Frank Scibelli and team to bring Italian-American classics to South Charlotte starting Tuesday, January 23
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (January 23, 2024) – With three incredible years in SouthPark under its belt, Little Mama’s Italian is expanding and opening a second location in the Rea Farms development in South Charlotte today, Tuesday, January 23.
“Little Mama’s is a heartfelt project that has been an incredible success so far in SouthPark,” said Scibelli. “I look forward to sharing the simple yet delicious flavors of my childhood—food inspired by our upbringings, made by our (FS Food Group) family— with the South Charlotte community.”
Described as a prequel to Mama Ricotta’s, a Charlotte staple since 1992, Little Mama’s Italian is a collaborative celebration of the 1960s and 1970s Italian restaurants restaurateur Frank Scibelli, Stephanie Kalish, and chef partner Tom Dyrness enjoyed growing up that also inspired their careers in hospitality. Little Mama’s Rea Farms mirrors the look and feel of the original location, transporting guests back to the 70s Italian-American experience people have come to know and love in SouthPark.
This location (formerly Sensi Restaurant) boasts 4,600 square feet and includes 128 seats inside the dining room, a spacious sunroom with 48 seats and windows on one wall that can open to reveal an outdoor patio feel, and a beautiful bar with 12 seats. Back-of-house is led by Executive Chef Jerry Martinez, a teammate of FS Food Group for over 13 years, while front-of-house is run by General Manager Samantha Fugate and the bar program is led by Beverage Director Mary Wilson.
“We have cultivated a team that is excited to bring family and fresh food together in the South Charlotte area, while keeping hospitality at the center of all we do,” said Fugate. “It is a privilege to become your neighbor, we look forward to serving you!”
The lunch and dinner menus will be identical to the original Little Mama’s with the addition of a handful of pizzas from Mama Ricotta’s with some new twists. There will be two special pies available only in Rea Farms: Diavola Pizza with Calabrian salami, caramelized onions, cherry peppers, provolone picante, homemade mozz, and a Calabrian hot honey sauce & Stracciatella Pizza with olive oil, mozzarella, house stracciatella, provolone picante, Fontina, wild mushrooms, and a white truffle oil drizzle.
Little Mama’s Italian is located at 9825 Sandy Rock Place, Charlotte, NC 28277. The restaurant will be open for dinner ONLY Tuesday, January 23, through Sunday, January 28 (5 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays). Lunch service will begin on Monday, January 29 and therefore the hours will change to 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. They are launching with limited seating to provide best service and food quality. Private dining offerings and brunch will also come at a later date.
For more information, please visit https://littlemamasitalian.com/ or follow the restaurant on social media @littlemamasitalian.
