Wild Olive - Johns Island

Really great place. Started out at the bar waiting for our table. Bartender was a little stuffy...I guess $15. for a rail Old Fashioned is irritating to a professional mixologist. 10 minutes later our table was ready. Server was outstanding. He provided detailed explanations of specials and great recommendations. Four of us tried several appetizers, which were perfect. Chicked parm was nice, but the lamb special entree was outstanding. Parking was a bit of a challenge, but we'll return sometime in the future, but not on a Friday evening. It was definitely busy, but not slow. Recommend for great Italian.

Make a reservation or don’t bother. To be fair we didn’t have a reservation, but it was a Tuesday so we decided to take our chances. Our friends had heard this was a great place. They were busy so we asked the hostess how long the wait would be for a party of 4, she asked if we had a reservation and when we stated we did not, her exact response: “How about never!” Those were the only words spoken. She then proceeded to the next people in line. It would seem that without a reservation we would not be seated. However the next people in line were a party of 3 (also without a reservation) and they were at least offered the bar. Needless to say this offended a few in our party and we will take “how about never” quite literally and not return.

Came down to Charleston for the week with my wife and son and heard how great this place was, and it lived up to the hype. Food was incredible, atmosphere was cozy, and the staff was beyond welcoming and hospitable.

Everything about wild olive is excellent. I prefer the pasta and dishes of Melfi’s but I think that is personal preference everything was exceptional from service to food. They also have incredible prices for the quality and size of food.

Wild Olive is a local classic and a must! Never disappoints. Started with the octopus and mushroom bruschetta. Best octopus I’ve ever had. Incredibly tender, served with potatoes and pancetta, served in a lemon butter caper sauce. The mushroom bruschetta is savory but surprisingly has a tart aftertaste which was surprising. For mains, the lasagna and ravioli. Lasagna was as you may expect a gut bomb in a good way. The ravioli was rich but at the same time finished in a lighter sauce. Ended with some affogato and an Italian fortified wine. If there could be anything bad to say is that it’s so popular, it will be packed, and loud. Sorry not sorry for the unrelenting popularity and consistent stream of business they maintain? They crush it. Period. Maybe not the most quiet/intimate/romantic of date spots (for that try Chez Nous) but it will not disappoint.