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Mama Ricotta's

4.2 (1.5k reviews)
Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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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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14" Diavolo Pizza with added Italian sausage
David R.

Very fashionable Italian restaurant. They have a wood-burning pizza oven by the entrance. Plenty of parking around the strip mall. Ralph was our server and he was good. Prompt service with good recommendations. Cloth napkins always take the restaurant up a notch. He brought out some fresh baked bread with an olive oil dip. Bread was too good. My Old Fashioned Peaches & Cream went down smooth. The Espresso Martini was great. My large Diavolo Pizza - signature pizza sauce, calabrese salami, cherry peppers, caramelized onion, mozzarella, and a drizzle of a calabrian chili-infused honey. We could taste the slight sweetness and it made it a fantastic pizza. The special - 3 oz Grouper in a light sauce of lemon, white wine, and capers. I felt the lemon overpowered the dish. We toned it down with salt and fresh parmigian. The pasta was perfect. Tip: the sunroom was too bright and noisy for us. But the main dining room was perfect. We sat close to the pizza oven and bar. The whole experience was a 5 star.

First time here
Dee R.

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.

Salmon Arrostitti Olivada*
Erica B.

Great experience at a lovely, feels like family restaurant! Stopped in while in town for work and one of my local coworkers recommended this spot for great Italian. We started with the arancini short rib at the recommendation of our server and they were delicious. I ordered the penne alla vodka with the chicken parm cutlet on top. It was delicious, a very large portion and came out hot and fresh tasting. My coworkers enjoyed their entrees as well and we all wished we saved room for dessert because that cookie butter cheesecake sounded incredible, next time! Thanks for a great experience, mama ricotta team!

Penne Alla Vodka - Dinner with shrimp dish
Cecilia C.

My team and I are here attending a conference and for a Monday, this Italian restaurant is busy. Glad that we had reservations. My group enjoyed all the food we ordered. I had the Penne ala Vodka with shrimp. This dish was very tasty with a kick. Love it. Good portion size enough that I have leftovers to eat later. House made bread was very good and I had to stop myself from devouring more. No desserts were ordered because we were stuffed. The glass of Moscato I had was a fabulous pair to my pasta. Our server was superb and very attentive. Located close enough to our hotel (a plus) and seated right away. Thank you for wonderful food and ambiance.

Lindsay W.

Wonderful dinner here, delicious food! I had the cheese ravioli and a shared chocolate cake (this piece was huge). The staff here are so friendly, our server was awesome. He was very attentive and so kind!

Pappardelle With Tomato Basil Sauce - with Salmon
Keela D.

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

Organic Spaghetti & Prime Beef-Pork Meatball
Eric M.

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.

Abel R.

This was my first time at Mama Ricotta's. The atmosphere was nice, and the food was delicious from start to finish. The starter bread was so good! For an appetizer, we ordered the Mozzarella & Tomato, and pairing it with the bread was absolutely fire. For my main dish, I ordered the spaghetti with meatballs. Now, when they say meatballs, they mean MEATBALLS! These things were the size of tennis balls! My only complaint was that the portion wasn't evenly balanced. I like my plate to have a good ratio between the pasta and meatballs. But that's just me. For dessert, I had the tiramisu, and once again, the portion was huge. Honestly, that dessert could have fed all three of us! Besides my oversized meatballs, everything was delicious. This place definitely gives you generous portions. I would definitely recommend Mama Ricotta's and would come back again.

Penne Alla Vodka - Dinner
Samantha M.

I think the staff was very attentive which was helpful, not very many meat dishes and a bit salty but I mean that subjective. The desserts were generous.

Lasagna, with a side meatball and extra cup of sauce
Allen E.

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!!!!

Pollo Alla Griglia, Lasagna, and Penne Alla Vodka
Michelle H.

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.

Kids pizza
Justine R.

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.

Spicy Shrimp and Mussel Linguini
Timothy B.

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!!

Lasagna

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22 days ago

Ralph delivered a very nice service experience for lunch, and the food was delicious and fairly priced.

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Glad to hear that we are a family favorite, Holly!

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11 months ago

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

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

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Mama Ricotta's Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Mama Ricotta's

Any gluten free options?

As far as I know there are no gluten free options.

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… 

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!

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North Italia - NORTH ITALIA - CHARLOTTE

North Italia

4.2(881 reviews)
1.3 mi•South End, Dilworth
•$$

Our second time at North Italia was also spectacular! We had a group of 8 in town and made a…read morereservation for 7pm on a Saturday evening. It was super busy, so I believe that a reservation is needed for the weekend, especially for larger groups. The vibe is a bit darker and moodier but with natural lighting- perfect for a date night but not limited to that. The espresso martinis, cocktails, beer, and mocktails were all delicious. They have amazing espresso martinis and aperol spritzes. The only dishes that I tried included the white truffle garlic bread, Sunday night lasagna, and the hot honey prosciutto pizza. Everything was delicious. A special shoutout to the Sunday night lasagna - WOW it was perfect. I'm usually not a huge lasagna person, but this changed that. I would 100% recommend this. Since we were celebrating my birthday with our parents, they were kind enough to give me a free dessert. I chose the salted caramel budino, and it was amazing. I would definitely recommend this as a dessert. Overall, we had a great experience! I would definitely come back.

Went to North Italia for a girls' dinner and overall, it was just okay…read more I ordered the branzino, only to be told they don't make it, despite it being listed on the menu. I was told they had snapper with the same fixings, so I went with that, but then was told they didn't have the snapper either. I asked if they could do salmon with the same preparation and, if not, I'd just order salmon on one of their salads. The server didn't mention that they couldn't do the salmon dish and came back with the salmon salad. It was fine, but I would have appreciated a heads-up that the original request wasn't possible. The salad itself had way too much dressing, which made it difficult to eat. A couple of my friends ordered a pasta dish that had so much horseradish that they couldn't really eat it. Overall, the food was fine and the service was fine, but there were enough misses that I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend North Italia. The vibe was nice, so there's that.

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North Italia
North Italia - NORTH ITALIA - CHARLOTTE BAR

NORTH ITALIA - CHARLOTTE BAR

North Italia

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Indaco - Pappardelle

Indaco

4.3(374 reviews)
1.4 mi•South End, Dilworth
•$$

Had a great dinner at Indaco! The food and service were both excellent, and I would definitely come…read moreback. We sat outside, so I'd recommend checking what's happening around the restaurant on the day you go if you're hoping to sit outdoors. There was an outdoor workout class happening less than 20 feet away that was very loud and made it difficult to hear each other. Once the class finished, though, the patio was great! The ambiance inside also looked really cozy and inviting. For food, we started with the focaccia, which I definitely recommend. I ordered the orecchiette with sausage and broccoli, and it was so good. It was my friend's birthday, so we also ordered several desserts and honestly, I'd recommend all of them! Overall, a really great experience and a fun spot for a girls' dinner or special occasion.

I used to absolutely love this place. For a while, I honestly thought it might be the best Italian…read morerestaurant in Charlotte, and I recommended it to a lot of people. At one point, an Italian friend of mine told me that some of her friends had eaten here and really didn't like it. I actually argued with her about it because my experiences had always been so good. Unfortunately, after my last couple of visits, I understand what she meant. A lot of the pasta dishes I used to love are no longer on the menu. They used to have an amazing lobster tortellini dish, and there was another pasta I ordered several times that was excellent, although I can't remember the name anymore. The newer pasta dishes I've tried just haven't been nearly as good. The last two times we came here, we were disappointed. On my most recent visit, I ordered the truffle pasta, and it was honestly terrible. I sometimes make truffle pasta myself, so I'm familiar with that flavor. What I was served here was definitely not what I expected from a restaurant I used to think so highly of. After two disappointing visits in a row, we probably won't be coming back. I'm giving it three stars mainly because of how good this place used to be. The pizza is still okay, but just okay. There are plenty of other places where you can get better pizza. It's a shame, because this restaurant used to be much better.

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Indaco - Upstairs

Upstairs

Indaco
Indaco - Roman Dawn and Sole Serenade

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Roman Dawn and Sole Serenade

Mama Ricotta's - italian - Updated October 2026

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