Panciuto

I celebrated my birthday here at this fine restaurant, we stared out with a great wine selection and then went on to asking our wonderful waitress questions about the menu, she was great making recommendations, We stared out with a starter of tempura broccoli, very good choice. Our main dish was a mahi dish for my wife and paste with meatballs for me, both were full of amazing flavors. For desert we had the strawberry pie with ricotta on the side, with a cup of coffee, great way to a wonderful evening.

Here again, eating solo. Ok, I am biased — admittedly — but I have just fallen in love with a tempura broccoli. Pickle brine acidity at the bottom. Amazing. After 10 years, I am still in awe of Panciuto. Keep going Aaron and team!

Um, WOW! This was one of the most delicious meals I have eaten in my life!!! The dishes are prepared from locally grown foods, from farms to artisanal specialties, and change regularly. We came here to celebrate a special birthday (based on a friend’s recommendation that this is the best restaurant in North Carolina), and our expectations were greatly exceeded — despite the incredibly high bar that was set. The mood is very welcoming and relaxing; the staff are extremely friendly and helpful; the presentation is exquisite; and then food is, well, beyond words. We enjoyed a goat cheese gnocchi (that was accompanied by the most tasty greens I have ever enjoyed), shrimp with cauliflower grits, garganelli with goat ragu, and goat cheese cavatelli. The synthesis of colors, textures, and flavors are all superlative. And then dessert. Out of this world. You MUST come here. You can thank me later.

Panciuto’s dishes were perfectly cooked. To the detail. Everything was fresh, basic, and creative. But it’s one of those places that I ventured to, and once was enough. Perhaps if it was nearby in the Triangle, I would return.

To start — the main course is/​has always been good. But, not as good as it should be for $ 18 for a few filled pastas in a half order at least maybe throw in 2 more to help fill me up and /​or a slice of bread for the sauce so I can sop it up instead of using a spoon. Mediocre service tonight and last couple times there. I’m a 40 week per year traveler in 26 states from coast to coast– I know what decent service should be like let alone when prices are this high. Heck I get better attention at the Waffle House. Admittedly I do not look like the high class guy that should be eating at this high class place. I work for a living but I was in my work ‘uniform’ of a company shirt, jeans and steel toed boots sitting alone at the bar. Several quick passes from the bartender, a few with a ‘how is it’ but no time to ask for anything else before he was off to other folks dressed more nicely than me and sipping wine.
I’ve been coming here for a couple years. First time hooked me because they were able to make me a Gibson martini which is rare and the pork chop was about the best thing I’ve ever put in my month. Next trip was pork belly on steamed buns. Couple trips in between that good but not memorable enough to catalog in my limited brain space.
Tonight some goat cheese filled pasta which again was very good; nice sauce with some grilled veggies strings. Very good. Ordered a normal gin martini because they didn’t have the makings for a Gibson. Average at best and airport price of $ 10.
For ‘desert’ I thought I would order was some of the country bread with butter. I like to end on some carbs and fat… But I guess I’m an idiot and missed where it said it was grilled. So it came grilled and very heavily buttered, maybe some oil on it not sure but just eaten the way served it was way too heavy even as an appetize in my opinion. I tried one with butter and no better. When I mentioned I didn’t know it came grilled, he cocked his head to the side like a puzzled dog and fairly condescendingly stated (twice) that it was on the menu as grilled. BTW this was after my martini sat empty for seven minutes. Probably would have had one more if it had been offered about 5 minutes before it was empty.
I need to come back in three months for a follow up. I will be going across the street to Antonio’s (I’ve reviewed at least twice if you are interested) where you get better service, more and almost as good food plus occasionally a nice jazz band — with cheaper martini’s. I’ll put up with really good food over great food if I can get better service and better value.
At this price, I would think they would take AMEX

Fantastic… a must visit! Really fresh and truly farm to table experience…

Made a reservation at Panciuto last minute on Friday night with my girlfriend. I had always heard rave reviews and many of the descriptions and photos on Unilocal were quite alluring. Once inside we were greeted by a very nice woman and led to our table quickly. It is a lovely and cozy, but not cramped space with excellent lighting. The waitress was very friendly and brought complementary Prosecco when she greeted us. We were very happy with the bottle of wine we chose, but the food not so much. We found our pasta dishes to be very average and certainly not worthy of a $ 27 price tag. I expected a lot more dynamic flavor based on the list of ingredients outlined on the menu. It just fell very flat. To make matters worse the farm to table ingredients apparently could not wait to get back in the ground, as they made a speedy and uncomfortable journey through our stomachs and well you know the rest. I’m inclined to think Panciuto has other offerings that are quite tasty and that we just chose poorly, but for this kind of money it’s unlikely I would roll the dice again.

Dishes approach the table and already their handpainted surfaces impress and throughout the meal remind me that food is as much presentation as it is flavor — not that the beautiful menagerie of colorful ingredients don’t decry it themselves. The interior is eclectic, just the balance of vintage and reductionist; cheeky prints on the walls, a taxidermy animal and modern globe chandeliers set a unique mood. A small bar makes the rear of the restaurant cozy, sided by high-​tops fit for two interested in doing some people-​watching with a cocktail. A long communal table at the restaurant’s center poses a great alternative to the intimate doubles at the spaces edges.
Beginning our meal with a delectable Negroni, simple but perfect and chilled by a wonderfully huge ice cube, complimentary prosecco tastings, and a very friendly wait staff my fellow diner and I didn’t wait, as tables filled, emptied, and over-​lingered by a diverse crowd of young and old diners.
We decided, pursuing a less expensive meal — light but satisfying — to order small plates and sides as opposed to the somewhat expensive but generous plates. We split the foccacia topped by house ricotta — sweet and just dry enough — runny egg, sided with pork belly and charred greens; an early spring salad of house potato chips, dried fruits and mushrooms with a wonderful creamy dressing; the beef carpaccio soft and marbled with a terrific green aioli and tempura arugula adding unexpected texture to a lush dish. We further enjoyed the smoked, grilled carrots with a pea tendril ‘pesto.‘
The farm to table concept has been taken for granted at many upscale restaurants in the past years and Panciuto is a pricier option but the experience is superb. For a full meal one could spend less and many direct to table and comparably eccentric restaurants exist — and in the best ways and styles — but this restaurant puts an emphasis on the technique and cuisine, less so the origins and airs, which I appreciate.

After hearing many wonderful things about Panciuto I decided to come and celebrate my birthday with them. I had high expectations from word of mouth and Unilocal and even those high expectations were exceeded. All the staff we encountered were marvelous and very professional. Our waitress was both well informed and possessed intimate knowledge of the menu. Cocktails were innovative, with the Dark and Broody standing out with its persimmon and Durham Brood spicy soda. A complimentary apéritif of percesso was appreciated and a nice touch you don’t see very often. With an ever changing menu I won’t go into detail but know this. Panciuto is a place where you come to indulge your taste buds and I for one hold them as my new favorite restaurant in the triangle. Reservations are a must at this establishment and are requested on their website. They are only open for dinner Wednesday-​Saturday and feature additional pasta and meat selections on the weekends. They state their menu changes a little bit every day, noticeably week to week and completely month to month. Both my husband and I agreed to visit them at least once a season to see what Chef Aaron will create with his local, fresh ingredients. The food was nothing short of spectacular and coupled with the staff, and atmosphere it made for a perfect birthday dinner.

Eaten here twice. Drinks are very good – imaginative and interesting. But, the wine list is VERY limited. Food was better the first time than the second. Super Salty. Ambience is lovely but getting a reservation can be a challenge. I’ve called no less then 5 times and have never been able to get a table when I want. This last time, we finally got a table but had to eat at 5:30 to accommodate a party of 5. At the end of the day, the meal for 5 was $ 400. Not sure it was worth it.

Omg… superb. The place looks so much fancier than it should for a place in Hillsborough (not that the Hboro isn’t a great town — I love it, been here 14yrs). The staff is very attentive without being annoying. The décor is simple yet elegant. The menu was prepared for TODAY only (wow). The food was so good I nearly licked my plate but the atmosphere was too darn fancy for me to do that without looking like an idiot (not necessarily a bad thing). It was expensive, but I feel every penny was well spent. I’ll be back!

After having Panciuto bookmarked for a couple years now, I finally made it over and I’m so glad I did. We started things off with their bread, which you had to pay for, but it was some of the best few dollars we spent. Delicious buttery goodness. I’m not sure it means a lot to go into our menu choices in detail since the menu changes pretty much daily. Having said that, it’s amazing how much thought seems to go into finding a perfect balance of flavors. For instance, I ordered a pork shank that had a very sweet glaze on it that was almost cloying on its own. But when eaten in a single bite with the radish and brussel sprouts it sits atop, everything just melds perfectly together. Similarly, I got a steak tartare appetizer with fried oysters. Trying the fried oysters by themselves, I was a little overwhelmed by that fishy, briny taste, but combined with the steak with some mixed greens in a citrusy vinagrette, it somehow came together for another perfect bite. There are plenty of interesting flavors you won’t find routinely elsewhere. For instance, we tried a celery ice cream that was eerily strong in the celery flavor. I have to admit, it didn’t really work for me, but it’s also something I doubt I’ll see again. The food is a bit pricy (although basically what you’ll pay at similarly regarded restaurants in the area), so definitely a special occasion restaurant. But I’ll definitely be back.

By far our favorite sit down place in the triangle area. Their menu really emphasizes the farm-​to-​table aspect of the restaurant and everything we’ve had there has been exceptionally fresh and delicious. We’ve been there a good 4 times now and we have never been disappointed, particularly by the pasta dishes which they make fresh. All the dishes seem to have flavors layered on and every bite just brings new flavors. If you’re looking for an intimate date night with delicious, innovative food, go here!

I love the farm-​to-​table movement, and was pleasantly surprised by the great quality of the food at Pancuito. For our starters, we had the oysters with kimchi and fried chicken, cabbage pancake with garlic aoli, and some kind of smoked fish (can’t remember what kind!) with a cracker flavored with caraway. I was impressed right off the bat because I normally don’t love raw oysters, but these were so fresh and the kimchi flavor complimented the oyster without overwhelming it. The other starters were all excellent; the flavors were delicious and balanced.
For my main entrée, I had the butternut squash ravioli with kale and goat cheese. DELICIOUS. There were also crunchy nuts on top for texture; all the elements went together so well. Do note that the menu changes daily since it is farm-​to-​table and they cook depending on what ingredients are available.
I took away one star because I felt that our waitress was not the most welcoming, with the one slight at the end where she placed the menus back in front of us without saying a word. Obviously, it was so we could see the dessert options, but she didn’t take the time to say anything at all. The manager was very friendly though.

Great food. Great atmosphere. Great wait staff. The locally sourced food options were great. Did i say it was great already? We loved the ravioli and wild mushrooms. Totally worth the drive and made for a indulgent culinary evening.

This is our favorite place in town. Always fresh and innovative.
The menu is always changing.

About a year ago, we were won over by the charming young chef (and James Beard nominee), Aaron Vandemark, on a Taste Carolina food tour. We had the opportunity to sit and chat with him as he served us up a unique sampler of daikon noodle with Cane Creek Farm pancetta and arugula. Aaron has probably an unparalleled, in the Tri, dedication to hyperlocal cuisine — the restaurant’s selection changes daily based on what can be sourced from neighboring farms, all of which are accredited at the top of the menu. Interesting to hear the early tales of Aaron’s then-​budding restaurant, the pressure to create ever-​evolving dishes with limited resources available… especially in a NC winter! But necessity is the mother of invention. And over time this chef has created a standout dining destination with dishes that manage to highlight southern staples in unusual ways — like the PawPaw tart we concluded this weekend’s meal with.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. It’s a popular place, and reservations are recommended. We arrived a little early to settle in, grabbed seats at the bar, and ordered the meat & cheese plate. I was surprised to find it featuring three soft/​semisoft cheeses, but each had a very distinct flavor, and was drizzled with an accompaniment (e.g., a sweet chili sauce on an earthy buttery cheese; a berry compote on a milder brie-​like cheese). The small portion was plenty hearty for two.
When our table was ready, and a complimentary palate prepping prosecco poured, we had a hard time narrowing down the choices (which are broken into Firsts; Meats; Pastas; and Sides). I opted for a pasta dish described as: «hand-​rolled scilatelle, Campari glazed mutton, fried fennel, crauti butter, mustard greens» with a side of the steamed pork belly buns, with cucumber pickles and sorrel aioli. Husband got a meat dish, the porchetta which was served with a side of polenta. Of the two, his was the most impressive. What the kitchen can do with porchetta is nothing short of astonishing… it had an incredibly crisp outer layer, that when flaked off, is like the best bacon you’ve ever put in your mouth. Past the perimeter, the marbled fat imparts so much flavor and texture to the meat. Polenta was creamy and rich, topped with caramelized peppers. And the portion: HUGE. My handmade pasta was fresh, coated in a subtle but savory buttery broth spiked with sauerkraut. The mutton, incredible; just a hint of sweet glaze giving way to tender stewed meat. Pork belly buns, though tasty, seemed to be covered in far too much oil and could have used more pickled veg flavor. For dessert, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to try the Pawpaw tart. A lightly whipped, unsweetened cream sat atop the slice, and a berry syrup beneath, with bits of «peanut butter granola» strewn about. Pawpaw may not be the south’s most endearing fruit… the taste is comparable to an unripe pear; kind of starchy, not too sweet, a bit of an after-​bite.
What’s impressed me the most at Panciuto is the value; such a high level of quality food and generously sized portions — yet our entire meal came in under $ 100 before tip. Do not miss the opportunity to eat here! Especially if you live in Durham… it’s just a short 20-​minute drive away.

I’m in love with this Chef! There must be some suffering for this dish! So much flavor in every bite. How dare my wine compete for attention.
Had the panzanella, OMG, cucumbers you can see through. A refreshing salad first.
Followed by a dish I can’t recall the name, chef made kielbasa sausage in the most incredible sauce and homemade pasta bites.
Just come and eat. Splurge as much as you can because you will not regret it.
Ok. Dessert! Having the biscuit over blueberry something and I’m about to slide out of my chair. How dare this chef make my wife blush in ecstasy this way. I have no more words to describe.
Look it’s five star. Anyone not happy here is just angry at themselves.
Salute El Hefe!

I’m amazed at the reviews that are poor for Panciuto, because we had a fantastic experience.
Using the restaurant’s site, I asked for a reservation on a specific date. They called me personally within 15m of the request, and offered a time slot just a little bit earlier than I had requested. No problem– we took it.
Upon arriving, we were greeted warmly and seated immediately, and given small tasters of Prosecco. Umm, yes please. That’s one way to win me over.
We tried a variety of items on the menu: cocktails, wine, appetizers, entrees, and dessert. All were fantastic. I particularly enjoyed the Strawberry Rie (a whisky cocktail) and beef carpaccio.
Our service was attentive, informative, and there as often as necessary but not hovering.
We absolutely intend to go back; though the prices are higher than your average night out they are worth it for the unique dishes and local ingredients.

Panciuto: the Italian word for love.
Okay, well not really. But I do have a major crush on Panciuto.
This was my second visit. It met and exceeded all of my culinary dreams both times.
My favorite dining companion in the whole wide world and I were there on Thursday, an absolutely perfect fall evening. We started with the ears, and ears, and ears and all I could say was: yum, and yum, and YUM! Then we polished off the best charcuterie plate in the history of the world. Seriously– two inch thick cuts of bacon?! Insane. Creamy cheese with banana jelly. Ridiculous.
We shared the pork shank, the rabbit ravioli, and the field pea stew, which was topped with fried green tomatoes.
I can’t help myself. I am in love.
For dessert we shared the chocolate peanut butter thing… since I was still over the moon about dinner I couldn’t even tell you what that «thing» was called. Maybe just… heaven?
We appreciate that 97% of the menu is locally sourced and the close relationship the restaurant has with the local farmers. How cool is that? We pondered what the 3% might be that is not local.
Who cares. Doesn’t matter.
No messing with this love affair.