Like a villa you'd find in the heart of Tuscany, the setting of Stagioni could not be in a more perfect building. Somehow in the midst of Charlotte, this gem of a restaurant transports you all the way to Italy without the TSA getting in the way. The setting is perhaps the greatest asset. It's incredibly homey, and oh so Italian trattoria. The waiters are friendly and passionate about the food. Ask anyone of them and you'll surely hear a colorful description of the ingredients. Don't forget to ask about the wine.
What was likely one of my few chances to eat here, I wanted to try everything, especially a pasta. Two great options; the garganelli and the gnocchi caught my attention. I ended up with the gnocchi which came with a rabbit and thyme. The thyme really masked some of the rabbit's gamey flavor. This was preceded by a pretty terrific house ricotta, which in my opinion is perhaps on par with what I'd find at my favorite Italian grocery in New York.
The wine list here is legitimately Italian, with plenty of great options from all over Italy. I was glad to see some Amarone on the list, even if a bit pricier of a bottle. It's one of those wines you could savor over a long Italian dinner.
4.5 stars. I can't help but think that this place is a bit under appreciated. In any other city, they would bustling every night. Don't wait. Come here and definitely order like the Italians do and linger, with a bottle of wine of course.