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Melfi's

4.2 (379 reviews)
PriceyPizza, Italian
Closed 12:00 pm - 4:00 PM, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Updated 3 months ago

Melfi's Pizza Restaurant Photos

Business Info

MELFI'S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Intimate
Romantic
Upscale
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Melfi's

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Reviews With Photos

Toni C.

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.

John R.

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.

Gisella Picos

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!

Bar area
Alex T.

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!

Stretch Armstrong pizza and tuna appetizer
Taylor G.

I ordered the Stretch Armstrong pizza and the Cacio e Pepe pasta, and both were standouts in their own way. The Stretch Armstrong was everything you want in a wood-fired pizza perfectly blistered crust with that ideal balance of chew and crisp. The simplicity of the ingredients really let the quality shine. It felt elevated without trying too hard.

Tiramisu
Sara R.

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!

Carbonara
Katherine C.

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.

Diavola Pizza (Top)
 Stretch Armstrong Pizza (Bottom)
Kelsey C.

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.

Interior
Hana B.

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!

Spaghetti, bread and olive oil
Tiffani R.

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)

Menu 1
Rebecca A.

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.

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.

Tuna crudo with a nice kick of spicy heat!
Carol C.

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.

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4 months ago

Delicious food and cocktails (especially the pizza!) Great customer service. Highly recommend!

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11 months ago

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8 months ago

yummmm place was amazing and great vibe!!! Tuna appetizer was delicious!!! Zucchini fries yummmmm great service totally enjoyed

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8 months ago

We had a great dinner Saturday night, food, service, and atmosphere were all excellent. We will be back.

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9 months ago

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10 months ago

Food and service are always excellent, love the vibe as well. But... Please bring back Mr. Wally!

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Page 2 of 10

Ask the Community - Melfi's

How is the outside patio seating? Is it better to sit inside?

I love both environments really. The patio has lots of greenery,shade,fans, lighting, and relaxed vibe. The inside is more of a retro stylish vibe.

Why does this say takeout is an option when they are not offering takeout?

I took a pizza home with us for later

Will this restaurant serve food at the bar?

Yes they do

Any gluten free pasta or pizza crust options?

There are plenty of gluten free options on the menu, but the chef does not offer any gluten free pasta or pizza crust options.

Is this place good for kids?

Not really. Very tight table configuration.

View All 6 Questions

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Wild Olive - Beautiful and elegant venue

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Melfi's - pizza - Updated May 2026

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