50 Best Italian Restaurants near Matthews

“We had a surprise birthday party for a family member today!! What a great time. We had use of the Queens room, The food was great as usual but I need to bragg especially in our server Jeanette. She was amazing she handled us all with efficiency and grace!! I know we drove her crazy but she was amazing!!!! Thank you John’s place for a wonderful time and again kudos to Jeanette !!!“

“Nicole was fantastic. Awesome personality etc We look forward to seeing her again.“

“My husband and I have been going to Marios/John’s place for over 30 years and have never had a bad meal. John has done an excellent job from his managers to wait staff and to the wonderful tasting food. I recently had a private party there and every person raved about the food and the hospitality of the restaurant. I cannot thank John enough for making everything perfect. You are definitely missing out if you don’t go there and have a wonderful dinner.“

“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!!“

“Get the chicken Parm every time, plus a calzone to go. calzones are as big as my head!! get 4 meals out of this! plus the garlic knots are to die for!!“

“great pizza! 4 tvs, Labatts sold here.“

“Great food and great atmosphere.“

“You have to try the Mozzarella presentation with the Roasted Sicilian Red Peppers and the Chicken Parm with a side of fettuccine. Large portions!“

“Was a delicious breakfast. Great service and pretty inside. Would be nice to try outside next time and the dinner.“

“Felt like i was in the village in NYC! Food was awesome! The best Italian I’ve had in a while! The homade pastas were to die for! Out of short rib but had chicken piccata and bronzino! So so good! The Burrata was awesome and the oysters, yellowtail and were so fresh and the sauces were key! Need to know how to make them! Tiramisu was yummy! Wine selection was great! Our server was so fun and loved the atmosphere! We will be back! Worth the car ride from the lake! Don’t forget the charcuterie! Lol“

“Nic made us the most amazing pasta in a cheese wheel! So much love and flavor in our meal! 1,000% recommend and can’t wait to go back!! 😋 Thanks Nic!“

“The staff is friendly and gave great recommendations. I would definitely recommend the parmesan alfredo with meatballs. The spinach and meatball pockets were also very tasty. Pasta was cooked well and seasoned. Love the touch of fresh parmesan added to each dish. Lots of vegetarian options as each item is customizable. Love the loads of fresh and clean ingredients that they offer. My only criticism is regarding their marinara sauce. For me, it was very acidic and harsh on the palate. I had it with meatballs and while the meatballs were wonderful and flavored great, it did not cut the acidity of the sauce. This aside, we are looking forward to trying the other items on the menu.“

“Sweet potato Ravioli and broccolini were excellent!“

“❤Brian is amazing. This place feels like family. Amazing food, wonderful server, Jodi, dessert to die for! Go and feel at home!“

“You have to try the Mozzarella presentation with the Roasted Sicilian Red Peppers and the Chicken Parm with a side of fettuccine. Large portions!“

“Good food, terrific service! It’s loud, but what place isn’t anymore?“

“Went today and loved it!! The employees were SUPER nice and helpful!!!!“

“Simply amazing! We can’t wait to go back.“

“This was some of the best Italian food we have had! Like many in Charlotte, we are transplants from the Northeast and have been disappointed with much of the Italian restaurants recommended to us in Charlotte. For food, we got the Eggplant Cannelloni, Cheese Pizza, and Grilled Romaine salad. All were amazing and the calamari on the salad was incredible. For drinks we had the seasonal “No Fig Deal” which is now in my top 5 of best cocktails I’ve ever had. The service was great, they split our salad for us and the server was attentive. We left talking about the dishes we couldn’t wait to try next, as many of the pasta dishes we saw on the tables next to us looked incredible too.
Make a reservation if you can! The salad, two entrées, a glass of wine, and a cocktail came out to $100.“

“Very good food, and great service“

“Love this place! Pasta is so delicious. A true Gem in Charlotte“

“It’s the best restaurant in Charlotte.“

“Delicious authentic Italian in a great atmosphere.“

“I like the atmosphere and idea of a small family restaurant over a chain. The food is always awesome and everyone is so friendly. I would suggest always making a reservation and if it's nice out to sit on the patio. The aromas are worth the trip alone. I have never been disappointed by anything here and have recommended them to family and friends.“

“I’ve been coming to this location for 5-6 years now, the food has been consistently high quality from day one. All the dishes taste exactly how you would expect the dish to taste, but even better. Thank you for all of the years of outstanding service 🙏🏻“

“Enjoy fabulous food and be treated like FAMIGLIA by the wonderful staff at Luce... Warmth and charisma is also a particular specialty of Captain Cesar García! Bill Stevens, uptown Charlotte“

“The food, service and ambiance was excellent.“

“Great food, great service, but if you’re a larger party and are seated in the enclosed patio area, take heed that it will be extremely uncomfortable with the summer heat. They only have a couple of small portable fans that are absolutely inadequate for the total space, and the ceiling fans (supposedly set to the incorrect direction) didn’t help much. Even the dining room wasn’t much better. I know it’s been hot, but if the customer is uncomfortable I can only imagine the staff.“

“amazing food, cooked to order, quickly with great service!!“

“I always have a great time at Mia Famiglia because the pizza is consistently delicious. The pepperoni rolls are a real highlight and full of flavor. The team is always warm and welcoming, and the restaurant is well kept and comfortable. There is plenty of seating, and the bar area adds a fun touch to the atmosphere. It is definitely a place I would recommend to anyone looking for a great meal.“

“Great Food, Fair prices and good customer service“

“We made a reservation for Valentine's Day dinner. The host at the door was great. We were seated as soon as when we arrived. Starting with the food, the Bruschetta was very good. My fiance ordered Chicken Parm, which he enjoyed. I ordered Chicken with rigatoni pasta in a cream sauce, it was delicious. The cheesecake was also good although it was a smaller portion than we expected. Now for the service, it took some time for a server to come to the table and bring our drinks. The appetizer came pretty quickly. We never got the salad we ordered. Once the entrees came, we told them to cancel the salad. We asked for more bread but never received it. Our server never returned to the table to offer drink refills, check to see how things were, etc so we flagged down another server who took over and did a better job.
Overall it was a good experience and we would go back.“

“We had the pleasure of Dining at Dean’s on Father’s Day 6/15/25. Our Waiter “Q”was phenomenal. The food was a 10/10 and service far exceeded our expectation!“

“We arrived near closing but the waitstaff didn’t seem to mind. Excellent service, food and cocktails! Highly recommend for a romantic dinner for two!❤️“

“A mystery. Outstanding ambiance, looks and feels like nice casual cafes we ate at in Milan and Tuscany. Once inside can't believe it's in an outdoor mall in NC. Friendly service. Chicken marsala with mushrooms as good as it gets. Hearts of palm salad not on many menus but was delightful. The customers seemed to be enjoying a relaxed, quality dining experience without the pretense of a fancy place or buzz of a large busy place. The mystery-why was it only half full on a Friday night?“

“Buona Vita Restaurant and Bar is incredible! They are friendly and professional and their food is delicious! They have such a fun atmosphere and delicious drinks! A place wonderful for both parents and kids. My boys LOVE their pizza! Definitely recommend 1010!“

“very nice experience on this diner because fast delivery and deliciouses food“

“My husband and I attended a cooking class at Desarno’s tonight and had a fantastic experience! The atmosphere was welcoming, and Kit & Karen are both knowledgeable and engaging. We made delicious, authentic Italian dishes using fresh, high-quality ingredients. Guido Lombardi, owner of Impero Wine Distributors, was also present, suggesting and sharing wines that perfectly complemented the dishes we prepared. It added a wonderful touch to the evening. The market itself has an amazing selection of take and bake options, perfect for a gourmet meal at home. Whether you're looking to improve your cooking skills or just enjoy a fun evening, I highly recommend their classes. We’ll definitely be returning for more!“

“First time at the restaurant definitely will not be my last. I wish I remember my server name. He was amazing. The atmosphere is gentle. I love the dim lights. The food was amazing fast service. The only complaint I have is my drink was watered down. Other than that, the service was amazing. No complaints at all.“

“Hey Amber & Andrew, just a guess, but were the two of you together at Aria and waited on by Jennifer? Seems like it! I have never had a bad experience at Aria. I went this past Saturday for The Queens Feast and once again I was not disappointed with service or the food. Did you talk to a manager while you were there about your issues? It takes a lot of humanity and courage to address issues in person & in real time. When you do, often a resolution can be found. Try it out the next time your disappointed. I understand reviewing a place for poor service, food, etc., but attacking a person by name is low class. Btw, who uses begrudgingly to write a review? Nice word but, seriously?“

“Tonight was my first time and when I say I will be back at least every two weeks I’m not exaggerating. It’s rare to find a place that’s not only been around as long as it has but also still be owned by the family that started it. I am the pickiest eater but when I say everything I had blew my mind and has me craving it not even an hour after leaving. Don’t be fooled by the plain exterior. When you walk in you automatically know you are about to eat food made with love. I can’t wait to go back. Highly recommend doesn’t even touch how I feel!“

“amazing food, cooked to order, quickly with great service!!“

“amazing food, cooked to order, quickly with great service!!“

“Good food, great service.
A good menu offering traditional Italian American and Greek American dishes. Food was good and served hot.
Sever was friendly and attentive.
A good value in my opinion and I will be going back on a regular basis.“

“I just happened on this place a couple of weeks ago. It's my new favorite restaurant! True authentic Italian food❤️ I've been looking for this place! I will be a regular😁“

“Had the pleasure of dining at That's Amore for the first time today. The food was excellent and the service was outstanding. We were celebrating my sister's birthday and the chef brought out a number of appetizers; ,bruschetta. cold antipasto, rice balls, etc.. and everything was absolutely delicious. Our main courses were equally delicious. If you haven't tried That's Amore then please do. You will love their authentic and fresh italian food!“

“buy 1 take 1 for half off“

“Food is great! My favorite is the chicken Marsala and the pizza is delicious. Brick oven pizza“

“Amazing fresh pizza and pasta Quick service We drive all the way from Weddington for the food!“

“Absolutely AMAZING pizza! The atmosphere was great and the service was fantastic! I can’t wait to go again! I had the veggie pizza, my only regret, sharing with my daughter😂. I’ll get my own next time.“