South Carolina’s Very First Italian Restaurant Has Literally Been Around Forever

Craving authentic Italian food in the Palmetto State? You won't find any that delights the taste buds in quite the same way as the flavorful goodness found at the oldest Italian restaurant in South Carolina. Villa Tronco got an official start back in 1941, but Mama Tronco, the matriarch of the family that owns and runs this five-generation establishment, was feeding delicious, authentic Italian food to the neighborhood for years before that.

Now located in a 19th century firehouse, Villa Tronco is a landmark in Columbia; a place where the locals know they can always satisfy cravings for anything Italian.

The menu includes a variety of traditional entrees, including pasta dishes featuring homemade meatballs, as well as pasta dishes featuring chicken, seafood, and veal. Nightly specials spike in even more delicious variety.

On at least one of your visits to Villa Tronco, you owe it to yourself to order the pizza. Back when Mama Tronco was feeding the neighborhood from the family's fruit stand, she introduced pizza to The South.

And of course, no Italian meal would be complete without Cannoli, but also save room for their famous cheesecake!

A wide variety of wine is available to pair with your evening, and there is still another reason to visit:

Opera nights and Broadway nights bring live performances to the restaurant! Enjoy live entertainment while you dine on certain nights of the week. (You can check the upcoming line-up and dates by clicking the "events calendar" tab at this link.)

Generations of families have called Villa Tronco their Italian home away from home. When was the last time you visited this iconic eatery? We'd love to know!

Villa Tronco is located at 1213 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201. It's open five days a week, Tuesday through Saturday. The hours are Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Learn more from the official website and follow their Facebook page!