With an extensive and creative menu that might surprise you (Spanish octopus, anyone?), and plenty of pizzas, comforting Italian dishes and craft cocktails to boot, it’s no wonder Vincenzo’s has been growing in its reputation as both a casual lunchtime pizzeria (downstairs) and a sophisticated, relaxed, upscale restaurant/lounge and late-night party spot upstairs.

Opened in July 2022, Vincenzo’s is the dream of local luxury home builder Vincenzo Panzarino. The restaurant’s general manager, Michael Romero, commented on Panzarino’s motivation to open Vincenzo’s.

“He said he was tired of not being able to get great pizza in town,” says Romero. “He’s in almost every day and is particular about not only the pizza, but all the food we serve.”

Two concepts in one building, Vincenzo’s, in the former Hurricane Maggie’s location, has two menus: one for the Downstairs and another for the Upstairs. Downstairs is reminiscent of any good New York pizzeria/café: plenty of small tables and display cases filled with the day’s savory offerings. Though both Up and Down serve excellent pizza, the Upstairs specialty Craft Pizzas are personal-sized and made with homemade dough and homemade mozzarella, hand stretched every day, cooked in a wood-cured brick oven and served late into the evening.

One of their bestsellers is the Bee Sting, topped with Neapolitan sauce, fresh mozzarella, soppressata salami, sausage, basil, chili oil, and drizzled with honey. Guests Upstairs may also choose from the Funghi (featuring truffles and wild mushrooms), a Margherita pizza, a standard Marinara and Pepperoni pizza, and others.

Downstairs, large 18-inch pies come in a variety of styles including a build-your-own. Additionally, you can find meatballs with ricotta, caprese salads, Aracini (Italian rice balls), soups, paninis, pasta dishes, chicken parm, bone-in chicken scarpariello, salmon, chicken and veal Marsala, and more.

Upstairs a stylish bar, large pizza oven and an outdoor deck are a part of the overall speakeasy/gangster theme. Plenty of seating is available at the bar, a variety of tables and booths, along with the outdoor space. On weekends the Upstairs can be lively and hip, with the dress-to-impress crowd in attendance, especially later in the evening.

The food, atmosphere, and service have created a loyal following of locals. According to Romero, their patrons are particularly fond of the Spanish Octopus, once an occasional special, now a regular menu feature. It’s firm, tender and mild, and served with traditional house-made vinegar sauce. The Italian Pinwheels, stuffed with cheese and pepperoni, are so popular, one customer buys them 25 at a time to take home. Chicken and seafood dishes, pasta entrees, eggplant parmesan, soups and salads, along with creative small plates, appetizers, a caprese salad made with their homemade mozzarella can be followed by the desserts: tiramisu, cheesecake, Nutella pizza, cannoli and an Italian lemon tart, and of course espresso and cappuccino.

The bartenders are all well versed in personal service and the art of craft cocktails, offering up a wide selection of house and top shelf liquors in creative or traditional drinks, along with fine wines and craft beers.

Plans to offer lunch and brunch Upstairs are in the works.

7710 N. Kings Hwy., Myrtle Beach
Web: CafeVincenzos.com
(843) 977-4992
Hours: Daily, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.