Friday night with wifey and granddaughter I order French fries because my cheesesteak is only a to go item after 3:00pm even though my wife and granddaughter are ordering from the dinner menu. That makes no sense to me. My granddaughter ordered the Alfredo with chicken dish and my wife ordered the Bella Donna dish. Both dishes looked very good and they both seemed to enjoy the meal. I on the other hand was not happy as I ate my French fries. Seems like if my table paid for appetizer, drinks, two dinner menu items that ordering a cheesesteak should be no problem. I still think this place is a hidden gem. Great service, friendly atmosphere. Noise level is fine. Unfortunately I am not a pasta person which means I probably won't be coming back during the dinner time hours. I am leaving here with a sad face and a hungry stomach On the other hand, my wife and granddaughter are happy diners. read more

I wasn't feeling like cooking on a slightly drizzly Friday, so thought I'd try this place a mile down the road. Their hours say they are open until nine, but they're actually open until 10 on Friday and Saturday nights for the night owls among us! The interior is dimly lit, and, for a strip mall restaurant, very intimate. I saw several couples in "date night" clothing. It would be a fun place to linger over a good meal. I was seated immediately and given a food menu, which I scanned quickly (I had already looked online!), but there was no wine. In an Italian place!! I asked the server and they quickly provided a separate wine list which had several great choices!! I opted for a Sangiovese, because why not? It arrived almost instantly. Warm bread and oil with a dollop of marinara was brought out as well. I couldn't decide on which seafood pasta to get, there are so many different permutations of types and sauces, so I opted for the veal in white wine with capers and linguini. Within just a few minutes, it arrived, beautifully splayed out over a large plate. I thought it was a pretty decent serving, then found that there was a second layer of veal under the first!! The sauce was tasty and the veal was tender and juicy. I saved half for another day and was truly tempted by the dessert menu, but held off. It's nice to know that I can get good quality food this close to home. read more

Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant - Vitello Picata with linguine and capers - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

Great ambiance, great food. Adam, the owner's son was our server and he was very kind and helpful. 10/10

I'm honestly surprised that this place isn't more crowded at lunch. At a time when prices are skyrocketing, they still offer very good lunch specials, large portions, and flavorful sauces. Plus the bread is incredible! read more

Pulcinellas I have been eating here for 17 years. It is always fresh, and great tasting. This visit I had Bella Donna with sweet Italian sausage. Unless you are a big eater I always have left overs for tomorrow. My whole fe ordered the Alfredo lunch portion, she has leftovers for tomorrow also. Pulcinella's has never skimped on serving size. Adam our serving staff attendant was attentive handing the entire restaurant at lunch. Pulcinella's is a family owned and oriented for family dining. It could be a good date night, for an Italian restaurant but not low key quiet for a meal date. Where you want to carry on a conversation without shout at each other. Even at lunch with a half empty restaurant it is extremely noisy for noon dining. Other than that it is a fabulous restaurant to enjoy a meal at. read more

See all

We came on a weekend during lunchtime and were served by Dominic. The server was very attentive and came back pretty frequently. The ambience was very much like a family restaurant. The inside was a bit dim lighting wise so some people may have a hard time reading the menu but overall was clean. The booth seats were very comfortable, and the bread was very good too. I got a chicken Alfredo and my boyfriend got a chicken Parmesan. The chicken was pretty good. I did wish that the sauce for the Alfredo was thicker because it was on the watery side. The portions were awesome and prices for Italian seem to be great compared to nearby Italian restaurants. Although we didn't partake in any desserts, the menu looked really good with at least five different options for desserts. I would definitely visit again. read more

See all

Pulcinella's has amazing food! Their pasta dishes and pizza are incredible in a relaxed atmosphere! The service is very attentive in the restaurant and for takeout... Pulcinella's also has great catering as they had the catering order organized, ready on time and we got rave reviews.... It is a family favorite! read more

very kind staff, they were super personable and gave us a free tiramisu sample (very yummy!!!) the alfredo sauce was light and not too flavorful, but the chicken was cooked and seasoned very well so it blended nicely! read more

I am new to NC. I was feeling for lasagna on Mother's Day. I saw the reviews were good. So my daughter and I placed an order to-go. The lady at the counter was sweet. I couldn't wait to get home to eat. The food was awful. No flavor. It didn't even look palatable. I must say the bread was delicious. We ended up throwing the lasagna out. My daughter happened to look at her receipt. The math wasn't adding up. 2 lasagna for $12.99 each plus tax should have been $27.93 but she was charged $29.05. Unacceptable. I just saw a story on Insta last week. Telling consumers to check their receipts. We got, got! read more

Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant - The total should be $27.93. As you can see, we were charged $29.05. - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We live in the area, so we go by. We did a lunch take out once and were impressed the variety, quality and size of portions! I usually order the eggplant parm over fettuccine. Their sandwiches are really tasty. We occasionally go in the evening. Their desserts are really impressive. The staff and owner? Manager? Is very welcoming and helpful. The ambiance is like a family restaurant. They do a great veal, seafood and other options, in addition to the usual beef selections. It's easy to also get vegetarian foods. I am not grading them on totally authentic Italian cuisine, but they come close. They make dishes from different regions as well. Prices are very reasonable. read more

The food options are great and prices are reasonable. The ambiance is bit of older pizza place but liked this place more for the food and service. The location is central between where we stay and our child at UNC so make it easier to order for all of us and this time we visited the restaurant for dining. 2 slices pizza and drink for $9 is great option - the slices are very large. The pasta penne alla zucchini is great. The fries as a side is not common on Italian restaurant but made it enjoyable for our kids. This place seems to get less credit than it deserves for nice neighborhood restaurant. read more

A very authentic Italian restaurant! I have family who is Italian, so I really appreciated how genuine and flavorful the food was--it felt like a true taste of Italy. The staff were friendly and welcoming, which added to the great experience. I'll definitely be recommending this spot to others looking for quality Italian cuisine. What I ordered : Penne Boscaiola read more

Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant - Penne Boscaiola. - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I ordered takeout, so I can't speak to the service or the feel of the restaurant. The food was good, though I've heard it was much better than what I received. I got the Caprese salad, which lacked much balsamic glaze for as many tomato's as there were. The lasagna was extremely meaty and I will say had good flavor. The carbonara was average. I felt like the bacon was a little undercooked, there were no caramelized onions that could be seen and the sauce was very light. The side salad was fresh and the ranch was homemade and delicious. I also liked the bread. Overall, I might try a pizza but will likely go somewhere else for food. read more

See all

It's hard to come by an italian spot that offers quality food at a price that doesn't break the bank. Pulcinellas does a pretty good job of filling in this niche. Built upon the theme of a character of Neapolitan puppetry (explained on their menu, I'm not an expert in Neapolitan puppetry), they carry a laid back but intimate vibe. I wouldn't give it a Michelin star, but my visit certainly scratched an itch for some much needed pasta. The Alfredo looked good,, and my friend had only good things to say. The lasagna was meaty (though the sauce lacked depth), and the calamari was crispy. Everything came in satisfying portions, too! Overall, a spot that serves it's role well. read more

Food and service are always outstanding. Their lunch menu can't be beat. My only advice is don't order fries, we did so three times and they never came out till the end of the meal. read more

Been eating here for more than 10 years. Always great Italian home food. Great stop to avoid fast food.

Good food Been a customer for 20 years. Love the pizza and the chicken dinners.cheese àsteak is great.

Bread was good. Food good. Pizza was thin crust and good. Red sauce just ok. Prices reasonable. Salad and dressing good. Mussels and shrimp both good and worth ordering. read more

The taste and quality of the food here is top notch. The prices are unmatched for pasta + meat entrees. You can't go wrong with their chicken parm while their dipping oil is to die for. The ambiance is casual and cozy while the staff treats you like family! My only complaint is the plate sharing fee and fee to use the credit card. Otherwise, this place is probably the best Italian joint around, especially for the value. read more

Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant - Chicken Parm! - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Love their Manicotti dinner including salad with homemade Italian vinaigrette & soft rolls. Pillowy soft tubes nestled in marinara and topped with mozzarella. read more

Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant - Manicotti - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Second time coming here! Excellent bread and a tomato based olive oil to dip i to start your meal followed by a salad (get the house dressing it is good!) This time around we had the Eggplant Parmesan, Chicken Parmesan and Lasagna. All wxcellent read more

I've used Pulcinella's Italuan Restaurant for catering events and as a good to neighborhood restaurant. Their food has always been fresh and the service good. I moved from that area so I don't go as often, but I do recommend it for a nice home-cooked Italian meal. read more

Authentic and priced well. Our family enjoyed dinner at this place. It's slightly busy, but overall, it was fun.

Service is friendly and attentive.. nice comfortable & relaxing place for dinner after a long day. Fresh baked bread. Tried the baked ziti with meat sauce. Delicious. Would highly recommend. read more

Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant - Baked Ziti - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I had a pasta a la Maria & my partner had the salmon a la Rosa one. Mines had scallops shrimp and crab meat on top. It was a vodka sauce and delicious. We both loved ours. Staff was friendly and service was quick. We still think about this place often (we're from out of town) read more

This is one of our favorite Italian restaurants in the area. If you get it to go, do not use Uber Eats. They have stopped refunding people when food is not delivered. This restaurant actually has a pretty cozy seating area. read more

Alfredo pasta was so watery.. no flavor at all so sad.. and I wish the chicken was crispy

Our family adores Pulcinella's & we either dine in or order take out often, like a couple times a month at least. The pizza is our favorite local pie! The pasta dishes are always great & you'll definitely have leftovers. I hope this hidden gem never ends! read more

Service was great and ambiance was inviting. The food was not as appetizing or fulfilling.

BEST Italian food we have had in years!!! Superior quality, quantity, and service. We found this spot on a whim on Yelp. We live over five hours away from Pulcinella's, but we will DEFINITELY return! Skip the chains and try this place!!! read more

Absolutely amazing food. Have been here twice and the service was great, food is amazing. Have tried the lasagna, spaghetti, and pizza. The homemade Italian dressing and ranch are really good. Then there is the bread and amazing roasted red pepper/olive & olive oil dipping sauce which is complimentary and delicious... Definitely will be a continuous returning customer. read more

I like this place, and have eaten here many times. It feels homey, like an Italian family restaurant. The food is good but not great. The service is fairly good, well-intentioned, but not meeting professional standards. Prices are good. Quantities are good, too, usually just right for my taste. I'll be back again, I'm sure. read more

I've been coming here pretty much my whole life. When visiting home I always try to stop by for lunch or dinner. Wine/spaghetti/lasagna/chicken parmigiana/calzone/cannoli 10/10 read more

See all

Food (tasty, relatively uniformly good quality); full disclosure, I've never eaten in the sit-down portion of the restaurant, which (because of the place's popularity?) always a bit crowded read more

Went on a Monday evening, place wasn't dead but wasn't packed. The restaurant is quite small so conversation can be heard from around you. Service was great. Food was very good and pretty reasonably priced. The restaurant itself was a bit worn but still clean. read more

The one star is for the kids waiting on the tables and the dessert. Great tiramisu and NY cheesecake. Dinner was inedible slop. My husband eats everything and then some of mine. Not tonight. I ordered Veal Pucinella. I asked if I could swap out the bell peppers for some sauteed spinach. I got a bowl of flavorless canned spinach. The pasta was buried in some kind of spicy "sauce." My husband ordered Baked Ziti with meat sauce. He said it was full of mushy cheese that had no flavor and he couldn't eat it. This restaurant has a nice Italian atmosphere and the people are nice. They can make a few inexpensive cosmetic improvements, but it's cute. They desperately need an experienced Italian cook. The food looks and tastes like something prepared by a cheap diner's line cook. read more

See all

I used to love Pulcinellas, but tonight was different. The chicken parm used to be a real chicken breast. It's now 2 processed chicken patties. They are charging $18 for the equivalent of 2 McChicken patties. My boyfriend's tortellini was definitely not homemade. It tasted like cheap frozen tortellini. So disappointed. read more

The Service here is horrible with young teens working with little to no skills in servicing others. My daughter showed me a clip of two coworkers laying around and smoking in the establishment, although there is clearly a paper in the background that states "Warning, no smoking/vaping/strong smells". Overall this place is going downhill in all categories. read more

We dined at Pulcinella's weekly for years and I would've happily given them five stars for a long time, but quality has sadly gone way downhill over the last couple years. It seems they're cutting corners on the quality of ingredients (down to the salad, which used to be a spring mix and is now a bland romaine or iceberg) and the flavors just aren't what they used to be. I commented to the hostess a few weeks ago that I hadn't seen the owner in a while and she said he sold the place, which probably explains all the changes. Bummer! read more

Lunch specials are super affordable and tasty. Waitress was very friendly and food was hot and fresh and quick.