If you live in Charlotte, you have lots of choices when it comes to restaurants. However, just because it’s nearby, doesn’t mean it’s tasty. If you’re craving some of the best Italian food Charlotte NC offers, check out Tony’s Pizza. Around since the early 80s, our family-owned restaurants have some of the best authentic Italian food around.

Favorite Italian Dishes at Tony’s Pizza in Charlotte

We dish out some of the tastiest Italian food Charlotte NC has. Here are some of our favorites with a little background on each (in case you were wondering).

1. Ravioli

History traces this dish in Italy at least back to the 1500s. Since tomatoes weren’t around in that area yet, they cooked and served ravioli in a broth. Once tomatoes hit the scene around the 1800s, cooks slowly integrated them into recipes.

Mid 20th century, toasted ravioli appeared. Who first created it, and where, is still up for debate. However, one thing that isn’t up for debate – it’s simply delightful. At Tony’s Pizza, we serve baked ravioli as an entree and toasted ravioli as an appetizer.

2. Lasagna

Lasagna has a history as long as its wavy noodles.  Originating around the Naples area, it spread throughout the region developing different versions. Generally, this meal suited special occasions best since it took so long to prepare from scratch and due to the expense of meat.

Once this tasty tidbit hit America, the process and expense changed. Meat cost less and dried pasta made it easier to create. And again, tomatoes enhanced this dish as well to make it more familiar to what we eat here today. Our team uses family recipes to create our baked cheesy delights.

3. Baked Ziti

Speaking of baked and cheesy, ziti is another popular Italian dish that we serve at Tony’s. Surprisingly, the Italian version sometimes contains a variety of ingredients including scrambled eggs. We keep ours simple yet satisfying with layers of pasta, freshly made tomato sauce and, of course, lots of cheese!

4. Parmigiana

Although many folks think Italian when parmigiana comes to mind, it actually hails from Asia. Originally (and likely due to cost and accessibility), parmigiana used layered veggies. Typically, the main ingredient was eggplant. However, some sources indicate it was zucchini. This dish made it to Italy around the 15th century and evolved more into the dish we eat in the U.S. today.

We offer eggplant and chicken parmigiana as entrees or a sub (we also have meatball and sausage parmigiana subs).

5. Pizza

Of course, it’s hard to think of Italian food without pizza coming to mind. According to some sources, an Italian immigrant opened the first pizzeria in Manhattan around 1905. Since then, the style, crust and even toppings have proliferated across America. At Tony’s Pizza, we serve the iconic NY-style pizza with a magically crisp yet chewy crust. If you’ve never tried it, today is the day!

How Italian Food Made it to the US (and Charlotte!)

In case you were wondering how some of the best Italian food in Charlotte got here all the way from Italy, we’ve put together a little background. It all began in New York City in the late 1800s. Between then and the early 1900s, over 4 million immigrants arrived bringing their culture and robust, delicious family recipes. Unfortunately, the ingredients for these recipes weren’t always readily available. Thus, new dishes evolved with accessible ingredients.

Initially, only the Italian community indulged in these recipes. However, returning soldiers from WWII brought their fondness of pasta back home with them. Shortly thereafter, Italian immigrants opened restaurants to meet growing desire for their pasta and other delights.

Brothers Tony, Vinny and Mario grew up in New York (specifically Brooklyn) enjoying their own family’s recipes that trace all the way to Calabria, Italy. Eventually, they opened a NY-style pizza restaurant upstate then brought it and those delicious recipes to NC. The rest is tasty history!

FAQs About the Best Italian Food Charlotte NC Offers

If you’re still wondering about finding the best Italian food Charlotte NC offers, here are few frequently asked questions from our customers.

What Italian Dishes Do You Have?

As mentioned above, we have multiple traditional Italian and pasta entrees including spaghetti and meatballs. Moreover, we have abundant appetizers from garlic knots, cheese sticks and toasted ravioli to more American fare such as wings and fries. Likewise, we have subs, salads, calzones and stromboli. Complete your Italian meal with a delectable Italian dessert such as tiramisu, cannoli or cheesecake!

Where Can I Find Tony’s Pizza?

You’ll find our delicious food in our restaurants at the following locations:

In Huntersville, you’ll find us at:

  • 9548 Mt. Holly-Huntersville RD

If in Mooresville, you’ll find Tony’s Pizza at:

  • 688 Bluefield Rd

If you’re in Charlotte we’re located on:

  • 1530 Overland Park Ln
  • 1605 Galleria Blvd
  • 14027 Conlan Circle

In Hickory we are at:

  • 1832 Catawba Valley Blvd SE

Similarly, we’re not far if you live in one of Charlotte’s surrounding communities:

  • Mint Hill
  • Newell
  • Matthews
  • Mount Holly
  • Harrisburg
  • Belmont
  • Fort Mill, SC

Who Serves The Best Italian Food Charlotte NC Offers?

Well, we’re a little biased but our customers also seem to think we’re pretty terrific.

“Amazing! Enjoyed everything about this place. Plenty of seating as you walk in. Order at the counter just like New York Style 😉… we ordered our usual half cheese half pepperoni 🍕 and it’s every bit New York style. The sauce is yummy! The crust is perfect. We are totally going back!” Marcio G.

Check out our other reviews and then drop by for a delicious bite!

Have you been on the search for the best Italian restaurants near me? Our staff at Tony’s Pizza works hard to bring an authentic taste of Italy to many parts of North Carolina. We invite your whole family to visit any of our locations in Mooresville, Charlotte, Hickory, or Huntersville where you can learn more about our one-of-a-kind Italian cuisine.

A Breakdown: Authentic Italian Cuisine!

As is the case with many cuisines in the United States, Italian food was brought to the US with people immigrating from Italy during the 1800s. This unique fare was popularized throughout North America in the 1920s, most notably in east coast locations. One of these such locations was Brooklyn, which our family called home until the 1980s when we relocated to North Carolina. Here at Tony’s, we use family recipes that originate from Calabria, Italy, ensuring a real taste of Italian delicacy in every bite.

First things first: pizza. We are famous for our New York-style pizza that comes in many sizes for every occasion. Offering a 10″, 15″, 17″, 19″, and giant 24″ party size, Tony’s pizza is for everybody. Following tradition, our pizzas boast a thin crust that ensures a foldable slice (if that’s what you’re into). To top it all off, we cover each pizza with our family’s tomato sauce and a generous layer of cheese.

Pasta

Italy is known for another staple food: pasta. The national dish is spaghetti bolognese, so you know we take it seriously. Tony’s offers a number of popular Italian pasta dishes. It’s hard to choose, so we’ve selected our top four must-haves:

  1. Baked Ziti
  2. Spaghetti with Fresh Tomato Sauce
  3. Baked Ricotta Cheese Ravioli
  4. Eggplant/Chicken Parmesan

As is tradition, authentic Italian cuisine includes very little meat. Notably, this is because dinner is typically served later than we’re used to here in the US, sometimes as late as 10 PM. Furthermore, Italian fare favors veggies and herbs to avoid a heavy meal. Italian cuisine began fusing with American dishes during the 20th century and more meat was incorporated into menus. Because of this, one of Tony’s favorite dishes is our homemade meat lasagna. It’s a match made in heaven with the perfect combination of fresh tomato sauce, pasta, cheese, and meat.

Enjoy the Italian Experience with Your Family at Tony’s

Look no further if you’ve been searching for an authentic Italian dining experience. For such an experience, it’s only right to look at the best Italian restaurants near me. Bring your entire family to Tony’s and see how we make this experience one-of-a-kind. To its core, Italian food is centered around family. Tony’s has various locations that are run by three brothers, and we strive to provide a unique dining atmosphere for all ages. Visit us at our sister restaurant, Mario’s Pizza, in Winston-Salem, High Point, Greensboro, and Clemmons to experience this dining as well!

Additionally, we believe good food can be full of simplicity. To cater towards our younger diners, Tony’s has several super affordable kids’ meal options, available every day, including:

  • meatball sub with fries
  • ham and cheese sub with fries
  • pasta (spaghetti or ziti with your choice of sauce and optional meatballs)
  • stuffed cheese ravioli with marinara or butter sauce
  • cheese or pepperoni slices of our New York-style pizza
  • chicken tenders (grilled or crispy) with fries

Our kids’ meals come with a drink in a reusable cup, perfect to take home for continued use!

Delectable Italian Desserts at the Best Italian Restaurants Near Me

A meal is not complete without a little bit of sweetness. Each of Tony’s family recipes includes traditional ingredients that create classic Italian desserts. Any of these options found at our Tony’s locations are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth:

  • Tiramisu – Essentially a coffee-lover’s dream. This dish boasts layers of coffee-dipped lady fingers and thick mascarpone-based cream, topped with a dusting of cocoa.
  • Cannoli – Beginning with a fried pastry tube, we fill this dish with sweet cream after crisping it to perfection. We pack our cannoli dessert with chocolate chips and top with powdered sugar.
  • Limoncello Mascarpone Cake – For this dessert, we combine layers of Sicilian lemon sponge cake and mascarpone cream to create the perfect bite. It is an ode to limoncello, a lemon liqueur common in southern Italy. But, you can enjoy our white chocolate-topped cake without worrying about the hangover!

Our menu wouldn’t be the same without a New York cheesecake. It would be a shame if we didn’t represent our Brooklyn roots!

The Best Italian Restaurants Near Me Aren’t the Same Without Pizza

It’s no secret that there are certainly a wide variety of authentic Italian dishes offered, but it wouldn’t be a true Italian restaurant without the pizza. We make it easy for you to order a pie with your favorite toppings, or choose from our specialty options:

  • 5 Boroughs – The traditional meat lover’s option. Comes complete with the five pizza boroughs: bacon, beef, sausage, ham, and pepperoni.
  • Pizza Bianco – A simple white pizza with ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, and a generous helping of fresh garlic.
  • The Worx – Our spin on an “everything” pizza, topped with pepperoni, sausage, beef, Canadian bacon, mushrooms, bell peppers, and black olives.
  • The Greenhouse – The simple veggie lover’s pizza, equipped with tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, black olives, spinach, and mushrooms.

You can also select your own toppings to create a custom pizza, or maybe a different one each time. Tony’s offers a wide range of options (that is, pretty much anything found at a pizzeria near me from pepperoni to pineapple). Tony’s even has a variety of premium toppings, which includes:

  • Premium meats: grilled or crispy chicken and steak
  • Feta cheese
  • Kalamata olives
  • Broccoli
  • Anchovies
  • Artichoke hearts
  • Sun-dried tomatoes
  • Roasted red peppers

No one says the toppings have to cover the whole pie, and many diners enjoy a half-and-half to mix and match. Thus, if your family simply can’t decide, you can choose any combination, such as mushrooms and anchovies on one side and spinach, bacon, and sun-dried tomatoes on the other. We hope you can enjoy creating new combinations to find the perfect order that satisfies every member of the family.

FAQs about Tony’s Italian Dishes

We are just a phone call away at Tony’s. One of the things that makes us the best Italian restaurants near me is our customer service. We dedicate ourselves to our loyal customers! Here are a few questions they frequently ask:

Do you offer any specials?

Yes! Many diners enjoy our daily meal specials. Additionally, we offer a consistent lunch special. This special includes the choice of a pepperoni or cheese pizza slice along with a side and drink for one low price. Our lunch special is available until 4 PM daily.

Is there a loyalty program?

Of course! You earn a free slice of pizza just for signing up for our loyalty program. You’ll also earn points on each order. These points rack up towards future orders. See for yourself by signing up here for iPhones or here for Androids. Our wait staff would be happy to help you sign up the next time you dine at our restaurant. We can’t wait to see you at Tony’s Pizza!

Clearly, Italian food is massively popular in the United States. Therefore, it’s no surprise that you are searching for Italian restaurants Charlotte. If you are hoping to find delicious and authentic Italian food, choose Tony’s Pizza. Better yet, we have six locations in the Charlotte and Hickory area with 1 in Mooresville, 1 in Huntersville, 3 in Charlotte and 1 in Hickory. 

Looking to know more about our delicious Italian food and other delights that Tony’s Pizza offers? Explore our menu options below. 

America’s Favorite Italian Dishes 

We realize we’re a little bias but we think Italians prepare the most scrumptious pasta dishes and pizzas. Thus, it should not be shocking those two types of Italian food are at the top of the pyramid for best Italian dishes.  

There are also some other popular Italian foods. Here is a list of some other well-liked Italian dishes. 

  1. Cannoli  
  2. Tiramisù 
  3. Minestrone 
  4. Cured meat, such as Parma Ham 
  5. Gelato 
  6. Gnocchi 
  7. Risotto 

Since you are now versed in the best Italian dishes, we are ecstatic to share some of Tony’s fabulous offerings.   

Tony’s Pizza is More Than Just Pizza! 

Here at Tony’s, we pride ourselves in being one of the best Italian restaurants Charlotte providing top-notch Italian dishes to our fellow residents. Coming from a long line of Italians, our owners make our Italian dishes in the best way possible. 

Additionally, our secret to making such delicious dishes is the fact that we use the freshest ingredients possible. Similarly, those ingredients have to add the right touch of Italian flavor. Consequently, you can’t choose just any fresh ingredient. Our talented team knows just what, and how much, to put in our Italian dishes.

Plus, you get rewarded for dining with us through our loyalty club. If you are a loyalty club member, you will earn points and rewards. In fact, if you join the app now, we have a promo going on where you earn a free slice of pizza just for joining! It’s simple, all you must do is download the “Mario’s Tony’s” app through your phone’s app store. Or, simply give us your mobile number the next time you order in-store. 

We have an endless assortment of Italian foods. Although our name advertises pizza, we offer so much more than that. Below, you can read about other scrumptious options our menu offers! 

Appetizers to Desserts 

The assortment of Italian foods we offer includes many of the most popular Italian dishes. We make sure there is something for everyone on the menu. Truly, our diverse fare ensures nearly every family member will be satisfied and happy with dining at Tony’s for lunch or dinner. 

Our menu includes: 

  • Pizza 
  • Subs 
  • Salads 
  • Appetizers 
  • Pasta & Italian entrées 
  • Kid’s meals 
  • Desserts 

Now, let’s dive into the details of the mouthwatering Italian offerings here at Tony’s Pizza. 

Plentiful Italian Foods 

Pizza 

First, we would be amiss if we failed to mention pizza at the top of our Italian list. Aside from it being one of the most well-known Italian foods, it’s also in our name as well! 

What sets our pizza apart? 

  • We have a large range of sizes – from 10 to 24 inches 
  • Authentic NY-Style pizza  
  • Pizza by the slice available 
  • Huge assortment of toppings 
  • Alternative crust options – gluten-free and cauliflower crusts are available 

Appetizers 

Name a better way to start your meal than with one of our authentic Italian appetizers. Luckily, you’re in great hands. We’ve got you covered with some great appetizers. Our authentic fare will have you feeling like you are dining in the beautiful country of Italy.  

  • Garlic Cheesy Bread 
  • Garlic Bread 
  • Italian Sausage 
  • Italian Meatballs 

Pasta & Italian Entrées 

Up next, we have a great selection of popular pastas and Italian cuisines on our menu. Those include: 

  • Cheese Ravioli 
  • Spaghetti 
  • Baked Ziti 
  • Meat Lasagana  
  • Chicken Parmigiana 
  • Eggplant Parmigiana 
  • Calzone 
  • Stromboli  

Desserts 

Are your taste buds demanding a sweet treat but it must be Italian? Clearly, flying over the Atlantic Ocean isn’t always an option. Well, you are in luck. We happen to have three delectable Italian desserts available on our menu. 

  • Tiramisu 
  • Cannoli 
  • Limoncello Mascarpone Cake 

Kids’ Meals 

Finally, bring kids too! We offer a great selection of kids’ meals for our little Italian connoisseurs.  Of course, we have included kid-friendly staples, such as chicken tenders, but we also have some Italian-specific choices.

Those include: 

  • Cheese pizza slice 
  • Pepperoni pizza slice 
  • 4-piece ravioli 
  • Spaghetti  

Another perk we have to offer is our $5 or less kids’ meals which include a drink sized just for kids! 

Frequently Asked Questions about Italian Restaurants Charlotte

Since we are one of the top Italian restaurants Charlotte and Hickory offer, we want to ensure all your questions are answered before you visit us. Accordingly, we put together some of the most asked questions.  

Where in the Charlotte and Hickory area are you located? 

We have three locations in Charlette. You can find us at: 

  1. 1605 Galleria Blvd Charlotte, NC 28270  
  1. 1530 Overland Park Ln Charlotte, NC 28262  
  1. 14027 Conlan Cir Charlotte, NC 28277 

Our other restaurants include one location in Mooresville, one location in Hickory, and one location in Huntersville. Likewise, all our locations are convenient to the entire Charlotte and Hickory area such as Pineville, Lake Norman, and Matthews. 

How much does your Italian food cost? 

Just as any other Italian restaurants Charlotte offers, the price depends on what you order. To see our full menu which includes prices, click  here . 

Do you cater parties? 

Absolutely! We have party trays and our large 24” pizzas which are perfect for any party. Select some apps and desserts and you can feed a crowd. 

Enjoy One of the Best Restaurants Charlotte Offers  

Want to enjoy one of the best restaurants Charlotte offers? Stop by Tony’s Pizza today. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest deals and contests.