Went to PAO with my husband, friends, family. My husband is in a wheelchair, is homebound, and aside from drs appts hasn't truly been out for over a year. When we pulled up and the owner, (the owner!) immediately came out to help us, I was delighted. He found out what reservation we had, to helped us get in, get settled, etc. From that point on, everything was perfect. The food was spectacular- the drinks delicious (blackberry lemonade was really good) - we had appetizers (crab cakes, sliders, eggrolls, Caribbean shrimp), all delicious and main courses of sea bass, lobster, sushi, tuna, pasta and pork medallions. Everyone raved at how delectable the food was. Marvelous! But the real winner was the service. Our server was Gio(?) from Italy(?). FANTASTIC! Water was never empty, food out hot and on time; drinks topped off (or reordered if alcoholic). Very attentive, very sweet. And again, the owner really stepped up - checking on us repeatedly, helping my husband whenever it was necessary to navigate through the restaurant. Unbelievable service! And the food is wonderful, but having been several times I already knew that; it's why we picked to go there in the first place. The best part was it really made my husband's night. For someone who literally does not get to go out - ever - this was really, really special for him, made just so much better by everyone at PAO. Thank you so very much! read more

Really enjoyed our dinner. Decided to just share some small plate appetizers. Delicious and would recommend giving this a try! read more

Pao Bistro - Lobster Dumplings - Sushi Bars Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

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Took over an hour to get our food and then the tip was already figured in to the bill. 20% for a meal that took over an hour to get is unacceptabl: read more

It's a great place for a date! Stop in for a drink or an appetizer too. The ambiance is good for either.

The food here tastes amazing and is always fresh. The cocktail menu has a great assortment of different martinis and other specialty drinks. Very comfortable atmosphere coupled with stellar customer service. Love PAO and crave to go often for my fill of Sushi and a dirty martini!!!!! read more

Had dinner at Pao this week and I don't know what I was expecting as the restaurant does not seem to have a dedicated website. It's tucked into a strip mall near a J.Jill's. My dining partners had ordered appetizers before I got there and they ordered the second course- sushi, so I didn't really check out the menu. The appetizers were a pork slider with a soft cheese on it (goat or Brie, I'd guess) and something that looked like an Italian egg roll. There was a disconnect between what they looked like and what they tasted like, but neither were memorable. The two sushi rolls were meh at best. If you've had good sushi- you will likely be disappointed and if you've only had Midwest sushi these won't be memorable either. The service for the food was solid, but our drinks (wine) took a very long time to make it to the table. Maybe the bar was really busy and/or understaffed. I wouldn't see a reason to go back. There are certainly better sushi choices in town. read more

Food was good but is pricey. Staff was helpful and polite. Ambiance was quiet and low-key.

Food was excellent & service was good as well. Had a party of 7 & enjoyed our experience!

I could not find one thing to complain about after going here last night - and it was not even a restaurant I would choose - my wife chose to eat here for her birthday! The ambiance was a blend of calming and refreshing; to the point I went a little off my beaten path when ordering my meal and drink. Typically a hard alcohol only person, we decided to split a bottle of red wine...perfect choice for my entree pairing. I went with the rotisserie chicken lathered in a pan gravy along with mashed potatoes and broccoli (ideal with the red wine). She wanted to come for sushi and ordered two rolls, both she said were amazing. To start off with we split an order of chorizo egg rolls and honestly they were the MVP for both of us - could have easily ate two orders with the bottle of red juice! Our server was amazing and although a bit pricey, for once, the price tag was worth it in Springfield. I will happily return in the future!! read more

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Sat on the patio and enjoyed the weather before it stormed. Our server, Ryan, was great even though we were an outside table. It started to rain and they moved us inside with no problem. The food was great. I would recommend the Cajun pasta and the Firecracker roll. The cheddar bacon potato cake that came with the Pao steak was very good also. read more

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Truly Amazing! Great menu! Definitely going again! read more

My friend I went last night. She ordered chicken, I ordered a salad and we both ordered soup. We waited and waited. Our server kept coming by and said he checked on our order and it was up next, the next time he'd give some other excuse but not to worry he was checking on it. We did have our soup and then waited and waited. We arrived at 530 pm and probably ordered at maybe 6 as we had a drink. At 730 he came and said the order had been lost and he was having them "make it on the fly." We could either leave ir wait for it to be finished. I said. I mean really I only ordered a salad. He said chicken would be ready in about 15 mins so my friend opted to wait. Food was fine. But PAO has been one of my favorite places for a long time. This was really inexcusable. I finally received my salad and she received her chicken just before 8 pm. Remember we ordered at 6. My opinion is they should have comped the meal but our waiter said with a mist generous tone that he took off the soup. Really? What happened PAO? Certainly in no hurry to return. read more

Have not been here in awhile but it has changed and not for the better. Food is very average. Pork dish was so bland. Only good part of the dinner was the asparagus. Service at the bar is quite poor. Bartenders spend most of their time at the service bar with their backs to the bar customers. Too busy at service bar to properly take car of car patrons. Waited 25 minutes for a food menu and only got that because I went to hostess to get it. Bar top was filthy when we sat down and after waiting for awhile we ended up cleaning it ourselves. Racks of glasses sitting behind bar instead of being put away is very tacky. Did not see a manager the entire time we were there. Overpriced for the quality of the food and the quality of the service. read more

Pretty good sushi and a fair price for the quantity and quality. Service was decent considering how busy it was. I'll have to try some other items on their menu next time. read more

Pao is our go-to! Fantastic bar, patio, drinks, apps, and sushi! Always a fun, laidback vibe!

Excellent service and food. This was our first visit to Pao. We came to dinner with two other couples. To begin, the drinks and appetizers were excellent. Everyone was very pleased with their entrees. I had the filet and lobster tail. They were excellent. All other guests in our party had a variety of items. They said their salads, sea scallops, fillet's, and shrimp were excellent. We had a great experience and will be back. read more

Pao has always been one of my top favorites. Always. Since new management it's not the same. The last 3 times have not been good. Not sure I will go back. Food isn't the same I would probably just go have a drink next time. read more

The food was just ok. The service was average. Absolutely nothing here to warrant a second visit. I was amazed at the bourbon colored water they served and called it Bourbon on the rocks. It was so watered down that you could barely taste the bourbon. Standard dinner for 2 was just under a hundred bucks. If you're seeking good food , service and value....steer clear of this joint. read more

Calm laid back atmosphere. Super friendly staff. Food was superb! Reasonable drink prices. I am looking forward to a return visit. read more

Pao Bistro - Filet Mignon - Sushi Bars Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

Sushi is really good, service is always very good. Appetizers are yummy. Drink menu is outdated and needs refresher. This place has been in Springfield for a while now- good base but I think they need to freshen up their menu to compete with some of these new places opening. My partner had sushi and it was great! I had the pasta and it was meh. Most of the cocktails are vodka, which I don't care for. Old creepy guys at the bar heckling the waitresses was gross. They were really polite to put up with them. -very off putting to a guest though read more

One of my favorite restaurants in town, if not my #1. The food is always on point, drinks are delish and staff is superb. The goat cheese salad and the Dynamite roll are my "go-to". Perfect for a date night, or night with the girls. Springfield must try! read more

My sibling and I had reservations. We arrived 15 min early. We were escorted to our seats. After that , none of the waiters would bring us water or acknowledge us. We watched as people who came in after us were greeted and got h20 and food. None of the female waiters helped us or wanted to wait on us. We flagged down a male waiter. He decided to wait on us. When he brought us our food, you could tell it had been frozen and they just heated it up. As a brown person, I feel this establishment , The Gables , and Springfield Illinois in general needs to do better !!! For all the other folks that were in the restaurant who looked like snow , were given fresh well cooked food. My sibling was very sad. I just told her to hold her peace , give it up to God and pray on it!! If ANYONE else out there has had these experiences, please post and speak on it !! Wishing Pao all the best and will be praying and sending up to heaven special prayers, just for you , Pao Peace!! read more

Had a very disappointing experience on my first visit here to try it out. The Pao chicken had a very bland taste, as there was only a very small scant of sauce. The dressing for the goat cheese salad came already mixed in, and I thought it was too sugary for my taste. I was expecting more given the price point of the dishes. Servers also came by very infrequently to refill water. read more

Pao Bistro - Pao chicken - Sushi Bars Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

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I've tried the tuna tartare appetizer and it had a lot of flavor and was the perfect size, 5 mini toasted baguettes slices topped with tuna and all the trimmings. The tuna dinner with rice and veggies is great too, I always get extra veggies and skip the rice. Sometimes I ask that they put the sauce on the side but usually not. The salmon is always cooked perfectly with a nice glaze on top, if you prefer they will out the g.laze on the side which we do for our kiddos. Hubby loves the filet and ,asked potatoes here, it's nice the entrees come with sides and you don't have to order them separate. The cocktails are always spot on and the prices seem fair for the area. Pomegranate martini is a fave. It's a little loud in the bar but that's because they often have a crowd. The dining room is quiet. Staff has always been fantastic. read more

Excellent food and service. This is my second time here had the rotisserie chicken and lobster dumplings; both are amazing choices

Pao is one of our favorite Springfield IL restaurants. We tend to eat there once or twice (more-ha!) a month. We love the entree goat cheese or Tuscan salad. My wife adds grilled chicken to hers and I add blackened grilled shrimp. Absolutely delicious. They'll on occasion feature sea bass and no matter how it's served or what's with it, it's consistently delicious-as is everything on the menu. The menu has something for everyone including sushi. They have a good wine selection, but we never get past the Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon. We've had the occasion to host a party in their private room and we couldn't have been happier. read more

Disappointed. Ribeye was not done correctly. More like microwaved and then seared on grill bars for appearance.

First time back to this place in about 10 years I would guess? Last experience was horrible and tonight's dining was only cause every restaurant had kids at it for local homecomings. Called them up and they said they could get us in. Upon arrival, sat us at the worst table in the restaurant's outdoor patio. Server wasn't very attentive and was the most disappointing aspect of the whole evening. Food was actually good, but I won't be running back for another visit anytime soon though. read more

I've dined here 3 times and each time it is fabulous! I LOVE the filet served with mash potatoes and a delicious sauce with mushrooms! And of course the asparagus is very good too. The best steak in town and cooked perfectly each time! The lemon drop martini is also the best in town too! read more

Pao Bistro - Filet...amazing! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

We had the special of sea bass for $34. The piece of fish was good. Seasoning not at all, bland and flavorless. Served with 2 Brussels sprouts cut in half - literally. No bread. When I asked for some and for salt and pepper to give my meal flavor, they told me I could buy some bread from them. read more

Excellent food and service! The Pao Steak is fabulous!! Wonderful evening!! Highly recommend!! read more

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Came here while visiting a friend and his family. Very expensive. If you're coming here for a steak dinner you should be fine but I hated the sushi. Someone ordered some salmon and tuna rolls for three of the seven of us. There was so much cucumber in both I tasted nothing else. They were larger rolls but also mostly rice and vegetables. The ginger is thicker and they bring barley any of it out. The wasabi was weak as well. Also, I've never been somewhere for sushi and not receive a separate plate for the soy sauce. Just saying. I then ordered the dynamite rolls. $13.50. I've had plain tuna rolls more exciting. If you're charging the prices you're charging, I'm expecting $13.50 sushi rolls. The place was decorated for Christmas, and the waitress was very sweet, I think her name was Katherine. She wasn't overbearing and was very fast. read more

Used to love the place but we really don't like the changes since Curtis sold it. The Pao chicken just doesn't taste the same. The chocolate waffle dessert is gone as well. Other notable favorites also seem to have disappeared from the menu also. On the up-side, the sushi rice is a good bit better than it used to be and you can actually eat the maki pieces in a single bite. read more

Where do I start on this place.... Bad wait staff?? You bet , probably some of the most obtuse , clueless , rude and just all around don't give a crap attitude staffs I've seen. Mediocre food?? check , they got that covered too. Nothin stands out here except for your next meal at another restaurant. Going for sushi?? Don't kid your self . Thats why you're reading this review. Listen to me when I say the sushi here is NOT good. It takes forever to get and is below average. Don't get caught up in the moment and end up here getting sushi. Learn from my mistakes , I have gone here and put in the hard time so you dont have to.. Skip it. Go somewhere else. Anywhere... read more

Our experience started making a reservation. The guy that answered was so nice and polite. I told him 7:15 or 7:30. He said "how about I put you down for 7:15 and its okay if you are a little bit late." My husband and I loved this restaurant. We had a variety of things from the menu and shared. The prime rib was amazing! Sushi fantastic! Martina's great! Goat cheese salad was so yummy! Service was top notch, very friendly and everything came very promptly! We will go back, definitely! Can't wait! It is kind of known for being pretty expensive, however I thought it was relatively reasonable when we got our bill. A Very minor comment that my husband found not great was the fact that they don't have any beers on tap. (Like I said, minor for us). read more

Despite reading poor reviews, I thought I'd give PAO a shot. We should have gone...anywhere really, but here. I can't decide what was worse. Maybe it was the below freezing dining room where half of the patrons were wearing coats. Or maybe it was the fact that a sushi dinner took almost two hours. Or maybe it was that we saw our waiter a grand total of five times in those two hours. Or maybe it was that the sushi was no better than the cheapest sushi I've eaten in California but it cost twice as much. The service was probably what really did them in. I could have dealt with a long wait or a cold dining room, had it actually been acknowledged or apologized for. So terrible that this 25% standard tipper left ZERO tip. Never. Ever. Ever. Again. read more

We just love sushi and used to eat it at least once a week before moving, but that trend will have to stop. Pao has some OK recipes for sushi rolls, but they are overpriced, have rude staff, and can't execute their ideas. The rice was well undercooked and I mentioned this to the staff. They did nothing but roll their eyes at us. Driving out of Springfield to a larger city is necessary to get decent sushi. read more

Pros: Good food and great staff. I had Pao chicken and it was just yummy. Staff were great and always welcoming. Cons: Short menu (sometimes this might be a good option compared to 4-5 pages of menu) But, I am not sure whether this place is spacious (enough tables) inside as we opted to sit outside couple of times we went so far. Definitely recommend this restaurant... read more

Been coming here for years and it's still pretty good! Sushi menu got a lot smaller but it's still worth a try :)

It was good. But. Wow. 27 dollars for steak and 5 asparagus and some odd potato mashed ball that must have been frozen solid for storage and then fried. The 5 or 6 asparagus was ok but almost raw. I could have done without the fried potato ball. My wife had the salmon and she really liked the sauce that was on it. But. Yeah. I know. Frozen fish. We just don't have access here in Central Illinois to fresh fish. Not their fault. They dressed it up the best they could. Then 61 dollars with tiny clams my wife did like. Yah. read more