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

Wow. I am amazed that this place is even in business. I don't know what was worse, the lack of service, the lousy food, the lack of air conditioning...the two hour wait for food. I don't think there was a single thing this place had right. I have never felt the need to complain so many times in one restaurant...the kicker? The owner didn't care one bit about our dissatisfaction- no complimentary anything. When the waitress offered us free dessert the owner told her it would come out of her paycheck. Nice. Sushi rolls- very expensive for the crappy portions Spring rolls- bland and slimy Grilled asparagus- uncooked (like bamboo or twigs) Rice- oily Spinach salad- overdressed and super vanilla sweet Wait staff- forgot cocktail orders, forgot to bring silverware, chopsticks, refill water, ask about our meal 2 HOURS TO RECEIVE OUR MEAL. 3 Attempts for the waitress to get our check correct (still no discount) NEVER AGAIN. read more

My husband and I came here for the first time and all I can say is WOW! Everything from our amazingly unique drinks to the steak was perfect! Our waitress was very sweet and paid so much attention to us to make sure we were satisfied! I can't wait to go back! read more

Pao Bistro - NY strip special! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Springfield, Illinois

Had the lobster tail. It was huge and I ate every bite! perfectly prepared! Our server, AnnMarie was fabulous too. Highly recommend Pao for a nice dinner date. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Springfield! The bunn gourmet steaks are simply divine and melt in your mouth! The drinks are always delicious and spot on! The staff is friendly and welcoming! The atmosphere is calming and perfect for an after work dinner or a date night! read more

Have been here many times and love their food. We were more than ready to come back with indoor seating since IL started Phase 4 this weekend. Our group had our masks in when we entered but their hostess didn't have a mask on. As we were seated we questioned her about it and she said she wasn't wait staff. Our server approached and was masked, but he was the only server with a mask on, and told him we appreciated it. I'm also suspecting the hostess said something to him about us questioning the mask issue. We noticed another couple coming in after us, they also had masks on. They were seated and then noticed they got up and left once their unmasked server approached them. We had plenty of social distancing around our table but noticed as others walked up to the building, no one had masks on and then they were being seated across the room from us at multiple tables, all which were right next to each other, maybe 2 ft apart plus none of their servers had masks on. As we left we noticed the bar was crowded, no masks for the staff or customers. Pao apparently is not following the guidelines restricting how many people are in their bar area, not keeping their restaurant tables 6ft apart or requiring staff to wear masks. Our meals and our server was great, but those of us in our group will not be back, they've just lost loyal customers. read more

UPDATE--- I am leaving my original review below but this place has changed drastically! During 2013 the manager (large man at front door with brown hair) apparently lost his passion for the restaurant and his customer service skills. One time he refused to assign us with a server we requested, who had served us well in the past, but we forgave that. The food quality had went down as well during 2013. However, in 12/2013 my wife and I went in and there was a large group occupying both the dining area (only coats in there though) and the entire bar. I believe they should have been confined to one area. However, we were sat but at a folding table with folding chairs. We usually spend over $100.00 at Pao and did not see this as appropriate for a fine (kinda) dining restaurant. The server sat us at a table but the manager soon came over and stated we could not sit there because he was saving it for a 5 top in 30 minutes. We were told to get up and as I asked where we could sit the manager stated we would need to leave. I commented that we are in the restaurant about 3-4 times a month, but he looked in my eyes and then turned to talk to people who were walking in. We will not return. I thought of calling the owner...but this is just too poor to accept. Perhaps we will wait to see if he leaves in the future. Until then, Maldaner's is enjoying seeing us more often :-) WOW!!! What perfect atmosphere, food, service (usually), and price! I recommend Pao to ANYONE who can spend $100 on dinner for two. We have been there 4 times now and it is GREAT! 5 full stars. read more

I am a CA native - but spent 2 unfortunate years in IL. Firstly I do have to comment on the unsavory attitudes of the people in this area ( at least what I bore witness to)...pretentious midwestern folk. Which totally escapes me. Anyway, after my husband and I's initial seating, we opted for the outside setting. Which ended up being a much better choice, as opposed to the stuffiness that was the interior option. We ordered the Ahi Tuna and the bruschetta appetizer, and were quite satisfied. I would not have expected to enjoy fresh tuna in Central IL, but I was pleasantly surprised. Everything we ate was wonderful and had true thought put into the preparation and presentation, which I appreciated - something that is very hard to come by in IL in its entirety. KUDOS to you PAO. read more

I've been here a few times with varying results. The first time was with my sister over two years ago and everything was wonderful (that time we didn't have any sushi, but gorged ourselves on dessert). The second time was about a month ago for my bachelorette party. The drinks and sushi I liked, the entrees were... horrible. I had gotten the lamb and it was just... gross tasting. Which doesn't make me inclined to try anything aside from the sushi there. I don't recall what sushi it was, because my sister ordered most of it. Most recently I went the with a relative and we had a good time. Salad, sushi, drinks and dessert. Though the bill for everything was huge. I have noticed the lackluster attitudes of some of the staff. The most recent time in there we were standing at the front while the chick manning the bar just stood there and talked to a friend. Eventually she yelled in the back for someone to take care of us. But the waitress serving us was nice and when I got soy sauce on myself she was kind enough to suggest bringing me club soda and a napkin to keep it from staining. Overall, I enjoy their creative selection of sushi, drinks and desserts. I will continue to go there from time to time when I'm not concerned with the expense of it. read more

I've been to Pao a few times before, and it was always a great choice for food and atmosphere. Unfortunately, this experience wasn't great at all. My friend and I went tonight and although it wasn't busy, we waited 15 minutes once seated and weren't even acknowledged! We patiently watched other tables recieve attention and we weren't even offered water. We decided to leave and go to Lakepoint Grill instead. read more

I have been to PAO a handful of times and it is always the same story. It takes FOREVER to get your food. I have never been out of here in less than two hours and on New Years Eve our dinner took 3 1/2 hours and I essentially missed much of the festivities that year. The food is expensive and its just ok. They used to have a fairly diverse sushi menu, which has sense been reduced, which has further reduced my desire to go there. I have decided I can't waste anymore of my life waiting hours for my food at PAO and therefore will not be returning. read more

I sent 2 emails to the manager about our experience and received no response after 2 weeks! So, I'm posting those emails here for all to see. To the Manager of Pau Restaurant, Springfield, Il: (Sent 10/30/17) I am writing this to you personally instead of posting a review online. Perhaps you were not made aware of what we experienced in your restaurant. I believe if you had, you would have made an effort to make things right. My husband and I and two guests dined in your restaurant on Saturday, October 28. Our reservation was for 5pm. We were treating my Aunt and Uncle,who drove up from O'Fallon, IL to spend the evening with us. The gentlemen ordered the Pau Steak, my Aunt ordered the Salmon and requested it poached due to dietary restrictions. She requested asparagus in place of the basmati rice pilaf. I ordered the scallops and shared the crab cake appetizer with her. The crab cakes were one of the best we've ever had and being from Newfoundland, both my Aunt and I were very pleased, I must say. And my scallops were cooked to perfection! Unfortunately, that is the only thing I can share with you that was positive about our dining experience. Our waitress came to the table without introducing herself so I have no idea who she was but she was kind and polite. When asked if there was a sommelier who could help us with the wine list she told us she didn't know what that was. After I explained it to her, she told us she was "new" (which was obvious as she reached across our table in front of my Uncle to pour my Aunt's water) and that she would ask the bartender what he would recommend. We thanked her but declined. We ordered the Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio. She brought our wine (again pouring my Aunt's wine from across the table) and set the bottle on the table. I assumed most restaurants knew that cold wines and champagnes are served with a personal wine cooler. We had to ask for ours. As we picked up our salad forks to begin our dinner course, both my Uncle's and husband's steaks were too tough to eat. They were ordered medium-rare. My Uncle did not wish to make a fuss but my husband sent his back and requested a new one. It was somewhat better than the first but still not tender. He ate what he could not wishing to spoil any more of our visit. Neither my husband nor my Uncle finished their steak. My Aunt's poached salmon was raw on the inside and was sent back for further poaching. I would think that a well trained chef would check this before plating. The asparagus was perfect but the cauliflower was overdone and mushy. After our first plates were served, our waitress came back to check on us once (when we returned the salmon and steak), once to fill our waters and to see if everything was still ok, once to take our plates, once to bring dessert which we had to request a dessert menu, and once to bring our check. This would be considered the bare minimum of service required for any establishment. She was very sweet and kind but considerably lacking in fine dining service etiquette. We ordered coconut cream pie for dessert and it was wonderful. The most disappointing part of our evening was...with all of the issues we had during our evening, especially having to send back not one but two meals (three should have been sent back), I would have expected a manager to come to our table to make contact with us and discuss the problems we had experienced. I would also have expected our dinners to be of a higher quality as reflected by the prices than what we experienced. The menu prices were acceptable for a high quality restaurant...we expected the food and service quality to reflect those prices. They did not. I would appreciate some form of contact from you. My contact information: Message: (Sent 11/1/17) Part 2 of earlier email sent on 10/30/17... I left this off of my previous email. We were overcharged for our meal as well. Salmon is listed on the menu as $16, we were charged $19, scallops are listed as $25, we were charged $29, Pau Steak was listed as $16, we were charged $34 for two. That's a total overcharge of $9.00. My receipt info is: CHK#5, TBL#43, Katherine, #721, 10/28/2017 @ 5:19:27pm. I am still waiting to hear back from the manager on my previous email. read more

Horrible experience and was disappointed to say the least with the staff at Pao. Made reservations and was confirmed for a head count, got to the restaurant and to my surprise there was not enough room for our group. people had to sit separate with no heads up before we were seated. Waitress was rude and not helpful at all. Again, disappointed to say the least. If i could give 0 stars I would. read more

Tried this place last night, it was crowded yet we were seated immediately. The food was good, I had the sea bass which I will not order again, the filet was very thin, but the accompanying food was very good. The french onion soup was excellent. The chorizo egg rolls were delicious, the salmon was served on a bed of cauliflower and rice. The presentation gets a 0. The bar was super noisey, and the manager cursed at a waitress following a broken dish. Food gets a 3, ambiance 3, and our server a solid 5. She was amazing, cordial, helpful and attentive without being overbearing. read more

The only reason I'm giving this a 4 and not a 3 is because they are the only place I've found that has brown rice sushi(other than walmart) and their menu is unique, although this place is overpriced. read more

Loved the goat cheese salad! Delicious. The Chardonnay is super. The sea bass was good and rich but overly salted.

I had the crab cakes and the lobster ragoons. The crab cakes were under seasoned and the crab meat was shredded not lump meat. The lobsters bites were rubbery and also under seasoned. The appetizers were so poorly done I did not bother to try a main course. I gave them two stars simply because the menu is creative. However the execution of the menu is barely worth one star. read more

Best ahi tuna and filets from local Bunn Farms!! Drink specials! On weekends sea bass that is delicious and presentation varies!! Best place in Springfield!! read more

Always a great experience. My wife and I have had no complaints when we have gone in to eat for dinner. I was skeptical at first, from friends who go in and have stated how good the food and service is. I can say that you can hear yourself think at the table, to have a conversation, instead of trying to talk over everyone in the room as if some band just got done playing on the stage at the Illinois state fairgrounds, like it is inside of Cooper's Hawk down the street. From the minute you walk in. Until the tome that you walk out. Not only is the owner and/or manager checking to see how you are doing and how your meal is. They are checking to make sure that everything is fine as they go by your table after taking care of other tables. From the glassware to the silverware. They are cleaned and in good condition, that it is what you expect to find at a Upscale casual restaurant. Not like the cheap steel stuff that Cooper's Hawk passes off as being something that is not what you expect at a upscale establishment. Also their hours are longer than the hours at Cooper's Hawk. Cooper's Haek is only open when the mall is opened. They have very limited outdoor seating, which is on the West side of the mall where they are located at. So while you are sitting out there being roasted like Garlic Potatoes. At Pao they made sure to choose a location that the outside seating is on the North Side of their location and you also have umbrellas to help shade you when the Sun is setting on the West end of their seating area. read more

Probably my favorite spot in Springfield. In the Gables Shopping area. Nice atmosphere, great staff. Varied but smallish menu. I've had most. Possibly the best steak in town. Fish, duck, chicken all good. Pork chops especially good. Very reasonably priced for the quality, as is the wine list. Nice bar to drop by for a drink and try the fresh sushi. read more

We wanted to take our California friends out to dinner on a Monday evening. Needless to say, we were astonished at how many of our favorite dining venues were closed on that day! We decided to try Pao Restaurant. It had been many years since we were there, but we were hopeful after reading Yelp reviews. The evening was a great success: freshly prepared food, interesting appetizers and professional wait staff. One of our guests was from the California wine region and commented on how perfectly cooked the tuna was. Thank you, Pao, for providing an interesting menu! read more

We love to go to Pao especially on the weekends so I can get my favorite, Chilean Sea Bass. It is the best. The Pao Cocaine Martini is a must whenever I go there for dinner. The food is always wonderful & the atmosphere is warm & inviting read more

Definitely one of the best restaurants in town!! Expect to spend a good amount of time here- it's slow but so worth it. I had the sesame seared ahi tuna steak which you HAVE to try. I just moved to Illinois from Southern California and I am having a hard time understanding the negative reviews on Pao. The owner is always there and makes sure all patrons are happy and the food is always great read more

PAO is one of my favorite places to go for dinner in Springfield. The staff and food quality are some of the best around, in my opinion. The ambiance is something you can't find elsewhere in the city. Here's to many more dinners at PAO! Don't forget a mojito or martini! read more

I was there with a large group & several ordered appetizers which we all shared, & all were delicious! I ordered steak which was cooked perfectly. The goat cheese salad with house dressing was the best salad I've had in any restaurant. read more

Just spent $110. Food was take out. Got home and my $38 steak was terrible, I ordered it med rare and it was cooked well done and such a bad cut of meat I could barely cut it. The entire meal is now in the trash where it belongs. I called there to tell them and they really seemed like they could care less. They are sending me a gift card for $38. I'll be using that quickly, probably not. Fool me once.... read more

Adequate food, decent service, outrageous gratuity. Ordered the stir fry. Definately edible, but along the lines of Ramen Noodles without the bullion. $7 for a spinich salad with walnuts and crazins is a little steep, but not completely unreasonable. What really left the bad taste in my mouth was being informed, when being handed the check, that there was a mandatory 20% gratuity for parties of 5 or more. The service was adequate at best and in NO was deserving of such a tip. This was POA's second chance to impress me. There will not be a third. read more

I am an avid sushi eater. and if you are looking for a sushi place, this is NOT your stop!! Trust me. The rice was so mushy and overcooked you could barely eat the rolls, I honestly almost couldn't swallow it because it was sticking to my teeth. I choked a few times. I went to PAO very excited about it, I haven't been in a few years and it used to have a great sushi menu!! But sadly I had the worst experience. There were VERY few rolls, and they are very pricey for the poor quality and the size of the rolls. The waitress didn't know very much about the menu and she was pretty unfriendly and didn't smile. To be honest, the Schnucks in town has better sushi than this. My brother got an entree and it also came with mushy, overcooked rice just like the sushi Also, there was no small salad. If you want a Ceasar salad (which did NOT fit the type of cuisine there at all) then you could order that. But it was nothing to write home about. . To make things worse, the table next to us was complaining about their meal right when we sat down and they only left a $1 tip! I don't normally react to sushi places like this, because I have loved most that I go to, but this is unexceptable. And to be honest, it was insulting to someone who has a lot of passion and love for sushi. It was almost an embarrasment to a sushi-lover, I am serious. I really hope it gets better because I used to always reccommend this place. It is so trendy and unique in the inside and has SUCH potential! read more

Fantastic place with excellent food and service, plus the chef came to our table to make sure we enjoyed it ... I really like this!

LOVE! My husband and i frequent this establishment as much as possible. They have the best sushi in town, hands down. Service and food are both much improved since the new owner took over. One day a week, they have $4 martinis too. Unlike some upscale restaurants, Pao always serves complete meals instead of a la carte, so the price you pay includes everything you need. read more

I was disappointed in what was once one of my favorites in Springfield. Our server did a poor job of managing the few dishes on our table. When our main course arrived our food was set on the side of the table while we cleared off the appetizer dishes and handed them to the server. Our server walked away with our plates and we were able to move our main course plates in front of us. Our server was friendly enough but thats not the point. A great server can make all the difference and ours fell short. The seared tuna was excellent but we were disappointed in the scallops as they were over cooked. I was disappointed because I know what a great job they have done in the past. read more

Pao tries a little too hard and those that do not have the acquired taste to acknowledge that flock to it. The people that work there are very pretentious. The menu items get credit for creativity. I went there for sushi and it was warm and they did not even use sushi rice (more like uncle ben's but overcooked). read more

My wife and another couple met at Pao for dinner for the first time about a week ago. I think, in general, we all four enjoyed the food and ambience. Appetizer, goat cheese salad, and entree were all very good. Waiter did a good job of taking care of us. We will go there again. read more

Ate there and had the lobster won tons, pepper soup with shrimp (a special) and the rib eye. Ordered the rib eye prepared off the menu, they were very accommodating and it was delicious. read more

This is a good place. It is a little different than the mainstream so that is probably why it has the reviews it does. The food is good, unique and the atmosphere is great. Wait staff is nothing to write home about but about as good as you will get in Springfield. Sushi is good though I miss the sushi bar. They make it in back now. This is the place to see and be seen in Springfield - if you are into that kind of thing. My only complaint, appetizers are one or two bite favors so hard to share and expensive for what you get. read more

Words cannot describe how bad this place is. Sushi takes well over an hour to receive. Why would sushi take an hour? The owner has a flippant attitude and could care less about the customers. All he worries about is flirting with customers and the waitresses. read more

Best Filet Mignon I've ever had. Service was good and drinks were great. The Pao Chix wasn't the best so I wouldn't recommend that!!! Definitely get the filet!!!!!! read more

Excellent! Steaks are wonderful. Sea bass is amazing and sushi is very good, too. The staff is always very friendly and I've had great service every time except for one, a petite brunette waitress that had a bit of an attitude. Pao gives you a nice urban and upbeat restaurant experience that is much closer than Chicago. read more