Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant

I ordered the chicken alfredo with broccoli both the regular and gluten-free versions and unfortunately the food fell short. The sauce lacked all flavor and reminded me more of something from a hospital cafeteria than a restaurant. The broccoli also didn’t taste fresh, it was definitely frozen. That said, the staff was amazing very friendly and attentive. I think the service was wonderful, but the food itself could really use an upgrade especially for being $45+ for two entrees.

Please keep in mind that this review is for this visit, not in general. Normally, their food is very good. I've been craving a sub and have never had one here, so I thought I'd try one. Take a look at the picture and tell me if it all wouldn't end up in your lap the way it's put together, esp since the lettuce was chopped up. I had to take everything out and then put the lettuce, tomatoes, and onions at the bottom of the bun and the meat and cheese on top to have a chance at not wearing it. Flavor wise, it was okay, but I'd pass in the future, opting for anything else on the menu. My spouse enjoyed her pasta, and it was an ample serving for lunch and enough for leftovers. The bread was somewhat hard, and she wondered if it was day old. The service is excellent. Our waiter was friendly, kind, and attentive.

This was our first visit to Pulcinella's and we absolutely loved it!!! Everything was even better than we hoped for.....the atmosphere and the food were wonderful but especially Lesley (our server) who made it all EXTRA enjoyable. She had just the RIGHT amount of friendliness - available when we needed something but not hovering over us. Lesley shared in our joy as we were celebrating our 53rd wedding anniversary by giving us the surprise gift of a dessert. We will definitely return in the near future. Thank you!!!!!

The fam ordered pizza and spaghetti w/meatballs from Pulcinella’s and it was….good (at least the pizza was good). We ordered a veggie pizza (with pepperoni) LOL, and it was pretty good. However…the spaghetti with meatballs….can we say “need more seasoning” and the meatballs…. “could have tasted better”. Actually the spaghetti with meatballs was pretty bland. I gave Pulcinella’s a 4-rating because of the pizza. I will order from here again and possibly try other dishes. I do encourage others to try the pizza…it’s really good!

My dad and I have been coming here for years. Ever since the new owners have taken over I have noticed the quality of food go down. Normally the food is okay but last night’s meal was horrible. I ordered a chicken Parmesan dinner for me and my dad. The order was a take out order. Ordering was easy and the ladies who helped me when I picked it up, were extremely friendly and helpful! The first thing I noticed when I opened the take out counter was the color of the marinara sauce. It was a very dark red. In the past the marinara sauce was bright red and very flavorful. I loved the marinara. Last night’s marinara sauce was spicy. It left my mouth burning. There were 2 pit of chicken, one stacked on the other. The one on top had cheese and sauce. The chicken was thin, dry and overcooked. My dad’s meal was exactly the same. I highly doubt we will be back.

Sad. Sanitation score was 91. The calamari was bland and chewy. The lasagna was also bland, previously frozen is my take and had, what I would consider, scrap meat. This might be authentic Northern Italian food, but I wouldn't know, I've never been to Italy. On a better note the bread was very good.

The ziti with meat sauce was awesome. It was really hearty. I ordered meatballs to go with it, but really didn't need to, had enough meat in the sauce. The salad could've been a little fresher, but everything else was so good that it really didn't matter. The only problem i have is that now I'm full and there's a ton of food left over, and I don't want to waste any of it, but I'm in a hotel. I guess I'll just wait 4 hours and eat as much as I can before bed, lol. Definitely recommend. P.S.- my buddy ordered the ravioli and he said they were the best he's ever had, and he's super picky.

This is a very family friendly restaurant with comforting Italian dishes. The portions are very generous and food is very tasty. I really enjoyed the calamari appetizer. It had a nice light breading that was seasoned and cooked to perfection. The restaurant is located in a grocery store plaza with several other businesses. During busy hours, you may have to park towards the back.

A very authentic Italian restaurant! I have family who is Italian, so I really appreciated how genuine and flavorful the food was--it felt like a true taste of Italy. The staff were friendly and welcoming, which added to the great experience. I'll definitely be recommending this spot to others looking for quality Italian cuisine. What I ordered : Penne Boscaiola

We came on a weekend during lunchtime and were served by Dominic. The server was very attentive and came back pretty frequently. The ambience was very much like a family restaurant. The inside was a bit dim lighting wise so some people may have a hard time reading the menu but overall was clean. The booth seats were very comfortable, and the bread was very good too. I got a chicken Alfredo and my boyfriend got a chicken Parmesan. The chicken was pretty good. I did wish that the sauce for the Alfredo was thicker because it was on the watery side. The portions were awesome and prices for Italian seem to be great compared to nearby Italian restaurants. Although we didn't partake in any desserts, the menu looked really good with at least five different options for desserts. I would definitely visit again.

It's hard to come by an italian spot that offers quality food at a price that doesn't break the bank. Pulcinellas does a pretty good job of filling in this niche. Built upon the theme of a character of Neapolitan puppetry (explained on their menu, I'm not an expert in Neapolitan puppetry), they carry a laid back but intimate vibe. I wouldn't give it a Michelin star, but my visit certainly scratched an itch for some much needed pasta. The Alfredo looked good,, and my friend had only good things to say. The lasagna was meaty (though the sauce lacked depth), and the calamari was crispy. Everything came in satisfying portions, too! Overall, a spot that serves it's role well.

I ordered takeout, so I can't speak to the service or the feel of the restaurant. The food was good, though I've heard it was much better than what I received. I got the Caprese salad, which lacked much balsamic glaze for as many tomato's as there were. The lasagna was extremely meaty and I will say had good flavor. The carbonara was average. I felt like the bacon was a little undercooked, there were no caramelized onions that could be seen and the sauce was very light. The side salad was fresh and the ranch was homemade and delicious. I also liked the bread. Overall, I might try a pizza but will likely go somewhere else for food.

Alfredo pasta was so watery.. no flavor at all so sad.. and I wish the chicken was crispy

Bread was good. Food good. Pizza was thin crust and good. Red sauce just ok. Prices reasonable. Salad and dressing good. Mussels and shrimp both good and worth ordering.

The taste and quality of the food here is top notch. The prices are unmatched for pasta + meat entrees. You can't go wrong with their chicken parm while their dipping oil is to die for. The ambiance is casual and cozy while the staff treats you like family! My only complaint is the plate sharing fee and fee to use the credit card. Otherwise, this place is probably the best Italian joint around, especially for the value.

Love their Manicotti dinner including salad with homemade Italian vinaigrette & soft rolls. Pillowy soft tubes nestled in marinara and topped with mozzarella.

Second time coming here! Excellent bread and a tomato based olive oil to dip i to start your meal followed by a salad (get the house dressing it is good!) This time around we had the Eggplant Parmesan, Chicken Parmesan and Lasagna. All wxcellent

Authentic and priced well. Our family enjoyed dinner at this place. It's slightly busy, but overall, it was fun.

Service is friendly and attentive.. nice comfortable & relaxing place for dinner after a long day. Fresh baked bread. Tried the baked ziti with meat sauce. Delicious. Would highly recommend.

This is one of our favorite Italian restaurants in the area. If you get it to go, do not use Uber Eats. They have stopped refunding people when food is not delivered. This restaurant actually has a pretty cozy seating area.

BEST Italian food we have had in years!!! Superior quality, quantity, and service. We found this spot on a whim on Yelp. We live over five hours away from Pulcinella's, but we will DEFINITELY return! Skip the chains and try this place!!!

Our family adores Pulcinella's & we either dine in or order take out often, like a couple times a month at least. The pizza is our favorite local pie! The pasta dishes are always great & you'll definitely have leftovers. I hope this hidden gem never ends!

Service was great and ambiance was inviting. The food was not as appetizing or fulfilling.

Went on a Monday evening, place wasn't dead but wasn't packed. The restaurant is quite small so conversation can be heard from around you. Service was great. Food was very good and pretty reasonably priced. The restaurant itself was a bit worn but still clean.

Absolutely amazing food. Have been here twice and the service was great, food is amazing. Have tried the lasagna, spaghetti, and pizza. The homemade Italian dressing and ranch are really good. Then there is the bread and amazing roasted red pepper/olive & olive oil dipping sauce which is complimentary and delicious... Definitely will be a continuous returning customer.

I like this place, and have eaten here many times. It feels homey, like an Italian family restaurant. The food is good but not great. The service is fairly good, well-intentioned, but not meeting professional standards. Prices are good. Quantities are good, too, usually just right for my taste. I'll be back again, I'm sure.

Food (tasty, relatively uniformly good quality); full disclosure, I've never eaten in the sit-down portion of the restaurant, which (because of the place's popularity?) always a bit crowded

The Service here is horrible with young teens working with little to no skills in servicing others. My daughter showed me a clip of two coworkers laying around and smoking in the establishment, although there is clearly a paper in the background that states "Warning, no smoking/vaping/strong smells". Overall this place is going downhill in all categories.

Noel catered a very important special meal for 110 of us and it was THE BEST we could have hoped for! Outstanding food ... awesome house made salad dressing ... the BEST chicken piccata , lasagna , olive oil / broccoli / garlic / olives and spaghetti , penne & meat sauce ! Delicious homemade bread and homemade dipping sauce were incredible . If I could give them a 10 I would !! Thank you Noel for making our occasion so special !!!

I used to love Pulcinellas, but tonight was different. The chicken parm used to be a real chicken breast. It's now 2 processed chicken patties. They are charging $18 for the equivalent of 2 McChicken patties. My boyfriend's tortellini was definitely not homemade. It tasted like cheap frozen tortellini. So disappointed.

I had a pasta a la Maria & my partner had the salmon a la Rosa one. Mines had scallops shrimp and crab meat on top. It was a vodka sauce and delicious. We both loved ours. Staff was friendly and service was quick. We still think about this place often (we're from out of town)

Lunch specials are super affordable and tasty. Waitress was very friendly and food was hot and fresh and quick.

The one star is for the kids waiting on the tables and the dessert. Great tiramisu and NY cheesecake. Dinner was inedible slop. My husband eats everything and then some of mine. Not tonight. I ordered Veal Pucinella. I asked if I could swap out the bell peppers for some sauteed spinach. I got a bowl of flavorless canned spinach. The pasta was buried in some kind of spicy "sauce." My husband ordered Baked Ziti with meat sauce. He said it was full of mushy cheese that had no flavor and he couldn't eat it. This restaurant has a nice Italian atmosphere and the people are nice. They can make a few inexpensive cosmetic improvements, but it's cute. They desperately need an experienced Italian cook. The food looks and tastes like something prepared by a cheap diner's line cook.

I've been coming here pretty much my whole life. When visiting home I always try to stop by for lunch or dinner. Wine/spaghetti/lasagna/chicken parmigiana/calzone/cannoli 10/10

A few years ago, we loved this place, but we went back a couple of times this year (returned to confirm), and it's bad. The food is bland, amounts appear to be shrinking (which is fine, no one wanted to eat it anyway), the bread was hard (stale, not crusty), the service was... weird. No one greats you, though there were 3 staff sitting and looking at us and the other parties who'd entered, our server was very attentive, stopping to see how we were every couple of minutes (quite literally), he handed us out food/ drinks/ etc, never putting anything on the table. This led to spills, that were never cleaned up. Two of us slipped on them when we left. (Some off us are not coordinated enough to do that with! Me. It's me.) For 3 meals and rubber rings (they called it calamari, just got thrown out), the total was $85 before the tip. Oh ya, the server holds the payment pad at the table and makes eye contact as you select their tip. If you want a weird experience or to stay on your diet, this is your place. If you want good food, maybe give them a try another option.

Good was so tasty and full of flavor, the service was great they were always checking on our large group. The restaurant was very homey and we Really enjoyed it.

We dined at Pulcinella's weekly for years and I would've happily given them five stars for a long time, but quality has sadly gone way downhill over the last couple years. It seems they're cutting corners on the quality of ingredients (down to the salad, which used to be a spring mix and is now a bland romaine or iceberg) and the flavors just aren't what they used to be. I commented to the hostess a few weeks ago that I hadn't seen the owner in a while and she said he sold the place, which probably explains all the changes. Bummer!

Really good Italian food- felt homey inside and the food was nice. I got the eggplant parm and it was enough for 2 meals. Great amount of food for the price will definitely come here again. The waitress I had was super sweet and answered the questions we had about the menu!

Pulcinella's was one of my favorite places in Durham until recently. Food had BIG chunks of garlic, pasta drenched in oil and super bland. My chicken was terrible, it had a frozen taste and wasn't well cooked. I will not be coming back unfortunately it fell off! I recommend you skipping this place and finding a different authentic Italian restaurant.

I've lived nearby forever, but never visited. My family loved this place. The pasta dishes were delicious and very fairly priced. Our waiter was great and fast. Loved the cute, quaint decor.

My wife remembered this place as being pretty good in the past, but we went today and it was really surprisingly horrible. Somehow, during tomato season in NC, the caprese salad was mealy. The side salads were bitter (not even sure how you do that.) Our entrees were flavorless at best and I ended up adding salt to make it tolerable (I never add salt to anything.) My wife was nervous that the bacon in her dish seemed undercooked. The waiter never cleared anything until asking for our Parmesan cheese twice because the teenagers were trying to close up early to go home (we left by 8:45.)

Went last night and ordered chicken piccata. Completely flavorless and the chicken was swimming in a thin soup trying to be an actual piccata sauce. I would tread lightly considering this place for an authentic Italian restaurant experience. I didn't eat more than a few bites and the server didn't ask if there was an issue. She probably wasn't trained well enough to understand that a full plate of food + request for a check = there's likely a problem with the dish. Pros: cost Cons: flavor, service, food quality

I thought Pulcinella's was A-OK. If you're looking for casual Italian food - nothing fancy - at relatively reasonable prices, I think this place should fit the bill. This restaurant has been around a long time, since 1994. You can find it in the busy Woodcroft Shopping Center (Food Lion). The atmosphere is old-school and fairly no-frills, typical of a sit-down Italian restaurant/pizzeria. It's all booth seating inside the dimly-lit dining room with vinyl tablecloths. Good for families, groups, and a casual date night. There's not much outdoor seating other than a few two-tops (covered) outside the storefront. Here's what we had: * Insalata Caprese ($7.99) - sliced Roma tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar * Eggplant Parmigiana ($12.99) - eggplant lightly breaded, fried & baked in tomato sauce with mozzarella; served with a side of penne pasta with tomato sauce, salad & bread * Tortellini alla Panna ($12.99) - beef tortellini and sauteed ham in creamy Alfredo sauce; served with salad and bread * Linguine con Cozze e Vongole ($16.49) - mussels & clams in white wine sauce (marinara sauce also an option) over linguine pasta; served with salad and bread * Tiramisu In general, everything was fine. Nothing was amazing nor exceptional. These were classic Italian dishes with no surprises. I'm not sure how much of what we ordered was scratch-made. Not that there's anything wrong with it, but I suspect the tortellini was purchased elsewhere (based on serving size/quantity, texture) and the linguine was dry (as opposed to wet; again, based on texture). Overall, the quality of the food was similar to what my wife makes at home or what we could buy from a store. Again, nothing wrong with that. There's value in having a nice meal prepared for you. My point here is, if you're looking for an Italian restaurant that's a bit more unique or finer dining, you should probably look elsewhere. Pulcinella's is more of your basic comfort food. I do recommend everything we ordered if the dishes look appealing to you. I'm a fan of Caprese salad, eggplant Parmesan, tortellini, seafood pasta, and tiramisu and found all of Pulcinella's versions to be tasty and satisfying. Good, filling portion sizes. Our Caprese salad was fresh and delicious; ripe tomatoes and yummy mozzarella with plenty of balsamic. I like how they serve their eggplant Parm with a side of penne. The breaded and fried eggplant hit the spot for me. Of the three entrees we had, I liked the Tortellini alla Panna the best. One reason why is because I like creamy Alfredo sauce. Pulcinella's Alfredo sauce was nice and creamy. The tortellini was small; the beef inside, tender. There could've been more mussels and clams in the Linguine con Cozze e Vongole, but that's how it often goes with dishes involving bivalve molluscs -- the shells simply take up a lot of space compared to the actual meat content inside. The linguini was a bit dense. It was cooked al dente. The tiramisu was great. Sweet and delicate, light and fluffy. It was the best single item in the list above. Each of the entrees was served with small side salads and bread. The side salads consisted of mixed greens with fresh-cut red onion, carrots, and grape tomatoes. Pulcinella's has a homemade Italian vinaigrette which I ordered to try. It was good, a little on the thick side; very flavorful, tangy. The other dressings I ordered, ranch and French, were Ken's and Kraft brand, respectively. I liked the bread. There were two pieces per entree, which I thought was kind of generous. I don't know what the bread type was, but each piece was individually-baked with a slightly firm, crisp exterior and a warm, soft, hearty center. The bread smelled appetizing as did all the food in general. I ordered and paid online using the link on Pulcinella's website. They use Slice for their online ordering platform. It was pretty easy to use. I received both email and text updates that the restaurant was busier than usual and got a re-estimated pickup time of 6:55-7:05 PM. This was on a Saturday. When I arrived to the restaurant, it was busy, mainly because of takeout orders. I ended up receiving my order at 7:15 PM. When I got home, unpacked our meal, and we sat down to eat, I realized the staff had completely forgotten the Caprese salad. I called the restaurant to get a refund on the salad, but I was told they do not process refunds over the phone (some restaurants do). My options were either to (1) drive back to the restaurant and pick up the salad or (2) get a credit for the salad and use it on a future visit. Since I wasn't sure if I'd return and I didn't want to pay for an item I didn't receive, I drove back to the restaurant to pick up the Caprese salad. They threw in a tiramisu for free for the inconvenience. I understand mistakes happen. The staff was polite and friendly, but they need to be more careful and confirm that orders, especially takeout, are 100% fulfilled.

Not sure how we missed this exceptional, small, family place. We had a delicious meal last night with terrific service as well. We always try our traditional dishes we're judging a new place. Hubby had veal parmigiana, I had eggplant parmigiana. Both were great - the sauce is a nice blend of basil and onion! The bread so good - fresh, warm out of the oven and salads are included! We finished with homemade cannoli. We'll be back for sure!

We stopped into this restaurant after seeing the good reviews. We ordered veal Marsala and a a spaghetti with a red cream sauce adding chicken. The veal Marsala -the sauce lacked flavor, the fettuccini Alfredo that was ordered had a very bland taste and not creamy. The spaghetti with red cream sauce with added chicken. The pasta was better than the fettuccini with Alfredo but still lacked any depth of flavor. The added chicken was good but there was very little added. This does seem to be a popular local place. Pricing is very economical and that maybe some of the Draw to this place.

We have eaten at Pulcinella's several times and the food and service has always been good. This is the first time we have ordered takeout pizza. We ordered the thin crust special large pizza. Delicious! We ordered without olives. Order was ready when promised, hot, topping coverage "very good". Service at the counter was quick and the were very friendly. We will definitely order this again. This is a small locally owned Italian restaurant. No frills, just a casual family place with good food with friendly folks. Support local!

Typical shopping center Italian food. My Chicken Alfredo tasted fine. Wife's ranch dressing with her salad had a chunk of something in it. We were satisfied enough with the food, but when we got the check, we were overcharged. Supposedly there is a 4% fee for using a credit card (didn't see any signage indicating this in the dining area or menu) and her dish was $1 more than listed on the menu (and $2 more than listed on their website). Not a big deal that the check was a few bucks more than expected, but it's shady to not let people know when they order. Probably won't go back.

I have been going to the Durham location for decades, sadly in the past 6 months there seems to be a change in the atmosphere (servers are rushed), food is overcooked and on multiple takeout orders the order is not correct. Hopefully the owners can be on site more often to help right the ship. This restaurant used to have the feel of a small neighborhood Italian restaurant, you know the kind Billy Joel sings about. Unfortunately it's now just another restaurant in a strip mall that serves Italian food.

It's a quality Italian restaurent with fantastic Italian dishes and a great wine list. Service is quick and is provided by professional waiters/waitreses that are polite! The breads and deserts are to die for!!

The pizza is consistently good. Crust isn't too thin, sauce is tasty and cheese isn't too greasy. I also enjoyed the manicotti and ziti

What an excellent old red sauce place! This is a place you can go for a quick comfort food meal, and also a place you can bring your grandma and she'll love it. The lasagna is excellent, so is the fried ravioli and the eggplant rollatini. The atmosphere feels very 90s with plush booths and fake ivy, but as someone who grew up in the 90s I can feel very comfortable here. I love how quick they are, how friendly, and that the bread with oil and salads (free with entrees) come out so quickly! I love the heaping portions and super cheesy lasagna. It's just a great place for a chill night out and leftovers.

Box spaghetti. Sauces ok but acidy. I know ppl rave about this place but I'm used real Italian restaurants that make their own pasta. Ok for an occasional visit.

This place has been around for decades and has its fans. It serves decent Italian fare and is good for a pasta fix, but there's nothing particularly distinctive about it. They do have a good system in place for takeout, and the staff was friendly. Guess I've been spoiled by some other eateries in the area that make pasta and sauces from scratch. Like I said, it's decent and reliable, but there are more special options around town.

This place is wonderful! Im very glad I got to experience this magnificent meal, and my family desperately enjoyed it too! If you are looking for your next destination or trying out something new this is for sure the place to go! They also have very kind waiters, very flexible menu and I also heard its a family business! Im not short of a return either since I was also very "hangry" at the moment and this surely cured my "hangriness" out of the hungry and the anger! A blessing in total disguise!

Authentic and delicious! Portions are enough for 2-3 people to eat off the same dish.

Friends of ours frequent Pulcinellas and decided we had to give it a try ourselves. A few things we really appreciate include ample parking, casual yet inviting and warm atmosphere, excellent service, and the fact that you get what you expect. There's consistency here, but not a lot of experimentation which I don't mean as a criticism. Leave the fancy smancy, small plate Italian for another downtown Italian restaurant. Pulcinellas is a local, family owned business since 1994 and we love to support them as do many other Durhamites! You can make reservations in advance, take-out, cater or dine in on a whim. Kids are welcome, and in a lot of ways makes this place feel like a welcoming community gathering place where all are welcome just as you are. Another pro? Heaping plates of pasta! The serving sizes at Pulccinellas are very generous, enough to share or take home for lunch the next day and priced reasonably given the portion size. I've enjoyed each entree I've ordered but particularly like the spaghetti and meat balls. I would love to try one of their NY style pizzas. The reason I give 3 stars despite a positive review is largely because I feel you could find or make similar pasta dishes at home, there's nothing truly remarkable about Pulcinellas recipes that inclines me to say they are the best of the best. However, there's plenty of times where something just like Pulcinellas hits the spot, and for those moments I would definitely recommend this cozy place!

A must-try Durham staple! Pastas and pizza are spectacular but my favorite is the Philly cheesesteak sub