Cucciolo Terrazza — Restaurant in Raleigh

We do not have kids and thus have the luxury of eating out a lot. We each take notice of many aspects of a restaurant, often hers being different than of mine but of course no less valuable. I’ll start off with saying that this is a new restaurant and as an upscale restaurant, news travels fast…either you are an early hit or it is clear you’re destined to fail. Tonight, the restaurant was packed but what was glorious for us, we made our reservation hours before coming in. Few things frustrate me more than being told, “ohh If you don’t book that place at least a month in advance, you’ll never get in”. Not to suggest I want to be able to walk in at any time and get a table but it is frustrating not being able to have some spontaneity. I also hate living in a city where everyone knows what the best restaurants are and when there aren’t many, those establishments are impossible to get into.

So the ambiance, it is vibrant and modern but not cold. Italian food by nature, at least for me, is comfort food, so maybe we walked in already feeling like we were coming home for the holidays. Having said that, the ceilings are high, the lighting fixtures were varied throughout and interestingly, several were intentionally cut off. I assume they adjusted the lights they cut on based on the mood they were wanting to establish. Half of the restaurant is made up of glass windows and the floor is concrete, as a result it is a bit loud. For some that may pose a problem and I suspect they’ll have to invest in some measures to reduce the noise at some stage. Brewery Bhavana had to do the same. The ceilings are high which does help but what my lady pointed out that I hadn’t identified was in the room temperature. We have all eaten at places where there was a significant difference in the experience based on where you sat. Here, the air ducts are so high up that you cannot feel any air movement, the air in the room is calm and comfortable throughout.

If you are alone or arrive early, there is a nice sized bar you can enjoy. They have a nice selection of draft as well as bottled/canned beers, signature cocktails and of course wine…new world and old.

As for the food, based on our experience tonight, this is now our favorite spot. Our most expensive nights out are always at steak restaurants and often the sentiment is that we could cook a steak of equal calibre at home, so why bother. The biggest difference here was that we got to have so much more by way of unique dishes. We split the Caesar salad which was homemade in every respect. We then split both the wild boar agnolotti and the summer ravioli. Typically, I do not order ravioli or any stuffed pasta variety being that the contents are usually hard to distinguish and rarely stand out from the overwhelming flavor of the sauce they are in or worse, just from the pasta it is held in. Both of these pasta dishes were fantastic. The wild boar was superb and is a must in my opinion.

For our “Secondi” we had their bone in ribeye. Being that Italian places rarely offer more than one or two options when it comes to beef cuts, it has been my experience that they rarely can stand up to the likes of a high end steak restaurant…not here. For starters, the steak isn’t served a la carte, forcing you to buy over sized side portions that not only aren’t complementary of the steak but also are not meant for one. It came with beautiful potatoes and broccoli as the picture reflects. The cut of beef was top notch, aged and cooked exactly as requested.

I am realizing this is the longest review I have ever written, so I’ll bring it to a close but the desserts we had were on par with every other course. Ours were selected by the chef, so I can’t give you the names other than to say that we brought home leftovers from every course but dessert…those dishes returned to the...

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Cucciolo Terazza Italian restaurant in North Hills for a lovely dinner date with my husband, and it was truly an exceptional experience. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted by the attentive and friendly staff who made us feel welcomed and comfortable. The ambience is exceptionally beautiful.

The food at Cucciolo Terazza was simply outstanding. Every dish we ordered was a delight to the taste buds. The spinach ravioli was cooked to perfection, with a flavorful filling and a delectable sauce that complemented it beautifully. The vodka penne pasta was rich and creamy, while the Archini balls were crispy on the outside and incredibly savory on the inside. We also couldn't resist trying the fried Italian doughnut, which was a delightful treat that left us wanting more.

Not only was the food excellent, but the plating was also impeccable. Each dish was presented with great attention to detail, and it truly added to the overall dining experience. It was clear that the chefs at Cucciolo Terazza take great pride in their craft.

The customer service we received throughout the evening from Flower and Kat were exceptional. The staff was attentive, knowledgeable, and went above and beyond to ensure that we had a memorable dining experience. From their recommendations to their timely service, we felt well taken care of throughout the evening.

Lastly, I must mention the convenience of valet parking. It made our visit to Cucciolo Terazza even more enjoyable, as we didn't have to worry about finding parking in a crowded area.

Overall, our dinner at Cucciolo Terazza Italian restaurant was a delightful and memorable experience. The delicious food, friendly staff, impeccable customer service, beautiful plating, and convenient valet parking all contributed to a wonderful evening. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for an exceptional Italian dining experience in...

Cucciolo Terrazza - A Birthday Celebration to Remember!"

My friend and I decided to celebrate our birthdays at Cucciolo Terrazza, and what an incredible choice it was! From the moment we arrived, the staff treated us like royalty.

We were fortunate to have Jadon as our server. His expertise in guiding us through the menu and making outstanding recommendations truly made our experience unforgettable.

Our feast consisted of ARANCINI, CAESAR SALAD, GOAT CHEESE FLATBREAD, WILD BOAR AGNOLOTTI, CATCH OF THE DAY, and, of course, Cannoli for dessert. Each dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. The ARANCINI and WILD BOAR AGNOLOTTI were standouts - absolute must-tries!

For drinks, we opted for coffee and vodka, which complemented our meal perfectly.

To top it off, the warm and attentive service from the entire staff was exceptional. Their genuine care and hospitality made our celebration even more special. A huge thank you to Jadon and the rest of the Cucciolo Terrazza team for making our birthdays truly memorable! 🥳

I recently discovered that Mr. Andrew is the general manager of Cucciolo Terrazza. A huge shout-out to him and his entire team for their exceptional professionalism during my birthday celebration. Even though I was just passing through, they made me feel like a valued regular. Their dedication to providing outstanding service truly sets them apart. Thank you, Andrew and the entire Cucciolo Terrazza team!

P.S. When you visit, be sure to ask for Jadon and let him know that young man with all the food reviews sent you! You...