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Review content:
Eating @ Cinelli's for 4 years and counting. First, LOVE the food. Second, enjoyable when the extremely efficient and communicative owner is there at lunch, or sit at the cozy lil bar with the bartender, but as noted previously in reviews, the waitstaff leave much to be desired (which does reflect on the owner, no matter his own service). Slow to bring the "complimentary" rolls (and a refill basket) but quick to bring/offer the wine (which of course I pay for and vamps up the receipt, therefore "more tipping" - pun on my drinking).
I've had the Grandma's, calzone, alfredo, pasta primavera, minestrone and escarole soup, Philly, Italian sub, and customized pizzas. All were delectable, flavorful, herbilicious, arrive warm upon residence or business delivery and "just right" as Goldilocks says. BUT, this great food can totally be negated by sorry service. As stated, I always enjoy lunch time, take out, bar dining, and their efficient delivery, but not table dining.
At takeout, selection of individual pizza slices is limited, and they'd benefit from more variety offered, but what they serve as slices for lunch are yummy. They had signs posted last year regarding rise in semolina prices as it affects their menu prices, due to transport and bulk logistics cost increase. If we wanna eat out, as consumers, it now costs more... many business' prices increased. This didn't affect my selection for Cinelli's. For Italian in Durham, especially proximal to Duke and 9th, it's not bad! I miss my Casalinga's in a Capital Blvd strip mall in Raleigh! Cinelli's isn't as stellar, but they pass muster.
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