La Rustica is Everything Italian--Opening Reception Showcased What It has to Offer Summerville in Great Food and Quality Service

Big things have small beginnings. This axiom is true of just about everything in life and in particular, business ventures. When I first met Giulio Pellegrini, he was standing by a miter saw. Initially, I thought he was one of the tradesmen renovating the old house at the corner of N Magnolia and E 3rd N Street with the star motifs on its porch columns. I introduced myself with a handshake and asked if I could have a look around. He was very accommodating and as we chatted, I soon learned he was the owner. However, he made one thing clear, if I wanted more information, I needed to talk to the real boss, his daughter, Aimee--Managing Director at Pellegrini Restaurant Inc. By that statement, I gathered this enterprise was a family operation.

Giulio was born in Italy, where he attended art school. In 1965, he came to America and began to work as a dishwasher in a restaurant in Flint, Michigan. He would soon get a job with General Motors. However, in time, he came to own the very same restaurant where he was the dishwasher. He met Janie during this period of time and the two of them were married. He sought to become a skilled chef and Janie honed her talents to become a masterful pastry baker.

The Pellegrinis moved across the country to Seattle, Washington in the 80s. They owned various restaurants in the interim. Then in 1996, they opened a restaurant located along the waterfront of West Seattle called La Rustica. Many of its reviews described it as a very quaint little place with a great atmosphere and fantastic food in large portions. As time passed, they would eventually seek to make a change of scenery. They set their sights on the east coast and the Lowcountry of South Carolina. 

The hospitable community of Summerville caught their attention. While searching for a restaurant to buy, Aimee came across an ad about one of the town's oldest eating establishments. It was Eva's on South Main Street. A photograph highlighting the restaurant's famous view of Hutchinson Square through its front window intrigued her, but the family's final decision took them in another direction, which led them to restore and renovate the old house with the distinctive star motifs on its porch columns. Now, after a long labor of love, the desired outcome has been finally achieved, and La Rustica had its Opening Reception Saturday October 8th, to be followed by three limited soft openings by reservations on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Summerville's residents and visitors who have been anxiously but patiently awaiting this highly anticipated event can now satisfy their hunger for some quality Italian cuisine courtesy the Pellegrinis and staff.

The Opening Reception succeeded at showing off the best La Rustica has to offer. The enterprise is all about family from the floor up, Summerville's family. The Pellegrinis personally welcomed each guest and made you feel at home. The bartenders were engaging and highly skilled in their craft. The servers were graciously attentive and thorough. The food, from opening bread to closing cannoli, was visually appealing and delicious. The variety of offerings satisfied a diversified array of discerning taste buds, all the personal creations of Giulio and Janie. It was an evening of small bites, but after all was said and done, I was stuffed. My favorite was the shrimp offering and tiramisu. Good times was had by all present.

The well-designed floor plan consists of four sections. Upon entering, a quick right turn takes you to the bar area outfitted with velvety-green bar stools and round tables paired with dark green leather-covered seats. The larger main dining area is overlaid with a wood floor and topped by two chandeliers framed by decorated wood panels--the handy work of Aimee. It is followed by a smaller seating area covered with a patterned tiled floor featuring two colorful frescos. Beyond that is a step up to a plush, intimate eating space with a full wall couch dominated by mirrors. Some of the dining area's distinctive features include lighting fixtures from Italy and a Roman frieze dating back to the 13th century. Above the entrance, a round stained glass fixture that was formerly mounted in a downtown Charleston building catches your eye.

From the outdoor seating to the inside dining space, La Rustica is thoroughly Italian. The kitchen, where the preparation of Giulio's time-tested recipes take place with the assistance of Hector Arroyo, is all Italian. The desserts crafted with love and tender care, are distinctively Italian. If you are in the mood for everything Italian, La Rustica is the place you want to be.

Opens Thursday, 3-5 Happy Hour, 5-10 Dinner Service

315 N. Magnolia Street, Summerville, SC

Call 843-400-2220 for reservations 5 or more

Enjoy the pictures, they tell the whole story without a word spoken.

Melanie Correa, Photographer

Summerville's Restaurant Scene is Growing--It is About to Add to Its Competitive Edge

Over the past year, the property on the corner of N Magnolia and E 3rd North Street has been the site of a great deal of activity. Summerville residents traveling this busy side street intersection have been spectators of a stunning metamorphosis. The historic house's outdoor garden area has undergone an exquisite transformation into a spacious pavered piazza surrounded by a decorative, black-poled fence with a large water fountain for a visual centerpiece. Reminiscent of piazzas in Italy, the space is a fitting outdoor seating area for the local family-owned Italian restaurant soon to open its door to the community's visitors and residents called La Rustica.

Inside the historic house, the reconstruction of its living space is moving along at a steady pace. Once the floor plan work ends, it will be a plush dining area with a full bar. Decorative ceilings, lighting fixtures from Italy, mirrored walls, and a fresco are just some of the features that will enhance the dining aura. The kitchen, where the preparation of the family's time-tested recipes will take place, is already completed. The front porch will accommodate patrons desiring a covered outdoor experience.

The day I visited and took pictures, the owner--a polite, accommodating gray-headed gentleman with a firm handshake--was hard at work. We chatted a bit about our town. His gratitude and love for Summerville were a part of his expressions.

La Rustica Restaurant is accepting applications for all positions, front and back of house.

Enjoy the pictures. They are just a tantalizing glimpse of what will be another quality restaurant coming to the town at the heart of it all. Once the restaurant is near completion, possibly September, I will write a detailed article about its owners and story.

You will see La Rustica at the 9th Summerville Italian Feast on Sunday, October 9.

315 N Magnolia Street, Summerville, SC