Came in a Sunday - 5:30pm - only 3 table s were taken. Polpette meatball is pretty good but braised Octopus is really worth a try - flavorful and very soft texture. Butter chicken was very scrumptious though my son was not so hot about the arugula side. Eggplant parm was really good - the smoked mozzarella really made it luscious. We also tried pork chop and it was not bad should probably try the flank steak instead. I had chocolate cannoli- the cream was rich but not overly sweet - very nice. Tiramisu was also more flavor than sweet which is what we love. Waiter was very attentive and helpful in suggesting dishes. Overall - if I don't count the mishap on seating - it was a good experience. read more

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We love this place. Local, great service, excellent food and ambiance. I had the wild boar agnolotti, my husband had the risotto and we shared a pear and Gorgonzola pizzette for a starter, which was truly delicious, and we had a side of broccolini, which was perfectly cooked with beautiful flavor. They've also got some nice vegetarian options and lovely wine options. Prices are reasonable, you can spend a lot or you can get out at a relatively modest cost for a fine dining restaurant. Very pleasant, relaxed place, a regular spot for us. read more

Cucciolo Terrazza - Wild Boar Agnolotti Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

My husband and I came here for our anniversary on a Monday night. I had a reservation, but it really wasn't that busy. We were seated right away, and our server was nice and attentive. We both got cocktails. I can't remember the name of mine. It was fine but not worth getting again. They give you bread with olive oil and vinegar, and it was good. We also got the arancini, which was delicious! They took a very long time with our entrees, and our server apologized for the wait. I wouldn't have minded having to wait so long, but when we did get them, my dish was not hot. I got the tagliatelle bolognese, and while the top was warm, as I kept eating it was cold. Meanwhile there was steam coming off my husband's dish. I have a feeling something went wrong and my dish was just sitting under a warming lamp. I might consider returning since the arancini was very good, and the bites I had of my husband's alfredo were delicious. read more

Cucciolo Terrazza - Arancini - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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I came here for a friend's birthday party and this restaurant was so cute. It's such a great place to celebrate special occasions! Their portion sizes are very large. I definitely feel like I could've shared my meal with another person and it would've fed both of us. I got the mushroom risotto and added chicken to it. I think the up charge for the chicken is a little steep, but it was really delicious. I would definitely come back here to try some of their other pastas. our waiter was very attentive, and the decorations in the restaurant were nice parking in North Hills is actually not bad so overall experience was a 10/10 read more

Cucciolo Terrazza - mushroom risotto + chicken - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

First impressions: beautiful bistro space with lovely and quirky details to make the ambiance beautiful and casually polished a date, a dinner with friends, or a celebration that you want to "class up" with excellent food, attentive staff, and terrific cocktails and wine in an elegant, approachable space. The pumpkin arancini is a stroke of genius and should be the first thing you order! I had the sea bass (catch of the day) also unique, with olives and blistered tomatoes. Light, perfectly done & flavorful: exquisite. The ravioli with boar meat is an option too interesting to pass up, and it did not disappoint. The cocktail selection was solid- I was especially pleased to see a nod to classic cocktails that were expertly done. The wine list is unusual. When we inquired about it, the waiter said the owners of the restaurant, both sommeliers, continue to develop their list based on what is available due to tariffs and the related challenges with sourcing. So, for an Italian restaurant offering wine selections from Turkey and Chile, there were big shoes to fill, and the wines were lovely- for each dish we ordered. Cannoli for dessert (1?) was delicious. Next time we hope to try the key lime panna cota or other offerings, they looked straightforward on the menu, but I am certain they will be a post-dinner delight that reflects the thoughtfulness of the rest of the menu. read more

The staff and server were incredibly kind and helpful! Our only challenge was that many menu items contained alcohol, which limited our options since we don't consume it. read more

Cucciolo Terrazza - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Really solid restaurant. Servers are friendly and funny and helpful with recommendations. Love that they offer silicone coloring place mats for kids. What a genius invention and game changer. I can't remember what day of the week it was when we went but it was pretty quiet and is classy and fancy but also kid friendly so you can come dressed casual. Pizza is delish. Bread is delish too. Tasty octopus that comes with potato salad. I wasn't a big fan of the fish but my husband who ordered it enjoyed it. I ordered the Diablo which is an excellent spaghetti dish especially if you enjoy spice. The shrimp were big and juicy. All in all a lovely experience and definitely recommend and we will for sure be returning! read more

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LOVE this place. The service is always superb. Shoutout to Tory who provided excellent service during our last visit. The ambiance is very nice and the food is worth the price point. My favorite is the spicy rigatoni vodka. The sauce is flavorful with a mild spice. The pasta is cooked well and it's topped with a dollop of ricotta and Parmesan cheese. Pro tip: use the complimentary bread to eat up any remaining sauce. Parking is easy, accessible, and free with nearby lots and garages. read more

Welcoming comfortable atmosphere, quality dishes, and efficient servers. I attended an educational dinner here and had a pleasant experience. The dishes were each presented well in a reasonable time frame. From the family style appetizers accompanied by a spicy mocktail to the catch of the day followed by the seasonal panna cotta. The only issue we encountered was the catch of the day wasn't accompanied by the sides it said it would. When we asked the waitress about the discrepancy, she denied that the dish was supposed to come with fennel and potatoes, despite us having the menus. Nonetheless, I greatly enjoyed the entree's rich, full flavor and seasoned halibut. Overall, a positive experience and I recommend this restaurant to others! read more

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Cucciolo Terrazza, nestled on the ground level of the Advance Auto Parts Tower at 4200 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, delivered an unforgettable New Year's Eve dinner. From start to finish, the experience was impeccable. The Caesar Salad was a flavor-packed opener, with crisp gem lettuce, savory boquerones, and a delightful cured egg yolk touch. The herb-crusted halibut, accompanied by broccolini, fennel, and a zesty lemon caper sauce, was perfection on a plate. The bone-in pork chops stole the show with their charred tomato vinaigrette and crispy sage--hearty and elegant all at once. Dessert? Zeppole Con Crema Al. Think Italian donut holes paired with berry compote and salted bourbon caramel. Heaven. The staff made the evening shine. Brianna and Taylor's warmth and professionalism, along with Andrew's polished leadership, elevated the night. Cucciolo Terrazza is a must-visit gem. We'll be back soon! read more

Cucciolo Terrazza - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I came here for dinner with 8:30pm reservations. We arrived a bit early and were promptly seated at our table. The service was good and attentive! Now, the food was delicious as well. We ordered the mushroom risotto and spicy vodka rigatoni. Both dishes came out quick and hot. This is definitely a cute date night spot or perfect for a girlfriend catch up. The drinks were good - not great which is why I knocked off a star. I'd definitely come back to try other dishes. read more

Cucciolo Terrazza - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Very tasty brunch. I had the Tuscan scramble and everything was seasoned wonderfully, great combination of flavors, and presented very well. The waiter was excellent. There was no one else in the restaurant though for the 1.5 hours we were there for brunch though, so I hope word gets out of the fabulous quality. read more

Cucciolo Terrazza - Tuscan Scramble - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The ambiance of this place is quite nice. It's definitely on the fancier side, and came here with my girlfriends. Staff was very nice, and our waitress was so sweet!! Only reason I'm not going to give it a full 5 stars was because I don't think the price is worth it. I got the vodka a la pasta, and yes it did taste okay, but they charged quite a bit more for wanting to add shrimp. Also the cocktails we got were okay. It wasn't anything delicious, but it did look pretty :) It is nice for an Italian place, so I do suggest checking it out, but it was just nothing over the top for the price I ended up paying. read more

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I wanted some Italian food for Valentine's Day so I made reservations at Cucciolo Terrazza in North Hills. We showed up 30 minutes before our reservation and they were very accommodating, which was especially nice since we brought our 4 month old. They had a 4 course Valentine's Day menu, with 3-4 options for each course. We started out strong with appetizers and primi courses. The butternut squash arancini was nicely fried and crisp and the balsamic reduction added a nice acidity to the butternut squash stuffed inside. The shrimp caprese was a refreshing, lighter option and the shrimp were poached well. The lobster ravioli was by far my favorite dish - the lobster butter brodo was so rich and flavorful and the lobster was cooked well inside the ravioli. The ravioli didn't seem ravioli-shaped to me and the pasta itself was a little thick, but the dish was delicious nonetheless. The spicy vodka cream rigatoni was a delicious, large bowl of pasta - the dollop of house-made ricotta added a nice creaminess. The secondi and dessert options were a tad subpar compared to the first two courses. The herb crusted halibut was lacking salt and I wish I could have tasted more of the herbs. It also had some sort of sauce that had gelatinized, which isn't my favorite texture for a dish like this. The pork chop was the largest pork chop I have ever seen (not going to complain about that) and was seasoned and cooked very well. The tiramisu was pretty good - not the best tiramisu i've ever had - I appreciated how it wasn't overly sweet although some bites I wish had a tad more sweetness. The panna cotta was vanilla flavored with a chocolate bottom layer and was pretty good, nothing to write home about. Overall we had a lovely Valentine's dinner and the pasta dishes were definite stand-outs. The service was fairly good, though the timing between secondi and dessert courses was unexpectedly long, but no major complaints there. A lovely, spacious Italian restaurant in North Hills! 6.5/10 s APPETIZER *Butternut Squash Arancini: butternut squash, parmesan, arborio rice, Calabrian chili aioli *Shrimp Caprese: heirloom tomatoes, house vinaigrette, shrimp, basil, whipped mozzarella, saba, pesto PRIMI *Lobster Ravioli: garlic, parmesan, lobster butter brodo, fried sage, fennel pollen *Spicy Vodka Cream Rigatoni: vodka, plum tomatoes, house-made ricotta, basil, parmesan SECONDI *Herb Crusted Halibut *Pork Chop DESSERT *Tiramisu *Panna Cotta read more

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This tiny French crepe stand is absolutely wonderful. I ordered the savory buckwheat crepe with ham, gruyere cheese, and an egg. The edges were perfectly crispy, and the cheese was melted beautifully. The guy making them was incredibly fast and precise. Eating it hot out of the paper wrapper while walking down the street is such a joy. It's a simple, cheap, and incredibly delicious meal that always leaves me smiling. I highly recommend it. read more

I'm a sucker for the bread and bolognese ! Highly recommend for a date night. The girls and I had a great time.

Amazing!!! Every bite of food was delicious! I attended an educational dinner here and found the private room to be just as cozy as the main dining space. The staff was attentive without being overbearing. A great place for drinks and appetizers or a full meal to celebrate a special occasion. I will certainly be back! read more

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I tried to order takeout but nobody answers the phone. If you don't have takeout, just say so.

Nice ambiance in a nice location but the overall experience was mediocre. I visited Cucciolo with a group of friends on a Saturday night. We had a reservation and the restaurant was not incredibly crowded-an average size crowd. Maybe 10-15 tables of 2-3 patrons and about 5 people at the bar. The waitress asked if we wanted sparkling or still water and if we'd be interested in bread and oil with seasonings. When they brought the bread out, we immediately noticed that we all had different types of breads-not sure if it was intentional but some were over cooked, some stale, some chewy, just super inconsistent. I found that the food was good and well seasoned. The portions were smaller but filling. I wish the ambiance was better and this would've definitely been a 5 star experience. read more

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We enjoyed an incredible dinner at Cucciolo Terrazza! The restaurant is very upscale with a trendy ambiance. Service is amazing and the food is even better. For an appetizer, we shared the Stone Fruit Caprese (Heirloom tomatoes, house vinaigrette, peaches, mozzarella, pesto, pine nuts, saba). I didn't manage to snap a picture because it was gone so fast, but this was my favorite dish of the night! The peaches paired so well with the rest of the ingredients. For entrees, I got the Spicy Vodka Tomato Cream Rigatoni (Vodka, plum tomatoes, house made ricotta, basil). It was very decadent and tasty, even without the additional protein. Others in the party got: Wild Boar Agnolotti (Spinach pasta, porcini crumble, house brodo, stracchino cheese, saba, fennel pollen, crispy shallots) Vongole (Spaghetti, little neck clams, white wine, butter, garlic, lemon, red chili) Aglio e Olio (Spaghetti, sundried tomato, olive oil, garlic, red chili) For dessert, we had the Panna Cotta. We were also surprised to be given a complimentary Cannoli with some sort of blueberry cream filling since the Tiramisu wasn't available tonight. Everyone loved their dishes, and I'm so excited to go back to try out more! read more

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The food was absolutely amazing...had the eggplant parmigiana!! The service was great and atmosphere lovely......

Food was amazing! Loved all the pastas. The octopus was very good too. The sommelier was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. read more

Cucciolo Terrazza - Octopus - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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Date night at Cucciolo with my husband! It was his first time and my second. We were both super hungry, so he was unsure if he wanted to take a chance on this spot, but he's so glad we did! We were able to walk in and sit at the bar since we didn't have a reservation. The bartenders, host and servers were amazing! The bartender made me a sweet hibiscus drink that wasn't even on the menu and recommended some of his favorites. The menu was limited when it came to certain things we were interested in. My husband had buttered chicken with arugula salad on the side and I had vodka rigatoni pasta with chicken. Both meals were so bomb! They offer complimentary bread with an olive based oil and herbs/seasoning on the side! The sweet tea is amazing!! The ambiance, decor and overall vibe of the place is a 10! It was a great pick and we will definitely be back! read more

Cucciolo Terrazza - Buttered chicken with an arugula salad - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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What a nice night for a good meal. The decor is simplistic but elegant. Nice earth tones that keep the mood just right for a great dinner! I had one of the meatballs for an appetizer and it was AMAZING!!! I could pass on the arancini but not because it wasn't good just not for me! Flavor wise really good dish, just not the texture for me. I had the Beef Bolognese. It's worth the fight with a five year old over his/her toy! If I wasn't in public I would've licked the bowl. The other picture is something my girlfriend got but didn't care for it, it was a little on the salty side! Her replacement dish was BUSSIN'!! Something with shrimp, sorry I don't know but. I had a drink that seemed to have 5 liquors in it. Very strong and delicious and money's worth. Service was excellent all things top notch. read more

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This spot in North Hills was a good meeting spot for a work dinner. I started off with a glass of rose and a few others ordered cocktails. To start we split the Vegetarian Arancini and Salumi Board. For food my coworker and I split the Caesar Salad, Pork Chop Di Marsala and Gamberetto Zafferano. All of the food and drinks were really good. They also have great drink specials so check out their social media pages for more info. read more

Tried this restaurant for our anniversary and really enjoyed it. Ambiance was nice and contemporary. Our waiter and overall service was outstanding and the items he recommended were all very tasty and plenty of food. We had the halibut and the wild boar ravioli. Both were very good. Definitely would recommend for a romantic night out or business dinner. Parking at North Hills around the restaurant is a painful and plan to add extra time to find a space. read more

Fresh pasta is a constant craving for my family, and a quick perusal of Cucciolo Terrazza's menu revealed enticing pasta options that led to us making a last minute reservation for a late dinner. We parked at the adjoining deck next to the restaurant; the restaurant additionally offers complimentary valet. Despite a 9:15 reservation time, the restaurant seemed nearly completely packed when we arrived. The ambiance is a mix of industrial and elegant, and most diners seemed to be enjoying a nicer evening out. We started our meal with the nduja arancini and the Margherita pizzete. The former comprised 6 generously sized balls of slightly spicy, sausage flavored rice breaded, fried, and topped with a tangy aioli. The lightly crispy fritters packed a lot of flavor, though we personally prefer less distinct grains of rice in our arancini. The pizzete was a surprise hit among our party. The squat pie seemed pedestrian at first glance, but the lightly crispy, puffy crust blanketed with fresh tomato sauce and cheese proved a comforting bite. For our entrees, we chose to share three pastas. The sausage campanelle, with its chunks of well seasoned sausage, bold tomato ragu, and toothsome spiral noodles. The other two pastas had some faults but nonetheless were enjoyable. The spinach and artichoke ravioli's filling tasted a little watery and the artichokes themselves woody, but the pasta had a great texture and the tomato sauce had tasty fresh notes. The elk bolognese suffered slightly from overcooked noodles but we appreciated the alternative protein and flavor of the meat. We ended on a complimentary birthday tiramisu which tasted creamy and balanced. Even though we arrived near the end of dinner service, we received gracious service throughout our meal. Our waiter was attentive, helped with menu selections, and paced our meal out comfortably. We never felt rushed or unwelcome despite being the last diners to depart the restaurant. Overall, Cucciolo Terrazza represents a great place to have a nice dinner out and/or get your pasta fix. The mostly good food here earns four stars, with an extra fifth for the great service we received. read more

This was one of the best dining experiences I've had in Raleigh in a while. I came here for dinner but just discovered their brunch menu and want to come back already. We came here for my friend's birthday dinner, where we booked the private wine cellar room. The room was gorgeous- dimly lit, long table, chandelier, walls filled with wine around us, and closed off from the main dining section. I reserved it on the phone then was emailed with details and I was able to come early and decorate the room. Just note- the room has an $800 minimum to reserve. Everyone from the host to the servers were super kind, attentive, and quick. We had a slight issue but it was resolved quickly with good communication and understanding, and they were very apologetic afterwards. Everyone seemed very genuine. For starters, we got salad, meatballs, a charcuterie board, and pizza. The pizza is actually like a personal baby pizza so keep this in mind. It was okay. The appetizer that stole the show were the meatballs. They are beef, and they were so big and delicious. Everyone liked everything else as well. For main entrees we got a rack of lamb, elk bolognese, and a lot of spicy rigatoni plates. The spicy rigatoni was phenomenal. I would get this every time. Adding shrimp was $12 but it was 4 jumbo pieces of shrimp that were good so it's worth it. The rack of lamb was good but I was not a fan of the goat cheese polenta it sat on. The elk bolognese was definitely unique and flavorful and a cool dish to try if you like a lot of meat. All the drinks were made well and everyone left dinner very satisfied with their meals. I see this as a great spot for events and dates. They have a pretty unique menu with options for everyone and all kinds of meat. All the dishes are presented well and flavorful. Also, as somebody who doesn't eat pork I was very satisfied. read more

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Came here for dinner for the first time and we were pretty impressed. We got the crostini a la funghi as a starter and it was definitely my favorite part of the meal! It was absolutely delicious if you like mushrooms. I do wish there could've been a little more considering it was $16. We then got some complimentary bread and oil to dip while waiting for our entrees. The bread was warm and delicious. Sadly, i wanted the lasagna but they said they were out for the night. We ordered the pork chop and elk bolognese. The elk bolognese wasn't bad but definitely not my favorite pasta dish i've ever had. lastly, we ordered Zeppole Con Crema Al Limon which were donut holes. They were fresh and the dough was light and airy. The ambiance of the restaurant was amazing and there is a parking deck in the building. Highly recommend for a nice night out!! Waiter and staff were attentive. read more

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Went for brunch and it was so good!! Definitely a great upscale spot for good food and drinks. Good for friends or date night. The staff were really sweet even though there was only 2 front of house people working that day. The duck arancini are a must. read more

Cucciolo Terrazza - Breakfast bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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This is a beautiful restaurant with fantastic service and a very friendly staff. The ambiance is great for date night or gathering with family or friends. The food was good but pricey. I think that for the price it fell short of my expectations. I guess it didn't wow me. Bartender was great and drinks were on point. It's definitely worth the experience. read more

I dined here with my sister last night. Taylor, our server, was phenomenal. She was attentive, efficient, and an overall delight! We started with the beet salad. Hands down, this was the best beet salad that I've ever eaten. My sister agreed! Then, I had the vodka pasta and butter chicken dishes. My sister had the mushroom risotto with grilled chicken. The vodka pasta was spicy but flavorless. The pasta was more than al dente and totally underwhelming. The butter chicken was unseasoned. There was no garlic, no lemon, no salt, no pepper. Nothing but oily butter in a mini iron skillet. What a waste of calories! If I'm going to have greasy food, I want it to be delicious. The accompanying arugula salad helped the chicken dish because it had a lemon dressing and the arugula is naturally peppery. My sister did not enjoy the risotto due to its consistency and lack of flavor. Our sweet server gave us complimentary donuts because we were underwhelmed by the main courses. Sadly, the donuts tasted like captain crunch cereal. We both only took one bite and decided to take them home to our teenagers. My sister and I ended up going to True Foods Kitchen for cappuccino and dessert. Their vegan chocolate cake was divine. We did not want to wait for a table at Village Tavern to get our favorite butter cake. All in all, I plan to return to Cucciolo just for the beet salad! It's that darn good. read more

Our favorite Italian spot! Hands down the best Meatball we have ever had. This occasion we couldn't resist ordering two! The Wild Boar Agnolotti is one of our top dishes of all time. Cucciolo has a great atmosphere, wonderful service and the bartenders are skilled mixologist with excellent recommendations if feeling adventurous. read more

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I'll start on a positive note by saying this place is very nice! Nice decor, ambiance, definitely a place to get dressed up for a nice dinner. However, in my opinion, this place is not worth your money. Very expensive for some not-so-great food. The complimentary bread and oil is nice, but nothing outstanding and we could tell they were pretty stingy with it. We had a party of 6 but were just brought one basket with the tiniest bread slices to start? It was gone within seconds. As we continued to ask for more bread, the server seems reluctant and at one point just said "I'll check if there's more" .. but then we watched many other tables receive fresh baskets of bread, yet no more was brought to us, so we just dropped it lol. Pretty clear they just didn't want to give more but just used a quick excuse rather than telling us no. The spinach artichoke ravioli was the most enjoyable thing I tasted. The raviolis are packed with spinach, which I personally liked (but I don't think any ricotta cheese like standard raviolis usually have?). A bit misleading to call it spinach artichoke ravioli though, because the "artichoke" component was literally just raw chunks of artichoke placed on the plate. It was $24 for 6 pretty small raviolis. The spicy vodka rigatoni (not pictured) was fine, but could definitely be made the same or better at home. It lacked flavor. The margherita pizza was also fine. There's very big slices of wet tomato under the cheese of each slice which we found to be a bit unpleasant and messy. Also a margherita pizza without fresh basil leaves was disappointing. The pesto was appreciated, but some actual basil would have elevated it. Overall just nothing special about this pizza. It was small because it was listed as an appetizer, but for $16 is just still not worth it. Lastly, I'll note that it was my friend's birthday dinner. I had called ahead of time to say that we would be ordering a slice of tiramisu for him, but wanted to ask if they could put a candle in it when they brought it out. They enthusiastically responded that the tiramisu would be comped for him, as they do complimentary dessert with candle for birthdays. So I figured that was great and super nice! Well, the time comes at dinner and we order the tiramisu. They do bring it with a candle, but then there's a charge for it on our check. I was fine paying it, but just found it very odd that they ensured me on the phone, literally an hour before our reservation when I called, that it would be comped and that they do a complimentary birthday dessert. It's a small issue, but just weird to me. The hostess was so sweet, love her. Our server was nice too. We were made aware that the kitchen was short staffed, which excused the slow service. If you want a good, filling, and worth it meal though, I wouldn't come here. We all left disappointed and still hungry since the portions were so small. I definitely would not come back here again for dinner. Maybe I could give the brunch a chance next time though. read more

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Well done! Bravo! The food is outstanding, the atmosphere is phenomenal, and the service is commendable. Cucciolo a fantastic addition to the neighborhood. And the Spicy Vodka Rigatoni is simply exquisite! read more

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Food - Menu is limited, which explains why I kept seeing the same pictures of food over and over again in the reviews. And they were out of 2 of the dishes by the time we sat down for our 8:30 PM reservation. So I was disappointed there wasn't more to choose from. We weren't thrilled with the bread... it had a spongy texture but we ate it because we were hungry. However, with that said, our pastas were AMAZING!!!! Tasted fresh and homemade! Portion size was great too! Service - Hostess was great and very apologetic for the long wait. We told her we understood because it was a busy Friday night. Our sever was very nice and attentive. Ambience - I loved the inside... well lit and aesthetically pleasing. Music wasn't too loud although I did notice that it stopped and there would be periods of silence. Overall - Great experience and I can't wait to go back! read more

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This was the most close to perfect meal both my Sister and I have had out in quite awhile. Make reservations! Even for a Tuesday night, they filled up pretty fast. The restaurant is gorgeous with a variety of seating options. Big city vibe. Impressive for a date night, girl's night out, business meeting...really any occasion. Two small immediate dislikes...our table for two was very wobbly. Would have driven us crazy if our Server hadn't deftly fixed it for us right away when we pointed it out. And why oh why do we have to look at the drink menu on our phone if we are handed a paper menu for food? The internet service in there on my phone made it impossible for me to bring it up, but again...our Hero Server donated his phone for the win. Bring on the bottle of prosecco and let's get the party started! Arancini with Calabrian Chile dip to start for us. This was amazing! Surprisingly light and moist, unlike other heavily breaded arancini we've had in the past. And the spicy dip was perfect with it. Extra credit for an even amount (6)...perfect for sharing. For our entrees we decided to share the braised lamb with olives, gnudi, kale and onions, along with the Lobster Bucatini with fra dia volo sauce. Let me just say I'm not a big lamb person (Sis is), but I do love braised meat with a rich sauce and this is just that. The depth of flavor is something that takes time and real know-how. This Chef definitely knows what they are doing! And oh my, the Lobster Bucatini is the stuff dreams are made of. Nice spicy sauce as fra dia volo should be, perfectly cooked lobster and just-right bucatini...topped with a light creamy ricotta and tangy parmesan. sigh...pasta heaven! Full but curious about the lemon mousse dessert I had seen pictures of, we had to try this whimsical dessert. It looks like a real lemon when it arrives. Cut through the white chocolate, and inside are two layers...yellow and white. It is a fun dessert, but for something that looks like a real lemon, it was disappointing in lemon flavor. Same for the crumbled yellow cookie that is around it. I tell you, bring up the flavor level on this dessert to match the rest of what we had and it would be sheer perfection all around. loved my experience at their restaurant in Durham, and I loved this new Raleigh one. Can't wait to go back! Note: if you're wondering where it is, it's in the newer Advance Auto building on Six Forks. We parked in the lot that's behind the Another Broken Egg Cafe area (near Chuy's). Looked like they have a parking deck in the AA building, but we didn't try it. Also, other reviews I read mentioned the loud noise level in the dining room. I don't know if they fixed the problem, but where we were seated, we could hear each other with no problem. We were fortunate though to not have anyone sitting in the table for four next to us, though. That might have made a difference. read more

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Dinner on a Thursday night at this new North Hills spot. Excellent food. The restaurant is located on the ground floor of an office building in trendy North Hills. Ample parking at lots and a nearby parking deck. It's a rectangular room with low walls separating sections. Perhaps 30 tables. Cool fixtures and a modern backlit bar. Tables are not covid-spaced; seating is very close together. This place is LOUD. Too loud to carry on a conversation without shouting. Reservations honored to the minute. Our server, Mike did a great job explaining the menu with recommendations, orchestrating the meal as ordered. There was a brief lapse after dinner and before dessert, but the manager stepped in to clear plates and take the dessert order. Thanks, both! Started with a charcuterie board and carpaccio. The board is a perfect appetizer-size with 3 meats, 3 cheeses and crisp baguette rounds. Fresh and delicious. Carpaccio is a generous plateful of micro-thin beef dressed lightly in lemon juice, topped with oil-dressed arugula and thinly shaved parmesan. An excellent prep of this classic - beef fresh and juicy, arugula tart and crisp, the perfect amount of lemon and oil. Next, tried shrimp & crab ravioli. 4 to a serving, the ravioli pasta is made with squid ink, so is solid black. Ravioli is stuffed with a ball of minced crab & shrimp.The taste is reminiscent of a chinese steamed dumpling. Ravioli is sauced in a saffron-infused stock, flecked with peas and slices of artichoke and dusted with red pepper flakes. An unexpected prep; unique and very tasty. The pasta is fresh and cooked perfectly. The blend of the stock, saffron and crab/shrimp very satisfying. I could do without the red peppers flakes - to me the heat takes away from the tone. But that's just me. Ended with a pair of desserts, Panna cotta and tiramisu. The Panna cotta is rich, sweet and creamy. It's topped with a sour pear compote. Custard: excellent. Pear: meh. Tiramisu outstanding. Tart, rich mascarpone atop soft lady fingers, topped with whipped cream and dusted with chocolate powder. I didn't taste rum or coffee distinctly but they're in there.... This is authentic tiramisu. Shout out to the coffee service. A prefect cup of cappuccino is served in an "it's our pleasure to serve you" coffee cup. The classic NY/NJ diner paper cup, reincarnated in ceramic. A very fun touch. Overall a delicious meal with great service. Many other choices to try so worth a return trip. Not sure I'd go with a group though... It's too loud for conversation. read more

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Gotta love Yelp coming in clutch for a recommendation for a nice dinner in Raleigh to celebrate a friend's recent birthday. Although I lived in Raleigh for four years, the scene has changed quite a bit since then. North Hills has exploded since my day, and I was excited to discover a newer restaurant called Cucciolo Terraza. Good Italian food is hard to come by in Greensboro, so I had to jump on the opportunity for it when I found this place. OpenTable made it easy to secure a reservation at this popular, new spot at 5:30pm on a Friday night. If you aren't aware, Friday night holiday traffic in Raleigh is not for the faint of heart. It caused my friend to be late but the restaurant was super accommodating and still sat me at our table as I waited. I really enjoyed the ambiance of the room with all the pretty lights and Christmas decorations. It was fairly quiet when I first arrived but definitely got more boisterous as the dining room filled up over the course of the night. My friend and I shared a bottle of the Notte Rosa bubbly. It went down easily as we waited for our orders. Thankfully there was complimentary bread and an olive oil and balsamic reduction dip, so the alcohol didn't go straight to my head. For our entrees we ordered the Agnello con le Olive and the Spicy Vodka Tomato Cream Rigatoni. The ricotta gnudi was so light and creamy it basically melted on my tongue. Paired with the slow roasted lamb it was a fantastic dish. I devoured it heartily.  I'm so happy I discovered this place and look forward to an excuse to visit again soon! read more

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Accidentally came upon Cucciolo Terraza for dinner while staying in the North Hills / Falls of Neuse neighborhood for business. I look the restaurant up afterward to find, well: Best New Restaurant 2022 by Raleigh Magazine. Huh. Well, sometimes lucky is good & I came up lucky (again). A really cool place with attentive staff, and adventuresome menu, and a kitchen to back it all up. Give Cucciolo a try and very likely you will not be disappointed. read more

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