Nice variety of small plates nicely prepared. Highly recommended forItalian food in Raleigh

Amazing Italian place. I finally tried it after reading so much about it. We parked in the lot and asked for a table for 2 during dinner time on a friday. The wait was around 30-45 mins long but they do have a bar on the side of the restaurant. It was the cutest bar I have seen. There were not many people there and we were able to try different champagne and/or amaro drinks. It was great! Love the atmosphere and the friendly staff. One of the host staff came and let us know that our table was ready. We took our drinks, you must close your cocktail tab in the bar before heading over to dinner since the tab does not carry over. Anyway, we sat on the bar, one of the best places to sit since you can see the kitchen and talk to the friendly bartenders. They gave us great recommendations and ordered a couple of dishes. The dishes are almost tapa styles so you have to order a couple of dishes. It's a great way to taste the menu. They also have specials on a chalkboard. The dessert was amazing and I could eat many of those desserts. Great place and I am definitely coming back. read more

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I made a reservation for 8PM on March 4th. I checked in at 8PM. I was never sat. At 8:30PM, after every other person who was waiting was sat (all the other 8PM, 8:15PM and 8:30PM reservations, plus a walk-in couple) I asked the staff when I would be able to eat. I was told I was already sat. I left. I contacted the restaurant multiple times- no response. They don't answer the phone or answer emails (info@gocciolina.com). I don't want anything from them but an apology and I can't get that. I wasted over an hour on a Saturday night to not eat. The food is good and I went there several times during the Pandemic- but I cannot understand why I was treated so poorly. read more

"Upscale Italian in North Durham" We came to try this new restaurant on Guess Road in North Durham on a Friday evening for dinner, during its first week of operation. Our family was very split on impressions, so I'll try to relay all perspectives. Setting: Good overall. Music playing in background, but barely audible, so good for conversations. Good lighting without being offensive, and fine decor. Spacing between tables a little close but reasonable. Food: We ordered 3 different dishes: I had the spaghetti all'ametriciana. My wife and son had the herb & cheese ravioli, and my daughter had the skirt steak. My wife and I also ordered the wax beans with balsalmic red onions as a vegetable side. + Spaghetti all'ametriciana-- this was probably the best dish on the table. Good quantity, fresh parmesan, spiciness that's noticeable but not detracting from the good flavor, etc. And all for only $7. I'd happily get this again-- it was delightful. The wax beans I ordered as a $4 side were good, too. - Herb & cheese ravioli-- the ravioli was very tasty (and built nicely), as was its sauce, but you got literally only SIX pieces, and not super large ones either. For $9. Hence, $1.50 per ravioli. Um, no... (see picture) - Skirt steak-- the olive oil on it was nice but somewhat excessive. Taste was good. But again, quantity was very small, and for $9. (see picture) Frankly, this should have been labeled as a "tapas" or antipasti, not an entree. Service: Everyone was helpful. We felt a slightly uncomfortable high caste air from the male server, but he certainly answered any questions we had (and often refilled our water and brought more breadsticks). There was some delay on paying, but this was understandable given they're still figuring things out. However, one thing really bothered me. We were overcharged pretty significantly on the bill-- basically two entrees were "doubled", hence increasing the total by $20 before tax. It took a minute to explain the problem, and the server/ owner then just gave us $20 in cash (which resulted in some net loss given tax, but no big deal). However, I was disappointed that, to my recollection, he never actually apologized. Not cool when I almost paid an extra $22 (and still paid a little extra) due to a staff error. Synopsis: On the positives were everyone's food quality, the value for my dish, and some aspects of service. On the negative were the values of the other dishes and some aspects of service. 2-3 star border, but since my family was literally hungry as we left after eating entrees, I think I have to go with 2 at this time. read more

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Ahh, Italian cuisine! One of those main-stays that you eat so much of, it becomes hard to rate it fairly. But I think I may have found some of the best Italian food in the Triangle at Gocciolina! I finally made it over for a visit with friends to try the N&O's 2014 Restaurant of the Year... From the outside Gocciolina doesn't look like much and it's only slightly better inside but let's not judge a book by its cover. It's humble but comfortable and cozy in an old-school, throw-back fashion. Specials on the chalkboard ranged from a seafood arancini to tortellini in brodo (broth). All apps and large plates are in the $5 - $15 range and are good for sharing! Our table orders up a ton of food, I love my arancini which is perfectly fried and delish, while my baked gnocchi and bistecca (sliced steak) was wonderful. We capped off our dinner with a great torte and cannoli. Service was solid at Gocciolina and this place is busy but they are doing a good job keeping up with the crowds now that they're really popular. All I can say is go out of your way to give them a try and make reservations unless you plan on visiting in off-hours. Gocciolina delivers the goods for real along with a lot of deliciousness, buon appetito! read more

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AWESOME is the one word to describe this place . I have been to most restaurants in Durham But can't believe I didn't realize this place existed until today. I was looking at yelp for a place that I have never been to and found this place . I loved everything about this place from wine to food to friendly staff . Our waitress was really great and personable . I recommend this place for anyone looking for an authentic Italian place with warm Cozy decor. Perfect for dates or hanging out with friends. I will definitely be back. read more

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I had been wanting to try this restaurant for a while as I had heard good things so made a reservation for our anniversary. We waited 35 minutes despite our reservation and still had not been acknowledged by wait staff. The table we were seated at did not even have a chair for my husband and he had to ask for one. We finally left so I cannot comment on the food but the service was dreadful. read more

So you think you can't eat right during a Covid-19 pandemic, well think again. Gocciolina was one of the best meals I have had living in Chapel Hill/Durham for the past 10 years and I would easily rate this among one of the top restaurants I have eaten in the area. Service at the bar was excellent. read more

Finally came to this much-talked about Durham gem recently, and it didn't disappoint. The hand-made pasta was awesome, and I loved the Brussel sprouts. Our server made some good suggestions, too, so make sure to ask what they like. If you get here early enough, you can snag a table. But during peak times, I hear the wait can be really long. read more

The food here was good. The portions were small compared to the price, however. My friend ordered a salad and received a few naked leaves of lettuce after paying a premium when we came for a birthday dinner last year. The ambiance is lovely! It has a warm, inviting, Italian theme. This is the perfect spot for a cozy date night. The service unfortunately left a little to be desired. The staff could have been more attentive and friendly. If you are looking for a good Italian restaurant with excellent service and decent portions, more suited a family dynamic, I would recommend trying a spot down the road - Pomodoro Italian Kitchen. read more

Food was okay about the level of an Olive Garden if they put out more authentic Italian dishes. This two star review is only two stars one reason, the mushroom ravioli. Service was very poor, we scheduled a reservation using Resy for a table in their lounge area. Once we got there the host said that the reservation was for the patio.... On one of the hottest nights of the summer. We accepted the spot because Durham is a tough spot to find tables at 830 on a Friday night. Ease of use - restaurant does not have paper menus or a QR code to scan which I'm guessing is because the menu changes frequently. Host did not mention before seating us outside, and waitress seemed put out that we didn't know the protocol. Food order and accuracy - Appetizer - Meatballs Entree - Gnocchi and ravioli Side - grilled broccoli with seat salt Desert - we wish! I can say that the waitress was attentive to our water, after that, not much. We received our dinner before our appetizer, and when reminded, the waitress said they probably ran out. 2 minutes later she shows up with 3 burnt meatballs covered in what tasted like the bottom of a burnt pot of sauce. Gnocchi was a fair portion and had good texture and tasted good on its own. But again- the gnocchi was covered in that same burnt sauce, Parmesan cheese flavor was not present due to the sauce. The mushroom ravioli was the lone shining star and saved this review from being completely negative. The pasta was cooked perfectly and had a very good filling. If I were to go back in time - I would have tried to find another local treasure with better marks in service. I completely think good service would have turned this from a 2 to a 3 and turned acceptable. read more

Gocciolina - Restaurant changed my reservation and then lied about it. - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

Food is fantastic. One of the best in Durham. Cocktails are also perfect. The vibe and ambiance is wonderful I'm the dining room and bar, but the lounge is a little cold and doesn't have the music so not as appealing. Overall one of my favorite places in Durham. read more

I ate at Gocciolina on 22Jul21 and I had the best experience ever! My sister & I stopped by to see if they had any seating available and they had two bar seats open. We sat and tried different items and everything was fabulous! I really enjoyed sitting at the bar watching the chefs prepare food and especially liked watching the food come up and figuring out what the dishes were. The bartender Dre, was awesome! I will definitely recommend this restaurant to everyone! Susan Trueheart strueheart@me.com read more

Quirky but good. Wasn't crazy about everything but the quality is there. It's small and can be hard to get into. I'm in Durham for work so I done alone and I'm too lazy to make a reservation for one hence I rarely eat here read more

I ordered the risotto with lump crab, there wasn't any crab in the dish. The waiter never told me they were out of crab until we go our bill. I would have ordered something different had I known. read more

This restaurant is small and intimate. Reservations are not required but highly recommended. Also, make them early I the evening so they don't run out of anything delicious. Our server was wonderful. Very personable, kind, and prompt. My two girlfriends and I had a girls night out and the food did not disappoint. One thing to note is that these are not going to be American sized Italian portions. They are European. Petite sizes, even for the entrees. Although I really didn't NEED more than I got, I definitely wanted more. I did wish the portions were a bit larger. The prices are very accommodating. I happened to get the King Crab Ravioli which was $24. I got 3 ravioli. I know it's because of the king crab, but still not a lot to eat. Maybe could have come with a simple small salad. The meatballs were fantastic. We also ordered the prosecco spritz for all of it. Really good and refreshing and only $7! Dessert should not be skipped. We shared tiramisu cannoli and amaretto gelato made in house. The gelato was by far my favorite. It had cookie chunks in it. I will be back!! read more

We waited 1.5 hours for entries. Mine was over cooked. My friend couldn't eat his lamb because it had been cooked twice. My wife had a pasta dish that was mediocre. The kitchen is out of control. Also, we were seated beneath a big speaker which blasted not very good music at us all evening. We have had good meals here in the past but something has gone wrong. I'm sorry it's happened. read more

Moving to Carolina from Jersey, I was pretty disappointed with the selection and variety of Italian restaurant options. Gocciolina does NOT disappoint. A good friend has been recommending this place to me for months but because it's not in the hippest location or downtown Durham, it took of forever to try it. I'm. In. Love. Small, sweet space - intimate ambience, decent sunlight, charming decor, what I'd expect to find in Southern Italy. Now the food. My favorite is the Spicy Seafood Spaghetti. I could eat it every day. Slightly spicy and deliciously fresh, spaghetti is perfectly cooked. The Spaghetti All'Amantriciana and the Spaghetti Carbonara are also both yummy. I've had some of their specials too - the Spicy Calabrian Shrimp - I was worried when it came out with the whole shrimp including the head BUT it had legit one of the best sauces I've ever tasted. GIMME GIMME MORE!! Also the Duck Gnocchi was also amazing. So many beautiful flavors! It was light yet rich. I can't explain. Just unreal. You also know this place is incredible because there's tons of regulars and unless you reserve way ahead of time, you can only get super early or super late reservations. We tried walking in at 5:30 pm once right when they opened and they had no tables and only 2 bar seats. YEESH. I hate eating at the bar but I ate at the bar cause it's Gocciolina. Now I recommend this place to EVERYONE who asks me for any Italian restaurant recommendations. Do yourself a favor, get there STAT. read more

Good on everything except price. Food is great. Service is good. Ambiance is okay but crowded.

I was very pleased with this little Italian restaurant! The pasta dishes are small, sure. Look at their prices. Order two, maybe? Or an appetizer? We 3 had magnificent foie gras (truly and surprisingly good! and with a little bit of good bread) and then some asparagus and brussels sprouts for the table and then pork chops, skate fish, and mushroom ravioli! The only problem is our server mis-heard my mush-mouth Skate order for Steak. So they presented me what looked like an okay steak. Well that explains why my server and I both thought each other were insane as we talked about how my dish should be cooked. "Uh, whatever is correct" / "Well the Chef likes Medium Rare". But it was no trouble at all. They expedited the *Skate* (which is a fish similar to a Ray) that was substituting for the normal fish. It was really terrific! Especially considering how quickly they were able to cook it, and properly! I liked this place. read more

Gocciolina saved our anniversary dinner this Tuesday! We were supposed to have our anniversary in Asheville (hooked onto a work trip) but so much was closed and so many people weren't wearing masks in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak that we decided to head back home to Durham and celebrate at home. After a long car ride the last thing either of us wanted to do was cook so we took to Yelp to find what was open around us. So many places are closed right now or on modified days/hours. It was so nice and refreshing to find a place on our to-try list was not only open but offering a modified menu of take and bake as well as some hot (already cooked) menu items! We called to order and the woman who helped us was very nice, when we arrived everyone was cheerful and helpful and being very safe with masks on, upon arrival at home we inspected the food to find that everything was very helpfully labeled with individual instructions which was fantastic! All we had to do was pop things in the oven at different intervals and we were in business! I just wish we'd had more of the gnocchi as it was fantastic! Thank you Gocciolina for saving our anniversary dinner and providing great service! read more

Gocciolina - Take and bake anniversary dinner! Gnocchi, mushroom lasagna, garlic cheese bread, and spicy chickpeas! - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Antipasti: Meatballs - 4 stars Tasty, moist, and delicious with the bread. Spicy chickpeas - 3.5 stars Pretty good, spicy, served cold. Fried eggplant - 3.75 stars The cheese (goat I believe) was too strong for me. Others: Pei mussels ($9) - 4 stars 10-15 mussels. Delicious. Pork with hand cut noodles - 4.5 stars The noodles were impressively thin and cooked just right. The pork was tender and flavoured well. Fennel and shallot ravioli - 4 stars The ravioli was wonderfully thin and I could taste both the fennel and shallot equally well. I don't quite know that I like the flavours together as they were both strong and seemed to compete with each other. Tiramisu cannoli - 3 stars My first time having a cannoli. Did not expect the "shell" to taste like a Ritz cracker, was expecting a choux pastry. Cream was decent. Not my thing. Chocolate torte - 3.5 stars Pretty good but not my thing either. Stracciatella gelato - 4.25 stars Had the airy texture of an ice cream rather than the denser gelatos I'm used to but the stracciatella bits were delicious. Fior di latte gelato - 4 stars Also like an airy ice cream, tasted like a sweet cream. Didn't taste like cheese. It's my first time having this flavour though so no idea what it's supposed to taste like. Love the atmosphere but make reservations and expect to wait even with reservations during the holidays or on weekends. read more

What can I say? If you haven't tried this gem of North Durham you're missing out. Fantastic, varied food, perfect service, a delicious wine list, and an intimate venue. This is the type of place where you can get something different each time and be thrilled by it. Make a reservation- it's a small place, and fills up quick. read more

I first went to this place probably sometime in 2013 before graduating from duke, and it has been one of my wife and I's favorite restaurants since then. We go about 10 times a year. It sets the standard for Italian food and their drinks are always phenomenal. Plus, the restaurant is small and like your mom's kitchen. Very homey. Staff are always super nice as well. A big plus is that you can make reservations online so you don't have to be surprised by a big wait. Pasta dishes are amazing. Wine is amazing. Desserts are amazing. Even the little breadsticks are amazing. Has been one of my favorite restaurants for almost the past ten years. read more

I don't have time to post all that went wrong here is short list. 1. Didn't have our reservation tried to seat us outside on a 95 degree day. We pulled up reservation we made weeks prior to prove we had one. 2. Sat in side dining room that was dirty, dangerously dirty floor looked like it had never been washed - décor was awful too - just a side note. 3. Just a party of 2 and when my husbands app was gone for about 10 minutes I asked about mine - was clearly ignored because the brought my husbands dinner out before my app - insane and they did not care at all. 4. I had heard how wonderful this place was and the food is o.k. by Durham Italian standards not great. Definitely not worth it at all. read more

I would give it six stars if I could. I have been going here for years and have had many wonderful meals and experiences with the staff. I have noticed over the last year at all of my favorite restaurants there has been a lot of staff turnover and this is also true at Gocciolina. So many small businesses and restaurants in particular are doing all they can to survive and still offer services to our communities. While I have also encountered some less experienced waiters over the past year like some other reviewers, they have all been kind to me and I can tell that they are working hard even if at times they aren't on the ball. The food is always excellent especially the pasta standards like spicy seafood and al amatriciana. I hope Gocciolina will be here for years and years to come and look forward to many more meals there. read more

This spot is always incredibly good, any time I come. The long, crispy, and thin breadsticks are tasty, and the negroni was perfect. There is always a healthy specials board, and we tried a few options from that. We got two of the crispy fried eggplant to share, and one of the bruschetta, all delicious. I then tried a tagliatelle special that was super flavorful, and we got some turnips (another special) and the brussels sprouts to share around the table. The pasta dishes are on the small side, so if you're just doing one you'll want some veggies and/or apps to share. Or I'd get a few pasta dishes to share around the table and/or a meat dish as well. Everything was delicious, as always. Truly a gem. read more

Dinner tonight was good. Not great, just good. Service was slow. Value for the price wasn't there. $32 for a 10oz pork chop ala carte is steep. I enjoyed the Covid-19 prix fixe menu much better. read more

Truly one of the best meals I have had in a long time. Knowledgeable staff and awesome daily specials. Like many have said before, portions are small, but prices reflect that. We had meatballs (2 orders and could have eaten 1,000 more), the crostini special, carbonara, steak, green beans, roasted potatoes, and Brussel sprouts and it was all fantastic. Clean plates. Finished with the tiramisu cannoli. DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS! Such a fantastic meal and still thinking about it. read more

The food here is really, really, really good. The mixed olives made me rethink everything I ever thought about olives...and turned me on to the fact that their are MUCH better olives than the ones you get in a jar. The atmosphere was nice, a little crowded but not too bad. We came here with another couple and were able to converse with no issue. The portions are small but filling. Be prepared to spend at LEAST $25 a person (which really isn't bad considering the quality of food.) read more

Came to have dinner alone. Sat at the bar, greeted amazingly, got meatballs and eggplant as appetizers, and since the meatballs were taking longer, got some delicious parmesan. The pasta dish was delicious, as were the meatballs. Strongly recommend. Great food, great service & great value! A must visit in Durham. read more

Gocciolina - Delicious meatballs & all'amatriciana spaghetti - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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The menu is always fresh and interesting! I have never had a dish I didn't like. I love places like this where you can order a bunch of different small bites and a delicious entree. It's also reasonably priced which is increasingly hard to find in Durham. Service is impeccable. read more

I have been waiting a long time to go to Gocciolina and am so happy my friend and I went to this cozy restaurant on Guess Road. The outside is unassuming and the parking lot lines are a bit off center.The restaurant entrance is on the left side and as soon as you enter, the aroma of warm Italian spices and garlic welcome you. There was a very kind hostess right in the middle with a screen and she was handling the reservation system. We had called to sit at the bar but we were a bit late so it filled up quickly on a Thursday night. Every table was taken and so were the seats at the bar. It is small and intimate to begin with so next time I will call ahead for a reservation. While we waited, we were ushered next door to the Lounge. Is is a nicely decorated seating area with a big white sofa and pictures of Italy on the walls. There is a huge wine barrel used as a table and I really liked the atmosphere of the lounge as well. We ordered Spritz (Italian cocktail with Campari popular in Venice) and had some potato chip munchies. As soon as our table was ready, the kind hostess came over and accompanied us back to the restaurant next door. The restaurant reminds me of Europe and the small space and chatter from the tables around you just make it so much more authentic. Gocciolina is not a chain and it retains the small-restaurant charm and I love that. The menu was simple with antipasti and main dishes listed on the chalkboard on the wall. If the item was out, our server told us so. The menu has a few pasta dishes and entrees and vegetables as sides. We picked the brussels sprouts and the eggplant with beets and gorgonzola. Both choices were fantastic. We both had the spaghetti all'amatriciana and the noodles were al dente and the cheese and tomato sauce was superb. The portion was small yet that is how it is in Italy. I had a wonderful evening and loved everything about my meal. If you want something off the beaten path, authentic and cozy, I highly recommend an evening at Gocciolina in Durham. Buon appetito! read more

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Take & bake was a huge hit! Made it from Durham to the mountains of western N.C. (Not pictured: seafood chowder which was eaten pre-photo op -- they tossed some in on the house!) I love their al dente style noodles. The quality of Gocciolina never ceases to amaze. Will certainly keep coming back for more. read more

Gocciolina - Italian Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

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Been several times now and every time has been a home run. Pricey, and WORTH it. Get a reservation. They're closed Mondays. Try all their menu items and cocktail suggestions. Great place to celebrate an anniversary or special day. Excellent servers, knowledgeable and helpful and attentive. read more

I wanted to love this place, but was disappointed. It seemed like they forgot to place our order with the kitchen and it took our server a while to notice. When the food did come out, it was okay but not worth the hype/price. read more

Gocciolina a very fun experience and amazing vibe! Loved the cocktails, a highly anticipated visit for me!! The antipasti menu, though small very diverse. It's my girlfriends birthday so were wanting to go crazy with trying new things. So we chose the Meatballs & Fried Eggplant both really amazing loved the flavors 10 out of 10 on the 1st course! Secondi we went with The Carbonara... Unfortunately not the best that I've had. The Carbonara is a labor intensive dish but also pretty simple, not done right it makes for a bad pasta experience. Didn't really see or taste much Pork Belly in the dish, This pasta should be 10% over sauced then with the addition of egg yolk added it's supposed to make the consistency of the sauce creamy also if you add the egg while the pan is still on the fire or let it sit too long without being stirred the egg can cook which makes the pasta really dry and not saucy at all!! This is what I experienced with my Carbonara. Dry, Cooked Egg, No Sauce, No Pork Belly 4 out of 10 on the pasta! The flavor was definitely spot on though! righteous amount of pepper and Pecorino!! Next we tried the Pasta on Special which was the hand cut pasta with Porcini Mushrooms and truffle butter!! Truffle pastas are my favorite so naturally I'm excited to try it, and priced at $24 bux I knew I was getting the real deal!! But again it wasn't the best, I feel as if the sauce wasn't reduced enough and at best the pasta was sitting in a puddle of porcini water. The dish was well plated and love the cheese on it! But I didn't taste any truffle butter at all, the Carbonaras flavor trumps the truffle butter pasta hands down! We didn't want to finish the hand cut pasta dish. The server was really nice about it all and took it off the check, even though we were totally cool with paying for it!!! (We gave her the truffle money as a tip instead) But leaving hungry really sucked the portions were a bit skimp, but for the price of the antipasti menu what more can you ask huh? Lastly and the highlight of the night was the steak and roasted potatoes. The cook temp was perfect and the potatoes were amazingly delicious the grilled onions atop the steak made it that much more amazing! Overall I had a good time at Gocciolina and really enjoyed myself and the vibes, the lounge area as we waited really set the mood for the experience! Amazing music as well! An Easy 5 star if we get the guys in the back to be more attentive on those pasta dishes and understand the dish and not just knowing what it takes to put it together!! I'll definitely be back for the lamb and other meats! I really appreciate it Gocciolina! read more

This review is in hope the owner reads it. First of all, we are big fans of Gocciolina. Yesterday, we took some relatives who were in town to our favorite spot, Gocciolina. As always, your food did not disappoint. However, the food took way longer than usual to come. About 35-40 minutes. Still we shrugged this off as the food was excellent. What I want to highlight, unfortunately, was your hostess rushing us out of the restaurant after we paid. After waiting so long for the food, really? It had been literally 5 minutes since we signed the credit card receipt. This was highly disappointing and I let the hostess know. She kindly responded to my subtle message with "thanks for being so understanding". What??? This was even more disappointing as she ignored completely the message as if she was a machine. I hope this review helps. Food:5/5 Waitress service: 5/5 Hostess:1/5 read more

I went here with my wife and parents hoping to enjoy a tasty dining experience. I found the food to be nothing like I have had before. Probably because I haven't been to Italy so I didn't know what to expect from an authentic menu. Not to mention the seats were cramped together. So you could barely hear across the table. read more

The best Italian restaurant hands down in the Triangle! Every year when my family or friends ask me where I want to go for my birthday... gocciolina is it! Every time! My favorite is their anchovy spaghettini. This was my number 1 craving when I was pregnant and doc says anchovy is great to eat when pregnant to so double plus! Service is always 10/10 and their apps and drinks are great too! 10/10 all around! Cannot rave about this place more! read more