So it is tuck away in a shopping center so you'll have to park in the general parking to walk to this restaurant. Plenty of parking spots. The service was good. Sometimes a little bit of a language barrier with the waiter. It's a small place, not that many tables. The dessert- they don't have a dessert menu so it's a little hard to choose what to get if you can't read it back so you have to rely on your waiter to remember what the dessert is. I got the tajarin pasta, not all that. Basic, not a lot of stuff in it, plain, don't think it's worth the price. The octopus was delicious to me. As well as the tiramisu. I don't think it's worth going back. read more

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This place was incredible from start to finish. The service was amazing. Our waters and wine glasses were always full. Our questions clearly answered The cocktails are very nice and they change the special one every now and then They have tasting menus Food is out of this world! A little pricey but definitely worth going for a little special night read more

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Hands down 10 out of 10!! First time visiting and definitely will be back!!! Food was outstanding, service was excellent, and it's such a cute vibe!! read more

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If I was rating this on the food alone, it would deserve 5 stars!! Where the stars fall short is with ambiance and professionalism. The art deco style makes me feel so comfy when eating here, but the wait staff could use a refresher on service standards. When we arrived at 5p for our reservation, we were the only customers at that moment. It was obvious that the wait staff were eager to get a full house of customers by the way they kept hovering back and forth between dining spaces. It's amazing to see people so eager and engaged to serve but the level of anxiety was palpable. So much so that the lady in the photo sat down at an empty dining table and started chatting loudly about traffic and the news and so many more topics while her counterparts surrounded her listening and participating. No matter if they had one table or 22 tables full of people, this lack of professionalism shouldn't happen. We came here once before and had a great time with cocktails and dinner but it was at a busier time of the evening when they all had something to do. This trip, I ordered a margarita and it was not the best. The cocktail tasted more batch made and less craft made despite my request for a higher shelf tequila. The beignets were amazing with the tomato sauce, the gnocchi were incredible and very full of flavor and texture, and the pasta was out of this world. Again, the food deserves a perfect score but the service at opening hour could use a little more focus and respect for the patrons. My husband made the comment, "it feels like we are in their break room right now." Not great! read more

AQUA e VINO - Margarita - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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If I could give last night's dinner at Aqua e Vino 6 stars I would!!! My husband and I ate here a few years back for my birthday when it was still just seven or eight tables inside and loved it, so I was so excited to get to return for Queen's Feast with girlfriends. Start to finish, everything was exceptional. Our waiter, James, was friendly and attentive (he never let our water glasses get too empty and replaced our plates, silverware and serving utensils with each course! I'm not sure how the food possibly could have been better. The kitchen sent out some complimentary chickpea flour beignets with marinara sauce (light and fluffy and hot and fried and amazing) as well as a fresh bread basket (the focaccia was the star), then we shared all of our three courses from the restaurant week menu - we got two burratas (served with basil and EVOO on the ripest, most flavorful tomatoes) and a watermelon salad (showstopper), two homemade pastas (a pesto one and a gnocchi with red sauce - incredible) and the branzino (sea bass topped with the most gorgeous, thinly sliced zucchini and a light saffron sauce). For dessert, we shared the almond & apricot tart (flaky and yummy), tiramisu (loved the chocolate lady fingers in there!) and the lavender panna cotta with berries (this was the unexpected crowd favorite - the consistency was divine, and lavender flavor came through perfectly without being too floral/soapy). Aqua e Vino is such a hidden gem - truly perfect for anyone looking to experience true, authentic Italian cuisine in Charlotte!!! read more

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Delicious! Very nice quiet setting. House pastas are such a delight!! Server Brandy was very good. Made a small mistake and went above and beyond to make sure we were happy before and after the slight error. Was fabulous! read more

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After a short renovation (with a couple of delays), Aqua e Vino has officially reopened in the Strawberry Hill neighborhood and it's absolutely worth a visit. The restaurant's dim lighting and cozy atmosphere make it perfect for a romantic date night or quiet dinner. A few things to know before you go: reservations are required by phone only, there's a 2-hour dine-in limit, and OpenTable points aren't happening here. John, who served as both maitre d' and waiter, brought great energy and made the evening smooth from start to finish. To start, I was treated to a gift from the chef: savory beignets with tomato sauce. Fluffy, lightly fried, and gone in seconds. I followed that with a daily special: tuna tartare over eggplant caponata. The tuna was tossed with pine nuts and cucumber, and paired with the sweet, smoky eggplant, it made for a perfect texture and flavor. For my entree I ordered the eggplant parmigiana. Lightly fried then baked, it was served bubbling hot in a small baking dish. The eggplant was thinly sliced and layered perfectly like a lasagna with generous amounts of melted mozzarella and tomato sauce. Hands down one of the best I've had in Charlotte. I wrapped it up with their house-made green apple sorbet. Think crisp Granny Smith, not sour candy. Clean, cool, and super refreshing. read more

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One of the finest restaurants in Charlotte! In fact, it is as good or better than some of the better restaurants we ate in while living in Los Angeles for 10 years! Very attentive wait staff, without overdoing it so that you feel "bothered". The chef is outstanding and does everything so well! Everything! Short ribs and lemon pie can't be beat! The recent enlarging of the space and redecorating makes for the perfect ambiance. So good that we're having our son's rehearsal dinner here. Can't wait! read more

Can I give an extra star??? Because YES my husband and I were WOWED last night!! Recommended to us by a friend we trust because we are HUGE foodies so I was excited but I DID NOT expect to be mind blown.. (because most people screw up Italian) but just wow. From the Handmade pasta and cheese, the imported wine and the chickpea beignets and oh I can go on about our dishes and experience. FINALLY a REAL Italian restaurant I will come back to monthly!! read more

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THE RESTAURANT CLOSED EARLY! My girlfriend and I were hoping to try Aque e Vino specifically due to their participation in Queen's Feast Charlotte Restaurant Week. On Friday June 18th at 8:50pm my girlfriend made a dinner reservation for Sunday, June 20th at 9:15pm for a party of 2 on RESY, their reservation/service app. According to Charlotte Restaurant week's website, Aque e Vino was supposed to be exclusively open from 5pm-10pm on Sundays for restaurant week as it appears they are not normally open on Sundays. To our surprise when we walked to Aqua e Vino 5 minutes before our reservation time (9:15pm) that we found the place closed up. Chairs were up flipped upside down on the tables, there was no one in the kitchen which is visible from the entrance and the service team was were all seated together to the left in the main dining room ready to leave. The host came to greet us and let us know they were closed but once we showed emails and text messages from RESY, proof of a reservation and confirmation that we would be there, we all were confused. The host showed us the IPad used to list reservations and ours popped up when he searched up my girlfriend's name. The host mentioned that he saw the reservation pop up when it was initially made. This led to even greater confusion. With the Kitchen closed and servers leaving, there was no hope in dining at Aqua e Vino . We left gracefully but are admittedly quite upset at how things turned out. We both worked earlier that day and were looking forward to enjoying a great meal and cocktails afterwards. Unfortunately we'll never know how good the food is and as things stand we have no intention of trying to find out again. It seems like either RESY didn't properly display our reservation to the staff of Aqua e Vino or someone tampered with the iPad that displayed the reservation list. I can't say what caused everything to go awry but it still equated in a disappointing night. Regardless if we had a reservation or not (which we did), the restaurant should not have closed before their listed hours of operation. 0 out of 10 by default. read more

AQUA e VINO - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Definitely amazing! We had three courses meal for lunch, the same quality like we had in Europe!

Aqua e Vino is a small hidden gym in Strawberry Hill. We have been a few times and the authentic delicious Italian food is amazing. They have a great menu with great options and daily specials. On weeknights you can order the Butta La Pasta - 3 Antipasti, 3 primi pasta, a a dessert for $60pp! An amazing way to try multiple apps and pastas. I would recommend making a reservation! We will certainly be back to Aqua e Vino read more

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We recently celebrated our anniversary at Aqua e Vino, and it could not have been more perfect. This locally owned Italian gem is truly in a league of its own. We both ordered the Dover sole stuffed with crabmeat, and without a doubt, it was one of the best meals we've had anywhere. Perfectly prepared, beautifully plated, and absolutely delicious. We didn't realize it was Queens Feast Week when we booked the reservations so the meal was a bargain, however, we will go again soon, even at full price. Well worth every penny. The warm, intimate atmosphere and attentive service made the evening feel extra special. Charlotte is lucky to have a place like this. Highly recommend for a special occasion--or any time you want a truly memorable meal. read more

Food is an A+ every time but honestly the servers make me feel like I should thank them for allowing me to dine here and I should serve them. They clearly have "favorites" and I am not one of them. read more

Very overrated, overpriced and mediocre food. Extremely disappointed after reading reviews.

When last night for a date night.. and I have to say it was phenomenal. The food was probably the best upscale Italian food that I had in a very long time.. the place is cozy and the service is great. I'm glad I finally got to go there.. will definitely be coming back. Very soon. lol read more

I went there last night with two friends and spent over $500 ordering through the menu. I very rarely leave a review and I had to with this experience. This was one of the most disappointing food experiences I've had in the city of Charlotte. The veal carpaccio was essentially cooked roast beef with cream of mushroom soup on top. The octopus was very over cooked. The focaccia in the bread basket was old. The sole was very over cooked. The veal chop was cooked well but over salted. The only thing I found to be solid here was the wine list, the service team, and the atmosphere. read more

Exceptional service. Good quality food. We had the seafood risotto and chicken parm...very authentic. Nice wine list.

Is there new ownership here? My husband and I took our mother here for her 80th birthday. Prior to booking a reservation, we had mentioned the occasion and the person we spoke with assured us she would be very well taken care of. Additionally, we had dined here once before (before it expanded) and had the ultimate experience. From the food to the service - everything was exceptional. I'd go so far as to say our waiter made us feel like we were the only ones in the restaurant and as though we transported to Italy. So when trying to decide where to go for this special occasion, we decided upon Aqua e Vino. Unfortunately, outside of most of the food, nothing was as we had remembered which is why I ask if management has changed. The restaurant has expanded the space, which is great but has lost the intimacy, the original space looks unappealing and based on the lack of seats filled, didn't seem for there to be any reason to trouble us for requesting 6pm reservation due to there being only "two seatings" when there seemed to be plenty of open space. Our waitress was subpar at best. Outside of her basically reading off the specials from her book that she couldn't pronounce correctly, she did nothing to enhance the experience and knew close to nothing about the wine. While in the midst of dining and conversing some gentleman came hovering over our table and without even so much as introducing himself or acknowledging us he leans over my mothers shoulder and pulls her menu over and looks at it. Then comes up behind me and moves around my wine glass and does the same to my menu. My husband then asks him who he was and what he was doing to which he explained some people have received wrong menus so he was checking to make sure we had the correct ones. He hovered over the table again later and my husband had to ask him if he was a manager or just who he was as he abruptly came to the table again. Never told us his name and said he just "helps out". Off putting while trying to converse. The Dover sole was phenomenal as was the sea bass carpaccio special. The pasta, burrata, pork entree and veal chop special also were incredible. Lastly, we had expected something special for our mom. At the end of the meal they brought her a spoonful of "Chantilly cream" which really was just whipped cream with a candle in it. Not that we wanted them to sing to us but we'd have thought they'd have done something more than that. Honestly, I never write reviews. But I have to say since last night, I have not been able to shake this experience as it was SO polar opposite on the level of service than we had from our last visit. Zero attention to detail and very basic. While the food was good, we came here for the exceptional experience we had last time which was worth every penny but now seems no longer worth it for us. The drastic difference in experience and quality unfortunately now drops this place from our list. I wish my mother received what we were promised and the special experience she so greatly deserved. read more

Visited Aqua E Vino for dinner to celebrate birthdays with my sisters for our annual weekend getaway. Beautifully decorated interior. However, it was very apparent that we were deemed unworthy of quality attention by staff once my sisters declined to order alcoholic beverages. We were not given the same attention or service as surrounding tables. Until last night, I had never left a restaurant feeling as if I am a second class citizen. Should you visit Aqua e Vino, please be prepared to purchase multiple glasses of wine and/or cocktails if you expect quality care and attention from staff. read more

If you want a taste of Italy but you're in Charlotte, NC - you must try Aqua e Vino. It's a small restaurant so highly recommend reservations (& you'll need to call to make them). This was my 2nd time there and just as good as the first. This time I took my dad who is 100% Italian and all food got two thumbs up. What we ordered: Aperol spritz (for me, my parents aren't big drinkers - their wine is great too), cauliflower flan - this was unique and amazing flavor, ravioli with veal, butternut squash & shrimp risotto (not pictured), and we finished with a chocolate orange hazelnut tart & cappuccino (not pictured). They also bring out savory beignets with a marinara sauce and fresh bread to start - yum! For more of my CLT food recommendations, follow me on IG: alli_wantisfood read more

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Underwhelming. Veal Milanese plain breaded veal with arugula and a lemon wedge. No presentation very plain on the plate, $38. Egg Breading was good, 2 large pieces. Pasta Beef Ragu Special, Tasty but very small, like child's portion $24. The cold cut Italian meats appetizer was the best dish and they didn't even cook it. Won't be back. read more

AQUA e VINO - Pasta Ragu special, tasty but small - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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We had an 8:15 (second seating) reservation and the first seating wouldn't get up. We waited a full hour before we were seated. even though the wait staff were distressed that the first seating wouldn't get up no one told them we were waiting for the table. The waiter was very nice, but I don't think we order the right items to be fair to comment on the food. It was supposed to be a celebration with out of town friends and ended up being extremely disappointing. read more

We came on a whim, they are not on Resy or OT, use my photo of the front door to get the number to make reservations. With that being said, Beautiful Bella had a cancellation and sat us right away ( BAM! In your face! Lol) We came in and this place is almost identical to the wonderful restaurant, I asked my wife to marry me at, Primi Piatti in Riverside section of Jacksonville Florida. So it was just an amazing feeling walking into a place we knew. We were sat by Bella and our server Stefano professional with just the right amount of friendly, knowledgeable about the wine, food and menu options. We started with the octopus which was perfectly prepared, salty bread and standard bread and a bottle of Elena Walch Pinot Grigio that was light flavorful delicious. Diana the other server spent time telling us about the art work completed by the chef, identifiable but he is an amazing chef, if you get my drift, no offense meant chef you have flair! We then for main course we had the Capellini and she had The Tarjin and shared the Brussel Sprouts which are amazing. We finished off with chocolate tart to finish with an amazing dessert to an amazing meal. Chef Gabriel be proud you are doing something special in Charlotte and a jewel to the culinary crown. Thank you read more

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Decided to go for an outdoor lunch, food was delicious. Service was great, very welcoming. Sitting outdoors with a cool nice weather make the experience a nice, peaceful one. Will definitely go back! read more

The chef is an artist. I don't think I've ever had a bad bite here. Amazingly good food.

This is easily one of my top five restaurants in Charlotte--it might even be my number one. The food is next level. I have been here twice and each time was exceptional. The wait staff are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. The location is beautiful; in the summer the patio is beautiful to sit at, and in the colder months the restaurant provides a cozy respite from any chill outdoors. read more

My new favorite restaurant in Charlotte. I felt like I was back in Italy. The ingredients were so fresh. Our waiter, Marco, was so charming. read more

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We were so looking forward to a birthday dinner. while the service was excellent the food was just so so. We had one of the specials which was a veal ravioli and besides the very small appetizer side portion it was just bland. They recommended the tiramisu dessert and again, pedestrian overall a huge disappointment read more

Totally over prized. Hubby ordered the lamb - asked for it to be done medium rare. Was well done. I had the ragu - bland - unimpressed.... Disappointing experien read more

We had a delicious dinner last evening at Aqua e Vino. The ambiance inside is intimate yet allows each table grouping to chat while enjoying the fabulous food prepared by the amazing chef and his team. Our waiter Marco provided us the high quality yet friendly service we have come to enjoy at Aqua e Vino. While we consider this a "special occasion" restaurant we are never disappointed when we dine there. We typically don't order off the menu instead enjoy the chef's specialties. Last night we enjoyed a homemade parpadelle pasta made with a special black semolina flour served with a venison bolognese. The pasta was so tender and perfectly cooked. Our appetizers were a heirloom tomato caprese with buratta mozzarella then a fig and prosciutto with paramigiano reggiano shaved cheese. These were equally as delicious. Make sure the save room for a dessert to share at least. We enjoyed a delicate pear sorbet and apricot frangipani tart with hand made whipped cream. These did not disappoint either they were equally as delicious. I highly recommend this wonderful gem. Delizioso! read more

The food is absolutely fantastic!! The Spanish Octopus and zucchini flowers (they were one of the special appetizers of the night) were delicious. The sauce for the octopus was so flavorful that we soaked it up with the bread that was provided. Entrees included the risotto, the Tajarin and the tagliatelle with lamb ragu' (on special that night). Highly recommend each one as the homemade pasta was perfectly cooked. Great place for a date night or getting together with another couple. read more

Best restaurant in Charlotte! So authentic - from the food to the service. Cannot say enough great things about aqua e vino. Do yourself a favor and go now! Fun to sit at the bar or have lunch or dinner at a table. Food is always wonderful - cocktails and wine are too! read more

Absolutely deplorable experience! I would give ZERO stars if I could. I have zero sympathy for the fact we got a dessert menu without even receiving the meal we ordered. The chef visited every table other than ours which is probably why. Then we were insulted further by having someone tell us our meal was comped. All we wanted was the meal we ordered and maybe an apology. I don't ever come to a place for a free meal. DO NOT INSULT ME or our money bc trust we have more money than those patronizing! I will spend all my time dogging this place and NEVER returning! read more

Delicious Fresh and made daily The owner and chef is on his game Can't wait to eat there again read more

Belated New Years Review Work has been chaotic since we got back from New Years since our employees have been decimated by the flu. Falling a bit behind on reviews but finally getting caught up. Before my wife left for Pittsburgh to see her daughter, I ran across something under Yelp Events that looked interesting. It was for a Prix Fixe dinner at Aqua e Vino on New Years Eve. Actually it was for two different ones. The first was an early one with four courses that started at 6 pm and a second larger one that started at 9 pm and lasted till Midnight aka New Years. Considering the distance to Cornelius and not wanting to be out on the road around New Years, we chose the 6 pm flight. Even though I hit the "I'm in" response button, was not sure that was going to work so I called for reservations the following week. They are closed on Monday so that did not work and ended up leaving a voice mail the next day. Telephone tag and we finally connected and nailed it down. Wife returns from Pittsburgh the day before and after experiencing hours of driving in a white out, was looking to a nice quiet night out. New Years Eve arrived and after watching the Panthers Game which ended at exactly the right time, we left and drove down to Aqua e Vino. Due to construction on I-77 we had budgeted extra time but ended up arriving about 15 minutes early. No problem. Our hosts could not have been more gracious and seated us at our assigned table and brought us water and asked if we wanted any thing to drink. Upgraded to a nice sparkling water which was good. This gave us a chance to survey the restaurant. Small and I would guess it probably seats around 30 or so patrons. Intimate and somewhat romantic but my wife would tell me, I'm too old for that. Very pleasant atmosphere and could enjoy the restaurant just because of the atmosphere. The appointed hour of 6 arrived and while folks started to trickle in, the started to serve those who were there. Made for a bit uneven serving on the part of the staff but they did a great job adjusting. Did notice that most of the patrons were regulars since everyone knew each other. Everyone started out with a glass of Champagne and of course, a toast to the New Year. The Antipasto came first and we had a choice of three. One was House Cured Arctic Char (misspelled chard on the menu) and buckwheat blinis; another was homemade foie gras "au torchon", porto gelee, baby greens and croutons. The last was raviolone, spinach,sheet ricotta, egg surprise, parmigiano butter and perigord truffle. My wife ordered the Char and I ordered the foie gras. Both of which were excellent. As for the foie gras, great texture and great balance of various flavors. For the Primo or First Course, it was the same for all and was an enhanced Risotto with aged Parmigiano and While Truffle Lamelle. Again excellent although I do like my Risotto a bit softer with a creamier texture but great blend on taste. For the Secundi or Second Course, again a choice. My wife and I both ordered the Grass Fed Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Farcie, Maidera Glaze and Perigord Truffle . The other choice was a poached Wild Sea Bass and Lobster. The other choice sounded great as well but the tenderloin was outstanding. Great taste and texture and presentation was outstanding. Finally was Dolce or Desert which was a Classic Vanilla Souffle served with a hot Chocolate Sauce on the side. Simple dish but in that is the secret to it's elegance. Had to wait a bit for the Chocolate Sauce to cool down but it was a perfect compliment to the Souffle. A perfect end to the meal. Perfect way to ring in the New Year. Great Food in a Cozy Atmosphere with great Service. If they have it available next year, will probably make a point of trying it again read more

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The food was okay and the service was acceptable. We visited because we had heard amazing things. We also heard that it was not as good as it once was, but we were hopeful. Unfortunately, we were disappointed. The outdoor seating was definitely a plus. read more

The authentic, made to order Italian entrees are amazing. I dined with 3 others, each of us ordering something different. We sampled each other's dishes and all were fantastic. I had the ravioli special that evening. It was prepared with a butter and sage sauce. The dish was absolute perfection! The atmosphere is elegant but not stuffy. The staff very attentive and accommodating. The wine selection is well balanced. A reservation is a must as space in this gem is very limited. I will be returning again soon for more of my favorite Italian food. read more

Excellent restaurant with top notch service. Small, intimate, and delicious. Always pleased with the specials.

I was recently invited by some friends to Aqua e Vino for Pasta Night. Pasta Night is a family style meal, offered on Wednesday for $40 per person. The evening starts with some amazing rolls with marinara, followed by charcuterie, then three pastas served family style and desserts. From the minute we arrived, we were treated like royalty. Drink orders were taking and an overview of the evening was provided. We decided to take advantage of the family style meal. We started with charcuterie, which included several meats and cheeses, some olives and breads. The selections were amazing, loved every bite. On to the pasta! From the menu, we selected the Fregola with Clams, Pappardelle with Duck Ragu and Gnocchi. All were amazing, but the Pappardelle with the Duck Ragu was my favorite! You can tell the pasta is homemade, and the accompaniments were cooked to perfection, all served piping hot. To top the evening off we enjoyed a platter of desserts, which included a chocolate cake, berry layered cake, coconut cake and homemade whipped cream. A perfect way to end the evening! I cannot stop thinking about the meal, and cannot wait to return. Reservations are definitely recommended as this is an intimate atmosphere with a small setting. So, definitely consider next time you are craving an amazing Italian dinner for a special event. Aqua e Vino is worth it! read more

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