Hands down the best Italian meal I can remember. There was a black truffle pasta on the menu as a special and I do not exaggerate in saying I will dream about that dish. Beautiful and intimate setting with the Durham charm that I love. Our waitress was lovely and engaging. read more

Amazing bar experience!!! Met up with a childhood friend and giggled over a few glasses of bourbon and the Fresce tray. The Fresce Tray: Presentation was beautiful and not just thrown on plate. Taste: The salmon, dried cod with peppers, and two types of anchovies were amazing. I loved the dried cod freshness with spice from peppers was a great invigorating taste from the lemon oil of the salmon before the tart salt of the anchovies. The seemingly pickled anchovies (gray/green) were a tad too salty but it small bites wasn't horrible. The cured (still silver) anchovies were tasting as if you were shoreside enjoying freshness of it all. I appreciated that cured anchovies flavor the most. The salmon was an upgraded flavor profile of your typical appetizer tray salmon. The baby gherkins paired quite well with the red onion and capers. The bread basket included an assortment of fresh breads that paired well with the fish in tray. Alcoholic Beverages: For our drinks we had the Matto Grato (spellcheck) which is made with bourbon and the cool ice spears. These were AMAZINGLY smooth without being overly sweet. (I am not a sweet drinks kind of gal.) Service: The bartender was very attentive and kept our water refilled (a huge plus at bar) and checked on us frequently and wore a mask. It was appreciated for me as someone who is still quite eery going out in public settings. Fabulous job! My friend and I had some good girl time to get out of house and chat and felt well-serviced. She is excited to come back again. read more

This restaurant is a total gem. We were greeted and welcomed in by one of the many amazing service staff. The ambience is both cool and romantic. Our sever suggested a great bottle of wine that paired well with our meal which included beautifully roasted vegetables to start and then the house made pasta special which featured a lovely pesto sauce. I cannot leave this review without mentioning the to die for bread which I think may be the dough they use for pizza. It was airy and crisp yet tender on the inside. I will definitely try the pizza on my next visit which will be very soon. read more

The food & service were great! It was a quiet summer night so we got to talk to owner !

Visited this place a few weeks ago and figured I'd finally leave a review because I STILL think about this dinner. It was pretty empty, which was initially off-putting. But the ambience ended up feeling intimate and cozy. Kinda refreshing to not be in a too loud-too dark restaurant. The food was the most authentic Italian I've had in the area. Service was also outstanding. Good wine. I could keep going. 10/10 read more

Read great reviews on yelp so we checked it out. The ambiance and service is wonderful. We felt like we were in a min-vacation in Italy. The wine selection was good and they provided a few tastes. We had gnocchi - amazing and the truffle pasta which was good but not as 'truffley ' as we'd hoped. The side of greens was good. This was the first tiramisu my husband liked because it was very creamy. The problem was after all that my husband had to get a piece of pizza because he was still really hungry. It was also too pricey for the area...I don't remember seeing glasses of wine for 18$ and 19$ in the area. I'm afraid the area can not sustain the prices and portions here and we won't go back. read more

Food was excellent, though perhaps over-priced. Service so-so (mixed up coffee order; and coffee grinds in one cup). Left feeling taken advantage of: waiter handed me the check after having unilaterally added more than a 20% tip. read more

Loved this place for wine and appetizers. Wine menu simple but unique. Bartender was super friendly and attentive. They even gave us some tips for when we go to Italy for our honeymoon! We can't wait to come back to try dinner. Love the atmosphere in here! Still need to fill it in and maybe start having some live music to draw people in? Will be back! read more

Convivio - Wine Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Cozy restaurant. Overall we had a good meal. The ingredients are high quality. The service was excellent. The charcuterie board was great (5 stars). The Manzo (beef stew with mashed potatoes and truffle shavings) was bland (3 stars). The vegetable of the day (kale with garlic) was great (4 stars). The lasagna was bland (3 stars). While I appreciated the freshness of the pasta, the creaminess of the bechamel sauce, and the quality of its ingredients, it lacked flavor. The semi fredo dessert was excellent (5 stars). I do not plan to return. read more

Great wine but I have to say I expected more from the food and service. I had the gnocchi in mushroom cream sauce. The gnocchi were great but the sauce was overly rich and thick. The service was generally inattentive at best. The person that brought our food, an owner I think, was a bit snobby; " you are only having mains tonight?" I love the idea of the place and will likely give it another try - but with hesitation. read more

I attended a wine tasting dinner on Thursday December 8th and told we could purchase any of the wine we had for half price. The full amountfor the wine I purchased was $664.35 and I was told it would cost me $318.20 which was a very fair price When I checked my credit card I was charge both of those amounts. I called the manager and he told me he was too busy to explain it at the time, yet I called right when they open and tried several times before 5pm but know one ever answered. I short he told me the $664 charge was for the meal, although it was prepaid before we attended This manager is a fraud and a shyster!! Just beware!!! Tom Quinn read more

Wow! This is a hot new spot in Durham! The team here is stellar and I really enjoy their knowledge on wine. This will be my go to spot in Durham. They have amazing rose and excellent cheese boards. read more

Convivio - The chef is such a sweet guy! - Wine Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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I've been here twice now and have been seriously disappointed both times. Frankly the food lacks flavor. The burrata seems like it was purchased at Costco. I had the gnocchi, which was gummy and so flavorless that my jaw dropped. The chocolate gelato also seemed to be store-bought. One of the people we were with made the expensive mistake of getting the truffle risotto--a $60 dish!!!--and had to ask for salt, pepper and parm--inexcusable, frankly--where was the flavor?? The only reason why I didn't give this place one star is because the greens saved the day--we ordered kale and it was tasty. But who can live on kale alone? read more

I cannot believe I spent my money here. Now that I'm reading the reviews it all makes sense. The service was terrible. The food was ok. The owner, now that was the worst part. He was extremely rude to me and my family and made some racial slurs. There is something seriously wrong with him. I don't recommend this place at all. read more

. It's 2023 let's spend our money wisely. This place doesn't deserve a dime. Food is mediocre at best.

The space and service was great. The food was fine but incredibly overprice. The fish of the day is just that, a 3-bite piece of fish with nothing else. If you order a pasta, it's approximately a 1/2 cup in size. The appetizers are very small too. After spending $160 on food and drinks, we left still hungry and we're really not big eaters. I don't remember ever leaving a restaurant where my stomach was actually growling. We both ate snacks at another place within walking distance. Sorry, but there's too many other great restaurants in Durham that will provide a better eating experience. read more

Went to a city hall meeting and found out about this place across the street...at the time, they weren't open for Lunch...so I came back later for Dinner with a loved one, and was quite pleased with the restaurant...The staff was very friendly and it definitely had a very quaint setting.....Liked the art work that they have posted, and the Lasagna was absolutely delicious....Also had another appetizer dish that was also very good...Will definitely be making return trips to this quaint but wonderful spot.....Price was what I would consider somewhat moderate..... read more

We had a great time at Convivio the food and the wine selection was amazing. We are coming back for sure.

Service was great and the drinks were delicious. The menu was pretty limited and I didn't love their lasagna but the service was top notch

My group booked a wine tasting with a party of 20 guests and we had the best time. Giuseppe was extremely knowledgeable abo the wines that we tasted (and they were yummy). We also had some nice anti pasto! Can't wait to go back & try their dinner menu and experience the alley way when they get that open!! read more

Convivio - Wine Bars Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I made this reservation in short notice for my birthday celebration. It came recommended. Landing on this Yelp page left me puzzled from some of the very inconsistent reviews that I read here when making my decision. First, it is clear those negative reviews are some intentional effort to impact this business negatively. My experience was COMPLETELY different. The restaurant owner was very warm and helpful. It seems like his whole family is working in the restaurant. In fact his daughter waited on our table.I cannot imagine those reviews about his behavior were true. Getting past that, the food is amazing and very much in keeping with what you would expect traveling in Italy, particularly typical of central Italy. There are so many restaurants that claim to be "Italian" food but this is the way you'd expect it if you were actually there. We ordered a primi platter of cheese/meats/bread which was beautifully presented and delicious. Also, started with burrata. The meals were homemade pasta with mushrooms and pork ribs. . The owner even brought over the truffles to show the quality of the ingredients being used in the dishes. The atmosphere is quiet, simple, dark, and as another reviewers aptly stated, a bit moody. We sat near the area where food is prepared and I could see how much detail and thought was being put into each dish being sent out. THIS is what you want to eat when you go for Italian food: quality ingredients used in simple dishes bursting with flavor. The simplicity is the critical element to the finishing touch. The service was extremely attentive with each dish removed promptly when finished and always replaced with new flatware. We finished with a mousse and tiramisu. Both were light and perfectly balanced with not too much sweet as is often the case in desserts. The digestif menu is what one would expect to find on an Italian menu and again, a nice touch where you will not see this in other Italian restaurants. I wish them much continued success and I hope this review help others who land here seeing these very inaccurate and strange reviews embedded between the very positive ratings. This restaurant is a 5 star. read more

I don't write a lot of reviews, but I was bothered enough by this place to have to post. I will say that the food was actually pretty good. Not great mind you, but pretty good. However the price/value given the portion size is a problem. I enjoy a good meal out, and I'm not typically one to complain about portion sizes, but 2 friends and I (3 of us total) had a bill of $104 for just a burrata appetizer with bread, and one entree a piece. No one had drinks. The bread we later found out was $7 just by itself. The gnocchi I had were decent (the pesto was watery) but there were literally like 14 gnocchi. All three of us actually ordered Heavenly Buffalos while we waited for the waiter to run the checks. I've never been so disappointed in a Durham restaurant before. read more

OMG. Ridiculously expensive for what you get. Don't waste your money Sooooo many other places. $8 just for bread. Salad with just lettuce. Ribeye with nothing even though it says with vegetables. They said vegetables were in the sauce. WTF?? Risotto tasteless. Do Not waste your money!!!! read more

Run, don't walk to the best authentic Italian restaurant in the Triangle. I lived in Florence and Lecce for a time and the flavors at this place transported me straight back there. Truly a gem - everything is authentic and delicious! read more

Extremely tasteless and poorly prepared food, hefty overpriced food and drinks. The staff is friendly though. Won't recommend.

Would give it a 0 if I could. Cod smelled bad, had absolutely no taste. Pasta was finished in two bites. Appetizer was absolutely not worth the price. Will never be returning ever again. read more

Convivio is a real find. We were visiting Durham for one night and had reservations at our favorite restaurant in town. They had to cancel our reservation due to short staffing. We were disappointed, but found Convivio on Yelp! and made a reservation. We are disappointed no more. It's a beautiful space, with lots of exposed wood and high ceilings. A lovely bar stretches down one side. The staff was friendly and efficient. I ordered porchetta and my wife had the risotto with white truffles. Both dishes were exceptional. The wine list was extensive and well thought out. We got recommendations from our server and both were excellent. Now our trips to Durham will have to be at least two nights long, so that we can eat here and at our other favorite restaurant. read more

A bit pricey, but the owner is really kind and makes sure the parties are enjoying their time. Cheese board and wine are fantastic. We enjoyed our pasta dishes and appetizers as well, very flavorful and not too heavy. I'd go again, for special occasions! I want to try their cooking classes one day as well :) read more

My family and I went to get dinner here and the dishes were expensive. I got the gnocchi that did not have a lot of flavor. My mom got porchetta which was really good because it had a lot of flavor. My sister and my dad got the truffle spaghetti and it was SUPER expensive and the spaghetti was just with cheese sauce and truffle shaved over. It was pretty good. read more

I went with some friends last weekend (9/19/20) for dinner in the late evening. I loved the cozy warm decor. I was excited to see burrata on the menu but it ended up really disappointed me; do not get it. I've had burrata all over Italy and in other European cities (in Prague I had the best burrata of my life!), and this was not up to par. It was solid, and had none of the creamy inside that burrata is known for. At first cut I thought they had given me buffalo mozzarella instead; the waiter was dismissive and said it was flown in from Italy so I don't know, maybe the air pressure in transportation changed the composition. The vegetarian ravioli was delicious but the portion was minuscule. read more

This is such a cute Italian restaurant! The guys here are amazing and you can tell they really care about what they put into each dish! I 100% recommend this to anyone! read more

I've gotten takeout here a couple of times recently. Everything we've ordered has been delicious. Lasagna is a favorite with the whole family, the charcuterie is delicious, love the roasted tomatoes. They take orders by phome or email, food is packed carefully and ready on time, and service is friendly and knowledgeable. The restaurant itself is charming - I can't wait to eat there in person! read more

Wonderful fresh food. Excellent service and wine. Definitely worth a visit. Keep this gem alive during the pandemic!

Convivio is such a hidden gem in Durham. It is easily one of the best Italian restaurants in the area as they serve a variety of authentic dishes that are seasonal and absolutely amazing! The drink menu offers a nice mix of aperitifs and Italian wines with a nice selection of glass options as well. The owners were extremely knowledgeable regarding the wines and made wonderful food recommendations as well. The entire experience, from the beautiful, rustic atmosphere to the great food and drinks makes it one of my favorite places for a drink, snack, or nice dinner in Durham! It's a must try if you haven't been!! read more

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My husband and I stumbled across this little gem last night while in town. We were incredibly impressed. The atmosphere sets the stage for the best and freshest dishes ever. The service was on point and the food was absolutely delicious. This was the best Risotto with truffles we have ever had and the wine paired with it by the server was perfect. You have to experience this restaurant. It is our new and forever favorite for authentic Italian Cuisine. read more

Unbelievable! My limited vocabulary keeps me from giving this wonderful restaurant the review it deserves. Every bite was out of this world. My new favorite place. read more

You will not be disappointed when you come here for dinner. Fantastic atmosphere, great wine and amazing food. Definitely try the nightly specials. If you're in the mood for lasagna, but don't feel like cooking they have you covered. read more

Stopped by as a part of date night. Great ambience, not too loud and warm, soft lighting. Welcoming staff who were well-versed in the menu and had great suggestions. We had a meat and cheese plate with suggested wine pairings and a wine flight finished by a great panna cotta. I will definitely be coming back and enjoying dinner. They also have some interesting class offerings posted on the board I'm interested in checking out. read more

This weekend, my wife and I visited Convivio for the second time. Once again, we had a great experience and look forward to our next visit. The owners are originally from Italy, Paolo from Rome and Giuseppe from the Umbria region. Currently, Convivio is not yet a full course restaurant but my wife and I shared a few items from the tasting menu, which we thought was sufficient for a light dinner. We've had the bresaola, formaggi and fagioli from the regular menu, and a daily special which was a large tomato stuffed with rice and with potato on the side, which Paolo described as a popular summer specialty in Rome. All of them were excellent. Convivio also has a nice selection of Italian wines. Giuseppe will gladly make a recommendation, or you can get a flight if you prefer to try several. Paolo and Giuseppe happily share their knowledge and passion for Italian food, drink and culture. The atmosphere is upscale yet relaxed and friendly. Convivio is a great addition to the Durham community. read more

This is an OUTSTANDING Italian restaurant, and Giuseppe and Paolo are PHENOMENAL hosts. We eyed Convivio to be the restaurant for my son's wedding rehearsal dinner. Being from out-of-state (Boston), we traveled to Durham a month prior to the wedding to check it out. Giuseppe simply "took over" as soon as we arrived, in a most gracious manner, by giving us a sampling of multiple appetizers, pasta, meats, fish, sides, and desserts. It was a meal that rivals anything I have had in Italy. What's more, the rehearsal dinner was even better!!! Each course tried to out do the previous one; Burrata and charcuterie to start, then lasagna (so light and delicious), then eggplant (a true test of a home made dish), followed by porchetta (you MUST try this pork dish, I have never had anything like it), then insalata di stagione, and to complete the meal, panna cotta topped with raspberry pure. The wines selected by Giuseppe were perfect. Everything was PERFECT! Bridesmaids were literally texting their parents to tell them about Convivio. Durham, you have true 5-star restaurant in your midst. Enjoy! read more