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

August 2024: It was my first time eating from here and we ordered food to celebrate our quarterly birthdays and for one of my coworkers retirement. It was really good! The alfredo had a nice lemon taste to it and the lasagna was made with love. The flavor of the lasagna was really good, too. The garlic knots were amazing! It reminded me of Vincent's pizza garlic knots when I was a child living in Raleigh. 10-12-26: still a great Italian restaurant that will keep having you come back for more. I ordered the penne broccoli & chicken lunch special this time. Absolutely delicious and was easy on my stomach. I normally have dairy issues. read more

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

Overall, Mama Ricotta's was a solid three-star experience for us. There were a few things that were genuinely excellent, but unfortunately the meal was too inconsistent, especially for an anniversary dinner, to rate it any higher. The standout was easily the lasagna. I'm extremely picky about lasagna, and this was honestly one of the top three I've ever had. The three-cheese blend was excellent, and the thick, savory meat sauce was exactly what I want in a lasagna. Too many places serve lasagna with a thin or watery sauce, or bake it until everything becomes dry. This was rich, flavorful, and properly cooked. I would absolutely order it again. My wife's chicken, broccoli, and lemon-butter pasta dish was unfortunately the complete opposite experience. The chicken was dry and chopped into pieces without really taking on much flavor from the sauce. There also wasn't nearly enough sauce for the amount of pasta. The broccoli tasted more boiled than incorporated into the dish, and overall it came across as something fairly basic rather than what I'd expect from a restaurant with Mama Ricotta's reputation. We took the leftovers home, and I ended up adding my own sauce and ingredients before reheating them. That dish either needs some serious improvement or reconsideration on the menu. Service was another weak point. We hardly saw our server throughout the meal, and things moved fairly slowly. He also didn't seem particularly familiar with the menu when we had questions. He may have been new or simply overwhelmed, so I'm willing to give some benefit of the doubt, but it definitely affected the experience. There were several bright spots. The bread with infused olive oil at the beginning of the meal was delicious. The tiramisu and espresso were both on point, and we enjoyed the wine. One strange disappointment was being given a drink menu that prominently featured wine flights, only to be told they were no longer available. The pricing was fair for what we received: two entrées and two glasses of wine. I also noticed quite a few pizzas coming out of the kitchen that looked wood-fired, and those definitely caught my attention. I'd come back specifically to try the pizza, and I'd also be interested in trying the penne alla vodka and chicken parm. Mama Ricotta's clearly can make some excellent Italian food because that lasagna proved it. Unfortunately, the quality of our two entrées was so far apart that it was difficult to view the restaurant as a top-tier Italian experience overall. For an anniversary dinner, I do regret not choosing somewhere else. Three stars for this visit, with one of the best lasagnas I've had doing a lot of heavy lifting. read more

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

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. read more

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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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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! read more

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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. read more

Mama Ricotta's - Penne Alla Vodka - Dinner with shrimp dish - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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! read more

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

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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

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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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. read more

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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. read more

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

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Usually I love this place. I would still consider this my favorite restaurant. I go here for special occasions etc. I love their mozzarella pizza, it's extremely fresh. The tiramisu is very good. Pasta is of course very good, no matter what kind you get. I love how the complementary bread is served with dipping oil. Anyway, my friends and I went for my birthday last night, and honestly they were off their game. They forgot silverware and napkins, my broccoli was hard and undercooked. The onion soup was not served as described on the menu. Our waters were not kept full, or even with any water in the cups. Our waiter seemed very physically shakey and unsure of himself and kept spilling things. Not sure what all this was about.... But I left disappointed with an upset stomach when I usually adore this place. I'll be coming back of course but that wasn't good for my birthday. read more

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

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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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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Make a reservation...Place was packed even on a Monday evening. Service was wonderful and attentive. Food came out all together which is impressive since we were a group of 11. The food was perfect and plentiful. I loved my penne allá vodka and always get the bread... so soft and fluffy! Wine selection is perfectly priced to go with our meal. Next time I'll be coming back for more! read more

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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Food was delicious, as always. Server was.... strange. Said his name was Matt, and then made a heart shape with his hands (we didn't ask). Kept trying to what I can only say is flirt with us?? Very strange. I'll order online to avoid that person. Good is tops. Person is.... desperate. read more

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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Just had a business lunch here today and the food was good, as usual, only disappointing aspect was the temperature of the pasta entrees...served room temperature vs. hot. The service was great and the menu and lunch special never disappoints, but I do personally prefer my pasta entree (especially with a cream sauce) served super warm/hot and not room temp. read more

My current and long time favorite restaurant in North Carolina. The service is absolutely spotless from a well-trained staff. The chop salad, pizza and many of the pasta dishes have all been best in class. The atmosphere, including the wood oven, is also very pleasant indeed. I live in the Asheville area and try to go to Mama's whenever I can. read more

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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Had an amazing time Thursday night. Dinner was delicious and super relaxing. Eric was our server and was super attentive. He definitely enhanced our dining experience with the wonderful service he provided. read more

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

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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

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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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

I highly recommend this place for its incredible food and top-notch hospitality. The beef and Italian sausage lasagna is a must-try dish. Arrive early, as parking can be a major issue here. read more

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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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

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

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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On Sunday 8-30-26 we ate our second meal at Mama Ricotta's. Our first meal was 3 years ago and our dining experience was amazing. Our lunch on Sunday was just as rewarding. I had the lasagna and I must say it was the best I ever ate. We also shared the fresh tomatoes and the mozzarella cheese which was delicious as the tomatoes were grown locally. If I didn't live 2 hours away I'd be a regular customer! read more

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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-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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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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The service was super friendly and efficient. Started with the tomato caprese was excellent with the bread and spicy olive oil. The lasagna was very good you could absolutely tell the noodles were freshly made in house. Lots of gory melted cheese on that might be a little much for some but not me. We sat in the indoor patio area which was fine as we were going to a concert. The main dining room looked beautiful and romantic. Highly recommend if you're in the Elizabeth part of town. read more

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

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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