At this pasta bungalow in Charlotte’s Villa Heights, you’ve got dinner covered
The colorful little bungalow catches my eye before I even realize it’s my ultimate destination: Sorellina Pasta Co. at The Plaza. Complete with a very convenient parking lot, Kristiana Perini’s year-old shop focuses on fresh, handmade pastas, flavorful sauces and other prepared dishes.
The Plaza is the perfect place for a business like Perini’s; it’s walkable and well-located near Plaza Hills, Villa Heights and Plaza Midwood. She’s also in good company amongst several other women-owned businesses, including Twenty Two West and Boris & Natasha.
Her neighborhood-style Italian market features a spacious, open prep kitchen where you can see Perini and the team baking sourdough focaccia, hand-pulling noodles and batching out the shop’s signature lasagna al ragu. It’s a place you can go when you need a quick dinner that still feels homemade, a place to pick up a bottle of wine and dessert and a place where you can easily pick up prepared meals for someone in need of support.
Perini herself is in the shop “pretty much everyday,” both working in the kitchen and helping guests during open hours. Her love for food service started with an appreciation for big, approachable shared meals.
“I love meals that bring you back to a place or a memory. That’s the kind of food we are cooking here. We are making things that remind me of trips to Italy, restaurants in Napa and around the country, and dinners around my grandma’s table.”
After a career spent working in everything from catering and pastry chefing to a Michelin-starred restaurant, she has newfound freedom to do what she loves without the pressure of table service or the notoriously draining hours.
“The older I get, the more I want to have a more normal life, including evenings, holidays and weekends at home with friends and family,” she said. “This industry is so mentally and physically intense, and I just knew, for myself, that it’s no longer sustainable …
“This shop, only being open during the week, has allowed me to still do the thing I love, which is cooking for people. [And] since we are not open for service like a restaurant, we have no hard deadline for food to be ready. I am happy that in our shop we don’t have that added pressure. We still work hard and efficiently. In my experience, stress is good for no one and improves no plate of food.”
Family-grown business
One of the first things Perini is quick to mention as the impetus behind the concept is her own mother, who worked long hours but still managed to put home-cooked meals on the table every day.
“Looking back, I really loved spending that time with my family as a kid. I know it has become harder for working parents to be able to do that regularly, so I wanted to create a kitchen that did the cooking for you.”
There was a lot that went into getting Sorellina open. When Perini found it, the building was down to the studs, with no electrical, plumbing or walls.
And true to its deeply laid roots, Sorellina’s name translates to “little sister,” Perini’s own place in her family.
“My parents came down when we first opened, my dad helped make all the pasta at the start while my mom took charge of the dish room, helped build tiramisu and labeled anything and everything,” Perini said. “My older sister, Alex, is a constant help in the business.”
The menu at Sorellina Pasta Co.
While there are some staple items in Perini’s rotation, the offerings do change weekly — clients can keep up via its Instagram page.
Individual fresh pastas can be bought and paired with a sauce of your choice — the sundried tomato cream sauce is a customer favorite. Or, choose from prepared dishes like lasagna, meatballs in sugo, baked ziti or a variety of vegetable side dishes. Some of the options can be table-ready in 10 minutes.
Two types of lasagna, meatballs, baked pasta, fresh noodles and sourdough focaccia.
“I think the general ethos behind good Italian food is to keep it simple and cook what you have. There is no reason to complicate things when you are working with beautiful local produce and wonderfully cared for products. I wouldn’t say we are 100% authentic Italian, but we are using the flavors, strategies and ideals behind the magic of Italian cooking in our shop daily.”
The ingredients are indeed impressive: Perini has dedicated herself to sourcing local and organic as much as possible, although many of her flours are imported from Italy.
The meatballs, for example, feature grass-fed beef and pasture raised pork, mixed together (by hand, allowing for a lighter texture) with Perini’s sourdough focaccia breadcrumbs. That focaccia — also available for sale — is made with Carolina grown and milled organic flour from Lindley Mills. The team’s take on a classic tiramisu uses neighboring Summit Coffee.
“Seasonality is a big factor when you’re using local produce,” Perini said. “It keeps us creative in the kitchen when a new season pops up. I think cooking with the seasons makes everything more special. When the peaches and heirloom tomatoes are just right, there is nothing quite like it.
“Absence really does make the heart grow fonder.”
In an age where takeout and food delivery is abundant, Perini’s take on having restaurant quality meals in the comfort of your own home feels special. You get to have (or give) a meal hand-picked from your neighborhood proprietor, made with high-quality ingredients, intention and a lot of appreciation for their craft.
It’s the kind of place built for weeknights, for sharing and for anyone looking to make sharing a meal feel just a little more meaningful.
Sorellina Pasta Co.
Location: 2341 The Plaza, Charlotte, NC 28205
Menu (updates weekly)
Cuisine: Fresh pasta, sauces and focaccia
Instagram: @sorellinapasta
