - we got the house red and sparkling rose. Moving south I was worried I wouldn't find amazing Italian spots, but this is one we will comeback to again and again. read more

Amazing staff and food to match. The\nCommunity table is great , socializing and meeting new people

Everything exceeding all expectations starting with the ambiance and culminating with the food and service!

Wild Olive is awesome! By far our favorite Italian Restaurant in Charleston and nothing else compares. As a resident of Johns Island, we typically visit a couple times a year. The service is always excellent and the food is outstanding. Per usual, my girlfriend and I ordered the Chicken Parm and homemade alfredo pasta which is world class. For dessert, we split a couple seasonal items which were fabulous as always. Major props to the pastry chef. Wild Olive just started selling their sauce and we had to pick up a jar. Beautiful ambiance, excellent service and food. Just go to Wild Olive already! read more

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Absolutely outstanding dinner at wild olive. Really cool place just off of Kiawah and Seabrook. While waiting for our table we enjoyed a beer at low tide brewing and that was great as well. Our server at Wild Olive was great; took excellent care of us and very attentive. She made sure everything was perfect and was so nice. Everyone's dinners were amazing. I had the swordfish which was cooked perfectly and so flavorful. The dish had a lot of great flavors and textures; it was amazing. My wife had the pasta with bolognese sauce and it was incredible. My son had the paparadel pasta and my daughter rigatoni; both loved their dinners too. When we are in the area again we will be back. It was absolutely fantastic! read more

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Really good Italian food. Must try the gnocchi. Service is always good and nice atmosphere

Great ambiance and food. The service was impeccable. Kim was our server, and she was exceptional. She provided a list of all the specials and consciously made suggestions upon request. One of the best dinning experiences I've had in a long time. read more

This is my one of my favorite restaurants in Charleston. I am obsessed with the Chicken Parm. It was probably the best one I have ever had outside of NYC, if not even better. The bread board was fantastic! The decor was a unique mix of old school Italian with modern day rustic. Our server was really pleasant, overall it was a great dining experience! read more

Wild Olive - Bread board - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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Had a wonderful dinner with great service. For a starter we had the clams. The clams were perfectly cooked, fresh and tender. The sauce they were in was incredible and we soaked it all up with bread. I had the lasagne with with Sunday Gravy which was more of a béchamel with fontina cheese. The elk, ribeye and venison was incredible. One of the best lasagnes that I have had. Will definitely go back next time we are in town. Definitely make a reservation. We waited until the day prior and only had the option of 4:45 or 10:00. read more

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I love this restaurant. It's my favorite place to bring out of town guests for a nice dinner. The food is always fantastic, I'm a huge fan of the swordfish and the chicken parmigiana and we always start with the octopus. I have always had great service here and I think their staff to customer ratio is pretty dialed in as we've never felt neglected. You're definitely gonna want to get a reservation before hand as it's pretty popular, especially on the weekends. It's a bit pricey, but worth every penny. read more

Wild Olive - The Chicken Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

I tried to make reservations there twice and had no luck, just oddball times such as 4 pm or 10 pm. Every time I called for reservations I heard a lot of background noise. So, I decided to visit this spot and see what it was all about. The parking lot was very full for a building that appears small from the outside. Inside we were greeted by friendly hosts. I could see one room dominated by a communally seated table and it was very loud in there! I suppose for some people it is worth putting up with the wait to be seated, etc. since the reviews for the food are so good. Maybe this restaurant is suffering from its own success. For me, it's like Yogi Berra said, "Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded!" read more

We went to Wild Olive for my birthday and had a really good time! There is plenty of parking, though it's easy to miss so pay attention! The food was excellent! I had the gnocchi and my husband had the duck ragu special. We also had the bread service, olives, and the meatball and smashed potatoes. The meatball was probably the best I've ever had, I would go back for that alone! The reason for 4 stars instead of 5: We had three cocktails and weren't really fond of any of them, they were quite sweet. We also tried four different desserts on the menu and while the tiramisu was fantastic, but one bite was more than enough out of the other three for me. Service was also quite slow, which is probably because they were short staffer and we totally get that, my only concern was that they tell you it's a 90 minute limit so I had some anxiety when we were sitting waiting for our server to order. But overall the experience was great and I would go back!! read more

Wild Olive - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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I came here with some friends for a celebration dinner. We had a lot of amazing food - everything we tried was delicious. I got the lasagna which was incredible. We also got an elk pasta dish which was delicious. The appetizers were all on point. The dessert was the star - a chocolate biscoff cake! Our server was great and really friendly. The restaurant itself was clean and welcoming. read more

Wild Olive - Biscoff cake! - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

Great dinner at Wild Olive. Their Tangleotello pasta is consistently delicious, as is their grilled octopus. Really knowledgeable wait staff and excellent service make this a "go to" place for dinner in greater Charleston. read more

Went to dinner here for my birthday and absolutely loved everything we had. Server was so kind and patient with our larger party and answered everyone's questions with confidence. Highly recommend their drink menu as well. Great variety to appease everyone. read more

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