41 Best Italian Restaurants near Cornelius

“We eat at Maola’s pretty regularly and it never disappoints. We have brought many friends there and they always want to know when we’re going back. Every dish is delicious and we’ve decided that we’re just going to go down the menu because we can never decide what to get. In addition to the consistently delicious food, this review is mostly to rave about our server last night, Anna. She was friendly, informative, knowledgeable about the menu, helpful and very accommodating to one of our party’s allergies. We’re planning to go back with a group of 8 in two weeks. Can’t wait to decide what to try next.“

“My husband and I drove from a small town in South Carolina today and we were first timers to this place and loved it!! Very friendly people who talk to and you feel like family!! And the Caprese sandwich LOVED it . A return visit is in the works!! Now if yall can carry marinated garlic called Borgo de’ Medici Cucina Garlic with herbs, I will be forever in your debt!!!“

“Very nice staff here. Super nice & fast. We go for lunch. (Pizzas are pre-made & heated in the ovens)
Lunch specials are great.
Many food selections!
Outdoor area available.
New York themed & origins.“

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Local Gem in Cornelius! If you’re looking for authentic, mouth-watering pizza, pasta and wings in Cornelius, Prosciutto’s Pizzeria is the absolute gold standard. I’ve been here many times, and they never miss a beat. It's no wonder Prosciutto's is one of the longest standing Italian restaurants in the Lake Norman region. The Food - The crust is the perfect balance of crispy and chewy, and you can tell they use high-quality, fresh ingredients. Whether you’re grabbing a classic pepperoni or one of their specialty pies, the flavors are always spot on. Don’t sleep on their appetizers either—the chicken wings are available in a bazillion (Okay, I'm exaggerating) varieties are touted by the locals to be the best at the lake! The garlic and parm wings is my personal favorite. The Service - What really sets this place apart, though, is the staff. From the moment you walk in, you’re treated like family. The servers are incredibly attentive, friendly, and fast, even when the dining room is packed. It’s rare to find a spot where the energy is just as good as the food, but the team here nails it every time. Bottom line: Great vibes, even better pizza, and a staff that truly cares. If you haven’t been yet, you’re doing your taste buds a disservice!“

“Great Pizza, Great Service!!!❤“

“THANK YOU FOR HELPING US CELEBRATE OUR 40 WEDDING ANNIVERSARY ❤️“

“We come from New York and lived in Boca Raton and have now lived in Cornelius for four years and the food here in North Carolina is horrible to say the least! Acqua Ragazza is finally a place where you can find an excellent dining experience! The only downfall is that the prices are a bit high for the area where it is located and to add insult to injury when we asked for additional bread, they charged us a whopping four dollars which after what we were charged for the meal was shocking to say the least! Aside from that unless you either live in The Point in Mooresville or The Peninsula in Cornelius, very few people in this area will be able to afford the prices! Just a Point to Ponder for Management!“

“My friends and I visited last week and instantly fell in love with the Romeo and Katrina as well as their food. They were so hospitable and accommodating. Everything is made fresh and with love, even the juice was superb. We will be visiting again. The food was delicious“

“Excellent service by Kareem. Food was good as always.“

“Enjoyed a fabulous meal last night with our friends. The restaurant is in an older antique home in Huntersville close to the highway. We were greeted at the door by the host/owners very friendly and sat with our group of seven in a small very private area ( as are most) in a series of dining rooms very nicely furnished with comfortable chairs. Our hostess immediately came over and took our drink order. There was a large selection of wines by both glass and bottle and both cocktails and regular beverages served from a large bar at the rear of the restaurant. The menu selections were wide and varied and the hostess informed us of three additional special entrees for the evening . For appetizers we ordered garlic bread with a traditional dipping oil and calamari with red sauce both were great . All the entrees were served together and were the best Italian food we have tasted outside of Italy anywhere. A lot of there sauces , desserts and breads are made on premises. There was water goblets as soon as we arrived at the table. Service was excellent, food was delicious and remarkable. Would not hesitate to go back. Prices were outstanding . Highly recommended, Jay Horne and Rob Kent Salisbury, N.C. Thank you for a great evening♥️“

“Food is amazing. Best pizza in the area.“

“We have been going to Antico for at least seven years; the food is normally excellent. Last visit, I had the lunch portion around 2PM Chicken Capricioso and the chicken was tough, barely any artichoke. This review was more of a heads up to the kitchen. I was kind on the “4” rating for the dish, as your dishes are typically wonderful. Also, our waiter was too busy socializing to notice the needs of his other customers.“

“excelente service great food..Marco the waiter he's aswome.“

“We recently had Mi Amichi cater a dinner for our daughter's wedding - cannot tell you how many guests raved about the food and the service on site! The meal was fantastic and the portions very generous. Genuine Italian, nothing commercial. Working with them to arrange the catering was a breeze. Can't say enough about this place. Rare to get tis kind of quality nowadays. To Nick and the staff at Mi Amichi - THANK YOU!“

“Amazing food and service.“

“Il Bosco was exactly the kind of authentic Italian meal I hoped it would be. I brought my family, who are all Italian, and the food genuinely reminded me of the way my Nonna used to cook: fresh, thoughtful, comforting, and full of real flavor.

We started with the prosciutto-wrapped dates, and they were excellent. The prosciutto had just the right light crispness, and the ricotta made the whole bite rich without being too heavy. The strawberry salad with Parmesan was also a standout: fresh, bright, and perfect for summer.

For the main courses, we all shared because every plate had something different worth trying. The fried wild boar was perfectly crispy and not oily at all. The fettuccine formaggio may have been the highlight of the meal. The pasta was cooked beautifully, the cheese sauce was rich but balanced, and the touch of spice gave it just enough lift. The broccoli rabe helped keep the dish from feeling too heavy.

Three people at our table ordered the lemon ravioli, and they were outstanding. The pasta had a firm al dente bite, clearly tasted homemade, and the lemon flavor was balanced perfectly with the pepper and cheese.

We finished with homemade Italian cookies and fresh figs, which felt like the perfect ending. Beyond the food, the owner was friendly, came by our table, and made us feel genuinely welcome. The whole experience felt less like going out to a restaurant and more like being invited into the home of a family friend who happens to be an excellent Italian cook.“

“Enjoyed dinner with the family at Novanta before heading into Charlotte for a show. Sat in our usual section because Tammy is the server. Enjoyed awesome pizza served 5 minutes after we ordered it. As usual, pizza was hot, crisp with fresh ingredients straight out of the wood-fired oven. Tammy is one of the BEST servers we've encountered anywhere in NC - we always insist on sitting in her section. We will be back - again and again! Highly recommended!“

“We had Pomodoros tonight and it was absolutely fantastic. The services was amazing! The prices add very reasonable, the food is to die for, and the owner really cares!! The steak special today was a real treat!!“

“Came here with a few friends and the food was phenomenal along with great atmosphere! Loved the live music. Love supporting local!“

“Excellent pizza. Don’t believe me? Ask Freddy:“

“Ive been going to the Mooresville OG now for years.. I've had over a dozen visits and they never disappoint. The drinks are great, especially that new green apple frozen margarita. I have thoroughly enjoyed all my to go experiences as well. When you get to go, you can expect your food to always be hot and fresh. I love how they give you a big salad like they do.. Thanks guys! Keep up the good work!“

“This restaurant was great. We were seated quickly, server was awesome, food was really good. One of the waiters even sung a Christmas song and received a round of applause. Staff is super friendly and professional, and you just don’t get that everywhere. If you’re not a big eater, I suggest sharing a dish with someone, portions are nicely sized.“

“Ordered online for the first time. Food was ready within 3 minutes of walking in the door. Food is always hot and fresh. Great salads, subs, wings and pizza!“

“Innovative flavors and an amazing crust. I had the Stella, a star-shaped pizza with ricotta stuffed crust and the fabulous flavor of smoked cheese. The best! My daughter had the Vegan-rita and raved about it. Highly recommend!“

“Amazing food every time , cool staff“

“Wonderful space! Melanie was a fantastic Hostess & made booking so easy! Food was delicious! Highly recommend for an intimate gathering! Thank you!“

“Great pizza! Great staff!“

“Excellent pizza! Crisp crust with chewy inside, generous toppings, and incredible flavor!“

“First of all, the pizza rocks. They could be total jerks and I’d still eat here. But….these folks brighten my day. I am quickly becoming a frequent customer just because I feel better when I leave! No joke. I always smile a bunch when I am here and it’s because of the staff. So, thank you for brightening my days that I’m able to come in…and thank you for letting me bring in my little dog so she doesn’t have to sit in the truck while I eat ☺️ Great beer choices on tap too!! Not gonna lie, that’s a factor! Haha Love you guys!“

“The calzone, stromboli, and pizza were all fresh and delicious!! We could watch them being freshly made, and they tasted incredible. The marinara was savory and the perfect dip, and I am picky about my marinara! I’m very glad we ate here.“

“We ordered a large order to our hotel. it was on time, delicious, and the delivery man was so nice! they included all the plates, napkins, and silverware we needed! highly recommend!“

“Manager Todd is the best!! we had dinner and forgot about the left overs spoil in our hot car while going to movie at birkdale. Todd and his team graciously offered to hold our to go containers in the kitchen to preserve our meal while we went to the movie.!! Too notch.

Also for those gluten free/sensitive NI has the GOAT of gluten free. I’ve tried other places - this is my 20/10!!“

“Just ordered pizza for the first time from Hawthornes. I’m from NY and haven’t been able to find good pizza around here. This pizza was absolutely delicious! I’m so happy I found this place!“

“First time here at the concord location. Just awesome food!! We will be back for sure“

“Just ordered pizza for the first time from Hawthornes. I’m from NY and haven’t been able to find good pizza around here. This pizza was absolutely delicious! I’m so happy I found this place!“

“Best pizza in Mooresville.“

“Great Pizza! I would recommend getting delivery from this location. They are very fast and efficient!“

“Just want to shout out Jet’s pizza...I (like apparently ever other human in the area) called multiple places this afternoon for a pizza delivery a few hours ahead of when I wanted it, and Jet’s was the third try that could actually do the time I wanted the pizza to arrive. The time came and passed so I called 15 minutes after it was due to ask for an update. I was told that my order hadn’t been assigned to a driver because they got really backed up but it would be out ASAP. I was bummed since we had trick or treat to get crackin on, but I just said “ok thank you” and hung up and told the kids we would play it by ear for adjusted plans around when food got here. Just before 6:00, I get a call from Jet’s profusely apologizing, telling me a fresh pizza order would be to me shortly and my card would not be charged. My pizza arrived perfectly hot and fresh not long after, and my kids still got a full night of trick or treat in...just wanted to shout out Jet’s for this above and beyond gesture as I had NO expectation for such a thing, knowing how crazy all the pizza joints were tonight (10/31/20)“

“Lunch today was absolutely delicious as always!! Fresh ingredients, the perfect slice!! Friendly staff and price is on point!“

“They are amazing!! Great food, service, staff, and Buffalo Bills vibes!! Love this place. Thank you for all you do for us Bills fans!! 🏈🏈🏈“

“Awesome food, great people“