Welcome to our discussion and review of Ciao! Italian Restaurant, located on Business 17 in Myrtle Beach, SC- Good Info for Snowbirds and Those Who Think Outside the Coupon Books!

We paid our first visit to Ciao! Italian Restaurant shortly after the developers of our condo building told us about it. Owned by Eugene and Claudia Hysa, Ciao! is an inconspicuous hidden treasure located at 5223 North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach, SC (right near 52^nd Street North). Considering we can actually see the restaurant over the trees from our back balcony, we’re amazed we hadn’t noticed it.

When David and Beth told us it was a local favorite, that’s all it took. They called it a “local secret,” and they were right! We walked over to try a lunch before committing to a full dinner. We were greeted by the wonderful aroma of fine cooking, and by our waiter, Derek, who was exceptionally gracious and friendly.

For a Friday afternoon in April, it wasn’t TOO crowded, but the phone was busy with people trying to get a dinner reservation for that evening. They were all told the same thing: The place was booked solid that night, but there were several openings for the next night. Wow! Derek verified that the place is sometimes filled to capacity even at lunch.  We hadn’t even ordered yet, and we were already impressed.

The luncheon menu was impressive, and although I struggled between choices like Spinach and Walnut Ravioli, which people seem to swoon over in the area, and Manicotti, which is one of my all time favorites no matter where I am. If you tell me we’re going to an Italian restaurant, I instantly begin to drool, thinking about Manicotti. Finally, I decided to try the Manicotti, and John went with the Eggplant Parmesan since I have never liked eggplant and therefore never prepare it at home.

The meal began with warm, fresh bread accompanied by a plate of lovely olive oil and basil for dipping. The bread practically melted in our mouths, and Derek promised that we could purchase a loaf any time.

At a nearby table, I noticed a plate of the day’s special being served – a delectable looking blackened Salmon on a bed of spinach greens. John and I both decided that if they have that special again when we come back for another lunch, one of us would choose that dish.

The music was playing at the perfect volume – lots of what sounded like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin – just what I would expect in this atmosphere. As we waited for our meals, we relaxed in the casually elegant atmosphere. Ciao! is not a large restaurant – in fact, I don’t think there are more than 20 or so tables. The layout is quite bistro-like in that there are several tables placed in front of a long, nearly room-length booth seat, with chairs on the other side of the table. Tables can be placed together for larger parties.

The atmosphere made me think that an evening meal with a roomful of happy locals all chatting at and with one another from one table to another. I thought of how it would be as close to a family style meal as possible while still sitting at one’s own table. I loved the place and I STILL hadn’t eaten my lunch…

Finally, our own meals came out, and I was forced to mind my own business in order to concentrate on my lunch. (As I write these words, I am suddenly made aware that I’ve just taken and deep breath, and let out a long and serene sigh as I think of my lunch.) The Manicotti was excellent – served with lots and lots of melted cheese on top (which is exactly the way I like it). The marinara, Derek told us, was a family recipe, as were other popular items (such as the meatballs which, he said, were a SECRET family recipe). I thought the marinara had an ever-so-slight “kick” and I could have had it as a bowl of soup. Because I make stuffed shells a lot at home (and they’re pretty good if I do say so myself!), I’m always eager to see how other people make their fillings. At Ciao!, it appeared to be primarily a ricotta and parsley mix. I tend to whip my filling to make the ricotta (and my own secret ingredients) mixture smooth and creamy. I think that if the Manicotti filling were a little smoother, the meal may have made me faint in ecstasy.

Now, as I mentioned earlier, I am definitely no fan of eggplant; however, as I looked at John’s plate of Eggplant Parmesan and his side of spaghetti, I thought that maybe…just maybe…I could be enticed to try just a tiny bit. Oh my goodness. I thought it was absolutely terrific. I could hardly believe that I was eating – and thoroughly enjoying – a dish made with eggplant. Derek agreed that eggplant is tricky, but if one gets the thickness just right (which they indeed do, at Ciao!), then eggplant can be marvelous. John pretty much took one, maybe two bites, looked up and simply said, “I’m sold.”

We both were.

We decided we needed to get back to Ciao! for dinner, and had the opportunity to do just that with our friends David and Beth who are the ones who recommended Ciao! in the first place. David had a dish of Chicken Lemone which looked wonderful. Beth enjoys the seafood entrees at Ciao! but the night we dined there, she had the Chicken Picatta – which I had as well. The addition of the chardonnay sauce was a very nice touch. I practically inhaled mine. I truly enjoy trying Chicken Picatta at different restaurants since it is a favorite meal that we prepare frequently at home. It is great fun to compare our own results to those of professionals! I’m pleased to say that we do a pretty good job – but must also admit that Ciao! has it down a bit better! :) John ordered the evening’s specialty, which was a salmon and scallop meal. Judging from the fact that there was not a single morsel left on his plate, I figured that he was quite pleased. He was.

I feel that Ciao! is reasonably priced. The manicotti at lunch was $7.95 and the Eggplant Parmesan was $8.95. The luncheon serving of the highly recommended Spinach & Walnut Ravioli runs $9.95, while the dinner portion is  $14.95.

John’s Salmon and Scallop special cost $24.95, which is the highest priced item we saw. The Chicken Lemone is $15.95 – but if you prefer Veal, the cost is only $18.95. The same holds true for the Chicken Picatta.

I have to say that Ciao! Italian Restaurant is now one of our very favorite spots.

Again, if you intend to go for dinner, call well ahead for reservations. This place fills up fast! Dine there yourself, and you will see why. Enjoy!

While we've eaten at a variety of different places over the course of the last 2 winters, we'll write about a handful of them here. At this time, we would like to invite you to learn a little about the following places:
E-Noodles
Ciao! Italian Restaurant
Mr. Fish
Little Brazil
Flamingo Grill
Five Guys Burgers and Fries
Little Italy
Gino's Pizza
Texas Roadhouse and Grill
and a few Chinese places (yes, we'll address some of the buffets as well)