AQUA e VINO

10 Best Charlotte Restaurants With Cozy Vibes | Eater Carolinas

"This restaurant gem has been around for 10 years, and it’s as if the longtime regulars have been keeping it a secret from newcomers. Understandably so. There are so many things to quietly, maybe secretly, cherish at this northern Italian restaurant — how chef Gabriele Grigolon comes out to the tables during service, how he bakes pastries for the Saturday morning colazione, or how the sketches mounted on the walls are chef’s doodles of his meals. Lunch and dinner feature made-from-scratch primi plates like a bison ragu pappardelle and secondi plates like a simple branzino. As the lights dim, patrons hear the pitter-patter of a bartender at work, the lull of Italian jazz, and the light chatter from tables snug beside them in the tiny space. It’s not just this cozy ambiance but the changing dishes, which taste like an Italian nonna’s tried-and-true holiday meal." - Kayleigh Ruller