Synopsis: Better than average food and service, but you are going to pay for it.
Mama Ricotta's (or as I call her, Mama) is literally one of the first places I ever ate in Charlotte. Unlike a lot of places in Charlotte, they got better over the last 15 years, not worse.
The best way for me to describe their changes over the years has to be: intelligent.
Their growth was intelligent because they kept the items which were successful, and rotated in new favorites while changing with the times. A lot has changed over the past 15 years regarding what people in America are looking for in food, they've been able to stay relevant while not losing their credibility and identity.
As for value, it is in line with other quasi-casual Italian restaurants around Charlotte, which (IMHO) are all generally over priced, there are some more fairly priced options but you do have to look for them a bit more.
All in all you should not be upset with your experience at Mama's.