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Mama Ricotta's

4.2 (1.4k reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 1 week ago

Order Mama Ricotta's Takeout or Delivery

Services - Mama Ricotta's

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MAMA RICOTTA'S ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Classy
Casual
Good for kids

Recommended Reviews - Mama Ricotta's

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Penne vodka with grated cheese on top
Marian M.

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.

Chef's Special - rolled flank steak
N L.

-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)

Veal Marsala
Tarhy A.

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...

Penne, Broccoli & Chicken
Kailee N.

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.

Shay N.

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)!

Penne, Broccoli & Chicken with the homemade pasta whose name I can't remember
Claudia L.

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 :)

Penne Alla Vodka
Courtney W.

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.

Out front Mama Ricottas
Laurie Anne A.

We came for a friends birthday.This place has been around for a long time . The food is always delicious! As close to authentic Italian as you can get in the south! The staff is wonderful. And the management still comes around to check on the tables ! Something so special and unique in this day and age. Packed house on a Thursday! 100% recommend !

menu
Kaitlyn M.

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.

Alex L.

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.

Penne Alla Vodka - Family  Chicken Parmesan - Dinner
Brooke K.

Great food, great service, everything we had was so yummy we ordered the penne vodka family style and Caesar salads. Our server was Ryan and he was amazing! Ask for him

Lasagna
Jon N.

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.

Short rib arancini
Evan Y.

Valentine's Day dinner with my love at Mama Ricotta's Restaurant For starters, we were brought some delicious foccacia bread with a chili oil to dip. The bread had a nice crust but soft on the inside. Nicely salted on top. The chili oil added a nice spice. Our excellent server, (I believe his name was Ryan), went above and beyond as we told him this was our first time visiting. He recommended the short rib arancini for appetizer. This was DEFINITELY the right call. It is a crispy fried rice ball filled with their house made short rib. It was decadent. Probably our favorite thing we ordered. For our meals, both of us got the Anna's cheese ravioli - however, I got mine with the vodka sauce and added a chicken parm cutlet and my wife got the butter and sage sauce with a chicken cutlet as well. The vodka sauce was amazing. I can't recommend it more. The butter and sage sauce was light and refreshing, but flavorful. For dessert we got the chocolate cake and were treated with a WONDERFUL cannoli. Yes, the cake was great - it was chocolate cake! But that cannoli...thank you, thank you, thank you Mama Ricottas for the BEST cannoli I have ever eaten - it actually became, after last night, one of my FAVORITE desserts. Parking was sorta difficult but doable. Ambiance was very very cool. Cozy, warm, dimly lit - perfect for a date night. All of the staff were friendly and made sure that we had a great experience which we definitely did!

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27 days ago

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2 months ago

Always fabulous - never disappoints! Service, food and atmosphere are always wonderful!

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9 days ago

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2 months ago

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2 months ago

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Remy T.

You just made our day - thank you for the great review!

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1 month ago

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3 months ago

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7 months ago

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7 months ago

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3 months ago

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6 months ago

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Remy T.

Hi Courtney - thank you for the review of Mama Ricotta's!

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28 days ago

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4 months ago

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9 months ago

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1 month ago

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9 months ago

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4 days ago

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3 months ago

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11 months ago

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2 months ago

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10 months ago

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5 months ago

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5 months ago

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2 months ago

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6 months ago

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1 year ago

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6 months ago

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Remy T.

Thank you for the review, Kirby!

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6 days ago

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1 year ago

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Hi Lee-Anne - thank you for the thoughtful review!

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26 days ago

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Thank you for dining with us at Mama Ricotta's, Cynthia!

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27 days ago

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10 months ago

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4 months ago

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

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2 months ago

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5 months ago

Some of the best Italian fare I've ever had..very authentic flavor. Delicious sauces on perfectly cooked pasta. Can't wait to g again.

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Remy T.

Hi Juanita, we can't wait to have you back! Thanks for the stars!

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9 months ago

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Mama Ricotta's Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Mama Ricotta's

Can I bring my own wine? What is the corking fee?

There is a $30 corkage fee, but we'd be happy to send you our wine list and recommend something you'll like.

Do you have vegan options beyond a salad?

Hi Christie, We can do garlic and olive oil or tomato basil with our pasta primavera for a… Read more

Do you still have outdoor seating?

We do not

Can this restaurant accommodate groups?

Only if you call ahead and make a reservation!

Are yall open christmas eve?

Yes but we close at 8. Reservations are highly encouraged

We are planning on coming for lunch over the weekend with our children. Is this a place we need to dress more nicely for? Or more casual on weekend? Obviously not holed clothes or slobs just wanted to be prepared.

HI Jill! Thanks for asking. We are very casual and super family friendly. Can't wait to have you!

Are reservations required?

No but I highly recommend getting one! They fill up fast but we've walked in and been seated right away so it really depends when you go!

Is the patio open air given COVID? Many photos show it all closed up, which doesn't help much with air flow.

Closed

Is the patio heated?

Yep!

View All 10 Questions

Sixty Vines

Sixty Vines

4.5(447 reviews)
1.2 miSouth End
$$$

Experience was great, Christian the server was very friendly and attentive and did a great job and…read moreprovided delicious recommendations. I got the Burrata starter and Creste di Gallo, the pesto cream sauce was delicious. Seemed a little strange not to have the table set with silverware upon arrival, as my appetizer came before it, but other than that it was lovely.

I came here on a Friday night with a friend and had the greatest time! The atmosphere of this space…read moreis super cute, space and classy! We had an AMAZING waitress! Shout out to Sophia! She was extremely sweet, attentive, and super knowledgeable about the menu and gave us some really great recommendations. For drinks I ordered a NA rose. It had a bit of a dryer taste than I would have preferred as I'm more of a sweet drinker, but not bad. My friend ordered the Blackberry Sage and Soda and really enjoyed it. For an appetizer, we ordered the burrata. If you enjoy tomatoes, pesto, cheese, and bread, just get it, you won't regret it! It was very flavorful! We almost considered ordering a second helping! For the entree, I ordered the Atlantic Salmon with a side of broccolini. It was the best broccolini I think I've ever had! It was seasoned very well and had a smokey taste from the charring. My friend ordered the Creste Di Gato and really enjoyed it and the broccolini as well! For dessert, I ordered the sticky toffee cake and it was MAGNIFICENT! It was brought out warm and the flavor combinations were just so good! Right now, I'm planning to make room for it every time I come back and I most definitely will come back lol. 10/10 experience! Would recommend!

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Sixty Vines
Sixty Vines
Sixty Vines

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The Crunkleton - Thanks for our special cake "beignets"

The Crunkleton

4.5(521 reviews)
1.0 miElizabeth
$$$

Crunkleton was great! Met a friend for brunch and we had a great time…read more Out waitress Nia was excellent and so was Trey. They provided excellent service. This how service at a restaurant should be. I ordered the Charlotte hot brown - which their version of a hot brown --- it was amazing! I nice blend of flavors. My bourbon bramble was also very good. My friend had the shrimp and grits and she loved it. The ambiance gives rustic and a little casual.

The Crunkleton has been on my list of restaurants to visit for quite some time and finally got my…read morefriends together to go. It's beautifully decorated (I fell in love with the bathroom decor) and the bar area is lovely and we stocked. Our server Natasha O was exceptional. She explained items on the menu and even made a drink recommendation that was not listed. For appetizers we had the fig salad and the large portion was more than enough for 3 people with leftovers. We shared the charred oysters and I really with we had gotten a dozen because they were perfection! I had the Wagyu burger which was 1/2 pound and I brought half of it home. It was complimented with truffle shoestring fries. Great portion sizes, amazing service and beautiful decor. I will surely come back. Hope I get sat in Natasha's section again she was amazing! Parking as always is tight in that area so plan accordingly.

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The Crunkleton - Largest bar selection in Charlotte

Largest bar selection in Charlotte

The Crunkleton - Calamari, Saturn & paper plane

Calamari, Saturn & paper plane

The Crunkleton - Here's an example of their vintage offerings.  This old dusty was distilled in 1960.  Great pour!

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Here's an example of their vintage offerings. This old dusty was distilled in 1960. Great pour!

Kindred Restaurant - Squid Ink Conchiglie

Kindred Restaurant

4.3(793 reviews)
20.0 mi
$$$

You must go to Kindred before you die. Food 10. Service 10. Ambiance 10. I went here for my 21st…read morebirthday and it was the best decision of my entire life. Such a memorable night. The manager Kenny gave my friends and I a rundown on the drink menu and each cocktail has a story behind it- which is cute. Highly recommend the duck fat potatoes and oaxcha flocka(?) cocktail. Go with friends or family to have the best dinner and drink experience of your life. Also- sit on the patio if weather allows it.

My niece treated me to Kindred for my birthday, and it felt like a true occasion from start to…read morefinish. Set right in downtown Davidson across from Davidson College, the atmosphere strikes that perfect balance--lively but still intimate. The menu evolves frequently, so what we saw differed from what's posted online--but that turned out to be part of the charm. Everything sounded appealing, and choosing wasn't difficult. Our server stood out immediately--deeply knowledgeable and able to walk through each dish with impressive detail, right down to preparation. It's easy to see why Kindred earned "Recommended" status in the inaugural Michelin Guide American South and continues to be recognized for top-tier hospitality and cuisine. We started with the Little Gem lettuce salad--fresh, bright, and elevated by the perfect crunch and subtle richness of pistachios. For my entrée, I had the rigatoni with guanciale, English peas, and pecorino sardo--rich, balanced, and full of flavor without being heavy. A memorable meal all around.

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Kindred Restaurant - Bar

Bar

Kindred Restaurant - Bolognese

Bolognese

Kindred Restaurant - Milk bread pudding

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Milk bread pudding

Mama Ricotta's - italian - Updated May 2026

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