Sciortino's Trattoria and Pizzeria: Wood-Fired Pizza and Italian Classics in Charleston

A neighborhood institution for Neapolitan pizza and Southern Italian cooking

Sciortino's Trattoria and Pizzeria sits on King Street in Charleston's upper peninsula, a few blocks north of the tourist core, and serves wood-fired Neapolitan pizza alongside Southern Italian dishes that reflect owner Nico Sciortino's family recipes. The restaurant opened in 2009 and has stayed consistent: thin-crust pizzas with imported flour and San Marzano tomatoes, housemade pasta, and entrees built around seafood and meat cooked simply. The dining room is casual and loud, with exposed brick, a visible kitchen, and a wood-burning oven that dominates one wall.

The menu changes seasonally, but the pizza list is stable. Sciortino's makes both traditional Neapolitan pies—Margherita, Marinara, Quattro Formaggi—and house specials that add local ingredients: shrimp, local fish, Charleston-made sausage. Pizzas are smaller than American chain sizes, typically 11 to 12 inches, and cooked in the wood oven at high heat for 60 to 90 seconds. Pastas include cacio e pepe, carbonara, and seasonal preparations with vegetables or seafood. Entrees run to branzino, calamari, and chicken piccata.

Key Takeaways

• Sciortino's uses a wood-burning oven and imported Italian ingredients for Neapolitan-style pizzas that are smaller and thinner than American chain pizzas.
• The restaurant also serves housemade pasta and Southern Italian entrees, with a menu that shifts with the seasons.
• The space is casual and often crowded, with an open kitchen and visible wood oven, so expect noise and a wait during peak hours.
• King Street location puts it within walking distance of other restaurants and shops but outside the heavily touristed downtown core.

What to order and what to expect

Start with the burrata if it is on the menu—it arrives with tomato, basil, and good olive oil, and costs less than the same dish at fancier restaurants. The calamari fritti is tender and comes with lemon and a light marinara. Pizzas are the main event: the Margherita is the baseline, made with mozzarella di bufala, San Marzano tomatoes, basil, and olive oil. The Quattro Formaggi uses mozzarella, provolone, pecorino, and gorgonzola. House specials change, but the Shrimp and Garlic pizza is a regular and works well if you want something beyond the traditional.

Pasta portions are generous. The Cacio e Pepe is made to order and arrives creamy from the heat of the pasta water and the cheese and pepper—not heavy. The Carbonara uses guanciale (cured pork jowl) and is richer. Seafood pastas rotate but often include clams, mussels, or shrimp. Entrees like branzino or calamari are straightforward: the fish is grilled or pan-seared and dressed simply with lemon, olive oil, and herbs. Portions are not enormous, so many diners order a pizza and a pasta to share, or a pizza and a salad.

Timing, crowds, and how to get in

Sciortino's does not take reservations, so you arrive and wait or come at off-peak times. Dinner service runs from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday. The restaurant is closed Mondays. Peak times are Friday and Saturday nights after 7 p.m., when the wait can stretch to 45 minutes or longer. Lunch is not served. Arriving before 6 p.m. on a weeknight usually means a short wait or no wait at all.

The bar is small and the dining room is tight, so the restaurant fills quickly. If you arrive during a busy time, you can put your name on the list and walk around the neighborhood—King Street has other restaurants, shops, and galleries within a few blocks. The restaurant will text you when a table is close. Parking is street parking along King Street or in nearby lots; the area is walkable from downtown hotels and some residential neighborhoods.

Price and what's included

Pizzas range from about $14 to $22 depending on toppings. Pastas run $16 to $24. Entrees are $18 to $32. Appetizers like burrata or calamari are $10 to $14. A bottle of wine starts around $30 and goes up; by-the-glass pours are available. Desserts—panna cotta, tiramisu, gelato—are $6 to $8. A meal for two with a pizza, a pasta, a drink each, and dessert typically costs $60 to $90 before tax and tip.

The restaurant accepts cash and card. There is no service charge or automatic gratuity, so tipping is at your discretion. The space is casual, so dress is relaxed—jeans and a shirt are fine. The noise level is high, especially during busy service, so it is not a quiet date-night spot, but it is good for groups and families.

What makes Sciortino's different from other Charleston pizzerias

Charleston has several wood-fired pizza restaurants, but Sciortino's stands out for its focus on Southern Italian cooking beyond pizza. Many pizzerias treat pasta and entrees as secondary; here, the menu is balanced. The owner's family background in Southern Italy shapes the cooking—recipes come from Campania and Calabria, not just Naples. The restaurant also keeps prices moderate for the quality and location, which matters on King Street where rents are high.

The wood oven is a Mugnaini, an Italian brand, and it is used for pizza only—not for roasting vegetables or bread, which keeps the focus tight. The flour is imported from Italy, and the tomatoes are San Marzano from the Campania region. These details matter because they affect flavor: San Marzano tomatoes are sweeter and less acidic than domestic varieties, and imported flour has different protein content and hydration, which changes how the dough rises and crisps. Sciortino's does not advertise these things loudly, but they show in the pizza.

Dietary needs and what to know before you go

The menu includes vegetarian pizzas and pastas, and the kitchen can modify dishes—ask your server. Gluten-free pizza crust is not available, but the kitchen can prepare gluten-free pasta if you notify them when you order. Dairy is in most dishes (cheese, butter, cream), but the kitchen can make a vegan pizza with no cheese if you ask. Shellfish and fish are on the menu, so if you have allergies, tell your server; the kitchen is small and shared, so cross-contamination is possible.

The restaurant does not have a separate kids menu, but pizzas and pasta portions can be split, and the kitchen will make a simple dish if your child has specific needs. High chairs are available. The restroom is single-stall and small. The space is not wheelchair accessible—there is a step at the entrance and the dining room is narrow.

Hours, location, and how to find out what's on the menu

Sciortino's is located at 1435 King Street, Charleston, SC 29403. The phone number is (843) 723-3999. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The restaurant is closed Mondays. The restaurant has a website and a social media presence where seasonal menu changes and specials are posted.

The neighborhood around King Street has changed over the past decade—it is now a mix of restaurants, galleries, and shops, with less of the residential feel it had when Sciortino's first opened. The restaurant itself has not changed much, which is part of its appeal. Parking is available on the street or in nearby lots, and the location is accessible by car or on foot from downtown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a reservation?

No. Sciortino's operates on a first-come, first-served basis. You can put your name on the wait list and leave to walk around the neighborhood; the restaurant will text you when a table is ready. Peak times are Friday and Saturday nights after 7 p.m., when waits can be 45 minutes or longer.

Can I get pizza for lunch?

No. The restaurant opens at 5 p.m. for dinner service only. Lunch is not served. If you want pizza earlier in the day, you will need to visit another pizzeria.

Is the pizza Neapolitan style?

Yes. Sciortino's uses a wood-burning oven, imported Italian flour, and San Marzano tomatoes. Pizzas are smaller than American chain sizes (11 to 12 inches) and cooked at high heat for 60 to 90 seconds. The crust is thin and slightly charred, with a soft interior.

What if I don't eat meat?

The menu includes vegetarian pizzas and pastas. The kitchen can also prepare a vegan pizza with no cheese if you ask. Dairy is in most dishes, so let your server know if you have dietary restrictions.

Is there parking nearby?

Yes. Street parking is available along King Street, and there are nearby lots. The area is also walkable from downtown hotels and some residential neighborhoods, so you can arrive by foot or car.