Caruso’s

This place is always amazing. Period. 5 star dining in a 4 star town. The entrees are always interesting and delicious, and the desserts always inventive and decadent.

An attractive, slightly retro restaurant which delivers excellent Italian-​inspired food with good service in a quiet, dignified setting. This restaurant is highly popular and has a loyal following, so reservations are a must.

Never thought Id find a great Italian place down south but sure enough it exists in Caruso’s! I have no complaints about anything the restaurant offers, food is unmatched, service is great and the place itself makes for a nice dinner out. Caruso’s is an upscale Italian spot which I guess is where my only problem comes into play. Sometimes im in the mood for a nice chicken Parm. That was not on there menu. Niether were some other Italian common dishes. I wish it was because everything else there is terrific on a higher scale.

I have been going to Caruso’s since they first opened several years back. They used to only be one half of the space they are in now. They food is excellent– I have never gotten anything there I didn’t like, bring the Rack of Lamb, the Zuppa de Pesce, or the Melanzane Rollatini (my personal favorite). They are more than accommodating– my family likes the calamari, except for the fact that my Mom cannot eat that. Usually it comes with a few fried artichoke hearts mixed in with the calamari, however, when we ask for extra of those for her, they bring her her own plate of them (quite a few, in fact) so she can enjoy the appetizer as well. The vegetable strands on the side are so good and buttery, and the mashed potatoes that sometimes accompany the meal are also delicious. The desserts are so good. My favorite part about Caruso’s is that despite their growth, their quality has remained top notch and they are just as dedicated to the customer’s satisfaction as they were when they were half the size. If you like a particular special and they do not have it, ask. Sometimes Pasquale (the chef and owner) has some prepared and ready to cook, or he can sometimes make it. In addition, if someone likes something that isn’t on the menu and is fairly straightforward, ask. They will sometimes be able to provide it (but not always). Sometimes it seems like there are more service personnel than customers which is a great thing. Everyone is always willing to help you and you can literally just look behind you and there is at least one waiter/​waitress… They’re everywhere! Caruso’s is definately one of my favorite restuarants due to the unwavering quality in service, food, and atmosphere.

This place is awesome! The best restaurant I’ve tried in the area. The atmosphere is classy (a great date place or night out with friends). As far as dress goes, we showed up in jeans and a polo and it was fine. The place is in a strip mall, but don’t be fooled by its exterior, it amazing!
Here are the highlights:
Stuffed mushroom appetizer– 5 stars! If you’re hungry when you get there, it a must!
Seafood linguini entrée-​5 stars! Just unbelievable how much seafood you get. Lobster, scallops, mussels, the works. Definitely worth the $ 29 price tag!
Bacon wrapped chicken entrée– 4 stars, a little too rich of an entrée for me, but my boyfriend loved it.
Service– 5 stars, they were extremely attentive. I never had to ask them to take a plate away, just wonderful!
Would definitely be back!

Fantastic Italian Food. Dinner, salad, and dessert were fantastic!
Was recommended by hotel, glad we gave it a chance.

Have visited many Italian restaurants throughout the country. This place is by far one the best I have been to. Had the special — Veal Chop Parm — the best I have ever had — juicy, tender and plentiful. 5 Star for sure.

Came here on the whim due to Italian cravings after the Carolina BalloonFest. Wow! I’m in awe of this place and wish we lived closer.
The dining room was spacious and there was not a wait. Hostess was very courteous and say us immediately. The restaurant is ambient and warm. The rose colored paint was welcoming and definitely gave me an appetite.
We started with a caprese; and oh my sweet Jesus was it delicious! Super fresh cheese and devoured in seconds. Ate the Santa Margarita Pasta? and it was amazing as well. The garlic made the dish incredibly flavorful, but not overpowering.
Our waiter listed their desserts and I had to get the pistachio gelato. Um. Nomnom.
Why is this place so far from us?!? Thank you for making our Saturday night and bellies full.
Kudos to our waiter as well. You’re the real MVP and had humor! Many, many thumbs up. We’ll stop by again if we’re back in the area.

I’ll I can say is incredible! Incredible service, incredible food, incredible atmosphere. Love, love, love this place.

This truly is a great restaurant… Great food and great service. For those comments about the strip mall location … It is under new management now and is experiencing a total renovation. I’ve seen the drawings and it will look much nicer. Publix grocery is moving in as the anchor and that should increase business and exposure for this high-​end (and totally worth it) Italian restaurant

The food and service are absolutely great, but the location is really out of the way and the restaurant is pricey. Expect to spend $ 40 at least per person without wine.

We had dinner with friends at Caruso’s the other night and I was very impressed. It’s in a struggling little strip mall but the interior is warm and inviting and the staff was very professional and friendly.
My date and I both had a grilled halibut special that was fantastic and very healthy! They were open to substitutions when I asked if I could get something besides mashed potatoes. The presentation was beautiful and the portion was substantial.
It’s a little «higher end» than your typical Italian joint but worth it for a special occasion or a romantic night out.

Excellent Italian Dinner!
Mooresville has a Best kept Secret!
On a Thursday night, we walked in with no reservation. Although I do recommend to make one. There were 2 large parties but the noise level was still good for conversation and enjoyment.
Our host was very accommodating to us. Our server was very informative of yummy specials and Lasagna was definitely one of the choices. We had fresh crispy hot Italian bread on the table. Cocktails were reasonable priced. Thank you Scott for the perfectly chilled Martini with olives! We shared a fresh Salad with gorgonzola cheese fresh sliced pears and roasted pecans and raisins was a nice treat (dont forget to ask for balsamic glaze reduction) generous portion to share absolutely delicious. Dinner was also generous portions. The lasagna was delicious and fresh sauce was not greasy it was a true Italian sauce. My trout with crabmeat on top was delicious! The skin of the trout could have been crispy. But the fish was done to perfection. With a side of pasta pomodoro perfect meal. Did not care for the mashed potato too gluey. But we had wonderful after dinner cocktails. When I was introduced to the owner Pasquale. He was sitting with diners and he was truly appreciative of my enthusiastic review of our meals. I highly recommend Caruso’s for quality Italian food, impeccable service and reasonable prices.

Pastas are great. Heavy on the oil the way its supposed to be
It’s the most authentic Italian I can find in Mooresville
I’ve only ordered by phone so I don’t know how the service is

This place is worth visiting. Their stake is amazing! Fine dinning in a small family feel place. It us a hidden gem in this city.

No clue how this place gets 4.5 star rating. It’s mediocre at best. Pricey and atmosphere is so dark that you can barely see where you are waking. Layout is back and dreary. I could deal with it if the food made up for it and it just doesn’t. Pastas are oily and some are too heavy. I’ve given this place enough chances. My guess is the lack of mooresville food options is the only reason that Caruso’s maintains a strong rating.

This amazing place is one of my favs! This fresh ingredient Italian made with the utmost of integrity is worth the stop. The Seabass & Tuna are always incredible — and never be afraid to try the specials! For early weekend seating — get a reservation or just go after 8PM. And just like in Italy — have the house wine. Always awesome ;)

I know several people who call Caruso’s their favorite restaurant in Mooresville. While I’m not one of them, due to price, I would recommend Caruso’s. Generally speaking, expect to pay approximately $ 100 for two people with wine. It’s in an odd location, which isn’t a bad thing, you just have to know where to look. It’s in an older strip mall, where I believe they’re finishing up a new Publix (which should greatly increase the visibility of this place and how popular is it.)
While the location and exterior are a bit sleepy, it is beautifully (and classily) decorated inside — so much so you forget where you are. The food is really always top quality — fresh, quality meat cuts, and great flavor. They have a good wine selection too.
I’ve had a number of dishes here, and remember being delighted they had Chilean Sea Bass on the menu (unsure if that changes by season…) I am a sucker for anything with Chilean Sea Bass that’s fresh (not frozen), not fishy, fully cooked but tender with a good sear. The sides are very good and full of flavor and personality.
Is this a place you should bring the family? Probably not. Is it a great place for a date or celebration, I’d say definitely! I think they more than earn their 4-​Stars, but they don’t beat my absolute favorite in Mooresville for this class — that award goes to Epic Chophouse in downtown Mooresville. However, Caruso’s has great dishes from seafood, steaks, and hearty pasta dishes. Give them a try if you’re in the mood for good food but willing to splurge.

For fine Italian dining at it’s best there is no other that beats out Caruso’s in the Lake Norman area. Service is outstanding but the cuisine is out of this world. Their specials change daily. This weekend’s Chilean Sea Bass was mouthwateringly tasty and cooked to perfection. BRAVO Caruso’s!!! Be sure not to miss this fabulous restaurant.

This authentic eatery is hidden at the end of a strip mall (Brawley School Commons), next to Big Al’s Pub. This past Christmas Eve, my family stopped in for a celebratory dinner.
We had reservations (which you need way ahead of time since very few restaurants are open on Dec. 24^th), and we got seated immediately. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the table in the side-​room (which is more intimate) like my mom had initially requested. Our table ended up being in the main room, towards the center — parallel to the booth-​sided tables.
Our waiters were all prompt and attentive, delivering two baskets of bread and a bottle of red wine for us to share. Our appetizers returned fairly quickly, five lobster bisques and a Caesar salad. The lobster bisque was silky and perfect — the best I’ve ever had! For entrées, we all ordered the Sole Stuffed with Lobster + Crab, with mashed potatoes and veggies ($ 22). It took about 30 minutes to get our food, but the wait was well worth it! The mashed potato scoop was delicious, and the stringed veggies were buttery and tender. The seafood dish was interesting — it wasn’t as moist as I had anticipated… I’m guessing they cooked it a little too long? The sauce on top was nothing new to my taste-​buds — they simply used the lobster bisque, which seems to me to be a bit lazy of a move. Not sure if I would order this dish again, since it didn’t blow me away in taste.
***Tip: Typically, there are between three to five specials not on the menu — no fear, the waiter normally informs you (I would suggest asking for prices, though).