I always find this place to be a solid meal for dinner. You do not get enormous portions of pasta, but the pasta is fresh, made daily at the restaurant. Many choices on sauces. I usually get the salads. The spinach salad is a favorite, but I've enjoyed the pear salad when in season. I also love the butternut squash pasta, usually in a butter sauce. Delicious!
(4)
Ross E.
Really good, pretty cheap, big portions if you order the right pasta, great sauces, the sauces are really what set this place apart, also free bread and olive oil!
(5)
Arielle B.
Their food is pretty good but it's a bit overpriced and the portion sizes are a little small (which is fine for me but it's not enough for most people)
(3)
J N.
Fresh pasta, great salads, amazing prices
(5)
Cindy R.
Took the family for a late dinner the night before the Auburn game. Packed! But the staff was friendly and efficient and made the short wait easy to take. Tons of out of towners seemed to love the experience as well. Butternut squash ravioli to die for! Husband had the lasagna - very rich and flavorful. One son had truffle ravioli with lamb ragout - delicious and complex. Can't say enough about it other than all this deliciousness came at such a reasonable price! How do they do it? We'll be back to find out!
(5)
Mike M.
We had a great meal here -- awesome salad and the ravioli we ordered was fresh, tender, and fantastic. The portions are not huge, but I think that they are reasonably priced for the quality. The service here was great - attentive and friendly. Definitely a good experience... I would come here again when in Clemson.
(5)
Joe P.
This delightful pasta joint in downtown Clemson, S.C. serves up fresh ravioli and delicious sauces with efficient service in a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. It could use a better beer menu, but otherwise, this is one of the best lunch spots to be found in this charming little college town.
(4)
Emily E.
I used to frequent this place when they had a Columbia location so I was glad to see Clemson still had one that existed. I like the fresh-made pasta, specifically the tagliatelli, but I'd recommend one of the red sauces as the cream ones are a little bland for me. Make sure you try the olive oil with ground pepper to dip your bread in. The deep fried mozzarella appetizer is also on point. For dessert, you must try the Italian cream cake. Happiness explosion in your mouth. The piece you'll get is sharing size and you'll love the nuttiness combined with cream cheese. Be prepared to order (and tip) as soon as you enter, instead of gettinga menu at your table.
(4)
Davis J.
In Clemson = 4 Stars. In a Large City = 2 Stars. I remember coming here for dinner many times with my friends and roommates. It was an oasis from all the fried crap and sports bars. Easily one of the best options in Clemson. The pasta is made from scratch. The sauces are essentially made to order. The salads are rather tasty but a little sloppy. The beer is cheap...but that's just Clemson for you. The service is usually pretty crappy... but ess OK. Beggars can't be choosers. Tip: Order at the counter, get your pepper mill and find a seat. Pro Tip: Sit at the bar and get faster service without having to preorder your food.
(4)
Sherry M.
Love this place... Why would you go anywhere else??? Fresh, made to order, great service. Best place for Italian fresh made food, sauces, and desserts... Yummy flavored gelato's.. Don't go to a chain restaurant for Italian... Go here instead!!!!! Your be so glad you did!!!!
(5)
John C.
Went with a group here on business and wanted something casual and good. This place hits the spot. A little different to order at the front - we sat down to look at the menu - then went back up to order. The service was very good and the pasta was fresh. Everyone said they enjoyed what they got - Chicken Marsella, pizza, salad, several different pastas. Also stayed within our expense account limits. Win - Win - Win
(3)
Dennis J.
Food portions were good for the price and what we expected for a university town, the negative was the poor service and bad attitude of the staff.
(2)
L K.
Good food but a more pricy than I expected. I Was pretty happy until I got home & saw my $5 pieces of cake (2). They were actually slivers of cake--Put together I wouldn't have paid $5 much less $10. Great cake but really? Our service was really good.
(4)
Jay D.
Hungry after a long day of hiking and driving thru 3 states, we decided to check out Brioso. I was surprised how busy it was at 9:30, but was later told that it's move in week at Clemson. I had the side Brioso salad, which was very tasty. They also brought out some French bread, which would had been better if it was warm. My main dish, southwest pasta, was one of the daily specials. The amount was huge! It had just enough spice and also had a good amount of chicken, as well as grilled onions and peppers. The chipotle cream sauce was tasty as well. I ate every bite and was stuffed. Service was really good and fast, even with the large crowd.
(4)
Karey B.
Very good! Totally hit the spot, lasagna was a little over cooked but the ravioli was awesome. We will be back!
(4)
Taylor M.
So, I walk in with CGSA, a student group, to try out the pasta here at Brioso. Since it was suppertime, I had decided to order a ricotta and spinach ravioli and a tiramisu. Before that, however, I was able to try out other a BBQ chicken flatbread pizza, and it was very good. That BBQ sauce was perfect on that pizza. Okay, onto the ravioli. The ravioli was very good and well-textured, and the "sauce" (the sorrentina sauce) complimented it pretty well, though the olive oil kinda separated from the rest of the dish. I still, however, can't believe that the sauce is charged separately from the pasta. ($5.00 pasta, $4.00 sauce). I didn't *have* to order sauce, but they kinda recommended that I do. The Tiramisu (my first one, mind you) was actually pretty good. Ladyfingers layered on some sort of cream and sprinkled with espresso powder. I can't really say that it is much to write home about, but filled the spot quite nicely. The only reason that this place didn't get a 5: I constantly has to ask the staff for utensils, such as a straw and a fork, but that didn't really spoil my experience here. I'll be definitely coming back here and, maybe, be able try out the pizza margherita.
(4)
Chris S.
If this was in a major city, it'd be a 3-Star, for sure, but in Clemson it's a 4 and likely one of the best tasting meals in the city. Surrounded by a plethora of greasy, fast food spots and chain, bland sandwich joints this place hits the spot for anyone looking for a real meal. My only complaint is that the portions are small, but this place isn't expensive, so there's still a lot of value here. However, the small salad I ordered was tiny, literally gone in a few small bites. Still it did have fresh, crispy lettuce and quality dressing. As for the pastas, they are very good. The spicy sauce I ordered came exactly as advertised and nothing in the restaurant resembled anything that would have been canned and microwaved. This is real Italian food in an area surrounded by well, a lot of crappy food! Come here for a real meal and leave smiling.
(4)
Liz M.
Went on a Thursday night. Had the ravioli sampler. They gave me three different types of ravioli, and two of each. With that and the half priced wine special (and a tip), my bill was only $17. Very filling. You can tell that the pasta is homemade and the fillings are delicious. Next time I come to Clemson, I will definitely return here.
(5)
Ashton P.
Some of the best food in Clemson! The pasta is fresh, the sauces are customizable, and the drinks are excellent. Be sure to eat dinner here.
(5)
Omar M.
There are not very many Italian restaurants in Clemson, so I'd say its a pretty average Italian Restaurant for a small city like Clemson. The service was pretty good, at Brioso you order at the front and pay, and then you go seat yourself at a table. There is a server, but if you pay with card, you have to tip before you even get served. So I wasn't a big fan of that process but I guess it works for them. The prices are pretty much what you would expect, around $10-15 an entree. The service was pretty good when we sat down, the food comes out pretty quickly. They give you bread and olive oil when you sit down and the bread was very good. The olive oil was an herb infused olive oil which I wasn't a huge fan of but some people like it. I've eaten there three times, first time I ordered the Primavera con Gamberi, the pasta was okay but the shrimp didn't taste very fresh, but the vegetables were cooked pretty well. Overall I didn't like the dish because the shrimp is the main part of the dish and that was the worst part of it. Another time I ordered a Chicken Parmesan pasta. I wasn't very impressed with it, the chicken was a bit soggy and the flavor of the pasta wasn't anything special. So I would definitely stay away from that dish. For Lunch I had the Smoked Salmone e Caprino Panini, which is a smoked salmon with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. The salmon was smoked well and and the goat cheese with the tomatoes added a nice flavor. It's definitely the best thing I've had at Brioso. I would've given it 2 stars but the Panini pushed it to that third star. For a place like Clemson Brioso isn't that bad if you are really in the mood for Italian and you don't want to drive all the way to Anderson. I would definitely recommend the Paninis and stay away from the shrimp.
(3)
Ashley L.
This place is a gem within the Clemson main stretch. The ordering process is a bit slow (order then sit, one at a time) but the food and service after that was fantastic. Highly recommend.
(4)
Shanel G.
I just ordered their food for delivery, while I'm sure it would have been better freshly hot out of the kitchen, it was really good. The gouda and sundried tomato ravioli is now my new favorite food. My fairly picky toddlers practically inhaled their spaghetti. Barring any complaints from my husband about his stromboli I would definitely order from here again.
(4)
Scott L.
I have to start this by saying that when we were there the water in Clemson was not pleasant to drink. There was a algal bloom in the lake and it caused the water and everything made with it taste weird. The ordering process is you come in, order at the bar, pay and then are seated. We had lunch here and thought it was ok. I had the mozzarella panini. It was great. Wife had penne pasta with mushroom sauce and chicken . She said it was pretty good. Nothing to write home about. Our daughter had fettuccine with the same sauce and chicken. She did not eat much of hers. The server did offer our daughter a chocolate gelato, she did love that! Hopefully, next time we come down the water situation will have resolved itself. We really want to give this place another try
(3)
Bigboss A.
My pizza was just ok but for $5 it was a great deal. The drinks were cheap as well. The major snafu occurred when my brother in law ordered chicken fettuccine but it came out with shrimp. Not a big deal, but when he asked for a new one they just took out the shrimp and rinsed the pasta. When it returned with chicken it smelled like fish. Pretty ghetto move.
(3)
Mike W.
It is rare that I rate a place as 5 stars. But I have eaten here twice and I am very impressed. Fresh hand made pasta, Italian Panninis and awesome desserts. This place is a gem in a row of typical college town bars and dives. Expect to pay $10 for a decent entree. Portion size is perfect. Can't say enough great things about this place!
(5)
Todd D.
Flatbread = Fabulous! Ravioli = Ridiculous! (Pear sausage is excellent!) Meatball paninni = Masterful! If you are in the area and are looking for a very good meal, you cannot go wrong with anything off of this menu!
(5)
Amy B.
This place is as good as it gets - and is the only 5 star restaurant in Clemson. I visit Clemson many times for business and have never come across this gem. Very casual yet the service is impecable. My waiter Trey was incredibly accomodating and ensured that I had everything that I needed. I learned that they make all of their pasta from scratch and it was so good! I was a bit disappointed that they had run out of their butternut squash ravioli, however, the hostess reccomended the chicken brocolli alfredo - I took her suggestion and I wasn't sorry that I did. Great food, great prices, great service - I will definitely will back again!
(5)
Jenna B.
Pasta with a side of ROACH I used to love your establishment until an event today prevented me from ever returning. I have had minor problems with your clemson location before but nothing compared to this. I brought my family to your restaurant while my sister was on a college visit. While there a live roach crawled from under my food and across my plate when it was delivered to the table and sat before me. My family was not offered a refund, was not given an apology, or offered an alternative food option while we waited an additional 10-15 minutes for new food. Needless to say I understand that accidents happen in the form of bugs, but how management treated the incident was unacceptable.
(1)
Rob H.
The menu has a decent selection of pastas, paninis, and soups/apps that I'm sure are all fantastic. However; they serve "Italian style tacos" that are a must try. I ordered the smoked salmon tacos, and while it wasn't a large meal, it sure was delicious. The two tacos are served on a non traditional tortilla that is somewhere between a hard and soft shell. The taco is filled with sauteed onions and peppers, smoked salmon, goat cheese, fresh tomatoes, and spring lettuce. The dish is also served with a marinara based "salsa" that was just the right amount of heat and sweetness to complement the other flavors in the tacos. The spinach salad is also very simple yet delicious. All in all a very pleasant meal, but left me wanting just a little bit more.
(4)
Kara D.
For being from NJ, I have a high standard of Italian food, and this does the job, just not excellent. I come here with my friends a lot for a "nicer" dinner even though it's not really a fancy place. The whole seating and ordering process is a little bizarre, especially when theres a lot of people and you have to stand outside on a line to order. I switch up what I get but the spinach salad and all the pastas are pretty good and not very expensive.
(3)
Keli B.
The bruschetta is AMAZING! So yummy! Only problem is that I filled up on salad and ravioli. I wish I would have saved room for dessert. The atmosphere is cute and staff is welcoming.
(5)
Marjie C.
Great prices for good quality pasta - large selection in their menu. You might laugh but their water tastes good!
(4)
Devin K.
Terrible service, overpriced pasta, angry management and bitter employees gives clues as to why 4 other locations have come and gone. P.S. I've seen the owner himself pick up a piece of pasta off the ground and throw it in the fryer. Yeah he fried it and it probably killed off most the germs but just sayin...
(1)
Brett B.
Pastas are fresh. Sauces are original. (most are spicy). This place has an awesome atmosphere and is perfect for a solid meal, especially at a reasonable price. (all around $10). The best thing to do here is mix and match their fresh pasta with their homemade sauce.
(5)
Keri Lyn S.
They were fabulous. We went after a volleyball tournament with thirty people and sat down after a group of 40 left. They were fast and efficient with turn over. The staff was friendly and service was excellent. We were amazed at how quickly the food came out and it was GREAT. we will definitely eat here again if we are in the area.
(5)
Chris G.
The food is really good, but it really rubs me the wrong way that they charge you for the pasta and the sauce separately. That is however just a personal problem, more of an annoyance than a problem really. It's also a bit more expensive than i was expecting, but overall a good experience, great food.
(3)
Josh A.
I really liked this place. We came here after the track meet, probably getting it again next week. The people working were very nice and helpful. Great idea for a place. You can choose your pasta, which they have a very long list of them, and choose your sauce, which they have a very long list of that too. They also have a few other things on the menu. I had the smoked gouda and sun dried tomato filled ravioli, topped with the Lamb ragu with rosemary. Everything is made fresh to order. Price is fair as well. The only thing I would do, would be to make the portions a little more. Other than that, it's pretty good.
(4)
David P.
Great food and good service. had the Calamari for an appertizer and the Salad with Shrimp for an entree. Good food and a reasonable price.
(4)
Mark R.
Okay. where do I begin? First, in a student community this place is far too expensive. I had ravioli with chicken in a marinara sauce and a salad and no drink and the bill was $17.00. Second, the portions for both salad and the pasta were rather small. Third, there is an unusual set up where you order at the door. There is not much room if a line forms, you have to look at the plastic menu if you don't want what is on the chalkboard, and you are asked to tip before you sit down, and then you have some rather novice waiters serving you. What's with the peppermill they give you at the beginning? I'd rather have a number to help service staff locate my table. The bread was, without question, the worst part of the meal. It was a soft white bread without much flavor. How about something crunchier and flakier at an Italian restauarnt? The pasta was good---not excellent, and I would go back, but there are better places for value in Clemson. Clearly this place will do well on football weekends or when Daddy is paying the bill, but the value is simply not there for good--not excellent--Italian food. The branch in Anderson closed, not because people just wanted meat and three at Mama Penns, but because they most likely realized that in today's economy one deserves more for pasta and salad at $17.00. On the night I dined there, the food server couldn't locate our food order which had printed to a printer not in the kitchen, but in the dining room. It was not his fault, but it delayed our food.
(2)
Sez R.
I always find their staff very rude - every single time I have been there. Not many choices to eat lunch in Clemson, that is the only reason I end up going back once in every couple months. Their salads are good in general.
(1)
Sez A.
Food is good but the way they treat their customers suck! It seems like I gave this place a raving rating before, but it was before they treated me and my friends terribly!!! This place neeeeeds a better management!!!!!! And servers with better training!!!!!!
(1)
J H.
Fun atmosphere, delicious food, and grate service. Try the tiramisu!
(5)
Taylor G.
One of the best Italian meals I've had in awhile! The food was amazing, the staff was so helpful and attentive. It was our first time there and you order at the counter as soon as you enter, so it's a bit overwhelming if you aren't expecting it. The girl at the counter was so helpful and explained the menu (you choose your pasta and then you choose sauce, so you can have something different everytime!) The fresh bread was really soft and tasty. Not a huge beer/wine selection, but since it's right off campus and closes early-ish, it's not a big deal. The service was pretty quick (could easily eat there if there is a break in classes) and the price wasn't too bad. It was $25 for two of us, including tip. I can't wait to go back! Oh, and if you are a student (with valid id) you can ask for the student lunch menu from 11am-2pm! It's about $5 a plate from what I saw, which is pretty dang good if you ask me. Subway across the street is pretty much the same and the food at Brioso is so much better!
(5)
Drew R.
Italian's Italian food. Great food! Great price! Phenomincal atmosphere! Friendly service! Genuinely unique dining experience.
(5)
E L.
The sandwiches/panini are your best bet- really fresh and priced right. The pasta choices on the other hand are way too expensive for what they give you-my advice just buy a box of pasta and cook it yourself! Also, the outdoor seating is nice on game days (perfect for people watching!)
(4)
Katie M.
Nick: This place is in Clemson, S.C.??? When you walk in, you place your order and they hand you a pepper grinder. At first I was wondering, okay, how are they going to figure out where we sat? Every pepper grinder is different, so all the servers have to do is find where it is. The atmosphere is that of a city Italian restaurant, and no, I'm not talking about the Olive Garden in Anderson. The high ceilings and close tables create a nice noise level without having to yell across the table to get some more bread. The open kitchen allows you to see what's going on, which is a nice change. Katie: Beautiful interior with artwork and an impressive-looking bar. We sat at a table in the back near the giant cappuccino machine. From our table we got to watch the hubbub of waiters and diners and felt as if we were in a city. A Look at the Menu Nick: Pasta, pasta, and more pasta, it is an endless mixing and matching. You pick your pasta; I went with the five-cheese ravioli. Then onto your sauces, I opted for the Sorrentina, which was a mix of chopped tomatoes, hunks of fresh mozzarella, and basil. Also, I opted for a Stella Artois as opposed to wine, because I'm a beer guy. Katie: Besides pasta, there are appetizers, salads and paninis. They currently don't have everything on their menu, but there were still many options available. Oh and did I mention dessert? There are traditional Italian desserts as well as a full gelato bar. The Taste Test Nick: If I knew any Italian, I'd use some adjectives to describe the food. I do not know any Italian, and I assume most of you reading this do not either. So plain and simple, this place is a knock out. I've eaten pasta in the North End of Boston, in Little Italy in NYC, and this is right up there and for a fraction of the cost. This is officially my first must-eat place of downtown Clemson. Katie: Il cibo italiani ed il vino era deliziosi (sorry Nick). I ordered the artichoke ravioli with the arrabiata sauce (spicy red sauce), and it was delicious! I also took a bite off Nick's plate of the very fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. The bread in the beginning was served with olive oil and had a hint of rosemary to it. Even though I'm more of a martini girl (I like my men how I like my drinks, strong), I tried the Red Truck red wine, and it was excellent. Then for dessert, I couldn't resist the gelato bar. Even though it's gotten pretty chilly out, I ordered the tiramisu gelato and was an instant fan. Impressions Nick: Great food always makes for a great time; the atmosphere makes it even better. Brioso is top notch food, with great employees, and a scene that is extremely refreshing. Get your friends together or ask that girl in class you've been too nervous to ask out, and go enjoy some fresh pasta. Katie: I will definitely be going back! Come to Brioso and experience la dolce vita.
(4)
Jennifer T.
So many choices of amazing pasta! Fresh ingredients. The mushrooms are always fresh and prepared amazingly. The Tiramisu is fantastic as well as the bread and olive oil blend. The food is absolutely amazing. The setup of ordering is slightly awkward, you order at the counter as you walk in. With so many amazing choices, it would be nice to have a waitress come to the table to take the order. However, if this place wanted me to stand on my head to order my meal, I would... I LOVE the food here!
(4)
Brennen J.
My boyfriend and I tried this place once and it was really not good at all! I am trying to debate whether I should use the world terrible or not but it was really not a good experience. I had heard RAVE reviews of this place so we decided to try it. First of all, it was really busy. We didn't mind waiting and finally we got seated. The whole entire wait staff was absolutely awful. They were really catty and had an attitude when you asked for anything and they were never around when you actually needed something. Instead they were just chatting together. My boyfriend got lasagna and I got gnocchi. For something you would think would be easy not screw up, the lasagna was awful. Seriously, terrible. It was a tiny square of it and the sauce on it just tasted sickly sweet and neither of us could finish it. The gnocchi was pretty good, but not a very big portion for the price. It's not terribly expensive or anything, but they could have given bigger portions. Maybe it's improved but it was a really bad experience.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Christine P.
I always find this place to be a solid meal for dinner. You do not get enormous portions of pasta, but the pasta is fresh, made daily at the restaurant. Many choices on sauces. I usually get the salads. The spinach salad is a favorite, but I've enjoyed the pear salad when in season. I also love the butternut squash pasta, usually in a butter sauce. Delicious!
(4)Ross E.
Really good, pretty cheap, big portions if you order the right pasta, great sauces, the sauces are really what set this place apart, also free bread and olive oil!
(5)Arielle B.
Their food is pretty good but it's a bit overpriced and the portion sizes are a little small (which is fine for me but it's not enough for most people)
(3)J N.
Fresh pasta, great salads, amazing prices
(5)Cindy R.
Took the family for a late dinner the night before the Auburn game. Packed! But the staff was friendly and efficient and made the short wait easy to take. Tons of out of towners seemed to love the experience as well. Butternut squash ravioli to die for! Husband had the lasagna - very rich and flavorful. One son had truffle ravioli with lamb ragout - delicious and complex. Can't say enough about it other than all this deliciousness came at such a reasonable price! How do they do it? We'll be back to find out!
(5)Mike M.
We had a great meal here -- awesome salad and the ravioli we ordered was fresh, tender, and fantastic. The portions are not huge, but I think that they are reasonably priced for the quality. The service here was great - attentive and friendly. Definitely a good experience... I would come here again when in Clemson.
(5)Joe P.
This delightful pasta joint in downtown Clemson, S.C. serves up fresh ravioli and delicious sauces with efficient service in a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. It could use a better beer menu, but otherwise, this is one of the best lunch spots to be found in this charming little college town.
(4)Emily E.
I used to frequent this place when they had a Columbia location so I was glad to see Clemson still had one that existed. I like the fresh-made pasta, specifically the tagliatelli, but I'd recommend one of the red sauces as the cream ones are a little bland for me. Make sure you try the olive oil with ground pepper to dip your bread in. The deep fried mozzarella appetizer is also on point. For dessert, you must try the Italian cream cake. Happiness explosion in your mouth. The piece you'll get is sharing size and you'll love the nuttiness combined with cream cheese. Be prepared to order (and tip) as soon as you enter, instead of gettinga menu at your table.
(4)Davis J.
In Clemson = 4 Stars. In a Large City = 2 Stars. I remember coming here for dinner many times with my friends and roommates. It was an oasis from all the fried crap and sports bars. Easily one of the best options in Clemson. The pasta is made from scratch. The sauces are essentially made to order. The salads are rather tasty but a little sloppy. The beer is cheap...but that's just Clemson for you. The service is usually pretty crappy... but ess OK. Beggars can't be choosers. Tip: Order at the counter, get your pepper mill and find a seat. Pro Tip: Sit at the bar and get faster service without having to preorder your food.
(4)Sherry M.
Love this place... Why would you go anywhere else??? Fresh, made to order, great service. Best place for Italian fresh made food, sauces, and desserts... Yummy flavored gelato's.. Don't go to a chain restaurant for Italian... Go here instead!!!!! Your be so glad you did!!!!
(5)John C.
Went with a group here on business and wanted something casual and good. This place hits the spot. A little different to order at the front - we sat down to look at the menu - then went back up to order. The service was very good and the pasta was fresh. Everyone said they enjoyed what they got - Chicken Marsella, pizza, salad, several different pastas. Also stayed within our expense account limits. Win - Win - Win
(3)Dennis J.
Food portions were good for the price and what we expected for a university town, the negative was the poor service and bad attitude of the staff.
(2)L K.
Good food but a more pricy than I expected. I Was pretty happy until I got home & saw my $5 pieces of cake (2). They were actually slivers of cake--Put together I wouldn't have paid $5 much less $10. Great cake but really? Our service was really good.
(4)Jay D.
Hungry after a long day of hiking and driving thru 3 states, we decided to check out Brioso. I was surprised how busy it was at 9:30, but was later told that it's move in week at Clemson. I had the side Brioso salad, which was very tasty. They also brought out some French bread, which would had been better if it was warm. My main dish, southwest pasta, was one of the daily specials. The amount was huge! It had just enough spice and also had a good amount of chicken, as well as grilled onions and peppers. The chipotle cream sauce was tasty as well. I ate every bite and was stuffed. Service was really good and fast, even with the large crowd.
(4)Karey B.
Very good! Totally hit the spot, lasagna was a little over cooked but the ravioli was awesome. We will be back!
(4)Taylor M.
So, I walk in with CGSA, a student group, to try out the pasta here at Brioso. Since it was suppertime, I had decided to order a ricotta and spinach ravioli and a tiramisu. Before that, however, I was able to try out other a BBQ chicken flatbread pizza, and it was very good. That BBQ sauce was perfect on that pizza. Okay, onto the ravioli. The ravioli was very good and well-textured, and the "sauce" (the sorrentina sauce) complimented it pretty well, though the olive oil kinda separated from the rest of the dish. I still, however, can't believe that the sauce is charged separately from the pasta. ($5.00 pasta, $4.00 sauce). I didn't *have* to order sauce, but they kinda recommended that I do. The Tiramisu (my first one, mind you) was actually pretty good. Ladyfingers layered on some sort of cream and sprinkled with espresso powder. I can't really say that it is much to write home about, but filled the spot quite nicely. The only reason that this place didn't get a 5: I constantly has to ask the staff for utensils, such as a straw and a fork, but that didn't really spoil my experience here. I'll be definitely coming back here and, maybe, be able try out the pizza margherita.
(4)Chris S.
If this was in a major city, it'd be a 3-Star, for sure, but in Clemson it's a 4 and likely one of the best tasting meals in the city. Surrounded by a plethora of greasy, fast food spots and chain, bland sandwich joints this place hits the spot for anyone looking for a real meal. My only complaint is that the portions are small, but this place isn't expensive, so there's still a lot of value here. However, the small salad I ordered was tiny, literally gone in a few small bites. Still it did have fresh, crispy lettuce and quality dressing. As for the pastas, they are very good. The spicy sauce I ordered came exactly as advertised and nothing in the restaurant resembled anything that would have been canned and microwaved. This is real Italian food in an area surrounded by well, a lot of crappy food! Come here for a real meal and leave smiling.
(4)Liz M.
Went on a Thursday night. Had the ravioli sampler. They gave me three different types of ravioli, and two of each. With that and the half priced wine special (and a tip), my bill was only $17. Very filling. You can tell that the pasta is homemade and the fillings are delicious. Next time I come to Clemson, I will definitely return here.
(5)Ashton P.
Some of the best food in Clemson! The pasta is fresh, the sauces are customizable, and the drinks are excellent. Be sure to eat dinner here.
(5)Omar M.
There are not very many Italian restaurants in Clemson, so I'd say its a pretty average Italian Restaurant for a small city like Clemson. The service was pretty good, at Brioso you order at the front and pay, and then you go seat yourself at a table. There is a server, but if you pay with card, you have to tip before you even get served. So I wasn't a big fan of that process but I guess it works for them. The prices are pretty much what you would expect, around $10-15 an entree. The service was pretty good when we sat down, the food comes out pretty quickly. They give you bread and olive oil when you sit down and the bread was very good. The olive oil was an herb infused olive oil which I wasn't a huge fan of but some people like it. I've eaten there three times, first time I ordered the Primavera con Gamberi, the pasta was okay but the shrimp didn't taste very fresh, but the vegetables were cooked pretty well. Overall I didn't like the dish because the shrimp is the main part of the dish and that was the worst part of it. Another time I ordered a Chicken Parmesan pasta. I wasn't very impressed with it, the chicken was a bit soggy and the flavor of the pasta wasn't anything special. So I would definitely stay away from that dish. For Lunch I had the Smoked Salmone e Caprino Panini, which is a smoked salmon with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. The salmon was smoked well and and the goat cheese with the tomatoes added a nice flavor. It's definitely the best thing I've had at Brioso. I would've given it 2 stars but the Panini pushed it to that third star. For a place like Clemson Brioso isn't that bad if you are really in the mood for Italian and you don't want to drive all the way to Anderson. I would definitely recommend the Paninis and stay away from the shrimp.
(3)Ashley L.
This place is a gem within the Clemson main stretch. The ordering process is a bit slow (order then sit, one at a time) but the food and service after that was fantastic. Highly recommend.
(4)Shanel G.
I just ordered their food for delivery, while I'm sure it would have been better freshly hot out of the kitchen, it was really good. The gouda and sundried tomato ravioli is now my new favorite food. My fairly picky toddlers practically inhaled their spaghetti. Barring any complaints from my husband about his stromboli I would definitely order from here again.
(4)Scott L.
I have to start this by saying that when we were there the water in Clemson was not pleasant to drink. There was a algal bloom in the lake and it caused the water and everything made with it taste weird. The ordering process is you come in, order at the bar, pay and then are seated. We had lunch here and thought it was ok. I had the mozzarella panini. It was great. Wife had penne pasta with mushroom sauce and chicken . She said it was pretty good. Nothing to write home about. Our daughter had fettuccine with the same sauce and chicken. She did not eat much of hers. The server did offer our daughter a chocolate gelato, she did love that! Hopefully, next time we come down the water situation will have resolved itself. We really want to give this place another try
(3)Bigboss A.
My pizza was just ok but for $5 it was a great deal. The drinks were cheap as well. The major snafu occurred when my brother in law ordered chicken fettuccine but it came out with shrimp. Not a big deal, but when he asked for a new one they just took out the shrimp and rinsed the pasta. When it returned with chicken it smelled like fish. Pretty ghetto move.
(3)Mike W.
It is rare that I rate a place as 5 stars. But I have eaten here twice and I am very impressed. Fresh hand made pasta, Italian Panninis and awesome desserts. This place is a gem in a row of typical college town bars and dives. Expect to pay $10 for a decent entree. Portion size is perfect. Can't say enough great things about this place!
(5)Todd D.
Flatbread = Fabulous! Ravioli = Ridiculous! (Pear sausage is excellent!) Meatball paninni = Masterful! If you are in the area and are looking for a very good meal, you cannot go wrong with anything off of this menu!
(5)Amy B.
This place is as good as it gets - and is the only 5 star restaurant in Clemson. I visit Clemson many times for business and have never come across this gem. Very casual yet the service is impecable. My waiter Trey was incredibly accomodating and ensured that I had everything that I needed. I learned that they make all of their pasta from scratch and it was so good! I was a bit disappointed that they had run out of their butternut squash ravioli, however, the hostess reccomended the chicken brocolli alfredo - I took her suggestion and I wasn't sorry that I did. Great food, great prices, great service - I will definitely will back again!
(5)Jenna B.
Pasta with a side of ROACH I used to love your establishment until an event today prevented me from ever returning. I have had minor problems with your clemson location before but nothing compared to this. I brought my family to your restaurant while my sister was on a college visit. While there a live roach crawled from under my food and across my plate when it was delivered to the table and sat before me. My family was not offered a refund, was not given an apology, or offered an alternative food option while we waited an additional 10-15 minutes for new food. Needless to say I understand that accidents happen in the form of bugs, but how management treated the incident was unacceptable.
(1)Rob H.
The menu has a decent selection of pastas, paninis, and soups/apps that I'm sure are all fantastic. However; they serve "Italian style tacos" that are a must try. I ordered the smoked salmon tacos, and while it wasn't a large meal, it sure was delicious. The two tacos are served on a non traditional tortilla that is somewhere between a hard and soft shell. The taco is filled with sauteed onions and peppers, smoked salmon, goat cheese, fresh tomatoes, and spring lettuce. The dish is also served with a marinara based "salsa" that was just the right amount of heat and sweetness to complement the other flavors in the tacos. The spinach salad is also very simple yet delicious. All in all a very pleasant meal, but left me wanting just a little bit more.
(4)Kara D.
For being from NJ, I have a high standard of Italian food, and this does the job, just not excellent. I come here with my friends a lot for a "nicer" dinner even though it's not really a fancy place. The whole seating and ordering process is a little bizarre, especially when theres a lot of people and you have to stand outside on a line to order. I switch up what I get but the spinach salad and all the pastas are pretty good and not very expensive.
(3)Keli B.
The bruschetta is AMAZING! So yummy! Only problem is that I filled up on salad and ravioli. I wish I would have saved room for dessert. The atmosphere is cute and staff is welcoming.
(5)Marjie C.
Great prices for good quality pasta - large selection in their menu. You might laugh but their water tastes good!
(4)Devin K.
Terrible service, overpriced pasta, angry management and bitter employees gives clues as to why 4 other locations have come and gone. P.S. I've seen the owner himself pick up a piece of pasta off the ground and throw it in the fryer. Yeah he fried it and it probably killed off most the germs but just sayin...
(1)Brett B.
Pastas are fresh. Sauces are original. (most are spicy). This place has an awesome atmosphere and is perfect for a solid meal, especially at a reasonable price. (all around $10). The best thing to do here is mix and match their fresh pasta with their homemade sauce.
(5)Keri Lyn S.
They were fabulous. We went after a volleyball tournament with thirty people and sat down after a group of 40 left. They were fast and efficient with turn over. The staff was friendly and service was excellent. We were amazed at how quickly the food came out and it was GREAT. we will definitely eat here again if we are in the area.
(5)Chris G.
The food is really good, but it really rubs me the wrong way that they charge you for the pasta and the sauce separately. That is however just a personal problem, more of an annoyance than a problem really. It's also a bit more expensive than i was expecting, but overall a good experience, great food.
(3)Josh A.
I really liked this place. We came here after the track meet, probably getting it again next week. The people working were very nice and helpful. Great idea for a place. You can choose your pasta, which they have a very long list of them, and choose your sauce, which they have a very long list of that too. They also have a few other things on the menu. I had the smoked gouda and sun dried tomato filled ravioli, topped with the Lamb ragu with rosemary. Everything is made fresh to order. Price is fair as well. The only thing I would do, would be to make the portions a little more. Other than that, it's pretty good.
(4)David P.
Great food and good service. had the Calamari for an appertizer and the Salad with Shrimp for an entree. Good food and a reasonable price.
(4)Mark R.
Okay. where do I begin? First, in a student community this place is far too expensive. I had ravioli with chicken in a marinara sauce and a salad and no drink and the bill was $17.00. Second, the portions for both salad and the pasta were rather small. Third, there is an unusual set up where you order at the door. There is not much room if a line forms, you have to look at the plastic menu if you don't want what is on the chalkboard, and you are asked to tip before you sit down, and then you have some rather novice waiters serving you. What's with the peppermill they give you at the beginning? I'd rather have a number to help service staff locate my table. The bread was, without question, the worst part of the meal. It was a soft white bread without much flavor. How about something crunchier and flakier at an Italian restauarnt? The pasta was good---not excellent, and I would go back, but there are better places for value in Clemson. Clearly this place will do well on football weekends or when Daddy is paying the bill, but the value is simply not there for good--not excellent--Italian food. The branch in Anderson closed, not because people just wanted meat and three at Mama Penns, but because they most likely realized that in today's economy one deserves more for pasta and salad at $17.00. On the night I dined there, the food server couldn't locate our food order which had printed to a printer not in the kitchen, but in the dining room. It was not his fault, but it delayed our food.
(2)Sez R.
I always find their staff very rude - every single time I have been there. Not many choices to eat lunch in Clemson, that is the only reason I end up going back once in every couple months. Their salads are good in general.
(1)Sez A.
Food is good but the way they treat their customers suck! It seems like I gave this place a raving rating before, but it was before they treated me and my friends terribly!!! This place neeeeeds a better management!!!!!! And servers with better training!!!!!!
(1)J H.
Fun atmosphere, delicious food, and grate service. Try the tiramisu!
(5)Taylor G.
One of the best Italian meals I've had in awhile! The food was amazing, the staff was so helpful and attentive. It was our first time there and you order at the counter as soon as you enter, so it's a bit overwhelming if you aren't expecting it. The girl at the counter was so helpful and explained the menu (you choose your pasta and then you choose sauce, so you can have something different everytime!) The fresh bread was really soft and tasty. Not a huge beer/wine selection, but since it's right off campus and closes early-ish, it's not a big deal. The service was pretty quick (could easily eat there if there is a break in classes) and the price wasn't too bad. It was $25 for two of us, including tip. I can't wait to go back! Oh, and if you are a student (with valid id) you can ask for the student lunch menu from 11am-2pm! It's about $5 a plate from what I saw, which is pretty dang good if you ask me. Subway across the street is pretty much the same and the food at Brioso is so much better!
(5)Drew R.
Italian's Italian food. Great food! Great price! Phenomincal atmosphere! Friendly service! Genuinely unique dining experience.
(5)E L.
The sandwiches/panini are your best bet- really fresh and priced right. The pasta choices on the other hand are way too expensive for what they give you-my advice just buy a box of pasta and cook it yourself! Also, the outdoor seating is nice on game days (perfect for people watching!)
(4)Katie M.
Nick: This place is in Clemson, S.C.??? When you walk in, you place your order and they hand you a pepper grinder. At first I was wondering, okay, how are they going to figure out where we sat? Every pepper grinder is different, so all the servers have to do is find where it is. The atmosphere is that of a city Italian restaurant, and no, I'm not talking about the Olive Garden in Anderson. The high ceilings and close tables create a nice noise level without having to yell across the table to get some more bread. The open kitchen allows you to see what's going on, which is a nice change. Katie: Beautiful interior with artwork and an impressive-looking bar. We sat at a table in the back near the giant cappuccino machine. From our table we got to watch the hubbub of waiters and diners and felt as if we were in a city. A Look at the Menu Nick: Pasta, pasta, and more pasta, it is an endless mixing and matching. You pick your pasta; I went with the five-cheese ravioli. Then onto your sauces, I opted for the Sorrentina, which was a mix of chopped tomatoes, hunks of fresh mozzarella, and basil. Also, I opted for a Stella Artois as opposed to wine, because I'm a beer guy. Katie: Besides pasta, there are appetizers, salads and paninis. They currently don't have everything on their menu, but there were still many options available. Oh and did I mention dessert? There are traditional Italian desserts as well as a full gelato bar. The Taste Test Nick: If I knew any Italian, I'd use some adjectives to describe the food. I do not know any Italian, and I assume most of you reading this do not either. So plain and simple, this place is a knock out. I've eaten pasta in the North End of Boston, in Little Italy in NYC, and this is right up there and for a fraction of the cost. This is officially my first must-eat place of downtown Clemson. Katie: Il cibo italiani ed il vino era deliziosi (sorry Nick). I ordered the artichoke ravioli with the arrabiata sauce (spicy red sauce), and it was delicious! I also took a bite off Nick's plate of the very fresh mozzarella and tomatoes. The bread in the beginning was served with olive oil and had a hint of rosemary to it. Even though I'm more of a martini girl (I like my men how I like my drinks, strong), I tried the Red Truck red wine, and it was excellent. Then for dessert, I couldn't resist the gelato bar. Even though it's gotten pretty chilly out, I ordered the tiramisu gelato and was an instant fan. Impressions Nick: Great food always makes for a great time; the atmosphere makes it even better. Brioso is top notch food, with great employees, and a scene that is extremely refreshing. Get your friends together or ask that girl in class you've been too nervous to ask out, and go enjoy some fresh pasta. Katie: I will definitely be going back! Come to Brioso and experience la dolce vita.
(4)Jennifer T.
So many choices of amazing pasta! Fresh ingredients. The mushrooms are always fresh and prepared amazingly. The Tiramisu is fantastic as well as the bread and olive oil blend. The food is absolutely amazing. The setup of ordering is slightly awkward, you order at the counter as you walk in. With so many amazing choices, it would be nice to have a waitress come to the table to take the order. However, if this place wanted me to stand on my head to order my meal, I would... I LOVE the food here!
(4)Brennen J.
My boyfriend and I tried this place once and it was really not good at all! I am trying to debate whether I should use the world terrible or not but it was really not a good experience. I had heard RAVE reviews of this place so we decided to try it. First of all, it was really busy. We didn't mind waiting and finally we got seated. The whole entire wait staff was absolutely awful. They were really catty and had an attitude when you asked for anything and they were never around when you actually needed something. Instead they were just chatting together. My boyfriend got lasagna and I got gnocchi. For something you would think would be easy not screw up, the lasagna was awful. Seriously, terrible. It was a tiny square of it and the sauce on it just tasted sickly sweet and neither of us could finish it. The gnocchi was pretty good, but not a very big portion for the price. It's not terribly expensive or anything, but they could have given bigger portions. Maybe it's improved but it was a really bad experience.
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