Everything was amazing! Service, appetizers and entrees! We all enjoyed our dishes. Will definitely return! 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. read more

I came here for a group dinner, which was served family style in a private room in the back. I was the only vegan in the group, and the server was very attentive, making sure that I knew what food was vegan and what was not, bringing me separate versions of the dishes, and even coming out to confirm with me if I was okay with honey or not. Overall, I cannot speak highly enough of the service. I always feel anxious asking for vegan versions at restaurants which don't have anything vegan on the menu, but I felt very at ease here. The staff was extremely professional. They brought me a separate salad, which was some kind of pepper / oil / radish situation. The main dish was a basil & eggplant pasta with red sauce. The noodles themselves were delicious, and I loved the basil & eggplant. I did feel that the sauce was perhaps a bit bland / undersalted, but I suspect that was because of the vegan accommodations. I think the salad suffered for similar reasons. I think they could improve their menu by designing an intentionally vegan main dish, particularly one that was more well-balanced to make up for the lack of cheese (everything else had cheese in it, so I'm assuming that was the problem with my dish). Overall, however, I was very impressed with the service and it was a very positive experience. I appreciate the lengths to which they went to accommodate me. read more

I have been to this restaurant twice. The first time (mid-late June of 2026), my chicken was dry, the rigatoni alla norma was not flavorful, and the drinks were good. The second time, (late July of 2026) I ordered arancini which came cold on the inside... we sent it back and we were so icked out that we didn't even want it at all. Although, our main courses came out well. I really enjoyed the Dunderi, and the Mafaline we had was yummy too. This has been a hit or miss... which makes me really not sure if I would give this place a try again or if I would recommend it to anyone for anything other than a drink at the bar or the dunderi. read more

Excellent. Lovely and kind staff. The food is always incredibly fresh, fragrant, authentic. The portion sizes are perfect and the price is unbeatable for the quality of the food you get. The ambiance is very cozy. The bar is tasteful. Love this spot for a date night read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We made reservations here for 5:30 on a Tuesday before a DPAC show at 7:30, which we indicated on the reservation. Because they state that tables of 2 will only be allowed the table for 90 minutes, we didn't think timing would be an issue, but indicated it just in case. The restaurant wasn't busy, assuming since we were on the earlier side of a weeknight. However, despite all this, we still barely made it to our show. The restaurant is cozy and moody and smells wonderful. I love being able to see the kitchen from the tables. However, service was a little off-putting. Our waitress was cordial, but she didn't tell us about the specials until after we asked and even then, only stated the name of the dish--no description. This wouldn't have been as off-putting except that she was energetic and forthcoming about the drink and food specials for the table next to us, which was a larger party. It honestly made us feel like there was a different attitude based on perceived tip. Pacing of our food was a little awkward. We ordered the burrata bruschetta and the golden beets and mozzarella salad to start and they were brought out separately--the salad only after we had finished the burrata. Both dishes were good, and the real shining star was the mozzarella under the salad. After we finished the salad, our waitress cleared our plates and then said, "ok now I'll put the entrees in." Again, since we had a schedule to adhere to, we were a little perplexed. We sat with nothing on the table for about 10 minutes, which I think would have been better filled with food or something to munch on. My friend got the cacio e pepe, which was divine, and I got the tagliatelle al ragu, which was good and very filling. Because of the timing, we didn't get to order dessert, which was a bummer. In fact, our waitress didn't even ask if we were interested--just dropped the check off. There are a few other things I'd like to try on the menu, so I'll probably be back, but this wasn't the stellar experience that I'm used to from Matt Kelly restaurants. read more

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A group of us were in town for the weekend and decided to go here for dinner. It was a very cute and intimate restaurant. Gave family restaurant vibes which was nice. Everyone was super nice - from the waiter to the sommelier. Food came out quickly and was really good! I had the special which was a short rib pasta - very good! Also recommend getting the shrimp bruschetta - it was a crowd pleaser. read more

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What I recommend: Ask what's seasonal and go with that Mother & Sons is a solid Italian spot in downtown Durham, especially for a date night. I've tried the lasagna, spaghetti and meatballs, and a few other dishes, but the seasonal options always end up being my favorite. They tend to rotate, and every time I've gone with a seasonal recommendation, it's been the best meal on the table. This isn't the kind of Italian food that will completely blow you away, but it's consistently good and worth trying. The prices are fair, leaning a little on the moderate side, and the atmosphere makes it a great spot for a relaxed evening out. read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Great little bistro I stumbled upon when I was walking to find another place. Vibe...independently owned, family friendly local cafe with food made with intention and a friendly staff. Brunch food and coffee until 2:00 pm on Saturdays. Highly recommended! read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - Frittata - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Mothers and Sons Trattoria is located in Downtown Durham. I chose the restaurant for the lasagna bianco. But when I arrived it was not on the menu. I'm not sure when the website menu will be updated as it is still listed. The staff was friendly but the restaurant was dark. Most of us needed a flashlight to view the menu. I did like the decor and ceilings. They just need some light. I ordered the mufaldine as that was recommended. It had corn, cherry tomatoes and sauce. I was given a generous portion of extra Parmesan as there wasn't much on it or they forgot it. It was good but nothing special. I ordered Gianduja Budino for dessert. It was a hazelnut custard but had a peach or some fruit topping to it. I didn't think the flavors went together well. So I tried to just get the chocolate part. So that was a disappointment. My waiter seemed overwhelmed with tables so another staff member kept stepping in to help where he forgot something. I didn't get her name but she wore a lovely green jumpsuit. read more

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Hugeeeeee letdown (especially after all of the hype for this restaurant). The interior is 10/10- the dining room and the bar have really cool, classy vibes, and I love the atmosphere. The food is what fell really short. We ordered the potato gnocchi, the "smashed" potatoes with fontina cheese (special of the day), and the cavatelli pugliesli. The potatoes were not "smashed", they were just potato wedges with a watery cheese on top. The potato gnocchi were actually sticky, very off-putting (and wrong) texture. The cavatelli blended well with the fennel sausage, the chiles, and the rapini- but the sauce was VERY watery as well. None of the sauce was thick like it'll you'd imagine- and after looking around at surrounding tables, all of the dishes seem to be a soup, rather than a pasta with thicker sauce. Both pasta dishes lacked any real flavor. The amount of actual pasta in each dish was rather small, not proportional to the amount of vegetables or sauce in the dish. Even if they are PRIMI dishes (still very, very small). Really bummed about this restaurant since SO many people had recommended it. read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

This is the best food I've tried in Durham! I was walking around downtown and decided to sit at the bar for dinner and a drink. I was so surprised at the quality in flavor of this food! It was absolutely delicious. I started off with a beat salad. It was refreshing and flavorful. I ordered the squid pasta for my mean meal. I have absolutely no notes for this pasta. I ate every last bit of it and wish I had more. The staff was so friendly, helpful, and offered great recommendations. One of the best Italian restaurants I've had in a while and I cannot recommend it enough! read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - Squid ink tonnarelli,uni,N.C.Shrimp,fennel,green onion - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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My partner and I were headed to Pops on the Green at American Tobacco and stopped in here for a quick dinner. They were fully booked at their tables (it was a Friday at 5:30) but they were able to accommodate us at the bar. Our bartender/server was so wonderful and helpful the entire time. She asked us at the beginning if we had somewhere to be so she could make sure to get our food and check out to us in a timely manner. She was able to deliver and we really appreciated it. Now, onto the food. I'll be honest, I didn't know what to expect but based on the ambiance of the restaurant (it's gorgeous) I was expecting some good food. We both got a drink, I had a glass of Prosecco and my partner got the peaches & dream drink. I was honestly surprised at how small the pour for my Prosecco was. $14 and it would not have filled an entire champagne flute. The gin drink was $17 and was delicious. We ordered some bruschetta ($15) as our appetizer and our server brought some bread out. Maybe it's me but I found both of the breads to be a little stale in texture. Perhaps that's the style? I'm not sure. The spicy tomato paste and cheese that came with our bruschetta was delicious. Then for our entrees I got the squid ink tonnarelli ($20), which apparently they are known for, and my partner got the half chicken ($29). For the pasta, it was very flavorful but I was not a fan of how the pasta was cooked. It was al dente, which I should have realized. My partner's chicken was good but I'm surprised for $29 it was literally only the half chicken and nothing else. All in all, we spent $103, and I don't feel like we got a great meal out of it. Everything for us just felt a little off the mark. read more

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Just go here. No notes. Best Italian food in all of Durham. Great service. Drinks are off the charts. The vibe is cozy, yet fancy.

Went there for a private event and I must say WOW all of the dishes, the presentation, and the overall ambience was great. The private back room is perfect for special occasions. read more

We came for an early dinner on a cold night, and the cozy food did the trick of warming us up. We sat near the kitchen and could see all the wood stacked on the wall - it's used to good effect since a number of our dishes had a wonderful smoky flavor. We started with cocktails and arancini (plus complimentary bread). The staff was very accommodating in mixing up an off-menu mocktail for my daughter. The arancini with smoked mozzarella set the tone for comfort dishes. For mains, we shared the dunderi with butternut squash, the eggplant Parmesan, and a side of roasted potatoes. I didn't know what dunderi was and was pleasantly surprised by the ricotta gnocchi that arrived with a nice crisp outer texture. The eggplant Parmesan was the only slight miss. The presentation wows, but the stacking creates a mushy texture throughout instead of maintaining the crunchy breading. We finished with zeppole that came with a great honey sauce. read more

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Mothers & Sons Trattoria is an OK Italian restaurant in downtown Durham. If you want great Italian in the Chapel Hill-Durham area, I suggest Tesoro in Carrboro (our favorite) followed by Osteria Georgi and 411 West Italian Cafe in Chapel Hill. In Durham, I think Cucciolo Osteria is better. Where Mothers and Sons has Tesoro beat is in space and ambiance -- it's bigger and more comfortable, and it's easier to get a reservation. I don't mean to put Mothers & Sons down. This is a neat spot and service is great too. It's just the food could be better. Mothers & Sons opened in June 2016 and is from the same folks behind Mateo Bar de Tapas next door (opened August 2012). As I wrote in my review for Mateo, both restaurants provide a fun, "elevated casual" night out. If I had to pick between the two, I'd go with Mateo. The food there is better. Mothers & Sons doesn't have dedicated parking. For this visit, we parked behind the restaurant in one of our go-to lots: 111 W Chapel Hill St. At the time, parking in this lot cost $2.25 per hour, Monday-Friday, 8am-7pm. We visited Mothers & Sons after 7, so our parking was free. This restaurant is popular. Book reservations in advance using OpenTable. Mothers & Sons awards dining points, which is a plus since not all OpenTable restaurants do. We had an 8:00pm reservation for three on a Thursday. When we showed up, the place was very busy. Almost every table was taken. Floor to ceiling, the restaurant has a simple, yet beautiful, design. This is a modern Italian restaurant with a rustic elegance to it. You can have a romantic candlelight dinner here. During our visit, the food menu was fairly streamlined - with various pastas and Italian entrees (secondi) - and the wine list was long. The drink menu had creative cocktails and several different types of vermouth and other aperitifs. Here's what we ordered: Vermut and Cocktails * Naturale Orange ($10) - rosato/arancia vermut; Ragusa, Sicilia, IT * Gold Sounds ($15) - turmeric-infused Lunazul tequila, Luxardo Bitter Bianco, ginger, lemon, black lava salt * Rabbit Heart ($14) - 1000 Piers Gin, Carpano Antica vermouth, Carpano Dry vermouth, housemade beet shrub, Scarborough bitters Specials * Artichoke Salad ($16) * Burrata ($18) * Squash ($15) Antipasti * Fritto Misto ($17) - surf clams, squid, smelts, shrimp, lemon, zucchini Primi * Linguini alla Puttanesca x2 ($17 each) * Cavatelli Pugliesi ($15) - fennel sausage, rapini, chiles, Pecorino Dessert * Gianduja Budino ($11) - hazelnut butter, dark chocolate, vanilla creme anglaise, hazelnut crumble * Tiramisu x2 ($13 each) - ladyfingers, espresso, mascarpone, cocoa The Naturale Orange vermouth was excellent. It was more sweet than bitter with a strong and pleasant hint of orange. Mothers & Sons serves their vermouths with club soda and citrus. The Gold Sounds - their take on a margarita - was also excellent. It was tasty and tangy. The black lava salt on the rim and side of the glass was a unique touch. Food-wise, we ended up going with three of the specials. The Artichoke Salad was our least favorite dish. It was too vinegary and needed more salt. The three of us arrived hungry and "struggled" to finish this one (extra odd because my wife and I love salads and vegetables). The Burrata was fine. We order burrata often when we go to Italian restaurants. This burrata was nothing special, but not bad either. The Squash was also just OK. It was baked and served in an iron skillet with a tomato sauce (like a marinara sauce) with cheese. It was kind of like baked meatballs or baked spaghetti. Again, not bad, but not memorable. The Fritto Misto was good and I recommend it. I knew I had to order it after seeing pictures of it on Yelp. Hard to go wrong with fried seafood. This seafood was lightly battered and fried in olive oil. For a plate of fried food, it wasn't heavy at all, which I liked. My only gripe is I think the portion size could have been bigger (and I don't complain about portion sizes that much). In general, the pastas were too salty. The Linguini alla Puttanesca was the most flavorful dish that we had, but the noodle-to-sauce ratio was off. Too much sauce, not enough noodles. The Cavatelli Pugliesi was yummy, but watery. The Gianduja Budino (chocolate budino) was terrific. It was delicious. Very rich and smooth. Also, you have to try the Tiramisu here. Sylvan was our server and she was wonderful. read more

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Bottom line: Absolutely wonderful meal here at Mothers and Sons. Great menu selections, positive and helpful service, warm atmosphere. All the stars. The Deets: I've seen Mother and Sons mentioned here and there but had not gotten a chance to visit until recently with a group of coworkers for a meal after work. You cannot miss it in the Five Points area of downtown Durham with the distinctive "Trattoria" sign marking it outside. Inside there are warm, earthy tones and wood finishes to make you feel at home, very inviting dining atmosphere. We sat at the bar to wait for the rest of our group, it is a small 4-5 seat bar nicely done. Our friendly and helpful bartenders helped us with beverage choices in which I selected the RSVR Kensho Orange Mocktail which I enjoyed so much that I had another to take to the table when it was ready for us. Our server greeted us with the day's specials and the group decided on many starters that were so delicious when they were delivered that they were eaten up before I even got a pic of them! I do have to say I love the arancini (smoked mozzarella, stracchino, parmigiano, tomato sauce) and the bruschetta (butternut squash pesto, fig and onion jam, hazelnuts, pickled squash) of those selections, delicious! For my main dish, I chose Paccheri Cacio e Pepe but I chose as usual to get it with light pepper. This pasta selection was spot on, I loved it, creamy texture (perfect amount, not overdone) and wonderful taste with perfectly al dente pasta fresh made in-house. Someone else got it with regular pepper amount and I think I would enjoy this level as well as here they do not heap a massive amount of pepper on it from what I saw (some go way overboard RE: pepper). I also got to sample one of the specials, a green spinach pasta with green sauce...again, delicious. To round out the visit, the table went with three desserts to share in the Tiramisu, Cannoli, and Gianduja Budino (hazelnut butter, dark chocolate, vanilla creme anglaise, hazelnut crumble). All the desserts, one word...amazing. Throughout it all, our service was on point. I will jump at the chance to dine here at Mother and Sons Trattoria in the future, it was a great experience from beginning to end. read more

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This place is very yummy and we will definitely be returning. Impeccable service, delicious food, and a cute atmosphere. If you're gluten free, they're tons of options and they'll bring out roasted delicious chickpeas instead or in addition to bread. Prices are also very reasonable especially for the pastas which are home made and delicious though with smaller portions than a typical entree. read more

Been wanting to try Mothers and Sons for a while but was ultimately a bit disappointed. First, I want to call out my waitress, Sarah G. I told her I was on a bit of a time crunch and she was very quick taking my order and bringing me the check. Things that could have been better: It was just me dining and the host was a bit awkward. I could see many open two top tables and he kept looking around the restaurant trying to figure out where to seat me. Maybe the tables were reserved, not sure. He then asked "You want a table, right?". I said I could eat at the bar if necessary, but it was full of people already and the host said he didn't know when those people would go sit at their table. Eventually, I was seated at one of the open two top tables. I ordered the cacio e pepe entree and it was sooooo salty. The pasta was also a bit undercooked. There was lots of cheese on the meal which likely contributed to the saltiness, but to me it tasted like there was too much added salt to the dish. I got the tiramisu for dessert and the cocoa layer on top was too thick. It kind of coated the roof of my mouth with each bite. The wine by the glass options are pretty pricy, with the lowest being $14. I ordered the sangiovese, and it was more than both the cacio e pepe and tiramisu. Nice ambiance for the restaurant, but I can't say I will rush to return. read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - Cacio e Pepe - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The food was okay but I wasn't as impressed as I expected to be, given how popular this restaurant is. While it has a nice atmosphere, you can tell they are trying to get as many people as they can in there, so it feels cramped. Our server wasn't rude but wasn't very friendly. I just expected more given the hype and prices. read more

5-star delicious Italian food and outstanding service. Loved everything about our experience...the great reviews were spot on. In particular, loved the bruschetta, artichoke salad and the beef ragu. read more

Just amazing! This place needs more stars. The pasta is homemade, and Frito misto or mixed fried seafood reminded me of Italy! I had the Cacio de Pepe which was cheesy and decadent. Sure, it was on the saltier side but was delicious. I wish I came here sooner! The waiter was pleasant and friendly. The ambiance was moody and romantic. read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - Fritto misto,Anchovies,Squid,smelts Shrimp,Zucchini,Chiles - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We've eaten here twice in the past week. We enjoyed both meals. I definitely recommend making a reservation. The service was prompt and good. The restaurant has a great ambiance. Food was excellent. We tried the arancini, the beet salad, and the bruschetta for apps. All were excellent. The eggplant parm is quite a large dish, so an excellent choice if you're hungry. Tuna was excellent as well. read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - Eggplant Parmesan - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I came in a party of 7 people for a birthday dinner on a weekend evening. Good thing we had a reservation, because it was pretty crowded when we arrived. We ordered two of the Crispy smoked octopus, arborio rice & summer squash, mustart green salsa vere to share and I got the Tagliatelle al ragu. My other friends ordered the Paccheri cacio e pepe and Squid ink tonnarelli which I got to sample. The crispy octopus was delicious. The tagliatelle was a bit dry, but had a lot of meat. I really liked the squid ink tonnarelli - the pasta was firm and the portion was very small, but the sauce tasted really good. The cacio e Pepe was good, but a bit saltier than I anticipated. The portions were very small, so one dish will probably not be enough for one person. If I were to get one dish, it would definitely be the squid ink tonnarelli. Our waitress was very attentive and very helpful with giving recommendations! Overall, we had a great time and will return next time we're in the area! read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Came here a while ago for our anniversary and had incredible authentic Italian food. Wait staff was very attentive and the environment was very cozy. Had great vegetarian options and satisfied my craving for home Italian food. read more

Great food and Service! It was date night and we had a great time! Our server Shaq was amazing! She knew the menu very well and had experienced many of the dishes. We will be back for the service and food! Highly recommend. read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - The details! - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

The food was unique and delicious, though I was not as impressed with the seating/ambiance and service. The seating is mostly an open room jammed with lots of tables close to one another. I will say, the food was excellent and the tiramisu was the best I have ever had. read more

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Really want this place to be better but it's always been 'just ok' every time I have visited. The octopus app tasted old and past its prime, and like they dropped it in the deep fryer to try and hide that it wasn't fresh. The pasta dishes are good but nothing better than you'd find at a fast casual joint or a chain. Just not worthy of a special night out and after trying for these occasions 3+ times I think I'm moving on. read more

I dined here with my girlfriend on Valentine's Day. No exaggeration, Mothers and Sons gave us the worst experience in the Triangle. A fixed menu of a four-course meal, $80 per person. Automatic gratuity of 20%. For two people, the meal was $200. I know it's Valentine's Day dining. But you and I know how far $100 can go. For comparison, a beef wellington at Hell's Kitchen is $75. Forget Hell's Kitchen. Nigiri Omakase at M Sushi is $70 per person. Mothers and Sons, however, reminded me of eating bad cafeteria food in college. Unbalanced flavor. Salty and sour. The food temperature, not quite right (we waited a long time between each course). The pasta was old, that soggy bottom and dry top, strands stuck together. My highlight of the meal, beef tenderloin, was quite good, except the beef was the size of a Dorito chip. The fish stew was rough to eat. I know Valentine's Day dining has become commercialized and restaurants want to take advantage of the opportunity. But it boggles my mind that the owner and the chefs are okay with this. My best benefit of the doubt would be something happening in the kitchen. But for $200, I hoped we would at least get decent food. But Mothers and Sons exceeded the expectations in the wrong way. read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I had a nice time but I think it could be even better! I really loved the food. There was so much flavor. I even loved the free bread they serve (and that's rare). It was warm and dense and crumby, which I love. I'd buy that bread. I also loved the frito misto. So flavorful and so fresh. However, I thought the food portions could be bigger. Even the pasta dishes were not that big. I love big portions! And I didn't find them here. The ambiance is fine, but I think it would be a little better. I was a little confused about the design of the entrance (why is there a fake balcony thing that no one is using?). But I love the hard wood floors. I thought they had really good (and fast!) service, but it wasn't super memorable for me. read more

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Atmosphere: Mothers and Sons has a dark, romantic interior. We'd encourage making a reservation for dinner, as the space can fill up quickly. Service: Our server was friendly and happy to provide us with menu recommendations. Our food also came out quickly. Food: We started off our meal with the Arancini, which had a nice crisp on the outside. For our main dish, we ordered the Cavatelli Pugliesi, made with fennel sausage, rapini, chiles, and pecorino. The texture of the pasta was great, but it was difficult to appreciate the flavors of the dish because it was so overpowered by saltiness. Overall: Mothers and Sons is a Durham favorite, but we unfortunately were not impressed with our meal there. Though seemingly a great spot for a nice date, given the price and quality of our meal, we would likely head elsewhere for an Italian meal. read more

Mothers and Sons Trattoria - Cavatelli Pugliese - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Made a reservation for a birthday dinner here for five. If you feel like enjoying a cozy elevated meal in warm light this is the place. We ordered one bruschetta, one antipasti, three primi, one secondi, and two desserts. No one was hungry when we left. The pastas were soooo goood. Our favorite was the squid ink pasta. Our waitress was so kind and even provided complimentary Prosecco at the end of our meal. read more

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Exceptional in every way! Atmosphere of an old trattoria, incredible service, and amazing food. Fresh, authentic Italian. Alicia described each item on the menu to us as everything was unique. I imagine if you grew up in an Italian household many of their offerings would be familiar to you, but to those of us accustomed to Americanized Italian cuisine, this was new territory. Alicia was very helpful in helping us navigate the menu. She inquired if we had plans following dinner, perhaps the show at the DPAC, to which we replied we did. Alicia said she would keep track of our food and the time so we had plenty of time for the short walk to the performing arts center. As I said, incredible service. There was one special tonight which we gave a try. The pasta is made fresh daily as are the sauces. I highly recommend sharing and tasting several offerings a La tapas-style. There are so many incredible flavors. Given the quality of the ingredients and careful preparation, I thought the prices were very reasonable. The very best in casual Italian dining. Well deserved Five Stars read more

Authentic yet creative Italian. Everything was just a little different, in a good way. Lighter fare than typical heavy Italian, but you wont leave hungry! Late dining for the area; we had a 9pm reservation. Convenient, albiet small, parking lot on the corner. Very knowledgable and professional staff. Only downside are the tables are very close together and the acoustics are not good. Unfortunately we were seated to an arguing couple and it was distracting. read more

Eggplant Parm was excellent. Great wine selection and desserts looked tempting. Didn't have any room left, the entree was a generous portion. Staff was very efficient also. read more

Great ambiance. Nice waiter. Focaccia was great. I ordered the tagliatelle ragu - IMO, the pasta was well-cooked, but the ragu was bland and devoid of flavor. Along with it being lukewarm upon arrival, it appeared watery and overall unappetizing to look at. My Sangiovese glass of wine was good, but it had tons of sediment (although I was told this is normal) - but it just seemed over-the-top. The tiramisu was fine. For me, the overall quality did not support the price of the meal - hard to say if I'd return. read more

Food: 4/5 Overall amazing and delicious food! We ordered the 3 different bread and cheese / antipasto combinations. I only had the one with ricotta and some spicy red sauce. The others went over well. Additionally we had the squid ink pasta, cacio e pepe, gnocci (both dishes). The cacio e pepe was my personal favorite. I do think with all of the dishes the pasta seemed a littler tough. The gnocci with cheese also a bit burned on top and tougher to eat. Overall the food was really good, I think homemade pasta has a bit of a different take than regular, so just don't expect it to be the same. Atmosphere: 4/5 Great spot!! Hard to get a table, especially with larger groups, so make sure to book in advance!! read more

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It's been 4 years since i was last at Mothers & Sons and I am pleased to report that the food is still as good as it was on my previous trip. Nice italian bistro vibe to the restaurant and attentive server staff make this a must visit when in downtown Durham. The roasted octopus was truly the star of the dinner; served over a plentiful spread of Arborio rice it was accompanied by not overcooked summer squash (a frequent issue in other establishments) and lightly accompanied with a mustard base green salsa verde. Yummmy! We split the eggplant parmagiano, which was very good; not the fried or crispy mess we've had at some other places. The red sauce is the best; delicate and robust in flavor, not sweet or sour, just the right balance. We will be back the next time we are this way! read more

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A piece of Italy, right in Durham! The food, the ambience the staff the entire environment will give you an Italian experience like none other. Friendly staff great food selection nice wine list, everything was just overall fantastic. Highly recommend! Bellissimo! read more

I have been back twice this summer and both times have been fabulous. Had the same waiter both times and he is excellent on recommendations. First time, had the roasted beet salad, bucatini, and lasagna. Would eat the salad everyday. Second time, had two bruschettas: the tomato conserva and the seafood one. Love the spice in the conserva. Decided to split the chicken, bucatini, the special ravioli, and seafood pasta ( recommended by our waiter). Everything was delicious, would eat the ravioli and seafood pasta again. read more