“We always try to be the neighborhood hangout,” Calleja said. “I think we’re really bringing the European lifestyle, or at least that’s what we want.”
Hand-blown crystal chandeliers glisten throughout the space, anchored by an illuminated bar with over 2,000 bottles of liquor. The light fixtures and grandiose communal gathering area are among several showpieces inside the restaurant.
One area features an olive tree surrounded by circular banquettes. There are dark walnut woods, granite and marble throughout the dining room, as well as street-art-inspired murals by Spanish urban artists PichiAvo. The displays further liven up a space that will be serenaded by DJs Wednesday through Sunday.
“It’s high energy, I would say,” Calleja said of the restaurant.
Menu development was led by chef Stefano Ciotti, best known for earning a Michelin star at Nostrano in Italy. Featuring classics with a twist, the options include antipasti selections, house-made pasta, Italian entrees and wood-fired sourdough pizzas. Offering “affordable luxury,” the average price point is about $65 per person, Calleja said.
“My goal was to take everything I love about classic Italian cuisine and make it feel fresh and exciting again,” chef Ciotti said in a press release. “Charleston is a city that truly appreciates great food, tradition and craftsmanship, which makes it the perfect place to share our approach to modern Italian cuisine. Each dish honors the soul of Italy while bringing something new and vibrant to the table.”
Seafood will be a focus in Charleston, joining V Modern Italian staples like the truffle sauce-roasted portobello mushrooms finished tableside in a pecorino cheese wheel and vodka-style pasta with stracciatella, Piccadilly peppers and crispy bacon. Charleston-specific dishes include the chargrilled oysters and the lobster ravioli al limone: lobster-filled ravioli in a silky lemon cream sauce, finished with nutty brown butter, candied tomatoes and basil oil.
Dining and Cooking