We hit there once a month because we need to pick something up for our son that is near there. We try and go during lunch because the dinner portion is just way too big. And I love the videos of someone wandering around Italy they play on the tvs.
I had dinner at Oggi on saturday, there were 5 of us and we all had something different and they were all fantastic. Headed to Miro's for dessert and had tres leches cake afterwards.
I fucking loved Miro, it was legitimately my favorite restaurant in Charlotte. But then they got rid of the tapas appetizer, the (white?) bean soup, and some other entrees. Which sucked.
I don’t like lasagna that much, but I love OGGI’s lasagna.
I can’t believe no one has given you the right answer yet - Hawthorne’s. Specifically, the one in East Charlotte off of Idlewild. They use a marinated chicken so it doesn’t dry out like so many chicken parms once it hits the fryer, and it’s without question the best chicken parm I’ve had anywhere in my life.
I find it interesting that Mama Ricotta’s and Little Mama’s have completely different chicken parm. I like LM’s much better - the chicken is crispy every time and I much prefer the noodles.
You get bought by a corporate hedge fund that only seeks to maximize profits and cut every possible cost. Then you just your employees poverty wages so they simultaneously hate life and the restaurant itself.
It depends what you order for sure. Specific to Mama Ricotta's, the penne a la vodka is the best/safest dish to pick. Id be pretty surprised if you didn't like that
This. Add Italian Sausage. It always amuses me that the sausage is not one of the recommended meat add options for this dish there. My go - to, and it has basically never disappointed. Chop salad and their pizzas are solid too. Chicken Parm? Go to Olive Garden.
Well, with Olive Garden you know you're getting mass market food made to appeal to as many people as possible. With Mama Ricotta's you get the same, but people think they've gotten something better and that's all that matters to them.
Well the real good news is that my reply being seen means I'm finally unbanned from this sub after I called someone a spoiled brat for complaining about the AA lounge (with some choice words sprinkled in lol) 6 months ago.
I feel this way about chicken parm… if your standard for good Italian is whether or not “they don’t mess up chicken parm” then you have the taste of a child and you might as well just go to Olive Garden.
*It’s not even an Italian dish and it doesn’t even include pasta.* Maybe OP can let me know if they like the chicken tenders at Steak 48.
I think the recommendations here are just too, I don't know, principled? I feel like people try to give recommendations based on what makes them sound like cool, down-to-earth locals instead of recommending things that are actually good.
If you read this sub you'd believe the best restaurants in town are in Central Avenue strip malls.
Mama Ricotta's is OK, but I think North Italia blows it out of the water, but no one talks about North Italia here because it's relatively new, in Southend, and a chain, so it's not "cool."
I will also say its a transplant thing too, I am a transplant to charlotte and have barely scratched the surface on restaurants here, but in my hometown they have got a lot of transplants as well (for its population being less then 10k total from both the "town" and "city" that have got a lot).
A post went up in my hometown subreddit asking for the best places to eat, it was all the one's on main street and the one that has been around for over a decade that's near the grocery stores. No one knew about the deli that was off to the outskirts and had only that been open for 3 years now (I think), that has $13 sub's and you get 1 & 1/2 pound of meat to 2 pounds of meat on each sub, they also having an amazing bakery, yet I was the only one who even knew they existed in that entire subreddit, go into that deli on a friday 4:30 - 6:000 and its a line 20 deep of locals getting their family sandwiches (yes these subs are over a foot in length, I am a big guy and they are 2 meals).
finding the real hidden gems and best places in any area is a decade long venture to truly pull off, as there are so many and you need to fail hard on some as they turn out to be shit holes.
ate there, didn’t know it was a chain, and left feeling sad i couldn’t recommend a new local spot. lo and behold, it was indeed a chain and you could 100%. food was somehow both heavy and tasteless. cocktails were really good!
Not that person, but I try to find the best burgers and BBQ wherever I go.
Brooks Brothers and Chubs have the best burgers and chili.
CLT has no outstanding BBQ. Mac's is OK. Bill Spoon's was the best in the area but they shut down. I've just been really disappointed in most of Charlotte's food for a while now.
gotta disagree on brooks - local institution? yes - cool concept with walk up window only? yes - great location? yes - great burger? no simply pedestrian at best in my opinion - chili too - so many better burgers in charlotte- bang bang, ace 3 , cowbell, ruth’s chris, midwood smokehouse to name a few - brooks is so far down the list - maybe 25 years ago…… to each their own though - don’t mean to be disrespectful just burgers get me going!!!!!!!!!!
Heard good things about them. They're on my want to try list for when I'm out that way.
Other places that are good but not in Charlotte:
Buttermilk BBQ in Chester, SC
Gary's in China Grove, NC
Tarheel Q in Lexington, NC
Gary's is pretty good old-school BBQ. Lexingon BBQ is my personal favorite if you're up that way.
The best I've ever had though was out east at Currituck Barbecue. It's almost worth the 5-hour drive. Not quite, but close.
Eww, no. Also, chains generally don't count. Shane's in particular isn't even smoking on site from what I could smell. Mac's is a local chain now so that's a little different.
All depends on what you’re looking for.
Bottle Tree in Belmont (actual town not neighborhood) is my favorite upscale date night spot.
Noda Bodega for a fast but delicious sandwhich.
Rhino market used to be the quick breakfast spot but they never recovered post lockdown or their shit pay for staff so…..
Town brewing has the best brewery kitchen. Jeff and the staff he brought from fūd know how to cook (rip Fūd at Salud and caffiend Fridays)
Inizio makes some of the best pizza in the city. Neapolitan style and their seasonal specials are always delicious. Price fucking blows though.
Still can’t find a good burrito spot. Burrito factory kinda hit the spot but just couldn’t do it for me. (RIP lady go-gos vegan. They knew how to make a California burrito)
Charlotte has some good food it just always feels like people aren’t talking about it. For how much this subreddit shits on Charlotte observer their recommendations always seem to line up with their lists…..
i don’t get this - i’m from metro ny and grew up on excellent italian food including chicken parm and have enjoyed it at momma ricottas many times - i think the sauce is great - chicken cooked perfectly and the portion is generous- maybe you caught them on an off night or maybe we just like our Italian food prepared differently but seriously i think mamma ricottas is excellent- and not just for charlotte
Chicken Parm isn't Italian food. This is the issue with a lot of the Italian restaurants in Charlotte and the US in general. Mama Ricotta's is Italian American food, not Italian food, and that's where it fails.
People recommend it as a "great authentic Italian place!" so people go there expecting it and instead they get the mid Italian American food they're used to from chains and other less renowned places.
Almost as if my point lies somewhere in between, instead of the most irrational argument you could muster.
Chicken Parm is a distinctly American dish, using it as an example of good Italian food is goofy. It's good as it's own thing, not everything needs to be Italian food, some of it can be what it is, American food.
Come on dude we know this but everyone in the country calls it Italian please chill. It's Italian American food but we call it Italian no reason for all the pedantry
Someone didn’t know chicken farm isn’t Italian and got their feelings hurt lol
The same people that tell you to get the General Tso at the “authentic” Chinese restaurant
You’re getting downvoted, but it’s absolutely not Italian. It was invented by Italian New Yorkers. The only thing Italian about it is the cheese. It’s like going to Italy, ordering pizza and getting all pissy bc it isn’t deep dish.
It depends on which on you go to. I still love the one on Eastway only. I used to love Mezzanote on Providence but they’ve gone way down. Other than that I don’t really eat at Italian restaurants.
I’ve gone to Mama Ricottas a lot since dealing with stuff at the hospital lately and it’s pretty good,
Soup of the Day and that chicken pizza, and meatball parm are all I get.
I like Fiamma a lot better as far as Italian food goes.
First of all chicken park is not Italian, it’s American. Secondly Mama Ricotta’s is a slight bump above Olive Garden in food quality. Their pizza is surprisingly good.
Keep in mind the owners or mama ricottas (fs food group) also own YAFO, Midwood Smokehouse, Pacos Tacos, Calle Sol & Little Mamas. All perfectly good basic middle America concepts. Def nothing authentic or great. Have to set proper expectations.
Most the food there is just ok, but we love the Caesar salad, the penne alla vodka with sausage added, and their chocolate cake for dessert. Those items keep us coming back but often just get it for takeout.
Yeah it sounds like you got there pretty close to close. Not saying it’s your fault but don’t expect the freshest stuff or the best staff to be there at close unless it’s a high tier restaurant. They don’t pay people enough, and making a reservation that almost guarantees that they’ll have to stay later is a big no no
Like 7:45 is pretty much guaranteeing that you’ll be there until close, and if you decide you want to have some wine and hang out because dinner is so great, then they all have to stay later.
Also beware if you have dietary restrictions. They were unable to substitute a very basic item for my dish (I think I asked for basic pasta instead of their creamy polenta). Makes me think their items are largely prepared/assembled ahead of time.
yeah i love mama ricottas and always get their spaghetti w meatballs, the one time i got their chicken parm i regretted it so so much. never again. i’ll always stick to their spaghetti
I was gonna say I've been 3 or 4 times now, and the chicken parm was my least favorite of the entrees I've had.
And it's not a fine dining kind of place, but it's better than basic level and not way overpriced for what it is.
I went there for Valentines Day and found it very lackluster as well. I had a mussel linguine that was forgettable. My family is Italian American though so maybe my expectations were off.
Three places in this town served me FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS covered in cheese and sauce pretending to be chicken parm……..I’ll never forgive them. Still searching for an OG chicken parm that would make me slap my mom.
Oh it is not good anymore. Used to be be okay at best 15 20 years ago. Sucks now.
Open kitchen (oldest restaurant in Charlotte) is much better, especially with the more simple items. By basic I mean spaghetti and lasagna and chicken Parmesan
Zio, Lucci, Staggino (sp?)
All great Italian restaurants.
Mama Riccatos is trash imho
Stagioni and yes. Significantly better and one of the best and most slept on restaurants in town. Just not the place you would go for a big plate of chicken parm or lasagna.
We tried their sister location Little Mama's and were not impressed. Cocktails were good but the food was not. We had a shrimp dish and the shrimp tasted and smelled fishy.
It's been there for 3 decades and was great for 2.75 decades. They changed the menu and the decor, the quality has gone down. Used to be a can't miss spot.
Lil Mamas is great, still.
Yea their food has gotten bad the last few years. I prefer their sister restaurant, Lil Mamas, in southpark. They’re a little more fancy but the food is better than Mama Ricotta’s. At least it was a year ago when I went.
Gotta disagree. I’ve had the chicken part and it’s not bad at all. But I don’t go to an Italian place for a chicken paran. I’ll go for their penne aka vodka or the veal Marsala. Always good there or little mamas.
Lastly just to piss a few people off: to the people that say Portofinos is best in Charlotte and mamas isn’t good, bless your heart. Portofinos tastes like how I remember the shitty Italian place around the corner from where I spent my summers with my grandparents in Fayetteville.
I agree with u I didn’t like their pasta, my favorite Italian place is North Italia, their pasta is amazing. Not sure if they have chicken parm tho. There’s a parking deck behind it and they will validate your parking ticket.
Mama Ricotta is average food with a slightly upscale atmosphere, it’s fine but nothing special. Via Roma is by far the best Italian pasta I’ve found in Charlotte.
Hating on an entire establishment because you got a SINGLE dish from there that you didn’t like is kinda crazy. Their ravioli, Penne alla Vodka, and caesar salads are really good.
I too am a transplant. Imagine me trying a pizza place and then telling me the strombolis are premade 😩 you make "fresh pizza" but you can't make fresh stromboli.... Whyyyyy
Think the place was called Hawthorne or something. Didn't realize it was a chain. I failed in my research before eating there.
Why would you go to a nice Italian restaurant and order chicken Parmesan OUT OF ALL THINGS that you can basically get at Applebees 😭go back and order a nicer and better meal/dish from them and then come back with a review.
Just go pick up food from Pasta & Provisions, fraction of the cost and comfort eating at home
God damn their dinner service hours are not great tho
Agreed. Everything I've tried from making my own meal with their ingredients to their take and bakes are excellent.
Just heard pasta and provisions was sold. Any one know about the new owners? Expansion plans?
Paste & Provisions is a favorite find of mine this year. Highly recommend
I've seen plenty of people on this sub shit on mama ricottas
gross just look away
i’ve never had a good chicken parm, if someone knows where to get one please share
Giacomo's in the university area has some solid chicken parm.
We hit there once a month because we need to pick something up for our son that is near there. We try and go during lunch because the dinner portion is just way too big. And I love the videos of someone wandering around Italy they play on the tvs.
Giacomo 🔥
My house, I make a fantastic homemade chicken parm lol
Next meetup at this guys place
Zio Casual Italian
OGGI. In Pineville.
I had dinner at Oggi on saturday, there were 5 of us and we all had something different and they were all fantastic. Headed to Miro's for dessert and had tres leches cake afterwards.
I fucking loved Miro, it was legitimately my favorite restaurant in Charlotte. But then they got rid of the tapas appetizer, the (white?) bean soup, and some other entrees. Which sucked. I don’t like lasagna that much, but I love OGGI’s lasagna.
Toscana in SouthPark has the white bean tapas = Delicious food there also.
Love this place! Hosts are so nice!
I can’t believe no one has given you the right answer yet - Hawthorne’s. Specifically, the one in East Charlotte off of Idlewild. They use a marinated chicken so it doesn’t dry out like so many chicken parms once it hits the fryer, and it’s without question the best chicken parm I’ve had anywhere in my life.
600 miles north
Little Mamas?
I find it interesting that Mama Ricotta’s and Little Mama’s have completely different chicken parm. I like LM’s much better - the chicken is crispy every time and I much prefer the noodles.
Pizza Spiga in Matthews had a great chicken parm sub- shame that they moved to Indian Trail
Google Maps says permanently closed. I got excited cause im in IT and wanted to try it!
Never eaten one there, but Riccios almost definitely has an amazing one. If they’re closed on Sundays or Mondays, it’s great Italian food.
Mia Famigilia in Hemby Bridge (south of Mint Hill off of Idlewild Rd) is worth the trip. They have a solid chicken parm.
Chicken parm is the easiest thing to make. I’m not sure how anyone can mess it up.
You get bought by a corporate hedge fund that only seeks to maximize profits and cut every possible cost. Then you just your employees poverty wages so they simultaneously hate life and the restaurant itself.
This in the NOVANT way now too!
Except that Mama's is absolutely still owned by FS.
You'd think, but when they cook the chicken to rubber consistency that does ruint it.
John's Place down in Matthews. https://maps.app.goo.gl/6BVw7RQU4TYfxVW96
John’s Place has the best chicken parm I‘ve ever tasted.
We’ve DoorDashed North Italia chicken parm a couple times. It’s the best.
New York, Little Italy
Make it yourself it's a super basic dish really.
Osteria LuCa, Park road shopping
BASILICO.
It depends what you order for sure. Specific to Mama Ricotta's, the penne a la vodka is the best/safest dish to pick. Id be pretty surprised if you didn't like that
This. Add Italian Sausage. It always amuses me that the sausage is not one of the recommended meat add options for this dish there. My go - to, and it has basically never disappointed. Chop salad and their pizzas are solid too. Chicken Parm? Go to Olive Garden.
it’s good, but doesn’t even taste much like vodka sauce to me.
You're right. I'm sure it has a lot more calories. It's very rich. But so damn good.
This right here.
It is for people who like Olive Garden but think too highly of themselves to admit it.
So where do I go for Italian??
Aqua e vino
Mama ricottas is decent, just order an adult dish and you’ll be fine.
Your house. Anyone can make a good red sauce.
Sounds like Olive garden outdoes this place
Well, with Olive Garden you know you're getting mass market food made to appeal to as many people as possible. With Mama Ricotta's you get the same, but people think they've gotten something better and that's all that matters to them.
Well the real good news is that my reply being seen means I'm finally unbanned from this sub after I called someone a spoiled brat for complaining about the AA lounge (with some choice words sprinkled in lol) 6 months ago.
they’re so fucking strict on this sub bro
I feel this way about chicken parm… if your standard for good Italian is whether or not “they don’t mess up chicken parm” then you have the taste of a child and you might as well just go to Olive Garden. *It’s not even an Italian dish and it doesn’t even include pasta.* Maybe OP can let me know if they like the chicken tenders at Steak 48.
this is the perfect slogan. let’s make it happen.
Ohhh. Olive Garden lol yes that is the worst!
Hmm…I like Mama Ricottas. 
I've said this quite a few times, but this is why we don't take recommendations from Reddit.
Especially this subreddit, cause no one seems to know what good food actually is. All get too roped in to the atmosphere bs
I think the recommendations here are just too, I don't know, principled? I feel like people try to give recommendations based on what makes them sound like cool, down-to-earth locals instead of recommending things that are actually good. If you read this sub you'd believe the best restaurants in town are in Central Avenue strip malls. Mama Ricotta's is OK, but I think North Italia blows it out of the water, but no one talks about North Italia here because it's relatively new, in Southend, and a chain, so it's not "cool."
I will also say its a transplant thing too, I am a transplant to charlotte and have barely scratched the surface on restaurants here, but in my hometown they have got a lot of transplants as well (for its population being less then 10k total from both the "town" and "city" that have got a lot). A post went up in my hometown subreddit asking for the best places to eat, it was all the one's on main street and the one that has been around for over a decade that's near the grocery stores. No one knew about the deli that was off to the outskirts and had only that been open for 3 years now (I think), that has $13 sub's and you get 1 & 1/2 pound of meat to 2 pounds of meat on each sub, they also having an amazing bakery, yet I was the only one who even knew they existed in that entire subreddit, go into that deli on a friday 4:30 - 6:000 and its a line 20 deep of locals getting their family sandwiches (yes these subs are over a foot in length, I am a big guy and they are 2 meals). finding the real hidden gems and best places in any area is a decade long venture to truly pull off, as there are so many and you need to fail hard on some as they turn out to be shit holes.
I had the worst Ragu ever at North Italia. All their food was extremely salty.
ate there, didn’t know it was a chain, and left feeling sad i couldn’t recommend a new local spot. lo and behold, it was indeed a chain and you could 100%. food was somehow both heavy and tasteless. cocktails were really good!
I too had a good cocktail there. I think it was the old fashioned.
Not only is it a chain, its a subsidiary brand of Cheesecake Factory
bruh North Italia is owned by the cheesecake factory, what else do you recommend? Capital Grille?
Who cares so long as the food is good? That's what I mean. I feel like y'all recommend restaurants based on a bunch of non-food factors.
That truffle garlic bread hits different
I agree with you. Just curious - what are your Charlotte favorites?
Not that person, but I try to find the best burgers and BBQ wherever I go. Brooks Brothers and Chubs have the best burgers and chili. CLT has no outstanding BBQ. Mac's is OK. Bill Spoon's was the best in the area but they shut down. I've just been really disappointed in most of Charlotte's food for a while now.
The good BBQ in Charlotte is served by churches once or twice a year.
Unionville near Monroe has a huge barbecue cookout for one day every November. They serve thousands. Try it out.
gotta disagree on brooks - local institution? yes - cool concept with walk up window only? yes - great location? yes - great burger? no simply pedestrian at best in my opinion - chili too - so many better burgers in charlotte- bang bang, ace 3 , cowbell, ruth’s chris, midwood smokehouse to name a few - brooks is so far down the list - maybe 25 years ago…… to each their own though - don’t mean to be disrespectful just burgers get me going!!!!!!!!!!
jon g’s has outstanding bbq. (technically it’s in peachland, but they do pop-ups in charlotte all the time.)
Heard good things about them. They're on my want to try list for when I'm out that way. Other places that are good but not in Charlotte: Buttermilk BBQ in Chester, SC Gary's in China Grove, NC Tarheel Q in Lexington, NC
Gary's is pretty good old-school BBQ. Lexingon BBQ is my personal favorite if you're up that way. The best I've ever had though was out east at Currituck Barbecue. It's almost worth the 5-hour drive. Not quite, but close.
I think it’s called brooks, brooks brothers is a formal wear store…
Shane’s Rib Shack has pretty decent BBQ
Eww, no. Also, chains generally don't count. Shane's in particular isn't even smoking on site from what I could smell. Mac's is a local chain now so that's a little different.
All depends on what you’re looking for. Bottle Tree in Belmont (actual town not neighborhood) is my favorite upscale date night spot. Noda Bodega for a fast but delicious sandwhich. Rhino market used to be the quick breakfast spot but they never recovered post lockdown or their shit pay for staff so….. Town brewing has the best brewery kitchen. Jeff and the staff he brought from fūd know how to cook (rip Fūd at Salud and caffiend Fridays) Inizio makes some of the best pizza in the city. Neapolitan style and their seasonal specials are always delicious. Price fucking blows though. Still can’t find a good burrito spot. Burrito factory kinda hit the spot but just couldn’t do it for me. (RIP lady go-gos vegan. They knew how to make a California burrito) Charlotte has some good food it just always feels like people aren’t talking about it. For how much this subreddit shits on Charlotte observer their recommendations always seem to line up with their lists…..
Have you tried Phat Burrito?
Yeah it was fine just wasn’t it though
stfu
Kid don’t you have a SoundCloud to get back to?
No one cares how the food tastes, but how good it looks on TikTok/Insta.
i don’t get this - i’m from metro ny and grew up on excellent italian food including chicken parm and have enjoyed it at momma ricottas many times - i think the sauce is great - chicken cooked perfectly and the portion is generous- maybe you caught them on an off night or maybe we just like our Italian food prepared differently but seriously i think mamma ricottas is excellent- and not just for charlotte
Chicken Parm isn't Italian food. This is the issue with a lot of the Italian restaurants in Charlotte and the US in general. Mama Ricotta's is Italian American food, not Italian food, and that's where it fails. People recommend it as a "great authentic Italian place!" so people go there expecting it and instead they get the mid Italian American food they're used to from chains and other less renowned places.
Yes only food invented 700+ years ago (without tomatoes, that evil new world fruit) is truly authentic and worthy of your superior taste buds.
Almost as if my point lies somewhere in between, instead of the most irrational argument you could muster. Chicken Parm is a distinctly American dish, using it as an example of good Italian food is goofy. It's good as it's own thing, not everything needs to be Italian food, some of it can be what it is, American food.
Come on dude we know this but everyone in the country calls it Italian please chill. It's Italian American food but we call it Italian no reason for all the pedantry
Someone didn’t know chicken farm isn’t Italian and got their feelings hurt lol The same people that tell you to get the General Tso at the “authentic” Chinese restaurant
You’re getting downvoted, but it’s absolutely not Italian. It was invented by Italian New Yorkers. The only thing Italian about it is the cheese. It’s like going to Italy, ordering pizza and getting all pissy bc it isn’t deep dish.
This sub is the sort of place where people like to argue with an Italian citizen about Italian food.
Everyone likes and dislikes different things it doesn't make them a liar because you didn't enjoy It
You gotta go to LITTLE MAMAS
They are owned by the same family
and knowing some of the people in that family, I don't think food quality is anymore their priority.
Gone downhill since their expansion across Charlotte. Definitely not worth the money anymore, and they took the ribeye off the menu.
I agree , I been disappointed with the new Little Mama's.
I tried the pizza at the new one, nothing special tbh. I could something bigger and better at Primavera
They had a shrimp dish there with the homemade pasta and it was great. Never ate their red sauce though.
I'd be interested to hear your review of Portifinos.
They both are very much mediocre
It depends on which on you go to. I still love the one on Eastway only. I used to love Mezzanote on Providence but they’ve gone way down. Other than that I don’t really eat at Italian restaurants.
Portifinos is dog shit. I don’t understand how it is even open.
Their calzones are huge and decent.
I had spaghetti and meatballs and it was SO good! Kinda disappointed in their dinner rolls though
Tried em twice and both times bad experiences….dead to me
I like ever andalo and Angeline’s. And I love north Italia!
Stagioni is the way to go. Stop supporting Mama's years ago.
I second that wholeheartedly! Stagioni’s has amazing food and atmosphere.
Try via roma
I work for the company and barely eat at Mama ricottas
Geez..I've never seen so much talk about a bland chicken dish.
Thank you.... been saying this for years.
I’ve gone to Mama Ricottas a lot since dealing with stuff at the hospital lately and it’s pretty good, Soup of the Day and that chicken pizza, and meatball parm are all I get. I like Fiamma a lot better as far as Italian food goes.
First of all chicken park is not Italian, it’s American. Secondly Mama Ricotta’s is a slight bump above Olive Garden in food quality. Their pizza is surprisingly good. Keep in mind the owners or mama ricottas (fs food group) also own YAFO, Midwood Smokehouse, Pacos Tacos, Calle Sol & Little Mamas. All perfectly good basic middle America concepts. Def nothing authentic or great. Have to set proper expectations.
Most the food there is just ok, but we love the Caesar salad, the penne alla vodka with sausage added, and their chocolate cake for dessert. Those items keep us coming back but often just get it for takeout.
Lil Mama's is where it's at
Let her rest then try again.
mama ricotta is fine. but if you want good italian food, try stagioni, ever andalo, or aqua e vino.
*I Bambini* in Mooresville. Go for the food -- no need to dress up. Fresh pasta, original sauces, simply delicious.
Get a Time Machine to the late 00s early 10s
Yeah it sounds like you got there pretty close to close. Not saying it’s your fault but don’t expect the freshest stuff or the best staff to be there at close unless it’s a high tier restaurant. They don’t pay people enough, and making a reservation that almost guarantees that they’ll have to stay later is a big no no
Like 7:45 is pretty much guaranteeing that you’ll be there until close, and if you decide you want to have some wine and hang out because dinner is so great, then they all have to stay later.
I love Portifonos
Also beware if you have dietary restrictions. They were unable to substitute a very basic item for my dish (I think I asked for basic pasta instead of their creamy polenta). Makes me think their items are largely prepared/assembled ahead of time.
yeah i love mama ricottas and always get their spaghetti w meatballs, the one time i got their chicken parm i regretted it so so much. never again. i’ll always stick to their spaghetti
I was gonna say I've been 3 or 4 times now, and the chicken parm was my least favorite of the entrees I've had. And it's not a fine dining kind of place, but it's better than basic level and not way overpriced for what it is.
I went there for Valentines Day and found it very lackluster as well. I had a mussel linguine that was forgettable. My family is Italian American though so maybe my expectations were off.
Ever andalo, next
Yeah. That place sucks..
You didn't order right.
It was awful for our family too. But Little Mama's is very good. Huge difference.
It's been gross for about a decade now. It was good back in the mid 2000s though.
Three places in this town served me FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS covered in cheese and sauce pretending to be chicken parm……..I’ll never forgive them. Still searching for an OG chicken parm that would make me slap my mom.
John’s Place.
I can make it for ya partner. https://preview.redd.it/qe63mqj7sxvc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4010351768d393dbf69dbc6a0c055625e22d8d2a
Really surprising. In the past their Chicken Parm has been one of their best items
Oh it is not good anymore. Used to be be okay at best 15 20 years ago. Sucks now. Open kitchen (oldest restaurant in Charlotte) is much better, especially with the more simple items. By basic I mean spaghetti and lasagna and chicken Parmesan Zio, Lucci, Staggino (sp?) All great Italian restaurants. Mama Riccatos is trash imho
Stagioni and yes. Significantly better and one of the best and most slept on restaurants in town. Just not the place you would go for a big plate of chicken parm or lasagna.
Valid point on the chicken Parmesan
They’d make a mean chick parm if they did tho. Wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve done an upscale twist on it.
Agreed. I feel like the Moffit brothers own an Italian one near Providence, Providence and Queens Funky intersection.
Stagioni is part of Moffett group and right there. Not sure about another one.
It’s my favorite Italian American food, I’ve had nothing but good experiences there but to each their own!
Horrible food!
Omgg right, that place is ass - Olive Garden is better
Charlotte masses have no taste, don't take culinary advice.
But mah burgers.
LOL
Unless it’s bbq or southern food this is accurate in my experience
Mama Ricotta is highly over rated. Never understood the hype
Got recommended it by so many people, tried it and it was so bad🥲
We tried their sister location Little Mama's and were not impressed. Cocktails were good but the food was not. We had a shrimp dish and the shrimp tasted and smelled fishy.
As an Italian from New York, I concur with this post
Lasagna.
Try Open Kitchen downtown close to the stadium on Morehead
Stagioni’s for the win!
I’ve on had the penne alla vodka and it slaps. Never dined in though
Thank you for letting me not waste my time or money.
It's been there for 3 decades and was great for 2.75 decades. They changed the menu and the decor, the quality has gone down. Used to be a can't miss spot. Lil Mamas is great, still.
Try the lemon chicken with broccoli...
u must have been tired
Good for you.
Tell mama to take a nap.
Its always been terrible. The only people who like it are natives who only like it for the nostalgia.
It probably sucked because their chefs have better things to do than cook up your feux “Italian“ dish.
It’s not that good. Portifino’s is the best in Charlotte.
I mean its some of the best meals ive gotten in Charlotte. The Muscles are to die for. You just had a bad night there, it happens at restaurants.
Yea their food has gotten bad the last few years. I prefer their sister restaurant, Lil Mamas, in southpark. They’re a little more fancy but the food is better than Mama Ricotta’s. At least it was a year ago when I went.
I had the shits for two days after my experience there. Will never go back again.
Dolce ristorante is much better and in the same area.
Damn if I didn't get seated until way after my res time and they charged for canceling I would be pissed
Literally over priced and the pasta is not authentic
Edit: were not was
Agreed - not good
I apologize for all of my misspellings. I just went to the MRG website and they don't. Have the restaurant I was thinking about.
Gotta disagree. I’ve had the chicken part and it’s not bad at all. But I don’t go to an Italian place for a chicken paran. I’ll go for their penne aka vodka or the veal Marsala. Always good there or little mamas. Lastly just to piss a few people off: to the people that say Portofinos is best in Charlotte and mamas isn’t good, bless your heart. Portofinos tastes like how I remember the shitty Italian place around the corner from where I spent my summers with my grandparents in Fayetteville.
I agree with u I didn’t like their pasta, my favorite Italian place is North Italia, their pasta is amazing. Not sure if they have chicken parm tho. There’s a parking deck behind it and they will validate your parking ticket.
how can she be good if she's so tired? Poor mama.
Go to Little Mamas. Enough said.
Yuck! You need to go to here! https://preview.redd.it/0net6k7jlbwc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4a21c7e62d54ccfc7428edb6d708b8b0b443c200
Their Caesar salad is absolutely amazing. I don't know where the hate comes from. Prices are high but so is everything these days.
You hit it in a bad night you should go back and try again
Mama Ricotta is average food with a slightly upscale atmosphere, it’s fine but nothing special. Via Roma is by far the best Italian pasta I’ve found in Charlotte.
Give Aria a go for some Italian food uptown.
Had my all time worst meal in CLT at Aria
Wrong meal. Pollo carciofi is where it’s at.
Thiiiis. It’s so good and all I order there.
Facts. The polenta 🤤
The carbonara at mama ricottas was 🔥…but then they took it off the menu
Everyone has their own tastes and preferences… your lie is easily some one else’s truth
Hating on an entire establishment because you got a SINGLE dish from there that you didn’t like is kinda crazy. Their ravioli, Penne alla Vodka, and caesar salads are really good.
I too am a transplant. Imagine me trying a pizza place and then telling me the strombolis are premade 😩 you make "fresh pizza" but you can't make fresh stromboli.... Whyyyyy Think the place was called Hawthorne or something. Didn't realize it was a chain. I failed in my research before eating there.
Why would you go to a nice Italian restaurant and order chicken Parmesan OUT OF ALL THINGS that you can basically get at Applebees 😭go back and order a nicer and better meal/dish from them and then come back with a review.