Ristorante Pulcinella — Restaurant in Tampere sub-region

A Slice of Naples in the Heart of Tampere

Tucked away in the vibrant heart of Tampere, Ristorante Pulcinella is a love letter to authentic Italian cuisine. From the moment you step inside, the warm welcome from the staff sets the tone for an evening of genuine hospitality and unforgettable flavors.

At the heart of the menu is a commitment to tradition, and it shows—especially in their Neapolitan-style pizza, crafted from a self-made sourdough that delivers the perfect balance of chew and crisp. The calzone, easily one of the finest I’ve ever had, was a masterpiece of rich, velvety mozzarella and perfectly seasoned fillings, encased in a beautifully blistered crust.

Between bites, a conversation with the chef revealed the story behind the restaurant—one of passion, heritage, and a dedication to bringing a slice of Italy to Tampere. With an enticing selection of homemade pasta and risotto still waiting to be explored, my next visit is already on the horizon.

For those seeking an authentic taste of Italy, Ristorante Pulcinella is a must-visit—a place where every dish tells a story and every meal...

The best gluten free pizza dough in Finland! It is incredibly good, looks amazing and is fluffy and airy on the sides! Very few places make their own gluten free pizza dough and none have done it this well in Finland and only one place in Europe has done it as well! I absolutely recommend the pizza there 5/5! I wish they would open a second place in Helsinki serving these pizzas!

Pasta and risotto are ok, but I would stick to pizza as they do it exceptionally well compared to other places. Risotto was a bit too hard for my taste and pasta is rather regular that they serve. Dessert and wine are also delicious and recommend, but coffee is terrible. Their pannacotta is really lovely, not too sweet and tasty!

The owner is very nice and friendly and makes you feel cozy and well looked after! A very nice place to go for dinner!

My tip would be to make a reservation for evening and if going during lunch reserve 70-80 minutes so you don’t need to rush it as service is a bit slow during lunch and you might have to wait an hour to be...

I wouldn't recommend going, at least on the weekend or at busy times, without a reservation.

While we didn't have a reservation ourselves, one generally doesn't expect to receive the very poor level of service we did. A few observations.

There were two tables (for two) that were unoccupied during our entire meal.

A table of 5, as well as two tables for four, were seated and had their food orders on the table before we even received our beverage order.

Seating at the bar is a 'warm and cozy' experience, so may be good for those that prefer a warmer location in such an establishment.

While the food was good, the service experience was so low all I wanted to do was leave, so our order was significantly reduced and we didn't spend time with a good bottle of wine, order Appetizers, nor order desert or any 'extras'

I can't recommend this establishment if you do not have a reservation, and question the service...