Pulcinella's Italian Restaurant

Let me start by saying I'm a foodie and very picky about my food, AND I love Italian food. So, when I say my whole meal was delicious, trust that it's worth your time to stop in and give it a try! While the restaurant itself is ok with reasonable decor, the restrooms need some TLC. That being said, the food made me forget all about the ambiance. First, there was some deliciously soft bread served with one of the most flavorful tomato dipping sauces I've ever tasted. When I first saw it, the bread didn't look very appetizing and the sauce looked questionable, but one taste and I was sold! In fact, they should bottle and sell the stuff - I would buy it by the jar!!! The calamari was cooked perfectly! It was super tender and not overly breaded. The rings were nice and thick and tasty. The marinara that came with it was pretty good, but I dipped it in the tomato bread sauce and thought I would pass out-- delicious!!! Hint, hint to management, try serving the calamari with this sauce. It's an incredible combination. I ordered the fettuccine carbonara with shrimp for my entree and it was fabulous. The freshly made pasta made all the difference. Well done! My only complaint is that the tiramisu was really small, about half the size I would expect. Despite this, prices were pretty reasonable. Overall, the food was great and I will definitely put Pulcinella's on my go-to list!

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.

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!

I frequent this restaurant for a last minute meatball sub or pasta on the way home. My previous dining experiences have been okay; however, this past Sunday was just unforgivable. The waitress suggested this item: Cappellini Peperonata Angel hair pasta, Kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, pine nuts & raisins in marinara sauce Sounds interesting so I tried it. I added grilled chicken. When I got the meal it was so unappealing. Giant squares of red bell peppers with angel hair pasta and chunks of chicken. I though maybe the pine nuts and raisins would give it pizzazz. . . THERE WERE NONE! So I mentioned to my waitress what was missing and she said she'd have the kitchen fix it . What i got was a cup of raw untoasted pine nuts and dried raisins that she said the kitchen said just throw it on top. For me, thats just being a lazy chef. Cooking 101 you ought to know toasting brings out the oils releasing the flavor. Adding the raisins in with the marinara would allow them to regain some moisture and extract some of the sweetness which would've been a lovely balance to the acid in the tomatoes. The fact that they would not remake the dish to include each ingredient as described is unsatisfactory. Not all recipes will be a hit. But if you can't even execute properly what you put on a menu, dont serve it. WORST THING IVE EVER TASTED.

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

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!

Absolutely fabulous food. Great service a laid-back atmosphere. Reminds me of the places the way they used to be. The seating was comfortable. The food was out of this world. I just wish I was going to be in town longer to enjoy it more often. The eggplant parmesan was well done just the way I like it. The pasta was cooked to perfection without me even having to ask for it Al dente. The lunch specials are so reasonable and the portions are so big, I don't know how they do it. The sauce has that old world flavor that I love so much. I can't wait to try some of their other dishes. And the salad was so fresh and good it's like the lettuce was just picked out of the field. So good! I highly recommend this restaurant.

The Pollo a Modo Mio is sublime. Rich brown gravy, perfectly cooked chicken with ham & mozzarella melted on top. Choice of pasta to mix into the generous portion of sumptuous delightful goodness (adequate for 2 meals). Comes with a small salad & warm rolls for dipping in an olive oil garlic/dried tomato sauce that is addictive! The staff could not be more attentive and welcoming. Definitely going back to this hidden treasure.

I wasn't feeling like cooking on a slightly drizzly Friday, so thought I'd try this place a mile down the road. Their hours say they are open until nine, but they're actually open until 10 on Friday and Saturday nights for the night owls among us! The interior is dimly lit, and, for a strip mall restaurant, very intimate. I saw several couples in "date night" clothing. It would be a fun place to linger over a good meal. I was seated immediately and given a food menu, which I scanned quickly (I had already looked online!), but there was no wine. In an Italian place!! I asked the server and they quickly provided a separate wine list which had several great choices!! I opted for a Sangiovese, because why not? It arrived almost instantly. Warm bread and oil with a dollop of marinara was brought out as well. I couldn't decide on which seafood pasta to get, there are so many different permutations of types and sauces, so I opted for the veal in white wine with capers and linguini. Within just a few minutes, it arrived, beautifully splayed out over a large plate. I thought it was a pretty decent serving, then found that there was a second layer of veal under the first!! The sauce was tasty and the veal was tender and juicy. I saved half for another day and was truly tempted by the dessert menu, but held off. It's nice to know that I can get good quality food this close to home.

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.

Been eating here for more than 10 years. Always great Italian home food. Great stop to avoid fast food.

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.

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've used Pulcinella's Italuan Restaurant for catering events and as a good to neighborhood restaurant. Their food has always been fresh and the service good. I moved from that area so I don't go as often, but I do recommend it for a nice home-cooked Italian meal.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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)

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.

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.

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!!!

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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 !!!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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 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!

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.

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

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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 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!

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.

We had this place bookmarked so went for lunch on Father's Day. Their complimentary fresh baked bread with the special dip is amazing. I was about to ask if they sell their dip separately but forgot . We had The Cheese Ravioli and Gnocchi and minestrone & lentil soups, salad and mozzarella cheese sticks between the kids and us. The portions are big so we had plenty to take home. The service was very welcoming. My family started digging in even before i could take proper pics