#1 soft shell crab in Charleston. Massive soft shell crab deep fried to perfection on a place over delicious lemon risotto with ample trout roe and fresh dill. Not only the best soft shell in Charleston, but also one of the best dishes I've ever had in Charleston. Paired with a nice white wine. read more

Melfi's - Soft shell on risotto - Pizza Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The ambiance sets the mood. You feel like you are in Italy. The food is fresh so don't get scared of the prices. You definitely get what you pay for here. The menu is limited and that is a good thing because they are just really good at what is on there as opposed to having a ton of variety, using processed dough and be mediocre. read more

Lovely Italian spot on King Street. The Caesar salad is one of the best, don't skip the tuna Crudo, and definitely order the stretch Armstrong pizza! Perfect thin crust with cheesy and saucy toppings. Come for the food stay for the vibes! read more

Melfi's - Stretch Armstrong pizza and tuna appetizer - Pizza Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Such an amazing Italian restaurant!! The spicy Caesar salad was phenomenal. Probably the best I have ever had. The bolognese was perfect. No notes. We will for sure be back! The gelato was AMAZING!! We sat on the patio and it was raining and the vibes were amazing with the rain sounds hitting the roof. Very romantic spot for date night. Cocktails were also extremely tasty. read more

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Romantic vibe and delicious food. The bucatini cacio e pepe was very tasty and not too dry. I thought it was better than the cacio e pepe at tempest. We also ordered the radiatori bolognese which did not disappoint either! I want to try the stretch Armstrong pizza next and will definitely be back read more

Melfi's is one of my favorite restaurants that we have been enjoying since it opened. This is a great place to enjoy with friends, ask to sit at the circular booth near the entrance. I love the inside decor, reminds me of a restaurant in Hell's Kitchen. There is a fantastic long bar to sit at, and the cocktail service is top notch. I always enjoy the Last Word here, while my husband enjoys the negroni sour. On our recent visit we enjoyed the Stretch Armstrong pizza. We were pleasantly surprised by the tomato sauce, and that stracciatella cheese was perfect gooeyness of flavor. We shared a beautiful lettuce salad, but it did not appeal to us; too much frisee. Entrees though were the stars, I had the mafalde with heritage pork and veal bolognese. The pasta was perfectly cooked al dente, and its cut easily held the bolognese sauce. There was a delightful spiciness to it also. Then my husband had the cacio e pepe bucotini. This rich sauce was made with plenty of butter, parmigiana reggiano and pecorino romano. Yum! With all that we had to end with dessert, and we enjoyed the zabaglione and cherry chocolate budino. The budino was the winner, with delicious cherries hidden inside the thick chocolate dessert. We've also enjoyed espresso martinis before, but did not order tonight. Melfi's is a gem of Italian elegance in flavor, service and ambience. We will continue to return and experience it again. read more

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Overall fantastic experience. It's pricey but worth it. If I was to do it again I would probably just get the Spicy Cesar, Tuna Crudo ( my favorite thing! ) , and maybe split a pizza. We all got pasta dishes as well and it was good but the appetizers were so good they were definitely my favorite part. Along with the homemade gelato. The gelato was an 11/10 you have to get that if you go. The vibe inside is super cute too. read more

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Italitan, yes. But come here for the unique dishes coming together in ways you are not going to find anywhere else. MELFI'S SPICY CAESAR SALAD - dressed in calabrian chili and anchovy dressing was wonderful. Though not my favorite pie of all times, the STRETCH ARMSTRONG - a red sauce pie topped with cool, freshly made stracciatella cheese, basil, and extra virgin olive oil was worth a try. The PACCHERI - cylindrical pasta with a hearty duck ragu and shaved parmigiano reggiano was amazing! Service was great too! The place is a little tight but even with that it felt more cozy than loud. The choclate gelato was the perfect way to end a great dinner. read more

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I have been dying to try melfi's since I moved here a year ago and the wait was worth it! We celebrated our postponed anniversary dinner here and they greeted us with a beautiful card and complementary champagne! We started off with the spicy Cesar which was super flavorful and a nice shareable portion. I had the bucatini and my boyfriend had the paccheri which were both flavorful and filling! I'm so glad we were able to finally get a table a here and had a delicious meal. The staff were also very friendly and knowledgeable. Will definitely be back! read more

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We went late on a weeknight and it was still very busy, but the food was amazing and the service was friendly! The burrata was great and the house red was delicious! Two of us got the cacio e Pepe and it was definitely one of the best we've had. They had refillable bread service which was great. We really enjoyed our meal, and would definitely come back! read more

Melfi's - Bar area - Pizza Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Finally got a chance to try out Melfi's with a friend. We started with the tuna crudo, and it was soooo good. The chili vinaigrette was so flavorful and went well with the tuna. For our pasta we got the crab cannelloni which is pasta stuffed with crab, artichoke and topped with a leek béchamel sauce. It looked like it might be on the heavy side with the cream sauce, however it was actually kinda light and lemony. For our main course we got their osso bucco which was fall off the bone deliciousness. It was served atop a Parmesan risotto with some crispy fried onions, that both paired well with the pork. Even though we were stuffed from dinner we still had to try their tiramisu for a sweet ending to the night. Additionally, we sat at the bar for our meal and our bartender was so friendly and helpful! read more

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So glad we took advantage of the black bird special. The bread and oil is fresh and delicious. The carbonara I had melted in my mouth and the portion was perfect. I love the decor as it is decorated like a little family run Italian spot. Everything in this company meets my expectations. I have always been a huge fan of Little Jacks and Leon's so I am so glad I got the chance to dine here. read more

Melfi's - Carbonara - Pizza Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

I've lived in Charleston for about a year and can't believe this was my first time here! We tried the Wood-fired sweet peppers, Straccitella & olive-oil bruschetta, Tuna Crudo, Prosciutto & Burrata, Bucatini 'Cacio De Pepe', Paccheri, Stretch Armstrong Pizza, and the Mr. Wally Pizza. Everything was incredible, even down to our martinis. Would highly recommend putting this at the top of your Charleston list. read more

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Melfi's has great cocktails, excellent service, and delicious food. My favorite dishes were the suppli, zucchini fritti, and the Bianco pizza. Overall, a great lunch and I will be back when I'm in Charleston to explore the menu! read more

Melfi's is one of the best spots on King Street. The food was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with quality ingredients. The pasta was cooked perfectly, and every dish we tried was well-seasoned and beautifully presented. The atmosphere is warm, stylish, and inviting, making it a great place for a date night or dinner with friends. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcome from the moment we walked in. Overall, it was a great dining experience, and I would definitely come back and recommend Melfi's to anyone looking for delicious Italian food in Charleston. read more

I went to Melfi's in Charleston again last weekend for lunch, and it was just as good as my first visit. The atmosphere is one of its standout features--classy with timeless New York vibes, complete with a big, inviting bar in the center. It's the kind of place that feels upscale but still comfortable, perfect for both casual lunches and date nights. During my first visit, my boyfriend and I stumbled upon it for a date night. We got lucky with seats at the bar and enjoyed espresso martinis and negronis. The food was fantastic--I had the Cacio e Pepe, and he had the Paccheri. It was such a great night that we knew we'd be back. This recent lunch visit didn't disappoint either. I ordered the Carbonara, and my boyfriend and our friend both had the Rigatoni, and we also all shared the calamari. The portions are generous enough to leave you full, which is nice because while Melfi's is a bit on the pricey side, you definitely get your money's worth food-wise. The service was friendly, and the drinks were just as good as I remembered. Melfi's continues to impress, and we'll definitely keep coming back! read more

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A Friday girls lunch led us to Melfi's. Our friend Tracey has always been everywhere and picked this spot for us. It's an old house transformed into a restaurant on upper King. We found street parking a couple three blocks down. While at the restaurant we discovered since Melfi's is part of the Leon's and Little Jack's family we could have parked in the Leon lot. If I would have read their website before going I would have known that too! "Parking for Melfi's in lot located at 688 King Street. Additional parking after 5pm" We all started with a cocktail. I ordered the San Giovanni Sour -- vodka, limoncello, Prosecco. Now I love all three of those things and I was super excited for this drink. It was good. But not blow my mind fantastic that I wanted another! All I really tasted was the limoncello. For food we let Tracey pick a couple of her favorites and our server suggested another. For me there was two hits and two misses. Wins! Best bite of the day is their sort-of spicy Caesar salad. It had great flavor and was seasoned perfectly. I loved how it was sectioned up and how they crumble the croutons allowing you to get crunch in every bite. A must order and easily shareable. The second win for me was recommended by our server, the wood fired sweet peppers. Seasoned and flavorful. The misses for me were the Stretch Armstrong pizza and the tuna crudo. The pizza desperately needed salt. I understand stracciatella cheese is light in flavor, but I didn't get much flavor from the sauce either. The tuna crudo also needed salt. Even with a calabrian chili vinaigrette, I found the tuna flavorless and didn't get a kick of heat that I really would have enjoyed. All in all the service and Caesar Salad would bring me back to have another meal. read more

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No... I'm sorry, there is too much hype around this place from social media. The service tonight .. a TUESDAY night... was just unacceptable. We waited too long for pizza and pasta for two people. The mafaldine sauce was delicious but the pasta itself was over cooked, and mushy. What a disappointment. NY travelers, don't bother!!!! This is a marketing scam. read more

I have been to Melfi's a few times and its all about what you order. There are some things that are incredible and then some things that aren't my favorite. Would I go here just for their Tiramisu and dessert drinks? absolutely. It's probably the best Tiramisu Ive ever had. Also probably the best Cacio e pepe Ive had in the area. I will say there is not a lot of menu options/variety. I tend to like classic Italian dishes and here you will get a twist on everything, even the spaghetti. The olive oil served with the bread is amazing. Service is always great. The pizzas here are not my thing (thin crust, not much flavor, not loaded with toppings), but they seem to be popular. Its a very cute restaurant and out of all the Italian places in Charleston Id say it is definitely at the top of the pack (Maybe top 3 or 4) read more

Melfi's - Spaghetti, bread and olive oil - Pizza Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Outstanding! This is the one word that comes to mind when describing the food, the service, the vibe, and the experience at Melfie's. From the moment you walk in the door, you're stepping into such a cool & comfortable vibe. The pasta dishes, and the pizza are both outstanding! Also, not to be missed, is the chocolate gelato. The service was outstanding too. Next time you're in Charleston, put this on the top of your list. read more

I had the Oso Boca and it was quite possibly the best thing I've had in a very long time. So delicious! You do want to make a reservation. We sat at the bar and they still had to squeeze us in there. Wonderful food and ambiance. read more

Got so many recs to go here, but... something was just off about this place. The pizza did not blow me away. As someone who very much enjoys a New York triangle slice or even a big fat Detroit-style rectangle slice... Melfi's pie did not satisfy my pizza craving. Not to mention, the cheese slides right off the pizza. I thought it was supposed to be thin and crunchy; to my dismay, it was just thin and not crunchy at all. I'll leave my rating at a 3 because maybe I'm missing the bigger picture here. Would gladly come back to give them another go if I'm wrong! read more

Wonderful food! A great menu and some truly amazing dishes! The tuna crudo was out-of-this-world! I'm haunted by it as I just think of it! Service was excellent. Atmosphere is casual but comfy Italian. The only thing that needs some serious adjustment is the Wine menu. read more

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Very good, not terribly expensive for a downtown Italian restaurant. The atmosphere is nice

I went out to Melfis with a group of 5 of my friends from out of town, and we couldnt have had a better experience. The fried artichokes, zucchini, and all the pizzas were 10/10. Greg was our server, and he was top of the line. Very personable, great recommendations, knew ingredients to help us with allergy questions, and was very quick and attentive. I would definitely ask for him! Overall, this is very fun and pretty authentic italian food with a great restaurant vibe. Definitely a must go in charleston! read more

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Loved this place for so long and its principal but now adding payment tech fee at 3%. Just embarrassing that I brought wife to dinner for birthday and they have to pass on the fee to customers when I spent 400'for dinner. Be better or disclose that charge would paid cash and still paid 20% for server. read more

Melfi's - Pizza Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

This was a 10/10 night out. Highly recommend sitting at the back counter facing the kitchen!! The Stretch Armstrong pizza is incredible. If you like a buffalo mozzarella pizza, you'll love this too. Love the option for a half liter carafe of wine!! I don't know why every restaurant does not offer this. The Cacio e Pepe was also the best I've had since Rome. Definitely make reservations, or expect a wait, but the French bistro across the street is a great place to kill time with a few drinks. Will be back soon, cannot wait! read more

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This was such a lovely spot for lunch! Got two pasta dishes and they were both fresh and delicious. I'd be back for dinner! We sat at the bar and our bartender was very attentive and friendly. read more

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Was excited to return to Melfi's since when I moved here I was here almost every week. Went for lunch and got the Stretch Armstrong pizza. It was nothing special and too small to be $27. My friends pasta was smothered in a mountain of cheese, which took away from the dish itself. The drink was pretty good, we also got tiramisu which was tasty. The ambiance is 5 stars but don't feel that way about the food. read more

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Great drinks and amazing food! When you're in the mood for Italian, try Melfi's. The Paccheri with a hearty duck ragù was absolutely to die for--hands down the best duck I've ever had. The Bucatini was delicious as well, rich and satisfying. My date and I added crushed red pepper to both dishes, which kicked everything up a notch. Duane, our server, was awesome and made the experience even better. Overall, an incredible meal and a spot I'd gladly return to. read more

I've been here twice and both times were amazing! The first time I was seated at a table and we were able to walk in without reservations or a wait. I got an aperol spritz and my friends got espresso martinis. Both were great. For food I got the Cacio e Pepe and it was very authentic. The second time, we were seated at the bar. We got there right at opening so we didn't have a wait. We both got the Crab Cannelloni and it was to die for!! I was stuffed by the end of it but I couldn't stop eating it. We finished our meal with Zeppole for dessert. I'm not a huge sweets person but these were delicious! I would highly recommend getting the house white wine as well! read more

Melfi's - Aperol Spritz and Espresso Martini - Pizza Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

We got a warm recommendation from the front desk of our hotel to try this place. Rhett, our cheerful and helpful waiter, made sure there were no peanuts in any of the dishes I ordered. He kindly explained the portion sizes and was always attentive to anything we needed. We were fortunate to find this spot as walk-ins. For starters, we enjoyed the STRACCIATELLA & OLIVE OIL BRUSCHETTA, and for the main course, we shared the STRETCH Armstrong pizza--absolutely the best pizza I've had in a long time! Although I usually prefer a thick crust, the thin crust was perfectly soft and flavorful, thanks to the softness of the cheese and the beautifully done crust. The tomato sauce and cheese were bursting with flavor! For dessert, I tried the house special, sweet cream gelato with olive oil and sea salt. It was very light and simple! I would recommend this place to anyone who is visiting Charleston! read more

Came here for lunch on Saturday and got a reservation for the bar. The bar was super clean and comfortable. Their espresso martini is really really good! My bf loved his vodka drink with lemonchello. They give you free bread and oil when you sit down. I really wish they had gluten free pasta : ( but I ended up with the branzino which was crispy and delicious. They acccidently charged us for the dinner price, but they quickly resolved that. My bf loved his pasta! read more

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Went here for a friend's birthday celebration & they accommodated our group beautifully - drinks and apps were served promptly. Every dish was delicious; however, a few plates stood out: arancini, Caesar salad, cacio e Pepe, and osso bucco. The linen-covered tables reminded me of a little trattoria in Italy. read more

We had an amazing lunch at Melfi's for our son's birthday. The atmosphere and servers were amazing! We had the Spicy Caesar with chicken ($30), which was really great but pricey for a salad. We split it and it was enough for 2 people. Pizzas are $27, which seems a bit pricey, as compared to some other high end restaurants in the area. We'll be back-the only reason for not giving it 5 stars is the cost! read more

Yum! We came here for our anniversary and were greeted with champagne upon arrival. It really was the perfect spot to celebrate a special day between the stellar food and smaller, quieter ambiance. Service was great and parking is easy with their lot across the street. Our waitress really took the time to walk us through the menu and even brought me a side of stracciatella so I could nibble on it throughout the meal. In addition to the champagne we ordered a half carafe of the house red. Loved it and the portion side for a meal. We started with the Caesar salad. The toasted bread crumbs combined with the crunch of the lettuce made for a fabulous bite. For our entrees we split the osso bucco and duck rigatoni. The meat fell off the bone and truly melted in our mouths. My husband nearly licked the plate. The duck rigatoni might have been the star for me though. The flavor was bold and the meat as tender as the osso bucco. My only complaint was the thickness of noodle paired with the ratio of noodle to sauce. We were so full we left no room for dessert but they have an extensive menu including a sundae for four. My husband said this might be his new favorite CHS stop. Really loved everything we tried, and appreciated that when we go back we'd order a whole new line up because of the number of things on the menu that peaked our interest. read more

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If I could give this experience an additional star, I surely would. We ordered the spicy Caesar salad, stretch Armstrong pizza and the cacio e pepe bucatini. The spicy Caesar was delicious. Crisp and fresh, delicious. Just slightly spicy. I truly hope I can come close to recreating this at home. Absolute bliss. Then came the pizza. I am not a huge pizza connoisseur, but this was the most amazing, well balanced pizza I have ever had. The razor thin cracker crust was the perfect base to the best pizza sauce I have encountered. It wasn't too much of anything: basil, garlic, spice. Just a perfect tomato sauce. It was topped with fresh basil and hand pulled stracciatella which is like a stringier mozzarella ball, for lack of a better description. The crust was crispy and cracker thin. Just perfect in every way. The bucatini was amazing. The right amount of freshly cracked pepper, creamy light sauce, and perfectly cooked toothy pasta. All around amazing. We also had impeccable service. Our server, Brittany, was great. Gave loads of great advice, took extra time with us and was wonderful all around. I'm so rarely unilaterally impressed by a restaurant, I could not wait to echo the other amazing reviews that I had read. Make Melfi's a priority the next time you are in Charleston. read more

Amazing restaurant! Highly recommend. Service is incredible, food is delicious, atmosphere is great.

Melfi's has been on our must-try list for several years now, so we thought a birthday celebration would be the perfect time to visit. We shared a few appetizers and both order entrees. Everything was outstanding, including the service! We sat at the bar. The Calabrian Chile Caesar salad really stuck out to me, it was light but so flavorful. We both noted that we loved the classy atmosphere of Melfi's, especially the door service, green leather cushions, and metal ceiling tiles. I highly recommend visiting Melfi's, you won't be disappointed! read more

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Incredible experience all-around. Drinks, food, service. I ordered the same drink twice (it was that good). That drink being the 'Ex-Royal' - a gin & aperol drink that will knock the summer heat on its butt! We started with the Arancini (two orders of course). Fried to perfection. Also started with the Stracciatella & Olive Oil Bruschetta which was easily a 10/10. To kick off the main portion of the dinner, we ordered the special for the day which was a salad featuring locally sourced peaches and heirloom tomatoes with a balsamic dressing on a bed of smooth ricotta. 10/10. For our main courses we ordered the Bucatini 'Cacio E Pepe' and the Paccheri. Both dishes were excellent and cooked to perfection. I am partial to the Paccheri as the duck ragu was a new yet very satisfying try. The inside dining room is outstanding as well. The low lighting paired with plenty of space (something tough to do in some of these downtown Charleston restaurants) makes for a authentic white cloth Italian dining experience. We will definitely be returning here after our fantastic experience. read more

Melfi's - Bucatini 'Cacio E Pepe' - Pizza Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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