Owners of Migliori's Pizzeria Offer Up Dinner Only Restaurant Focusing On Italian Cuisine & Cocktails In Mt. Pleasant

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer / Food & Beverage Review

Outside of downtown Charleston and surrounding resort communities, very few restaurants serve up a dinner only menu. Not surprisingly, the town of Mount Pleasant with its abundance of affluent neighborhoods offers a handful of food & beverage establishments solely focused on an evening repast. 

And now thanks to Don and Joanne Migliori, east Cooper residents have another gathering place to experience dinner only options in a warm and welcoming environment. The husband and wife team are no stranger to the food and beverage industry, having part ownership in the newly opened Legami, an eccentric Italian eatery on King Street, as well as their namesake Migliori's Pizzeria, a well received northern style pizzeria dishing up pizza, everyday pasta, and desserts at the corner of Hwy 17 & 41 in Mt. Pleasant. https://migspizzeria.com/

However, with the continued success of the pizzeria, and long before the debut of Legami, the Migliori's who live east of the Cooper wanted to open an Italian restaurant in Mount Pleasant that was a bit more luxurious while still providing a come as you are vibe. That goal was accomplished recently when Don and Joanne threw open the doors to Abbracci 'Italian Cuisine & Cocktails', and what can best be described as 'approachable upscale Italian food & drink'. 

While the word 'abbracci' has little to do with the Migliori's name, it has everything to do with how they envision the food & beverage industry overall. Simply put 'abbracci' is an Italian term for 'hugs', and the Migliori's want every dinner guest who walks into Abbracci, to embrace the passion they have for serving up great Italian dishes and superb cocktails in a dining room that feels like home.

I could easily wrap up this article right here by just saying the food at Abbracci is off the charts amazing and the cocktails are wonderfully innovative, but that wouldn't give Abbracci their full due. Don and Joanne have poured their hearts into creating a dining experience like no other, so let me share a little about what patrons can expect when they choose to dine at Abbracci 'Italian Cuisine & Cocktails'.

Executive Chef Devin Sansone has done an awesome job of crafting a menu that reflects familiar Italian favorites while putting his own spin on each entree. While the bill of fare is not overly extensive it does include several antipasta (Italian appetizers), gourmet pizzas, home-made pasta dishes, and a half dozen seafood and meat lovers entrees. All made in house using the finest ingredients and as much locally sourced produce and seafood as possible.

Among the two starters I sampled are the Focaccia Rosmarino ($8), a house-made savory and tender porous flatbread infused and slathered with extra virgin olive oil, served with a refreshing pureed white Tuscan bean dip. Delicioso! I was equally enthralled by the Arancini Piccanti ($15), aka fried rice balls wrapped around Italian sausage, parmesan, and romanesco (hybrid broccoli cauliflower), with a hint of basil. Both are sweet & savory appetizers and a great way to begin a Italian cuisine journey. 

Among the five signature pizzas I chose the recommended Proscuitto di parma e Burrata, dry-cured Italian ham combined with soft and fresh Italian cheese over a seasoned thin crust. A handheld delight that feeds two nicely, and complements a full-bodied glass of wine. Saved a few slices to take home, and they were equally incredible warmed the next day. 

Should you come into Abbracci with a hardier appetite perhaps the Primi (prime fresh made pasta dishes) or the Secondi (Italian for meat or fish entrees) might satisfy your hunger. Among the five pasta offerings I was fortunate to sample the Ravioli di Zucca ($26), Chef Devin's variation on a traditional Italian standard. We're talking a blend of rich ricotta cheese and pine nuts blanketed inside butternut squash which allows for a sweet and nutty taste overall. A southern spin on an Italian classic. Molto saporito!

If you're a true meat lover and enjoy melt in your mouth beef, than I strongly recommend Abbracci's Piccata di Vitello al Limone. ($45). Wrap your carnivorous palate around moist and succulent lean veal tenderloin, flavor enhanced with lemon and capers, presented with roasted broccolini (long stem sweet broccoli). Perfezione!!

 Did you save room for a post meal sweet treat? Abbracci lists five on their menu including a Tiramisu unlike any other in greater Charleston. While most come presented in the standard layered sponge cake on a plate, at Abbracci the coffee and liqueur soaked cake comes surrounded in a swirl of light creme style parfait and mascarpone topped with shaved chocolate. Velvety flavorful. Want something with a bit more zest. You won't be disappointed with the Lemon Ricotta Shortcake, served with a dollop of strawberry gelato. 'che buono'.

Although the food menu is varied and finite, the adult beverage menu is all encompassing, with a wide selection of Italian vinos including sparkling, red, white, and rose, with a smaller number of wines hailing from California and France. Eight preferred fruit of the vine options come listed under the Migliori Select Reserve category. They are among Don and Joanne's personal favorites from Tuscany and Napa Valley. Ideal selections for discerning wine aficionados. 

Currently the drink menu offers 10 signature cocktails alongside three dessert martinis, including a smooth and extra flavorful Chocolate Raspberry. If you're a cocoa bean lover there's no reason to wait to after dinner to enjoy this dessert martini. Nine beers on tap, with another seven in bottles or cans. Abbracci carries favorite beers from local brewers including Munkle, Westrook, Edmund's Oast, and Palmetto. 

Are you the type who savors fine brandy and cognac, then Abbracci has you covered. They stock five high quality sipping drinks including the French crafted Pierre Ferrand 1840 Original, known for its stony fruit, honey, and spice aromas. Or perhaps enjoy a glass of Remy Martin XO, with its distinctive array of fruit, floral, oak, and spices. Oh, the good life!

To give you further details on how the Migliori's wanted Abbracci to be set apart, they fine-tuned the interior to certain specifications. While Don is a busy and respected litigator with the prestigious Motley Rice law firm, Joanne used her design skills and interior expertise to breathe life into a space that sits among service industries in a new small business park less than a half mile from their pizzeria.

A meticulous motif that combines bright colors, vibrant patterns and exceptional lighting, alongside family style repurposed wooden tables. The Migliori's think like their guests, incorporating sound proof murals throughout the restaurant that limit the noise level, allowing diners to enjoy meaningful conversation without talking over one another. Clever foresight. 

Abbracci's even has a private dining room that seats up to 12 guests, ideal for a family gatherings, socials, or business meetings where good food and drink help set the tone. Just steps away from the expansive bar sits a partially covered outdoor patio, an oversized home-style courtyard, complete with comfortable adirondack chairs and cushioned sofas surrounding a fire pit. When mother nature allows there are tables to dine al fresco.

Don and Joanne lit a small fire back in 2019 when they debuted Migliori's Pizzeria to Mount Pleasant. Customers flock to their pizzeria because they know they can get authentic NY style pizza, as well as everyday pasta dishes. However, with Abbracci they've taking it up several notches, igniting a full blown Italian blaze. Mangia!

It's clear the Migliori's celebrate the four F's, faith, family, friends, and food. The couple are in Abbracci on a regular basis to welcome guests, and to ensure their establishment runs like the fine tuned restaurant they imagined. 

To further appreciate how invested the Migliori's are in the community, they have launched a MET (Migliori's Exceptional Team) Program at their pizzeria. The initiative provides employment opportunities for those with autism and down syndrome, or as Don and Joanne say, 'specific tasks for those with special abilities'. Assolutamente fantastico, aka Italian for totally awesome!

Abbracci 'Italian Cuisine & Cocktails' is a stones throw off Hwy 17N behind a 7-Eleven in Mount Pleasant. Using your GPS you'll find them at 1146 Muhlenbergia Dr Ste 103, turning off 17 onto Winnowing Way across from Oakland Market near the intersection of Hwy 17 and 41. Open 4-10pm Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, closing at 11pm on Friday and Saturday nights. Partake in Happy Hour on Wednesday and Thursday from 4-6pm and enjoy select cocktails and featured wines for just $8. 

For more incredible culinary experiences in Charleston, check out our guide to the city's best dining destinations. From fresh seafood to Southern classics, there’s something for every palate! View more Charleston dining options here.