Wild Olive

The first time I went here in 2021, I thought it was mediocre. Then, after constantly hearing my friends say how phenomenal the food was, I decided to give it another chance. I'm glad I did because this has become my go to Italian restaurant. Go with what the reviews say are good and it won't disappoint. Any of their pastas cooked with meat they do a phenomenal job. I always have leftovers because the portions are huge. The atmosphere is romantic and cozy, inside and out. The servers were always accommodating all of the times I went. They get busy fast so I recommend getting a reservation. We got the Sunday Gravy lasagna and lamb ragu special. The bechamel and the elk/venison/ribeye on the lasagna were very good. If you like a more hearty dish, go with the lasagna. The lamb ragu was tender, savory, and surprisingly light. Most ragus I've had are pretty heavy. The rigatoni gives the perfect sauce to noodle bite.

A must try restaurant. Fantastic service (Karen). Pictured here is the Halibut, Ribeye, and Chicken Parmigiana. All fantastic, served hot and perfectly cooked. End w peach pie or blueberry cheesecake cake! The decaf Slow Motion Coffee…excellent. Reservation a must and necessary weeks out (summer months). Tight seating, that was the only reason for 4 ⭐️ not 5.

Literally everything was delicious! The baked potatoes are absolutely diabolical! I could've had a whole plate of just the potatoes... I ordered the elk and it was perfectly made and flavorful! The peaches and cream pie hit the spot so all together we had a great experience! Our server was awesome, theres nothing to complain about! I highly recommend reserving a table ahead of time cause they do get super busy (rightfully so)! We will be back for sure!

The Wild Olive is easy to miss, but should not be passed up. Everything about the restaurant feels curated and beautiful even the parking lot. The flowers and topiary garden out front let you know that they pay attention to detail even before you take your seat. We waited about 10 minutes for a high top table. Our waiter was an absolute STAR - gave splendid menu advice, drink recommendations, and even provided a list of places to eat the next night. The pasta was perfectly cooked and beef broth was so delicious.

We snagged a last minute reservation after visiting the Tea Plantation. Lucky us. Everything was just as delicious as a visit many years ago. We enjoyed the lamb bolognase, garden salad and tiramasu.

The Wild Olive never disappoints. Everything's perfect from the moment you walk in the door from the clean environment to the friendly staff and delightful food. A true hidden gem! The Chicken parmesan is always my go to "Happy Food". Their pastry chef always knocks it out of the park with her amazing desserts. I would highly recommend this restaurant.

Finally got to try Wild Olive and it did not disappoint. We got the calamari and octopus for appetizers. The octopus just melts in your mouth. Both our main entree was delicious and had some left overs. The staff was attentive and friendly. Wild Olive is worth the visit and we will be definitely coming back.

Fabulous find! From the focaccia to the calamari then add the best chicken Parmesan and a mushroom papardella….wow complete jewel!

Absolutely love Wild Olive, some of the best food in the greater Charleston area, and have always wanted to go as much as I can. Reservations are sparse but worth it

Really cool quaint Italian place, super popular and busy so grab reservations. Chicken Parm was really good and pasta was nice and fresh. The fried potatoes were good but if your not a truffle oil fan I would pass. Don't sleep on the half baked cheesecake, it was amazing. Meatball was really good too.

Amazing food and a wonderful experience! The food came out pretty quickly. My favourites were the calamari with marinara sauce and chicken parmigiana. The 3 layered choc cake was also divine.

Wild Olive was fantastic! From house-made breads and pastas to high quality meats and delectable desserts! My wife and I enjoyed our anniversary dinner here. Get a reservation, the place was packed!

Listen, I’ve got a lot to say here, but all you really need to know is get the lobster chowder. I enjoyed everything, but my only regret is not getting a gallon of that stuff for a trip straight to heaven! Wife ordered the strawberry basil mojito and if it wouldn’t be considered rude I’m pretty sure she would have licked the cup clean. Best strawberry drink she’s ever had. Outside of that, the grilled octopus was a solid choice with a unique taste that I’ve not had before. The lasagna and boar special were top contenders as well, leaving no disappointment and totally full bellies. Really fast service and food arrival to the table.

Wild Olive is hands down our favorite restaurant in Charleston and has been our go-to spot for years. Every visit feels special, whether it’s a casual night out or a celebration. The food is consistently incredible, with fresh, flavorful ingredients that highlight the best of Italian cuisine. Their house-made pasta is a standout, and the wine selection never disappoints. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the staff always make us feel like family with their attentive service. You can tell how much care goes into every detail, from the menu to the cozy ambiance. Wild Olive is more than just a meal—it’s an experience we look forward to every time. Highly recommend!

We had a great experience and the food was fantastic. Our server Chris was wonderful. We're looking forward to trying more from the menu next time.

What a great reason to go to John’s island! Loved this Italian gem! Found out that the chef who opened the OD worked here so that explains why OD is so good also. The marinara, mozzarella, sauces, pasta – everything is made from scratch and it showed. The only problem is choosing what to order. And I’m an artichoke fan so I had the artichoke and broccolini side dish, and it was absolutely amazing, as well.

PHENOMENAL! From start to finish, our meal was fantastic and our server Taylor was so pleasant and attentive. We wanted to try something new for our anniversary so this was our first visit to Wild Olive. We ordered the risotto fritters, ravioli, swordfish, and scallops. Each and every dish was mouth-watering. The swordfish was my husband's and my absolute favorite. The flavors and ingredient combinations were impressive. I seriously can't shut up about how good everything was! We live about 40 minutes from the restaurant and agreed it was well worth every mile. We can't wait to get back!

Perfect. Everything about this restaurant is done well. Location, The Building, Outdoor area and parking. Then you walk in what looks like a home and it’s a we’ll designed restaurant with different rooms and wine bar. Now, the menu is the best thing here. At the end the menu why we came to dine. Pictured a few things we ordered. I loved the Mountain River Elk. The scallops where also on point. I really want to return. I felt the menu was perfectly curated and it’s well rounded. This was home cooking done gourmet with Love. A must visit restaurant.

The short rib ravioli is one of the single best pasta dishes I've ever had. Service eas impeccable. Went here for my wife's birthday. Loved it. Will be back for dinner again soon.

11/10 would recommend. Elevate your next night out and get to Wild Olive! I’ve been hearing about this restaurant for years but never made the 45 minute trip to try it out until recently and my only regret is not going sooner. The bustling interior atmosphere and charming outdoor location feel like something out of a movie while the food and service are top notch. Excellent spot for date night, celebrations with friends or dinner with coworkers. Cannot wait to go back!

Man, this place rocked. Yes, I left in an absolute food coma but in the best way. I had a special lamb ragu pasta w short rib that was unbelievable. We had the risotto balls, calamari, and olives to start and it was the perfect trio. Ambiance was lovely. Server was attentive, kind, and gave great recommendations. Got a slice of the banana cream pie to go and my goodness was it delicious. 😋😋😋

I wish I could leave this place more than 5 stars. Just wow. Whole experience was awesome. Top notch from the hostess Olivia as soon as we walked in to the bartenders to our server who’s name I regretfully cannot remember. We ordered several appetizers and a pasta course each and the chicken parm. Do yourself a favor and bring your appetite because everything is delicious and makes phenomal leftovers. A solid wine and cocktail menu rounds out the whole experience. One of the best meals I’ve had in a long time.

Atmosphere was warm and family friendly while still feeling intimate in our corner booth. We ordered the elk sausage appetizer on specials, had great flavors and well presented. “Sunday Gravy” lasagna was absolutely amazing!! Ravioli doppoti was a LARGE homemade pasta and filling! Best cheesecake we’ve ever had and homemade gelato was nostalgic in flavor. Server was very friendly, but we had empty glasses more than once and you could see servers shooting looks at each other, which made it feel a bit weird when they came back to the table all cheerful…

Meet Charlestons' best Italian restaurant!!! From the enchanting entrance and well-appointed parking lot. Check the chandelier in the tree to the glass bottles in the plaster wall and the great landscaping upon entry. Once inside, the hostess will whisk you to your reserved seat. The lighting is great, and the sound level is just fine... jazz in the background. The bread is magnificent, and the grilled octopus is top tier. I don't think there could be any poor choices, so get what you may. Our selections were all extremely well prepared and out in a jiffy. Desert was an olive oil cheesecake...try it...real nice. All in all, this is a remarkable and rememberable restaurant. A+

From the moment we walked in, the ambiance was warm and inviting, and the staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed. The menu offered an impressive variety of authentic Italian dishes, and every bite was exceptional. I started with the suppli al telephono risotto fritters that paired perfectly with the accompanying sauce. For my main course, I had a beautifully prepared tagliatelle alla bolognese that was bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. The dessert—a classic chocolate cake —was the perfect sweet ending to an incredible meal. The staff were attentive, knowledgeable, and clearly passionate about providing a memorable dining experience. Their recommendations were spot-on, and they made sure every detail was just right. This was more than just a meal; it was an experience. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for authentic Italian cuisine and outstanding service. I’ll definitely be returning!

Great Italian food. Very popular place, it is an island favorite. Recommend that you make reservations. If you plan on eating between 6 and 9 Very lively, multiple different seating areas, 2 or 3 little dining rooms plus a nice bar. Food is excellent. Atmosphere is excellent. Can't think of anything negative to say, very consistent, great experience every time been there, probably 2-3 dozen times

This is one of our fav dinner spots! They have not one bad thing on the menu. Have had great service every time as well They forgot to bring our leftovers back out after they boxed it and they comped an entire meal because of it- this restaurant would have 1,000,000 stars if I could rate it that high!

This is my favorite restaurant in town. The chicken parmigiana is next level. You definitely need a reservation if you want a table. You will not be disappointed! I used to live right down the street, which was very convenient. I now live in Mount Pleasant, but that doesn’t stop me from dragging my wife all the way across town to get my fix of Wild Olive.

What an outstanding meal! 4th time coming here in the last 5 years. This visit we ordered the sunday gravy lasanga and I asked them to make a simple fettacini alfredo with chicken. The waitress recommend adding panchetta for flavor. It was dynamite! So good. I highly recommend this place. You will be very impressed.

We had a wonderful dinner. The daily specials were a hit. We ordered several sides/ appetizers to share. Reservations are highly recommended. The lighting is low, and the atmosphere is intimate. The waitstaff was friendly and attentive.

TLDR; A wonderful example of how poor service can color an otherwise incredible dining experience. I had the pleasure to eat at Wild Olive over the weekend with some friends who managed to secure a reservation. The restaurant had come highly recommended by multiple acquaintances and has frequently been lauded as "my favorite restaurant in Charleston". We were excited and had thoroughly thumbed through the menu prior to our arrival. The restaurant itself is nice, nothing overly fancy but a tasteful, dimly lit space with a mix of modern and historic elements that creates a welcoming ambience; this is further reinforced by a small gift shop that lines the walk to the hostess. There is both a main dining area where you can admire a beautiful bar and a smaller, more intimate room where you have a direct view of the kitchen. The restaurant was well decorated for Christmas and the smaller room we found ourselves in was lined with framed photos... most of which are personal enough to seem like they may share some tangential relationship to the heritage of the restaurant but could just as easily be a random assortment of Italian locations and people. For appetizers, we opted for the caesar salad and quail. A caesar salad is a must try for me at any location brave enough to offer it as an appetizer. Unfortunately, Wild Olive's Caesar missed the mark entirely. It was severely under dressed, lacking almost any flavor, and quite small for the price. The anchovy I so craved was likely still in a tube somewhere in the kitchen. Our other appetizer, the quail, was remarkable. The apple and fennel perfectly complimenting the ricotta the bird was stuffed with. Fortunately, our entrees did not have the same variance as our appetizers. Each of them was fantastic. Well plated, clearly made with fresh and unique ingredients, and oh so incredibly flavorful. I particularly enjoyed just how many unique protein options populate Wild Olive's menu. The Angolotti features rabbit, the Sunday gravy a lovely mix of elk, venison, and ribeye with enough meat to make a vegetarian blush. Even the gnocchi special that included the lowly chicken somehow managed to surprise with how tender it was. The smashed potatoes side also scratched the deep seated truffle itch that exists in every human's soul. Desert similarly stood out, including a chocolate cake which defied all expectations with its airiness that was like an oxymoron when juxtaposed by its dense layered appearance. The coffee toffee cheesecake was also great - it wasn't quite as dense as I enjoy my cheesecake but the toffee lining its surface more than made up for it. So, am I so petty that a lackluster Caesar took what would easily be a 4 to 5 star review and brought it down to a 3? Absolutely not. The unfortunate truth of our time at Wild Olive was that the incredible meal struggled to be the focus in light of how subpar the service was. From the moment we interacted with our waitress, the proverbial "vibe" was off. Way off. It sincerely felt as though she was running away from our table. Questions would be asked only for her to be walking away mid answer. Every decision felt rushed. The real feather in the cap of the situation was a comment when the bill arrived - as i clicked beyond the tip a few questions about the restaurant flashed and she removed the card reader from the table indicating there was no need to answer those questions because "they're about my service". In so many words, we felt as though we were treated very rudely throughout. The experience is a reminder that dinner out is kind of like family - you don't decide who your waiter is when you sit down. But a difficult uncle can absolutely become the only thing you remember about an otherwise incredible Thanksgiving Turkey. Unfortunately for us, while I'll certainly echo the recommendation for Wild Olive to others, it will always be accompanied by the story of how our service was amongst some of the poorest I have had the misfortune to have received.

I really wanted to love this place, but I left disappointed. Food: The pasta was way too salty and tasted undercooked. Portions were small, and the soup felt like it came out of a can and got microwaved. The only decent thing was the bread with bean dip, but that’s pretty hard to mess up. I was excited about the food, but it wasn’t even close to great. Service: Our waiter didn’t ask about dietary restrictions and seemed nervous the whole night. I’m a pescatarian, and I ordered pasta with no meat listed on the menu, but it still came with meat. We felt rushed to order, and the whole seating process took 40 minutes. It didn’t feel like a relaxed experience—more like they wanted us in and out. Tables are so close to each other that we felt like chatting with the table close to us since everyone heard everything. We spent $95 for this, and it just wasn’t worth it. To top it off, our card was used to buy shoes on Monday, shipped to an address in South Carolina. The last place we used my card and gave the billing address was here. I’m not saying it was them, but it’s a weird coincidence, and it’s definitely unsettling.

I want to start with the positive: our waitress was genuinely great. She was attentive, kind, personable, and handled all the small touches—boxing our leftovers, checking in at the right times, and giving the level of service you’d expect from a higher-end restaurant. But the rest of the experience didn’t match the price point. We had a reservation, yet when we arrived we were told we needed to wait because there weren’t enough menus available. I’ve waited for a table before, sure—but waiting because a restaurant doesn’t have enough menus? That was a first. For a place charging premium prices, it feels wild that they can’t print or buy enough menus to cover their own dining room. As for the food: nothing was outright bad, but nothing stood out either. I’ve had better dishes at much cheaper restaurants. The only thing that really impressed me were the roasted potatoes, which ended up being the highlight of the whole meal… and they were a side. When one person spends around $100 for two drinks, an appetizer, and an entrée, you expect to be wowed by more than the potatoes. Overall, the service from our waitress was the strongest part of the evening, but the food and some avoidable operational issues didn’t justify the price. I left feeling underwhelmed, and for the cost, that’s hard to overlook.

We had heard about Wild Olive for about 2 years and finally made it there for our Anniversary on Saturday. I had the little neck clams for an appetizer which was very good, and my husband loved his risotto fritters. For dinner I had the lobster risotto and although it was tasty, for $70 there was a decent-size lump of lobster meat but a very small portion of risotto. And although tasty, the risotto had too much sauce and not enough risotto so it was watery, and I could have used a spoon for it as it was like soup. I was really hoping for more of a traditional risotto - a little thicker and not so much sauce. It was served in a huge bowl which was not necessary since the portion was small. So I liked my appetizer but was disappointed in my dinner choice. My husband loved his gnocchi for dinner. We also found it odd that warm bread did not come with the meal - you had to order it and pay extra - which we did. So overall the staff couldn't have been any more accommodating - so nice, the atmosphere was pleasant, and the food was good -- in my opinion just not great. So we've been there once - that's probably enough as there are other restaurants we'd like to try.

Average food dining experience. Our server Colin while talking to us was just too close for comfort. He would touch our seats backs and that made my wife uncomfortable. Mushroom Pasta was the worst pasta that I have ever had. If you are looking for a better experience I would rrecommend La Farfelle or Vern. Warm Olives were served cold and Service was no existent at best.

The food was outstanding, but unfortunately we were sat in the loudest room in the restaurant right beside the loudest table in that room. We were so close to them it was almost like we were at their table. They were so incredibly loud that I couldn’t even carry on a conversation with my wife because we couldn’t hear each other. We were literally having to text each other during the meal. While the food and service were both excellent, it still felt like a waste of money because we spent $200 on a meal for two and didn’t even get to properly enjoy each other’s company. And this was on a Wednesday and our reservation was 6:15. We were there to celebrate an achievement but the excessive loudness totally ruined it & now we just feel ripped off. I don’t know if it is always like this… we might have just been “lucky” because as we were walking out of the restaurant the other rooms in the restaurant were *significantly* less obnoxious than where we were sat. If you want to have a conversation without having to yell, avoid the big room on the side of the restaurant facing Maybank. It’s 10x louder than the bar area and 20x louder than the back room facing the parking lot.

My wife and I went here an we both agreed as well as the the table next us an a few others that the hype of this place is far below the expectations. The table next to us was staring at me an I couldn’t figure out why till I siad something about the food the woman said I KNEW IT.. and said the same about the food. Water has more flavor than what we ordered. We didn’t eat but a few mouthfuls a looked at each other in shock. We asked for the bill to just leave an it was as we expected $130.. A steak and sweet tea - a small plate of pasta with shrimp and a tea.. yes it was that much nothing extra.. but we expected over the top food etc.. The steak was maybe 1/4inch thin an as big as my hand LITERALLY NO FLAVOR AT ALL DIDNT EVEN TASTE LIKE MEAT it was so bizarre..side was these potatoes an covered in a sauce an a bunch of other stuff, it HAD NO FLAVOR ETHIER.. I don’t have a clue how they pulled this off .. My wife said the same, I tried hers an I couldn’t tell the difference from what she had an I had, The family next to us said the same… This was a first for us Lol , Maybe the cook was not feeling well I don’t know but I am curious HOW THEY PULLED THIS OFF, THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE MEALS WAS THE TEXTURE 😅😅😅 Wow.. 🤯 it was so strange… Hey if that’s your thing an you like it this is your place however avoid a generic Olive Garden it will blow your mind an be way less expensive.. there are good Italian restaurants in Charleston that are worth the price this isn’t one of them or wasn’t for a number of us that evening.

The service felt rushed and impersonal. There was very little effort made to connect with us, guide us through the menu, or understand what we were looking for. When dishes were described, the descriptions didn’t match what arrived. The pasta was presented as having a cream sauce but came out like a broth, and the suggested sausage pairing did not complement it well. The short rib was extremely heavy and thick, and the polenta lacked flavor, we couldn’t taste the Parmesan at all. The olives were overwhelmingly salty, and the red sauce served with the calamari was very acidic, which made it difficult to enjoy for me personally. The calamari itself was good, but overall the meal felt unbalanced and the service lacked attentiveness. We had hoped for a warm, thoughtful dining experience and left disappointed.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Wild Olive and have always appreciated the quality of food and service. However, after a recent visit with my wife, I feel compelled to share a disappointing experience. During our visit, I ordered the pasta special and my wife ordered the chicken parmesan. While everything started off well, we quickly ran into an issue when my wife discovered that her chicken was visibly raw in the center. We immediately brought this to the attention of our server, who acknowledged it was raw and that this “happens a lot,” which made me feel sick and in shock. While the dish was eventually replaced with a properly cooked meal, we were surprised to see that the original item was still included on our bill. Given the seriousness of the issue, we expected the charge to be removed as a gesture of goodwill and accountability. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, and the handling of the situation left us feeling disappointed and disrespected. Wild Olive has always been a place we’ve held in high regard, but this experience has unfortunately changed that. I would hate to see others encounter the same. Wild Olive you lost a big time fan.

We got on the wait list and waited next door. We got the text that our table was ready, responded within the minute and arrived within 3 minutes and they gave our table away. The hostess said “oh we only hold those for 5 or 10 minutes…” which was a nonsense response to our situation. Fast forward 30 minutes to getting seated and the waitress, Julie, was wonderful. She was the only good part of the experience. I got the ribeye and I’ve genuinely had better steak on Afghanistan. It tasted like nothing and it, was well as the potatoes, were barely lukewarm. The hostess set the tone early for a bad experience and the food delivered on that promise.