Cugini - Berkeley

I've been a consistent Cugini client for over 10 years. I usually make a big purchase and type their staff 25%-30%. The food is great and they always treated me well...until last night, November 18, 2022. I went to solo at 6:00. There were a total of 5 available tables and I asked the one smaller table against the wall (I often sat there by myself). However, I was informed that the parties of 1 have to sit at the bar. What? The bar? I can understand if a restaurant is busy and a customer has the opportunity to sit at the bar or wait for a table, but I did not give this option. I was told that the bar was the NUR option for me, despite plenty of seats available. I always felt uncomfortable eating as the only woman in a restaurant bar. What about new divorces or widows/Widowers? Should we be punished so that we want to support their business as a single diner? I do not understand why they have changed their policies, but I will say that was an extremely stupid and embarrassing interaction. They have not only lost my business, but also the business of the many friends I have introduced into their restaurant over the years.

I personally have not been able to sit in the restaurant since Covid began, but this is still one of my favorite restaurants. Before March 2020, when I'm a really nice hight out and craved Italian, Cugjni is where I left. During the pandemic, the same. Cugini is where I got my Italian take-out when I needed a treat of delicious normality. I haven't settled in her restaurant since the beginning of 2020, but I am very pleased that I am doing it very soon. You create my favorite pizza (and that says something because I absolutely worship Cheese Board! Cugini is one of my 'night-out channels' not failing ' goals. Please support this treasure and experience it yourself!

Beautiful jewel! I had a very traditional Fruitti de Mare Art court about linguini, magnifico! Good service, even the bus boys were excellent. Come for food and service...

Great Ravioli and Penne Pasta. Garlic bread is from this world. They are welcoming and the atmosphere is relaxing. Good place for vegetarians.

Looking for a bite to eat a little later in the evening than usual, I got a craving for pizza, and decided to finally stop by this place that I have slept on for decades. True. Even after closing in on 6 million views, and having reviewed over a thousand restaurants, I am sadly, or on the other hand joyfully, just now discovering Italian cuisine. Cugini, has an incredible menu of House made pastas, calzones, and of course, wood fired pizza. I ordered the Sicilian, with mozzarella and sopressata, and watched it sizzle next to the open fire, while I drank a glass of delicious white wine, recommended by my server, a Berkeley local who was super cool and informative and new her way around the menu. I generally have to be careful when I eat in the East Bay since it is a rare occasion when I do not run into 10 people that I know, and I usually end up spending more time talking than eating, which kind of gets in the way of my restaurant enjoyment, which is why I don't really eat very close to where I live that much anymore. However the place was thinning out, I was there last customer, and in the end had this beautiful place all to myself, with a delicious wood fired pizza, and ended my night with a cannoli, and a cappuccino. There are a lot of different kinds of pizza, and several different levels of quality when it comes to Wood-Fired pizzas, and this place is top tier. The ingredients all tasted super fresh, the atmosphere was great, and I intend to go back again. Highly recommended for people who want delicious, almost exotic tasting food, without so much spice, or without always depending on the local Asian restaurants which are incredible in their own right. The Italian thing is just a completely different vibe, and I'm glad I finally discovered this spot on Solano which until recently was a secret to me. Five stars.