The bar tender is informational and fun. Great drinks. I almost passed this place up because it is in a strip mall. I'm so glad I didn't. Peeked in the door and never looked back. The food was amazing. The best Italian I've found in the area. Just happen to hit on a day they were serving lasagna. I ordered it because the nice man sitting next to me said it was not to be missed. He was right! Great experience all around! read more

Excellent food and service. Reservations are thought to get, but worth it Highly recommended

Food is good, not great. Definitely in the top three Italian restaurants in the Lake Norman area. Service was good but getting a table is tricky at times. read more

Very nice restaurant but be prepared to wait, even with reservations Over the years we've dined her several times, all of which were good experiences and even booked the restaurant for an office Christmas Party a couple of years ago. Called for reservations today for 6 pm and got a call back saying they could not accomodate us at 6 pm but would 6:30 pm work and we were limited to an hour and one half seating. Sounds they are doing what a number or restaurants do and break out the evening to hour and half blocks and do seatings in flights. In this case, sounds like 5pm when they open, 6:30, 8pm etc Arrived at 6:20pm and were told our table would be ready in 10 minutes. No problem because our reservation was not till 6:30 any way. 6:30 came and when, as did 6:40 and finally a little after 6:45, we were finally seated. Seated was the operative word because except for someone who came by and filled our water glasses, we did not see our server for another 10 minutes. Finally when we did make contact, everything went smoothly. He took our drink orders and explained the specials of the day, all of which sounded excellent and they had specials not only in the entree section but in each of the other sections including appetizers, salad, pastas and deserts. We had reviewed the menu pretty well before we arrived and already had decided on what we wanted. I started with a Caprese Salad and both of had Vitello Trifolato which is Veal Scallopini which is Veal Scallopini sauted in a white garlic sauce with three different types of mushrooms. Oddly enough, one of the mushrooms is shiitake which is definitely not an variety native to Italy. Came with Haricot Vert and a small dollop of mashed potatoes. The Caprese is not what I expected. Rather a tomato sliced thinly as with the Mozzarella and a number of them on the plate drizzled with Balsamic, these were two relatively thick slices of tomato with a a thick slice of Buffo Mozzarella on top of each The Balsamic was a smear off to the side and not on the medallions so you had to cut the medallion and drag it through the Balsamic. Not he most efficient way although it did make the plating attractive The Veal was perfect with great taste and texture. I only wish that there were other sides available because I am not a fan of green beans, regardless of how the prepared. All in all, after we got past a rocky start, the evening ended well. They do need to work on their reservation system because I observed a number of other patrons with exactly the same problems. read more

Best restaurant in LKN. Don't go if you are in a hurry, this is a traditional restaurant where you sit and truly enjoy a meal with your family and friends. The food is outstanding. read more

I've been to Italy plus spent years on the East Coast and this food is amazing. Four of us had a flawless meal with impeccable service. The crab cake was one of the best I've ever had. The Chilean sea bass was to die for. Specialty cocktails were beautiful and flavorful. Service was incredible and top notch, yet not stuffy and pompous. An incredible meal for all four of us, we will be back, Every single bite from a variety of dishes was to die for. read more

Small and very unassuming store front. I quite honestly avoided it because it is in a strip mall. Hand down, the best Italian food I've had, other than my Nona's. It's classic and traditional but in no way boring. Just straight up delicious. Their sea bass was amazing! Cocktails are on point and amazing service. Not kid friendly, great for date night. read more

Food was good had stuffed chicken wife had a special which was not so good a puff pastry with chicken in it. Agreed it was a bit salty I would give it 3.5 order penne Alfredo for my 8 year old asked for a kids portion they charged me 24.00. So pricing was a bit high for a Mooresville restaurant. read more

Caruso's is the epitome of one of those hidden gems. Located in a nondescript strip mall in Mooresville lies a chef who makes delicious Italian food out of the freshest ingredients and has a front of the house staff that is as good and as well trained as most any in Charlotte. I discovered Caruso's on Yelp (BIG smiles for the Yelpers!) and after my wife and I tried it once, we now consider it one of our favorite go-to's in the LKN area for sure, maybe in Charlotte proper and have been many times. No matter what we've ordered, the food, no matter the course, just feels and tastes so nuanced and refined. We've tried to work our way through the menu but with some difficulty because there are always a number of daily specials to tempt us away. One of the on-menu items my wife's gotten more than once is the Fettucine Alla Bolognese and it is so rich and succulent. On the last visit we also tried the Crespelle Liguria which is a crepe stuffed with lobster and crab meat in a brandy sauce. Outstanding! read more

Absolutely one of the best dinners I have ever had! E are visiting from Syracuse and we're told to check this place out! I can't say enough good about it! From the minute we walked in the door. Our server Lisa was spot on in her recommendations for dinner! I had the polenta crusted sea bass that was with every calorie! It was the best dinner ever! Thank you Pasquale for cooking this amazing dinner and Lisa for taking great care of us! Pam and Jim Kraus, East Syracuse, NY read more

Caruso's - Polenta crusted sea bass!! Yummy! - Italian Near Me - Mooresville, North Carolina

I almost don't want to write about this place and just keep it to ourselves. One of the best meals we've eaten since moving here was at Caruso's. Hands down. The chef and staff were top notch. Make sure you have a reservation. We lucked out and got a table without a reservation but even on a Monday night they were pretty packed. I have definitely been craving their octopus and will be going back next chance we get. read more

From the very moment we called to reserve our table the experience was 10/10. We felt like celebrities or family. The appetizer, the main course, the wine, the dessert the service... all an amazing experience. This will be our new favorite 5 star escape. THANK YOU Sylvia (greeter) Lisa (our Server) Thank you for a wonderful experience. read more

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I am such a fan of Caruso's. The first time we went we got caught out. As everyone says, it's in a strip mall by Publix, Orangetheory Fitness, La Patisserie so we walked in expecting to find red and white checked tableclothes and burned down candles in Chianti bottles. We instead found a gracious, quiet, upscale restaurant. Apparently we were lucky because we walked in without reservations and managed to get a table, even in our jeans and t-shirts. And we had a great meal. After that, we planned in advance, making reservations and dressing appropriately. We held my mother's 75th birthday celebration here and something magical happened that night. We had a server (Latin guy from NY) who was outstanding. I think every single person working that evening came over to wish my mother a happy birthday. (Not hard to find us since we had a giant 7 and 5 balloon hanging over her head. The entire restaurant started laughing when she walked over to the table not realizing and then saw her reaction. Someone then moved them to say 57 instead). They made my mother feel important that night and made the night very special for her. And all of us can't wait to return for another outing together. For the 8 of us, we split the Calamari Fritti (fried calamari rings with yummy spicy marinara sauce $14), Funghi Repieni (2 mushrooms stuffed with lobster and crabmeat in a brandy sauce $14) and an appetizer special. Each was delicious. The Zuppa Di Pesce alla Napolitana (combination of sea scallops, shrimp, mussels, half lobster tail and prawn in a delicate light spicy marinara sauce over linguini pasta $34) is a family favorite. For those with shellfish allergies, they are kind enough to swap out the lobster for more sea scallops. The Rack of Lamb (NZ baby rack of lamb served with Balsamic pesto mint sauce $34) was perfectly cooked and had a generous 8 chops. I find that we usually choose one of the specials of the evening (recently I got flounder topped with crabmeat served with mashed potatoes and spiralized zucchini and squash $28) so it doesn't help for me to describe them to you as it's all off menu. On a more recent visit our server related, I believe, 9 specials to us, describing each one from memory and completely, right down to the spices on them. Everyone who works here is on point and great at what they do. All in all, dress nicely, make a reservation, then sit back and relax because you're going to have a great meal with great service. One of my two favorite, solid, never let me down restaurants in Lake Norman. read more

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Perfection always! Best seafood in Mooresville- scallops, shrimp, different fish- all done nicely!

After a very disappointing experience at another Italian restaurant, stumbling onto Caruso's was a treat. Hands down, this has to be one of the best Italian restaurants outside of Charlotte. Don't be fooled by the unassuming, even depressing, facade. Once you enter, you're immediately pulled into a world of beauty, with stunning art work dotting the walls, most of which have been painted by the owner/chef, Caruso himself. This is a man of many, many talents. It's hard to say whether his artistic abilities outshine his culinary skills, so let's just call it a draw. We were mesmerized by both the subtle ways in which he dresses his pastas, which are cooked perfectly al dente. My sauce, which contained a touch of mimosa, was sublime! I wish they would bottle it. I would buy a truck load. And I think I'll use the aforementioned truck to help myself to several of his gorgeous paintings! But don't tell anybody... read more

Have always had excellent service and great food! It gets a little noisy during busy times but a great place for dinner.

This is the second best Italian Restaurant in America. Only a predecessor to the great Farina's in Kansas City Missouri.

I wish they had more gluten free options but my husband loves the menu. They also don't allow children which is amazing (no offense!). The ambiance is gorgeous Italian. read more

Michele and I had stopped roughly 6 months ago and they were closed. But for our anniversary I was happily surprised that they were open and squeezed us in. Alex our waiter was polite and engaging. Beyond professional. The food was terrific. Everything we chose was great. We both live in New York so we can easily say this is the best Italian dinner place in a 200 mile radius. We had a great time and really enjoyed the food and the people. read more

Caruso's - Beautifully Decorated. - Italian Near Me - Mooresville, North Carolina

Reservations about this place? Just make sure you get one! We went in on a Monday night there were no more tables. On Monday! That's saying something. We opted to sit at the bar, and we had the absolute best experience. Our bartender was a godsend. She knew absolutely everything about the menu and the wine that she had in house. That said, the house wine was better than some $15 glasses I've ordered elsewhere. Well-done. The bruschetta that they bring out to start you off was divine, and when I say divine, I mean I went, broke bread with Jesus, and came back. That stuff is insanely good. We ordered the marinated truffled mozzarella caprese salad for an app, and while it was a special, I hope they consider adding it to the regular menu. Astoundingly good! Dinner was a bacon wrapped chicken breast with potatoes and greens. There's not much I could do to convince you that a dish that sounds as simple as this could be SO darn good, but maybe if I told you that I was trying to spoon (with a fork, I might add) the remaining sauce from the chicken into my mouth to savor the last little bit of what was served to me, MAYBE, just maybe then you'd believe me when I say that this place makes chicken juicier, bacon better, mashed potatoes 5 star worthy, and sauces that you'd bathe in... too far? Screw it. I'm serious, it was that good. I dare you to go and disagree with my opinion... because you won't. I'll bet on it. Just meet me there, and we can agree to agree, because you won't disagree. 5/5 stars, favorite restaurant in Mooresville west of 77! Kudos everyone here. I had a great time, the food was amazing, and the ambiance is 100% upscale, even in a shopping plaza. read more

Caruso's - Truffled Mozzerella - Italian Near Me - Mooresville, North Carolina

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Fabulous, our appetizer was figs, mascarpone and merlot soaked cheese was magical! Best veal in town and the seafood is so, so good

This place is more than it looks like from the outside. Food is great as is the staff. Worth a try if you haven't been there.

The food is always amazing and the service is on point! Our server Lisa was very knowledgeable about the wine and food menu.

My husband and I were just out for an impromptu dinner (after dropping the kids off) and we came across this restaurant. Do NOT let the exterior foul you! This is one of those times when you can't judge the book by the cover!! This was one of the most amazing , complete dining experiences that we have had in a long time in the Greater Charlotte area. We grabbed a seat at the bar with Gary and decided to also stay and order our dinner there. It was a truly a wonderful experience and hands down one of the best experiences! We have tried out various Italian restaurants in the area~ all of which we found were WAY too noisy or overly priced. We both had "to die for" entrees. My husband orderd the Veal Chop and I ordered Seafood lasagna and both were delicious and SO flavorful!. But the BEST (2) things of the night were... 1~ the DESSERT (Cheesecake) and the 2~the service provided by Gary! He absolutely made sure our night was the best and we thoroughly enjoyed him, his company, and his conversations ! WE WILL BE BACK!! read more

What does an Italian restaurant in Mooresville look like? A beautiful, unexpected space with amazing food and great service! A must try!

I'm in love with this place, already making plans to go here on prom night, graduation night, 18th, 21st, and 50th birthday. I've been going here since I was 6. It's basically tradition at this point. My meal usually consist of either calamari or crab cake appetizer. Pasta Bolognese for dinner which is amazing and super filling. Finally I always finish with a vanilla bean gelato. Last night I brought home some pasta for my family, and they were super excited. read more

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Excellent food, service, and ambiance! Quality all around! They definitely pay attention to detail in everything they do! Can't wait to go back. read more

I am currently visiting friends and family in central Italy, near Sulmona in Abruzzo. I have eaten at Caruso twice and each time it was superb. The only thing that negatively affected the two evenings was the annoyance of nearby parents who failed to control their young children. I applaud Caruso in their excellent decision to not allow children age 5 or younger! Their dining is superb and now the experience for all patrons will be superb! Bravo, Caruso! Bravo! I'll be back soon! read more

I discovered Caruso's through a friend's recommendation so I tried it about 5 weeks ago and have been eating here once a week since then! The Food is absolutely delicious! If I could give it 10 stars I would! Saturday I had the crab cakes as an appetizer and the stuffed veal chop for my entree! Both were truly amazing!! I highly recommend you try this restaurant because for sure you won't be disappointed! A++ read more

Caruso's - Stuffed Veal Chop ( stuffed with Baby Spinach and Gargonzola cheese finished in a mushroom sauce and fresh grated cheese) - Italian Near Me - Mooresville, North Carolina

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I really like this place, the food is really good specially their pastas, very fresh ingredients, their cocktails and salads are also good. The service is ok and the prices are a little high but, I would recommend when you are feeling like having some really good pasta . I feel they could redo their menu add more variety, they used to have a mussels appetizer dish that was amazing specially with their yummy bread but they no longer offer it, that was disappointing... They also have to do a better with their desserts, I can tell they are not made in house, they taste like the ones you go buy from a supermarket... low quality, not what you would expect for their prices. They seem to never have a hostess at the front, so you have to wait in the front, make sure a waiter sees you and let them know you would like a table, this has been my experience every time I go.... the ambiance is more of Italian old world vibe... outdated decor. So overall I recommend but just know that it's not a 5 star restaurant, they have a few things to work on to make an overall experience more enjoyable. Hope this helps read more

Very nice restaurant! Great menu and atmosphere. Doesn't look like it would be from the outside, in a commercial strip center. Best Italian restaurant in the area for sure. read more

Great Continental food and Old World service. Great ambiance, excellent wine selection.

We had a wonderful meal and were happy to find such a great restaurant. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and made sure we enjoyed our dinner. We are traveling but will definitely return if we are back in the area. read more

A visitor to this strip mall has no right to expect a restaurant if this caliber here. Outstanding in every way, it is easily worth a drive up from Charlotte. The decor is elegant, with white tablecloths and a clubby feel. The waiters are seasoned professionals. Of the apps, the calamari and fried mozzarella are the best possible examples of these standards; but it's the two you've never heard of that are the standouts. The polpettone is a pastry filled with cheese and meats in a creamy tomato sauce. The funghi ripiene is not stuffed mushrooms. Instead, it is fresh lobster and crab and mushrooms in a creamy brandy sauce. Salads are crisp and fresh. I've had the fettuccine Bolognese, the osso bucco, penne a la vodka with shrimp, and veal chop parmigiana before. All are outstanding and the veal chop covered the plate. The salmon was good; but there was nothing Italian about it. The cheesecake was perfect. read more

Excellent food. Different menu than typical Italian restaurants. Pricy but worth it.

Warm service by Lisa-excellent wedge salad, bread service w delicious dipping sauce. We had a couple of the daily special and encourage you to do the same! read more

Really Really great italian restaurant. Best "red sauce" italian I've had in North Carolina. Service was very good, let us bring our own dessert. I was prepared to drop down to a 4th star because my wife didn't like her entree, but I won't rain on the parade. read more

Great sea bass and stuffed mushroom appetizer Excellent service. Great place for nice dinner. Highly recommend.

We haven't been to Carusos in a while, stopped in for dinner, and ate at the bar. Excellent Seabass and stuffed mushrooms, bartender makes a great old fashion! read more

This wonderful little Italian place is close to our house and is definitely our go to restaurant. They have kept the same waiters/ waitresses for quite a long time and it's always pleasant to go and see somebody who remembers you. The food is consistently good. read more