Nexton of Summerville is Newest Location For Franchise Focusing On Pizza, Pasta, Craft Beer & Cocktails 

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer / Food & Beverage Review

In 1996 a young man in his mid 20's starting serving Detroit style pizza from the backside of a bar less than a stones throw from Louisiana State University. Soon Mitch Rotolo's passion became the talk of Baton Rouge, with patrons lining up to enjoy the signature square pan pizzas made famous decades earlier in the automotive plants of the Motor City.

Not long after Mitch opened his first free-standing pizzeria in LSU's famed Tiger-town area, adding traditional Italian menus items such as pasta, calzones, and sandwiches alongside preferred sports bar favorites, burgers and Buffalo wings, to complement selections of beer and wine. 

Nearly three decades later Mitch's beginnings has morphed into 30 plus locations covering seven states, operating under the original name Rotolo's Pizzeria, as well as Rotolo's Craft & Crust, a concept he developed in 2016 to include artisan pizzas, specialty cocktails, and the continual interest in craft beers. Mitch's ever evolving licensed restaurants which rolled out in 2009, now had two incredible Italian themed eateries to offer franchisees.

Fast forwarding to 2025, Fabrice Ramcourt, a 14 year Rotolo's veteran out of Louisiana decided to move his family to greater Charleston, opening his own Rotolo's Craft & Crust in the continuously growing Nexton community of Summerville. While their menu focuses heavily on NY, Detroit, Chicago deep dish style, and specialty pizzas, their extensive offerings include a variety of everyday comfort foods.

Offering 'Good Food with Good Vibes' Rotolo's Craft & Crust provides a bevy of choices to accommodate discerning palates. A dozen shareables, six handheld sandwiches, and four signature burgers complement soups, salads, wings, and seven ample pasta dishes. If you're looking for good food and drink in a relaxed family style setting than you can't go wrong with Rotolo's Craft & Crust.

Let's take a deep dive into some of their most preferred menu items. Providing a hint of fine dining, Rotolo's serve up a splendid offering of roasted Brussel Sprouts swirled in blend of bacon, parmesan, garlic butter, and balsamic reduction. Delicioso! Just as tasty as any of the upscale restaurants in downtown Charleston. 

Also available on the Shareable list are the Tre Meatballs. Simply three hardy, larger than golf ball sized seasoned meatballs covered in parmesan and a rich red gravy (marinara sauce). Not sharing with anyone (it's allowed), than this ample appetizer easily eats like a meal. Just two of the 12 shareable items that includes Truffle Fries, Calamari, and a zesty Spinach & Artichoke Dip. Mangia!

Rotolo's Chicken Alfredo entree is a smart choice. A warm serving of penne pasta and shredded chicken blanketed in creamy alfredo. Seafood lovers might opt for the Fried Shrimp Alfredo. Want to go old school. Maybe just enjoy a nice meal of Spaghetti & Meatballs. All of their pasta dishes come complete with four garlic parmesan bites. Nicely paired, especially if you add a subtle glass of white or red wine. 

If you walk into Rotolo's with an everyday meat lovers appetite, than the BBQ Big Boy Burger might be calling you. Served on a toasted brioche bun, this juicy twin patty delight will arouse your palate topped with fried jalapenos and crispy onions under cheddar cheese and tangy BBQ sauce. Lowcountry types might opt for the Mac n' Cheese Burger, with non beef lovers tempted by the Turkey Burger decked out with spinach, sun-kissed tomatoes, and garlic aioli over provolone. All burgers come with choice of regular or sweet potato fries.

Okay, what about the pizza. After all it's one half of their doubled sided menu, and come baked at 600 degrees in an Italian stone-deck oven. We're talking hot, hot, hot! Eight pizzas under the specialty heading include a salute to NY aka The Big Apple (pepperoni, sausage whipped ricotta & mozzarella), with another paying tribute to the Palmetto state. The Southern Belle is a sophisticated pizza topped with portabello mushrooms, caramelized onions, pepperoni, and shaved asiago and white cheddar all in an alfredo base. 

If you haven't tried a traditional Detroit style pizza, than you're in for an Italian delicacy auto workers and Motown residents have been enjoying since the mid 1940's. Visualize a rectangular pizza with a thick, yet airy and buttery crust that’s crispy on the bottom and edged in crispy frico (caramelize cheese crust) before being overloaded with pepperoni and mozzarella, in Rotolo's signature red sauce. Magnifico! 

There are nine (count 'em), nine pizza listed under the Classic heading with two that will delight carnivores. The Meat Feast and the Italian Club come loaded with pepperoni, sausage, and Canadian bacon, with the club adding an extra dose of salami. They are old school Italian to the max, and all nine come as calzones as well. Pizzas range around $23 with 'zones priced at $13. 

All total, there are 29 pizzas on Rotolo's menu, and that doesn't include craft your own options. While they all come full sized including the Chicago Deep Dish and Cracker Thin pizzas, New Yorkers can relish in the fact that they can bite into traditional cheese and pepperoni slices for just $3.50 and $4.50 respectively.

Soups, salads, wraps, and wings round out the menu. Of course they have vegans and gluten free options, including pizza crafted from cauliflower crusts, as well as plant based meatballs, which come in separately or on a meatball sandwich. Lots of choices at Rotolo's.

Just a side note, not only do they make their own in house red gravy (that's Italian for marinara sauce), but they create a slighter sweeter sauce for the pastas and a more traditional sauce for their pizzas. FYI, most and and I'm including several fine dining establishments don't put that much care into differentiating the sauce. That's dedication!

If you have the little ones in tow, than Rotolo's Craft & Crust offer six selections. There's the go to chicken tenders and mac n' cheese, or smaller versions of chicken alfredo, spaghetti & meatballs, or a pizza slice. All come with beverage for $7.50 or less.

The word crust in Rotolo's Craft & Crust covers their wide selections of pizzas, which has been their trademark for nearly 30 years. On the flip side of the beverage coin, the word craft denotes their signature craft cocktails. Blessed with a full liquor license, Rotolo's can pour your favorite potent potables, whether you prefer them laced with bourbon, rum, gin, or vodka. I highly recommend the Super Berry Smash, a subtle bourbon blended with blackberry, lemon, and mint. Refreshing, colorful, and super sipable! 

I might be biased but Coca Cola products go best with pizza, unless your old enough to enjoy an adult beverage. Rotolo's carry 30 beers on tap, including the everyday standards, alongside an extensive list of regional and local craft brews. You discover beers from Sycamore Brewing out of NC, Southern Growl up in Greer SC, lined up next to IPA's from Charleston's own Cooper River Brewing, Munkle, Edmunds Oast and Lo-Fi. Overall, a decent variety.

Just like Coke and beer go with pizza, fruits of the vine accompany a nice pasta dish. Rotolo's carry a decent selection of affordable red, white, rose, and sparkling wines. Enjoy by the bottle, or the glass for around $10.

Coming full circle, it's hard to categorize Rotolo's Craft & Crust. According to Fabrice, Rotolo's is a 'family friendly pizzeria focusing on traditional Italian pizza alongside craft beers and craft cocktails'. On the surface that is exactly what they are.

However, they do have a quaint bar area with five big screen TVs carrying sports. And even though you can watch the big game at Rotolo's, they are not a sport bar. Heads up, the main dining room has another four TVs, so you won't miss the action even when you're at the table enjoying lunch or dinner with friends and family.

In case you're wondering how far Rotolo's goes to achieving excellence in the competitive food and beverage industry, in 2018, at the World Pizza Championships, they medaled winning three of five honors in the Pizza Triathlon (gold), Fastest Dough Stretch (gold), and Fastest Box Folding (silver). Their Figgy Piggy and Uncle Tony specialty pizzas have earned Rotolo's gold medals in the International Tournament of Champions. Damn straight, they are proud of their pizzas!

With the newest location in Summerville SC, the Rotolo's Pizzeria and Rotolo's Craft and Crust brands, have expanded into from seven states including Louisiana Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, and Colorado.

You know what would really be nice to know before this review comes to a close? Their physical location. I already mentioned they are in Nexton of Summerville, which has expanded to two exits off I-26. While you can get there from 17A by taking Brighton Parkway over to Nexton Parkway, it's easier off the highway exiting on Nexton Parkway. When you come to the new Harris Teeter just look for Rotolo's on the far side of the parking lot.

Of course you can just put 420 Cross Park Lane Summerville SC in your car's GPS or any search engine and follow it to your next go to Italian eatery. Although they expect to partner with one or more online food delivery services, for now it's just call ahead if you want to enjoy carry out. 

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.