Enjoy authentic Italian dishes like homemade pasta, grilled seafood, and seasonal specialties in an elegant setting.
Explore a curated selection of wines, including Lambrusco and Montepulciano, expertly paired with our menu for enhanced flavors.
Book reservations for intimate dinners or special events, with attentive service to ensure a seamless experience.
Savor fresh, rotating dishes featured on our chalkboard menu, highlighting local ingredients and Italian traditions.
Indulge in decadent desserts like chocolate torte and expertly crafted espresso martinis to complete your meal.
We came here for the first time last night, had a reservation and were seated quickly. We felt we had to wait an extremely long time for the food to come out and the portions were really small. Overall the food was good, but not sure if we would come back again.
Gocciolina was an absolute delight from start to finish. My husband, our friends, and I dined there last Saturday evening, and the entire experience exceeded expectations. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted with genuine warmth and hospitality. Ace, our server, was outstanding — incredibly knowledgeable, attentive without hovering, and so helpful with food selections. He was always there to answer questions and timed everything perfectly so each course arrived just as it should. We started with the Boxcarr Farm robiola cheese with toasted pistachio and honey, and it was truly delectable. For my entrée, I had the grilled NC scallops with pork belly and spicy marinated Vera Luce radicchio — absolutely amazing and beautifully balanced. Every dish was thoughtful, beautifully prepared, and full of flavor. We had a wonderful evening and can’t wait to return. Gocciolina is now firmly on our short list of favorite dining spots.
This summer I visited 15 states on vacation. This place is the best I've seen in my trip. The food is delicious. The interior is unique, I wanted to look at every corner - paintings, statuettes, various interior items like in a museum. Everything is very impressive. Unfortunately, the photos cannot convey how warm and friendly the atmosphere is here. When guests leave, they hug the waiters, it's so touching. I will remember this restaurant and at the first opportunity, I will definitely come here again. ❤️
My bff and I have both been Gocciolina separately and we decided to make it a girls night and go together. We scheduled a reservation because we were both aware of how things fill up. When we first arrived we were greeted by the host who was very kind. Originally we thought one person who we thought was our server but later met Justin. Justin was matter of fact and basically there todo his job. He was not overly chatty and straight to the point. My friend and I were looking for a bottle of their Lambrusco and while they did not sell it by the glass we decided to move forward with the bottle. We ordered the oyster (beware they don't come in a shell) but they are packed with flavor. We also ordered the Bolognese and the steak. The Bolognese was solid and the stick was delicious. We ended up sharing everything. The bathroom was really clean and the parking lot has plenty of parking. It is such a cute little restaurant, very unassuming and truly a solid Italian place. Would definitely go back.
We have visited twice now. Once for Valentine's a few years ago and recently for our 8th wedding anniversary. There is a menu, but it is limited because they create the menu that is on the chalkboard. Everything has been delicious that we have tried. This time around, the cheapest bottle of wine was $46. The last time, there was a Montepulciano for $28. The Puglia we got was very good and paired well with our food. You can't go wrong with their Burrata to start. I always get pasta because I want pasta when I go for Italian. Therefore, I got the eggplant and roasted red pepper ravioli and sautéed swiss chard and garlic. 4 huge homemade ravioli and the chard was perfectly cooked and not mushy. Husband got the yellow fin tuna medium rare with cucumber and onion salad and brussel sprouts. The sprouts were charred with a good mix of spices and salt. The tuna was cooked perfectly and melted in your mouth. We finished with the chocolate torte, ice cream (can't remember the name) and I had an espresso martini. Rich and chocolatey! Rhe martini was perfect - nit too sweet, good espresso/vodka mixed flavor. We did spend ~$200 with tip,, but that's not terrible for all we had and an anniversary. Make a reservation and go!

Authentic Italian dining with a warm, museum-like ambiance in Durham.
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Gocciolina is a beloved Italian restaurant in Durham, NC, offering a cozy and unique dining experience with an interior filled with art and charm. Known for its thoughtfully prepared dishes like homemade pasta, grilled scallops, and burrata, we focus on fresh, high-quality ingredients and genuine hospitality. Perfect for romantic dinners, anniversaries, or special occasions, our menu features seasonal items on a chalkboard, complemented by a curated wine selection. With a 4.5-star rating from over 740 reviews, we pride ourselves on creating memorable meals in a welcoming atmosphere.
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