If you’ve dined at Mi Amiche in Mooresville even once, you already know how meaningful that signature logo is! This truly authentic Italian restaurant — whose name literally means “our friends” — is owned by Nick and Kim Bonarrigo, who will both tell you the best table is a crowded table!
Both were born and raised in upstate New York, and perhaps by fate, Nick and Kim’s first date was dinner at an old Italian restaurant in East Utica, owned by a family friend.
The Bonarrigos are passionate about sharing amazing Italian food with their Mooresville community and beyond, and when they made the move to the Lake Norman area in 2019 (with their rescue pup, Tessa in tow!), they found the perfect space to open a bistro that focused on breakfast and lunch. Mi Amiche officially opened in May of 2021, and by September, thanks to friends and neighbors nudging, the restaurant began offering a dinner menu. While breakfast/brunch is still on the menu Sundays from 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., the main attraction six days a week may be their repertoire of incredible Italian dishes, burgers, paninis and freshly prepared salads, made from scratch, and always with high-end, local ingredients.
“We pride ourselves on creating the most authentic Italian sauces, from house-made Marinara, Alfredo, Rosa, Blush, Piccata, Luciano, Scampi, Marsala, and Pesto, to Lobster Bisque and my favorite, Utica Chicken Riggies,” says Nick. He will also be the first to tell you his mother was a strong influence on his goal of wanting others to enjoy food as much as he does!
Both Nick and Kim adore the hospitality they’ve found among their Mooresville neighbors, and the family-like relationships they have formed with loyal customers.
There’s no shortage of literally “everything you could want” at Mi Amiche, and the restaurant seats 80 guests inside, including a full-service bar with 10 stools and high-tops for sampling from their inviting cocktail menu. You can also dine and relax on the 1000-square-foot patio — which seats 60 guests, with a most recently added awning and enclosure for your next private party. To accompany your event, the entire Mi Amiche menu is offered for catering — including business lunches and school events — or any size private party, from dinner for 10 to a large family wedding!
The word is also out that Nick will personally deliver catering orders upon request — just one lovable element of their outstanding customer service. For Nick, it’s just icing on the cake to see customers in person, thoroughly enjoying his restaurant’s homemade goodness with family and friends!
You’ll come to Mi Amiche for the rave reviews of exceptional cuisine, definitely for the family ambiance, and for the positive energy that can make dining any day of the week a truly memorable experience!
Nick’s personal philosophy reflects that life itself is the greatest gift of all, and that doing what you love — when it can also make a difference in other’s lives — is essential. The Mi Amiche team also partners with Watchmen of the Streets Homeless Outreach to provide much-needed hot meals to our neighbors who live on the streets.
Blending food, friends, and giving back to the community that supports them creates a full plate of blessings for Nick and Kim — who welcome you to join them soon!
Experience Italian cuisine like no other at Mi Amiche, located at 350 Morrison Plantation Parkway in Mooresville, 980-435-5175. Visit them online at miamiche.com, and follow @mi.amiche on Instagram and Facebook. Restaurant hours are Tuesday through Thursday 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday & Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., and Sunday 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
“There wasn’t anything we didn’t like about this restaurant! I had the seafood blush (calamari, shrimp and scallops) and my wife had the chicken Parmesan. The portions were large and the food was so delicious! Julie was our server and her passion to make our experience awesome put MI Amiche high on our list of places to go!” — Steve L.
“What an amazing experience! A chef’s kiss to this establishment! The best Italian food I have had, and try their lobster biscuit pasta! A solid 10/10 and I would recommend this place to all my friends and family! Owner is an amazing person — he even came by and greeted us!” — Jorge H.
