Mondo’s Italian Restaurant, a James Island fixture for 27 years, has officially opened its expanded dining room and kitchen after more than two years of renovations and five-week temporary closing for the final push.
The business took over the vacant suite next door in the Shoppes of Folly Road at 915 Folly Road, which now serves as the new entrance, increasing its dining capacity by about 30 percent with a line of banquet seating.
The additional space includes an expanded kitchen outfitted with a hybrid wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza oven, allowing Mondo’s to serve pizza for the first time, adding new options to Charleston’s ever-growing Italian restaurant scene.
Adding pizza to the menu was a natural fit for owner Chris Orlando, whose family runs the Orlando’s Pizza locations on Daniel Island and in Mount Pleasant. But he said the offerings at Mondo’s will be a more elevated version that can stand up to the restaurant’s classic dishes.
“We were originally going to do two concepts, Mondo’s and Orlando’s, but we just decided to double Mondo’s,” Orlando said.
The reopening marks the end of a long wait for customers and staff.
The expansion has allowed for additional bar seating and larger six- and eight-person tables and booths to better accommodate families and groups. Mondo’s will continue operating on a first-come, first-served basis for dinner Monday through Saturday.
“After 27 years of constant use, the space was ready for a refresh,” Orlando said of the location where they have a long-term lease.
While most of the classic menu items have, or will, return, Orlando said new dishes, including the pizzas, will roll out gradually.
“We’re building the menu how we built Mondo’s originally — a little at a time,” Orlando said. “We’ll test things out and the things that stick, will end up on the menu. The other things will be specials.”
Dining and Cooking