We went to Bambolo for their monthly plated dinner and WOW. It was a French inspired night with wine pairings. The event was 10/10. I assume their special evenings like this are unique and they're probably not menu repeaters BUT hopefully this review will encourage you to attend their next one or just go eat there. The food was immaculate. I can't even pick a favorite. Baked oysters, cured scallops with bread, halibut crudo, delicious pasta dish and lastly venison. Everything was SO good. The wine pairings were also super delicious. I'm not much of a red wine drinker and I appreciated the lightness of the reds that were chosen. The woman from the wine shop did a phenomenal job of explaining the history and significance of each wine. It was a lovely experience. The restaurant staff were so friendly and kind as well. Only thing I'd change is adding a dessert! Would've loved a little sweet treat, even something tiny like a truffle or scoop of icecream, just something to finish off the meal would've been amazing. All in all, the meal was so amazing and I'm so glad I got to experience this wonderful event. Everyone should go check them out! read more

Bombolo - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

We had an enjoyable Sunday brunch at Bombolo, a relatively new restaurant just north of UNC's campus. It's hard to describe this restaurant because it doesn't serve any one type of cuisine. For example, our meal consisted of New Orleans, Southern, Jewish, American, African/Portuguese, and Japanese cuisine (or influenced cuisine). Sounds like too much, but it works. Bombolo opened on February 23, 2023 in the Midtown Market shopping center on MLK. Same shopping center as The Root Cellar, Flyleaf Books, and Lucha Tigre. The brother-sister owners, Garret Fleming and Eleanor Lacy, used to own and operate Big Belly Que on Franklin Street: https://bit.ly/3rjIIEj Eleanor greeted and seated us and I saw Garret running the show in the back. He came out a few times. Eleanor sat at the bar and oversaw the front of the house. Inside, above the storefront, is text that said, "Ceci n'est pas un restaurant Italien." One of our friends who dined with us here said it was French for, "This is not an Italian restaurant." I Googled the word "bombolo" and it's Italian for cylinder. This is a cozy, intimate restaurant and bar with a hipster vibe, consistent with this part of Chapel Hill. Unlike, say, Durham, the folks dressed preppier. My wife got White Lotus vibes from one table. We enjoyed the atmosphere. At the time of writing this review, Bombolo is only open for dinner, Thursday-Monday. It appears they stopped serving Sunday brunch, at least for now. Reservations are recommended. Book via OpenTable and earn dining points which can be used to redeem restaurant discounts, Amazon gift cards, hotel stays, and magazine subscriptions: https://bit.ly/3OcMk4a During our visit, the brunch menu was tight with 12 entrees (priced at $14-30 each), six sides ($5-15 each), a dessert ($7), five alcoholic beverages from the bar ($9-13 each), and coffee, juice, and tea. We sampled a good bit of the menu. Here's what four of us shared: Bread & Biscuits * Muffuletta ($20) - Serrano ham, duck salami, mortadella, comte, giardiniera, lettuce, focaccia * Dirty Bird Biscuit ($14) - fried chicken, smoked bone marrow, kimchi mayo * Lox Benedict ($23) - gin-cured Icelandic salmon, capers, red onions, eggs, hollandaise Sides & Sweet * Piri Piri Chicken Fingers ($12) * Wakame, Lox & Mascarpone ($15) * Berry Cobbler ($7) Bevvies * Persephone ($11) - Empress 1908 Gin, pomegranate liqueur, cava * Bloody Mary - Spicy ($13 each) x4 - house mix, Luksusowa Vodka In general, I thought all of the food and drink were delicious. The only item I had a minor gripe about was the Muffuletta. It was a bit too salty. I realize muffuletta is going to be salty to begin with because of all the cured meats, etc. However, I don't recall the other muffuletta I've had up to this point being as salty as this one was. Other than that, the sandwich was tasty and used good-quality ingredients. That was the case with everything here. I could tell they cared about the ingredients they used. The focaccia was great. The best thing about the Dirty Bird Biscuit was the biscuit itself. We all loved it. It was very buttery and pretty much perfect in terms of texture and flavor. The kimchi mayo had bits of kimchi in it and the bone marrow was mixed in (subtle) -- yummy. The biscuit sandwich was served with a side of potato chips which I think were housemade. The chips were terrific. They were small, crispy, and not too greasy. They were so good that we asked for a side of them. We ended up getting a small plate of chips on the house with extra sides of kimchi mayo and hot sauce (the same kind used on the Piri Piri Chicken Fingers). The Lox Benedict was solid. I viewed it as Bombolo's take on Eggs Atlantic, which is a variation of Eggs Benedict where the Canadian bacon is replaced with salmon. If you're a fan of Eggs Benedict, I think Bombolo makes a good variation. The Hollandaise was nice and tangy. The sides, the Piri Piri Chicken Fingers and Wakame, Lox & Mascarpone, were really good. The Piri Piri Chicken Fingers was a more straightforward dish. They were breaded and fried chicken tenders covered in piri-piri sauce. The chicken tenders themselves had wonderful consistency, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. And overall, the dish was quite flavorful and spicy because of the piri-piri sauce. The Wakame, Lox & Mascarpone was creative. I love wakame (seaweed) which I'm used to having in Japanese cuisine. Here, they paired it with lox, which made sense because of sushi and Japanese cuisine. There was also cucumber, green onion, sesame seeds, and a sauce. I honestly don't remember the mascarpone. Regardless, I liked this dish. The Cobbler was excellent. The Spicy Bloody Marys were fantastic. They were refreshing and had a strong kick to them. Everything was presented beautifully. The food was served on different style plates with various charming designs. Quin was our server and he did a good job. He was friendly and attentive. Everything was served quickly. read more

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Bombolo gets my vote for best restaurant in Chapel Hill (and top 5 in North Carolina). Tucked away in a mini mall next to a laundromat, this hidden gem has a menu filled with flavor - it does change regularly but if you see a lobster pot on the menu, pounce. Right now they are serving a corn tagliatelle that is out of this world. Shrimp were delicious, chowder was extremely flavorful - if you're craving raw tuna definitely get the crudo, but otherwise you might want to try some of the other dishes. Service was friendly and especially kind from the host stand to the check. Ambience is cozy farmhouse with fairy lights and mis-matched china - you will feel comfortable dressed up OR down - not sure how they do that:). Treat yourself to Bombolo! read more

HIGHLIGHTS: Bread board - the shrimp butter & harissa Cold shrimp appetizer LOBSTER POT Chenin Blanc Service ( kindness from everyone!! ) Atmosphere - chill but v v nice This has become "my spot" and I can't wait to eat here again & again. read more

Bombolo - Let the Chenin Blanc warm up for a few minutes. It's so good. - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

What an experience. We almost ordered everything and could have based on how delicious each dish was. We ordered the: NOLA BBQ SHRIMP - the sauce I wanted to lick my plate but ate it with bread instead PAPPARDELLE, DUCK & VEAL BOLOGNESE - lots of meat and filling CRAB & CHANTERELLE TAGLIOLINI - wish there was a little more crab very good and herby OYSTERS, HALIBUT KHAO SOI - my fav dish, very flavorful - I enjoyed the curry and crunch on top! Great for sharing and filling FRIED CHICKEN PLATTER - Whoa!! This dish had it all, my husband was in heaven, it had Mac and cheese and a biscuit. The kicker was the Carolina reaper hot sauce and of course ranch! BOMBOLO - this dessert was so decadent! All you need is one bite! The owner thanked us when we left and took the time to chat with us! We wish them the best of luck and we will be back:) read more

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My daughter, grandson and I ate there a few nights ago. It's not a very large space so I was happy my daughter had made reservations in advance. The menu is not extensive, but everything we ordered was delicious. They enjoyed as an appetizer and we all shared an order of the New Orleans shrimp in a somewhat spicy but delicious barbecue sauce. In fact we asked for extra bread to sop up the extra. My daughter ordered the poblano stuffed with duck and cheese in a red mole sauce; my grandson had the steak with a salad; and I had the pork and veal meatballs in a tomato sauce which was served with very tasty focaccia. Everything was delicious and very filling. I couldn't finish all four meatballs so my daughter took the extra one home. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Ambiance: The spot is small and cozy with soft French music in the background. Has a neighborhood feel. Dimly lit w candles so would be romantic for a date but also good for a small group of friends. Too small for a large group Food: For a table if 2 I'd recommend 2 small plates, 1 pasta and maybe one entree too. The crab and mushroom Pasta was INCREDIBLE and my favorite dish of the night. The beef tartare was beautiful but I didn't think it was very flavorful (maybe I'm not a tartare person?) The BBQ shrimp had a great flavorful sauce and came with dense fluffy bread for dipping but the shrimp itself was just ok Service: I may have caught them on an off night, but The service was mostly awkward. When I arrive the hostess just stared at me until I announced that I had a reservation... but they did offer to take my coat. The server was pretty indifferent but had good recommendations and warmed up a little by the end of the meal. They were very attentive with clearing dishes, timing courses etc Parking: Located in a strip mall there is a parking lot but if it's a busy night you may have to look around for a spot read more

Bombolo - Beef Heart Tartare IG @every_last_bite - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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We wanted to like this place. Evening started out well. My husband and I ordered the blistered green beans and the poblano pepper in mole sauce as appetizers. Both were tasty if not very different dishes. Only complaint is that green beans a bit on the salty side due to the Nuoc Cham/fish sauce in the dish. I wasn't in the mood for alcohol--the ginger lemonade was excellent. The problem was with the entree. While my husband enjoyed his wild boar paperdelle dish (although we think they used Thai basil instead of the stated oregano on the menu to flavor the dish). However I ordered the Halibut Khai Soi, but what arrived was NOT halibut. When I mentioned it, they apologized, acknowledged the issue, and remade the dish as fast as they could, but fish arrived overcooked and appeared to be cod and not halibut the second time. At that point, I just ate my fish. The waiter was extremely apologetic, but at that point I had lost all faith in the restaurant since they were substituting cheaper fish, possibly twice. And even though it was a rush job, it still arrived overcooked. Also, I felt the dish was rather crudely presented compared to other dishes. They did offer free dessert to make up for it, and the basque cheesecake with figs was delicious. And our waiter was wonderful and attentive, and clearly embarrassed for the fish issue. That said, I don't think we will be back. Too many other good restaurants in the area. read more

One of my favorite Chapel Hill places. The scorched green beans starter is incredible and something I would usually not order. Almost licked the plate. Fried chicken was a large portion and enjoyable, I particularly liked the Mac cheese that came with it and dipping the biscuit in the honey orange marmalade was better than any dessert I could have ordered. read more

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This eclectic restaurant was in Southern Living magazine. It's an enchanting restaurant that is a must to experience. It's kinda small so reservations are a must! There's seating at the bar and maybe 10-12 tables. Hosts are welcoming as soon as you walk in the door. Wait staff is friendly and knowledgeable about all the menu options. Food is absolutely delicious! Put Bombolo on your bucket list! read more

After reading that this was rated as one of the best places in North Carolina I was excited to go. The ambience is fantastic- very small place with great lighting and decor. Service was super as well. But the food was ... Meh. I wanted to love it I really did, but it just wasn't great especially for the price. Plus we were told we needed to be gone by a certain time because of a new party coming in later. How welcoming! We had: - mixed greens salad with pepitas (good but it's a basic salad) - bread plate (shrimp butter & toum were delish, harissa too sweet and tomato pastey, marmalade delish). Bread very salty too! - lobster bisque (good) - Turkey raviolo (way too salty and brown/unappealing and the pasta was undercooked and rubbery) - rigatoni with Nduja (flat taste and undercooked too. I know Al dente - this was hard. Was supposed to be spicy but it just tasted sweet) I wanted to love this place but won't be back. read more

Few vegetables, expensive pasta, poor $54 waygu, too bright sun glare at dinner time, crowded tables too close together, nice service and wine..increase protein , not enough fiber on dishes, add free bread, and increase spacing between tables, ditch the waygu, try a better menu balance. Does the chef dislike local veges? add Vegan choices. read more

Fantastic meal here. Place has the feel of a small neighborhood cafe in Europe. Loved the eclectic menu, featuring small plates such as grilled ramps or fresh bread and various spreads, pasta and larger plates like fried chicken or octopus. We had the amatriciana, as good as any we've had in Rome, and the Halibut with rice noodles featuring a spicy curry, rich and flavorful. Was too full for desert, but the diners next to us raved about the massive piece of cheesecake, and strawberry shortcake. We'll keep an eye on the menu as it changes, and look forward to returning to sample other dishes. read more

I'll say first that, as other reviews have stated, this place has received a lot of "hype" via advertising and influencers. I don't want to let that affect my review but admittedly it is what got me interested in the first place. Service: Absolutely excellent! Prompt without being rushed. Let us take our time on decisions and have just the right amount of space between ordering drinks, appetizers, main, and dessert. This level of service is worth the overall prices imo. Atmosphere: Yes the tables are very close together but it's a small and modern space. Overall I enjoyed this but it's not for everyone. Drinks: Wine menu had just the right variety and price point for me. A couple of good glasses in the $8-$12 range. Mixed drinks looked good and I would try them next time. Appetizers: BBQ shrimp was good - reminiscent of shrimp étouffée. Very flavorful gravy. I would get this again. Mozzarella was disappointing. The cheese itself was fresh but it was served on top of harissa which is far too strong a flavor to pair with a mild cheese. I didn't really understand this pairing and would not order it again. These were served with two pieces of bread - one dinner roll one piece of focaccia. This was a very small portion of bread for two appetizers that really require bread to enjoy (gravy and cheese!). We ordered extra bread and were told that bread is $2 per roll! This was the only time that the price really shocked me. He did say that the bread was made in-house but I didn't find it to be anything special. The overly stingy bread serving and high price for additional pieces really left a bad taste for the appetizers overall. Main course: We all got pastas and shared. The ramp spaghetti was tasty but not a huge stand-out to me. The rigatoni was delicious and had guanciale that was cooked perfectly. But the real star to me was the mafalde allanatra. The menu mentions cinnamon which really intrigued me and the outcome was extremely impressive. The warm spices are perfectly subtle and compliment the duck and sauce. There was a slight spice as well and the noodles were huge and had great texture. I would definitely come back to try this again. Dessert: The table decided on the hazelnut cake and unfortunately it was a bit dry. Flavor was good though. I'm looking forward to trying the "chocolate bombolo" next time. Conclusion: Try it! Shrimp app is good. Bread too expensive. Definitely get the mafalde allanatra. read more

Bombolo - Clockwise from front: mafalde allanatra (VERY good), ramp spaghetti, rigatoni - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Excellent new spot. Cozy. Great service - not 'fast' but just enough time for you to know they're cooking your food properly. And for you to have more time sipping wine and talking with friends! All of the staff were kind. The ambience was sooooo cozy. Perfect for a neighborhood restaurant. For the food, our group of four each got something different (fish, pasta, turkey neck ragu, lamb). Every bit of every dish was eaten. The mozzarella was delicious but hard to eat/share (we requested a steak knife, which helped). We split all four desserts and enjoyed them -- the bombolo and tiramisu were our favorites. The wine was great, too! Things to note: we all commented that the food was quite salty. Not enough to not eat it, just enough to comment on it. And we were bummed they ran out of the salad right before we got there. An addition of another vegetable or two for the apps would be great! read more

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Absolutely loved this place. It's a small restaurant but so full of vibes. Highly recommend: Beef cheek bolognese - the noodle is well done and the touch of basil is very smart Octopus- usually not the biggest fan of octopus but this dish is very well done. The octopus tasted very fresh, and reminded me of scallops and halibut BBQ Shrimp - my favorite dish of the time. Must order!! Don't miss out on the desserts. Can't go wrong with any of their desserts. The mozzarella is just alright. read more

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Firstly, the food is incredible. A wide variety of great seasonal dishes. Service is always on point. The inside is super cool, a small dining room, but a very fun ambiance. read more

Great service - attentive and good timing between courses. Nice atmosphere - a neighborhood gem, intimate setting. Food was good, but we were expecting better based on the prices & all the hype surrounding this place. Started with the BBQ shrimp- good flavor, but the sauce was salty and too much for the 4 shrimp that were included. Drinks were good, but I'd recommend sticking with wine. Had painkiller and bramolo, which was a bit too sweet and mainly ice. For entrees we had the fried chicken - cooked well, nice sauces and mac-n-cheese side was delish! And the tagliolini - pasta was definitely homemade, dish overall was ok. Worth a visit - menu is definitely unique, but probably won't return. read more

Bombolo - Fried chicken platter - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Our experience at this lovely restaurant was absolutely perfect. The oysters were exquisitely seasoned, the shrimp were sublime, the pasta was delicious, and the braised boar was impeccable. The Bombolo for dessert was a chocolate lover's dream. The wait staff were welcoming, knowledgeable, and very attentive. If you haven't experienced Bombolo, don't tarry any longer! Absolutely unsurpassed in every way! read more

I'll start by saying the food was great. We ordered BBQ shrimp as an appetizer and a few different pasta dishes, which were unique and tasted great. Unfortunately, my dinner experience was soured by a particular waiter whose B.O. filled my nostrils every 30 seconds as he walked by. If you're the owner and reading this, please have a basic hygiene talk with your waiter who has short brown hair and a goatee. read more

Service was incredible, excelente job. It felt super personalized. Food was amazing and unique. Love the ambiance. Tables are very tightly closed together, I would have preferred a bit more space. read more

For all the hype, this place was just barely above average. The tables are so close together. the man next to me was basically yelling in my ear. They could certainly remove a table or two and still have enough business to make do. We ordered a shrimp appetizer, which was $16 for three shrimp. The sauce was delicious but the shrimp were undercooked. There were two of us, so it was surprising that we only received one piece of bread when obviously we were sharing. Can bread really be that expensive you can't give 2 pieces for two people? Maybe it's only one piece of bread per every three shrimp? We also had a side of duck confit with the salad. It was deep-fried, something I have never experienced before. There was almost no meat left, it was so dry. The portions are incredibly small. For these meager sizes, the prices are very high. I seriously doubt I would ever go back even for a cocktail. read more

I was excited to try this restaurant but was disappointed as was my dining companion. My simple green salad with gorgonzola was dressed with an acidic, salty dressing. I left half of it on my plate and I love salad. I had the bolognese as my main dish and it was strangely flavored as well as salty. I tasted my companion's chicken and the sauce was awful as well as salty. She did report that her starter of oysters rockefeller was good. The service was fine but our table was so close to another table that I told them I enjoyed having dinner with them as we departed. read more

We loved everything we had for dinner. We enjoyed the shrimp, Swiss chard, taglietelle, lamb manti, rigatoni. Attentive service in a cozy, intimate setting. read more

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This was our first time at Bombolo since its transition from Kitchen. We read reviews from diners who said that the noise level inside was very loud. We hate loud restaurants, and in the past have had dinner at Kitchen ruined due to being stuck in tight seating with loud strangers, so I was somewhat concerned. Especially since I wasn't sure if I wanted to be that close to others' exhalations while COVID is still around. But we requested an outside table when we arrived, and even though there had been thunderstorms all day, the patio seating was dry and comfortable. Our server, Will, was gracious, patient, and helpful in navigating the menu, and also provided plenty of dishware and utensils for splitting the items we wanted to share. I see other reviews stating that their food was oversalted, but I didn't find this to be the case in any of the dishes we had, and I tend to be sensitive to oversalted food. Perhaps they have addressed this issue. Our favorite was the Lobster Pot. We had no idea what this would be, but it turned out to be lobster meat in a deep lemon-butter bath, served in a small decorative tureen, with two types of bread on the side. A little bit like a lobster bisque, but without the cream. I would order this again as a special treat (see posted photo). So this was a lovely dining experience. I would definitely return. But I'm not sure yet if I would do so on a cold day when patio dining isn't really an option. read more

Bombolo - Lobster Pot - New American Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Was at Bombolo tonight for a soft opening. Had the anchovy stuffed anchovies, Swiss chard apps. Tonnarrelli with kalamata. Halibut khao soi & grilled octopus. And the chocolate bombolo! Our server, Cindy, was very attentive without being intrusive. The noise level was a little bright but quite manageable. Everything was excellent. Best meal I've had in quite a while? Quite possibly read more

We were excited to try Bombolo for our anniversary based on the positive press and reviews we'd been reading since before it opened. We went and - it was good. It's not going to be something we're thinking about long after the fact. Some interesting flavors were presented but nothing we'll necessarily be craving. Highlights were the focaccia that accompanied the polpette, the sauce on the kefir lime-stuffed morels, and the breading on the fried chicken. Service felt a little stilted and everything came out so fast that we felt like we were being rushed and didn't really have time to fully sit and enjoy. Again, it was good - but I definitely think there are other Triangle restaurants offering a better foodie experience and value. read more

Go get yourself a damn SANDWICH. They call it "Plump Rabbit" during the day if you are in the know, and serve up crazy ass massive sandwiches made for 2 people. It's a date sandwich and you gonna get a kiss if your girl likes a meatball hoagie or Vietnamese meatloaf. Get the fries. Trust me and do what I said and get the fries. The hostess won't let you eat in the restaurant, she literally says you can take it home or eat on the curb, and somehow that makes it even better. Amelia takes care of anyone getting out of line while they wait for these epiphany sandwiches. And what's with the bodyguard glowering at anyone who talks back? They call him "Steph"... his name ain't Steph. I don't know what it is but whoever he is that dude is nasty. I'm scared shitless waiting for my basil ice cream just hoping I don't get my ass kicked by this bruiser. I think those two are the secret to the vibe. Y'all need to give that bitch a raise. I heard her yelling at the chef something about strawberry ice cream and she was setting his ass STRAIGHT. Gotta pay for talent like that. read more

We came to Bombolo with fond memories from Kitchen, which was previously in the same location. Unfortunately we didn't have the same experience as with the Chapel Hill staple. While the food was awesome and flavorful, everything else had its challenges: tight seating outdoors with limited atmosphere, our drinks were not served for more than 25 min, six slices of wagyu bressola for $25! , no utensils until requested, a puny plate of braised duck mafalde for $25 (sumptuous duck flavors but no meat), and lastly, do they have napkins in this place ? , we never got one. The highlight of the evening was the waitress apologizing for the experience and crediting us for the drinks - thank you so much for being honest! I hope the owner and team will read this and improve- this place has definitely potential. read more

I've lived in Chapel hill most of my life and returned for a short visit. I was skeptical when someone suggest a restaurant I hadn't heard of there as the town, like so many others has become a vast and ever expanding wasteland of chains and bland suburban facades of "fine dining". All staying in the shallow end of food, where things are safe, towing the lines of what's accepted and common as not to rock the boat filled with students who know no better and retired boomers who fear change. Upon walking in, I felt like I had entered another time or realm. The staff was knowledgeable about the men. Clearly happy to be there and refreshingly human. The food itself was innovative. Risk taking, delicious and made with attention and care at every step. Thoughtful and flavorful dishes. I couldn't help but continue to order long after I was full. The menu was less like an attack on the senses or an attempt to overwhelm with over the top additions and more like an impenetrable castle of creativity and taste, it's impossible to find something to dislike, to find a weak point in the structure and break down its walls made with purpose and intent. To say I left satisfied is an under statement. To say I'm suggesting you eat here is less than honest. I'm demanding you, if you care about your spirit, if you love food and if you believe in the restorative and inspiring effects a great meal can have you MUST eat here. read more

Sunday brunch was delicious and not the usual fare. Service and ambiance were first-rate. We'll be back soon.

Food is outstanding. Wife and I have eaten here 6+ times. Everything we've ordered was delicious, and the menu changes regularly. We are lucky to have such an amazing restaurant here in CH. Def recommend. Don't understand why some people are posting neg or mediocre reviews. Yes it's a small cozy place. That's part of the charm. And we never had any problems w the service. read more

While the fish I had was perfect my partner found nothing she enjoyed. Rabbit and veal and lobster and octopus are not everyone's go to meals. The tuna small plate was good. The cucumber cocktail was the star as was the cheesecake. It was the entrees that were lacking. As I said my halibut was perfect. Crusty bottom. Flaky poach. The it stops with the sauce heavy w coconut milk. I was hoping for some simple fare, cooked well and light healthy accompaniments. Heavy creamy sauces are a turn off. Will someone just open a restaurant w simple well cooked fare and leave the need to show off your culinary school chops at the door. read more

Small, cozy, a tad loud though it tapered off later. The staff was personable and attentive. But THE FOOD is truly the star of this show. Everything we tried was delicious. The worst part of the evening was being too full to look at the dessert menu. read more

I promise I am not exaggerating when I say Bombolo has some of the best food I've eaten in the triangle. The flavors of food are perfectly balanced and decadent. The fact that there is a mix of Italian, French, Thai, and BBQ makes the menu so appealing and fun! The chef also switches out some of the items sometimes, so there's always something new to look forward to. The servers are all very respectful and accommodating, and the restaurant itself is so cute. The restaurant is rather small though so it's best to make a reservation if you want a table. I hope as the restaurant grows, they'll have a bigger space to accommodate more people! All in all, highly recommend. read more

This was our first visit to Bambolo and we had a perfect evening! To start, the restaurant is intimate and cozy with appropriately soft ambient lighting. The service was excellent - warm, attentive, and welcoming. To seal the deal, the food was delicious, with generous portion sizes and well-balanced flavors. We shared the rabbit and chicken pate for an appetizer and the whole fried red snapper for our main course -both were wonderfully tasty! The $5 glasses of wine on Mondays are an added bonus (and their wine list is solid!!), as is the $5 dessert menu. We haven't found many restaurants of this caliber in the area and were pleasantly surprised by Bombolo. Thank you to our server/bartender, Joy, for taking great care of us and for treating us like guests instead of customers. We can't wait to go back to try more from the menu and will definitely bring family here next time they're in town visiting. Treat yourself to a lovely evening with the team at Bombolo as soon as you have a chance! read more

I was really sad when Kitchen (previous restaurant) closed its doors but was pleasantly surprised by its replacement. Bombolo brings so many flavors in all its dishes. The service and ambiance is great as well. I will say that it's not the place for those who deal with claustrophobia or dislike loud noises (on a busy day), but if you can catch them at a less busy time, you'll have a great dining experience. Highly recommend for the foodies. read more

What an absolute treat! Tucked in a small shopping strip, it seems rather nondescript. Then you enter to a beautiful and cozy interior. Our server was wonderful, and the food was AMAZING! The appetizers and entrees were fantastic! Didn't have room for dessert, but the couple's next to us looked delicious. For such a small place, it was surprisingly quiet, which made for a pleasant experience. Will definitely go back the next time in Chapel Hill! read more

A really fantastic dining experience! The food is scrumptious, service is friendly and attentive, atmosphere is inviting and cozy, and parking is plentiful. I've dined here for brunch and dinner multiple times and each meal has been fabulous from start to finish. read more

We ate at Bombolo last night. We have 6 small plates. We liked the crispy pig ears best. They were slightly sweet which was interesting. The drinks were good. We will go back. We ate outside which was pleasant. read more