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Trattoria Pulcinella, Cambridge, MA
Trattoria Pulcinella, Cambridge, MA
Trattoria Pulcinella, Cambridge, MA

Trattoria Pulcinella

4.7
4.7
595 Reviews
$30 and under
Italian
Top Tags:
Trattoria Pulcinella is a nice family run business; we offer a lot of specials from our native homeland of Naples, Italy.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 3 times today

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (617) 491-6336
  • Website
    http://www.trattoriapulcinella.net/
  • Payment options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Giovanni Oliva
  • Private party facilities
    We close the restaurant for private party of 32 people and up.
  • Private party contact
    Giovanni: (617) 851-0371
  • Location
    147 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138
  • Neighborhood
    Cambridge
  • Parking details
    From Harvard Sq. take the 72 bus or the 75 and stopped in the corner of Concord Ave. and Huron Ave. We are next to CITGO gasoline station
  • Additional
    Beer, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine

What 595 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

595 Reviews

  1. HeatherH

    Greater Boston

    14 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on November 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a mainstay for our family for holidays, special celebrations and midweek dinners out. Maria and her late husband, the owners, are warm and generous hosts. The food is always presented well, the staff are knowledgeable and the dishes are predictably delicious. You can tell the ingredients are well sourced.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing— could not recommend more. Everything was wonderful.

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  3. LisaC

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Everything was great about this place, and we will definitely be going back!

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  4. EasternReader

    Greater Boston

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on October 20, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We have nothing but praise. Pulcinella is a rarity - a small family-run restaurant, with an inviting, homey atmosphere. Our meal was excellent and paced well - - baby octopus, Caesar salad, pasta Bolognese, and grilled veal chop with mushroom sauce. Service was friendly and competent. The restaurant was full, but not noisy, making conversation easy. Grandmother oversaw the dining room, her daughter was cooking, and a granddaughter was one of two people waiting on table.

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  5. Kathy

    Greater Boston

    23 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on October 20, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A family-owned neighborhood gem......wonderful food, ambience, and service!

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  6. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston

    13 reviews

    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of the few restaurants where you can get a reliably delicious meal and hear the conversation!

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  7. LeoG

    Greater Boston

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Pulcinella was outstanding as always! If you have not been to this great neighborhood spot in a while, head back and check it out.

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  8. sassysaveur

    Greater Boston

    79 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    79 reviews

    Dined on September 23, 2023

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Small menu, not truly Italian and food flavor/quality mediocre. Food and service slow given there were only 3 tables /8 guests total the entire time we dined. Small and cozy spot with view to kitchen has potential to be a great neighborhood spot but not under current owner/chef/team.

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  9. Fussyaboutfood

    Greater Boston

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It's wonderful to find a quiet, pleasant place to eat with excellent service and good food. We had a pear poached in wine, a seafood risotto and a gnocchi dish. All were delicious. It's worth the two-thirds mile walk from Harvard Square. And if you come by car, it's easy to park.

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  10. AnneM

    Chicago

    6 reviews

    4.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Quiet spot for 2 or 4. Tasty food in a traditional style; nothing too nouvelle or bougie.

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  11. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on September 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A wonderful meal! Just like being in Italy. Very relaxing

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  12. Rudy

    Greater Boston

    12 reviews

    4.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on August 26, 2023

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Lovely place, good food, but a limited menu. I would hope they could expand it.

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  13. Fussyaboutfood

    Greater Boston

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 16, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    A quiet, friendly, atmosphere, and delicious Italian food. A blessing for grownup diners looking for a civilized evening. I’ve never been disappointed here.

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  14. MenloGal

    San Francisco

    53 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    53 reviews

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great birthday celebration! The staff was extremely attentive and gracious. The food was amazing. Highly recommend.

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  15. Kathy

    Greater Boston

    23 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on August 9, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is a charming, family-owned neighborhood restaurant. The food and service were excellent, and we enjoyed dining in their outdoor patio.

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  16. jeffrey

    Greater Boston

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on July 29, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and service as always. Maria, Amanda and Mario make everyone feel like family. We can’t wait until our next visit!

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  17. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on June 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We enjoyed a casual dinner with 5 star food. Will Be back

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  18. OpenTable Diner

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 26, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful family run restaurant with great food and service

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  19. Eric

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Second time we’ve been here and the food, service and atmosphere were all great!

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  20. EasternReader

    Greater Boston

    20 reviews

    5.0

    20 reviews

    Dined on June 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We eat often at Pulcinella, a lovely small restaurant owned and operated since its inception by a single family. Last night’s meal was in a charming outdoor courtyard with perhaps five well separated tables, each overhung by a large red umbrella. Service is always warm and efficient, attentive but not the least intrusive, and the food delicious and appealingly plated and served, in particular the artichoke, mushroom risotto, seared branzino, and cioppino. Prices are moderate, wine is excellent, and the restaurant has a loyal following of regular customers.

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  21. Beth

    Greater Boston

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on June 18, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    An absolute gem. Food was delicious, seafood was beautifully cooked and fresh, place was clearly family owned. I can see why others said it felt like being back in Italy. We’ll be back and are thrilled to have found such a local charmer.

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  22. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 15, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food Lovely service Perfect neighborhood places

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  23. KathrynK

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on June 7, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Fabulous in every way! Excellent southern Italian food. Authentic. Wonderful people!! Thank you for a memorable dinner….as good as it was 20 years ago!💕

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  24. JaneS

    Thailand

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding, food, service and atmosphere. Great experience.

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  25. SloKat

    Greater Boston

    23 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on May 27, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Don’t let the simple interior fool you . The food was fantastic!!! The lobster raviolis were amazing !

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  26. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    2.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 25, 2023

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    I don’t normally write negative reviews, but I would have liked some warning of several of the things we experienced at this restaurant. First, I made a reservation many weeks in advance of the date, but got a call from the restaurant weeks after making the reservation and was told I needed to immediately give them a $200 deposit to “secure” my reservation for that date. I kind of thought that making the reservation “secured” my reservation when I made it. There was no mention of a deposit, or even anything asking for card information when I made the reservation weeks before that, and I got the impression they were charging deposits ad hoc. After I paid the deposit, I was promised the $200 would be taken off our bill at the restaurant, but, predictably, they forgot, and charged us the full amount on the day. Luckily I remembered and reminded them, but otherwise, we would have paid for the meal twice over. The afternoon of the day of our reservation, I received another call from the restaurant, saying they were offering us the “opportunity” to dine outside that evening. Given that it would be a chilly evening and several of our party were not dressed for outdoor dining, I said I preferred to eat inside and declined the offer to eat outside. When we arrived, nonetheless, we were sat outside, and it was very clear there was no table available inside for us to sit at. It turned out the “opportunity” to dine outside was an “opportunity” we couldn’t refuse. There was a heat lamp outside, so we asked if it could be turned on, but we were informed that it had recently “exploded” and was nonfunctional, thus, it was a bit of a chilly dinner. The food itself was fine, but by the end of the meal, I found myself pretty frustrated with how the entire experience had been handled.

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  27. TonyDiFrancesco

    Greater Boston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on May 7, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Hidden gem. Food made me feel like I was back in Italy. Great service and a great wine list

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  28. Lisa

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 6, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had been offered dining outside and it was the quaintest spot. The owner and staff were very pleasant and service was excellent. Lobster ravioli was delicious and well stuffed and the branzino was filleted and cooked to perfection. Will return. Thanks to Amanda and all.

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  29. RosieM

    Greater Boston

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on May 6, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    This place is just perfect. Delicious food and wonderful ambience. They will also cook off the menu if they have the ingredients. I eat here often and take a myriad of friends.

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  30. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on May 5, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Really delicious Italian food. The server suggested a perfect wine. I don't usually order dessert, but it was impossible to resist. We had one each, chocolate hazelnut cake, tiramisu and cannoli.

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  31. Anto

    Greater Boston

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on April 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was delicious, the service was warm and very intimate. Love the place.

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  32. Tgac

    London

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 28, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great restaurant. Food cooked as you watch all with fresh ingredients. Highly recommended!

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  33. Nancy

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on April 23, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful restaurant with outstanding food! This is our favorite Cambridge restaurant!

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  34. BerkeleyDiner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on April 21, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Such a delightful place!! So grateful to be here again after 26 years!

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  35. OpenTable Diner

    Fort Lauderdale

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on March 31, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing! Lovely owner and great food/ambiance. Will definitely be back soon!

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  36. Nancy

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on March 26, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful food in a small, charming restaurant. The service is attentive and thoughtful. The restaurant is a Cambridge gem, a treasure to all who love eating the delicious food.

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  37. LizzieS

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 24, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Went for a casual dinner and found it very nice. As good as the north end! Loved the homemade meatballs and the truffle flavor for the risotto.

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  38. jeffrey

    Greater Boston

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on March 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    New menu. New decor. New Chef. Same awesome, friendly and attentive service. Go Eat!!

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  39. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston

    31 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    31 reviews

    Dined on March 15, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Even after several years away, the food quality and dining experience has only gotten better. We were celebrating the 5th anniversary of our wedding at Pulcinella and had a wonderful time. Went on a Wednesday—conversation probably more moderate on weekends.

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  40. Eric

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 9, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was amazing! Service was great too - family owned and it shows in the quality of the food and service.

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FAQs

Trattoria Pulcinella is rated 4.7 stars by 595 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 3 times today
Google Map for Trattoria Pulcinella

147 Huron Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Cambridge
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Italian
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    From Harvard Sq. take the 72 bus or the 75 and stopped in the corner of Concord Ave. and Huron Ave. We are next to CITGO gasoline station
  • Payment options
    Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Giovanni Oliva
  • Additional
    Beer, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.trattoriapulcinella.net/
  • Phone number
    (617) 491-6336
  • Private party facilities
    We close the restaurant for private party of 32 people and up.
  • Private party contact
    Giovanni: (617) 851-0371
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