Restaurateurs Kelleanne and Ryan Jones stumbled upon a charming corner spot at Spring Street and Rutledge Avenue and instantly knew it was meant to be something special.
Inspired by the breezy elegance of the Amalfi Coast, the couple brought Allora to life, they told What Now Charleston. Slated to open this fall, Allora promises to blend coastal Italian vibes with a dose of Southern charm, adding fresh energy to Charleston’s dining scene.
“Walking those streets on the Amalfi Coast, it takes your breath away. It just makes you feel so happy, just whimsical and just really in love,” Kelleanne said. “When you walk into Allora, I hope people feel that way.”
Allora’s interior will reflect the breezy elegance of the coast, with a light, airy and bright design. It will feature vibrant pinks and greens, along with natural elements like bamboo, olive trees, eucalyptus and light wood.
“It has a lot of history in the building, pre-1900s was the original build,” Ryan said. “There’s a lot of original brick and concrete. Through the years, it’s kind of cracked and crumbled. We’ve worked on repointing that, but wanted to give it that feel throughout the whole building so it really does feel like you’re in old world Italy.”
The restaurant will offer four distinct experiences: a main dining room, Bar Allora with a full food and drink menu, Rooftop Allora with a lighter selection and a walk-up window serving coffee and gelato.
“There aren’t many restaurants in Charleston that have rooftops, so often they’re just rooftop bars,” Kelleanne said. “After you finish your meal, you can go up to the rooftop and have a cocktail or dessert.”
The food menu will feature a coastal Southern Italian influence, focusing on light, fresh dishes. Offerings will include tagliatelle and spaghetti alla Nerano—a traditional pasta made with zucchini that’s slowly fried down into a creamy sauce, then finished with basil, olive oil and pecorino cheese.
“There’s 12 different homemade pastas made in house,” Kelleanne said. Just super light using olive oil, tomatoes, zucchini and lemon.”
For the drink menu, Allora’s beverage director is crafting a refreshing lineup of spritzes. While it will include the classics, Kelleanne said he’s also “playing around with some really fun ideas” to put a creative twist on the traditional spritz.
The duo also shared plans to introduce unique twists to Allora after it opens.
The restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, with Ryan leading the culinary program and Kelleanne managing operations on the floor. This marks the duo’s fourth concept. They also own sister restaurants Southbound, Community Table and Honeysuckle Rose, all part of Free Reign Restaurants, their growing restaurant group.
Though no official grand opening date has been set, Allora aims to debut during the first or second week of September.
