Sat at bar, as always, and had Carl as my server. His demeanor and caring for the customers are to…read moredie for. You walk in and the place speaks cool. Brick walls. Small tabletops. A fun place! Asked Carl for his recommendations. The vodka penne is to die for. So tasty. Pasta cooked perfectly al dente and the sauce is really good. Recommendations all around. Try Cucciolo Osteria. You will not be disappointed. Carl knows his stuff and is well worth the hang with him!

Great food and ambiance for a date night, not a budget option but it's worth it…read moreGot the spicy vodka penne and the bruschetta with tomato and mozzarella - they were great The vanilla gelato was heavenly

Everything was amazing! Service, appetizers and entrees! We all enjoyed our dishes. Will definitely…read morereturn! I wasn't drinking at the time so I don't know how they were but the drinks looked good. The atmosphere was nice and relaxing...not pretentious at all.

Always passed by and finally had the chance to try…read more Service was good, food was fantastic. Not to mention their classically great cocktails. I would come here simply for their Crispy Smoked Octopus. If this could stay on the menu forever, I would love that.

Food - wonderful. Service - excellent…read more The front room was charming. Didn't notice if there was more space around a corner. The Parking lot in front is for expert drivers:)

Such great food! Reservations are required…read more It can be a tight fit but the set up is great. The service can take a little time but that is because everything is made to order and soooo worth it!

We decided at the last minute to have dinner at Cugino Forno-Durham on a Tuesday evening…read more When I arrived, there were maybe 2 other families there and I was able to order right away and choose where I wanted to sit. We ordered the veggie pizza and added pepperoni. It was the best pizza I've had in some time. The crust was absolutely amazing and all so fresh. The sauce and toppings were so good. We all loved every bite. They have pizza, salads, lots of beverages and delicious looking desserts!! I didn't try a dessert, but will definitely will be back soon to try them. The service was great. Everyone was so friendly. There's plenty of tables with bench seating inside and several table outside. You can bring the whole family.

Good vibe. Delicious pizza love that I can get dessert from here too. Spacious place, nice place to…read morehangout with friends!

Pizzeria Toro is a fantastic option and sits atop Durham's solid pizza scene…read more We loved the brick-oven pizza--great flavor, perfectly cooked, and clearly made with care. The dining area is cozy and communal, creating a lively, energetic atmosphere. The ambiance is vibrant--almost overwhelming at times--but it adds to the energy and personality of the place. And the service was fantastic. Matt took great care of us and made the experience even better. Great pizza, great service, and a fun, memorable atmosphere. We'll definitely be back!

Service: 6/5 bartender was excellent…read more Food: 5/5 - had Cole's favorite (tomato and oregano), and the summer squash pizza, as well as roasted okra. Very good. Ambiance: 5/5.

I get this for lunch sometimes since it is close to work. I absolutely LOVE the chicken gyro!!…read moreDefinitely recommend

We love our neighborhood Italian spot. The team is consistently charming and real. Little pretense…read more Couple of dozen homestyle dishes. All made well. Not fancy. Real.

In this small, unassuming yet elegant restaurant, lives a true Italian tradition, and food just as…read moreyou would expect in Italy. We had a lovely dinner tonight, our server Rafael was an absolute delight! Every bite was delicious and worth every penny. I highly recommend this amazing establishment. It seems people haven't yet realized its presence. The wine selection was remarkable. We had a lovely orange wine from Calabria. 10/10 don't miss out on this great spot!

Convivio is an authentic Italian restaurant with a nice atmosphere and good service. My wife had…read morethe black cod and it was fantastic. I had the risotto with shellfish and was very disappointed. Shellfish meaning popcorn shrimp and clams from a can. Not flavorful and not much protein.

I was excited to try Killer Queen for a downtown girls' night. We don't make it downtown very…read moreoften, so I've been enjoying exploring some of Durham's newer spots -- and this one was absolutely worth the visit. The wine list is broad and thoughtfully curated, with options that feel approachable whether you're a casual wine drinker or someone looking to try something new. The sommeliers were welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping us find something we loved. The space itself is adorable, with eclectic décor and cozy lighting that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile. It's a great spot for conversation and a relaxed evening with friends. The only downside is that the space is fairly small, and I would have loved to see one or two more lower seating options for small groups rather than mostly high tops. That said, I could absolutely see us coming back for a pre- or post-theater glass of wine or an easy catch-up night.

Love this place! It's definitely a bit on the pricey side when it comes to the wine, but the…read moreoverall experience makes up for it. The service is awesome--our server was super friendly and gave me a great drink recommendation when I wasn't sure what I wanted. It ended up being perfect. My friend and I shared a glass of the 2023 Cederberg Bukettraube (sweet white wine) and got the charcuterie board for one with the truffle salami. That board was so good--I can't stop thinking about it. The toasted baguette slices with truffle salami and mustard? Unreal. It was the perfect little snack to share. We also had the citrus lavender crème brûlée, which was surprisingly delicious. I don't usually go for crème brûlée, but this one was light, not overly sweet, and just had a really nice flavor. I've also tried their shepherd's pie before and loved it--wish it was still on the menu! The vibe inside is moody and cozy, and they've got a cute outdoor patio too. Overall, such a great spot. A little pricey, but I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend checking out Killer Queen.

An old garage converted to a fancy pizza place. Love it. Great beer selection. We had a pepperoni…read morespicy pizza and a margarita. Both were cooked to perfection. But the big treat was the brussel sprouts fried or roasted to a crisp perfection. Highly recommend. Low key atmosphere with inside and outside seating. Great for families.

Went in while visiting from out of town. They had several…read morebeers to select from & a bar with many cocktails available. You order food from qr code at the table. Service is minimal but they did come around & check on us a couple times. Its a cool space to grab a pie & some beers. There is a nice outdoor space as well if you want to enjoy open air

Outstanding. Order whatever. It won't disappoint. Typical good service you'd expect of a restaurant…read moreof this calibre in Durham :)

Littler is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Durham! The menu is New American with a focus…read moreon seafood and seasonal delights. The restaurant itself is cozy with warm accents, brick walls, and wood paneling. I feel like I'm visiting a good friends home whenever I visit here. As for the menu, and I say this without exaggeration, the carrot cavatelli is one of the best dishes I have ever eaten in my life. I seriously dream about that carrot cavatelli. Here's some of my other favorites: Smoked Hamachi Puree- the toaste brioche goes perfectly with this pate-like fish dish, so insanely delicious Caramelized Onion Tart- the robiola foam is a dream and pairs perfectly with the apple Carrot Cavatelli- I would literally write the chef personally if this item was ever removed from the menu. Trust me, just order this for the table. King Trumpet- there's not much better than a grilled trumpet mushroom Seared Scallops- such a fantastic dish that comes with creamed greens and little pasta to accompany it Braised Beef Short Rib- meaty and delicious, exactly as you would expect Chocolate Mousse- a delicious, decadent dessert that's the perfect way to end a meal All in all, you can't have a bad meal at Littler. Plus the service is always excellent and they pay their staff a living wage! Definitely a do not miss in Downtown Durham