Mulino Italian Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Raleigh

I recently visited the Mulino Italian Kitchen and Bar, and unfortunately, my experience left much to be desired. Let me break down the key aspects of my visit:

Atmosphere: The only redeeming quality of this establishment was its atmosphere. The ambiance was pleasant. However, as they say, looks can be deceiving.

Service: The service was abysmal. From the moment we stepped in, confusion reigned. No one greeted us or offered any assistance to find our way. The staff seemed more interested in staring at us than in providing any actual service. Our server, McKayla, was particularly disappointing. She rushed through the meal, attempting to clear our table prematurely and pushing us to finish quickly. As a former server myself, I know the importance of attentive and considerate service, and this fell far short.

Food: Now, let's talk about the food. We ordered two pasta dishes: spinach ravioli and carbonara. Unfortunately, both were lackluster. The sauce for both dishes was downright dreadful. The spinach ravioli had an overpowering earthy taste that reminded me of manure (not exactly what I look for in a meal!). The carbonara, supposedly an Italian classic, was far from authentic. It lacked the creamy richness and balance of flavors that make carbonara delightful.

Timing: Timing matters in any dining experience. Our bread appetizer arrived promptly, but before we could finish it, McKayla swooped in to clear the table. A couple of minutes later, the pasta dishes appeared. It felt rushed, as if they were eager to turn over the table. Not the leisurely dining experience one hopes for.

Unasked Questions: Our server never bothered to ask if everything was okay or if we needed anything. When we declined a takeout box, she didn't ask additional questions. I know that attentive servers check in on their guests, especially when they leave a significant amount of uneaten food.

Overall Impression: I won't be returning to Mulino Italian Kitchen and Bar. The high number of 5-star reviews baffles me; perhaps my expectations, shaped by my time in NYC, were too lofty. Even with lowered expectations, this visit was a disappointment.

While the atmosphere may have earned them a star, the lackluster food, poor service, and rushed experience left me with no desire to revisit. If you're seeking an authentic Italian dining experience, I recommend...

My wife and I have had Mulino on our must-try restaurant list for a while. It has generally strong reviews and an enticing menu. The moment we walked inside, the disappointment began. We made a reservation and arrived promptly on time only to be told that everything was on a 20minute delay. I ensured the hostess knew we had a reservation and were not walk ins, and she responded that doesn’t matter, everyone has to wait because they ran out of menus. As strange as this was, another hostess walked up with menus in her hand, saw we were only a party of 2 and said she had enough menus in her hand to seat us. Hostess #1 cut her off and said “No, the manager said everyone had to wait 20 minutes.” Bizarre. So now we felt we had been lied to about the menu situation, as clearly menus were available and we still were not seated. So we wait...22 minutes after our reservation time, we are brought back to a table only to have another group be seated at the very table our hostess was leading us to, a clear miscommunication between staff. So not only was there a supposed menu mixup, but also no table was available at our reservation time.

We stood awkwardly in the middle of the restaurant for a few minutes while they hurried to clean another nearby table and prepare it for us. My wife and I joked about what a rough start we were off to but that there was still plenty of hope left. We sat for 10 minutes without bread before a manager came by and noticed, bringing some to us himself. We would’ve asked far sooner but seeing as it was our first time, we weren’t even sure if bread was provided (an Italian place without bread? Rare, but hey, who knows...). Our food was brought out and our server noticed I had no spoon for my broth-based meal, said she would be right back with one but never did. At least 5 minutes later, it was the manager who noticed I had no spoon and came to the rescue.

The food was excellent. The manager himself (aside from the mysterious 20min delay) was excellent, being far more attentive and hospitable than the hostesses and server combined. Unfortunately that’s where the positives end. It was a strange experience from start to finish. We may try this place again, but there is a LOT that must be improved on visit 2 if there will ever be a visit 3. Huge disappointment for an otherwise...

I come from an Italian family which has made me very picky about Italian food. Very, very picky. I've probably only thoroughly enjoyed 3 out of the many Italian restaurants I've been to. This is one of them. I've never seen a restaurant like it. You can see in the photos that they have a large section of the restaurant under the biggest, fanciest tent I've ever seen. Romantically styled tables and chairs are scattered around an elegant pool. There is a bar also open to this section, though I believe that is temporarily closed because of covid. No worries, though! There is another bar further inside! The menu is incredible and you can trust that those taking care of you know what they are talking about! There are some of the most stunning private party rooms I have ever seen further in. All of the pasta is made fresh. Everything is fresh. Their cooks spend their mornings and afternoons preparing the fresh food every day which is why they only open in the evenings. That's serious dedication. They also host wedding events on the weekend. The place is truly a powerhouse of a restaurant. If you're looking to snack on bread, however, take note that it doesn't come with the table. But what they lack in complimentary bread, they make up for in every other way. As delicious as their food was, the environment and customer service surpassed any place I had been to. I was setting up a surprise party for a sister, and my lovely waiter Salvatore was not only from my Italian family's origin of Naples, but he was also the first to ask if I needed help with anything. He was there for far more than serving food, and his kindness, humor, and care were more than impressionable. I even received help from one of the new managers, Christopher, who was more than happy to assist me with menial tasks even when he was busy working on his personal work. Stefania helped make sure I was taken care of as well with decorations and, I must say, I'd never seen people go out of their way in a restaurant space as they did. Stellar place to host an event. Amazing romantic date space. I'd come just to hang at the bar and talk with the staff. Truly wonderful experience and I can't wait...