Bombolo 764 Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

"We had the fried chicken, BBQ shrimp and a wild boar/venison pasta. Food was great, although the cinnamon in the pasta was not my cup of tea. We had a bombolo for dessert that was awesome! The waiter was good if not overly friendly. The seating is quite close, so you definitely can't help but hear other patrons... hope you are sitting next to nice folks! The price was a bit high, but I would expect that going into an establishment like this. Overall a very good dinner that was perhaps a bit pricey. I would recommend!"

"We definitely enjoyed the atmosphere in Bombolo - interesting decor, old classics for music, and a cozy vibe. The food was pretty dang good, with our favorite being the bolognese or the “girthy” andouille sausage! Our server was nice but not super knowledgeable about the menu, and the tables were mildly cramped but to be fair it’s a small space. 10/10 would recommend popping by Flyleaf Books and then having dinner here for a fun date night!"

"Pros: the menu itself is unique and has a strong identity that really works for them. The food is really good if still needing balance and refinement (more details below.) Service is great and everyone is super kind but don’t expect fine-dining attention to timing/detail. The octopus caviar small plate was perfect - every ingredient stood on its own but also married perfectly with the plate as a whole. Cons: The decor and ambiance need work - the lights above the bar are so bright and unflattering, and the color temperature doesn’t match the rest of the lighting. (This seems like a small detail, but when soft, warm lighting completely changes the experience.) The sign stating “this is not an Italian restaurant” above the door is perfect and would be a great anchor for the rest of their decor to go a bit moody/subversive. The food needs refinement, but is close to being great. For instance, the NOLA shrimp dish is made from great quality ingredients, but the main thing I tasted was just spicy in a way that kills the palette. Same with the beef Wellington, it was beautifully done and well presented, but over salted. The desserts, too, were cloyingly sweet and could’ve been more balanced. With small tweaks, this place could be great. I love the concept, the narrative of the menu, and the intimate size of the restaurant - but it needs refinement."

"Great little place in Chapel Hill!! Menu has many interesting and creative dishes. Sat at the bar with a friend, we tried many dishes. For starters, Lamb Belly, Crispy Pig Ears, and Tonno Tonno. Course Two: Tortellini & Summer Truffles and Rabbit Something Pasta. So good!! Course Three: Octopus and Lobster Pot.....we enjoyed them all! Menu is a little on the rich side but I Love that so...:) Service at the bar was attentive and friendly. We will be back!"