Credit: Pelato
Pelato, the Brooklyn-style Italian restaurant from restaurateurs Theresa and Anthony Scotto Jr., along with their son Anthony Scotto III, will officially open in downtown Charleston today, May 13.
Located at 1085 Morrison Dr. (the former home of Butcher & Bee), Pelato pays homage to the Scotto family’s New York upbringing. Guests can expect indoor and enclosed outdoor dining and small-plate-style dinner service.
“This is an exciting chapter for Pelato as we open our doors to our second location, this time in Charleston.” said owner and restaurateur Anthony Scotto III. “Following our success being one of the most booked restaurants in Nashville, we are thrilled to invite locals and out-of-towners in to experience Pelato’s unique Brooklyn-Italian charm that many of our friends and followers have been craving.”
Potato Croquettes (Credit: Pelato)
The restaurant’s name, Pelato, derives from the Italian term for a “peeled tomato,” and is also slang for a bald head – a playful nod to Anthony Scotto Jr. and his signature style. With a menu of generations-old recipes from the Scottos, Pelato preserves the legacy of classic Brooklyn-Italian dishes while offering new regional additions of local ingredients and seafood at its new Charleston location. The restaurant will also serve desserts like three-layer Rainbow Cookies and Dark Chocolate Budino, and specialty cocktails such as the Frozen Espresso Martini, Limoncello Margarita, Sangria, and various spritzes. Signature dishes include:
- Potato Croquettes (mozzarella, garlic aioli, parmigiano reggiano)
- Brooklyn Style Calamari (drenched in a spicy arrabbiata sauce, teardrop peppers)
- Radiatori Vodka (tomato, cream, Calabrian chili, parmigiano reggiano)
- Chicken Parmigiana (tomato, basil, parmigiano reggiano, mozzarella)
You can view the full menu HERE.
Credit: Luke Higgs
Sundays are especially significant at Pelato as the Scottos have a longstanding family tradition of preparing “Sunday Sauce,” a heaping portion of assorted meats cooked all day and served with Fusilli pasta tossed in their meaty tomato sauce. The "Sunday Sauce" option will only be available on Sundays in limited quantities for dinner.
The restaurant will offer dinner service seven days a week as well as catering, takeout, and delivery, with brunch service on the weekends following the initial opening. Located on the corner lot, off Morrison Drive, Pelato offers free onsite parking.
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Eggplant Parm Stuffed Bread (Credit: Pelato)
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Assorted desserts (Credit: Pelato)
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Potato Croquettes (Credit: Pelato)
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Frozen Espresso Martinis (Credit: Pelato)
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The Pelato Rav (Credit: Pelato)
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"Little Ear" Orecchiette & Italian Sausage (Credit: Pelato)
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Credit: Luke Higgs
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Credit: Luke Higgs