Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant in Durham, North Carolina, provides Southern Italian food and New York-style pizza for dine in, takeout, or catering. Our family restaurant uses the freshest ingredients to make our authentic Italian entrees such as cl
While many customers praised the deliciousness and authenticity of the food, there were several complaints about inconsistency, blandness, and undercooked dishes.
Service
Customer service received mixed reviews; some praised the friendly and attentive staff, while others reported poor service and issues with order accuracy.
Atmosphere
The restaurant's cozy and quaint atmosphere was appreciated, but some customers noted cleanliness issues and a need for maintenance.
Value
Many customers found the prices reasonable for the portion sizes, although some expressed concerns about hidden fees and overcharging.
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Ashley Martinez
1 day ago
5.0
Perfect spot for a date night. Service was very fast and food was authentic and sooo good. Honestly I never had better calamari. They were so tender and lightly breaded. It was perfect. I got the pollo pulcinella with light Alfredo, angel hair and bacon added and it was heavenly. Not overly salty or underseasoned. On top of that the staff were very nice and accommodating. I wish they had background music it would’ve made it perfect! But I will be returning!!!
JM
Jose Mendez
Dec 23, 2025
5.0
Found this place by accident and boy am I glad I did. I stumbled on a delicious Cheese Steak. The service was friendly and I was impressed. How did I not know about this place. I came with my brother one day and my wife the next day. I’m excited to know that little gems like this still exist. I found myself looking around at what other patrons were eating. Everything I saw looked really good. My wife ordered a pasta meal and she was definitely impressed. Definitely looking forward to my next trip there. I’ve already told my son about the cheese steak and he’s excited about it. Best cheese steak I’ve had in NC by far. If you get a chance, please visit this hidden gem, you won’t be disappointed
CC
Cynthia Camp
Dec 21, 2025
5.0
A great little place! The only thing we didn't realize was that we were limited to the lunch menu. Our fault for assuming! Wonderful food in a quiet atmosphere!
KL
Kate L
Dec 17, 2025
3.0
Ordering pizza online, the first ingredient listed on the menu is omitted from the pizza unless added manually at an extra cost. For example, the 15x15 Pulcinella’s Special says it comes with pepperoni, sausage, ham, etc, but if you order it without manually adding pepperoni (for a $3 upcharge), the pizza will come without it. This is a serious issue with the ordering system that needs to be fixed, otherwise this would be a five star review. The pizza is always fantastic.
RB
Rebecca Burke
Dec 12, 2025
5.0
I needed a meat and vegetarian option for an office luncheon. Our first choice was not Italian. I called 12 restaurants within 3 miles and NO one would take the order or help me with delivery. All turned down a $150 order. I actually stopped by Pulcinella’s and asked if they could help me. The girl gave me the owner’s phone number. I called. He graciously took the order and arranged for it to be delivered. Nothing but the best customer service! The lasagna was a hit! One of our supervisors came back down the next day asking if we had anything left. She loved it! Thank you Noe and staff at Pulcinella!