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This was our first time at Palio! We went right when they opened and had a reservation, and they were super accommodating to adding more people to the group. It was a fun surprise to find out it was happy hour! The appetizers were all great, and the table side Alfredo was super cool! Our pizzas did seem a little undercooked- I'm guessing the oven wasn't quite as hot as it should be, since it was so close to open. The flavor was good, though. Also lived the complimentary limoncello shot!
We truly enjoyed our time here at Palio. The restaurant was very conveniently located next to our hotel. I typically stay in the downtown area. But there were two big concerts going on this week and the prices for downtown were outrageous! My friend and I had tied things on a little too hard the night before and we were looking for a much more quiet night. We chose to sit by the pizza oven and enjoyed watching them make our pizza from scratch. The woman making our pizzas had to be the hardest worker ever. She never stopped. And when she wasn't busy with prep, she was cleaning and shining the whole area. She was working so hard that we even mentioned it to the manager. Our pizza was delicious. We of course enjoyed some wine ro accompany our pie.
Giving this experience 3 but Palio has been a 5 for me since I tried it 5 years ago. I took myself on a solo date to Palio for my first time back since December 2024 and ordered my usual the fettuccine Alfredo and the pane all'Aglio. The flavors for the pasta were still there, but the pasta to sauce ratio felt pretty off this time, which made it so soupy that it felt almost like a prank! This dish would have been better with more pasta for the sauce or less sauce. I'm not sure if it's shrinkflation or just an off night, but the bread was also surprisingly dry and didn't taste very fresh, which I wasn't expecting. It ended up being fine with the tomato basil sauce I got on the side but disappointing nonetheless. On a positive note, the bartender who also served as my waiter was friendly and attentive, so no complaints on the service side. Added pic of the same dish from my last time here to compare! I will likely come back and try this again at some point to make up for this experience
The ambience of the restaurant was GREAT. We sat on the patio with our dog Yoshi. Our server Honesti was very nice and friendly. She was on top of our service and made sure our cocktails, food, and water were always available/ refilled if needed! The food itself was not our personal favorite, but you could tell the food was handmade from scratch with good ingredients. Our desserts were good, but my lemon bar crust seemed to be a little undercooked. Overall a great experience and a good Italian restaurant!
my brother's girlfriend made a reservation for our group of 6 via Resy for my brother's birthday. there was a cute hand signed card on the table when we arrived but didn't notice until the end of dinner. i was told they have a parking lot dedicated their patrons but i did street parking which was free on sundays. we started off with a large caesar which was enough for everyone to get a small plate and very delicious. we also bad the calamari which was just a bit too salty and not crunchy enough for me. we had 3 orders of chicken alfredo, shrimp scampi, carbonara, and pizza. we also had the pane all, algio bread which was super good. everyone enjoyed their meals. i personally had the shrimp scampi and i liked how flavorful and big the shrimp was but i think i would try a different dish next time i come here. i also liked how they grate the parmesan with a big fresh block. the vibes in here felt cozy with the lighting, decor, and set up. the restaurant got a bit more busy as we dined but nothing too crazy. i didn't realize there was a $20 cake fee until looking at the receipt the next day to write this review. we did not ask to have our cake refrigerated or cut by the staff or anything additional besides a knife, plates, and spoons. i wish our waitress would have informed us about that beforehand. overall, palio is a solid choice for italian food in grand rapids. definitely would come back again to try other items!
I went here for a fundraiser event with Paws with a Cause and Vetr. I go to spin class right next to Palio but have never once stopped by until now. They have both an indoor seating area as well as a nice outdoor seating area. We had a server named Angie who worked really hard to accommodate our large and ever-changing group. The food and drinks all came out within really great time frames. I am allergic to alcohol, so I am always really pleased when mocktails are considered featured drinks! I did end up trying the mocktail and was pleasantly surprised. I would definitely get it again. I only stayed long enough to try the appetizers but the calamari was crispy and the saffron aioli was pretty good. I think I would've liked something a little more acidic or spicy to counteract the calamari. The arancini were something I had never had before but became a favorite. It was very rich but didn't feel overpowering nor heavy. I really enjoyed both appetizers and would gladly go back again for more. Overall, I thought the prices and portion sizes were reasonable and the service was great. They do validate in the hotel lot so that is a major plus.
Ate here for happy hour and then came for dinner a couple weekends later! The food is really good and high quality. They also have some good happy hour specials and I love that they have a cheese wheel!
My daughter and I came here for an Italian experience and that is what we got! The cheese pizza was a perfect choice! It was cheesy, garlicky, and buttery. Melt in your mouth goodness! This was my first time having carbonara because it is usually made with pork. Our server was able to point out some pork free options highlighting that everything is made in house so I could order the carbonara without the prosciutto if I would like. I jumped on that bandwagon so fast! I had no idea I would be getting that plated table side but that was a nice surprise. Everyone who works here is so nice and customer focused. We had a truly lovely experience. I can't wait to come back! My only feedback is when they tell you it is peppery believe them. If you don't like peppery stay away from the carbonara. If you're like me, take it as it is served and enjoy all of it and the leftovers. If you're crazy opt for the additional topper of pepper at the very end. Food freshness and quality gains 5 stars, service 5 stars, ambiance 5 stars, and cleanliness also 5 stars! Great job guys!
Not sure why I'm just discovering this place now. Everything about it was fantastic. The food felt very authentic Italian with fresh pasta. Desserts kind of fell flat, but would definitely come back for a savory meal again. Our service was a little slow on a Sunday early afternoon, but everyone was so kind. The vibe of this restaurant is also both cozy and fun with a Fire pizza oven and they had football playing on the TVs. Special mention for the on the house limoncello shots as a pallate cleanser just before we left, just like they do in Italy.
I've been to Palio Italian Restaurant many times, and I can honestly say I've never had a bad meal here--not once. The chicken parmesan is absolutely to die for. I've enjoyed their pizzas plenty of times (and they're always delicious), but tonight the chicken parm really hit the spot--perfectly cooked, comforting, and full of flavor. I finished the meal with the espresso chocolate tort, and wow... such a rich, indulgent treat. Shout-out to my server Emily, who has waited on me several times now--she is consistently warm, attentive, and genuinely kind. Service like that makes an already great meal even better. If you're looking to try a new Italian spot in the Grand Rapids area, Palio is your go-to. Wonderful atmosphere, beautiful souls, and food that truly feels like a blessing. Highly recommend.
We came in after a matinee at the DeVos on Saturday, 3/8/25 around 4:00pm and sat at the bar. It wasn't really busy, but we arrived at that odd time between lunch and dinner when there is typically a staff change and there is maybe 1 server and 1 bartender. The gentleman waiting on us was so good! He was busy - but told us as soon as we sat down he had an order to take and put in and he would be with us. We each had a salad to start, he had the Caesar and said it was really good. He even ate the croutons which he rarely does. I had the house salad and enjoyed it - but wish the dressing had a bit more vinegar to balance out the flake sea salt. For our entrees he had Carne Amore pizza and it was so good! The Calabrian chiles added some nice heat without being too much. Wood fired pizza with a beautiful oven that we could see from our bar seats. I had the Chicken Marsala and it was one of the best version of it I've had. The chicken was tender and the sauce had lots of mushrooms. It was a big enough serving that I took half home for lunch! And it was even delicious reheated. We will go back for sure!
We stopped in because we were staying at the Hampton inn right next to the restaurant and I would say it's definitely a gem of a restaurant. The food was absolutely delicious. We ordered the arancini balls and Bolognese pasta. The flavor was top tier and the pasta was cooked perfectly. Our server was extremely nice and the service overall was fast!
Came at 4:30 on a Saturday, we were able to get a table right away. Service was great! Thank you Rachel. Decor was interesting and not too much. Nice lighting with the big windows. They have roll up doors which would be nice when the weather is warmer. There was a little wait for the food but it wasn't too bad. You can tell the food is made to order so it's worth the wait time. Will be back again.
3 years ago
Our server Anna was incredibly friendly and on top of everything. Their pizza is wood-fired which, as a rule, I love, but we were here for pasta. We ordered the spaghetti, house salad, wine, and we tried the spaghetti squash gratin. Everything was good, including the ambiance on an early Sunday evening. read more
4 years ago
Very, very good Italian. Husband and I went out for our anniversary with high hopes as the menu boasts fresh pasta. It did not disappoint. We ordered the Italian meat and cheese platter and a margherita pizza for an app along with a seasonal cocktails and red wine flight. LOVED the drinks and meats and cheese but the pizza smelled like the gas oven so much that if we could almost taste it. For our entrees we got chicken parm and pasta bolognese, both were fantastic. The chicken Parmesan was both of our favorites, the chicken cut like butter with a super crispy breading and the fresh spaghetti was cooked al dente the way it should be. Bolognese had delightful fresh pappardelle with a great sauce, just a little sweet and creamy per my taste but my husband was a big fan. We finished our meal with a shot of lemon cello and tiramisu to go, which was the sweet treat I needed as I sat on my couch in my pjs. Our service was absolutely phenomenal- excellent suggestions from our wait staff with lots of attention. Every interaction we had with restaurant staff was positive with great energy. Absolutely recommend. read more
Everything they make here is from scratch! All the pasta and other dishes were some of the best Italian food I've had. I had the chicken parmesan and the piece of chicken is quite large and juicy. The pasta was to die for, the noodles were like nothing I've ever had. The tiramisu was pretty good, but their entrees, pizzas and apps are where they truly shine. Also, to top it off, they have complimentary homemade limoncello shots (21+) at the end of your dinner! If you have a big group, make a reservation. They also have outdoor patio dining which looked quite nice! read more
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Pretty average little Italian place. We ordered the carne amore cauliflower crust pizza and gluten free chicken pesto pasta. The pasta was pretty mushy and overcooked and really didn't hold up with the texture of the sun dried tomatoes but the pesto was really good. The chicken in the pasta was a huge pass though, it tasted a little off and looked grey. The pizza was decent but could have used some more sauce and generally just more care when being put together. Good, but not great. read more
3 years ago
3 years ago
My favorite bolognese and their pizza with hot honey is outrageously good! First became acquainted with Palio at Restaurant Week a while back and have been fans ever since. The drinks are strong, the service friendly, and the food extremely fresh. On top of it all, their desserts are wonderful too! It's hard to go wrong here. Their patio also makes for a quaint and peaceful date night on summer evenings. We have enjoyed every visit and they keep us coming back form more. read more
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Grand Rapids has some really amazing Italian restaurants but Palio has to be my favorite! Themed after the famous bareback horse race in Siena, Italy, Palio has unique table-side presentations and some of the best spaghetti ever. I have recently been to Palio for my birthday and my dad's- both experiences were very special. I got their table-side Fettuccine Alfredo- to die for! The meatballs are also a must-try! It is also worth noting that all their pasta noodles homemade by a Michigan-owned company- they make the difference in any pasta dish. The service is excellent and the wine list is extensively filled with my favorite- Chianti! I will also mention that their kid's meal portions are much larger than usual so if you have toddler-aged kiddos as I do, you may only need to order one meal. Please note that due to the current world climate they have suspended all table-side experiences but they promised me they would be back soon! read more
We tried this spot because it happened to be right next to our hotel we were staying at. I ordered the build your pizza with cauliflower crust. Probably one of the best cauliflower crusts I've had. I wasn't missing the real thing at all. read more
6 years ago
Palio is a great Italian spot near downtown Grand Rapids. After stopping in for quick lunch on the way back to our hotel, we decided to order a salad and a few personal pizzas to tide us over until the evening. Our pizzas were piping hot and so tasty that we made sure we packed up any leftovers we had to indulge in the rest of our stay that weekend. I was pleased with the server we had too as she was very kind and always tended to our needs and requests. I'd gladly visit this restaurant again and I hope we have more time to dine in the next time we visit so we can try some of their apps and entrees too. read more
2 years ago
Had a wonderful dinner with my girlfriend. Some of, if not, the best fettuccine she's had and I've tried. My pizza was delicious! More importantly, our server Anthony was great! A very nice person, great to talk to, and very helpful. read more
4 years ago
4 years ago
Palio is one of the safest bets when it comes to Italian food, yet it is still incredibly enticing. It is truly a delicious Italian restaurant- one which leaves you wondering how it they still maintain such a fair price point. Whether you are looking for good drinks, classic Italian pasta, or brick oven Pizza I really recommend you try this joint. read more
2 years ago
Choosing a place to eat when out of town is not always very easy, particularly, when you are dining with a group of others, who all have their own "must haves" when dining out. My recent trip to Grand Rapids ended up being great, and largely because Palio was such an unexpected surprise. Whenever I go to a new establishment I tend to order 3-6 appetizers as well as 2-4 entrees. Yes, I know that makes me a glutton, but I don't actually eat all of it at once. I just like to sample it all, so that the restaurant has a fighting chance to represent itself through a multitude of dishes as opposed to just one. And so, I ordered the following... The Garlic Bread was cut thick, and was a hearty way to begin our feast, which was quickly followed by the delicious Fried Cauliflower. Well seasoned and not greasy. Well done! While I am a Sicilian and tend to enjoy sweet peas and more stuffed in my Arancini, the Rice Ball was cooked very nicely, and served with a sauce that didn't overpower it. The Broccolini was grilled, which released the natural sugars in the vegetable. I would have eaten it like that alone, but someone at the table squeezed lemon all over them. Most people enjoy the lemon mixing with the sugar taste, but I would have preferred to have gone sans lemon. You know what made it better though? The fact that they served Coca-Cola kid! You KNOW an establishment gets immediate kudos from me if they serve the real thing as a beverage. The only thing that made the Coke better than it normally is was the Parmesan-Corn Custard appetizer. MAN! This thing was #DOPEAF I could legit eat this thing everyday. The Spaghetti was good. I would have preferred the bolognese sauce, which is what I ordered (the waitress must have forgotten or the cook overlooked it), but the "marinara" type sauce was a-okay. The noodles were al dente though, so I was a happy dago. Last but not least, is the Chicken Mostarda. This is easily THE MOST DELICIOUS CHICKEN I'VE EVER TASTED. The chicken is roasted, and stuffed with goat cheese, with some sautted greens, some sort of crazy good fig thing, and more of that dope ass parmesan-corn custard! While I am not about to drive nearly 3 hours there and another 3 hours back I certainly wouldn't mind finding an excuse to go to Grand Rapids for a weekend, and go back again. It's either that, or it's time to bring Palio to Metro-Detroit! read more
4 years ago
i've came here on three occasions. the shrimp scampi was good and fresh, a nice surprise since i've never eaten this dish before. i would say the pollo fusilli was alright while the fettuccine alfredo was a little disappointing. i would still come back again to try new things :) read more
4 years ago
All very tasty. Definitely will be going back. Corn custard was more delicious then expected. read more
My family enjoyed a great dinner at Palio after a long Thanksgiving weekend. Late on a Sunday so there weren't many other people dining inside so there wasn't a wait. The service was great and we felt extremely welcomed. The menus are on iPads and you can click each item for a picture/description, which we loved. We all loved our dishes and every plate went back to the kitchen cleaned. The carbonara was one of the best I've had and they even finish making the sauce and plating the dish at the table, which was fun. The decor is a perfect setting for a relaxing meal. We will definitely be back! read more
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Great spot for a birthday dinner, as (full disclosure) they offer 50% off for 2 people on your actual birthday. (Their website has all the details.) Stopped on on an early Saturday evening and were quickly sat. The atmosphere isnt too formal, comfortable but classy. Our server, Kenniniah, was friendly and helpful. We started with the calamari fritti which was nice and light, served with lemon and a creamy dipping sauce. Nothing super special but good. We got some bread as well, also good dipped in olive oil. For my entree I had the bistecca espresso. It was cooked well but I found the espresso rub to be a bit bitter, more than expected. It came with grilled broccolini which was tasty, and a spaghetti squash gratin which was SO yummy. Absolutely the star of my meal! My husband had the spaghetti shrimp scampi and he enjoyed it. They do offer complimentary limoncello at the end of the meal but we don't drink. Great deal for half off. I'd be interested to come back and try more appetizers or pizza from their brick oven. read more
I most certainly identify as an Italian food lover, and was excited to try Palio. The space was inviting and inventive, with both indoor and outdoor seating, and a huge pizza oven. No fresh bread offered, which is always an nice touch at Italian places, so we ordered the asiago cheese appetizer with bread.. which was incredibly oily and just ok. As far as service goes, our server was sweet but a little bit clumsy.. which I'll excuse since she was also new to the restaurant this week. It took a bit of time (30min) for our food to arrive but they were apologetic over it. We ordered the margherita pizza and the pesto chicken pasta. Both were pretty average dishes, tasted ok enough and priced fairly, but nothing too exciting. We really enjoyed the monkey bread dessert though, it's worth adding to the end of your order so save a bit of room! Notes-- free validated parking in the garage next to it, pretty empty around 3pm on a weekend, water service if you're into that kinda thing read more
3 years ago
More info about Palio Grand Rapids
545 Michigan St NE
Ste 102
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
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(616) 952-9774
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http://paliograndrapids.com
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Ask the Community - Palio Grand Rapids
Is this a formal dinner place or more casual?
I would say business casual I guess. I wore jeans and a nice top and didn't feel out of place.
Casual dress ok?
Yes totally okay. Some may dress up for date night or a special occasion, but whatever you're comfortable with is fine.
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