Ken Vedrinski didn't want to open another restaurant in downtown Charleston. Diners still bemoan the loss of his cult favorite downtown Italian eatery Trattoria Lucca , which never reopened after the pandemic. But the James Beard Award-nominated chef and owner of buzzing Isle of Palms restaurant Coda del Pesce knew he had nothing left to prove.
Then he stepped inside 161 Rutledge Ave. The restored storefront at the corner of Rutledge Avenue and Doughty Street previously housed Laurel, the Spanish and Portuguese destination that quietly went dark this spring. Ken Vedrinksi will open Volpe's in 2024.
When he toured the building at the request of a friend, Vedrinski took note of the its pristine condition after a redesign by Laurel owner Trae Wilson. The lease was affordable, and he liked that there was a garage steps away; parking was one of his biggest challenges at Trattoria Lucca, which operated at 41 Bogard St. for a dozen years and is now home to Vern's .
Story continues below And he had the perfect concept for this part of downtown near the Medical University of South Carolina. Inspired by and named after his grandmother, Volpe's will be an American Italian restaurant serving dinner Tuesday through Saturday. Fans of Trattoria Lucca's Monday night family-style dinner service rejoice — Volpe's will be centered around a four-course, family-style meal priced at around $60, Vedrinski told The Post and Courier.
The chef recognized the impressive Italian restaurants that have .
