Gocciolina — Restaurant in Durham

Ah, Gocciolina. Being a Durham native that grew up right down Guess Road, I've had a lot of interest in visiting with all of the hype surrounding a must-see Italian restaurant on Guess Road. Really, on Guess Road?? That, along with the fact that you need to plan well in advance with a reservation, built a lot of suspense before we were finally able to visit. I tried to keep that in mind during my experience, so that my super high expectations didn't ruin my potential experience of solid but not stellar food.

We visited Gocciolina for our anniversary as a special treat. I booked my reservation in advance and they were able to accommodate us about 20 minutes early. They weren't wildly busy, but it's a small restaurant which understandably makes it difficult to get a seat if they have even a steady crowd coming in. We were sat at a high top, which seemed to be the only indoor option for a party of two other than the bar. Not a big deal, but I do prefer a normal table.

We're huge foodies, probably because we just love to eat, so we ordered a lot. First and foremost, don't come here expecting a ton of basic / classic Italian foods. I believe the menu is updated regularly and the dishes are creative. Not creative in the sense that it's really 'out there', hipster BS, but just not regular old spaghetti and meat balls or fettuccini alfredo. To start, we ordered the nduja, salami, meatballs, and spicy chickpeas. I don't have a baseline for nduja, so I think it would be unfair for me to review it. You could tell the salami was a good quality meat, but man oh man was it the fattiest salami I've ever had. That, coupled with the fact that it was kind of bland, made it unenjoyable. The chickpeas were great, spiced well, and the meatballs packed a lot of flavor. I'd order those two again. For my entre, I got the spicy seafood spaghetti and my partner got the gnocchi with gluten-free pasta. We also got a side salad, brussels sprouts, and roasted potatoes. The salad was fine, nothing special, but the balsamic on it was very tasty. The brussels sprouts were good, although just barely cooked enough. If they'd been cooked any less, I wouldn't have liked them, but I'd order them again. The potatoes seemed less roasted and more boiled with a quick broil afterward, but maybe I'm wrong about that. I wasn't a fan and I love potatoes. They just tasted like sink water and were super bland. We found ourselves having to salt almost everything except for the chickpeas, meatballs, and spaghetti. But they were tasty when we did salt them. The sea food spaghetti was really good and I'd get it again for sure. The sauce had a great depth of flavor. I asked for extra spicy and they accommodated. My partner enjoyed her gluten-free dish, the noodles were kind of like flat rice noodles you'd find at a Thai place, but they were really good as well.

Overall, the experience was solid. Did it meet the hype and is it one of the best Italian places I'd ever been to? No...but I'd definitely visit it again and recommend it to others as a good restaurant to visit. It's creative, tasty, and fun. Beyond that, the prices were wildly reasonable. What would you expect all of that to be? $100? $150? Nope, $78 excluding tip. The only thing we really could openly complain about was the service. Our server knew her stuff and was nice, but there were periods of time where we looked around for her after sitting for way too long. The food came out quickly, but at the end of our meal, my partner wanted a desert, which is rare, and we ended up skipping this because it took so long just for our server to come back to our table. To be fair, it seemed like she was covering every table inside solo, but it was toward the end of the night and parties had left already. Other than that, I'd definitely check this place out and...

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐀 𝐓𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲: 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐅𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐬

𝐆𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐚 – 𝐃𝐮𝐫𝐡𝐚𝐦, 𝐍𝐂

Gocciolina offers a culinary journey reminiscent of a quaint Italian trattoria, where every dish celebrates fresh, local, and seasonal ingredients. Stepping through the doors, guests are transported to a cozy haven adorned with charming family photos and rustic décor, evoking the warmth and hospitality of traditional Italian households. Michael Glinter has traveled to 68 countries and 36 states to get the flavor of some amazing foods. His view on reviews is simple – Taste, Presentation, and Service. He believes telling the reader a positive and negative unbiased look at the restaurant is essential. SERVICE: Justin was just amazing, and the rest of the staff worked as a team to escalate the level of attention customers would expect in a restaurant. His knowledge of the menu and ability to articulate your experience with the meals truly was outstanding. His attention to the customer and quick follow-through make him a value for his restaurant. STARTERS: Crispy Eggplant - This is a true elevation of the humble eggplant to new heights with their exquisite Crispy Fried Eggplant topped with Gorgonzola Dolce and Fresh Tomatoes. The crispy eggplant provides a satisfying crunch, while the creamy gorgonzola dolce lends a luxurious richness that melts in the mouth. The sweetness of the fresh tomatoes balances the savory notes, creating a harmonious union of tastes that is both comforting and sophisticated. The chef artfully balanced contrasting flavors and textures to create an unforgettable appetizer. MAIN ENTREES Roasted Lady Edison Pork Loin with Speck Ham, Campo Cheese, and Braised Ramps (this was a seasonal special) Diners will find that this dish takes you on a gastronomic journey with their exquisite Roasted Lady Edison Pork Loin. This dish harmoniously blends premium ingredients to create a symphony of flavors. Each component is meticulously crafted to perfection, from the tender pork loin to the savory speck ham, creamy Campo cheese, and aromatic braised ramps, resulting in a culinary masterpiece that delights the senses. The succulent Lady Edison pork loin, roasted to perfection, boasts a rich depth of flavor complemented by the speck ham's smoky notes. The Campo cheese adds a creamy indulgence, while the braised ramps infuse the dish with a delicate sweetness and earthy aroma. Together, these ingredients create a symphony of flavors that dance across the palate with each mouthful. – Feedback: It was a little salty. I think with the ham on the dish, you could cut back on the seasoning of the pork and have a better balance. But overall, exceptional. Hand Cut Noodles, Lady Edison Pork Ragu, and Parmigiano. The art of pasta reaches new heights with their homemade Hand Cut Noodles (wide noodles), served in a luscious Lady Edison Pork Ragu and crowned with a generous sprinkle of Parmigiano. This dish epitomizes the essence of comfort food, offering a soul-warming experience that satisfies both palate and spirit. The hand-cut noodles, with their delicate texture and satisfying chewiness, provide the perfect canvas for the robust flavors of the Lady Edison pork ragu. Slow-cooked to perfection, the ragu boasts layers of depth and complexity, with tender shreds of pork melding seamlessly with aromatic herbs and spices. The Parmigiano adds a salty richness that ties the dish together, creating a symphony of comforting and indulgent flavors. – Feedback: I'm not 100% a fan of their red sauce. I asked for a side of the red sauce to better understand the base sauce. It was a little water, almost tasting watered down, lighter in color – not the rich red that one would expect, and it was a bit too bland DESSERT There are no words. Their homemade class chocolate chip cannolis and biscotti was a true end to a...

I had never heard of Gocciolina until two days ago, when the News & Observer named them as the best restaurant in the Triangle for 2015. Yesterday, my husband asked if I wanted to go out for dinner, so despite the lack of a reservation, we decided to give it a shot. We arrived at 6:30 p.m. to find a very small place situated in a tiny shopping center in North Durham. Honestly, I'm really happy that the owner moved up there, as that area really needs more good restaurants. We hoped that it was still a tad early for the dinner crowd, but no, it was already packed with a waiting list.

First, I noted that one of the serving staff (who appeared to be acting as both a server and manager of the front of house) was an old acquaintance that I knew to be a great judge of food. We put our names in, and were told that it was unsure, but that the wait time would hopefully be no longer than 30 minutes. We figured that was a short estimate, but what the heck? Tiny restaurant, no reservations, and it was early. We made our way to the bar at the back. I ordered a glass of red wine, which was an Italian wine and not Barefoot or some other annoying marked-up brand. We stood for about 1/2 hour, as the bar area is quite small. Again, we had expected this. After a bit, we got seats at the bar, and decided to stay there for our dinner rather than waiting for a table. All in all, it was about a 45 minute wait during peak hours on a Friday.

Frankly, I enjoyed thoroughly sitting at the bar, because the prep station for finishing desserts, appetizers and sides was to our right, we could see the guy making pasta in the back, and the two people tending bar (well, one tending, and the other helping her if she didn't know a drink or got swamped) were making it fun just to watch and listen. There were quite a few specials on the board, but we wanted to test their "tried and true" dishes. They were already out of the grilled steak, which is a testament to how good it must be (and how inexpensive) that early in the evening. My husband ordered a simple green salad for his appetizer, and I ordered the Testa in Cassetta (hog's head terrine - basically a fancy head cheese). I'm used to seeing a terrine sliced about 1/4 inch thick, but this came in very thin slices. It was delicious, with just the right amount of salt, perhaps a touch of vinegar and pepper. I would go back just for this. My husband's salad was very simple - looked like a butter lettuce, a light touch of oil, and balsamic, along with a good dose of pepper. That's it - and he was happy with that.

We both ordered the same main - the Spaghetti Carbonara with pork belly. I'm unable to eat much in one sitting, but I managed to stuff the whole thing in outside of the extra bite I offered my husband so I wouldn't just go into a food coma. Even though we both felt it could have used one more egg yolk, it was the best carbonara that either of us had ever eaten. The spaghetti was exactly the right al dente, and again, it was packed with flavor. I asked one of the hostesses if they were going to expand, as the place is way too small to accomodate the customer base, and she said they were already looking at options.

I was going to rate it a 4 just because of the wait, and the fact that it was quite warm in there on a hot North Carolina summer day...but quite frankly, the food made up for any inconvenience or discomfort. Next time, we'll get a reservation and I'm going to order the Terrine again, along with the gargantuan two inch thick pork chop we saw coming through the pass numerous times.

All in all - we didn't have a reservation on a Friday night, we had the best Italian fare we've had in the Triangle, and all of the staff we encountered were friendly and seemed excited about the place. That in itself...