Diners' Choice: Italian restaurants in South Carolina

OpenTable

Updated June 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Italian cuisine in South Carolina? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Pomodori - Hilton Head

4.9

4.9 (2076)

$31 to $50

Italian

Hilton Head Island

About the restaurant

Due to the intimacy of our Restaurant and to guarantee your dining experience reservations are almost always required all year long.

Please be mindful when booking reservations. If you select "OUTDOOR SEATING" you WILL be dining on our screened in patio. If you select "STANDARD SEATING" you will be at a table inside in one of our dining rooms. Same day changes may not be possible. Requests for bar seating can only be made by calling the restaurant - not through reserving times on Open Table. For same day reservations please call the restaurant after 3:00 for the most up to date availability!

Our Food is Fresh, Our Wines are Old, Our Recipes are Timeless, Our Family is Yours.

Grazie,
Amanda

Top review

Kim

Dined 5 days ago

Excellent experience as usual We Love Pomodori The service is excellent

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Popular dish

CANNOLI

Popular dish

Tagliatelle con Bolognese

Popular dish

Arancini

Casa Calamari

4.8

4.8 (33)

$30 and under

Italian

Surfside Beach

About the restaurant

An amazing Italian-American eatery, Casa Calamari is one of the best Italian spots in Surfside Beach, SC. Always ready to treat our guests, Casa Calamari is a must-try restaurant in the Horry County area.
We offer a number of gourmet pizzas, excellent calzones & strombolis, and the authentic flavor bomb that is our pasta. There are so many great Italian choices with us and they're all worth a try. You'll definitely want to come back and have a little bit of everything!
For the healthy eaters out there - a selection of top-notch salads and excellent seafood dishes that are light and filling is always available. We also serve tasty sandwiches and rich main courses for the hungriest! The dessert section is a mix of Italian and classic American favorites that soothe the soul.

Top review

LouVIP

Dined on May 25, 2025

For a local Italian restaurant, we were very impressed with their food and service. Our pasta was cooked to perfection even though it was Angel Hair which is difficult to get just right as were our scallops and shrimp dishes. Our fried calamari was also deliciously prepared and very tender. Our server, Christian, did a great job and catered to our every request with a smile. I highly recommend Casa Calamari for a no frills, and modestly priced, Italian Restaurant in Surfside (Myrtle Beach, SC).

The Market Cafe at Michael Anthony's

4.9

4.9 (1615)

$31 to $50

Italian

Hilton Head Island

About the restaurant

Michael Anthony’s Market Cafe, the sister restaurant to Michael Anthony’s Cucina Italiana, features casual, trattoria-style dining for lunch and dinner plus an Italian specialty shop. Located just across the breezeway from Michael Anthony’s, we cater to almost all of your culinary desires.
Here we showcase a menu of lighter fare including sandwiches, salads, pasta, pizza and smaller portions of our chefs’ acclaimed meat and seafood dishes. We also have Italian coffees and a full bar. "Hilton Head Monthly" readers have voted us their “Favorite New Restaurant” and “Favorite Lunch Place.”
Join us for Happy Hour (4:30pm-5:30pm), when we offer specially-priced cocktails, wine and perfectly-sized snack plates.
Or stop in and browse our carefully-curated specialty foods. They include cheeses, fresh meats, house-made pastas, olive oil, tomato products, heat-and-serve entrees and homemade desserts.
Please visit our website or call for dining reservations.

Top review

Regina

Dined 3 days ago

Service, ambiance and delightful staff, oh yeah, then there’s the outrageously good food!!!!

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Popular dish

Chicken Parmigiana

Luigi's Trattoria

4.8

4.8 (2598)

$30 and under

Italian

Myrtle Beach

About the restaurant

Luigi’s Trattoria welcomes you to visit us.. We are a family-owned restaurant known for great food, great staff, beautiful decor, and so much more.

Top review

GayleVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Returned during this year’s vacation and was again delighted with Luigi’s. The grouper I had was prepared to perfection, my husband’s mussels with garlic sauce was fabulous and the bread and olive oil was the best!

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Popular dish

Grouper Franchese

Gios Italian Kitchen - Pawleys Island

4.8

4.8 (275)

$30 and under

Italian

Pawleys Island

About the restaurant

Prepare to be thrilled at this all-star Italian restaurant located off Ocean Highway in Pawleys Island, SC. Gios Italian Kitchen is family owned and operated since August 7th, 2014. Brothers/Chefs Klodjan & Renato Hoxha run the kitchen while the sister/GM Eri handles the front. Parents are also involved in the business operation on a daily basis. The Hoxha family was born in Albania and moved to the United States in 2003, seeking the American dream. The family has 17 years of experience in cooking. Our chefs make all the dishes with the freshest ingredients and highest quality of product. Gios serves the best marinara sauce and some of the tastiest authentic Italian dishes in the Grand Strand. We pride ourselves in providing quality consistent good food while emphasizing in excellent guest service. Eat Fresh. Eat Well. Eat Local.

Top review

jimVIP

Dined 5 days ago

Quickly becoming one of the favorites!! Great menu, great staff, and the specials, hard to choose which way to order. Really enjoyed it!

Ciao Italian Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1866)

$30 and under

Italian

Myrtle Beach

About the restaurant

Escape to Italy without leaving Myrtle Beach at Ciao Italian Restaurant. Step inside and let the aromas of garlic, simmering sauces, and delicious dishes transport you to Italy. This family-owned gem has been serving authentic Italian cuisine since 2006, using cherished family recipes. At Ciao, every dish is a masterpiece made with the finest ingredients. Start with signature "Starters" like the mozzarella caprese or carpaccio surf & turf. For your main course, indulge in handmade pasta, fresh seafood, or tender veal specialties, each bite reflecting their commitment to quality and flavor. Ciao also offers a warm, inviting atmosphere with rustic Italian decor and an open kitchen where you can see the culinary magic. On pleasant evenings, enjoy al fresco dining on the outdoor patio, soaking in the ocean breeze and vibrant Myrtle Beach energy. Whether celebrating a special occasion or craving Italian flavors, Ciao Italian Restaurant promises an unforgettable dining experience.

Top review

Susan

Dined 5 days ago

Really nice. Delicious food, ample portions, Wonderful warm bread & dipping sauce. Salad with entree. Our new favorite Italian restaurant in Myrtle Beach.

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Costa Coastal Kitchen & Bar

4.8

4.8 (753)

$30 and under

Italian

Murrells Inlet

About the restaurant

Coming Soon!

Top review

EricaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

Always a great meal. Molly, our server, was awesome as usual!

OMBRA Cucina Italiana

4.7

4.7 (6157)

$30 and under

Italian

Hilton Head Island

About the restaurant

Top chef Michael Cirafesi, voted Best Chef Hilton Head Island seven years in a row, brings to Hilton Head Island and the low country region one of the area’s most acclaimed Italian restaurant and bar, OMBRA Cucina Italiana, located in the beautiful Village at Wexford on the south end of Hilton Head Island. Come and enjoy innovative Italian cuisine along with an extensive wine list including Italian Benchmark wines. Stop by to relax at our bar and lounge with a spectacular selection of Italian specialty cocktails, apertifs, and digestivos. Our pasta entrees can be made with gluten free pasta upon request to accommodate customers with allergies. We also have vegan/vegetarian options upon request.

Top review

domenicaVIP

Dined 4 days ago

We had a lovely time at Ombra with outstanding food and service! Everything we ordered was delicious and beautifully presented. Thank you for a wonderful evening!

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Tagliatelle alla Bolognese

Portofino Italian Kitchen & Wine Bar

4.8

4.8 (711)

$30 and under

Italian

Myrtle Beach

About the restaurant

Open Table DINER'S CHOICE AWARD 2025!
UPDATE: OPEN on SUNDAY May 11th, Mother's Day
An elegant atmosphere to relax and taste uniquely authentic food, with a twist of Italian creativity! House made focaccia, pesto, lasagna, eggplant parm, zuppa di pesce , house made lobster ravioli....and many other dishes that match the best Italian culinary tradition! And our vibrant bar is ready to serve any cocktails, liquors and a large selection of Italian and international wines. Giovanni and Ilma Carapelli are waiting to welcome you, together with our incredible staff members!

Top review

tom

Dined 3 days ago

High quality native Italian food. Their sauces were top notch. Chef even visited with us after our meal. Great to have another fine restaurant to chose from

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4.8

4.8 (667)

$50 and over

Italian