Aria

Service is good but food is terrible. I have to give 2 stars because of the food, after all a restaurant should be mainly known for the grub itself. It’s a so so place.

Delightful! Great service, great food, great wine! Had a wonderful time. I really enjoyed the variety of options for food choices as well as a good price range. So if you’re feeling fancy or want to keep it casual there’s great options for either mood your in. I can’t remember the waiters name but he was such a gentlemen and the manager was a delight as well. Thank you to all who made our visit memorable I will DEFINITELY be back

Met with friends who were also visiting Charlotte on the recommendation of our hotel. What a good choice. Very elegant space with marvelous service. We each picked a different dish and each was excellent. Although it was very busy, it was not so noisy we could not converse. The dinner was a highlight of our quick trip to Charlotte.

Turned away at the door after we called before coming. And in such a rude way.
We called one night before we came out to dinner. They said they were very busy, and I indicated we would be happy to wait as long as needed for a table and asked if we should come, or go elsewhere instead. I was told we should come and that would be fine. I indicated two of us would be there within half an hour.
Otherwise we would have gone somewhere else and this never would have happened.
When we showed up 20 minutes later, we valet parked and went in. There I was told they were busy. I said again we knew, I had spoken to the hostess (clearly the same person) and we would be happy to wait a long time. I think a manager was there next to her, and he repeated «we’re busy». It was really weird. Eventually I got the picture! It was like they wouldn’t admit out loud they were turning us away. Very strange and so rude. The hostess looked uncomfortable and the manager next to her was just hostile. The valets didn’t know it was that «busy» either otherwise they would not have parked our car.
Honestly the hostility turned us off so much more than them being full. Definitely don’t want to interact with staff again, there are equal or better restaurants for the price. We won’t be returning.

I came over here after reading the reviews and after seeing always featured on Restaurant Week. Unfortunately it wasn’t anything out of this world. I found the food to be good, but it isn’t anything authentic Italian. It is very americanized but at least they don’t soak sauces in garlic. The gnocchi appetizer was okay, lacked gnocchi flavor, I could only taste the oil and some seasoning. The pasta carbonara was okay but very (VERY) greasy. I took some some and the next day it was terrible. It was a block of fat around pasta, terrible. I will never order it again! The panna cotta was pretty good, that’s a good thing :). Other than that I disliked the way they serve the wine — they serve wine in water cups (what?!) — that pretty much destroy the wine tasting experience. They have a great wine selection but how can you get a good taste of wine in a water cup?! I wouldn’t come back, as for Italian food I would go to Luce for a real Italian food.

I have been to Aria several times, mostly for drinks and appetizers. Most recently I met a friend for lunch. After arriving we were seated upstairs and brought water, bread and their cannellini beans spread. I have had the spread before and unfortunately this time it was very dry, missing some of the freshness of the beans, but the bread was on point.
After browsing the menu I decided to try the Pepperoni Pizza and my friend ordered the Tomato Basil Soup and a kids grilled cheese, since she was craving a grilled cheese with her soup and they did not offer that on the main lunch menu.
The Pepperoni Pizza is described with crushed tomatoes, bacon, onion and ricotta. Let me first say the dough was cooked perfectly, a thin dough with a light and fluffy crust. However, it should have been described as an onion pizza. Maybe it was the order I received but I picked forks full of onions off the pizza as it took away from the flavor of the pepperoni and cheese, which is what I really wanted to enjoy.
Service overall wasn’t on point and I definitely didn’t think the lunch menu lived up to what I expected. I will definitely go back for drinks and think about giving them another shot for lunch and/​or dinner.

Aria is a great place. Did I really not write a review for this place?
1. Restaurant Week 2014 /​Evening Dinner /​Live Music /​Good Food.
2. Lunch with a colleague in 2015 /​Great Spaghetti & Meatballs. I mean really.
3. Lunch with friends in 2016 /​Spaghetti & Meatballs! Really!
4. Lunch with law school acquaintance 2016 /​Goat cheese pizza and… Spaghetti & Meatballs!
5. Lunch with the wife in 2016 /​Spaghetti &… You know.
6. Lunch with the colleague in ²⁰¹⁶⁄₃ course lunch set with fettuccine and caesar greens.
Although I liked my first experience, I didn’t start going to Aria frequently until I began working in the connected building pretty much on top of the whole complex. It’s one of my go to places for lunch — not just because of the location, location, location, but also because of the awesome food and great ambiance.
There was this one time that service wasn’t good. In fact, it was bad. No eye contact, and nothing after a compliment. But all other times have been great so I’m willing to bet that it was just that one person.
Now, in case you haven’t noticed, I love their Spaghetti & Meatballs. It’s fantastic. The sauce is what I remember from childhood, the pasta is just right, but the meatballs definitely steal the show. They are the best in town. I’m saying it and you can trust me on this.

You won’t regret dining at Aria. I have tasted their (dinner entrees) veal, lasagne, and fettuccine. It’s all about high quality ingredients that are delicious.
The dining area is beautiful. The rather large bar area is very upscale and hopping. The service is fast, not rushed but fast. The wine list is extensive and offers a large number of reds.
A very nice touch is the large chilled bottle of water that is brought to the table. It’s Charlotte tap water in an unmarked bottle but it is a better option than the typical glass of ice water. It’s just a nicely-​thought-​out small touch.
One last mention about the veal. So often you will find veal that is just so-​so. The veal at Aria was the best that I have eaten. It was soft enough to cut with a fork. Served with a delicious lemon butter and with capers. Just great!
The kitchen is visible through a large window that runs across the back of the dining room. The cooking space is first class. The chefs are neatly dressed and move with precision and grace.

Worst customer service I’ve encountered in a long long time.
We made reservations for 2 on open table for 5pm, we arrived a few min late (literally 5:07pm) due to their address and the actual door location are in 2 different spots.
We were taken all the way to the back, upper room and were put at a 2-​top in the corner, next to service trays. We asked politely to be seated elsewhere as almost every other table was open — including all the ones we passed on the way in. The hostess told us (and rudely) that we would need to wait while she checks — she left us and called down to the front host stand, to which her reply on return was «No. We don’t have anything else available.»
I understand wanting to keep us at a 2-​top, even if we have to eat by ourselves on the upper level — we asked about another 2-​top across the aisle from the corner and were told they had too may other reservations for the evening to accommodate us.
Should have asked for a manager, but I was floored and left immediately. Such rude service.

I work very close by, and frankly, I’ve never had anything bad here. I’ve been here for work meetings and by myself. The staff is always super friendly, and I like that if I’m undecided, I’ll give them my super lost look, and they will make a suggestion (which always ends up being yummy). I love their bread and bean salad thingie in the beginning, and I’m sure that I will continue to go to this place.
I especially love their express lunches because it’s the perfect amount. At first I was like (is this going to be enough?) But really, it was.

I ordered the spinach gnocchi, they waited at least 15 minutes to tell me they had «86’d it.» I would have preferred they just say they no longer make it, using slang doesn’t make it clearer in a busy noisy restaurant. I decided to go for the chicken Parmesan. It was fine, there was nothing better than fine about it.
Portions are small, or maybe I am used to larger portions. They made drinks alright, except for the old fashioned. My snobby drinker friend kept complaining about how well the Cellar at Duckworth made an old fashioned and he didn’t like how they shake the one at Aria (shaking is easier and faster but worse for the drink).
I won’t be coming again, but it was full of beautiful people.
P. S.: the best thing I had was the sausage dish (my friends I was able to sneak some bites) and the calamari appetizer. Too much pepper on the app for wifey though.

Food was good! Inside the restaurant was hot.
Bread was tasty with real butter. Then again, I don’t care for the beans that came with it.
The penne alla vodka was pretty good. It had a little bit of heat to it though.
The side of mashed potatoes were excellent.
My friend said the Tuna was so, so. Something you’d get out of a grocery store, not sushi grade. The potatoes and green beans were delicious.
The wine, a Riesling called «saw tooth» was fabulous!
For dessert: The caramel and vanilla gelato was pretty good. The caramel was the better of the two.

I went with a few girl friends for a night out for eats. Our reservations were for a late evening at 9pm and surprisingly the place was still packed when we got there with a wait line. Tip: If you ever make reservations, ask to be seated in the main level downstairs, not upstairs. The view of the indoor mall kind of ruins the ambiance. Service and wait staff are wonderful. Very knowledgeable and helpful when it comes to choosing the right foods for your current mood. As much as our server tried to get a couple of us to go with the white sauce Maine Mussels for apps, we went with the red and haven’t regretted it since. Their menu has a lot of options for picky eaters. I went with the NC Trout for my main course. Trout was perfectly portioned with the right flavors and textures to combine. Everything meshed well and very enjoyable to eat. The cake was plenty for two to share. Really rich but not too overwhelming with the sweetness.

I came here for restaurant week and was hoping for something really great. I ordered the gnocchi for an app, the NY strip, and tiramisu. The gnocchi was good, nice portion size, tasty. My friend ordered the mushroom pizza with goat cheese and it was absolutely amazing! I loved it. The NY strip was horrible! I asked for it medium and it looked well done. The taste was so bland and just awful! I sent it back and got the butternut squash ravioli instead which was decent, but not the best. I was pretty disappointed. It was a little greasy and kind of boring. The tiramisu was very good, but paper thin and only about one bite. It was sadly small. We waited 35 minutes for our desserts. This was after the restaurant slowed down and everything. It was very upsetting. It was late, a work night, and I hated the wait. It made me not really want to try it again.

Well this place is just very fancy. A group of about 7 or 8 of us were here and we were ready for some really great food. First thing to note is that the atmosphere was very clean and crisp. I very much enjoyed the live music that was playing and was actually surprised that they were there as I wouldn’t have pegged this place for live music.
Our service was impeccable. This young man was very prompt, professional, and had very calm way about him that made everyone feel at ease. For beverages I had tried the Toasted Biscotti and it was delicious.
For appetizers we had the gnocchi, calamari, and the flat bread pizza. All were yummy and especially the gnocchi. The butteriness and texture were amazing. The pizza was average at best and didn’t add much to the experience.
I ordered the pork flatiron with cauliflower purée. In the purée they had golden raisins. I was a bit put off by this at first but then was shocked that it tasted amazing! The only thing I would ask would’ve been a bit more of the sauce in the pork, which was extremely tender.
Great experience.

The food was good, not spectacular, but again… good. I had the:
— calamari which could have used more seasoning, salt… flavor
— lamb pappardelle which was good, but also needed something to bring out the flavor
— la scalla limoncello cocktail which was really good
I had just come from the spa and was dressed casually (jeans, sweater, boots). I was concerned I might be a bit under-​dressed, but turned out I was fine. My point is… while it may seem like a very dressy place to some, if you’re a bit casual… no worries.
Décor was really nice, clean and simple. Thankfully being that there were a few local events happening that night, finding a seat at 8:30pm was easy (despite not having reservations). I opted for the bar, which ultimately was a mistake.
Service (for me) was lacking! One seat a way was a couple who I imagine had some affiliation to the restaurant (i.e.; owner, frequent patron, friend of the owner, etc.). Everyone… chefs, servers, managers, other diners at the bar and those working the bar seemed so engrossed with their every need. Before their glasses of wine was done bartenders were waiting to pour more. They received great treatment, but as a result it unfortunately seemed that I (a paying diner) was an afterthought.
I had to call the bartender over so I could order a drink. When my glass of water finished, no one offered a refill. When my cocktail was done, not once did anyone check if I wanted to order another. Even complimentary bread (which others received) wasn’t offered. Upon finishing my meal, I wasn’t asked if I’d like to see a dessert menu. As a frequent diner at casual and fine dining establishments, I found several things to be unacceptable. Although the food was fine… the service received left me disappointed.

Just a note: I did have an issue finding this place as my gps was telling me it was one place but really it was across the block.
Traveling to Charlotte for work I stumbled upon this trendy restaurant and bar. The bar had two tvs and lots of people activity to keep me from feeling lonely! The bar tenders were very attentive with my order, refilling my water and wine glass. The wine list was loaded with great wines at a reasonable cost, I went with the montepulciano wine.
For dinner I got the Eggplant Parmigiana and a shaved kale salad, combination was exactly what I was looking for and the size was plenty for one person. Every guest receives a loaf of bread after they place their dinner order, the bread is nice and fresh.

The last time I went to Aria was a year ago, it popped up on my timehop and I had to write a review and now I’m thinking about going tonight!
The ambience is really nice, kind of elegant. It definitely feels like an upscale restaurant when you walk in. The wine selection is on point and the wine display is awesome! I’m a huuuuge wine personal I absolutely loved it!
I got the penne ala vodka and I have never had this dish prepared the way it is at Aria and boy, is it delicious! It definitely has a different faster than most penne ala vodkas but it is sooo good. I think it’s a lighter dish than normal which makes it nice. You don’t feel as full but it’s just as good!
My friend got a risotto which is pictured below. I can’t remember the name, but that was just as good. Definitely a lot heavier than my dish but delicious, if you love cheese, get it!
We also got calamari to start, and it was perfect-​crispy, not over or undercooked, it was just right. And a delicious dipping sauce!
I definitely will be going back soon, if not tonight!

Though I’ve had drinks at Aria, I had the opportunity to have lunch there last Friday and was impressed with their menu and varied/​affordable options. Aria offers several 3 course lunch specials for 8.99 as well as other items for a few dollars more. I ordered the pan fried NC Trout w/​mashed potatoes for $ 12. It was excellent and a perfect lunch. I couldn’t stay away from the warm bread and white bean spread (ridiculously good). Yum.
Highly recommend. Great lunch prices & great food at a lovely restaurant in Uptown Charlotte.

My husband and I were here for their «bar bites» (happy hour) menu before going to an exhibit at the nearby Mint Museum uptown. I think everything on the bar bites menu was $ 5 (food) and there were drink specials as well. In NC, sadly, we can’t really enjoy happy hour (it’s illegal to sell drinks at a discount for a set window within a day — you can have specials on drinks, but they must be offered all day…). Like most bar bites and happy hour menus, you have to eat in the bar to get the special. We were promptly greeted by the bartender who poured filtered water from a bottle (tap water basically) into our glasses. She was very friendly, and gave us the time we needed to look over the menu. Tip: the happy hour or bar bite menu is tucked in the back of the cocktail menu.
We ordered the calamari (small portion and average at best), the lamb sliders (you get two, they’re served with delicious goat cheese, some kind of lettuce/​green, and homemade thin-​sliced pickles — yum), and two orders of the truffle oil gnocchi! We got two orders because my husband had tried them here before (they’re offered as an appetizer for much more) and insisted we get two. Thank goodness we did — I don’t think I would have shared. This was far and away the highlight of our options! Crazy-​delicious. Usually, anything cooked with truffles or truffle oil is great, but the texture was almost airy-​pillowy, they were perfectly cooked and seasoned and were served with some thin slices of fresh and deliciously salty prosciutto.
We will definitely come back, but we’ll just jump to the gnocchi! My husband got a glass of Woodford reserve on the rocks — $ 14 — not cheep at all, but not an uncommon price or markup. The entrees of the nearby customers looked great too. The restaurant is big (with an upstairs area) and is nicely decorated without being stuffy. I went in wearing jeans and felt fine… I visited the ladies room, which I only note because the floor was oddly super sticky — my shoes stuck with each step.
Overall, I give it 5 stars. Great location, good service and quality food. I believe they also offer free valet, but we didn’t use it because we got there before 6pm (the city of CLT doesn’t let the valet companies set up before 6PM due to traffic flow). We parked in the underground deck «the greens» for $ 5.
Hope this review was useful. Enjoy — and don’t forget to get the gnocchi!!! Also see my attached pictures…