Wow what a find. Food was excellent waiter was busy but efficient. Cute place too. Will definitely be going back!

We were really excited to try this new spot for a rare date night out - we have two little ones, so these evenings are special. Both my husband and I have over 15 years each in the hospitality industry, so we know that mistakes can happen, but we also know what good service and guest recovery look like. Unfortunately, this was one of the worst dining experiences we've had in Charleston. We were seated inside, which is gorgeous, but it took over 10 minutes before anyone greeted us (not a biggie). Once we finally ordered, the drinks were good and the calamari appetizer was honestly the best we've ever had. The tuna appetizer was a bit too salty, but we were still optimistic at that point. Our server recommended the lobster spaghetti ($58), so we decided to splurge. When it arrived, half portion of lobster was on the small side (not much meat) and the pasta was noticeably overcooked. Then we realized the lobster meat was translucent and undercooked. I showed our server immediately, and she went to speak with the manager. She returned saying the Manager will be by. Ten minutes went by, no Manager, the server returns saying the kitchen confirmed it was cooked--without anyone even looking at the plate that was still sitting in front of us. The manager never came over, even after we waited more than 20 minutes, watching him seat other guests and stand at the host stand. By the time we had to leave, the issue was still unresolved. The undercooked dish remained on the table, yet it was still on our bill. There was no apology, no offer to replace it, comp a drink, or even a simple gesture to acknowledge what happened. As past hospitality professionals ourselves, we were stunned by the lack of care or accountability - especially for a new restaurant trying to build a reputation. We spent $280 for two people on a night we'd been looking forward to, and left disappointed and frustrated. The setting is lovely, and a few things (like the calamari) were fantastic, but the way management handled - or rather ignored - the situation was unacceptable. A simple conversation or effort to make it right would have gone a long way. Sadly, we won't be returning, and I hope they take this feedback seriously because the potential is there - but the leadership clearly needs work. read more

Went to the pop up window for gelato. The woman was nice but this was the most mid gelato I've ever had. I got the caramel sea salt and stracciatella and I've had store bought ice cream with more flavor. read more

This place is amazing!!! The decor and ambiance is worth everything, and the food is good. We got the fried calamari which was amazing, not chewy...melt in your mouth type. I will go back just for that. read more

Allora - Calamari - Italian Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The restaurant itself is physically attractive. The inside is nice and gives off a decent vibe. I went to visit my niece and she had said this restaurant was relatively new and had wanted to try it. I'm not sure who its food supplier is, but it's definitely an economy provider. Nothing tasted fresh. The pasta tasted gritty and the sauce tasted like it came out of a jar. It's like everything had been frozen and reheated, then served. My niece was pretty disappointed, but now she knows not to go back there . read more

Third time was not the charm. Fortunately, they have a new personable manager. If he can turn this place around, I might come back.

My grandparents and I went to Allora and had a great experience. The 3 of us were seated on the roof and were served by Jen (she did a great job). The gelato there is amazing and another food (Ricotta Gnocchi) was great. Overall great time, I come again. read more

My friends and I are visiting Charleston and had a great time at Allora. Shoutout to our waitress Annalee, she was so sweet! Mixed drinks were yum, but the house wine was not the best. We came back the next day for booze pops. Highly recommend the limoncello booze pop, the fried zucchini pasta, and chicken picatta! read more

Waygu was grey not red, dinner was cold, service felt rushed, small table and wobbly , Calamari undercooked

Overall felt like they were trying too hard to be authentic Italian. Cocktails were good, but the food just felt like it was lacking overall. Felt like the whole place was built to attract influencers and people who would take pictures and post them online for likes. Cute spot overall, but just not for me. read more

Been going here since it opened. Great neighborhood restaurant. Love the food and staff. However, they definitely need to switch up the music. Same playlist of 10 songs for the past 6 months is getting a little old. read more

Wonderful! Beautiful restaurant, beautifully decorated with fabulous food and great service! If you're lucky Ellie will wait on you-knowledgable and charming. read more

Definitely Delicious! Homemade pasta with mushrooms and truffles was Blow me Away Great! We were there on a Monday and the Eggplant Lasagna was unique and special. It was layered like a Napoleon! It's been 30 years since I had anything like that! Looking forward to trying several other dishes. As a starter we shared the muscles, very fresh and tasty! Look forward to going back read more

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We randomly discovered this restaurant on a Wednesday when we were looking for a place that we could get a late lunch at 1:45 pm. This place is beautiful with the use of green and pink decor and great photos for artwork. All though we live in Charleston, we felt like we were on vacation for a short moment while on a work lunch break. Everyone greeted us and provided great service. I had the Mezzi Rigatoni with shrimp and my husband had Clam Linguine. Both were delicious and not too overpriced. The serving size of each provided leftovers for another small meal. I highly recommend checking out this beautiful spot, especially if you need a small getaway during your workday. read more

Food was underwhelming. Furthermore, my wife made a reservation for truffle week and they ran out of white truffles. Our reservation was on a Friday at 6:45 PM.... Prime time if you ask me. Do not advertise a special menu if you do not have the capacity for it. The bone marrow appetizer we ordered was bland, and we were quite surprised. We ordered two pasta dishes that were "ok" at best. The food quality was just not what we were expecting for a downtown restaurant in this location. The malfadine was ok and the garganelli had a weird smell to it, and I could not even taste the truffle. The staff was amazing as well as the dessert and that was the only redeeming quality of this place. read more

Definitely got food poisoning from the lump crab. Also staff was weird and unprofessional.

The coffee and desserts here are amazing! I haven't had anything else yet! Tiramisu, donuts, and gelato were superb!

The ambiance, decor and waitstaff are fabulous! I had the limoncello spritzer cocktail which was wonderful. As was the focaccia bread they bring you. We had the mushroom appetizer and it was so delicious; however, my linguine entree was lacking flavor. There was barely a hint of lemon and honestly, I had expected a lot more flavor from this restaurant. I WILL go back and try something else but I was sadly underwhelmed by my dish. Also, the lack of parking is ridiculous. read more

We dropped in for an early dinner. Nice decor that reminds me of a family kitchen/ dining space. Our waitress was good at explaining the menu. I tried to order using Italian and ordered the wrong dish. They quickly remedied and it was delicious. read more

Why can't Charleston ever do Italian food right? Lots of misses here. Decor for one is extra cheesy, like it was designed by someone who visited Italy on a celebrity cruise meets Greek diner - complete with fake columns! I also don't know why they list "Amalfi Lemon" as an ingredient in at least two items unless they are actually flown in from Italy. Are the lemons actually from Amalfi? Especially when the fish on the menu is not sourced and the steak Florentine doesn't have any information about source, cut or grade. It's supposed to be a porterhouse in case you're wondering. No self respecting Italian would ever be caught dead serving pasta in a margarita glass either! I could go on but why bother.... read more

We stopped into Allora without a reservation and were immediately impressed by how welcoming the hosts were -- they couldn't have been nicer and quickly found us a spot on the rooftop patio, which turned out to be such a charming place to enjoy dinner. Our meal was fantastic the salad was wonderful, and the pastas were absolutely delicious. Our server, Tyler, was wonderful -- genuinely kind, attentive, and thoughtful. He offered great recommendations, checked in to make sure we were comfortable (even offered blankets when the evening got a bit chilly), and had such a warm way of connecting with all of his tables. Overall, we had a wonderful dinner with an exceptional staff. Allora has the perfect mix of great food, great people, and a great atmosphere!!! So happy we stopped in! read more

Allora brings a missing Italian class vibe to the Lowcountry. We have dined there four times and each time leaves us yearning for more. Menu is great, service excellent, nice wine list, great vibe and decor. Each item we order has been cooked to perfection! Andrew the GM is excellent and has a fantastic team. Wish there were one closer. We drive 1 1/2 hours away to get there! Going back again this weekend! read more

We had an awful experience upstairs -- completely different from the great time we had downstairs. The bartender upstairs was unbelievably rude and carried himself like he was somehow above serving customers. We ordered three courses: the first came out in about 10 minutes, and then... nothing. We waited nearly an hour before asking about the rest of our food. He looked totally lost, as if he didn't even know what our order was. Another 30 minutes went by, and we'd had enough. When we asked for the check, he actually had the nerve to tell us "your food will be out soon" -- and then handed us the full bill! No apology, no accountability, just attitude. It's a shame because the downstairs experience was great, but upstairs was an absolute disaster. Between the entitlement, the disorganization, and the complete lack of professionalism. read more

I never write reviews, but I feel that this restaurant deserved one. Let me start off saying that I've spent three years in Italy, eating up and down the country. I've eaten in everything from amazing little holes in the wall to Michelin starred restaurants. This is NOT authentic Italian food. Please bear with me as I tell you my experience. Six of us went on March 20th for dinner for my friend's birthday. I will say that Julia, the reservation girl, was fantastic in accommodating our party. We arrived early, and Andrew was very kind and put us into the "lounge" to wait for our table. We decided to order drinks while we waited and a young man took our order. My sister, who had flown in from NYC, is Celiac. She wanted to try one of the vodka drinks on the menu and asked the server what kind of vodka was used in it since Celiacs can only have potato vodka. He told us that he thought it was Absolut, then changed it and said Titos. She can have Titos, so she ordered the drink. When he came back with it, he said, "It's Pearl" and handed her the drink. She cannot have Pearl vodka. We explained to him how she can only have potato vodka because of her allergy. He replied, "All vodka is made from potato." Then he walked away. I called Andrew over and he immediately fixed it, so no harm, no foul. They just need to educate their servers more. Now dinner...they sat us upstairs on the patio which was nice, cramped, but nice. I saw the Garganelli Al Funghi on the menu. I am a HUGE truffle fan and have eaten fresh truffle A LOT. I asked our waitress if it was fresh truffle and she said yes. So, I was VERY excited to have this dish. So was my sister. She was very excited that they had gluten free pasta, so she also ordered the dish as well. The birthday girl ordered the Carbonara. Other dishes at the table included the Mafaldine al Ragu and the Yellowfin Tuna. The tuna had zero flavor. It was very disappointing. When the main dishes came, I could clearly see that there was NO fresh truffle on my pasta nor my sister's. The pasta was swimming in a cream sauce with flecks of truffle you get in a jar. We complained to the waitress (and I apologize but I do not remember her name), and she called over the manager. He was a young kid with glasses. I don't know his name either as he did not introduce himself or apologize. He stomped over with what looked like a truffle and began shaving onto my dish. It was SLIMY! Fresh truffle is not slimy. Since I have eaten truffle often and know a bit about them, I knew this was either what chefs call "fake truffle" or a truffle that was preserved in a jar and of very low quality. My sister actually asked him what kind of truffle it was and if it was low quality, and he answered that it was "end of season and yes a very low quality truffle." Well, then why serve it to your customers instead of pulling it off the menu? Needless to say, the pasta was gross and the truffle even worse. Do not lie to your customers and say that it's fresh. I did wonder where they were getting fresh truffle at that time of year. I also watched my friend who had the Carbonara push it around in her dish without eating. She said the guanciale was not guanciale, but pancetta. She also said that the sauce was all cream. They do not use cream in Carbonara in Italy. I was also told that the Mafaldine tasted like jar sauce and that the pork was pretty much non-existent. Anyway, food is awful and geared toward kids who don't know any better about real Italian food. THIS IS NOT THE WORST OF IT YET!!! Only two of us ate any of the food. When the bill came, they didn't even take any of it off the bill, nor did they give us so much as a free drink. When we complained, the same "manager" came back in a huff and reluctantly decided to comp my dish. When we got up to leave, I wanted to give the waitress a good cash tip. None of this was her fault, and she did her very best with a difficult situation. I couldn't find her anywhere. As I was going down the stairs, I saw the manager with the glasses. I asked where our waitress was because I wanted to leave her a good tip for trying so hard. He looks at me and says, "She's probably in the bathroom crying because you guys are awful!" He proceeds to say, "I used to work in New York, and you guys are worse than New Yorkers!" WOW!!!! What professional manager says something like that instead of apologizing? First off, we told our waitress countless times how none of the bad food was her fault and how we appreciated her service. The comment from the so-called manager was so unprofessional. AND, my sister had come in from NYC. SO that was very rude. Anyway, we went downstairs, I found our waitress and gave her the tip. When we got outside, a couple ran over to us on the street. They had heard what the manager said to me. They happened to be from NY!! They were very upset by his comment and told us that they will also never go back there. That's two clients lost! Good job Mr. Manager. read more

What a great experience. Can't wait to go back. The space is amazing and you can tell a lot of time was put into it. Everything we ordered was excellent and our servers were very attentive to us the whole night read more

Amazing food. The espresso martini was delicious. Get the fried zucchini pasta! You won't regret it!

The decor inside the restaurant was beautiful! The drinks are a little strong, but still good. We really enjoyed our pastas and overall had a good experience read more

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We enjoyed every part of our dining experience. We walked in on a very busy Friday night and were greeted by not one but 3 friendly hostesses. No reservations so the expectation was they would give us a look and say sorry but no can do like we are used to getting now a-days sadly. To our shock they said no problem we have a lounge area where you can enjoy a drink and appetizer while you wait for something to open up. We had no less than 4 people checking on us while we waited. We sat at the bar for dinner and enjoyed every last bite. Bone marrow was the best we have had, generous amount and delicious. The octopus was cooked to perfection. We enjoyed the tiramisu with a lovely glass of port to finish- yum! What we noticed most throughout the evening was the exceptional service that is so difficult to find. Every single server we encountered during our experience was friendly, asking if we need anything and just seemed to embrace and demonstrate what excellent customer service means. read more

I absolutely love allora! The patio and the inside are so cute and the pasta dishes are amazing!

The food was amazing! And the service - Trevor, John and Annise - was outstanding! They made our anniversary dinner very special.

We love it here! We came for NYE and the prefix menu was amazing. The cosmo was great. The mafaldine pasta and the beef cheek over polenta were the star dishes, but everything was fabulous. The manager James did a great job. read more

Great menu, imaginative presentation, fresh pasta all lead to a pleasurable experience. I highly recommend the tuna appetizer, delicious. The fried zucchini pasta was hyped by our service staff member, and adding the shrimp made it great. The only thing that I would do differently is to make a reservation earlier to get a true table. The high top in the bar area was tight, and the stools are uncomfortable; lesson learned. I didn't save room for dessert this time, but I'll be back. read more

Unfortunately for such a cute place with nice people they operationally are a mess. Need to work out a lot of kinks service wise. Attention to detail, training and customer experience need a lot of work. Food was good but not worth the experience and price. read more

We had a lovely lunch here. Both the food and service were outstanding. Don't miss the calamari. With the occasional banana pepper mixed in, it was perfect. We also loved the tuna crudo. It had just the right amount of spice. We will definitely be back soon! read more

I really wanted to love this restaurant the menu looked amazing, but unfortunately, our experience was terrible. Within a couple hours of dining here, everyone in our group became extremely sick and throwing up. It's clear that something we ate was not handled properly. read more

We were seated in a terrible spot that shouldn't even be on their seat plan: a bar counter overlooking the working gelato station and adjacent to the busy expo and kitchen. Multiple staff were standing inches away from us waiting for dishes the entire time. It was incredibly uncomfortable for us and felt like we were in the way of the staff and in a part of the restaurant that guests shouldn't even see. We were just watching staff scooping gelato; the cups for which were on our "table" that we were eating on. The leftmost seat was against the wall and wedged behind a pillar so it was very difficult to get out. It was truly one of the worst dinings experiences we've ever had and we couldn't way to leave. On top of it all, the plate they gave me was dirty. The food was pretty good, not anything to write home about (carbonara sauce was very watery like a soup, calamari was 1/4 banana peppers) and the bourbon basilica cocktail tasted watered down but my perfecto spritz was yummy. The rest of the restaurant was adorable and I was so excited to come here so I was really disappointed to not get to enjoy the good ambience that it seemed like everywhere else in the restaurant had. I hope they just remove this bar counter from the seat plan and let their gelato staff use it as a working bar for servers to pick up their desserts read more

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Over a month ago, our daughter booked Allora's rooftop area for her sister's bachelorette party. We personally visited and dined at the space and had several conversations with the events manager to finalize the details for this event. This was meant to be the signature event for this important weekend. Further, the details were reconfirmed with the manager at 2pm the day of the event. Upon arrival, the group was told the rooftop was not available because Bravo was filming Southern Charm. Canceling an event with no notice and regard is simply inexcusable. Our family has been frequent, recurring guests at several of this group's restaurants for years. In fact, we recently dined twice at Honeysuckle Rose during April where we had spoke personally with Kellie Anne discussing this planed event only 2 weeks prior. We've heard the story of how this restaurant group puts family first. To say this was handled poorly is an understatement and most certainly not the way any "family -first" restaurant should operate. Shame on you Kiki and Ryan. read more

Very good food, service, and ambiance. Much too loud. Have to yell at each other to be heard above the crowd.

Beautiful and charming, the staff was lovely, attentive and spot on, we shared a salad, dressing was subtle not over powering, again just right. Main course Lobster, and secret pork, must say double wow, pasta great and my potato's could be a meal unto themselves. Ended with gelato and donut, roll us out , full and planning our return!!!! read more

We sat at the rooftop bar for an afternoon drink after getting into town. The hostess said Jack would be happy to see us, he was NOT. Jack was incredibly rude. We ordered 1 drink each, at the end he said with a STRAIGHT face "they're all the same price just give me 5 cards that's easier". Ok, not what you usually do but he said to so we started giving him our cards. Then, again, straight face "I was being sarcastic". We do not know this man! How are we supposed to know you are being sarcastic? He didn't check on us once while we sat there. To top it off, he said he could make a Hugo Spritz and clearly could not. It was terrible. read more