AQUA e VINO — Restaurant in Charlotte

We bought out the restaurant for our wedding reception and after party last month and WOW, what a fabulous and memorable evening it was. Everything flowed seamlessly and we were beyond impressed with how well everything was executed - from the set up, to the course timing, down to the timely and friendly wait staff. Everyone had an amazing time and needless to say, the food and cocktails were delicious! Several of our guests stated that it was the best and most unique wedding dinner they had ever experienced. We could not be happier with the way our event turned out!

We worked with both Chef Grigo, and Head Bartender/Event Coordinator Laura Borutaite, several months before our event to nail down event details, head count, menu vision etc. Laura was very communicative and supportive, and provided invaluable ideas and suggestions throughout the process. Chef was a great consult in keeping our expectations realistic around the menu, and ensuring the dishes reflected our personal taste. We selected a custom cocktail menu (based on AeV's current offerings - they were already so great!) and chose special wines and beers from Italy for our guests.

The restaurant worked beautifully with all of our vendors to ensure set up was orchestrated timely and handoffs were efficient. Another shoutout to Laura for saving the day for our DJ who ripped her pants just before cocktail hour and managed to find a sewing kit and sewed them back together for her! Our DJ could not sing her praises enough for her kindness and skill.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH! It was an unforgettable night and we hope to commemorate our special day at Aqua e Vino for many years to come. I’ve eaten at AeV two times; prior to their renovations and after. Both experiences were phenomenal and the seasonal (and often local) menu offerings are always perfectly executed. Last month my fiancé and I tried their new seasonal drinks (passion fruit martini and jalapeño/rhubarb tequila cocktail) which were delicious - spirit forward and well crafted. The heirloom tomato and watermelon salad was also amazing, refreshing and perfectly dressed, although our favorites were the pasta dishes we ordered for our mains. Seasonal gnocchi with summer sausage and vegetables and their tajarin. Both...

If you’re looking for a truly authentic Italian dining experience in North Carolina, there is simply no better destination than Aqua e Vino in Charlotte. This is not just a restaurant—it’s a love letter to Italian tradition, elegance, and heart, led by one of the most quietly brilliant chefs working today: Chef Gabriele Grigolon!!

Chef Grigo’s resume reads like a tour of European culinary royalty. From Il Cortile in Paris under the legendary Alain Ducasse, to Aimo e Nadia in Milan, and Harry’s Bar and Sass Café in Monte Carlo, his international pedigree is unmatched. His excellence has even been honored by the Principality of Monaco with the prestigious Cordon d’Or for Chef de Cuisine. And yet, with all of this prestige, Chef Grigolon remains a remarkably humble, down-to-earth figure, focused purely on delivering a soulful, unforgettable meal. If you’re lucky, he’ll even come out and give you a hug!

What makes Aqua e Vino so special is its rare combination of sophistication and comfort. The staff—deeply knowledgeable about Italian cuisine—make it their mission to ensure every guest feels not only welcomed but celebrated. There’s no fancy dress code, no pretense, and no pressure—just genuine hospitality, a warm embrace of “la famiglia,” and a deep respect for the customer experience.

But let’s talk about the food.

Each dish is a revelation. From handmade pastas that transport you to the hills of Tuscany, to delicate seafood dishes that taste as if they came straight from the Amalfi coast, every bite is a masterclass in balance, flavor, and tradition. You can taste the decades of experience and world-class training in every plate—and yet, there’s something deeply personal about the food, like you’re being served a family recipe passed down for generations.

Complementing the cuisine are delicious hand-crafted cocktails by the most incredible bartenders to serve—thoughtfully created, balanced, and as refined as the food itself.

Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Aqua e Vino is a must-visit culinary destination. It’s not just the best Italian food in North Carolina—it might be one of the best meals you’ll have in your life.

Prepare to be moved, satisfied, and sincerely welcomed—because at Aqua e Vino, you’re not just a guest,...

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...