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    Mama Ricotta's

    4.2 (1.5k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Mama Ricotta's Takeout or Delivery

    Mama Ricotta's Photos

    MAMA RICOTTA'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Classy
    Casual
    Outdoor seating

    Recommended Reviews - Mama Ricotta's

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    Reviews With Photos

    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.

    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.

    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

    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!!

    Lexie B.

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

    Chicken sandwich was good. The potato salad was said OK.
    Holly D.

    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

    Prime Beef - Pork Meatballs  Short Rib Arancini
    LaTaysia Q.

    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.

    Gross! Penne alla vodka. No sauce. No flavor. I was told the sauce is $7.00 extra. Ridiculous.
    Ginger M.

    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.

    Lisa R.

    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!

    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.

    Matt B.

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

    Lasagna
    Gina B.

    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.

    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.

    Veal Marsala

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

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

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    4 months ago

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

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    29 days ago

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

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    Page 1 of 37

    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!

    View All 11 Questions

    Portofinos - Meatball and Pepperoni Pizza

    Portofinos

    4.3(38 reviews)
    1.3 miUptown, Fourth Ward

    There aren't a lot of places outside of work, home and the gym which I make part of my regular…read moreroutine. Starbucks comes to mind but only because the app makes buying Starbucks easier than making my own coffee. Since opening in uptown, Portifino has become one of those places. I hate to admit it, but there have been weeks where I have eaten at least one meal there every day. Sometimes twice.... Charlotte isn't known for its pizza. I moved here from up north 25 years ago and growing up I. The northeast sets the bar pretty high in terms of pizza. Portifino's is great. The sauce is sweet and portioned perfectly. The cheese is nice and salty, so you actually taste it. The toppings are flavorful, and again, well proportioned. My favorite is the Caprice which comes with tomato, fresh mozzarella, olive oil and fresh basil. It's amazing. The pasta dishes are excellent. I'd recommend the linguini with clam sauce and throw in some shrimp and broccoli for good measure. The Calzones are HUGE. I get mine with Mushroom, sausage, pepperoni and black olives. The But their subs are really what stands out. The chicken Philly has to be one of the best sandwiches in town. I could go on and on here because I've had almost everything on the menu here but no one has the time or attention spans for that. The service is excellent. It's a family run business and it FEELS like a family run business. They care about what they're doing. The person at the counter taking your order has a stake in your satisfaction. Don't get me wrong, we're not talking about Ritz Carlton Gold Standard. It's a pizza joint run by REAL people. But they're good people, and they actually care. That's better in so many ways. My best recommendation is to go get lunch with a friend, coworker, or even by yourself and sit in a booth by the window, watch the city do its thing and enjoy some real food made by real people. It's a great way to spend your 30 minute lunch.

    The menu is fairly priced and convenient takeout option. My takeout order was delivered quickly and…read morewas hot, however the bag didn't include any napkins or condiments. I appreciated that they packaged the french fries without a lid so they weren't soggy. I'd order from them again.

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    Portofinos
    Portofinos
    Portofinos - Inside

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    Inside

    Indaco - Pappardelle

    Indaco

    4.3(368 reviews)
    1.4 miSouth End, Dilworth
    $$

    I absolutely loved Indaco! We came here for dinner and it was an incredible date night spot. The…read moreambiance is modern with plenty of lighting and great seating; they have a downstairs section and an upstairs area that overlooks the dining room and kitchen. The service was spectacular, our server gave great recommendations and was constantly checking in to see if we needed anything, including keeping our water refilled. We started with the pesto roasted Brussels sprouts, which were delicious and served as a pretty large portion. For the main, we decided to split the Radiatori Nero. We had never tasted anything like it! The pasta has such a funky, fun texture that pairs perfectly with the sauce because it really holds onto it. The shrimp that came with it were amazing as well, a good size and cooked to perfection. We would hands down order this again! We also got the mushroom pizza, which came with plenty of truffle aioli and a crunchy crust with an incredible cheese pull. All the portions were generous; we actually ended up having enough to take home for another meal! Of course, we could not skip dessert. We got the tiramisu, which is a total must-order no matter how full you are! The cocktails were also great, I tried a blueberry drink, and they have an impressive wine selection as well. Definitely worth checking out and making it a regular spot for date night!

    I thought Indaco was ok, though don't get me wrong, the ambiance is amazing and it's very pretty!…read more What we tried: - Focaccia (4.5/5): This was very tasty! Came with 4 medium-sized slices, so a bit overpriced. - Tagliatelle (3.5/5): The pasta was a nice texture if you like it a bit firmer, but there was hardly any meat at all - essentially no pork. This was disappointing as it felt like I basically just paid for a small portion of egg noodles with one egg on top. It was quite bland. - Orecchiette (4/5): Friend liked it, but it was very heavy and made him feel bloated after/need to use the restroom. I also requested no cheese on my tagliatelle due to allergy and it came out with cheese... so they returned with another one that looked a bit smaller than my friend's, who got it regularly. Beware if you have allergies/make sure to look twice! Our server was nice but the manager serving food to customers looked a bit stressed. I wouldn't come back also because the menu didn't have too many options that appealed to me, but the environment was nice.

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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 August 2026

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