My wife and I wandered into the restaurant on a busy Saturday night without a reservation and were able to be seated after a short wait. They sat us at a high top right along the pass which was pretty cool because we were able to see the hustle and bustle of the kitchen. After being seated our sever took our drink order and brought us fresh bread that was lightly toasted with an olive oil balsamic dipping oil. We perused the menu and decided on calamari to start which was as lightly floured and cooked perfectly, my only quip was that it could've used a little salt which was a quick fix. For our mains I went with the scallops which were accompanied by a sweet potato puree and grilled asparagus and my wife chose the orecchiette with fennel sausage. Both of our dishes were excellent and we really enjoyed them. Our server was busy but very welcoming and made sure we had everything we needed. Also props to the lady running food from the pass, she engaged us in conversation and was very friendly. It made for a nice experience as we watched the food going out to diners and gave us ideas of what we wanted to try on our next visit. I would say sitting at one of those high tops is probably the best seat in the house if you're a food geek like me and like to watch how a kitchen operates. All in all we loved Zinicola and will definitely be going back. read more

Zinicola - Scallops with grilled asparagus and sweet potato puree - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Don't have an open kitchen - if your chefs are just hanging out and looking at their phones and then touching food.

Exceptional service , food, and ambiance. Went for a private party of about 25 people and it really was exceptional.

My wife and I had a fantastic meal at Zincola. The pasta dishes were the best I've had outside of Rome, Italy. The service and atmosphere were also great. Highly recommended. read more

I've been here a few times by now, and I've never had a bad meal. Surprisingly, the best thing I've had here to date has been this wafer-thin pizza, Broccoli Rabe & Sausage Pizza...and had to repeat the experience. Well, again, this thin pizza was really good...but a tad disappointing in that it was somewhat badly put together. I say that because the entire sheath of toppings (cheese and everything above it), kept sliding right off the pizza, making it hard for me to eat this without using a fork. Not sure if it should have cooked a bit more or what...but then, the crust was fine (thought a tad burnt in once place?). Guess I'm just not sure WHY the toppings kept sliding off like that...as this was not the case when I had it the time before. Still, really good...and I'll definitely order it again. Best part was this awesome lunch special pricing...at just 8 bucks! One of the most impressive thing about my experience here was the overhead music. It was so cool, I even asked my waitress if she knew what CD or Artist was playing. It was something close to a cool, lounge (NuLounge?) vocalist...and it fit the restaurant ambiance perfectly! As for decor, it's elegant, but somewhat typical upscale. Just like Jade restaurant nearby, this place also incorporates the tablecloth plus paper cover (ick!). However, the quality of the paper here was immensely better, which meant less wrinkly...and making less of a mess. Still, think the place would look nicer without the paper table top. I guess they wanted to save on linen laundering. Somehow, unlike at Jade, the paper tablecloth didn't annoy me as much lol. Lastly, the table service was fast and friendly...not to mention polite and courteous. There's always a certain element of class served at this restaurant...which I'm always a fan of. Yep...this remains one of my fave restaurants in the Ballantyne Corporate Park area. read more

Zinicola - Broccoli Rabe & Sausage Pizza - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Nice restaurant with nice ambiance but disappointed. Food was good but overpriced for what you got. Ordered Arugula / Beet salad which is very small portion for $12. Ordered seafood rigatoni that was good but very little seafood. Service was reasonably good but for a party of 6 they added a large party 20% service fee without full disclosure which created confusion on tip and we found as unprofessional and unethical read more

Came here with some family. Ambience is great. It has upscale dinner vibes with dim lighting. Service was good, we didn't need much but JP was holding it down. Bread was very good, and the accompanying olive oil was great too. The fried Calamari was delicious, and a good portion for the price. My wild mushroom pizza was good. However, I felt that it needed more cheese. And I don't say that because the pizza had bad flavors, but I felt that the earthiness of the mushrooms (there was alot of mushroom on the pizza) was too much at times without the cheese. I'm pretty sure there was some sort of mushroom pate on it too. 2 of the slices had like one dollop of cheese. I had to use the sauce in the mussels appetizer we got to help out. Which brings me to that dish. It was perfect. Just the right amount of spiciness for my taste and full of flavor. The linguini clams special was great ( had a bit from my cousin). The margherita pizza was pretty "meh" for me. The burrata appetizer with poached pear as delicious and fresh. Drink me was ok. I'm not a wine head but liquor and beer wise it felt lacking. Bourbon selection was good. I wouldn't mind coming back here for the pasta if I'm in the area. 4.3/5 rating read more

Zinicola - Wild Mushroom Pizza - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Zinicola is a small but beautiful restaurant. We ordered the meatballs, two different pasta dishes and attempted to order the hard Italian sodas but they were out. I'm impressed by how attentive the service was and how quickly they anticipated our needs. The food came out quickly and was overall very good. The meatballs were my least favorite thing out of what we ordered but it was still very good. Then we order the duck pasta featured below which was fantastic. We also ordered something else which was similar to a baked ziti and was delicious with a béchamel style sauce over bolognese. read more

Zinicola - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Absolutely fantastic. We ate here last night, food was outstanding, service by Marco was phenomenal. Atmosphere was great and yet martinis were spot on. We ate at OGGI's a month ago and we won't be back. Not impressed and service and food was mediocre and more expensive. read more

Excellent product with excellent service.We have been there 4 times never a bad meal.We like to stay with restaurants that we consider winners. read more

My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate an anniversary. At first it was wonderful, until I tried to order a glass of wine. The waiter asked for my I.D., so I gave it ( I'm 23 years old). She said one moment and came back and said I'm sorry we don't take out of state I.D.s. I asked why (just curious) and said I can provide other proof of age if needed. She couldn't explain why, just said they don't take them. Seeking an explanation, on my way back from the bathroom I asked the bartender if they take out of state I.D.s. She said yes they do and I explained the situation and was able to order a glass of wine. I'm unsure of why the waitress didn't allow me, I was disappointed. She had obviously noticed I had gotten a glass of wine and avoided our table the whole night. She came back once more with the check but not to check after food or anything else. It seemed everyone else around us got continuous service but we did not. I even called the restaurant a week later to ask if they take out of state I.D.s and they said yes. Overall it would have been great, disappointed this happened for the price we paid. read more

This is the second time we've been to Zinicola and found it to be a treat both times. The food, the service and the overall upscale/casual feeling of the restaurant. The eggplant lasagna was a standout and done perfectly. We've had several other items that were also super from a very full and interesting menu. We definitely will be back. Highly recommend. read more

The drinks were good. I was a little disappointed because my first two choices of entrees were not available so I settled for a Caesar salad with scallops for additional charge. The salad was tiny. It looked like a side salad, but they did give you plenty of scallops. Service was good. There was about 8 of us and they were accommodating. Despite the meal, I will visit again. I liked the ambiance. It's more of an upscale Italian restaurant. We went in the evening so the lighting was dimmed. read more

Food and service was great...great wine suggestion. Ambiance was cool. Bucatini was delish. read more

Zinicola - Bucatini with clams - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Very Classy and Elegant atmosphere. Waitress Julia was amazing and informative. Her assistant was great too. Food was ok. I expected mind blowing Italian cuisine. Not impressed. Felt like I was eating Olive Garden. Way overpriced. There were a lot of awesome reviews, so we decided to try it, but we left disappointed! read more

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We really enjoyed our night out to eat here . Was exactly as we expected. Cannot go wrong with this dinning experience

Had dinner at the bar. The cocktails were complex and delicious. Service was amazing as the bartender (sorry, didn't get her name) was very informative and attentive. Was also checked on by the hostess several times. I had the Pork Osso Bucco with Saffron Risotto which was rich and delicious. Followed that with an Irish Crème Gellato and an espresso (made my own Affogato). Also brought an order of Cannolis back to the hotel to go with my morning coffee! Highly recommend this restaurant and the Cannolis to go! read more

This review is based off a to go experience only... I ordered an appetizer, and 2 pastas. $60 before tip, and the portions are very small compared to Little Mama's who typically comes in at the same price range. Pasta was good, but very heavy on the meats, and I prefer more of a balance of pasta/sauce/meat. Service picking up wasn't fantastic either as they just sort of gestured to a bag on the counter and said it was probably mine? I asked if it had my name and they said no, so I asked if it had what it contained and they again just gestured for me to look myself. Probably won't return for a dine in experience. read more

All that you could ask for in a restaurant. Food is very well done and has an original flair showing how much they care about being special. This is not a place that just churns out the same thing over and over. They take their time to make a dinner the diner will enjoy. The ambience is a friendly neighborhood place that you can enjoy a leisurely dinner. But what sets it apart for me is the service. Every time I have been here I leave feeling like I had dinner at a friends house. Servers are always personable and knowledgeable. They take time to explain dishes and preparation and give suggestions. We went last night to celebrate our engagement and had originally decided on a different place. We showed up at Zinicola on a Friday night without a reservation and were able to get a high top. They took really good care of us and celebrated our good news. Offered free Prosecco and dessert as well. Our server was a young lady named Kylie who went out of her way to take care of us. This place has been a favorite of mine for years and continues to impress Thank you to our friends there. read more

Do not pass on the grilled octopus! Pasta was delicious as well. Sat at the bar and both the atmosphere and ambience were wonderful!

I definitely love with this place.. Beautiful decor with good food. Can't go wrong for a first date. I made reservation thinking it would be pack but not last night.. It was only us until it's time for us to leave. I ordered the bolognese which is pasta with beef and veal. They asked if we wanted dinner portion or regular portion. I said regular portion which is perfect. At first, I'm like omg I'll be hungry and will order more but it's the perfect size. Full and content but not overstuffed. My love for creme brûlée also having me ordered the berries creme. But i didn't much care for it. Texture is too soft but good. And complete with a nice cup of coffee. I'm surprised that this place is not packed. But wondering if it's because it's a Monday night. Cassandra was wonderful. Consistently check on us but not overbearing.. all and all. This place is one of my favorite for a date night! read more

Zinicola - Berries creme brûlée and the perfect cup of coffee - Italian Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

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Went for the first time last night. Sat at the bar and it was great. The bartender was amazing! She crushed it for the entire restaurant! We could see how busy she was and continued with a smile and prompt drinks! The snacks we had were delicious and I can't wait to go back and get an entree! read more

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Yelp said this place was open on Sunday. A friend and I drove here for 'supper' and a note on the door said they were closed on Sunday and Monday... Stars... read more

Y'all this restaurant is upscale and very nice. The furniture is very very nice. So come on in and order some delicious Italian dishes. The service is prompt. They also have a full bar to compliment the main dis and desserts. read more

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My absolutely favorite restaurant that I have tried in this area during the last 10 years. Elegant, sophisticated, great food. Wonderful bread. Best prosciutto I have had in Charlotte. Not too salty. Perfect server. Huge portions peaceful background music. Reminded me of a small cafe in NYC or Europe. read more

We went here Friday night. I would highly recommend making a reservation. We did make a reservation a day before. We were greeted by friends hostess at front and were seated in first 3 minutes of arriving. Our server Shivani was great. She provided some suggestions with wine and for main course as well. Ambiance was awesome as well. We ordered their Buffalo mozzarella, eggplant lasagna, tomato basil pasta and Chocolate cake. Everything was as per expected. Overall 4.25/5 stars. read more

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I've been visiting Zinicola since it opened a few years back and it has just continued to get better and better! I typically get their fish dishes (all so fresh and beautifully prepared) or their pizza - best restaurant pizza around! It's so thin and crisp, not oily and so full of flavor. I am so happy the zinicola is in Ballantyne- there aren't many good restaurants in this immediate area so it's much appreciated! read more

Consistently good food and service. Atmosphere is chill and interesting. I like the layout and open kitchen. Focaccia bread with balsamic and olive oil served before dinner and went well with buratta appetizer and split Caesar salad. Hubs had ribeye special (he said cooked perfectly) with rapini, mushroom demiglaze, black truffles and potatoes. The fingerling potatoes were undercooked but overall plenty of food so he didn't miss eating those. I had house made spaghetti with house made marinara. Nicely done. Tiramisu and espresso for dessert. Yum! read more

Very good Italian restaurant! Highly recommend. We had the Bronzino. It was delicious. Someone else got the chicken parm and it was very good as well. read more

Another great experience at Zinicola. Have been here a few times and it is always perfection. Lexi is amazing at the bar- nice, attentive, knowledgeable- and the food never disappoints. Love this place. read more

Very nice restaurant and I think has a good menu. A little too much sea food for my wife, but she is OK with Zinicola. They have opened up the interior so there is plenty of space in the main dining room and enough away from the bar to avoid a crush. There is even an outside bar, which should work out well for them as you do not have to be restaurant customers to have a beverage. Tables are out there and if you are in the Ballantyne Village shopping center, you are in. The back of the restaurant is a party room and they did have quite a crowd there that evening. Also there are two other separate rooms up front and to the right as you come in. Sterile and isolated, you will get a good feel for what Purgatory is like after you pass on. Be good so you can be seated in the main arena. For a start, we ordered meatballs as an appetizer. $12. When it arrived I thought it was over prices at $4/meatball for a total of three. That said, they truly were delicious. At $10 they would be reasonable. Prices are up there. $32 for bronzino, which I had. Nice portion, excellently cooked and on a bed of veggies. Next time I will ask for a potato cake bed, which would be better for the juices and go better with that fish. Wife keeps on the quest for the perfect eggplant parmigiana. Current champion for her taste is in Waxhaw at Antonio's. Zinicola offers an eggplant lasagna that missed the mark. According to wife, "It is tasteless mush." I tasted and agree. No body, not much flavor and is really is mushy. $14. Nice selection of wines by the glass, all around $10 and you receive a decent pour. Bottles are, of course, available. It is a full bar so you can have a cocktail, 86'ed by my wife, so I can't tell how good of a mixologist is at the bar. Next time, maybe. Service was pretty good. Greyson was let down by a slow bar whose bar tender was paying way too much attention to the ladies clustered around the hostess stand, but a little pointing encouragement from me moved Greyson along. He did come through with service and follow up. Worth while. Make a reservation. Parking is in the main open area and there is the big parking garage if you get skunked out of the close-in spaces. read more

The pepperoni pizza was tasty, with a delicious thin crust! Enjoyed the goat cheese salad with shrimp, also. (Portion was tiny for the $$.) The Valpolicella was yummy and one of my favorite red wines. The server was an amazing conversationalist on many topics. It wasn't busy that day, so my good friend and I had time to drink, eat and talk with him. I like the restaurant and will return again. read more

Had dinner with large group. Service was slow and we found hair in food.... This ruined the experience ...

I would give zero stars if I could still post this review. Made reservations for 5 with the need for one handicapped seat. Upon arriving was told that Zinicola had not made the reservation. To make a long story short, I believe we were denied our reservation because the somewhat full restaurant did not want to deal with a handicapped patron. Shame on Zinicola. I would recommend that everyone with a conscience or compassion remove Zinicola from their dinning options. read more

My favorite Italian restaurant in the Charlotte area and Im from Jersey. You can feel the relaxing atmosphere when you walk thru the door. We ordered the mussels I wanted to drink the red sauce but dipping the crispy bread was just as great. Also order the calamari and stuffers zucchini flower both were done right however the zucchini was a bit too rich. Salad serving was split and perfectly served by our awesome server Reyna!! She so friendly and knows how to make you feel welcome. Our vodka martini came with 3 blue cheese stuffed olives -loved it. Nothing wrong with this place read more

The flavors, for the price point, are not there! The service was good, the bar drinks were well mixed and balanced. The issue is the food. For what you get, the price point is not there. The $20 Chicken Parm is basically a frozen patty with sauce and some cheese, nothing to drool over. The eggplant lasagna was honestly gross, soft eggplant messiness. Worth it for a round of drinks with friends and some light food, but if your looking for a nice place for a celebration ... not the place. read more

It is a Rip off Joint with very poor service. Staff as young as 14 and 15 floating around in the Bar Area doing chores, other staff have no clue what they are doing. Time and Money can be spent at other places and not here. Please dont go there. read more

The first time we tried Zinicola was for my husbands birthday. We got our meal to go as it was still the height of Covid and vaccines were a discussion in the future. We loved the food and polished our plates clean that day. So post vaccine, when it came to planning an anniversary dinner we decided to go to Zinicola! We got there fairly late due to some other appointment. I think we reached around 9:15 for their closing time of 10. The staff still made us feEl very welcome. We enjoyed a bottle of wine, an appetizer of Calamari and got the eggplant lasagna and spaghetti for mains. We were so full that we didn't get any desserts. The food was as great as we remembered. The meal was relaxing and made for a great first meal outside in a year +. We look forward to going back again. read more

Love this restaurant!! Have eaten here several times and they have delivered each time. The most recent was a family dinner and it was the first time for my wife and kids. We ordered several appetizers and all were fantastic. From the meatballs to the calamari, everything was excellent. All four entrees were prepared perfectly (with a few special requests that were delivered by the chef). The service is always friendly and professional and I have never had a bad meal. This is quickly becoming one of our favorite restaurants in Charlotte. read more

Fantastic food and great service! Wonderful wine selections. Always enjoy dining at Zinicola!