Sat at bar, as always, and had Carl as my server. His demeanor and caring for the customers are to…read moredie for. You walk in and the place speaks cool. Brick walls. Small tabletops. A fun place! Asked Carl for his recommendations. The vodka penne is to die for. So tasty. Pasta cooked perfectly al dente and the sauce is really good. Recommendations all around. Try Cucciolo Osteria. You will not be disappointed. Carl knows his stuff and is well worth the hang with him!

Great food and ambiance for a date night, not a budget option but it's worth it…read moreGot the spicy vodka penne and the bruschetta with tomato and mozzarella - they were great The vanilla gelato was heavenly

Stopped here for dinner my first night in North Carolina. It is a super cute and trendy local…read morerestaurant. I sat at the bar and enjoyed a class of red wine and one of the pasta dishes. The service was great, all of the bar tender's recommendations were perfect! The past is fresh and homemade. I could not get enough of the sauce! Portions were perfect size and I couldn't stop eating, it was so delicious! Will definitely be back on my next trip!

Always passed by and finally had the chance to try…read more Service was good, food was fantastic. Not to mention their classically great cocktails. I would come here simply for their Crispy Smoked Octopus. If this could stay on the menu forever, I would love that.

Food - wonderful. Service - excellent…read more The front room was charming. Didn't notice if there was more space around a corner. The Parking lot in front is for expert drivers:)

Such great food! Reservations are required…read more It can be a tight fit but the set up is great. The service can take a little time but that is because everything is made to order and soooo worth it!

We decided at the last minute to have dinner at Cugino Forno-Durham on a Tuesday evening…read more When I arrived, there were maybe 2 other families there and I was able to order right away and choose where I wanted to sit. We ordered the veggie pizza and added pepperoni. It was the best pizza I've had in some time. The crust was absolutely amazing and all so fresh. The sauce and toppings were so good. We all loved every bite. They have pizza, salads, lots of beverages and delicious looking desserts!! I didn't try a dessert, but will definitely will be back soon to try them. The service was great. Everyone was so friendly. There's plenty of tables with bench seating inside and several table outside. You can bring the whole family.

Good vibe. Delicious pizza love that I can get dessert from here too. Spacious place, nice place to…read morehangout with friends!

As a pizza snob (self proclaimed) I have been wanting to try this place. We were in town for Center…read moreFest ( great festival if you haven't been) and decided to try it. We shared the suppli. I first had them in Rome so not a fair comparison. It was meh. Loved that it was vegetarian like the ones in Rome but flavor lacked. I had the foraged mushroom white pizza and my son had the margarita. His pizza was the most expensive and was ok. Mine was amazing!! Want to try the kale salad. That looked awesome. Great ambiance and friendly service.

Just had dinner at Pizzeria Toro while visiting my son and family in Durham and it blew me away…read morelike the first time I went. We got to sit next to the pizza prepper after it comes out of the oven: from cooking, to prepping, to serving is all handled like a well oiled machine. So it comes out deliciously hot, crust perfectly cooked, and all served with a smile. The pizzas were perfect as well as the kale salad we had and the delicate seafood soup in a light tomato broth. They got very busy before we left yet the guy responsible for getting the pizzas ready was chatting with me like he had all the time in the world. I begged them to open up in Boston and I would probably be there 2wice a week. This is hands down my go to restaurant when I am in Durham. The ambiance is perfect for the type of restaurant it is and the service was great. There is no pizza better anywhere in the world according to me. We went with my 2.6 year old grandbaby and the hostess went out of her way to make sure she had a high chair which took some doing to get it off the previous table. You have to go early to secure a seat. Mushroom pizza with arugula and the plain margarita with ricotta hit the spot.

I get this for lunch sometimes since it is close to work. I absolutely LOVE the chicken gyro!!…read moreDefinitely recommend

Cozy atmosphere. Food was good and fresh. Waitstaff was busy on a Friday evening. Seemed to be…read moreshorthanded. Based on the food, we will return.

In this small, unassuming yet elegant restaurant, lives a true Italian tradition, and food just as…read moreyou would expect in Italy. We had a lovely dinner tonight, our server Rafael was an absolute delight! Every bite was delicious and worth every penny. I highly recommend this amazing establishment. It seems people haven't yet realized its presence. The wine selection was remarkable. We had a lovely orange wine from Calabria. 10/10 don't miss out on this great spot!

Convivio is an authentic Italian restaurant with a nice atmosphere and good service. My wife had…read morethe black cod and it was fantastic. I had the risotto with shellfish and was very disappointed. Shellfish meaning popcorn shrimp and clams from a can. Not flavorful and not much protein.

I was excited to try Killer Queen for a downtown girls' night. We don't make it downtown very…read moreoften, so I've been enjoying exploring some of Durham's newer spots -- and this one was absolutely worth the visit. The wine list is broad and thoughtfully curated, with options that feel approachable whether you're a casual wine drinker or someone looking to try something new. The sommeliers were welcoming, knowledgeable, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping us find something we loved. The space itself is adorable, with eclectic décor and cozy lighting that makes it easy to settle in and stay awhile. It's a great spot for conversation and a relaxed evening with friends. The only downside is that the space is fairly small, and I would have loved to see one or two more lower seating options for small groups rather than mostly high tops. That said, I could absolutely see us coming back for a pre- or post-theater glass of wine or an easy catch-up night.

Love this place! It's definitely a bit on the pricey side when it comes to the wine, but the…read moreoverall experience makes up for it. The service is awesome--our server was super friendly and gave me a great drink recommendation when I wasn't sure what I wanted. It ended up being perfect. My friend and I shared a glass of the 2023 Cederberg Bukettraube (sweet white wine) and got the charcuterie board for one with the truffle salami. That board was so good--I can't stop thinking about it. The toasted baguette slices with truffle salami and mustard? Unreal. It was the perfect little snack to share. We also had the citrus lavender crème brûlée, which was surprisingly delicious. I don't usually go for crème brûlée, but this one was light, not overly sweet, and just had a really nice flavor. I've also tried their shepherd's pie before and loved it--wish it was still on the menu! The vibe inside is moody and cozy, and they've got a cute outdoor patio too. Overall, such a great spot. A little pricey, but I'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend checking out Killer Queen.

I normally don't like ordering from QR codes, but this was not bad and the service was…read moreexceptionally fast after I ordered it. Nice selection of beer. The pepperoni pizza was delicious. The crust was a little more on the Italian side, being thin and crispy. Cool, vibe and nice outdoor seating area. A great place to enjoy a pleasant evening outside.

An old garage converted to a fancy pizza place. Love it. Great beer selection. We had a pepperoni…read morespicy pizza and a margarita. Both were cooked to perfection. But the big treat was the brussel sprouts fried or roasted to a crisp perfection. Highly recommend. Low key atmosphere with inside and outside seating. Great for families.

Outstanding. Order whatever. It won't disappoint. Typical good service you'd expect of a restaurant…read moreof this calibre in Durham :)

Littler is one of my absolute favorite restaurants in Durham! The menu is New American with a focus…read moreon seafood and seasonal delights. The restaurant itself is cozy with warm accents, brick walls, and wood paneling. I feel like I'm visiting a good friends home whenever I visit here. As for the menu, and I say this without exaggeration, the carrot cavatelli is one of the best dishes I have ever eaten in my life. I seriously dream about that carrot cavatelli. Here's some of my other favorites: Smoked Hamachi Puree- the toaste brioche goes perfectly with this pate-like fish dish, so insanely delicious Caramelized Onion Tart- the robiola foam is a dream and pairs perfectly with the apple Carrot Cavatelli- I would literally write the chef personally if this item was ever removed from the menu. Trust me, just order this for the table. King Trumpet- there's not much better than a grilled trumpet mushroom Seared Scallops- such a fantastic dish that comes with creamed greens and little pasta to accompany it Braised Beef Short Rib- meaty and delicious, exactly as you would expect Chocolate Mousse- a delicious, decadent dessert that's the perfect way to end a meal All in all, you can't have a bad meal at Littler. Plus the service is always excellent and they pay their staff a living wage! Definitely a do not miss in Downtown Durham