Cuckoo Trattoria and Pizzeria

Italian restaurant · Nanaimo ·

Cuckoo Trattoria and Pizzeria

Italian restaurant · Nanaimo ·

Authentic Italian dining with thin crust pizza & great ambiance

Information

2310 Alberni Hwy, Coombs, BC V0R 1M0, Canada Get directions

$$$

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A 24-Hour Food Tour Across Southern Vancouver Island | Eater Seattle

"I noticed Cuckoo Trattoria and Pizzeria next door to the market, opened by a chef from Italy who enjoys incorporating Pacific Northwest ingredients into traditional recipes." - Sabra Boyd

https://seattle.eater.com/2022/8/19/23312623/24-hour-best-restaurants-southern-vancouver-island-bc-canada

Cuckoo Trattoria and Pizzeria

Dave

Google

Was greeted at door and seated quickly. Ordered the seafood platter for 2. Some was really good. Some was just okay. Need more staff as we did not see the server again and waited for a long time for the bill. Not the server's fault.

Michael

Google

Very nice restaurant. I’ve been here twice and I’ve learned that the pizza is one of the best you will ever have. The service is quick to help you in any way and the interior is very clean and pretty. A good stop to eat at.

Lynda D.

Google

First return in years and really enjoyed. Staff was great, everything looked like clockwork. The seafood share was great as was the Bianca cheese pizza. Especially with the drizzle of honey that was suggested.

S L

Google

Great atmosphere, especially outdoors on a sunny day — the breeze made it perfect. The service was amazing, very attentive and friendly. The pizza was absolutely delicious, with the thinnest crust I’ve ever had — no sogginess from the toppings at all. The linguine pescartora was good, though it felt slightly undercooked. I’d definitely recommend the vesuvio pizza over the pasta, but overall, it was a great experience.

Paolo Lee R.

Google

Just had an amazing meal at Cuckoo Trattoria and I’m still thinking about it! The food was incredibly fresh and full of flavor where every bite was a treat. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the sauces were rich and authentic, and the service was warm and welcoming. You can really taste the love in every dish. Highly recommend this place if you're craving top-notch Italian food in a cozy, beautiful setting. Can’t wait to go back!

Anne B.

Google

Excellent authentic Italian food! The staff was very friendly and food was served in record time! I had the spaghetti with meatballs served in a spicy tomato sauce and my husband had the creamy seafood pasta. Save room for dessert!

Judy M.

Google

Must visit if you’re in Coombs. Food was outstanding, service was amazing and you’ll feel like you are in Tuscany. Outdoor patio is absolutely stunning, it’s absolutely wonderful. Every dish we had was delicious and the portions are generous. We all needed to go containers!

pratham D.

Google

Great atmosphere and ambience. It feels for a moment that you have been transported to an Italian village. The chef gives great attention to details and that is evident from the food they serve. The service though could be better. Would surely visit when in coombs

Fake N.

Yelp

This Italian restaurant is a large space with a wonderful terrace which was busy. I was sat at the rail looking out over the trees and a grassy area below. The server was pleasant. I ordered a linguine pesto dish with chicken. I opted not to have an appetizer because I expected the free bread service that other tables were getting and I overheard another server mention. I never received the bread. As a solo traveler I am not unaccustomed to getting forgotten/the shaft from places. This usually happens at more expensive places and is frustrating. The pasta dish was mediocre. The pesto was mild in flavour, the chicken was a bit dry and while the fresh pasta was a nice touch, it was slightly undercooked. I also ordered a slice of the chocolate ganache cake which was the best part of this meal. The cake was moist, chocolatey and not overly sweet. This place is for the tourists and is a one and done place. Go if you're there, I wouldn't go out of my way. I'd rate out of 10 a 7, except since no bread service and the pedestrian entree, and the cost, it gets a 5.

Dawn F.

Yelp

Oh wow. Romantic and beautiful setting (definitely ask to sit outside if it's a pretty summer day). The service was super friendly and attentive. And the food. It was amazing. I don't really love salads, but the spinach salad was hands down, the best salad I've ever had. The soup of the day was, I believe, chorizo sausage with kale and some other veggies and it was also very tasty. We devoured the scallops before I took any pictures (sorry). Would definitely return the next time we are on the island.

Sharon B.

Yelp

We just ate at Cuckoo's with our daughter and her family! It's our #1 favorite restaurant in Oceanside & Nanaimo area. We love the ambiance, friendly service and excellent Italian food - and pizza too, of course! The drive to Coombs is well worth it, by Goats on Roof an all around spectacular place. Christmas season 2024, I organized a group of 60 women who attended an incredible feast in their large private dining area. Fausto and his staff were so accommodating and the food was 5 star as as always. Cuckoo's is great for everyone, families, individuals and groups. Thank you Fausto! Sharon

Michael D.

Yelp

This is a gem of a restaurant. Elegant, relaxing atmosphere with friendly staff. Good traditional Italian food. We had the Margarita pizza, spaghetti and meatballs with a spicy arrabiata sauce. Great cheese on the pizza and amazing arrabiata sauce. Will definitely go back again.

Gerald T.

Yelp

Best "date night" place in the Qualicum area. We love their Cesar salad and GF All Cheese Bianca pizza. Order the pizza GF...you won't be disappointed!

Suzanne Y.

Yelp

It's been quite a while since I've dined out at an actual restaurant, but so excited that our perseverance has paid off and the country is slowly opening up! This was also just in perfect time for a little celebration of my birthday! @added4u brought me out to Coombs for a nice lunch at @cuckooitalian and stroll around the area. It was definitely very busy, but we secured a seat after about 10 minutes of waiting. We were started off with some bread, I'm not sure what was in the brown bread but it was fragrant, with a nutty aroma and nice chewy texture. Paired with the salsa, this was wonderfully refreshing in the warm weather. I ordered the Risotto Cinque Terre ($25), which was a tomato based seafood risotto. Super fresh ingredients in generous amounts scattered through the dish, it was a beautiful medley. We also got the Verde pizza ($18.50) consisting of chicken, goat and mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil pesto topped with arugula and a balsamic reduction. This was A M A Z I N G. The mozzarella was stringy, pesto was fragrant, and balsamic reduction cut the creaminess of the goat cheese perfectly. The pizza crust was crispy and chewy, we were both blown away with how wonderfully this all came together. Overall it was a wonderful experience, staff were attentive and helpful, even though it was so busy! Glad we got the chance to dine in finally!

Eclectic E.

Yelp

Great Italian restaurant behind a very worth stopping at road side market ( world market, toy store, nursery, taco stand) in Coombs. Mother's Day, and they're handling the crush with perfect composure. Gracie was our main staff member, tho the whole staff works together in an easy flow.

Peter Y.

Yelp

Amazing place. Romantic authentic food. Beautiful Italian courtyard. In I will come again

Dave S.

Yelp

The Cuckoo restaurant has a casually pleasant atmosphere. It's located at the Coombs market, which has a Mexican, and casual cafe ,which are now closed, due to the quieter Fall season, I presume. My wife had the individual thin crust , vegetarian pizza. It was good, not very good or great,but OK. I had the lunch special, a pulled short rib sandwich, with sauerkraut and melted Brie. This was very good, not too large and included, a small bowl of minestrone, or salad, if you prefer. The soup was just OK, nothing special. The short rib was nicely seasoned and bun, was excellent, probably made on-site. They also brought some bread and salsa , and again, was especially good. They bake or buy incredibly good bread. It was busy, with a lineup, outside. They seemed to have adequate staff, but I don't know if they seated the lower area. In any event, there was another group of customers waiting to getting in. Service was good, our food was hot, no complaints there. Overall, I only rated it 3 stars, maybe it should be 3.5. For the price, service, and food quality and quantity, I think my review is fair. Check it out, if you have time and your in Coombs and don't forget see those goats on the roof.

M B.

Yelp

The foods was phenomenal however the waitress older woman we had last night was very rude She could have kept her facial expressions to herself. We had a larger group reservation and she put auto gratuity onto the bill which was 20%. Given her poor service and attitude I did not want to tip more than 15 but did not have a choice as she rang it up on the portable machine. Regardless of what she may have going on in her personal life, realize you have a job and it's to serve customers with the best experience especially in such a fine establishment. How you are served makes a difference

Purple D.

Yelp

I have heard about this famous restaurant and have been trying to go there for years, but either it has been long lineup or closed due to heat wave. Finally, my family of 8 people went there as the highlight and really enjoyed the food and garden ambience with warm hospitality. If you plan to go there, I would recommend to line up at least 15 minutes before it opens, then you would be granted the first round of tables and best services. We ordered a platter of spaghetti of meatballs (big enough for 4 hungry people), The Cuckoo pizza with chicken, Boscaiola, Platter of Garden Sald and Filone Sandman. Everything tasted authentic Italian with fresh ingredients. It's the worth the wait :)

Suzanne M.

Yelp

Delicious food, gluten free options, large drink selection, beautiful atmosphere and great service. I had the Cuckoo Gluten free pizza and a glass of the house red.. delicious they even had gluten free bread as a starter for me, which blew me away.. Great job Cuckoo in Coombs

Peggy-Sue C.

Yelp

" Best EVER Food and Service Highly recommended " Looking forward to eat ing here again

Katie F.

Yelp

The rating of this place is way too high currently. It's average Italian food at best with the price premium of the tourist location. 2.5 stars. Service - 2-3 stars Server failed to mention the out of stock items at the beginning. Of course, we picked one of them as our main. She seemed surprised that we commented on the dishes being served out of order. If you're marketing yourself as a nicer restaurant, you would assume that the appetizer shouldn't come last? We got the pasta first, salad next, and starter last. Ugh. Food - 3 stars - Basket of 'artisan' bread was pretty stale. Butter and sauce didn't help much. - Meatball appetizers - ok. Comes with 4 medium meatballs. Sauce was decent. - Spinach salad - average. Goat cheese, pecans, dried cranberries - Pasta - very average. Slightly overcooked. Lovely setting with both indoor and outdoor seating. Unfortunately, this does not help with the food quality. Would eat at the tacos place if in the area again.

Floyd F.

Yelp

Big time eatery in the famous Coombs market area. Good food that does not disappoint. Costly but who's counting...

Tammy M.

Yelp

Great atmosphere very friendly people the service is slow but it's always been busy when I have gone but very delicious food. Sat outside last time I didn't even know they had an outdoor patio.

Melissa B.

Yelp

Lovely Italian Restaurant at Coombs. The atmosphere is great. The inside is really lovely and the outside is very romantic. We went with a group of 7 ladies on a Saturday night and we're started immediately. The service was great. We ended up doing the family style dinner with two salads, two pastas and two pizzas. The salads and pastas were great. The pizzas were only meh, the bottoms of the pizza were soggy and very hard to eat. We also ended up ordering the $5 desert share plate which was nice. Top to bottom our experience was lovely. We ended up closing down the restaurant and at no point did we feel pushed out of the restaurant. I would say the atmosphere is the best part of this restaurant. It's stunning. I would highly recommend for a romantic dinner.

Ava S.

Yelp

A favourite spot for date night and family and friend celebrations. Their gnocchi is to die for. Love the Italian herb lemonade! Beautiful ambiance. Been here at least 10 times!

Lisa V.

Yelp

One of the culinary stops on my vacation to Vancouver Island was Cuckoo Trattoria in Coombs. It's a beautiful venue at the back of one of the many markets. Inside is large with high ceilings and white walls; very classy. The patio was surprisingly large and packed, but didn't feel crowded. This is the place to be! They offer pizza, pasta and even have gluten-free options. Can't choose? They've got a family style option as well. If you're looking for it, it's the restaurant behind the market with the goats on the roof. :P We started with some apps, Oysters in White Wine Sauce($14.99) and Bruschetta($8.99). Yum and Yum. The white wine sauce was fantastic; we were all scooping the sauce into the shell.! The focaccia was fresh and the bruschetta was tasty. A great start! Time to carb load! My dad got the Pasta Primavera in tomato sauce($16.99), my uncle chose Lasagna($17.99), my aunt selected Linguine al Granchio($21.99) and I went with Cuckoo Pizza($16.50). All of the pasta is homemade and the pizza dough is hand-stretched thin crust. The lasagna, overflowing with cheese, had thick layers of sauce and meat. The al Granchio is a pasta dish with crab meat in bite size pieces. The pizza had goat cheese, chicken, roasted red peppers and artichoke hearts and I loved it. The crust was perfect and every bite burst with flavour. The portions were generous, but not over the top. It was more than enough to fill your belly and you could still clean your plate. Sadly, no room for dessert! The service was fantastic. When we arrived and requested the patio, they said a table was being cleared at the moment. While we waited, only a few minutes, 4 people asked if we had been taken care of. Great customer service! They were pleasant, but not rushed, even though the patio was packed. All of the food arrived hot and awesome. Getting great service is nice but, being served by happy employees is even better.

Rebecca S.

Yelp

Had dinner tonight at this lovely place. The outside looks like an English manor house and the inside is very comfortable. We ordered the foccocia with chanterelle cream for a starter and it was amazing!!! Not on the menu, our waiter recommended it and so glad he did! I ordered the crab pasta and my husband had the carbonara. The crab pasta was delicious! I ordered it with the quinoa pasta and you would never know it was gluten free. There was so much crab and lots of fresh ingredients. The carbonara was good too, the pancetta etc large and smoky. We finished with the local coconut pie and I think it was the best we've ever had. True creamy coconut flavour. Yum! Hope to come back next time we are in the area.

Bethanny B.

Yelp

I love this restaurant! It's a destination place for us, coming from an hour and a half away. I'd say it's one of the best, if not, THE best restaurant on the island. You are transported to another place, eating here. It's such a delight! Service, food, ambiance, Beautiful setting! Hope it stays like this for many years to come. I've also been told it's a great place to work!

Cliff G.

Yelp

Stopped in for lunch on Sunday after checking out Coombs Market.It is a Italian Trattoria & Pizzeria Restaurant. My son ordered the SALMONE,Fresh spinach, wild BC smoked salmon lox,capers & goat cheese with crushed tomatoes + mozzarella. He loved the dish and raved all afternoon about it. I had the Vesuvio thin crust pizza, a spicy one with pepperoni, hot italian sausage,spicy salame,hot capicollo,chilli garlic inferno sauce + mozzarella cheese, topped off with fresh Reggiano . It was a 10/10 spot on the taste and spicy flavour! WOW! My fiance had the Lasagne, homemade pasta sheets layered with becharmel sauce and original bolognese meat sauce topped with parmesan + mozzarella cheese,also topped off with fresh Reggiano. All served with fresh basket of Artisan Breads. This fine Italian Restaurant is a go to place for authentic Italian fine food, the prices are reasonable for the quality that goes into the preparation af the fresh dishes, Highly recommended if you are passing through Coombs, B.C. Service was excellent, very nice decor and has fresh desserts at the front counter. Ciao!

Dean C.

Yelp

7/2/17 Ultra touristy restaurant in a ultra touristy little village. Ain't nothing wrong with that. It's kind of nice actually. I mean, we did pass up the restaurant down the street with goats on the roof... that would have been even cooler. But this one boasted a huge patio where you eat, all pretty with lush greenery and blooms. Just looked like it would hit the spot. And well, no shocker here--the emphasis clearly was not on the food which was all good looks and no soul. Not a foodie destination. Not for the sophisticated eater. And definitely not a place to bring your extended Italian family to show how Canadians do old-world food. But... it is a good place to eat with your 5 year old, sharing the same food for once... cause well, it's kiddie food... Did I mention this place is huge? And super popular. So we were seated and I kid you not, we waited at least 20min in our seats to get anyone's attention. TWENTY MINUTES and not a single server said hi. That's something right? And like I said, kiddie food... 1. Spiked Herbed Italian Lemonade CA$5.00 "your choice of Bicardi Rum, Smirnoff Vodka or Tanqueray Gin": Alright alright... this wasn't kiddie drink ha ha... couldn't remember much about it though. 2. Litre Carafe of Sangria CA$19.99 "red wine & citrus": Same, don't remember much. 3. Spinach Salad Platter CA$16.99 "with goat cheese, grape tomatoes, sundried cranberries, toasted honey pecans & balsamic reduction": Typical hip salad I would say. Nothing remarkable tasting good or bad. 5/10 4. Spicy Prawns CA$14.99 "black tiger prawns sauteed with fresh chili, garlic butter, white wine and pomodoro sauce": It's shrimp in marinara sauce basically. Or at least that's how it looked and tasted. Shrimp were unremarkable. 5/10 5. Linguine Creamy Pesto Platter CA$29.99 "home made linguine tossed with cream, fresh basil & pine nut pesto sauce topped with grilled chicken breast and Parmesan cheese": Menu boasts "always fresh and flavourful, never 'al dente.'" Well though their motto would normally put me off cause it shows a misunderstanding of pasta basics, I am happy to say the pasta was cooked alright. Texture was fine, though not perfect. And as you would expect, the chicken was overcooked and dry. 5/10 6. Linguine Pescatora Platter CA$35.99 "a simple 'fisherman's style' dish of fresh clams, mussels, shrimp, prawns & scallops tossed with garlic, extra virgin olive oil & fresh tomatoes": Again, pasta was fine, but in this case the sauce was very thin and plain. The seafood was unremarkable. 5/10 7. Vescuvio Pizza CA$16.50 "this is a spicy one... pepperoni, hot Italian sausage, spicy salame, hot capicollo, chili garlic Inferno sauce & mozzarella cheese": Crust was okay--more rustic than a thin crust from your delivery-pizza parlor, but lacking real Italian expertise. Otherwise unremarkable. 5/10 8. Capricciosa Pizza CA$16.50 "this 'capricious' pizza is an all time favourite, topped with crushed tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, prosciutto cotto (Italian Ham), artichoke hearts, black olives & field mushrooms": Funny they call this their "all time favorite" as I actually wrote in my notes that the sauce is very amateur. Pretty weak. 4/10 So, as you can see, mostly 5 points out of 10 for most dishes. Pretty dead average food-wise. Service sucked hell. The place really was beautiful though. So I guess it all evens out... 3/5 #nanaimo #coombs #canada #italian

Mb W.

Yelp

Drove quite a distance yesterday to have dinner there as Yelp shows it as open. So disappointed when we got there as it is closed for the season. Yelp needs to update their info. we have been to Cuckoo before and enjoyed our meal so this rating is not for the food but for the misinformation.

Bei J.

Yelp

There is a goat on roof next to our seats all the time. Meal is perfect. The platter of desert is surprisingly good. It worth half an hour waiting in line for this experience

Jane B.

Yelp

great food, i had a waitress a bit rude but other than that it's a lovely place to dine. the ambiance was beautiful.

C K.

Yelp

Stopped here on a whim to see the goats on the roof in the marketplace & decided to try Cuckoo's. It was a busy & sunny Sunday around lunchtime with seating available both inside & out. We chose to sit inside to beat the heat. Menu has a lot of choices & we opted to try an appetizer the waitress recommended, a chanterelle mushroom flatbread along with the bison carpaccio- both were excellent! I ordered the mushroom risotto with braised lamb shank & hubby got the pasta pescatore. Both were very generous servings & we had leftovers for dinner later. Because it was busy, service was probably slower than usual but we were in no rush. Also the risotto usually takes at least 20 minutes or so to prepare. We would order both again. We definitely will return anytime we're in the area.

Mike F.

Yelp

Truly a destination kind of experience for a restaurant. You'll think you're in Europe and have a great Italian meal in this wonderful atmosphere...

Ursula B.

Yelp

After hearing Aaron speak of the amazing pizza he had in Italty it's refreshing to finally try a restaurant that tastes just like it!! Right down to the delicious olive oil. We highly recommend giving this place a try. Especially the salmon pizza. We visited multiple times, and some times were a bit better than others. (The day it was busiest it seemed they rushed the order, compared to the times. Not going to deduct a star because we still overly enjoyed it.) Even though we waited a little longer, the pasta was also heavenly and the atmosphere was pleasant on the patio. If you have the time just sit back and enjoy yourself this is a great place to do just that. After you waddle away, there is an area to go for a nice stroll nearby.

Wayne H.

Yelp

We have heard so many good things about this place that we drove up from Victoria for lunch. We sat on the patio and it was a really nice atmosphere, the server was attentive. We started with a shared starter Caesar salad and then had one order of lasagna and one order of spaghetti with meatballs. To sum up the entire meal it would be underwhelming. The meals did not have the type of flavour you expect or want. As we ate through our lunch we kept smelling and looking at the Mexican place that is adjacent. Great ambience, filling but not flavourful food.

Jay M.

Yelp

We did the tourist thing and hit up the Coombs market area, saw the Goats on the Roof, and then came here to sit on their patio and enjoy some lunch. Overall, this place is pretty solid Italian food, served up at a surprisingly decent speed despite how big and busy the place was. I had the meatball sandwich which came with a tasty spinach salad. My girlfriend had some sort of pasta with seafood but I forget what - either way she enjoyed it as well. Not sure there are many options for dining in this neck of the woods, so it's at least good to know this is a safe bet.

Larry B.

Yelp

Stopped here for lunch this week while visiting the island. Not a lot of choices in the area. Definitely a touristy spot. We arrived around 1130am, and there were only 2 other family ahead of us in line. There was only one greeter, front staff, runner, etc. She comes out, asks how many in the party, tells them to wait for a while and that she will prep their table, goes inside, does her thing, comes back out to advise the party that their table is ready and leads them inside the restaurant until they reach their table. We overheard her telling a male staff that 'she is doing everything there'... which she was at that time. I don't blame her for saying that. Waiting for the server to get our order was a long wait....waiting for our food was a longer wait! we were probably waiting for 30 to 45 minutes. The other tables who arrived at the same time as us and even after us got their food, finished and even left. When my carbonara arrived, it was dry on top - probably sitting under a heat lamp for a long time. Taste was mediocre.

Amanda S.

Yelp

Wonderful experience, great food, amazing service. Our poor waitress accidentally spilled an entire drink on my friend, but they gave them the meal and drinks for free, but it was all handled so well that after we left and gone shopping a bit we even returned for dinner! Portions were just right and the quality of the food was just perfect!

Aidan K.

Yelp

This is a amazing restaurant, and I really enjoyed the spaghetti carbonara. The atmosphere of the restaurant is beautiful. A perfect mix of a rustic Italian, while keeping a modern day feel.

Amanda F.

Yelp

My family and I had an amazing experience- waiter was great and the food was AMAZING! We are new to the island and we will definitely be back!

Elizabeth Ann S.

Yelp

Yummy italian food. Tough on a keto diet but Cesar salad and anti pasto with a nice glass of wine is great! Pasta lovers paradise with handmade pasta and beautiful sauces. Best Tiramisu.

Tee E.

Yelp

Wanted a little Italian, and Yelp delivered. This place is absolutely stunning. Huge outdoor patio, lots of room inside. The staff is super friendly and knowledgeable, and the food came super fast. I would eat here again for the location alone. I ordered the meatball sandwich, which were meats topped with melted parmesan and mozzarella cheese on a classic portuguese bun. And a spinach salad with goat cheese, grape tomatoes, sundried cranberries, toasted honey pecans & balsamic reduction. This was only 15 bucks! The salad was absolutely stunning. The meatball sandwich? Tolerable. The bread had an uneven toast on it, and the meatballs lacked texture. I think they let the meatballs sit in the sauce all day, and it made them mushy. Would have been better with a quick sear in a frying pan. All said and done, can't wait to go back. Just need to eat something different!

Ron A.

Yelp

Tried the Pizza, might have been the worst ever. Another trip to the area i saw the prep cook doing very questionable things with the food

N B.

Yelp

This was probably one of the bed restaurants I've ever been to. The patio is so nice on a sunny day, and the service is quick and the servers are very nice. I had a kind of cheese pizza, I can't recall the name unfortunately but it was so delicious, it was very oily but that somehow made it more delicious! Definitely recommend if you're in Coombs. Right near the goats on the roof!

Kim S.

Yelp

Great romantic place to eat on a Sunday afternoon The food is amazing We started with starter Caesar salads I had the crab linguine and my husband had the mushroom risotto Both were superb The chocolate ganache cake finished off the meal We will be back

Jennifer C.

Yelp

Beautiful spot for lunch. All about the location for this place. Food was average. Bread seemed stale. But the waiter was friendly and prompt. Would go again just to sit on the patio and feel like I'm in Italy!

Pearl W.

Yelp

My husband and I had heard such great comments about this place that we decided to try it. The ambience is great and our service was also very good. If I was to base this review on that alone, I would have given them a 5 star rating, however, the food is not so great. We started with a ceasar salad, we could find no bacon and the sauce did not seem to have had any garlic in it. My husband ordered the cabarona spagetti, although he said it tasted good, I noticed that it appeared to be swimming in a thin sauce. I had the meat balls and spagetti, for what they were charging I expected some of the best I had ever eaten. But it was not, the meat balls were over pepper spiced and the tomato sauce was bland. I make better at home. I'm glad we tried it, but I would not go back again.

Julia O.

Yelp

This place delivers every time! I called for a reservation too late and they were no longer taking them. We showed up (family of 6) and were seated with in about 10-15 mins! Our favorite is the spaghetti carbonara. Delicious and full of flavor! We tried a pizza this time and I was also delicious! Thin crust, packed with flavor, and so fresh. Love this place and will be visiting again when we stay on the island!

Shelly P.

Yelp

Salmone pizza to DIE for! Thin neopolitian crust, I mean authentic thin crust! This place is a must try, sadly this is the first time I didn't take pictures.

Brian S.

Yelp

My first time to this restaurant. It will definitely be my Last! First come first served, no reservations waited for a table out in the cold for 20 minutes as there is nowhere to stand inside. Maybe a restaurant of this calibre could spring for a patio heater if that is their policy. A hostess took us to our table we sat there for 15 minutes waiting for a server... in this time I saw another couple seated after us that had bread delivered to their table. Then they had drinks! ...Still no server. When she did arrive....We ordered drinks and an appetizer. The drinks menu is non existent,?I ordered a rye and coke. The server asked if Diet Pepsi was ok...for a drink? . She obviously thought I said Diet Coke not rye and coke but because it was too loud to hear me there was a mid understanding to which she had a rude reply "that was a hard turn".After waiting for another half hour our entrées arrived turns out the server completely forgot our appetizer. The food was OK the service was horrible. This place is the middle of nowhere but is a tourist trap. They're always busy so I'm sure they don't care about this review worst customer service I've ever had. I grew up in fine dining! .....I would never go back!!! I've occasionally had better service at McDonald's

R R.

Yelp

I'm conflicted, I've had some great meals and some less than desirable experiences here (the latest being the worst). I've come to the conclusion that this restaurant has some serious issues handling volume and has some very obvious staffing issues. But that said, even pre-COVID the service has never been good or memorable and I've come here for quite a few years as the food made up for the lack of service. My recommendation is go if the restaurant is slow, give it a big pass if there is a line. Went with a group of 6 this Sunday, 3 of us decided to share 2 platters - spaghetti (meh) and carbonara (my go to and normally great but not this time). Loaded our dishes only to find a hair (sandy blond and none of us are, so not ours) in the carbonara and took awhile for them to even bother sending our waiter over to deal with it - zero urgency or even care that the rest of our food was sitting getting cold while we waited for the carbonara platter and plates to be removed. Our plates were cleared and half the spaghetti platter went with those. We sat waiting for replacement plates/cutlery for 15 min - we had to finally ask another server to remind our server - and the one remaining dish went even colder. Service on drinks was the same - had to remind the server I had asked 3 times and was still waiting. Carbonara was replaced and was fine but we had been asked if we wanted a single serving replacement instead of the platter which seemed odd (??? Ah you took away half the food when you took away our plates and we didn't put the hair in the first carbonara platter and all considering we were pretty relaxed about it). When the bill came, found that they charged us for the carbonara. There was no acknowledgment of the situation, no apology at any point, being charged clearly indicated they felt (and we were told) they rectified the situation despite the fact that when they removed the plates they took a lot of our other dish with it plus the off putting overall impression. I wasn't looking for a "free" dish, but I've had restaurants bend over backwards on their own when the error was theirs. This one obviously didn't think they had erred despite impacting half of our table and creating a generally unpleasant experience. A few other things - no heaters on the patio and everyone was being seated outside, it was quite cold and the meal took an hour longer than it should have. Service at all the tables was bad and you could hear others getting frustrated with how slow it was to get basic needs met, were told at the start we could put in a to-go order for a friend who couldn't join us but then told about an hour in that the kitchen decided they'd had enough for the night and despite the earlier assurance they decided no more as they wanted to wrap up. I would give zero stars based on this last experience but given the years I've been coming here, the food is decent even if the service rarely has been.

Joshua T.

Yelp

We were discriminated against because our child (17 months old girl) (who needs a walker to move around because she had a brain injury) was walking around near our table - and the dining room was empty at the time - the waitress was unkind unreasonable and unempathetic to us. We left, my wife in tears on her birthday. We recommend nobody go there and we hope they close We have been to many restaurants with our baby in her walker, she has never been a problem, everyone has adored her, We left feeling hurt, angry, disrespected and hungry. Not cool

Man E.

Yelp

I rarely give 5 stars but Cuckoo deserves it. Very nice setting, interior reminisennt of the classic Raffles in Singapore. The Patio dining is shaded with umbrellas and dappled sun filtered through fruit trees. The service is attentive and quick without being intrusive. Both decor and service come in second place to the food which is outstanding. We started with a cioppino appetizer. The broth was flavorful with a really fresh taste of herbs and spices. My girlfriend ordered the lamb shank with mushroom risotto. The Lamb was richly flavorful done to fall off the bone perfection. The risotto was rich and creamy with a variety of mushrooms. I ordered the scalapini in a marsala sauce. This is easy to get too salty but not a Cuckoo. A silky smooth sauce with crimini, shiitake and Enokitake mushroom served with linguini in a fresh creamy tomato sauce. Cuckoo has full bar with signature brands at competitive prices.

Nicole L.

Yelp

I have been to this restaurant quite a few times but our evening was a flop. The gluten free pasta was terribly over cooked. The pesto was ok but the bolognese was tasteless. The Caesar salad was a 6/10. They used to do a gluten free flat bread but now they serve a weird round loaf of yuck. I feel like it is frozen and it tasted stale. I wondered if maybe they microwaved it. The best part of the meal was the Vesuvio gluten free pizza. And I would recommend the meat balls. But I don't get the weird sweet salsa like stuff? The most remarkable part of the meal was the inconsistent service. Our server was nice but I would give the over all service for the evening a 5/10.

@eater

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A 24-Hour Food Tour Across Southern Vancouver Island | Eater Seattle

"I noticed Cuckoo Trattoria and Pizzeria next door to the market, opened by a chef from Italy who enjoys incorporating Pacific Northwest ingredients into traditional recipes." - Sabra Boyd

https://seattle.eater.com/2022/8/19/23312623/24-hour-best-restaurants-southern-vancouver-island-bc-canada

Cuckoo Trattoria and Pizzeria

Dave

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Michael

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Lynda D.

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S L

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Paolo Lee R.

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Anne B.

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Judy M.

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pratham D.

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Fake N.

Yelp

Dawn F.

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Sharon B.

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Michael D.

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Gerald T.

Yelp

Best "date night" place in the Qualicum area. We love their Cesar salad and GF All Cheese Bianca pizza. Order the pizza GF...you won't be disappointed!

Suzanne Y.

Yelp

Eclectic E.

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Peter Y.

Yelp

Amazing place. Romantic authentic food. Beautiful Italian courtyard. In I will come again

Dave S.

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M B.

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Purple D.

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Suzanne M.

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Peggy-Sue C.

Yelp

" Best EVER Food and Service Highly recommended " Looking forward to eat ing here again

Katie F.

Yelp

Floyd F.

Yelp

Big time eatery in the famous Coombs market area. Good food that does not disappoint. Costly but who's counting...

Tammy M.

Yelp

Great atmosphere very friendly people the service is slow but it's always been busy when I have gone but very delicious food. Sat outside last time I didn't even know they had an outdoor patio.

Melissa B.

Yelp

Ava S.

Yelp

A favourite spot for date night and family and friend celebrations. Their gnocchi is to die for. Love the Italian herb lemonade! Beautiful ambiance. Been here at least 10 times!

Lisa V.

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Rebecca S.

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Bethanny B.

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Cliff G.

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Dean C.

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Mb W.

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Bei J.

Yelp

There is a goat on roof next to our seats all the time. Meal is perfect. The platter of desert is surprisingly good. It worth half an hour waiting in line for this experience

Jane B.

Yelp

great food, i had a waitress a bit rude but other than that it's a lovely place to dine. the ambiance was beautiful.

C K.

Yelp

Mike F.

Yelp

Truly a destination kind of experience for a restaurant. You'll think you're in Europe and have a great Italian meal in this wonderful atmosphere...

Ursula B.

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Wayne H.

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Jay M.

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Larry B.

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Amanda S.

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Aidan K.

Yelp

This is a amazing restaurant, and I really enjoyed the spaghetti carbonara. The atmosphere of the restaurant is beautiful. A perfect mix of a rustic Italian, while keeping a modern day feel.

Amanda F.

Yelp

My family and I had an amazing experience- waiter was great and the food was AMAZING! We are new to the island and we will definitely be back!

Elizabeth Ann S.

Yelp

Yummy italian food. Tough on a keto diet but Cesar salad and anti pasto with a nice glass of wine is great! Pasta lovers paradise with handmade pasta and beautiful sauces. Best Tiramisu.

Tee E.

Yelp

Ron A.

Yelp

Tried the Pizza, might have been the worst ever. Another trip to the area i saw the prep cook doing very questionable things with the food

N B.

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Kim S.

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Jennifer C.

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Pearl W.

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Julia O.

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Shelly P.

Yelp

Salmone pizza to DIE for! Thin neopolitian crust, I mean authentic thin crust! This place is a must try, sadly this is the first time I didn't take pictures.

Brian S.

Yelp

R R.

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Joshua T.

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Man E.

Yelp

Nicole L.

Yelp

Cuckoo Trattoria and Pizzeria

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A 24-Hour Food Tour Across Southern Vancouver Island | Eater Seattle

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A 24-Hour Food Tour Across Southern Vancouver Island | Eater Seattle