Restaurant Guide

(Clockwise from right) Osteria LuCa’s TRUE Meatballs; Angeline’s Whipped Ricotta with lavender honey and toasted bread; Fusilli Bolognese from Orto.

RESTAURANTS Buon Appetito!

Satisfy your Italian craving at these Charlotte eateries

CHARLOTTE’S ROSTER OF ITALIAN EATERIES continues to expand, proving the city’s robust appetite for pizza and pasta isn’t going anywhere. Fortunately, we’ve got a range of options, from white tablecloth ristorantes to more casual osterias. Enjoy scratch-made tagliatelle the way you’d eat it in Bologna or order meatballs and breadsticks at a counter. Sip a glass of Chianti at a Venetian-style wine bar or take a gelato to go. Find an experience at any price in this month’s restaurant guide.

FEATURED RESTAURANT

Flour Shop

530 Brandywine Rd. 980-299-3754

THE SMELL OF FRESH BREAD in the wood- red oven hits you as soon as you walk into this intimate restaurant in the Backlot of Park Road Shopping Center. If there’s room at the counter, grab a seat and watch as the chefs prepare handmade ravioli, linguine, and tagliatelle in the open kitchen. When the housemade sourdough and warm focaccia tempt you—and they will—order a loaf with a plate of Burrata and use the bread to soak up the pesto and tomato jam. Chef Trey Wilson’s pasta is always divine, from the Ricotta Gnocchi with Pork Meatballs to the Squid Ink Linguine. His dishes o en change with the seasons, but if the Fettuccini Lamb Bolognese is on the menu, order it.

ANGELINE’S

303 S. Church St. 704-445-2540 The Pappardelle Bolognese and Margherita Pizza are both excellent, but if you’re feeling adventurous, start with the whipped ricotta with sourdough, lavender honey, and pistachio. A er dinner, ride the elevator to the 19th oor of the Kimpton Tryon Park Hotel for a nightcap from its sister cocktail bar, Merchant & Trade.

ARIA TUSCAN GRILL

100 N. Tryon St. 704-376-8880 This trendy uptown spot has high-end Italian dishes with a sophisticated wine program to match.

AQUA E VINO

4219 Providence Rd. 704-364-4445 This is one of the smallest dining rooms in town, which means it can be hard to nab a reservation without planning. It also means chef Gabriele Grigolon serves each dish with textbook precision.

CAPISHE

500 E. Morehead St., Ste. 100 980-819-9494 Grab a margherita pizza or some linguine carbonara at this fast-casual eatery, which has a second location in SouthPark. CICCHETTI

100 N. Tryon St. 980-299-0039 Come for the drinks and stay for the food at this wine bar, restaurant, and retail shop. Cicchetti (pronounced “chee-KEH-tee”) means “small dishes” in Italian, i.e., Venice’s version of Spanish tapas.

CIVETTA ITALIAN KITCHEN + BAR

7828 Rea Rd., Ste. E 980-335-2758 Feast on grilled salmon picatta, ricotta gnocchi, and seasonal risotto, and save room for a lasagna-sized piece of tiramisu for dessert.

DOLCE OSTERIA

1710 Kenilworth Ave. 704-332-7525 This classic, cozy, family-run neighborhood trattoria serves a mix of fresh, regional Italian cuisine and a carefully curated, all-Italian wine list.

FIAMMA

2418 Park Rd. 704-333-3062 The open layout lends an air of conviviality to this slick eatery, which has housemade pastas, thin-crust pizzas, note-perfect risotto, and daring meat entrees.

FORCHETTA

230 N. College St. 704-602-2750 Chef Luca Annunziata serves lasagna just like his mom made it and carbonara as it’s served in Rome.

INDACO

2046 South Blvd. 704-741-9004 Atherton Mill’s rustic Italian restaurant serves wood- red pizzas and handcra ed pastas, proving certain dishes are classics for a reason.

INIZIO PIZZA NAPOLETANA

2230 Park Rd. 704-900-0929 Grab a table on the patio beneath the bistro lights and savor a wood- red pizza with a bottle of wine.

THE JIMMY

2839 Selwyn Ave., Ste. X 704-979-4242 Modeled a er trattorias and bistros along the Mediterranean coast, the Myers Park restaurant focuses on wood- red pizza and homemade pastas. You can get a traditional Margherita pizza, but we recommend the Funghi, a.k.a. “Jimmy’s Pie,” topped with roasted mushrooms, taleggio cheese, and balsamic reduction.

LITTLE MAMA’S ITALIAN KITCHEN

4521 Sharon Rd. 980-209-0323 Settle in to one of the dining rooms with a plate of Amma’s Ravioli or cozy up at the “Mozz Bar” and watch the chefs at work.

LUCE

214 N. Tryon St., Ste. J (in Hearst Plaza) 704-344-9222 Savor handmade pasta, plus fresh daily seafood and meat dishes paired with the superb Italian wines.

MAMA RICOTTA’S

601 S. Kings Dr. 704-343-0148 Feast on Italian dishes inspired by owner Frank Scibelli’s family recipes.

NORTH ITALIA

1414 S. Tryon St., Ste. 140 980-279-8900 Head to the ground oor of the RailYard for a dressed-up entrée like Squid Ink Mafaldine, or get the basic Spaghetti and Meatballs, which is good every time.

OGGI RISTORANTE ITALIANO

16646 Haw eld Way Dr., Ste. 101 704-716-9400 Find comfort food like spaghetti and meatballs and lasagna, or savor a plate of squid ink linguine and a glass of pinot grigio on the patio. 416 E. 36th St. 980-938-0080 Chef Paul Verica doesn’t go overboard with garnishes or presentation because he knows pizza and pasta don’t have to be fancy to be good.

OSTERIA LUCA

4127 Park Rd. 704-910-0142 The wood- red pizzas are the main attraction—and rightly so—but if you come with a group, order the TRUE meatballs with marinara sauce, or try the Prosciutto di Parma with arugula, shaved Parmesan, g spread, and balsamic glaze.

PIZZERIA OMAGGIO

1055 Metropolitan Ave., Ste. 130 704-370-0777 Owner Daniel Siragusa sticks by his Italian roots with personal pizzas you’ll polish o in one sitting.

STAGIONI

715 Providence Rd. 704-372-8110 With a name meaning “seasons,” this concept from Bruce Mo ett serves handmade pastas, wood- red pizzas, and slow-roasted meats.

TOSCANA

6401 Morrison Blvd., Ste. 6B 704-367-1808 An authentic northern Italian menu pairs impeccably with the extensive wine list, while courtyard dining adds to the experience on a clear night.

VIA ROMA

7416 Waverly Walk Ave., Ste. H-2 980-245-2166 Toscana’s sister restaurant serves rustic Italian fare over white tablecloths in the elegant dining room or on the patio.

VOLO RISTORANTE

1039 Providence Rd. 704-919-1020 Let the chef choose a meat, vegetable, or seafood ight for you, or order o the dinner menu and savor a plate of gnocchi, ravioli, or bucatini paired with a glass of Chianti.

ZIO CASUAL ITALIAN

116 Middleton Dr. 704-344-0100 Hearty pastas and pizza are served family style, and murals of Italy adorn the walls at this Myers Park restaurant.