North Italia — Restaurant in Charlotte

We chose North Italia for a late lunch today to celebrate my birthday, as a favorite place of mine to go to, and to celebrate our first family outing with our 6 day old baby. I’ll start by saying our server was great, food good. Upon leaving we were told there was an issue with the restaurants parking validation system but not to worry, the parking company were aware and to use the intercom when leaving to avail of the free parking benefit. The parking intercom attendant had no knowledge of the issue and in an unprofessional and unhelpful tone (no fault of the restaurant) told us to either go back to the restaurant or pay the parking. Small baby in car we paid the hefty $12 charge and left to avoid causing a hold up. I immediately called the restaurant and explained the situation and to make them aware of the breakdown of communication. The person who picked up the phone asked me to repeat the issue (not a great start) then proceeded to tell me the about the parking validation issue they’d had (again not helpful I already knew), he then went onto say the free parking is a benefit of the restaurant (again not helpful) and that there was nothing they could do. At this point I again advised we had left and paid the charge but asked that he take it away to ensure staff are giving the same consistent message (as he was unaware of what the server had told us) and that I was calling to alert them so they could prevent potential issues for their other customers. At this point he tried to cut the conversation off and accused me of talking down to him. He still couldn’t see the rationale behind me trying to call, and bear in mind were a few hundred yards down the road at this point. He said he’d pass my feedback onto management and again tried to cut the call off, I asked to speak to management who were a lot more helpful and able to piece together what I was getting at. As regulars of this restaurant we won’t be going back, it’s left a horrible taste in my mouth on what was supposed to be a momentous experience for us, which was tarnished by someone’s incompetence, lack of customer service skills and jumped...

On a search for a salmon dinner within walking distance near my South End home, I decided on North Italia, part of the Fox Restaurant Concepts chain. While I generally prefer supporting local establishments, I find the offerings from Fox Restaurant Concepts to be an exception to my rule, often delivering a satisfying dining experience.

Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a highly attentive and knowledgeable waitress, Tiffanie, ensuring a pleasant dining experience from start to finish. The restaurant boasts a welcoming atmosphere, featuring an outdoor patio, a full indoor bar, and a comfortable dining area that is notably accessible to all guests.

My dining experience began with an order of Zucca Chips (zucchini chips). Although served in a generous portion and arriving hot from the fryer, they were somewhat disappointing due to their oily nature and the predominance of broken pieces over whole slices. A pinch of sea salt or a complementary dipping sauce could have enhanced this starter.

The main course was the roasted salmon, elegantly plated with caramelized romanesco, broccolini, fregola (similar to Israeli couscous), house pesto, lemon gremolata, and affinato (a type of balsamic vinegar). Despite the appealing presentation, the dish fell slightly short of expectations. The salmon, while cooked to the correct medium temperature, lacked a certain zest, which could have been remedied with a simple lemon wedge. The serving of broccolini was notably scant. However, the combination of fregola with pesto and gremolata did contribute positively to the dish’s overall flavor profile.

In summary, while the meal at North Italia was generally satisfying, there were areas where slight improvements could have enhanced the dining experience significantly. Would I consider dining there again? Possibly, though I would be inclined to explore other local Italian options...

I was visiting California and my friend from Boston. The food was pretty good but when you tell a bartender that you don't eat meat and they recommend the kale salad that's not a bad thing. However when it arrives full of little pieces of meat, this isn't great menu knowledge. Sitting down at a dirty bar kinda told the story of the service though. I don't think he wanted anyone to sit there. He let us know that the kitchen would be closing in 30 minutes and from that moment forward made us feel extremely rushed. His pour service and bad attitude was something we could overlook. We're industry folks and really try to understand. We've experienced pour service before but the worst is seeing him stand behind the bar eating his meal right in front of us, while we're still eating ours, is extremely rude. When he finished, he never even washed his hands. We couldn't even get a 2nd round of drinks offered until we asked the other bartender. He clearly wanted us out of there but the restaurant was still open with plenty of people still eating. Side note: If you know that a service well hasn't been used, don't pour a guest soda water from this well because you know that the cold plate isn't cold and the beverage is going to be warm and somewhat flat. Especially when you'd just poured me one from the other well that was perfect. Not attempt to add ice to the glass. I know people will say, "make them aware of it in the moment," but the vibe and energy just didn't feel like anyone there at that moment would even care. So we let it ride. I'm originally from Charlotte and visit 4-5 times a year. Can't say this will be on my list of restaurants going forward. Had higher...