| Myrtle Beach is lucky the Toniolo family picked our | | | | Chicken, Buffalo Shrimp, Fried Tortellini and Fried |
| area for the second location of their Italian restaurant | | | | Calamari. |
| called Stefano's Cucina Rustica. They've owned the | | | | Appetizers are lavish, such as Broccoli Cheddar Puffs, |
| first location of the same name in Florence for 19 | | | | Fried Calimari, Provolone Fritta (fried provolone with |
| years. | | | | marinara) and Caprese (fresh mozzarella and tomato |
| The owners are Steve and Anna Toniolo, and their | | | | slices drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and garnished |
| 23-year-old son, Steve, is the general manager of the | | | | with fresh basil). I tried the wonderful Toasted Crab |
| new eatery, which is in Carolina Forest. Steve is a | | | | Dip Ravioli, where ravioli are stuffed with a savory |
| recent college grad with a business degree. | | | | crab dip, fried 'til crispy and served with Alfredo |
| Stefano's has a warm décor rich with colors | | | | dipping sauce. |
| of a Tuscan sunset: umber, sienna, misty green. Low | | | | Many of the entrees are what you'd expect, and |
| metal ceiling fans and lights have a terra cotta hue, | | | | they come in enormous portions. There are Lasagna |
| and arches that peek into the kitchen lend an | | | | Al Forno, Ravioli Di Quattro Formaggi (four cheeses), |
| old-world air. Classic Italian music plays, and it was the | | | | Manicotti, Parmigiana Alla Sorrentina with chicken, |
| first time I heard "Volare" in Italian. | | | | eggplant or veal, and Chicken or Veal Marsala. |
| The vintage theme fits with the heirloom family | | | | I tried the Canneloni, which are pasta sheets stuffed |
| recipes the Toniolos use, like their marinara and meat | | | | and rolled with ground beef, pork, veal, spinach and |
| sauce that's rich and thick and sweetly peppery from | | | | four cheeses, and then baked and served with |
| fresh herbs and spices. | | | | toppings of mozzarella and meat sauce. It was |
| Meals start with a fresh and warm mini bread loaf. | | | | hearty and flavorful, and I could eat only a third of it. |
| The server brings a white dish with a resting place | | | | My husband enjoyed the rest for his dinner. |
| for a spoon containing freshly minced garlic and herbs. | | | | You can also order Personalized Pasta, where you |
| At the table the server pours olive oil into the dish | | | | have a choice of pastas, a choice of sauces and you |
| and mixes in the spoonful of flavorings to create | | | | select from a variety of toppings. |
| fresh dipping oil. | | | | A few chicken entrees include Pollo Fumigata, or |
| From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. there is a special lunch menu. | | | | Smothered Chicken; Pollo Tuscana (lemony); and |
| For $7 diners have a choice of Lasagna, Chicken | | | | Rigatoni Raggiata, which means Angry Rigatoni and is |
| Tortellini, Chicken Parmesan, Spaghetti, Fettucine | | | | a hearty dish with pasta, chicken, Italian sausage, |
| Alfredo, Cheese Ravioli or Baked Rigatoni, and they | | | | banana peppers and Alfresco Sauce. On the beef list |
| come with a choice of soup or salad, plus that | | | | are Bistecca Pizzaiola (a smothered ribeye), and |
| wonderful bread (which is baked fresh daily at | | | | Bistecca Toscana (marinated ribeye). There is a Fish |
| Benjamin's Bakery in Surfside Beach). There are also | | | | of the Day, plus Gamberi Marinara (gamberi are |
| lunch specials, and the day I visited it was Stuffed | | | | shrimp), Lobster Ravioli and Tesoro Di Mare (shrimp |
| Peppers. | | | | and scallops on fettucine with Alfredo sauce). |
| But you don't have to stick to the lunch menu at | | | | For dessert there are a couple of cheesecakes, |
| midday, because the regular menu is available for | | | | tiramisu and cannoli. |
| lunch or dinner. There are Paninis like Da Wise Guy | | | | The service is warm, friendly and efficient. I was |
| with salami, capicola and mozzarella, or The Leaning | | | | even greeted by servers tending to other tables, and |
| Tower of Pizza with pepperoni, sausage, tomatoes | | | | appreciated that my leftovers were boxed up for |
| and mozzarella. Classic Hot Subs are also listed, like a | | | | me at the table. This is a great date spot or family |
| Philly Cheesesteak and a Parmigiana Sub with | | | | restaurant, and I'm guessing Carolina Forest residents |
| meatballs, sausage, eggplant and chicken. | | | | will be grateful to have a spot such as this to dine at |
| Some folks were enjoying the pizzas, which can | | | | where they don't have to get out in major traffic. |
| come with gourmet toppings like meatballs, portabello | | | | Stefano's Cucina Rustica is at 2005 Oak Heart Road, |
| mushrooms, roasted red peppers and plum tomatoes. | | | | in the shopping center on the Piggly Wiggly side of |
| There are also small and large Stromboli, and Stuffed | | | | Carolina Forest Boulevard. The number is 903-7238, |
| Pizzas like Chicken and Broccoli, the Venice Veggie | | | | and they're open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through |
| and a Bacon Double Cheeseburger. | | | | Fridays, until 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from |
| Stefano's has wings (mild, medium, hot, extreme or | | | | noon to 9 p.m. Sundays. |
| teriyaki) and salads including Antipasto, Buffalo | | | | |