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BEST RATED DURHAM, NC ITALIAN RESTAURANTS

3 Best Italian Restaurants in Durham, NC

Expert-recommended Top 3 Italian Restaurants in Durham, North Carolina. All of our italian restaurants actually face a rigorous 50-Point Inspection, which includes customer reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and general excellence. You deserve only the best!

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9+ YEARS IN TBR
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MAGGIANO'S LITTLE ITALY DURHAM

(5.0 Score)
8030 Renaissance Parkway, Suite 890,
Durham, NC 27713 Directions

Since 1991

Specialities:

✓Crab Cakes ✓Zucchini Fritté ✓Crispy Mozzarella ✓Truffle Garlic Bread ✓Margherita Flatbread ✓Italian Sausage Flatbread ✓Chef's Signature Caesar Salad ✓Italian Chopped Salad ✓Maggiano's Salad ✓Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo ✓Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo ✓Mom's Lasagna ✓Jumbo Stuffed Shells ✓Spaghetti and Meatballs ✓Spaghetti ✓Rigatoni d ✓Rigatoni Alla Vodka With Italian Sausage ✓Rigatoni Alla Vodka With Shrimp ✓Mushroom Ravioli ✓Four-cheese Ravioli ✓Baked Ziti

"Maggiano's Little Italy Durham is an Italian restaurant chain known for its classic Italian menu in a family-style setting in a relaxed, polished space. Maggiano's Little Italy Durham serves hand-crafted pastas like Rigatoni alla Vodka and signature dishes such as Chicken Parmesan, all paired with a sommelier-curated wine list and cocktails prepared tableside. Finish your meal with their desserts like Tiramisu, all made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Maggiano's Little Italy Durham offers a happy hour menu from Monday to Thursday, 3 PM to 6 PM in the dining room, bar, and lounge. The restaurant offers a Private dining room and cocktail menus.

2026 Highlights: They also provide catering services and prioritize customer health by offering detailed nutritional information and allergy details, helping guests make informed choices and select meals that meet their dietary needs and preferences."

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License #00113738AJ - 999

Menu:

PASTA:
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo $26.50
Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo $28.50
Mom's Lasagna $24.00
Jumbo Stuffed Shells $28.50
Spaghetti & Meatballs $24.00
Spaghetti $21.00
Rigatoni "D" $25.50
Rigatoni Alla Vodka With Italian Sausage $27.00
Rigatoni Alla Vodka With Shrimp $28.00
Mushroom Ravioli $24.00
Four-Cheese Ravioli $23.00
Baked Ziti $24.50
Eggplant Parmesan $23.00
APPETIZERS:
Italian Meatballs $16.00
Calamari Fritté $18.00
Parmesan-Stuffed Mushrooms $15.50
Crab Cakes $21.00
Zucchini Fritté $16.50
Crispy Mozzarella $14.00
Truffle Garlic Bread $15.00
Margherita Flatbread $15.00
Italian Sausage Flatbread $17.00
MAIN COURSE:
Chicken Parmesan $24.00
Chicken Francese $24.00
Chicken Marsala $25.00
Shrimp Scampi $28.50
Beef Tenderloin Medallions $31.50

Discount:

Get a complimentary starter on your next visit by Sign up to the E club

Contact:

(919) 572-0070 (919) 572-0188

Sun-Thu: 11am - 9pm
Fri & Sat: 11am - 10pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Carrabba's Italian Grill Durham - Durham, NC Italian Restaurants - Food Image
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CARRABBA'S ITALIAN GRILL DURHAM

(5.0 Score)
5312 New Hope Commons Drive,
Durham, NC 27707 Directions

Since 1986

Specialities:

✓Mozzarella Marinara ✓Meatballs and Ricotta ✓Four-cheese and Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms ✓Tomato Caprese With Fresh Burrata ✓Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes ✓Filet and Shrimp Toscana ✓Lasagne ✓Shrimp and Scallop Linguine Alla Vodka ✓Mezzaluna ✓Fettuccine Weesie ✓Linguine Positano ✓Rigatoni Martino ✓Spaghetti ✓Fettuccine Carrabba ✓Lobster Ravioli ✓Chicken Parmesan ✓Chicken Bryan ✓Chicken Marsala ✓Pollo Rosa Maria ✓Tuscan-grilled Chicken ✓Chicken Piccata ✓Eggplant Parmesan ✓Tuscan-grilled Sirloin

"Carrabba's Italian Grill Durham is an Italian restaurant chain and bar serving a diverse menu of classic Italian a wide range of options in a welcoming, family-friendly environment. They carefully handpick ingredients from local farmers. Enjoy their new spring season menu, featuring Lemon Cream Asparagus Linguine, which is tossed in a creamy lemon Alfredo sauce with asparagus, roasted tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese. For gluten-sensitive customers, the restaurant provides gluten-sensitive and vegan menus. Tuscan-grilled sirloin, Lobster Ravioli, Linguine Pescatore, and Spaghetti are popular dishes. Carrabba's Italian Grill Durham offers an outdoor patio area and gift options.

2026 Highlights: They provide vegan and vegetarian options along with gluten-free dishes, ensuring customers with different dietary preferences and needs can enjoy a wide selection of delicious and flavorful meals."

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License #SEA3911543

Menu:

PASTA:
Filet & Shrimp Toscana $29.99
Lasagne $19.49
Shrimp And Scallop Linguine Alla Vodka $25.99
Mezzaluna $21.99
Fettuccine Weesie $23.99
Linguine Positano $23.99
Rigatoni Martino $22.99
Spaghetti $15.99
Fettuccine Carrabba $22.99
Lobster Ravioli $25.99
APPETIZERS:
Classics Combination $15.99
Shrimp Scampi $12.99
Calamari $14.99
Mozzarella Marinara $11.99
Meatballs & Ricotta $8.49
Four-Cheese & Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms $9.49
Tomato Caprese With Fresh Burrata $11.99
Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes $15.99
Chicken & More:
Chicken Parmesan $23.99
Chicken Bryan $25.99
Chicken Marsala $25.99
Pollo Rosa Maria $26.99
Tuscan-Grilled Chicken $22.99
Chicken Piccata $24.99
Eggplant Parmesan $21.99
DESSERTS:
Sogno Di Cioccolata "Chocolate Dream" $10.99
Cannoli Cake For Two $12.99

Discount:

You can take home another entrée for just $10 When order an entrée (Available for dine-in only)

Get Free appetizer on sign-up

Contact:

(919) 401-5950

Mon-Thu: 11am - 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am - 11pm
Sun: 11am - 9:30pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

Cucciolo Osteria Durham - Durham, NC Italian Restaurants - Food Image
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CUCCIOLO OSTERIA DURHAM

(4.8 Score)
601 West Main Saint, Suite C,
Durham, NC 27701 Directions

Since 2018

Specialities:

✓Creamed Mushrooms ✓Polpette ✓House Green Salad ✓Venetian Beef Carpaccio ✓Roasted Beet Salad ✓Burrata ✓Prosciutto Di San Daniele ✓Rustic Tuscan Pâté ✓Walnut Pesto Arancini ✓Basil Tomato ✓Burrata and Hazelnut ✓Roasted Grapes ✓Linguine Alla Carbonara (The Roman Way) ✓Tajarin Aragosta ✓Truffle Tajarin ✓Walnut Pesto Tagliatelle ✓White Ragu Tajarin ✓Tagliatelle Bolognese ✓Linguine alla Vongole ✓Spicy Vodka Tomato Cream Rigatoni

“2026 Highlights: Cucciolo Osteria Durham is known for its modern Italian cuisine with a creative twist, offering an upscale yet friendly and casual dining experience. Cucciolo Osteria Durham focuses on seasonal dishes made with high-quality ingredients, featuring handcrafted pasta such as Linguine Alla Carbonara, Tagliatelle Bolognese, and Spicy Vodka Tomato Cream Rigatoni, along with signature dishes like Beef Tagliata and Butter Chicken “Sostanza” Style. Their menu includes flavorful antipasti, cicchetti, bruschette, desserts like Tiramisu and Chocolate Torte, and carefully selected after-dinner drinks. The restaurant also offers private dining options with a dedicated space for special occasions and events. ”

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License #00268064AJ - 999

Menu:

ANTIPASTI:
Creamed Mushrooms $16.00
Polpette $10.50
House Green Salad $14.00
Venetian Beef Carpaccio $31.00
Roasted Beet Salad $16.50
Burrata $15.50
CICCHETTI:
Prosciutto Di San Daniele $10.00
Rustic Tuscan PâTé $12.00
Walnut Pesto Arancini $11.00
BRUSCHETTE:
Basil Tomato $11.00
Burrata And Hazelnut $11.00
Roasted Grapes $11.00
PRIMI:
Linguine Alla Carbonara (The Roman Way) $19.50
Tajarin Aragosta $25.00
Truffle Tajarin $25.00
Walnut Pesto Tagliatelle $20.00
White Ragu Tajarin $21.00
Tagliatelle Bolognese $25.00
Linguine Alla Vongole $27.00
Spicy Vodka Tomato Cream Rigatoni $19.50
Lemon Tagliatelle $20.00
SECONDI:
Butter Chicken "Sostanza" Style $25.00
Beef Tagliata $49.00
Catch Of The Day Mp
Parmigiano Di Melanzane $20.00

Contact:

(984) 243-8744

Sun-Thu: 5pm - 9pm
Fri-Sat: 5pm - 10pm

TBR® Inspection Report:

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MAGGIANO'S LITTLE ITALY DURHAM REVIEWS

Attended a private event in the back room. The servers were curtious and helpful, refilling glasses and taking away used plates. The appetizers were fried zucchini and crab cakes. Then entrées of salmon with fried shrimp, rigatoni with marinara, and a second pasta dish with chicken and alfredo. There was plenty of food and it was delicious! Finally, the desserts were apple cake with ice cream, and another, I don't recall, but was also tasty. Everyone was well-fed.

The best Italian anywhere! Just about everything is made fresh in the kitchen. Wine pairings are spot on. Really delicious place if your looking for a fine dining experience.

First time here and had a great time. Service was great very informative about the menu and was very patient. Center cut Filet Mignon mash potatoes with asparagus. It hit on every level. PERFECTO.

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CARRABBA'S ITALIAN GRILL DURHAM REVIEWS

We came in at 2 today and lunch was amazing! The server and manager were both awesome and our food was fast, very hot and delish! My husband had the house salad with lobster ravioli and I had the caesar salad with rigatoni al forno We will definitely be back.

Third time here. Always great. Our waitress was friendly and efficient. Sadly we had came for mussels but it appears that mussels, mushrooms and other items were not in stock due to the new manager trying to figure out logistics. We understand but are sadden. Next time we shall call and see if they do have the food we want in stock. Otherwise great experience as always.

Jasmine was awesome, professional and efficient. Very pleasant, kept our glasses full, answered questions about the dishes we were considering, recommended desserts, which were wonderful. we will go back and ask specifically for her as a waitress. She received a nice tip.

CUCCIOLO OSTERIA DURHAM REVIEWS

This was the best pasta I've ever had!!! Two of the pastas are made in-house! Incredible food, incredible sauce, amazing atmosphere! I highly recommend the white ragu tajarin! The tiramisu was also incredible for dessert. I'm already dreaming of the pasta and can't wait to go back!.

Absolutely loved this place. Shout out to Ezra for making my wife's and my anniversary dinner so lovely and memorable. Food was great, service even better. The giant meatball was a show stopper. Definitely recommend for a nicer dinner, or for a more dressed up casual evening.

Dinner with my mom out on the patio. Such a special place with the most delicious dishes and wonderful staff.

TBR® Inspection Score Report

MAGGIANO'S LITTLE ITALY DURHAM Total Inspection Points: 120/120
Acknowledgments: 10
Business Hours: 10
Menu Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Contact Info: 10
Experience: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Pricing: 10
Real Discounts: 10
Reviews Study: 10
Video: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

CARRABBA'S ITALIAN GRILL DURHAM Total Inspection Points: 119/120
Acknowledgments: 9
Table Reservations: 10
Business Hours: 10
Complete Info: 10
Contact Info: 10
Experience: 10
Gift Certificates: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Online Order: 10
Pricing: 10
Real Discounts: 10
Video: 10

TBR® Inspection Score Report

CUCCIOLO OSTERIA DURHAM Total Inspection Points: 115/120
Experience: 8
Page Maintenance: 9
Reviews Study: 9
Social Media: 9
Business Hours: 10
Menu Images: 10
Complete Info: 10
Private Events: 10
Legitimate Ratings: 10
Location Proximity: 10
Pricing: 10
Table Reservation: 10