A Michelin-recommended restaurant’s new Lake Norman location is opening soon

A Michelin-recommended favorite for Italian food in Charlotte is kicking open the doors to a new location in Lake Norman.

Little Mama’s third location will open for business in Cornelius on Monday, Sept. 7, expanding the reach of the restaurant that began as a sister spinoff of a revered Charlotte classic, Mama Ricotta’s.

The restaurant took over the space that most recently held the short-lived GOAT Pizza, opened by celebrity chef David Burke in partnership with Joe Douglas of 131 Main Restaurant and Robert Maynard of Famous Toastery.

Praised by Michelin for its house-made mozzarella and pastas, the newest location will carry on with a 4,300-foot space with 140 seats for date night dinners, family meals and meet-ups with friends.

Like the Rea Farms location, the Cornelius restaurant will feature a brick oven pizza program to expand its menu lineup. Other best-selling dishes to try include the penne alla vodka, lasagna and chicken Parmesan.

Little Mama’s stracciatella.

“Little Mama’s is a heartfelt project for me, built on the simple yet delicious flavors of my childhood in New England,” Frank Scibelli, founder of FS Food Group, said in a news release.

“These are the foods I grew up with and love to share — classic Italian-American dishes, made from scratch and served with genuine hospitality. We cannot wait to bring that tradition to Cornelius and Lake Norman.”

The Little Mamas team includes chef-partner Tom Dyrness, FS Food Group Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Kalish and beverage director Mary Wilson, who has curated the restaurant’s wine and cocktail list.

“We can’t wait to bring quality Italian wines to pair with the lake life,” Wilson said in the news release.