Cugino Forno Wilmington — Restaurant in Wilmington

Wilmington, NC. God's own country, they call it. But let's be honest, paradise ain't all sunshine and sweet tea. You need a little… bite. A little edge. Enter Cujino Forno. This is where the Neapolitan soul bleeds into the Carolina air. The crust? Forget it. It's a charred whisper, blistered and bubbling, begging to be devoured. The toppings? Simple, elegant. San Marzano tomatoes, the kind that make you weep with joy. Mozzarella di Bufala, creamy and decadent. And don't even get me started on the basil. Fresh, pungent, a symphony of green. I watched the pizzaiolo toss the dough, a practiced dance of death between man and flour. The heat of the wood-fired oven, a primal force, turning the dough into a masterpiece. And then, the reveal. The pizza emerged, a vision of golden perfection, a masterpiece of culinary seduction. First bite. Heaven. The crust, a perfect balance of crisp and chewy. The sauce… oh, that goddamn sauce. It wasn't just red; it was alive. Vibrant. A symphony of flavors, a dance of sweet and tart. You could taste the sun-drenched Italian tomatoes, bursting with juicy sweetness, tempered by a bracing acidity that made your mouth water. It was the kind of sauce that clung to the crust, begging to be devoured, leaving behind a trail of pure bliss. The cheese, a creamy dream. I swear, I could hear angels singing. Forget the frills, the fancy plates. This is about pure, unadulterated pleasure. This is about the primal urge to devour, to savor every single bite. This is about losing yourself in the moment, in the sheer joy of good food. Cujino Forno. A revelation. A must-visit for any self-respecting gourmand. Just be warned, you might find yourself ordering a second slice, even if the devil himself is glaring at you from...

Let me just say this loud and clear: Cugino Forno Wilmington is one of the most unprofessional, disrespectful places I’ve ever stepped foot in. I’m a veteran, and when I asked—very politely—if they offered a military discount, the staff laughed in my face. Not a “sorry, we don’t offer that.” Not even a “no” with basic courtesy. Just laughter. Like my service was a joke. Absolutely unbelievable.

I was stunned. I wasn’t looking for special treatment—just asking a simple question that most places handle with a little class. But instead, I was mocked. I don’t care how “cool” your vibe is—if you can’t treat people like human beings, you’ve already failed.

And let’s not pretend the pizza makes up for it, because it absolutely doesn’t. The bottom is always undercooked—doughy, limp, and pale like they were in a rush to toss it out. I’ve been here multiple times, hoping maybe I caught them on a bad day. Nope. Same soggy crust, same attitude problem.

The vibe? Cold. The staff? Rude. No smile, no hello, just this smug energy like they’re doing you a favor by taking your order. You walk in and feel like you don’t belong, like they’d rather you turn around and leave. And honestly, you should.

It blows my mind how a place like this gets hyped up. All style, no soul. If you want real hospitality, real food, and real people—skip Cugino Forno Wilmington. They don’t deserve...

I wanted to like this place. I gave it two tries before writing my review. I am a pizza snob, born and raised in the heart of pizza-making country in the US and a decendant from Neopolitan emigrants. I know (and make) good pizza and this isn't it.

Ingredients seemed fresh. Toppings were good. Sauce had no real flavor and had a distinctly metallic canned flavor. Almost no garlic... Quite bland. The dough was slightly charred (not burnt) around the edges (this is a good thing and the only real salvaging part IMHO). The center of the pizza was limp and significantly under cooked. I thought it was an anomaly. I had heard great things. Tried it again a couple months later and same thing.

Salads were giant family size and excellent... Except..... Only down side is that they are all pre made so they cannot accommodate substitutions. I love blue cheese. My wife hates it. Can't change the cheese... Can't put the cheese on the side, can't leave off the cheese. Very limiting unless everybody likes the same thing. I am certainly not going to order two family size salads for two people. Or three people. These salads are huge.

Great concept, poorly executed. I will probably not go back a third time. There are better options for pizza out there... yes even...