A scratch-made Italian restaurant with New York roots is planning its second South Carolina location.
Cafe Al Dente will open at Bluffton’s New Riverside development, a 35-acre area that includes homes, shops, restaurants, and a park. While the exact address for the new eatery has not been finalized, New Riverside Village is situated at the southeast corner of New Riverside Road and S.C. 46.
The original Cafe Al Dente was founded nearly a decade ago in Oyster Bay, New York. In February 2024, Damien and Yakshi Carlino brought the eatery to the Coligny Plaza Shopping Center on Hilton Head Island, where they delight patrons with their Italian-inspired, scratch-made pastas.
In addition to the signature pasta dishes, Bluffton residents can look forward to offerings such as Chicken Milanese and Shrimp & Polenta, as well as an array of salads, desserts, and cocktails.
Cafe Al Dente will join a plethora of upcoming eateries at New Riverside Village, including Local Pie and Nom Nom Poke.
Yakshi told What Now Charleston that she and Damien are thrilled to expand to Bluffton; however, the project is still in the “very early stages,” so details are limited for now. She expects to have more information in about a month, so be sure to check back for updates.
