Cugini — Restaurant in Albany

Looking for a bite to eat a little later in the evening than usual, I got a craving for pizza, and decided to finally stop by this place that I have slept on for decades. True. Even after closing in on 6 million views, and having reviewed over a thousand restaurants, I am sadly, or on the other hand joyfully, just now discovering Italian cuisine. Cugini, has an incredible menu of House made pastas, calzones, and of course, wood fired pizza. I ordered the Sicilian, with mozzarella and sopressata, and watched it sizzle next to the open fire, while I drank a glass of delicious white wine, recommended by my server, a Berkeley local who was super cool and informative and new her way around the menu. I generally have to be careful when I eat in the East Bay since it is a rare occasion when I do not run into 10 people that I know, and I usually end up spending more time talking than eating, which kind of gets in the way of my restaurant enjoyment, which is why I don't really eat very close to where I live that much anymore. However the place was thinning out, I was there last customer, and in the end had this beautiful place all to myself, with a delicious wood fired pizza, and ended my night with a cannoli, and a cappuccino. There are a lot of different kinds of pizza, and several different levels of quality when it comes to Wood-Fired pizzas, and this place is top tier. The ingredients all tasted super fresh, the atmosphere was great, and I intend to go back again. Highly recommended for people who want delicious, almost exotic tasting food, without so much spice, or without always depending on the local Asian restaurants which are incredible in their own right. The Italian thing is just a completely different vibe, and I'm glad I finally discovered this spot on Solano which until recently was a secret to...

I have been a consistent Cugini customer for over 10 years. I generally make a large purchase and tip their staff 25%-30%. The food is great and they have always treated me well....until last night, November 18th, 2022. I walked in solo around 6:00 p.m. There were a total of 5 available tables and I requested the one smaller table against the wall (I have sat there many times by myself). However, I was informed that parties of 1 need to sit at the bar. Wait, what? The bar? I can understand if a restaurant is busy and a customer is given the option of sitting at the bar or waiting for a table, but I wasn't given this option. I was told that the bar was the ONLY option for me despite ample available seating. I have always felt uncomfortable dining by myself as a single woman at a restaurant bar. What about newly divorcees or widows/widowers? Should we be "punished" this way because we want to support their business as a single diner? I don't understand why they changed their policy, but I will say that was an extremely demeaning and embarrassing interaction. They have not only lost my business, but also the business of the many friends who I've introduced to their restaurant...

Two years ago, I wrote: "Pizzas & salads are quite good BUT we have repeatedly gotten really poor service at Cugini . . .and the useless, do-nothing manager clearly didn't give a damn when we politely asked him to do better in the future AND to make right on the bill things like (1) often receiving wrong toppings #not what we'd ordered), wrong salads, and/or wrong drinks; and/or (2) my entire meal being served before my partner ever received a single part of her order. Shameful and unacceptable."

BUT tonight (and lately) we've had a much improved experience: a fast welcome & nice seating; good, fast, polite service; absolutely delicious Manicotti (and I'm not even a vegetarian!) featuring VERY fresh, well-balanced herbs, veggie selection, cheeses & sauce -- really a 4-star entree(!); and an attentive, polite manager &...