The Red Pepper Dining Review

The Red Pepper, an Italian Eatery located at 709 North Main Street, Summerville, is a pleasant surprise. The family run business has been owned and operated by Fred and Donna White for the last nine years. This couple is the very definition of "hands on" ownership. They work side by side in greeting their clientele, the selection of the wine offerings preparation of the deserts and continued development of innovative enticements to keep customers coming back.

One such innovation is the advent of the "Take and Bake" pizza for those hurried work-a-day folks who want a freshly prepared meal but have neither the time nor the ambition to cook after a long day. With one call to the Red Pepper, an authentic pizza is prepared with fresh sauce and homemade dough, both prepared daily, real cheese, and a selection of unique and upscale toppings made to the specifications of the customer. This pizza is boxed, unbaked on an ovenproof tray so a hot meal can be had straight from the home oven. No more cold, congealed pizza with half the cheese stuck to the top of the box and the other half pooled to one side of the pie after being transported on your car seat. Take and Bake, made to order is a fresh idea that offers true gourmet pizza.

If you haven't visited the Red Pepper lately, the restaurant has undergone some changes. A grand, exterior dining room has been added to the front of the restaurant for el fresco lunches or a romantic dinner on a sultry night. The dining deck offers some booth seating and a partial awning to insure diners' comfort and protection from sun and weather. The front most area of the deck has café style tables with umbrellas and is surrounded by window boxes and porch gardens offering the sweet scents of freshly grown basil and dill. The interior of the eatery can seat 100+ patrons in the main dining room, the private pepper room, full service bar and some interesting little alcoves for family dining, a private meeting or perhaps a tryst.

The Whites have maintained some of the traditional Italian dishes and have introduced some real excitement to the menu with the recent addition of Chef Jim Giuffre who has infused the menu with truly mouth-watering dishes. Chef Giuffre takes his craft very seriously and strives to bring patrons the latest in authentic Italian recipes by traveling to Italy once a year to keep current on technique and also to bring awareness and history to diners of the regions and provinces from which the recipes originated.

All special offerings like Cannelloni Bolognese con Spinach or Pasta Norma, Veal Fontina or Mussels a Diavolo are made with fresh ingredients from the downtown market and local produce. Each selection comes with a translation and description of the dish for the customer and a history of where and how it came to be. I can only tell you that these and other dishes I sampled are simply delicious! Chef Giuffre has done a fabulous job of educating the American restaurant patron and introducing them to the authentic and savory treats of the provinces of Italy. The desserts are equally fresh and delicious. All but the cheesecake is homemade on the premises by Donna White's own hands: gelato, tiramisu prepared with 100% real marscaponi cheese, ("no cheating with cream cheese") chocolate tort that is, as they say, "to die for."

The latest introduction to the experiences that can be enjoyed at the Red Pepper is the wine and food pairing. This event started as a quarterly occurrence but may be introduced on a more regular basis due to its popularity. The chef introduces dishes with explanation of ingredients etc. and makes suggestions on which wines best accent the flavors of the food. Each dish sample comes with a taster of the appropriate wine so the diner can apply the information and experience the pairing. The customer enjoys wonderful food paired with good wine and learns how to improve the enjoyment of pairing the two.

A luncheon or dinner at the neighborhood restaurant, The Red Pepper, will be enjoyed due to the friendly service and wonderful food, the "Take and Bake" is a convenience from which many will benefit and the wine pairing is an excellent way to spend and evening! A private room is available for bridal luncheons, rehearsal dinners and other functions for up to 35 people. For more information, visit their website or call 843-873-8600.



Luncheon at the Red Pepper earns a 3.5 stars for the menu selections 3 Diamonds and a reasonable 3 $$$ for pricing. $$$

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