Cucciolo Terrazza

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

A Family Story Behind the Food

Cucciolo Terrazza is the Raleigh outpost of a small family of Italian restaurants founded by cousins Jimmy and Julian Kim. The concept traces its roots to Cucciolo Osteria, which itself began as a sister to an original location in Seoul, Korea — an origin that lends a quietly global perspective to what is, at its core, straightforward, honest Italian cooking. Terrazza sits on Six Forks Road and shares the same guiding philosophy as its Durham sibling: simple, delicious Italian food made with high-quality ingredients, served in an upscale yet genuinely relaxed setting.

The restaurant earned a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence in 2024, a recognition that reflects the seriousness with which the team approaches its wine program alongside the food.

The Menu: Small by Design, Seasonal by Conviction

The menu at Cucciolo Terrazza is intentionally compact, built around a rotating selection of seasonal dishes with pasta at the center. That focus shows in the breadth and care of the primi: Wild Boar Agnolotti arrives in spinach pasta with porcini crumble, house brodo, and stracchino cheese; a Gorgonzola & Black Garlic Alfredo comes on homemade tagliatelle with pecorino and parmesan; and the Spicy Vodka Tomato Cream Rigatoni — made with house ricotta and plum tomatoes — has become a fixture across the Cucciolo family of restaurants.

Beyond pasta, the kitchen ventures confidently into secondi. A bone-in pork chop arrives sweet-tea brined and applewood cold smoked, served with roasted creamed corn and peach mostarda — a dish that nods to the Carolina table without abandoning its Italian frame. The 18 oz porcini-crusted prime bone-in ribeye and a whole roasted catch of the day round out the more substantial plates.

Antipasti are worth lingering over: braised octopus with giardiniera and romesco, goat cheese arancini with truffle honey, and personal pizzette with San Marzano tomatoes and fior di latte offer a satisfying path into the meal.

Brunch and the Sweeter Side

On weekends, Terrazza opens for brunch — a service that blends Italian sensibility with morning comfort. Eggs in Purgatory, baked in spicy pomodoro with house ricotta, sits alongside Toast Francese on brioche with marsala syrup and an Eggs Benedict "Carbonara" with smoked prosciutto and carbonara hollandaise. The Spicy Vodka Rigatoni reappears here too, available with Italian sausage and a poached egg.

Desserts keep things classic: tiramisu made with Oak City Amaretto and whipped mascarpone, seasonal cannoli, zeppole filled with strawberry coulis, and a rotating panna cotta.

The Atmosphere

The room aims for upscale without stiffness — the kind of place where the Italian cuisine feels both carefully considered and genuinely approachable. Private events and outdoor seating extend the experience beyond the main dining room, making Terrazza a practical choice for gatherings as much as for a quiet weeknight dinner.