MOUNT PLEASANT — Fresh-baked focaccia, crispy on the outside and soft in the center, is filled with silky slices of mortadella and creamy stracchiatella cheese, the jolt of pepperoncini hiding beneath the two. Crunchy onions and a swipe of fig jam complete this diverse picture of a sandwich, which stands nearly six inches tall.
The Italian-inspired creation, called the Fichi, is one of nine made-to-order handhelds served inside Giannone Eatery & Italian Market, now open at 216 Scott St. in Mount Pleasant.
Find the counter-serve establishment tucked in the courtyard of Vintage Coffee Cafe, which opened 11 years ago, and next to Coastal Crust, a pizzeria that debuted in 2017. All three businesses, located on a pair of adjacent properties just off Coleman Boulevard, are owned by Brian Piesner, a former professional soccer player whose restaurants now span the entire state.
Where Coastal Crust — which operates in Mount Pleasant, James Island, Isle of Palms, Greenville, Travelers Rest and, in the near future, Columbia — focuses on wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza, Giannone Eatery specializes in sandwiches that follow Italian traditions. The concept is a nod to Piesner’s mother’s side of the family, the Giannones, who originally hail from Italy.
Micheel Arauio breaks open a roast beef sandwich to show the cross-section, Thursday, January 22, 2026, in Mount Pleasant.
Henry Taylor/Staff
Sandwiches are piled high with a range of ingredient combinations, from turkey with arugula, lemon, capers, garlic aioli and oregano to the popular pork with provolone, marinated broccolini, pepperoncini and black pepper aioli. Each one is served on focaccia bread using a recipe Piesner developed with chef Michael Holler ahead of the opening.
Dining and Cooking