Cane Pazzo — Restaurant in Hanahan

Heard the buzz of this new restaurant. Awkward area, not the best neighborhood. But oh boy it was the best we’ve had in Charleston area. We’ve recently moved to the Charleston back in the spring and live in Mount Pleasant. The food scene here is rather awful, seafood towers and over priced steaks seem to the be the norm along with horrible service. This restaurant has by far has met our needs. Here is a breakdown of the evening.

We made a 5pm reservation. There is a line that gathers at the door for them to unlock. It’s rather unpleasant to wait in line for your reserved table. If the demand is that high open at 4 for a happy hour etc.

Staff was very pleasant and welcoming. We were immediately poured tap water without the offering of Aqua Panna or San Pellegrino. With other tables receiving these bottles I was surprised it wasn’t mentioned. Our server Kat was absolutely delightful, but she read the specials to us that were right behind her on a chalk board in which we already viewed. Again not to ding at her, she was great, it just didn’t make sense. Kat engaged in conversation with us and was the best server we’ve ever had in the Charleston vicinity. My goodness I hope she makes bank in tips! She’s a gem!

Cocktails: King Bee was too sweet, while pretty, you couldn’t taste the notes of juniper that highlight a gin drink. There was a lot going on and the other cocktail the horse with no name. Was a take on a bourbon cocktail and was more like a horse with no saddle. No bourbon to be tasted and very very sweet. Wine was good but served room temperature and reds really should be in the upper 50’s.

Caesar salad: Missing anchovies or real Caesar taste. Still decent for the area.

Crispy mozzarella: this was a 5pm reservation and it was clear the fryer oil was already bad. The sticks were over cooked or in bad oil

Pork chop: it was either not brined long enough or no brine at all. Instead of using a jam, highlight the fresh chilis.

Lumache: Pasta was good was but there was a rather bland taste to the dish. It was sort of just shredded pork in a stock stew sauce. Good but not something to write home about.

Peaches: weren’t ripe and served on a hot plate it melted the cheese into almost a curdled as it was separating because of build up of oil type cheese sauce.

The daily bread: delicious but way too much butter and charred/burnt too much.

The words are in Italian. Even though we’re world travelers we don’t speak Italian. The title of each dish is in Italian with the ingredients beneath but not explaining the type of pasta.

Overall the food was delicious despite this feedback. Other notes were the staff standing next to us chatting near the bathrooms. It was overpowering our own conversation. The door to the kitchen was wide open and we could see inside to the dish pit with several staff frantically running in and out from the outside door behind us. While we were waiting outside for the 5pm door open, we saw all the cooks and staff smoking cigarettes. Which is fine we get it, but if you don’t open the doors until 5 and guests have nowhere to go they’ll generally wonder around.

We’ll be back it was a...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Cane Pazzo, and it was an absolutely fantastic experience from start to finish. The moment we stepped inside, the warm and inviting atmosphere, with its rustic decor and family photos, made us feel right at home. It's the kind of place that feels both elegant and comfortable, a true neighborhood gem.

The food was, without a doubt, a highlight. Their focus on handmade pastas and Lowcountry ingredients is truly remarkable. My friend’s Bucatini Nero with local shrimp was rich and flavorful, a testament to the kitchen's skill and passion for traditional Italian cooking. Every dish our table ordered out looked incredible, and ours tasted even better. My dish, the pork chop special, was phenomenal.

What truly elevated our evening, however, was our server, Vincent. From the moment he greeted our table, his friendly and genuine energy was infectious. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, offering thoughtful recommendations that perfectly suited our tastes. He checked in on us at all the right moments, without ever feeling intrusive, and made a simple dinner feel like a special occasion. Vincent's professionalism and passion for his work are truly outstanding. He's the kind of server who doesn't just take your order—he enhances your entire dining experience.

Overall, Cane Pazzo is a must-visit, and with a server like Vincent, it’s a dining experience you won't forget. We're already planning our...

I finally dined at Cane Pazzo and it was top notch. We had reservations and they were able to sit us no problem at our time. Place was very crowded at 7:00 and had nice atmosphere.

Our party ordered four appetizers. The daily bread was delicious and warm. The meatballs were outstanding (you get four) and that’s coming from an Italian. We also had crispy mozzarella and it was just that and lastly the crispy Tarvin shrimp. A great four choices. Can’t go wrong with any of them.

For dinner I ordered the Bucatini. Pasta was delicious and comes with pancetta. One person ordered the risotto and said he loved it. We also order four sides to try. The long beans were surprisingly delicious (not a green bean kinda guy). The roasted okra also tasty as well as the squash and zucchini. Lastly the potatoes were tasty (my fav)

For dessert just got a sorbet as I was stuffed. One person got the affogato (vanilla gelato espresso) and raved about it. I will get that next time for sure. Our server Ann was a pleasure and took care of us the whole night.

Overall the experience was terrific. Nice place. Crowded but not too loud. Not a big place so could be tough to get in during busy time without a reservation. The only knock I had was not a wide variety on the menu. Protein choices limited with No chicken dish that night. If you love pasta worth the trip.

Will...