After serving inside The Market at 7th Street, the owners of Mano Bella Artisan Foods are getting ready to open a new eatery in SouthPark called Mano Bella Bistro & Market, located at 721 Gov Morrison Street, Suite 150.
Owners Madison and Raffaele Patrizi are getting ready to open this new eatery in early 2024, likely by the end of January, replacing Bit by Seoul Food in SouthPark’s Morrison Place, according to the company’s social media, first reported by Unpretentious Palate. The new fast-casual eatery will offer a variety of Italian dishes highlighting different Italian culinary regions, as well as a full bar with various Italian cocktails, an extensive wine list, and local craft beer.
Since its launch, Mano Bella Artisan Foods has offered delicious food made by Raffaele Patrizi, who recently won the 2023 UPPY Food Artisan of the Year. The couple operated through the food kiosk, offering an “Italian food tour” featuring four signature dishes celebrating a distinct region of Italy. Now, the owners are upgrading their operations with what they are calling an “authentic Italian bistro” experience. Customers can expect a variety of fresh and fried small plates, a “pick your pasta bowl” setup, Italian entrees from around Italy (switching regions every six months or so), and a half dozen Italian Desserts. The full menu is still in development, but Patrizi will use his grandmother’s recipes for a handful of entrees, including a North Carolina trout crudo.
“Three years ago, Raffaele and I started Mano Bella Artisan Foods from our kitchen, making fresh pasta and other Italian goods for their friends and family,” the owners said on social media. “After three years of early mornings at the farmer’s markets, late nights in the kitchen, and an endless amount of love and support from the community, we have accomplished the goal we had set out to achieve from the very beginning. We will open our first full-service restaurant in the South Park area of Charlotte sometime in the beginning of 2024. We couldn’t be more humbled by the prospect of serving a new part of Charlotte and excited for this journey as we share authentic, artisanal Italian foods with this community and beyond.”
