We came during the week for lunch. It was easy to make a reservation online, but it was pretty quiet when we were there so I don't know that it's usually needed for lunch during the week. It was a beautiful day so we were able to sit outside. Service was very quick. I had the Vodka Tomato Cream Sauce Rigatoni and it was delicious! My husband had the steak sandwich with the pesto fries. Once I finished off my delicious rigatoni I kept munching on the fries! read more

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We had such a lovely experience here! The food was wonderful, and the staff -- although clearly stretched thin through no fault of their own -- worked incredibly hard to make sure everyone received great service. Brandon was absolutely delightful: kind, helpful, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. The food was extraordinary. I highly recommend the rigatoni with vodka sauce, the steak sandwich, and the French toast. The restaurant itself is very clean and inviting, with a great atmosphere and plenty of outdoor seating as well. We'll definitely be back soon with a group. 10/10 -- highly recommend! read more

My parents were so excited to introduce my fiancée and I to Cucciolo Famiglia, and for good reason!! From the moment we entered the restaurant, the pastry display, soothing atmosphere, and kind servers set the tone for a relaxing, luxurious evening. Our server Gia came right to our table and remembered my parents from a previous visit, which always feels good. She quickly got us started with a salami board, a bottle of (amazing!) wine, and a complimentary bread basket, which we absolutely devoured. When it came time to order entrees, Gia also helped a few members of our party make the ever-difficult decision - a primi or second entree?? Regardless of our choice, everyone was delighted by their meal. The food had clearly been freshly prepared and was fantastic from appearance to taste. I highly recommend the walnut pesto, to which I added chicken. Portions were generous but not overwhelming, and Gia continued to check in to see if we needed anything. Make sure to ask about the specials - my dad absolutely loved his. Finally, dessert! As a large party, we got several desserts to split: the apple tart, the devil's food cake, a Nutella panna cotta, and chocolate gelato. Even though we were stuffed from dinner, dessert was worth every bite. I wanted to try more but simply had no more room. In summary, I can't recommend Cucciolo Famiglia highly enough to families looking for a special meal, couples seeking a romantic date night, friends looking for an intimate catch-up, or, as we saw on our trip, prom groups! Prices are very reasonable for quality, the menu offers something for everyone, and outdoor seating lets families with young children watch as their kids play in a nearby grassy field. Do make a reservation, though, as seating can be limited, and you don't want to miss this! read more

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First time trying Cucciolo and it was enjoyable. The inside was clean and they were very kind to get us sat without a reservation for a Friday night. Its a bit small inside but they do well with their space. The lighting I found a little bright for a romantic evening but that's not really important. The service was extremely attentive. The food was delicious and pretty prompt on timing. I suppose my only complaint and reason for docking one star is that some of the portion sizes are a little small for the pricing of the dish. Other than that, no real complaints. read more

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If you're looking for a delicious Italian place that is on the cheaper side, this is the spot to go in Durham. We loved our meals; would highly recommend the vodka sauce pasta. read more

This is a very good neighborhood Italian restaurant. The food is good, portions good size, prices are reasonable. I felt the entree selection was limited- no seafood except shrimp scampi. Salmon could be added to some dishes. There was no veal on the menu. read more

Bright and open and airy inside, with a large eating area outside. We had a reservation for six for a table inside that was set up as a table outside. They were able to change the reservation , and then we noticed that there was a round table with eight seats, and we were explicitly told that there were no round tables. Whatever. So, we ordered drinks while waiting for the rest of our party to arrive, (why is a martini listed as a shot and a "martini" $3 up charge? Isn't a martini just a standard drink?) They brought out some bread and olive oil for us. There were eight pieces of bread (four for each quarter cup of oil on a plate) for the entire table. Why so stingy? They were generous with the oil, but didn't give enough bread to sop it all up. What a waste. We got our entrees, and they were ok, but not anything to write home about. I got the fried calamari appetizer and the shrimp Alfredo, and it was OK, but not anything to write home about. There are a lot of other Italian restaurants in the area that deliver amazing experiences, but this was not one. We had a fun evening, but the food and drink was not the reason. read more

Cucciolo Famiglia - Menu, summer 2025 - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We have been to Cucciolo Osteria downtown several times and always enjoyed it. We were excited to learn that they now had another location near Woodcroft having taken over the old Bocci space in Sutton Station. The new owners brightened up the space considerably, and the outdoor seating is as large as the dining room. We had the polpette appetizer (3 meatballs), the roasted beet salad (red and golden), the shrimp scampi, and the chicken marsala. The food was all very good, as were the cocktails. Our waiter was attentive, but overly solicitous - we assume that he was just new and eager since they had only been open a week. The only real complaint was that the food came out too quickly; primi was delivered while we still had the app and salad on the table, and the secondi arrived very close behind. If we followed their lead we would have been out of there in well under an hour. Really good food, but the service needs some adjustment. read more

Sad to see Bocci go, but so, so happy to see Andrew replace it with Cucciolo near Southpoint. Absolutely incredible food, great friendly service. And to top it off, you can roast marshmallows on the patio! So glad it's so close now! read more

Cucciolo Famiglia - Marshmallows on the patio! - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We ate here on their first night open. Everything was amazing. Our server, Brandon, was on top of everything. Honestly everyone in the restaurant was, we never had empty drinks. The bread they give is delicious. The food was so good too. The calamari was perfectly crisp and the chicken marsala was so good with the polenta. My kids loved the spaghetti Alfredo. My husband loved the meatballs but felt the tomato sauce was just a little spicy for him. It's beautiful inside, clean and just beautifully decorated. We can't wait to go back! read more

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The nicest waiter helped us and the vibe is amazing! I can't even start about the food overall 5 star experience!

9/25/25: Ate at the Cucciolo Famiglia location on Fayeteville Rd. My wife and I sat at the bar as we did not have reservations. The bar manager Matt waited on us and we started with some amazing bread and a cocktail. As Matt was well familiar with the wine list, we asked for a suggestion on a dry Italian Red. His suggestion was Cantina Del Pino Barbareco. Admittedly, the light color was initially disappointing, but this wine was superb and punched well above it's weight! We ordered the mussels in white wine sauce and served with a side of bread (all the bread was amazing!). For entrees, my wife ordered the White Ragu (Beef and Pork Pasta) and I ordered the Veal Marsala. This is the best Veal Marsala I have ever ordered and I make a pretty good one myself! Matt offered some additional wine selections should we make it back to the Durham area from our home in Georgia. We also took a Tiramisu which was also among the best I have ever enjoyed. If your travels bring you to the Durham area, you should put Cucciolo at the very top of your list! read more

Cucciolo Famiglia - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Had dinner with 7 friends. Service nice. Food is just awful. I don't know how anyone can recommend this restaurant if they have actually had real Italian food. It's so underwhelming. Basically diner food with mediocre quality ingredients. read more

We chose Cucciolo to celebrate my wife's birthday with our kids, hoping for a nice Italian family dinner. The service was truly the one bright spot - our waiter was warm, attentive, professional, and went above and beyond all night. He honestly deserved better than what the kitchen sent out. Unfortunately, everything else fell flat. The dining room has zero ambiance - it felt cold and strangely empty of any atmosphere or music. Worst of all was the food. We started with the mussels; they arrived smelling extremely fishy and tasted like low-quality frozen ones that had been reheated. We sent them back (politely) and the staff graciously comped another appetizer, but the damage was done. The rest of the meal was equally underwhelming and overpriced for the quality. I feel genuinely bad giving a low rating because the wait staff (especially our server) was fantastic and clearly trying their hardest, but the food and overall experience simply weren't there. With so many great Italian options in the Triangle, I can't see us returning. Management, your front-of-house team is carrying the place - the kitchen and atmosphere need serious attention. read more

Cucciolo Famiglia is an incredible restaurant that offers the same delicious food in a more relaxed atmosphere. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal, but the Vodka Rigatoni and Marsala dishes were particularly impressive. It's a fantastic addition to South Durham! read more

I had one of the best meals I have had in a long time at this resturant. I started with the cucumber refresher mocktail, which I don't normally go this route but I had to work the next day. I didn't plan it but it paired so well with the beet salad I started my meal with. That salad was awesome, loved the nuts and I think feta cheese. I could have stopped right there, but had to follow that up with the white ragu, always a show stopper. How to finish such a wonderful meal, you might ask, with devils food cake, that how. It was all so great. read more

Lovely restaurant. Service was excellent and the outdoor dining area was very inviting. Food was good. Suggestion do not charge extra for pasta. Either raise the price of the entree to include pasta or just include pasta. read more

Amazing food and atmosphere. Go to place for Italian. Outstanding! The lasagna was my favorite.