Convivio (Italian pronunciation: [kovivjo]; The Banquet) is a play / work written by Dante roughly between 1304 and 1307. We think of it as "Gathering" or "Congregation". Accompanied by unparalleled servizio (service). Forward and to the right is the bar, built by our own 2 owners Chef Paolo and Sommelier Giuseppe.
The bar seats 14, but we suggest getting here early on a Friday or Saturday. Straight back is the giant serving table - again built by Paolo and Giuseppe. We use it to set up food for our servers, as well as the occasional buffet for holiday's, weddings or corporate meetings. To the immediate right is a sectioned area with rocking chairs for relaxing with a glass of wine and some food.
The bar seats 14, but we suggest getting here early on a Friday or Saturday. Straight back is the giant serving table - again built by Paolo and Giuseppe. We use it to set up food for our servers, as well as the occasional buffet for holiday's, weddings or corporate meetings. To the immediate right is a sectioned area with rocking chairs for relaxing with a glass of wine and some food.
Services
Born and raised in Roma Italy I attended ALMA, the most prestigious culinary school in Italy run by the most prestigious Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi. This is where I obtained my master of Italian cuisine degree. I then worked for several years in a michelin star restaurant in the region of Emilia-Romagna, before moving to NC.
WEDDINGS: Whether you are looking for a place to have your reception party, or the ceremony as well, look no further than Convivio. Our totally customizable space can accomodate up to 100+ guests. CORPORATE EVENTS: From presentations to training to celebrations, Convivio has you covered. We can seat up to 100+ guests.
Convivio (Italian pronunciation: [kovivjo]; The Banquet) is a play/ work written by Dante roughly between 1304 and 1307. We did not forget the Vino! Sommelier Giuseppe searches for the best wines he can find for all tastes (and budgets) Organic, Natural and Bio-Dynamic wines are his specialty. If you would like to take home a bottle or two of our wine, deduct 15 dollar to find your cost.
Reviews (27)
Taylor Nguyen
Dec 13, 2021
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Alexander Lese
Nov 27, 2021
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Katelyn Lamar
Nov 13, 2021
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We ate here tonight for a friends birthday. We called ahead yesterday to say I was dairy free and did they have any options for me to eat. They said plenty. When I came in tonight and when I mentioned to the waiter I was dairy free he said “you can’t have butter or cheese? This is an Italian restaurant! That is everything we cook with!” He gave horrible suggestions of things I should order saying things just had a “little cream or cheese” so if he fine. I have never had a waiter so rude and in accommodating with a food allergy. I ended up eating cold cooked wilted over salty greens That
Glenn M.
Oct 25, 2021
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It was my birthday celebration, and we were about to go to The Cheesecake Factory so I could have my favorite pasta dish. But at the last minute I decided I'd look and see if I could find a local place instead. And I'm certainly glad I did! The atmosphere was delightful, our server friendly and efficient, the food excellent, and the wine just what we wanted. We had a terrific time, and will definitely go back again.
Also, don't be thrown by the "City Hall Plaza" address. For some reason we thought it was in a different location than the rest of downtown Durham, but it
Also, don't be thrown by the "City Hall Plaza" address. For some reason we thought it was in a different location than the rest of downtown Durham, but it
Tom Eagen
Oct 20, 2021
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My wife and I were wandering around downtown Tuesday night and discovered Convivo, virtually devoid of customers shortly after 6:00. We have been in Durham for 36 years, since Retirement #1, always trying each new Italian restaurant. Most were quite hopeless and the best, rather prosaic. Our experience on 10/12 was a delight! The atmosphere was quiet, relaxed and progressively warm. Service was thoughtful and calm as our comments and questions were absorbed and produced very personalized responses in the dishes and wines selected. We mentioned that we would share the greens and they were served
Taryn L.
Oct 09, 2021
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This was an absolutely incredible experience. The food is incredible and we cannot wait to come back for more. We had the orange and rosé flights and a glass of red. All of which were fantastic. Our waiter made an excellent recommendation for the wine to pair with the gnocchi. You can tell they are passionate about the food and wine they are creating and offering.
Leslie C.
Sep 09, 2021
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Wonderful all around experience at this hidden gem in Durham!
I stumbled upon this spot and will likely be back every week! It's right down the street from the new library where I study each week.
The ambiance is beautiful and peaceful. The staff is incredibly personable and friendly. It's also very clean - yep I also noticed their 100% grade above the bar!
I ordered the rosè flight, the olives, and mushroom pizza. Yummmmmmm!!! Soooo good!!
I wish I was in town on the weekends so I could attend their wine tasting and cooking classes.
I highly recommend this spot!! Five stars from
I stumbled upon this spot and will likely be back every week! It's right down the street from the new library where I study each week.
The ambiance is beautiful and peaceful. The staff is incredibly personable and friendly. It's also very clean - yep I also noticed their 100% grade above the bar!
I ordered the rosè flight, the olives, and mushroom pizza. Yummmmmmm!!! Soooo good!!
I wish I was in town on the weekends so I could attend their wine tasting and cooking classes.
I highly recommend this spot!! Five stars from
Whitney Fox
Aug 13, 2021
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Gabriel brought this review from a 4 star to 5. The main entrees were good, but the desserts and drinks were phenomenal. For the main course, we had Lasagna and Parmigianino. For dessert, we had the Panna Cotta and Tiramisu. Gabriel was attentive, but not overbearing. The music was smooth and went perfectly with the vibe of the restaurant. Higher in price but ultimately worth the money. If you can, I'd ask for Gabriel. He really is AMAZING and answers every question with ease.
Kathryn Andolsek
Aug 13, 2021
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New favorite restaurant
Super Italian
Staff makes you feel like you’re an old friend
Describe everting in great detail (showing us basket of fresh black truffles was amazing!)
Burrata bread risotto lamb all were amazing
Discovered it on a walk about taste of Durham and taken us a few months to snag a table
We ll be back in a few weeks
Made return reservation on way out
Super Italian
Staff makes you feel like you’re an old friend
Describe everting in great detail (showing us basket of fresh black truffles was amazing!)
Burrata bread risotto lamb all were amazing
Discovered it on a walk about taste of Durham and taken us a few months to snag a table
We ll be back in a few weeks
Made return reservation on way out
Liam Hysjulien
Aug 04, 2021
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April Maynor
Jun 16, 2021
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My husband and I stumbled across this little gem last night while in town. We were incredibly impressed. The atmosphere sets the stage for the best and freshest dishes ever. The service was on point and the food was absolutely delicious. This was the best Risotto with truffles we have ever had and the wine paired with it by the server was perfect. You have to experience this restaurant. It is our new and forever favorite for authentic Italian Cuisine.
Phares J.
Apr 04, 2021
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Samantha C.
Jan 24, 2021
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Maggie N.
Oct 23, 2020
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I stumbled upon Convivio in the first or second week of their opening, with no sign in front. Out of curiosity, we stuck our head in and Giuseppe waived us inside. From that time, I've been back a few times, sometimes just to grab a glass of wine after work on Friday, sometimes staying for dinner. Convivio is one of those places where I feel at ease dining/ drinking by myself at the bar. Giuseppe and Paolo are super friendly. The kitchen is open space and most items are made fresh/ by hand! Some things I've truly enjoyed from the menu:
- the white wine from Umbria, Il Padrone delle Vigne
- the white wine from Umbria, Il Padrone delle Vigne
Jaina M.
Sep 26, 2020
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I went with some friends last weekend (9/19/20) for dinner in the late evening. I loved the cozy warm decor. I was excited to see burrata on the menu but it ended up really disappointed me; do not get it. I've had burrata all over Italy and in other European cities (in Prague I had the best burrata of my life!), and this was not up to par. It was solid, and had none of the creamy inside that burrata is known for. At first cut I thought they had given me buffalo mozzarella instead; the waiter was dismissive and said it was flown in from Italy so I don't know, maybe the air pressure in
Laurita F.
Sep 03, 2020
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I've gotten takeout here a couple of times recently. Everything we've ordered has been delicious. Lasagna is a favorite with the whole family, the charcuterie is delicious, love the roasted tomatoes. They take orders by phome or email, food is packed carefully and ready on time, and service is friendly and knowledgeable.
The restaurant itself is charming - I can't wait to eat there in person!
The restaurant itself is charming - I can't wait to eat there in person!
Heather M.
Aug 25, 2020
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Jana S.
Aug 15, 2020
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Convivio is such a hidden gem in Durham. It is easily one of the best Italian restaurants in the area as they serve a variety of authentic dishes that are seasonal and absolutely amazing! The drink menu offers a nice mix of aperitifs and Italian wines with a nice selection of glass options as well. The owners were extremely knowledgeable regarding the wines and made wonderful food recommendations as well. The entire experience, from the beautiful, rustic atmosphere to the great food and drinks makes it one of my favorite places for a drink, snack, or nice dinner in Durham! It's a must try
Jea Hyun Kim
Aug 07, 2020
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Wasn’t feeling hungry and I wanted to get something light, so I decided to order a takeout of some of the side menus from here. Sad to see that their takeout menus were vastly limited compared to their dine-in menus, but I decided to get the patate (potato gratin), funghi, and verdure nonetheless. The potato gratin was nice and creamy, but there was nothing special that justified its price tag ($7). Verdure was very similar to collard greens and it was too salty to taste any subtlety of different flavors. Funghi was okay but also for the price, I couldn’t believe that there was nothing that
Erin S.
May 21, 2020
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A bit pricey, but the owner is really kind and makes sure the parties are enjoying their time. Cheese board and wine are fantastic. We enjoyed our pasta dishes and appetizers as well, very flavorful and not too heavy. I'd go again, for special occasions! I want to try their cooking classes one day as well :)
Dana Y.
Feb 22, 2020
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Read great reviews on yelp so we checked it out. The ambiance and service is wonderful. We felt like we were in a min-vacation in Italy. The wine selection was good and they provided a few tastes.
We had gnocchi - amazing and the truffle pasta which was good but not as 'truffley ' as we'd hoped. The side of greens was good. This was the first tiramisu my husband liked because it was very creamy.
The problem was after all that my husband had to get a piece of pizza because he was still really hungry. It was also too pricey for the area...I don't remember seeing glasses
We had gnocchi - amazing and the truffle pasta which was good but not as 'truffley ' as we'd hoped. The side of greens was good. This was the first tiramisu my husband liked because it was very creamy.
The problem was after all that my husband had to get a piece of pizza because he was still really hungry. It was also too pricey for the area...I don't remember seeing glasses
Kaitlyn A.
Feb 22, 2020
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Loved this place for wine and appetizers. Wine menu simple but unique. Bartender was super friendly and attentive. They even gave us some tips for when we go to Italy for our honeymoon! We can't wait to come back to try dinner. Love the atmosphere in here! Still need to fill it in and maybe start having some live music to draw people in? Will be back!
Andrea H.
Feb 11, 2020
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Stopped into this place after a meal in downtown Durham. We sat at the bar and the sommelier Giuseppe was extremely friendly and helpful. We wanted to have a glass a wine but weren't familiar with their Italian wine selections so he let us taste a couple. I picked one of the reds and my friend chose one of the whites and they were great! Then we decided to have a little bit of food so she had the olives and I had the mushrooms from the small plates menu. The mushrooms were good, but they were drenched in a little too much olive oil.
This is a new space that just opened and I liked the overall
This is a new space that just opened and I liked the overall
Kathy D.
Jan 06, 2020
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Great wine but I have to say I expected more from the food and service. I had the gnocchi in mushroom cream sauce. The gnocchi were great but the sauce was overly rich and thick. The service was generally inattentive at best. The person that brought our food, an owner I think, was a bit snobby; " you are only having mains tonight?"
I love the idea of the place and will likely give it another try - but with hesitation.
I love the idea of the place and will likely give it another try - but with hesitation.
Sara G.
Sep 15, 2019
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My friend and I had such a great evening here!! The owners are extremely friendly and helpful. We were able to sample a few wines before deciding on one. The wines are really different but good!
I had the burrata for my "meal" (probably isn't meant to be an actual me) and it was tasty!
The atmosphere is great with an authentic Italian feel as well. Their pastas and other dishes are starting in a few weeks. Can't wait!
I had the burrata for my "meal" (probably isn't meant to be an actual me) and it was tasty!
The atmosphere is great with an authentic Italian feel as well. Their pastas and other dishes are starting in a few weeks. Can't wait!
Cherie M.
Sep 05, 2019
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Kosta G.
Aug 17, 2019
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Wandering downtown Durham I stumbled on a restaurant with no sign out front. Curious, I peeked in the door and was whisked in by the owner Giuseppe who sat me down at the bar and gave me a tasting tour of Italy's finest food and drink. What a random Saturday afternoon!
The ambiance is something I've been longing for - upscale yet as comfortable as home. Everything on the menu has a story and Giuseppe enthusiastically shared the details.
At the moment it's not a full course restaurant but apparently it's planned (I found them during their soft opening). Fish, meat, and
The ambiance is something I've been longing for - upscale yet as comfortable as home. Everything on the menu has a story and Giuseppe enthusiastically shared the details.
At the moment it's not a full course restaurant but apparently it's planned (I found them during their soft opening). Fish, meat, and
