When at a restaurant with the name Alfresco, one must dine alfresco, of course. Which is exactly what my husband and I did one warm, spring afternoon at the new Alfresco Italian Bistro on Front Street in historic downtown Georgetown. 

The sun-kissed sidewalk patio lined with wooden planters fronting the bistro is lovely, but the indoor dining areas are cozy and welcoming as well. Inside, the personality ambiance is a blend of modern and Old World traditional, with a long, built-in wine rack dividing two rooms, terracotta walls dressed with large oil paintings, cement floors, and white linen four-tops.

Formerly a Mexican-inspired cantina, Marker 42 Lowcountry Cantina, up until December 2024, the interior of the building (and storefront) underwent a complete gutting renovation. The same owner, Trevor Day (a la Buzz’s Roost and Winyah Bay Brewing Company), however, remains. Alfresco Bistro’s Executive Chef Eddy Chacon comes full circle back to Front Street; he and his wife, Lisa, originally opened Alfresco Bistro a few doors down from today’s bistro a few years ago and left the executive chef role at his family’s restaurant, Tuscany Bistro, in Pawleys Island to open today’s location.

What Chacon hasn’t changed is the authentic Italian flavors and the love he stirs into every classic-contemporary seafood and Italian dish he creates. A chef since the early 1980s, Chacon established his own style, a blend of French, Spanish, and Italian, a nod to his adopted family in Newark, who were first generation from Sicily. 

From what we sampled for our late lunch at Alfresco Italian Bistro, the results are delicious, flawless, and pure artistry. We began with the classic antipasti of Caprese, which arrived with fresh, vine-ripe, sliced tomatoes splayed around a mound of mozzarella, drizzled with a balsamic reduction, and garnished with fresh basil. All courses are plated on pretty, floral Chinaware, as if we had a seat at Nonna’s dining room table. 

More appetizers on the menu include a mix of Italian treats and creative twists, including Meatball Risotto, Zucchini Frita, and Calamari, plus Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp, Tuna Nachos, and more. Additional light fare options include a toss-up of salads and Caesars, along with bowls or cups of either Tomato Basil or Lobster Bisque.

For my main course, I chose one of the tapas, a four-ounce Filet Mignon, served with roasted potatoes and asparagus with a red demi-glace. The steak, prepared medium, was perfection. Hubby chose the five-ounce grilled grouper tappa, served with grilled vegetables. He described the fish as flavorful, flaky, and moist, bite for bite. More tempting tapas are the duck confit, Porterhouse lamb chop, and grilled salmon.

Lunch here is layered and more complex than your typical sandwich offerings – even the Bistro’s sandwiches are on another level, like any of their paninis (grilled chicken breast, Proscuitto, roasted red peppers, mozzarella, and basil pesto on a toasted and pressed ciabatta bun), the meatball and chicken parmesan, the Pizzola Burger, or the Alfresco Veal Milanese (breaded and veal cutlet topped with roasted red peppers, sauteed onions, and arugula on grilled focaccia with a horseradish aioli). There are also a half-dozen pasta dishes, such as the namesake Alfresco Parmesan or Alfresco Rigatoni, veal, chicken, or eggplant over rigatoni and sauteed with garlic, tomatoes, spinach, and olive oil.

Don’t forget to order a cocktail or craft beer from the bar. The Bistro’s mixologists can shake up just about anything for your drinking pleasure. And, for your dining entertainment, there is a baby grand in the corner of the room, which comes to life on some nights.

I’ve said this before, but it’s a healthy pattern in this case. The culinary landscape along Front Street in downtown Georgetown is vibrant and ever-growing. Alfresco Italian Bistro is yet another extension of this fresh growth. The dexterous restaurant can serve as a casual lunch or dinner spot, a romantic date night, or a place to celebrate a special event with friends and family. Whatever your reason, it’s worth the visit. 

Alfresco Italian Bistro 
929 Front St., Georgetown
(843) 461-9224
Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9