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Southern Italian dishes, plus Neapolitan- & Sicilian-style pizzas, in an old-school environment.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 4711 Hope Valley Rd #1e, Durham, NC 27707
Phone: (919) 490-1172
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Order: Order online
pulcinellasitalianrestaurant.com
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Pulcinella’s Italian Restaurant | Durham, NC
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Reviews
Palazoloup
Standard Italian fare in strip mall building.V very good service from the waitress. Plenty of nice meals, all served with side of pasta. Most potions were very big and plenty of to go boxes filled with leftovers. I tried the meatballs as an appetizer. The marina says was a little tangy and needed longer cooking to tame it. Had a dinner salad with skipjack tuna that was just ok. Will come again to try a pasta dish. Until then, just 3 stars.
… moreTanYa Gwathmey
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!
… moreWhile 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!
Puneet virk
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.
… moreCynthia Camp
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!
… moreAshley Martinez
Perfect spot for a date night. Service was very fast and food was authentic and sooo good. Honestly I never had better calamari. They were so tender and lightly breaded. It was perfect. I got the pollo pulcinella with light Alfredo, angel hair and bacon added and it was heavenly. Not overly salty or underseasoned. On top of that the staff were very nice and accommodating. I wish they had background music it would’ve made it perfect! But I will be returning!!!
… moreLaTonya Williams
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.
… moreCappellini 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.
SANDRA Enloe
We ate here last night and were extremely disappointed in our food. This was out first time visiting in several years and did not compare to what we remember from previous meals. During our meal my husband went to the restroom and waited outside while it was occupied. He heard the person inside flush & wash their hands prior to opening the door. The person who walked out was still wearing a disposable glove on his left hand. When my husband walked back to our table he noticed the same person working in the kitchen with food. While I dont know what transpired between the restroom and the kitchen, it doesnt look good and this was very disturbing. My husband lasagna had ham in it which was odd. My pollo marsala was not edible. The sauce was watery and translucent like a broth rather than a sauce. The chicken breast in the dish looked poached or boiled and the dish over all smelled odd. I tried a piece of penne from my plate and could not continue. Definitely not like any marsala I’ve ever had before. However, the bread was good as always and the server was very kind. I no longer recommend and I do not think we will return.
… moreJose Mendez
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
… moreChris K (Crispy)
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.
… moreI’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.
It’s Me
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.
… more