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Mike Ledford

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Chef Nico Romo Shares Italian Family Recipes at Laura in Summerville

Tour Italian restaurant Laura before the big opening tonight.

Erin Perkins is the editor of Eater Carolinas, covering the food and restaurant scene across North and South Carolina.

Chef Nico Romo is well known in Charleston for his French fare at Nico in Mount Pleasant and Bistronomy in downtown Charleston, but now he’s bringing Italian to Summerville with the opening of Laura on Wednesday, June 1. The 101 Main Street restaurant is an ode to Romo’s Italian grandmother Laura, who grew up in Arpino in Central Italy. Her cooking was influenced by the styles of Northern and Southern Italy.

Romo’s menu at Laura contains classic Italian dishes ranging from Neapolitan pizzas to cacio e pepe to veal saltimbocca. The one dish that Romo knew had to be on the menu was his grandmother’s recipe for bolognese. He says he has fond memories of eating the dish when he would visit — “If I only ate one bowl, I would be in trouble,” he says, like many grandmothers, Laura always wanted to make sure the family was well fed.

Romo said he choose the Summerville location because many of his loyal customers at his other restaurants drive in to dine with him, and he thought it was about time to open an establishment there for his fans.

The interiors at Laura are sophisticated, but not stuffy, with black-and-white family photos on the walls and pink-hued vintage glassware on the tables. Romo jokes that the portrait of his grandparents hanging on the wall is “the world’s first selfie.”

Laura opens for dinner service this evening at 4 p.m.

Tables with white cloth covers.
White tablecloths set an upscale tone for the dining room.
Mike Ledford
Red leather banquettes.
Romo hopes that families and friends will make many memories in these banquettes.
Mike Ledford
Pink wine glasses on the tables.
Romo and team sourced vintage glassware for the tables.
Mike Ledford
Black and white photo of an Italian couple.
Romo likes to say that this is the “world’s first selfie” of his grandmother and grandfather.
Mike Ledford
A wooden bar.
The bar offers more seating for customers.
Mike Ledford
Vintage pink wine glasses hang above the bar.
Vintage pink wine glasses hang above the bar.
Mike Ledford
Family photos line the walls at Laura.
Old family photos line the walls at Laura.
Mike Ledford
An open kitchen.
Customers can see into the kitchen.
Mike Ledford
The red wood fire oven is a centerpiece of the dining room.
The red wood-fired oven is a centerpiece of the dining room.
Mike Ledford
Exterior of white brick building with “Laura” painted above a window.
Laura opens on Wednesday, June 1.
Mike Ledford

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