Image by Wild OliveImage by 20090523-wild-olive.jpg

Citing a popular Mother's Day brunch, Italian restaurant Wild Olive is expanding into brunch as of Sunday, May 24.

Read more stories on this subject in our restaurant topic page.The restaurant is rather popular and definitely one of the more upscale ones on rural Johns Island.

Here's a bit about brunch and the restaurant from an e-mailed release:

Offering an assortment of Italian inspired dishes, the brunch menu will featuring items such as a mouth-watering Local Garden Vegetable Frittata made with fresh asparagus, sun-dried tomatoes and pecorino, Porco Grasso with house made mozzarella, local sausage peppers and basil, a delicious Farmers Steak Pizzola grilled and topped with tomato sauce, fresh herbs and whole roasted garlic, Meatball Burger and a delectable Crab Strata prepared with locally caught blue crab, fresh herbs and pecorino bread baked together and served with a local field green salad. Sunday brunch will also feature a Panini of the Day, Wild Olive’s signature pasta entrees presented in smaller portions and bottomless Bellinis and Mimosas.

Bringing a hint of rustic Italy to Johns Island, Wild Olive focuses on simple and comforting Italian fare with ingredients sourced from the Lowcountry’s choice farmers and growers.

You can check out the whole menu online.

Brunch will be served each Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. -- The restaurant is otherwise open seven days a week from 4 to 10 p.m.

The Post and Courier recently did a Q&A with one of the restaurant's newest additions, chef Jacques Larson.

The Wild Olive is located at 2867 Maybank Highway on Johns Island. (843) 737-4177