Culaccino Did Not Miss Last night we tried Culaccino Italian Restaurant, and from the first cocktail to dessert, this one was a hit. I started with the Italian Tourist, one of their specialty cocktails. It reminded me of fruit punch with just a touch of licorice--different in a really good way. Next came the Greek salad, and the portion was easily enough for two people to share. The dressing was delicious, but the sun-dried tomatoes absolutely stole the show. They gave the salad so much flavor and took it from good to memorable. Our second appetizer was the arancini. It wasn't my favorite dish of the night, but that marinara sauce? I could have ordered a side of it and eaten it by itself. For entrées, we went with the tenderloin special and a white pizza with sausage. Is your mouth watering? Because mine was, and apparently still is. Both dishes were full of flavor, beautifully prepared, and absolutely worth ordering again. We finished with the lemon gelato and blueberry compote, which was the perfect ending--bright, refreshing, lightly sweet, and exactly what I wanted after such a rich meal. The restaurant itself is spacious but still manages to feel warm and authentic. It gave me that family-owned Italian restaurant in New York kind of vibe. The service matched the atmosphere perfectly. Since it was our first visit, our waitress really helped guide us through the menu and gave great recommendations. Culaccino gave us great food, great service, and one of those meals that makes you start planning your next visit before you've even left. I'll definitely be back--next mission: working my way through those homemade pastas. read more

See all

I waited to do this review for about a month, as we did not have the best of time. It was our first time there, a friend recommended it and it was our date night. We canceled driving to Williamsburg to try it. Nice interior and we caught them literally minutes after opening with us being the second table in. Overall the interior is nice but within minutes of sitting I heard a server complaining about Sinatra and "F" Sinatra. I normally wouldn't care but the lack of professionalism comes up again later and often. Our server, who immediately points at the board to the left of us and says I can't pronounce it but there are the specials, and that she is new. Newness aside now, we place our orders and more people start to arrive. For some reason she is taking every table after us. Except a family that I guess had requested the gent that hates Sinatra. He gave them great service but ours not so great. Weird he wasn't helping her like a service team should, especially since she was new. He only had the family of four. Our dinners arrive from someone else (manager) and the app finally gets cleared, we weren't offered additional drinks at any point. The food, the mushroom chicken was decent, the vodka sauce with my shrimp was the spiciest thing I have had from an Italian place, ever. I enjoy Thai food at medium +, my wife is no slouch for spice and this was borderline Thai hot. It caught me so off guard we switched food as she can handle it better than I can. She gave up on it too, we doctored it up later at home to make it eatable. I also ordered a mushroom/pancetta pizza To-go, we still haven't seen our server back, pizza arrived missing a topping, the pancetta. It takes 15 minutes to get the pancetta in a box separately, to put on later I guess. During this time, my wife visits the restroom, I guess a back of the house employee comes in and one cook in the back yells GTFO we are busy. Right within ear shot of the family with kids next to us with the Sinatra hater. I wish I was making this up as the pasta was obviously made in house and showed promise. But we finally get our server back "Do you want the check?"and weren't offered desert/coffee and it takes over 10-15 minutes to cash out. One of our worst date nights we have had in recent memory. read more

See all

Came out here with my twin for our birthday. Very cute, hip environment in the heart of Phoebus. The menu is modern Italian, with a large selection of food, including artisan pizzas, pasta dishes, and sandwiches. My favorite food is of course lasagna and that's exactly what I got. It seems like a boring choice, but the thing is, everyone makes lasagna different, and I've been making a point as of late to try lasagna at different places. This one certainly does not disappoint! The pasta is fresh, there are layers of cheese between thing sheets of pasta, so soft that it almost melts off the fork as I slide it in. The Bolognese sauce that's piled on top is heart and robust, but not overwhelming. The whipped Burrata cheese adds a rich touch. For dessert I had olive oil cake. I've never had it before and I was on a mission to try something new, so what better time than on my 42nd birthday, right? It was delicious, with a fruity, herbal, floral flavor topped with a dollop of fresh citrus icing. Service was very fast and friendly. Our server was helpful when I made my selection and I was so happy with my birthday dinner. read more

See all

Ordered two pasta dishes and were very disappointed. Both were barely warm, the pasta over cooked and one was incomplete. The alla vodka was spicy. Did not enjoy the flavor. The pesto was not edible. Unfortunately, both went to waste and we went without dinner. I did contact about the missing ricotta and was refunded. It was difficult to contact the restaurant as they do not have a phone. read more

Culaccino Italian Restaurant - Pesto missing ricotta - Italian Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

See all

Torn on this review because I didn't hate it, but there's definitely room for improvement. The good: The hot honey pizza! Delicious, possibly a little oily but a very tasty pizza and I wish it was a regular on the menu and not a special. The not so good : The lasagna. I was so excited for this but it was a let down, but NOT because of the flavor.. I actually liked the flavor and there was potential however it was mush. At first we thought we were eating mounds of cheese but then realized it was a mix of cheese and uncooked pasta dough. We showed our server and she was so nice to take it back to the kitchen, in which they said it's just how they make their pasta sheets (thin) which okay, but no... I felt I would have been able to take what was given to me and roll out some more sheets to cook again that's how doughy it was. But again, our server was sweet and took it off the bill since we decided to send it back. All in all, I think I would give them another chance especially knowing they've changed their menu since I last visited. Hopefully the kinks have been worked out since (I went in November). read more

Culaccino Italian Restaurant - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

See all

Great service, wine and food!!! All pasta is homemade and delicious. Give them a try read more

See all

Fantastic authentic Italian food. I have been here many times and food is Always delicious. The services is good, staff are wonderful. The ambiance is welcoming, relaxing and warm. For Authentic Italian, this is the place. read more

Stopped in for a bite after a work event and had a great experience! We sat at the bar and were immediately welcomed with attentive service. West was amazing--super friendly, knowledgeable, and gave great recommendations on both food and wine. He suggested a wine for us to try, and it was so good we ended up getting a glass. He stayed engaged the entire time and made sure our first visit was a great one. Before we left, he also shared the specials and gave us ideas on what to try next time. We'll definitely be back--and we'll be sitting with West again! read more

Culaccino Italian Restaurant - Shrimp alla vodka - Italian Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

Beautiful decor, nice ambiance, very friendly servers, and amazing fresh pasta, bread and cocktails. read more

See all

This is a charming little addition to the Phoebus area restaurant scene. We were thinking of dining at Mama Rosa's but the wait was long, so we fortunately opted to stop by Culaccino, which I had been wanting to try for awhile. The interior decor is somewhat rustic, but the food was surprisingly sophisticated. We split a Greek salad to start which was generously sized and fresh, highlighted by huge castelvetrano olives. My dining partner enjoyed the sizable chicken parm sandwich (made better by a request for more of the excellent marinara on the side). I was very pleasantly surprised that the pulpo spagnole special (described as "squid and eggplant" by the server) turned out to be very tender grilled octopus over a buttery risotto accented by a well-seasoned eggplant caponata and surrounded by a cool and creamy ajoblanco soup. It was exquisite, and I hope they keep it on the menu longer. We finished with the olive oil cake which had hints of orange and rosemary and was nicely plated with a delicious lemon curd and Chantilly cream. Service was prompt, and we enjoyed having the chef stop by to chat about the special. This was our first visit here but will not be our last! read more

See all

This classy Italian restaurant in Phoebus is a MUST VISIT! I just had dinner tonight with a girlfriend there and it was nothing short of wonderful. When we arrived we were greeted by the hostess and immediately sat with our preference of patio seating. The outside seating was very peaceful, calm and spacious. The menu was very simple which makes it so much easier to select a meal. They had a pretty good variety of items to select from. I did two pizzas for the table pepperoni and margherita. My friend did the Chicken Cacciatore and the lemon cheesecake ! Our server was so awesome and provided great customer service ( I didn't catch his name but he's bald and covered in tattoos). He was so nice! The price is your typical Italian restaurant pricing 12 inch pizza for 19 and pastas upper 20-30. We will definitely be back! Truly a great dining experience ! I wish I would have grabbed some quick pics but I will get them next time! read more

We came in on a Saturday night to try out the new italian place that had opened in Phoebus. As soon as we walked in, we were immediately greeted and sat. The ambience in the restaurant was wonderful, and the food was excellent. We got the White Pizza, and I was nervous about it since I'm not typically an alfredo fan. The pizza was delicious and I would highly recommend it. We also got the focaccia appetizer and a couple glasses of wine. Everything was wonderful and we are already making plans to go back! read more

Culaccino Italian Restaurant - White pizza - Italian Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

Have been wanting to try this Italian restaurant for months & we finally made it! Our server was cheerful and organized and answered our questions about the different items on the menu. We started off with Calamari with Marinara, which was cooked perfectly and not greasy like I have had at many restaurants. The marinara sauce was delicious, I wish there was a little more. I had a tasty Dirty Martini and my friend enjoyed his Rum and Coke. My friend ordered the Shrimp alla Vodka and said it was a 10! I had the Roasted Mushroom Alfredo and added sausage. It was quite yummy, but I couldn't finish it, so I had to take some of it home. We finished our meal with Olive Oil Cake, with cream & a lemony curd. Sooo yummy! We can't wait to come back next time on a Monday for their Wine & Pizza night or maybe on a Wednesday for their Pasta Night. We're happy that Phoebus has finally added a great new restaurant to the town! read more

Service, food, & ambiance were great! We tried a variety of menu items. They accommodated a party of 8-10 with no issues. We had a great time & will definitely be back! read more

See all

Terrible experience. When we arrived, there was almost no one there. Yet despite this, our food took an hour. We watched many people that came in after we ordered leave before us. We were just the unlucky ones whose order they forgot? Had it just been my wife and I, I would have walked out. Food finally arrived. Two had the shrimp à la vodka. It was terrible. It was spicy, like they had confused Italian with Cajun food, spiced from a large jar of salt-laden "spices" from Walmart. Another friend had the bolognese. I only tried a bit and refused the offer of any more. I was the lucky one who got a plate that was actually good: the lasagne bolognese. It was our first ,and will certainly be our last ,visit to this restaurant. The overall experience was bad enough, but to pay so much for food that leaves you feeling bloated is really a bummer. read more

Good Italian food for being in the south. We all enjoyed our food! Cozy and quiet vibe while I dined. Service was excellent and waitress was extremely attentive. I had the lasagna bolognese for my main course which was delicious. Our table had a Caesar salad, meatballs, and calamari as well. read more

Culaccino Italian Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Hampton, Virginia

See all

Culaccino is a recent addition to Phoebus. The wait staff is attentive without being intrusive. The food is absolutely amazing. My husband's steak was perfect and came with delicious grilled vegetables. I had fusilli with pesto and whipped ricotta. Another hit. They also have a terrific wine list. Next time you're in the mood for first class Italian, please give Culaccino a try. It's worth the trip and you won't be sorry. Wishing them every success. read more

First off, the service here is otherworldly. The nicest bartenders and servers ever. I have a serious obsession with the Cesar salad but everything I've tasted here has been delicious and beautiful presentation. The restaurant has a super clean, upscale bistro vibe! Definitely reccomend!! read more

The ambiance is cozy with good vibes, though it can get a bit warm and loud since it's a bit small. The design is really nice, and the bar is huge! Our server was enthusiastic and knowledgeable, which made the experience even better. They had a fun cocktail selection, although the wine list was a bit limited. For appetizers, we tried the meatballs, which had a delicious sauce and cheese, the Caesar salad with homemade croutons (just needed a bit more dressing), and the calamari, which was high quality but could have been fried a bit longer. For entrees, the chicken cacciatore was super flavorful and served on creamy polenta. Definitely a highlight! The pesto pasta was fresh and flavorful, but a little one dimensional. The tomatoes they used as a garnish were great, just wish there were more to add some more flavor to the dish. Overall, we really enjoyed our meal and look forward to coming back and trying the pizza once the back patio opens! read more

See all

Loved our date night here.... Delicious food, personable server Rob, great Italian wine. Not pretentious. Will be back very soon!

Best Italian I've had in Virginia. Lasagna Bolognese is my go to anywhere it's available and I LOVED this one.

Wes did an AMAZING job making is some DELICIOUS dirty martinis and specialty cocktails!! Would recommend!!

Amazing food, service, and ambiance. Everything we ordered was fantastic and our server was funny, informative, and very attentive!

We went on the second weekend. The lasagna was great, The service was good and I'm sure will only get better as they get their feet under them. The only downside was it was a bit warm inside the restaurant but the space is very cozy. read more

Loved it! Great atmosphere, perfect music choice. We sat at the bar and were greeted immediately. Our cocktails were on point, we ordered clams and meatballs, both were delicious! They offered bread to dip in the broth... the bread was so light and fluffy, butter on the side. Amazing! I ordered pizza, husband ordered lasagna, and son ordered pork chop. Every dish was so good. read more

Been here 4 times now. I like the laid back atmosphere. Consistently good with food, drink, service. Great wine selection (I prefer Italian), great attentive service. Pizzas are fantastic. Risotto amazing. Great specials, there is usually something I want on them which is unusual for me in this area as it's usually all seafood at other places. Nice to finally see a menu without lamb or duck lol. Lasagna is really good, too. This is my go-to restaurant in Phoebus, my new favorite. Add a chicken Parmesan, please!! Keep up the good work. We will be back. read more

Very good atmosphere, great staff and the Pizza was perfect. Overall it is a very enjoyable experience.

Tried out Culaccino last night. The place was rockin at 7 which was promising. We sat at the beautiful and comfortable bar. To our delight, we were served by the superstar Wes! Knowing we were going to have the cioppino and lasagna from the glowing reviews we ordered right away. We did not have to wait long. Both were exceptional and filling, too. Any requests we had for condiments and such were brought quickly and pleasantly. Our bar neighbors had pizza which looked extremely good- thin crust with a nice bubbly crunchy lookingouter crust. Looking forward to returning to try the pork chop Parmesan. Good job, team! read more

Service and atmosphere were great. Food was borderline inedible. Every dish was grossly over salted, including the bread. Food looked great, pasta fresh made, but way too salty. The waiter was great, took our criticism and said he would pass it on. Our entire party of eight all agreed. No manager visited the table or checked with us. I'll wait till I see other comments to see if anything changes before I'm willing to give it a second shot. read more

First time there, so I ordered the lasagna. If lasagna is good at an Italian restaurant everything else will be good. It was NOT good. This was a pile of layered cheeses with little sauce, meat, and no noodles. Very salty. It was a large portion so we took 1/2 home and gave it to our neighbor. She said it was horrible. They definitely need to change their recipe before I'd consider going back. read more