DeMarco's Italian: The Best Italian Restaurant in Downtown Greenville, SC
Whether you live in Greenville, are visiting for the weekend, or are thinking about making it your new home, one thing is certain: this city knows how to eat. Downtown Greenville is packed with amazing places to enjoy a great meal. And right in the heart of it all, there is one restaurant that locals, visitors, and food lovers keep coming back to: DeMarco's Italian.
DeMarco's is a family-owned Italian restaurant located in the West End of downtown Greenville, committed to serving quality Italian-American food to the local community. From wood-fired pizzas to house-made pasta, every dish is crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients. It is the kind of place where you feel at home the moment you walk in.
Whether you are going out for a date night, a family dinner, or a fun evening with friends, DeMarco's delivers a dining experience that is hard to forget. It is one of the best Italian restaurants in Greenville, SC, and a true gem of the West End dining scene.
The Story Behind DeMarco's Italian
DeMarco's Italian has a story rooted in passion and community. The restaurant began as a conversation between Anthony Pepe, Mike, and Genine Baldassarra. They wanted to create an elevated, modern Italian-American dining experience, and after months of design, extensive recipe testing, and extensive training, the restaurant was ready for its debut.
DeMarco's Italian comes from the same team behind The Slice and The Pasta Addict. Anthony Pepe brought his Italian-American roots and experience from The Pasta Addict, which he opened with his wife Jennifer at Gather GVL in 2020. He joined The Slice team in 2022 before helping launch DeMarco's.
DeMarco's Italian opened on February 25, 2025, at 366 Field Street in downtown Greenville. The 5,500-square-foot restaurant sits on the ground level of the 408 Jackson building, just across from Fluor Field.
Operating partner Mike Wible captured the spirit of the place simply: "The goal is a lot of smiles. We want everyone to sit back, relax, and have a good time." That vision guided two years of careful planning, and you can feel it the moment you arrive.
A Menu Full of Italian-American Favorites
The menu at DeMarco's Italian is where things really shine. It offers a wide range of dishes, from classic starters to hearty mains, all made with fresh, quality ingredients. Here is a look at what you can enjoy.
Starters Worth Sharing
Start your meal with something special. The house-made mozzarella is a crowd favorite. Guests also love the meatballs, and the focaccia is a popular choice for the table. The meatballs are made from a blend of pork and local Wagyu beef and served with house-made Stracciatella cheese. Gulf oysters are another popular starter on the menu.
House-Made Pasta Dishes
Anthony Pepe leaned into his own Italian-American roots to create pasta dishes that feel familiar but are entirely their own. All pasta is made fresh in-house using recipes from The Pasta Addict. Popular options include:
The Spicy Vodka Pasta, a rich and perfectly spiced dish that guests keep coming back for, and the Carbonara, a classic Italian dish done with care and tradition. The Duck Ragu is a creative twist on a traditional dish featuring slow-braised duck and foie gras butter. The Cacio e Pepe is a bold, simple pasta with just cheese and pepper.
Wood-Fired Pizzas
Two large wood-burning ovens are central to the restaurant, as functional as they are eye-catching. They produce pizzas with a crispy, sturdy crust that fuses New York-style pies with Neapolitan-style ingredients. Pizza expert and author Anthony Falco, a global pizza consultant and author of "Pizza Czar," helped shape the pizza program at DeMarco's.
Specialty pies are topped with ingredients like caciocavallo cheese, gold potatoes, soppressata, rosemary, pistachio pesto, whipped ricotta, mascarpone, and mortadella. Fan-favorite pizza options include the Margherita, the New Yorker, and the Vodka Supreme.
Mains and Wood-Fired Entrees
Beyond pasta and pizza, DeMarco's offers flavorful seafood and hearty meat dishes, all cooked with a focus on quality ingredients and time-honored recipes. Popular entrees include the eggplant parm, veal chop vodka Parmigiana, and branzino. A bone-in pork chop is also available, served Milanese or Parmesan style.
Drinks and Desserts
The beverage menu was designed by Michael Pickering, a Level 2 certified sommelier. It features a varied wine list with a particular focus on Italian wines, as well as a selection of signature handcrafted, Italian-inspired cocktails, including the popular tiramisu martini. For dessert, classic Italian options like tiramisu and cannoli round out the meal on a sweet note.
The Atmosphere and Dining Experience
The two-story restaurant features a sleek, contemporary bar and dining area on the main level, a quieter upstairs dining area, plus an outside bar seating area with a mezzanine overlooking Fluor Field. The open kitchen and bar, floor-to-ceiling windows, and welcoming design make for a grand first impression.
The lower-level outdoor space features a pergola-covered dining area and an AstroTurf space, with plans to eventually allow the restaurant to accommodate dogs.
Guests describe the vibe as upscale but laid-back. It is the kind of place that works for a special anniversary dinner and a casual night out with friends alike. Reviewers have praised the service for making everyone feel welcome, from the hostess at the door to the manager who stops by to check on the table.
DeMarco's modern decor and warm, inviting atmosphere draw a crowd of downtown professionals, families, and fans of the Greenville Drive minor-league baseball team. Sitting between Fluor Field, Greenville High School, and the Shoeless Joe Jackson Museum, DeMarco's is right in the center of a lively and beloved part of the city.
What Makes DeMarco's Stand Out
DeMarco's Italian is not just another Italian restaurant. Here are a few things that make it truly special in the Greenville dining scene.
The wood-burning ovens imported from Italy are what separate this place from every other restaurant making pizza. Anthony Falco, a globally recognized pizza consultant, helped shape the pizza program, bringing world-class expertise to every pie. Fresh pasta is made daily using recipes rooted in Anthony Pepe's Italian-American heritage. Michael Pickering's Level 2 sommelier credentials bring a refined beverage program with a focus on Italian wines. DeMarco's also offers an elegant private dining area upstairs and a sunny outdoor patio for group events and celebrations. The restaurant has also been featured in Restaurant Week South Carolina, offering a three-course dinner experience.
Plan Your Visit to DeMarco's Italian
Ready to try one of the best Italian restaurants in Greenville, SC? Here is everything you need to know before you go.
Address: 366 Field Street, Suite A, Greenville, SC 29601
Phone: (864) 399-1722
Website: www.demarcositalian.com
Reservations: Available via the Resy app or by calling the restaurant
Hours:
- Monday through Thursday: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Sunday: 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Plentiful parking is available in the building and along Field and Augusta Streets, as well as parking lots across from Greenville High School and the nearby Wing Crave restaurant.
Why DeMarco's Italian Is a Must-Visit Spot in Greenville
Greenville, South Carolina, is a city that keeps getting better. And restaurants like DeMarco's Italian are a big reason why. From the fresh pasta and wood-fired pizzas to the warm service and beautiful two-story space, everything about this place tells you that the people behind it truly care.
If you are moving to the Greenville area or just thinking about it, DeMarco's gives you a real taste of what life here can feel like. This is the kind of restaurant that makes a neighborhood feel like home. It is the kind of place you will want to bring your friends, your family, and your out-of-town guests.
DeMarco's Italian is more than a great dinner spot. It is part of what makes downtown Greenville one of the most exciting places to live in the South.
Book your table now at www.demarcositalian.com or through the Resy app. Reservations are highly recommended.