The Toniolo family chose Myrtle Beach for the second location of their Italian restaurant, Stefano’s Cucina Rustica. For the past 19 years, they have owned the first location of the same name in Florence. To know about gazebo dhaba & family restaurant menu, click here
Steve and Anna Toniolo are the owners, and their 23-year-old son, Steve, is the new restaurant’s general manager in Carolina Forest. Steve recently graduated from college with a business degree.
Stefano’s is decorated in the warm colors of a Tuscan sunset: umber, sienna, and misty green. Low metal ceiling fans and lights in terra cotta lend an old-world feel, as do arches that peek into the kitchen. Classical Italian music is playing, and I heard “Volare” for the first time in Italian.
The vintage theme complements the Toniolos’ heirloom family recipes, such as their marinara and meat sauce, which is rich and thick and sweetly peppery from fresh herbs and spices.
Meals begin with a fresh and warm mini loaf of bread. The server arrives with a white dish containing freshly minced garlic and herbs and a place for a spoon. The server pours olive oil into the container and stirs in a spoonful of flavorings to make fresh dipping oil at the table.
Starting from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is a lunch menu available. Diners can order Lasagna, Chicken Tortellini, Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti, Fettucine Alfredo, Cheese Ravioli, or Baked Rigatoni for $7, which includes a soup or salad and that excellent bread (baked fresh daily at Benjamin’s Bakery in Surfside Beach). There are also lunch specials, such as Stuffed Peppers, on the day I visited.
However, you are not limited to the lunch menu at midday because the regular menu is available for lunch and dinner. For example, Paninis with salami, capicola, and mozzarella or The Leaning Tower of Pizza with pepperoni, sausage, tomatoes, and mozzarella, are available. Classic Hot Subs such as a Philly Cheesesteak and a Parmigiana Sub with meatballs, sausage, eggplant, and chicken are also available.
Some customers enjoyed the pizzas, which could be topped with gourmet ingredients such as meatballs, portabello mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and plum tomatoes. There are also small and large Stromboli and Stuffed Pizzas such as Chicken and Broccoli, Venice Veggie, and Bacon Double Cheeseburger.
Stefano’s serves wings (mild, medium, hot, extreme, and teriyaki) as well as salads such as Antipasto, Buffalo Chicken, Buffalo Shrimp, Fried Tortellini, and Fried Calamari.
Broccoli Cheddar Puffs, Fried Calamari, Provolone Fritta (fried provolone with marinara), and Caprese Salad are among the lavish appetizers (fresh mozzarella and tomato slices drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and garnished with fresh basil). Next, I tried the delicious Toasted Crab Dip Ravioli, which consists of ravioli stuffed with a savory crab dip, fried until crispy, and served with Alfredo dipping sauce.
Many of the entrees are standard fare and come in generous portions. Lasagna Al Forno, Ravioli Di Quattro Formaggi (four cheese ravioli), Manicotti, Parmigiana Alla Sorrentina with chicken, eggplant, or veal, and Chicken or Veal Marsala are among the options.
Canneloni is pasta sheets stuffed and rolled with ground beef, pork, veal, spinach, and four kinds of cheese, then baked and served with mozzarella and meat sauce toppings. It was filling and flavorful, but I could only eat a third. My husband ate the rest for dinner.
You can also order Personalized Pasta, which allows you to choose from various pasta, sauces, and toppings.
Pollo Fumigata, or Smothered Chicken, Pollo Tuscana (lemony), and Rigatoni Raggiata, or Angry Rigatoni, is a hearty dish with pasta, chicken, Italian sausage, banana peppers, and Alfresco Sauce. Bistecca Pizzaiola (a smothered ribeye) and Bistecca Toscana are among the beef options (marinated ribeye). In addition, there is a Fish of the Day, Gamberi Marinara (shrimp), Lobster Ravioli, and Tesoro Di Mare (shrimp and scallops on fettuccine with Alfredo sauce).
There are two cheesecakes, tiramisu, and cannoli for dessert.
The service is friendly, warm, and efficient. Even servers tending to other tables greeted me, and I appreciated that my leftovers were boxed up for me at the table. This is a great date spot or family restaurant, and I’m sure Carolina Forest residents will appreciate having a place to eat that doesn’t require them to leave the neighborhood.
Stefano’s Cucina Rustica is located at 2005 Oak Heart Road, in the Piggly Wiggly shopping center on Carolina Forest Boulevard. The phone number is 903-7238, and they are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays to Fridays until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays.
