WOW.......where to begin! Everything about this place was just amazing. From the very beginning on a Sunday the wait was nothing even though the parking lot was packed. The service from our waitress was over the top good, which I got her name! The food.......it was like an angel singing Started with the house made fresh mozzarella with heirloom tomatoes, fresh basil and olive oil, the flavors were fresh and colorful. I had the lasagna with a meatball and extra sauce, which ia literally the best I have had since moving from Syracuse NY. Most sauces in the south are to sweet and tastes like Chef Boy RD......but not here full of flavor with a nice bite to it, would make any Italian Nonna cry! We had little ones with us that just wanted Alfredo which wasn't on the menu, no problem waitress to the rescue again, she has the kitchen whip up a fresh Alfredo sauce, and seriously the first time I have seen the kids finish a whole meal!!! Manager came by and introduced himself , and gave a friendly handshake wich made the overall experience even better! 10 out of 10 and can't wait to go again!!!! read more

Mama Ricotta's - Lasagna, with a side meatball and extra cup of sauce - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

What an amazing find. We had a party of 10 and the reviews were great here. For appetizers we had short rib meatballs and goat cheese appetizer. They were both flavorful and a hit. The goat cheese was amazing. I shared my penne ala vodka with my partners chicken parmesan. This is one of the best chicken parmesans I have had. We requested fresh pasta for both. Order their homemade pasta and be prepared to share. Portions were above average. For dessert you must try the cheesecake. Smooth and well balanced. One improvement could be the chocolate cake. This was dry and kacked the chocolate flavor the menu teased. The service was great. Ill be back in September. read more

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Was visiting Charlotte for a work trip and randomly selected Mama Ricotta's. The staff were attentive, friendly, and kind. The food was amazing at a reasonable price. I would totally recommend Mama's Ricotta's to anyone in the area. I can't wait to go back when I visit again. read more

Mama Ricotta's is a traditional Italian-American restaurant with lots of red sauce and cheesy food options. The inside is an ample amount of tables under dimly lit lighting and nostalgic, familial artwork. It is located in a strip of stores, so parking can be tricky depending on the time of day. Apparently, this is a pretty popular spot which I definitely noticed around dinner time as nearly all the tables were packed. I would recommend booking a reservation if possible, even on a weeknight! Our server was very friendly and helpful. My friends and I got the Cannoli, Cookie Butter Cheesecake, Pollo Alla Griglia, Lasagna, and Penne Alla Vodka. To start off, we got complimentary bread and oil. I think their bread had some sort of garlic butter on them, but it tasted good especially with their spicy olive oil. As for the entrees, mine was the Pollo Alla Griglia. I usually get pasta at Italian restaurants but I wanted to switch things up this time. I enjoyed my meal! I thought that the chicken breast was seasoned well (although a bit dry... but that cut of chicken tends to be dry) and the mashed potatoes were very savory. There was also bruschetta on top of the chicken, which tasted nice but I did not think it was needed on the dish. The fresh vegetable of the day for the meal was brussels sprouts in carbonara sauce... very delicious! I tried my friends' food as well and I think the Lasagna tasted better than I expected while the Penne Alla Vodka was okay. I make Penne Alla Vodka a lot at home and I like my sauce to be extra creamy so I do not taste the acidity from the tomato, so that is why I did not rate the dish that high. We also split the Cookie Butter Cheesecake which definitely tasted like cookie butter and was sweet to the core, especially since it had some caramel drizzle on it. My friend get a free Cannoli as it was her birthday. I thought that the chocolate chips were a bit too much and I enjoyed the Cannoli more without them. Overall, I think that this is a solid spot for "homemade" Italian-American food. I am not a big fan of red sauce pastas, so it would not be my first pick because there are a lot of those on the menu. But I can see why other people would enjoy this place a lot. I would not mind coming back and trying their other foods, such as their pizzas. I would probably rate it a 3.75/5 stars if I could. read more

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If you're looking for a go-to Italian spot in Charlotte, Mama Ricotta's is an absolute staple. The ambiance hits the perfect balance with its dark wood and white tablecloths--ideal for date night--while the front bar offers a cozy, welcoming vibe. The service here is always stellar: attentive but never rushed. You can't go wrong starting with their delicious bread and dipping sauce. For entrees, the penne vodka, mama's salad, and the spaghetti with wagyu and pork meatballs are phenomenal (and honestly, don't sleep on the pizzas, either). Pair your meal with one of their excellent cocktails. Whether you grab a table or sit at the bar, you're always in for a great meal. read more

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My first time at Mama Ricotta's and I can't wait to return. I will add the Pappardelle With Tomato basil Sauce and the added protein of Salmon (pronounce the L) to top it off. The best thing about this dish to me was the sauce. Fresh tomatoes stewed into a savory sauce and basil to give it that extra kick. I could drink a glass of the sauce alone. The salmon was plain and simple. Light seasoning and medium cooked. The way it should be. The Pappardelle was cooked to an all dented bite. It allowed me to cocoon a piece of my medium cooked salmon in the center and then swirl it around in the basil sauce creating the perfect..... succulent....... bite. Extra advice... To wash it all down, Order the red wine flight. I'm hungry now. #mamaricottasclt #pastalovers #cltlunch #cltdatenight #gratuityadded read more

Mama Ricotta's - Pappardelle With Tomato Basil Sauce - with Salmon - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

We were seated quickly and greeted by our server almost immediately. Or drinks arrived quickly and we made our dinner selections. I started with PEI Mussels that came with garlic bread. It was a huge portion and the sauce with tomatoes was amazing. The chopped salad was fresh and for a small a very large portion. My entree was spicy shrimp with mussels and linguine. It was a generous pasta with a huge amount of mussels and a half dozen shrimp, more than I could finish. I would definitely recommend!! read more

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Our service was amazing! The food was fantastic. They were not joking about the size of the meatballs! They were delicious! read more

Mama Ricotta's - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The salmon, zucchini, cucumber, tomato capers mixture was the worst meal I've ever had it Mama ricotta's everybody else's said there was decent. Nobody said it was great like usual it was missing something new cook not sure. Thursday at lunch read more

Mama Ricotta's - Chicken sandwich was good. The potato salad was said OK. - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Accidentally got the hours mixed up and went to this place near closing. They were very accommodating and pleasant despite the late entry. They servers were very delightful and helpful. Some of the absolute best Italian food I've had. The portions were astronomical. Any plate could easily be shared. We definitely over-ordered and left with bags of food. The shrimp and mussel pasta still comes to me in my dreams. Absolutely great place and food. read more

Mama Ricotta's - Prime Beef - Pork Meatballs Short Rib Arancini - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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DRY AS A BONE Penne alla vodka. Absolutely no sauce!!! I am so disappointed in Mama Ricotta's. I used to really love this place. read more

Mama Ricotta's - Gross! Penne alla vodka. No sauce. No flavor. I was told the sauce is $7.00 extra. Ridiculous. - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Mama Ricotta was an incredible experience! Anywhere from the level of service to the food to the ambiance! For my first time the service was amazing. Everyone was so kind, attentive, and welcoming. The food was delicious with generous portions including the side salads and the pricing is fair! Would definitely come back again! read more

Mama Ricotta's - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Must visit when in Charlotte! My family stopped in at dinner time on a weeknight and even though we didn't have a reservation, they found a table for us. The service was wonderful, the food was delicious. Everyone I was with devoured their meal. The restaurant was clean and updated. If we were local, we would be going here all the time, I will be recommending to anyone I know heading to Charlotte. read more

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What amazing authentic Italian! If in Charlotte, go here! Service was amazing and the food even better. Make a reservation this place is popular! read more

Mama Ricotta's - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Mama Ricotta's is my favorite Italian restaurant. My husband and I ate here for our wedding anniversary and we were not disappointed. The restaurant provided the perfect vibe for our anniversary celebration. We started with the meatball appetizer, so delicious. My husband had the Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti and meat sauce with a salad and I had the Lasagna. The chicken parm is consistently good (and what I usually order). The lasagna was the best restaurant lasagna I have ever had! Of course, we ended our meal with an amazing slice of cookie butter cheesecake. Our server, Erin, was attentive and kind enough to put a candle in our desert and box up our impressive amount of leftovers to take home. read more

Mama Ricotta's - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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The food here is seriously just delicious! It's classic Italian, huge portions, quick and easy service. The place is always packed no matter the day so if you are set on this place I would suggest a reservation. The cocktails were yummy too and the overall vibe of the restaurant is wonderful. read more

Mama Ricotta's - Penne, Broccoli & Chicken - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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We decided to stay in one night at the Airbnb and order out. After much debate this establishment seemed to fit everyone's appetite. Going there to pick it up, inside was bustling from the kitchen to the atmosphere. My Veal Marsala was delicious even in a to go pan. The flavors hit with the veal and mushroom sauce. The pasta was perfect. Id love to actually eat inside of the place for the full experience but the take out was great so the dinner service should be. I'd definitely come back here when in town and craving Italian. Till next time... read more

Mama Ricotta's - Veal Marsala - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

From the moment we walked in, the experience was warm and welcoming. They greeted us with fresh bread and olive oil at the table, a simple touch that sets the tone for the meal to come. We ordered the vodka pasta with homemade noodles and the meatballs, and wow... just wow. The noodles were perfectly tender, the sauce was rich and flavorful, and the meatballs were melt-in-your-mouth good. It's the kind of dish you dream about days later. What truly made the night special was the attention to detail. We had noted our anniversary in the reservation, and they surprised us with a decadent chocolate cake .. rich, indulgent, and absolutely delicious. That kind of thoughtful gesture is what makes Mama Ricotta's stand out. Whether you're celebrating something special or just craving incredible Italian food, this place is a must-visit. I'll be back again (and again)! read more

Mama Ricotta's - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I ordered takeout from Mama Ricotta's and got the vodka pasta with Parmesan chicken, delish! The pasta was well seasoned and rich, the chicken was crispy, and everything was still hot when I got home. It all came packed in a tin container, which actually kept it nice and fresh. Pickup was a little hectic..the parking lot was packed and the bar area had a bunch of DoorDash pickups, but once I got the staff's attention, my order was ready to go. They were friendly and efficient even with the crowd. I also grabbed a tiramisu (my fav)... so good. Light, creamy, and not overly sweet. Totally worth the little bit of pickup chaos. read more

Mama Ricotta's - Penne Alla Vodka - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

-Service 10 out of 5. -Cheesecake 5/5 -Chocolate cake 5/5 -Ambiance 8 out of 5 -Chefs special(rolled flank steak with spinach,etc on bed of mash potatoes ) 5/5 -Pizza 5/5 Mascarpone dip 4/5 Sweet tea(5/5) read more

Mama Ricotta's - Chef's Special - rolled flank steak - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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I came for dinner with four other guys. We didn't make a reservation and we had to wait an hour for a table, even on a Monday night. The wait was well worth it. We were given a booth and the manager apologized about the wait immediately but expressed his gratitude for our patience. We started with 2 baskets of amazing bread. I say 2, because we needed a second round. The highlight was the focaccia. Warm, crispy, fluffy, a little coarse salt on the outside added an extra dimension of flavor. One of my new friends had a regular side salad and it looked really ordinary. For my entree, I went with the homemade radiatore. They don't make all of their pastas in house, but they do make the radiatore. It came with a tomato sauce with ground beef, pork, and veal. It was similar to a ragu sauce. Not the low level brand of sauce, I'm referring to the style. Wonderful flavors, the pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. I couldn't have enough grated cheese on that, I almost felt bad for the server! I was all the way against the wall, so she had to reach out far with the cheese crank to reach my bowl. And I made her go for a good 20 seconds. We did split a dessert, the bread pudding, which amazingly was split 5 ways on our bill. So we all had a very large $2 bite. And what a delicious bite it was! It was topped with 2 scoops of vanilla gelato, which they make in house as well. Fabulous. Typically, I hesitate to go out for Italian, because being partly Italian, my standards to tend to get pretty lofty. But I will tell you that Mama Ricotta's is not a place to be missed if you're near the Charlotte area. read more

After seeing this restaurant recommended by others I decided to try it while visiting my college student. I made a reservation online and when we arrived we were promptly seated. Our waitress greeted us pretty promptly as well. We ordered Penne Vodka and the Pasta with broccoli & chicken. Complementary bread and dipping oil was brought to us while we waited for our meal. The heat (spice) in the dipping oil went well with the bread. Food came out piping hot & was delicious. The serving size was generous as well. Overall great food & great service. There is ample parking in the parking lot too. read more

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The food is consistently great and the service is spectacular. Great for an intimate dinner or large gathering Highly recommend this restaurant read more

Pros: I absolutely love the penne à la vodka, pasta, and the Tuscan salad with the Barolo dressing. To go order is usually made pretty quickly and for the most part pick up is pretty easy at the bar. Cons: My last two orders have unfortunately had items in it that do not belong. I am a vegetarian and I do not eat chicken. The last salad I had had chicken on top of it and I had to call and request for a salad to be remade or a refund. The manager chose to give me a refund and that it was handled rather quickly. Unfortunately, today I had another issue. I ordered the same Tuscan salad and this time I bit into something that was a bit firm and sweet. I was unsure of what it was. I continue to eat my salad thinking maybe I was mistaken and maybe had bitten into maybe an olive pit or something but no it was a chocolate chip. I realized it was a chocolate chip because I saw it this time and captured it in the photo below. read more

Mama Ricotta's - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Food is Great - Service is below average. We quickly bypassed at the people waiting because we had a reservation. Our server finally arrived, 6 minutes later. I ordered a glass of wine and that arrived 11 minutes later. I ordered the Chicken Parmigiana. The chicken was a very generous portion with a large plate of pasta on the side. The chicken was tender and the sauce was tasty. My wife ordered the Pollo Carciofi. Her dish was well presented and delicious. I like butter on my bread, and that took some time to get. We were thinking about splitting a dessert, but when he dropped the check, we changed our minds. The parking is tight. read more

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Had a wonderful meal here recently. We weren't served in the cozy dining room, which looked like it had a lovely romantic ambience, but were served in an adjacent area with bright light. The bonus is we got fantastic service from Alejandro. My small salad came out quickly and was a good portion size. Vinaigrette was a little too strong for my taste. We ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, which were fantastic - the meatballs were huge! I ordered the broccoli, penne and chicken in a lovely lemon cream sauce (could have used more of this - it was pretty sparsely dressed with just the faintest taste of lemon) and I paid an upcharge for the homemade pasta, which was well worth it. Delicious! If you're craving homemade Italian check this place out :) read more

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Honestly, I get why people like the place, but it simply isn't for me. There's something that feels less than welcoming. Not hostile, by any means, but certainly nothing warm about our checking in, being seated and the ambiance. We were seated in an auxiliary room and felt a bit forgotten through the meal. There was also air conditioning blowing directly above us. We asked to move, and that table was the same. As for the food, there are many selections but it somehow feels limited and I ultimately just settled on a broccoli and chicken penne that was just okay, but was over-salted and unfulfilling. We got a special canneloni dish that was massive, and probably could have fed four, that was good, but also heavily salty. Final dish was a lasagna that was the tastiest dish, yet the temperature was way too cold. We tried the bread pudding and that was good, not great, but was also HUGE! Ultimately, if you're into quantity over quality, AND like salt, you'll love it. For us it was a swing and miss on our last night in Charlotte. read more

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My 1st time here for a Birthday Dinner with the Family, the Service, Food and whole Vibe of the environment was as advertised! Definitely recommend!! Our waiter C. Marcez, was on point and his recommendations didn't fail. read more

If I could give this place 6 Stars I would! Sat at the bar and started with a Mama's Italian Pilsner which was very good. Ordered a small mozzarella and tomato (small) and the House Radiatore with the meat sauce. Overall...exceptional food. The mozzarella is made in house and the heirloom tomatoes made for an incredible but simple appetizer. Loved the Radiatore...delicious sauce, and the house made pasta perfectly cooked. The service here was spot on...I watched the kitchen and bar work getting out to-go and dinner orders with great precision. It's no wonder this place has over 3,000 great reviews...and I am proud to add mine to the list. read more

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If comfort food had a crown, this chicken parm would be wearing it. Perfectly crispy cutlet, smothered in rich, tangy marinara, and blanketed with gooey, golden cheese--every bite was a flavor bomb. The portion? Generous. The vibes? Immaculate. And let's talk about the Aperol Spritz--bright, bubbly, and just the right amount of bitter. It was giving Italian summer in a glass and paired chef's kiss with the parm. Already planning my next visit. This duo is a must-order! read more

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Already being a huge fan of Little Mama's, it's no surprise we also love Mama Ricotta's. The food is to die for. Everything is amazing. There is no wrong order. read more

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I have to be honest: this is not good Italian food, and I find it genuinely puzzling that so many people in this city seem to think it is. The sauce tastes jarred, not made in-house. The meatballs are flavorless -- no seasoning, no depth, just dense and bland. The penne alla vodka wasn't creamy at all, which is kind of the entire point of that dish. And the pasta itself was overcooked across the board. Honestly, this is Applebee's-quality food being passed off -- and accepted -- as authentic Italian. I don't know who's behind the "Mama Ricotta's is Charlotte's Italian gem" propaganda machine, but it needs to end. This reputation hasn't been earned, and it keeps this place packed while genuinely good Italian spots in the city don't get the recognition they deserve. Anyone who tells you this is good is either on the payroll or has never tasted real Italian food in their life. read more

Best chicken parm ever and an amazing dirty martini! Great service as well! Such a beautiful restaurant!

I love good, flavorful Italian food, and this place truly feels like somebody's grandmother is in the back cooking The fried short rib arancini is INCREDIBLE--I'm not exaggerating when I say I still dream about it. The lasagna looks like a small portion at first, but you quickly realize these are family-style plates for a reason--rich, hearty, and very filling. We also ordered a Margherita pizza that didn't make it into the camera roll (because it disappeared too fast ), and it was amazing too. This place is all about the sauce, and they absolutely nail it. A must-visit if you're craving comforting, authentic Italian flavors. read more

First and foremost our service was exceptional! Marquis was awesome and took very good care of us. We went on a Thursday night and the wait was over an hour. But we were told it was worth it so we waited. I am so very glad we did. We started off with the goat cheese dip. It was covered with a chunky tomato sauce. It was served with toasted ciabatta toast points. Very good. Another appetizer was the arancini. These are fried rice balls with some sort of filling. These were ok. But they were a little heavy on the allspice or nutmeg. For entrees, I ordered the papparradelle with tomato sauce and meatballs. The meatballs are massive and dense. The pasta was made in house and was perfect. The tomato sauce was a perfect accompaniment to the noodles. Another one in our party had the salmon Caesar salad, which was also delicious and takes exactly what you would expect. The third entree was the penne ala calls sauce. This was so simple and so perfect y. No sharp flavors, just comforting delicious creaminess. I'd definitely go back but highly recommend reservations read more

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Everything was delicious, service was phenomenal. Rhianna was so sweet, friendly and really cared about her customer. Highly recommend anything on the menu. read more

If you are looking for an old school classic Italian restaurant this is it! The vibe and service is fabulous and you can tell it's a popular place in the city. The chicken cutlet is one of the best I've had but I wasn't blown away by some of the other items. The sauces to me lacked a little luster but not bad by any means. I would recommend though to anyone looking for a classic Italian place! read more

Oh my gosh! Soooo good! Our server, Genevieve was awesome. She provided AMAZING service and ensured that this would be a five star review. The food was wonderful. The restaurant itself was nice. We sat on the patio area which was markedly quieter than inside - a bonus in my book. All was delightful! read more

Mama Ricotta's - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

While visiting Charlotte, my husband and I craved Italian food and this is the place he found for us. We had reservations for 745 on a Tuesday but we ended up getting there early. They didn't have any open seats until 745, which meant we would have needed to wait 39 minutes. Thankfully, they had bar seats available so we just ate at the bar. We got arancini, pizza, and penne alla vodka. The penne was amazing! The pasta was cooked perfect and the sauce was perfectly creamy. The pizza and arancini were delicious, but were on the saltier side. The way I described this place to my husband is like a fancier and more regional Olive Garden. I mean that in the best way possible! Our server was very efficient, quick, and attentive. She maintained her composure even though they were so swamped and there were only two servers at the bar. read more

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Amazing service. Gluten free friendly. Perfect for large groups. Dim lighting inside. Plenty of menu options available. Large drinks menu. Great tasking food. Pizzas were great tasting. Orders came out quickly. Overall exceptional service. A definite recommend if ever in the Charlot read more

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