Nunzio Restaurant + Bar — Restaurant in Hilton Head Island

This is in regards to a meal my family and I had there last week, Saturday July 20. My waif and I are local HHI residents and our family was in from Asheville. Our niece has been diagnosed with celiac disease as well as having a diagnosed ALLERGY to dairy. Before we were sat we spoke with the staff to ensure that she could be accommodated and were assured by the staff that she could eat there. We again spoke at length to our server (who was great) about her being celiac as well as having a dairy ALLERGY. Again we were assured that her food would not include ANY dairy or gluten. Our waiter was extremely understanding and helped our niece order something that would be safe for her. Our meals arrived in a timely manner and the food was decent. Sadly before our niece could get through even half of her meal it became obvious that she had dairy in her food. She spent the rest of the meal in the restroom. When this was brought to the attention of our waiter he was extremely apologetic and immediately went to speak with the kitchen. When he returned he relayed that the kitchen denied any cross contamination or any dairy in the food. That was a bit frustrating but understandable. Our real issue with Nunzio's came about when we were leaving. My niece's father was confronted by the restaurant manager as well as a gentleman that we are assuming was the owner. Now to be clear, we did not ask for or want any sort of discount or comped meal. We had already paid for the entire meal including the meal that triggered my niece's allergy. The manager and assumed owner blamed my niece for getting sick stating "She must have gotten sick from something she ate earlier" and from the assumed owner "I AM the kitchen". This was all said in a VERY aggressive manner and in an extremely rude way. Thing is, my niece had been with us and not out of our sight for 6+ hours and had not eaten ANYTHING other than the meal at Nunzio's that day. All we really wanted out of this situation was an apology and a statement along the lines of trying to do better. I have worked in 5 star fine dining kitchens while living in Park City, I have worked in Michelin star restaurants and have dined at countless 5 star and Michelin star restaurants all over the country and have never experienced anything that even comes close to the rudeness and aggression that came from the restaurant manager and assumed owner at Nunzio's. We will never return to Nunzio's and will never recommend Nunzio's to our neighbors, friends, family or island visitors.

*Addition responding to the reply from the owner.

To start I am NOT the father of the person that had the cross contamination. I did stand at a distance and listen to the back and forth between the father and Nunzio's staff. What is being represented by Nunzio's is inaccurate. Only after a very dismissive and aggressive denial of any contamination from Nunzio's did the father reply with "the kitchen messed up". Where the big issue is that is not being addressed is that my niece is celiac but is also allergic to DAIRY. This was 100% a dairy contamination. We were assured by the Nunzio's staff that her food would be DAIRY free and not have cross contamination. Again, we understand mistakes happen but when those mistakes are brought to the attention of the establishment and those making the complaint are met with aggression, outright denial and placing the blame on the sick person it is completely unacceptable. Nunzio's reply to my original review is deflecting blame away from themselves and not owning...

I recently had the opportunity to dine at Nunzio Restaurant and overall, my experience was quite pleasant. While the food had its ups and downs, the service and ambiance of the restaurant truly stood out.

Starting with the positives, the service at Nunzio Restaurant was exceptional. The staff members were attentive, friendly, and went above and beyond to ensure a comfortable dining experience. They were prompt in taking orders, providing recommendations, and addressing any queries we had. The servers were knowledgeable about the menu and were able to guide us through the different options available. Their warm and welcoming demeanor created a positive atmosphere and made us feel well taken care of throughout our visit.

The ambiance of Nunzio Restaurant further added to the overall enjoyment of the meal. The restaurant had a cozy and inviting atmosphere, with tasteful decor and comfortable seating arrangements. The lighting was just right, creating a relaxed and intimate setting. Whether you're visiting for a casual dinner or a special occasion, the ambiance at Nunzio Food sets the perfect tone for a memorable dining experience.

Now, regarding the food itself, while it was decent, it didn't quite match the outstanding service and ambiance. The menu offered a variety of options, ranging from traditional Italian dishes to modern twists on classics. The flavors were generally good, with some standout dishes that truly impressed. However, there were a few instances where the execution fell slightly short, leading to inconsistent results. While the quality of ingredients was commendable, certain dishes lacked a bit of finesse and refinement. Nonetheless, the portion sizes were generous, and the presentation was visually appealing.

In terms of pricing, Nunzio Restaurant falls within a reasonable range for the quality of food and service provided. While it may not be the most budget-friendly option, the overall experience justifies the cost.

In conclusion, Nunzio Restaurant offers a pleasant dining experience with excellent service and a welcoming ambiance. Although the food had its ups and downs, the attentive staff and inviting atmosphere make up for any shortcomings. If you're looking for a restaurant that prioritizes customer service and creates a cozy atmosphere, Restaurant Food is...

What I love when I read reviews is how "apologetic", they are in their public responses but when you complain in person, they are argumentative and confrontational and simply prone to excuses. My wife and I went out for a casual meal and were seated in a section that was a main causeway for servers and guests. As such, we had people constantly moving behind her and hitting her chair. We asked to be moved but were informed it was not possible. The table next to us was empty (due to COVID), so we asked if it could be moved next to ours so she could sit next to me and not have people moving behind her. They said no, it was going to be used for another party. Meanwhile, between us and the bar was an empty standing table that was also closed due to COVID. Shortly after we had appetizers, a large group (that was waiting for their reservation time) came and moved the COVID sign and proceeded to use the table for drinks, etc. They were literally touching my wife's chair (she had to move to the side of our small table). We complained and were told the "table" was six feet away (which was not true but didn't matter because the people weren't and the table was supposed to be closed off per the sign). Manager said there wasn't much he could do but the owner was going over to talk to them. Turns out, they were wealthy locals and friends with the owner (who brought them over free appetizers and shared some hugs and handshakes then proceeded to leave). The owner came to talk to us and inform us they were "not so close". It was absurd. We had to take our meal to go (which we never wound up eating as it got cold) as we were completely uncomfortable.

As a previous reviewer noted. The staff are very abrupt and not very cordial and truthfully fo not care. Place is obvious a local place and the loss of one "tourists" business is of no consequence to them. While I will not speak to the food, I will say, it is not worth your time if you are not a local. We went to several restaurants (favorite was Crazy Crab), which had far better service and excellent food. You are welcome to go to this establishment but if you want a fair review, I would say you would be better served looking elsewhere. Do not trust the positive reviews of a bunch of local diners who go here...