For nearly twenty-four years in the University area of Charlotte, Amalfi’s Pizza ‘N’ Pasta has been inviting people into what some would call “home.”

"People that come here, they always say for the first time, when they come here to eat, they say, that we're going to the house, it's like a house,” said Amalfi’s owner, Olympia Basso.

Basso says Amalfi’s is a place where total strangers can interact. "They sit here and they start talking to the other people behind them, or in front of them...it makes me so happy because it's like they become friends."

The restaurant has seen two decades worth of people and that includes customers that once went there as children. "Generation to generation, mother father, children grow up, have children, come back, and it's amazing,” said Basso.

The family owned restaurant started with Basso's dream. When she was 18 years old, she moved to the United States from Italy.

"I always had a bunch of people over, food galore, and they always told me my God, you should have your own restaurant,” said Basso.

Basso says all the ingredients are natural at Amalfi’s and that the pasta and mozzarella are imported from Italy.

Cooking runs in the family; the Basso’s son and daughter both work at the restaurant.

"Everybody on my mom's side of the family, they love to cook, so it's all old-school recipes from Italy,” said Olympia Basso’s son, Michael Basso.

The family says the “penne arrabiata” is a customer favorite.

UNC Charlotte baseball coach Loren Hibbs is a frequent customer. "Spaghetti and meatballs are awesome. We come in here for the pizza special at lunchtime,” said Hibbs.

The Basso's say even the popular band, The Avett Brothers, have a favorite.

"One interviewer asked them what do you miss most about home and they said the chicken marsala at Amalfi's pizza," said Basso. 

Olympia Basso hopes the restaurant's legacy continues to bring families for generations to come.

"This is my pride and joy, so therefore, even though I should be retiring, right now, but it's my blood, so therefore you keep going and making people happy.”

Have a favorite restaurant you want us to try next? Send us your favorite places to eat in town by emailing us at menuhopping@charter.com.