Charlotte’s newest Italian restaurant is taking shape. Here’s an early look.
Fresh pasta, family recipes and the feelings of a cozy home are coming together at Charlotte’s newest Italian restaurant, opening this fall.
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Lady Funari is still under construction in the 1,600-square-foot space that once held the beloved Futo Buta restaurant — but it’s nearing completion. The restaurant with seating for 40 inside and 40 more outside is inspired by B-Side Group culinary director Vince Giancarlo’s Italian grandmother, Claire Theresa Funari, whom he knew as his “Mommom.”
She inspired his love of cooking — and pasta, especially — by pouring herself into feeding her family with dishes crafted over long hours in the kitchen.
“It’s just kind of rooted in family for me,” Giancarlo said. “I grew up kind of on my grandmother’s hip every Sunday.”
Charlotte foodies can get a preview of Lady Funari’s seasonal menu on Sept. 16 at a takeover dinner at Customshop.
Giancarlo’s lineup for the event includes house-roasted local peppers, tagliatelle with rock shrimp and celery-almond pesto, cacio e pepe and handmade orecchiette with Harmony Ridge Farms pork sugo and whipped ricotta. A sundae for dessert will bring together stracciatella ice cream, candied tomato pearls, chocolate balsamic syrup and crispy basil.
When the restaurant itself opens, diners can also expect to see Giancarlo’s take on his grandmother’s spaghetti & blue crab, smothered in Sunday gravy and spaghetti tossed in the same sauce, topped with fresh basil.
Seafood crudo, vegetable-focused side dishes and handmade pastas will be a focus of the rotating offerings — all going back to Giancarlo’s childhood memories. Sweets to finish off the meal will include tiramisu, cannoli and biscotti.
Local producers play a prominent role, with partnerships including Mariella & Grace, Harmony Ridge Farms, Boy and Girl Farm, Fairshare Farms, Bush-N-Vine Farm, Vicente Bakery, Bread on Bikes, Street Fare Farms and Small City Farmer.
Beverage director Henry Schmulling of B-Side Group — which owns Vinyl and The Story of Mi Cariño — plans for Lady Funari’s drinks to center on Negronis, spritzes and other Italian spirits such as amaro and house-made limoncello.
Patio service via wine window, known as a buchette del vino, is part of the plan, with the wine program focusing on regions and producers that match the seasonal food.
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During the day, expect European-style caffé vibes with espresso and pastries for lingering while you people-watch the Rail Trail.
Inside, expect to find an intimate space filled with wood and marble finishes, and moody lighting. There will also be energy.
“Here is it is tight, and there’s going to be a lot of hustle-bustle,” Giancarlo said. “You’re going to feel the buzz … you’re really going to be in the middle of the whole orchestra.”
A booth seating five to six people will be the dining room’s biggest space for a group. But among the best seats in the house will be those at the pasta counter, which will serve as a chef’s table, bringing guests right into the action of the kitchen.
While there won’t be much elbow room inside, there will be music as a connectivity point between the space there and the patio seating near the Bland Street light rail stop.
B-Side Group partners Kamal Patel, Ankoor Patel and Richard Williams acquired the space after the death of Michael Shortino, who brought ramen to Charlotte when Futo Buta opened in South End.
Kamal remembers him as “an imposing chef,” noting: “The focus that we have comes from him — and the other businesses around town that we follow.”
“Futo Buta had a long 13-year history in the space, and I knew Mike really well,” Giancarlo said. “So a bit of it is kind of wanting to bring that buzz that was here with food back to life, but in our own lane, in our own way with our own food.”
The Charlotte food scene is “bubbling right now — about to boil over,” Giancarlo added. “The more steam we can provide, the better we feel about where we’re at, and, really, just doing that with integrity.”
Location: 222 E Bland St., Charlotte, NC 28203
Cuisine: Italian, pasta
Instagram: @ladyfunari
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