AQUA e VINO

Exceptional service. Good quality food. We had the seafood risotto and chicken parm...very authentic. Nice wine list.

Aqua e Vino is a small hidden gym in Strawberry Hill. We have been a few times and the authentic delicious Italian food is amazing. They have a great menu with great options and daily specials. On weeknights you can order the Butta La Pasta - 3 Antipasti, 3 primi pasta, a a dessert for $60pp! An amazing way to try multiple apps and pastas. I would recommend making a reservation! We will certainly be back to Aqua e Vino

Is there new ownership here? My husband and I took our mother here for her 80th birthday. Prior to booking a reservation, we had mentioned the occasion and the person we spoke with assured us she would be very well taken care of. Additionally, we had dined here once before (before it expanded) and had the ultimate experience. From the food to the service - everything was exceptional. I'd go so far as to say our waiter made us feel like we were the only ones in the restaurant and as though we transported to Italy. So when trying to decide where to go for this special occasion, we decided upon Aqua e Vino. Unfortunately, outside of most of the food, nothing was as we had remembered which is why I ask if management has changed. The restaurant has expanded the space, which is great but has lost the intimacy, the original space looks unappealing and based on the lack of seats filled, didn't seem for there to be any reason to trouble us for requesting 6pm reservation due to there being only "two seatings" when there seemed to be plenty of open space.Our waitress was subpar at best. Outside of her basically reading off the specials from her book that she couldn't pronounce correctly, she did nothing to enhance the experience and knew close to nothing about the wine. While in the midst of dining and conversing some gentleman came hovering over our table and without even so much as introducing himself or acknowledging us he leans over my mothers shoulder and pulls her menu over and looks at it. Then comes up behind me and moves around my wine glass and does the same to my menu. My husband then asks him who he was and what he was doing to which he explained some people have received wrong menus so he was checking to make sure we had the correct ones. He hovered over the table again later and my husband had to ask him if he was a manager or just who he was as he abruptly came to the table again. Never told us his name and said he just "helps out". Off putting while trying to converse.The Dover sole was phenomenal as was the sea bass carpaccio special. The pasta, burrata, pork entree and veal chop special also were incredible. Lastly, we had expected something special for our mom. At the end of the meal they brought her a spoonful of "Chantilly cream" which really was just whipped cream with a candle in it. Not that we wanted them to sing to us but we'd have thought they'd have done something more than that. Honestly, I never write reviews. But I have to say since last night, I have not been able to shake this experience as it was SO polar opposite on the level of service than we had from our last visit. Zero attention to detail and very basic. While the food was good, we came here for the exceptional experience we had last time which was worth every penny but now seems no longer worth it for us. The drastic difference in experience and quality unfortunately now drops this place from our list. I wish my mother received what we were promised and the special experience she so greatly deserved.

The most accurate word I can think of to describe our dinner at Aqua e Vino tonight is "authentic." I lived in Italy for four months and ate lots of great food/drank lots of great wine, and I was immediately transported back to that time through this dinner. The staff were friendly and personable (many are Italian!) and the space is so quaint and thoughtfully decorated for Christmas (it's a tiny little spot tucked away behind Red Rocks in Strawberry Hill). We chose a Tuscan red wine and it was absolutely phenomenal. They brought out the tastiest savory begnets with a homemade marinara that blew us away as well, then we enjoyed the freshest burrata with prosciutto, arugula and olive oil (WOW). I loved the small, focused menu, and then came the specials - I chose a house made chestnut pasta with a duck ragu and sautéed kale (I mean WHAT), and my husband got the quail over the lightest mashed potatoes with truffles (again, WHAT) - both were perfectly flavored, portioned and presented. I can't get over the flavors from that meal...We finished with a slice of the best lemon merengue pie we have ever tasted (crumbly crust, tart and zippy curd, sweet toasted merengue and unsweet gorgeously presented whipped cream - on the house for my birthday!) and two perfect little decaf espressos. We felt like we were in Europe the whole time. It was just wonderful. I could keep going, y'all. Go try this place now, thank me later.

Underwhelming. Veal Milanese plain breaded veal with arugula and a lemon wedge. No presentation very plain on the plate, $38. Egg Breading was good, 2 large pieces. Pasta Beef Ragu Special, Tasty but very small, like child's portion $24. The cold cut Italian meats appetizer was the best dish and they didn't even cook it. Won't be back.

We were so looking forward to a birthday dinner. while the service was excellent the food was just so so. We had one of the specials which was a veal ravioli and besides the very small appetizer side portion it was just bland. They recommended the tiramisu dessert and again, pedestrian overall a huge disappointment

Decided to go for an outdoor lunch, food was delicious. Service was great, very welcoming. Sitting outdoors with a cool nice weather make the experience a nice, peaceful one.Will definitely go back!

This is easily one of my top five restaurants in Charlotte--it might even be my number one. The food is next level. I have been here twice and each time was exceptional. The wait staff are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable. The location is beautiful; in the summer the patio is beautiful to sit at, and in the colder months the restaurant provides a cozy respite from any chill outdoors.

The chef is an artist. I don't think I've ever had a bad bite here. Amazingly good food.

Totally over prized. Hubby ordered the lamb - asked for it to be done medium rare. Was well done. I had the ragu - bland - unimpressed....Disappointing experien