Wild Olive is the kind of place that reminds you why dining out can still feel special. The dim lighting sets the tone immediately -- intimate, warm, effortlessly romantic -- but what truly elevates the experience is the staff. Every recommendation felt intentional, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic without being pushy. We started with the octopus and suppli, and both were standouts. The octopus was perfectly tender with a beautiful char, and the suppli had that ideal crisp exterior giving way to rich, creamy risotto inside. For mains, the duck agnolotti was pure comfort -- I would drink the sauce with a spoon if I could. The elk loin was cooked beautifully tender and balanced with the potato and broccolini. Make sure to be online at noon 2 weeks before to book a reservation quickly! I understand why it's such a hard place to get a reservation for but it's worth all the wait. read more

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

The food's just okay and the prices are hard to swallow. That's the review, but let me explain. $49 for grouper? I was in Pensacola last week eating fresh grouper right on the water for like $20 and it was just as good. You're charging two and a half times the going rate. At that price the food better blow me away. It didn't. Walking in, the room skewed older. Not a knock, just what I noticed, but it set expectations the food never met. One weird thing. My wife asked for a bourbon sour with egg white and the waiter said they don't do egg whites. You run a full bar. That's a normal ask. Why say no? Then the merch table right at the front door. Shot glasses, t-shirts, hats, all branded Wild Olive, like the place is some institution. By the end of dinner it just felt off. You only want a souvenir from a place worth remembering. read more

I've been meaning to come to eat at Wild Olive for a long time. Finally managed after securing a reservation online. The entrance & interior to this restaurant are absolutely beautiful. It makes for a great experience. Our server was Julie and she was so great. Professional & knowledgeable about the menu & wine list. Unfortunately my fish was overcooked and not palatable. I was so disappointed & Julie tried everything to make things right. I know these things happen on busy nights. It's just the way it is. Overall we had a great experience and I would recommend Wild Olive. The restaurant was so busy with every table taken. So I strongly recommend book as soon as you know a date. It books up very fast. read more

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Exceptional service, exceptional food, exceptional setting and lots of parking. Veggies are incredibly fresh, well prepared, paired beautiful beautifully with the entire offerings. read more

What an amazing experience! We were in town visiting family and after a few drinks next door they took us to try Wild Olive. We didn't have a reservation but we were able to get seats at the bar right away. The service from the start was great! Marco our bartender was fantastic with his recommendations. He took great care of us. The food and wine were both incredible. We had a starter of mozzarella that was the special of the day which was awesome. Each of our pasta dishes was unique and perfectly crafted. The Rabbit Agnolotti was mild and delicious. The mushroom pappardelle was excellent as well. And the Eliche Zozzona had amazing flavor but was a bit salty. We would order everything again! The Sunday Gravy lasagna with elk was definitely the star of the show we all agreed. The ambience is pristine and so cozy! And we enjoyed every aspect of our night. We will definitely be back. read more

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Excellent dinner service on a busy Friday evening. Was able to secure 630 dinner reservations 2 weeks out (reservations are only released 2 weeks out so if you have a specific date or time you're interested please keep this in mind). Arrived 15 minutes early and was immediately taken back to our table. We were promptly greeted by our server who was so kind and helpful with the menu options. We settled on the bruschetta, a shared gnocchi pasta (added a meatball per the servers recommendation) and a side of the broccolini and artichokes. Everything was absolutely outstanding with the side dish being a favorite. Had to of course save room for the dessert and we selected carrot cake and chocolate cake that were exceptional. 10/10. Must visit read more

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

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Best Italian food we have ever had. Bread antipasto was amazing Chard octopus was so tender and delicious Calamari was tender and delicious Then we got baked penne, chicken parm, lamb penne special, and lobster risotto. All of them were so good. Each one is it's own special delicious dish. Best I've ever had. Service was sooo good read more

If you love Italian food, look no further than Wild Olive. My son and daughter in law have been raving about this place for a while so on my recent visit we had dinner here and I now know why they love this place so much. It's one of Johns Island's hidden gems. Its warm lighting, decorative bottles, delicious looking jars of sauces and flavorful aromas will entice you to eat your way through the cuisine. We had a wonderful and friendly server. She provided a mouth watering description of the daily specials and assisted in recommendations. We started out with the all too familiar bruschetta that's fixed in an untraditional way; with with zucchini, squash, corn, tomato, onion, ricotta, basil, lemon vinaigrette. We also ordered the Suppli al Telefono which are risotto fritters stuffed with sausage, spinach, parmesan, mozzarella, tomato vodka aioli. Mouth watering yet? For our main course, my son and I opted for the favored chicken Parmesan while my brother had the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese and my daughter in law chose the Goat Cheese Gnocchi and we all shared the smashed and fried potatoes. Be sure to save room for dessert. The tiramisu, peaches & cream pie and gelato affogato are all very tasty! read more

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The food is good, but the presentation is either really bad or ironic. The Chicken Parmesan was served with huge wet leaves on top. It was funny but also very rude.. read more

Wild Olive - Chicken Parmesan with wet greens - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

This is hands down the best restaurant in Charleston. The ambiance is fantastic and the food is consistently great. We love to have Julie as our server but every server we have always is incredible! Can't recommend this enough. read more

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Wild Olive continues to shine as one of the best spots on John's Island. I ordered the Tagliatelle alla Bolognese and it was incredible rich, balanced, and clearly made with care. The pasta was perfectly cooked and the sauce had that slow-simmered depth you hope for but rarely find. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, perfect for everything from date night to a relaxed dinner with friends. Service was attentive without rushing the experience. If you're looking for thoughtful Italian food in a cozy setting, Wild Olive never disappoints. 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.

We have really enjoyed our dinners here previously. It's a nice spot for a fancy dinner with family or nice date night.

A wonderful dining experience a short drive from Charleston proper Italian food that is authentic and not heavy on sauce but full of flavor. Fantastic service in an approachable setting. One of the better Italian based meals I have had in a long time. A definite recommendation read more

One of my favorite Italian spots in Charleston. It is right next to Low Tide Brewing so I usually grab a drink there first and then head over for dinner. Service was great with the waiter checking in just the right amount. I had the lobster risotto and it was fantastic. It is pricey at seventy dollars but definitely worth trying. read more

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

My favorite Italian spot in (right outside of) Charleston. The staff is SO knowledgeable and helpful. Very efficient and attentive. The inside is so cute and cozy - perfect for dates or family dinners. The food is phenomenal. One of the only places I'll go and order something different every time because you truly cannot strike out with anything you order. Recommend trying their specials as they are always incredibly well done. read more

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Great place on Maybank. Great service and menu. Get the octopus and steak. The wine list is excellent.

Wild Olive is THE spot!! & A bit of a drive from downtown, but so worth it. The Eliche was to die for, those pasta noodles are just so fun to eat! Obsessed with the vibes inside and the services was amazing and extremely friendly!! Overall amazing experience and would 100% recommend! read more

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Outstanding food. Kim gave excellent service. The elegant yet homey ambiance gives this place a unique feel. read more

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

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Such amazing food, service and ambiance. I LOVE Wild Olive! I couldn't recommend it more. read more

We visited in April. We were seated as soon as we arrived and our server was so friendly. We tried a few of the specials, pictured here. Everything was delicious and the restaurant was cozy and had lovely music playing, as well. It was my favorite dinner of the trip! Can't wait to come back again. We were happy also to take some marinara sauce home. read more

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Had a wonderful evening at the Wild Olive. Colin was an excellent waiter and definitely added to our dining experience with attentive and knowledgeable suggestions. My wife had the Trigger Fish after the Grouper had run out. It was presented impeccably on a pesto sauce with mushrooms and Greenpeace. I had the Lobster Risotto . I have to say they didn't skimp on the Lobster. Literally had what looked like almost an entire tail and whole claw in my dish. Wow. Food was outstanding Truly an excellent meal and experience. Well worth our time and money. Go enjoy...we did. read more

In years past we have always enjoyed our meals at Wild Olive on vacation even eating there twice during a single trip. However this year the restaurant was truly lacking in the quality of the food, especially for the price point. The pasta was overcooked/soggy and the meals came out lukewarm. The $50 Ribeye tasted like a bad sirloin from Ponderosa. What has changed in the kitchen? Such a disappointment after looking forward to this Anniversary dinner all week. read more

Wild Olive is our favorite restaurant in Charleston. They do not miss! Food is always excellent from the appetizers to the entrees to the desserts. And good cocktails and wine selection. Love it and will keep coming back again and again. read more

This was such a cute spot! Made a reservation in advance which I would recommend as it's not huge. Has a decent parking lot and got seated/greeted fast. The bread appetizer was good, the risotto arancini option (not pictured) was hands down the favorite! Pasta was a perfect portion and so yum. I loved the agnolotti dish and the broth it was in made it feel lighter than it was, highly recommend! read more

Wild Olive - Agnolotti and Ricotta Gnocchi - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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My family and I dined at Wild Olive last night to celebrate a special occasion with my adult children, and unfortunately the meal was one of the most disappointing we've ever had. Every single dish we ordered was overwhelmingly salty--so much so that even I (someone who loves salt and uses it generously at home) couldn't finish my plate. The problems started with the cup of soup, which tasted strangely sour. The gnocchi and another pasta dish arrived with noticeably undercooked noodles, and the scallops, while beautifully presented, were served on a bed of grits that were salted to the point of being inedible. I regret not speaking up in the moment; I didn't want to create an uncomfortable scene during our celebration. But the consistent issues across multiple dishes (oversalting, sour soup, undercooked pasta) made the evening genuinely upsetting, especially given Wild Olive's reputation. I'm sharing this feedback in the hope it helps the kitchen identify and fix what went wrong that night. Regrettably, the experience was so far below expectations that we won't be returning. read more

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

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

Be hungry! Generous pirtions of delicioyd Italian food! Pappardelle with wild mushrooms...excellent. "Sunday Gravy" lasagna...the guy proclaimed it sublime. Glass of Tuscan red wine...served chilled. Not sure wine but it was perfect with the meal. Brocollini and artichoke side...very good. Good service! Our favorite restaurant near Kiawah Island. read more

Wild Olive - Sunday Gravy lasagna... - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

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Closer to 5 stars than 3 stars but 4 feels about right. The prices can be high although the quality is high as well so if you're comfortable with the trade-off its totally fine. Take-out containers are pretty bad though, they use cardboard fold boxes which are annoying to reassemble. They're lined with plastic but some of the sauce soaks into the cardboard and it has a tendency to leak out since the cracks are just folded over, not actually sealed. Highlights of the menu are the smashed potatoes, any of their homemade pastas, their polenta and their bison short ribs. read more

Wow! I've been all over the world including Italy twice and live close to NY, so I've been to a few top rated restaurants. THIS place tops them all. Food, service, ambience, presentations are Michelin Star quality. Book a reservation ASAP and get your butts in their seats. You won't be disappointed. read more

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Such a gem on John's Island! Fantastic Italian food with delicious desserts (get the tiramisu!) -food: specials are usually scrumptious; the gnocchi & lasagna are amazing! *bonus- Gluten Free penne available to substitute some pasta dishes (think it's from a box, not handmade, but thoughtful!) -drinks: good cocktails (paper plane) and mocktails (paloma) -service: quick/attentive -ambiance: fun yet loud -parking: fills quickly, they have their own lot behind the restaurant which is another plus read more

Wild Olive - Mozzarella appetizer special - Italian Near Me - Johns Island, South Carolina

Delicious food! A bit pricey but excellent food, craft cocktails, service. Worth the experience. The atmosphere and decor are also very mood setting read more

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

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

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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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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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

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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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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