The vibe is awesome , Paul one of the owners greeted us and we have a nice conversation... even in Spanish :) Seated in the bar, Theresa our bartender was pretty cool and informative about the food and how everything was handmade on site . The marinate sauce and bolognese sauce was great . The complete experience was better than expected. Totally recommended read more

I was in the mood for Italian and decided on Paolino's based on the reviews. The caesar salad was good. The lasagne was okay. And the tiramisu was great. My next visit I will try one of the pastas. The service was excellent. Even though I ordered on the app, as soon as I entered the restaurant I was greeted. I was immediately helped at the bar and received my order quickly. read more

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I absolutely loved this place! A friend and I decided to meet up for dinner one Friday night and found our way here. I did make reservations through their website and am happy that I did because they were quite busy once we arrived. They are located just between Mead and Oakview and share a parking lot with a few other restaurants and retail businesses. While the lot was full, I was able to find nearby parking in the resieenti Eden was amazing and took such wonderful care of my friend and I as we celebrated our birthday. We indulged in Artichokes Fritos ($10) for the app which was amazing and I ordered the Chicken pesto ravioli ($18) for my entree. I would've liked a bit more seasoning on the overall dish but it was still satisfying. Our waiter was super attentive and checked on us periodically to ensure we were good and even gifted us with a scoop of strawberry gelato which was super sweet of him. This is truly a neighborhood gem and I really enjoyed my time here. I'd definitely come back here based off the service and taste of the food alone. read more

Paolino - Strawberry Gelato & Sorbet - Single Scoop - Italian Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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Decatur's Best-Kept Italian Secret and the Tiramisu That Changed My Life. If you're looking for authentic Italian food in Decatur that actually tastes homemade, Paolino is it. From the moment I walked in, the cozy vibe and the aroma of garlic and butter let me know I was in for something special. I ordered the Lamb Ragu: rich, slow-cooked perfection that practically melted in my mouth. My partner had the Chicken Parmigiana and Gnocchi Pesto, both full of flavor and cooked to perfection. We started with Blue Cheese Chips (yes, that's a thing and yes, they're as amazing as they sound). But the real star of the night? The Tiramisu. Light, creamy, perfectly balanced easily the best we've ever had. If you're a dessert lover, don't skip it. Between the warm service, romantic atmosphere, and food that hits every note, Paolino is officially on my "must-repeat" list. Whether it's date night, girls' night, or just a "treat yourself" dinner this is where you go when you want to feel like you're dining in Italy without booking a flight. read more

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My husband and I made reservations at Paolino. It was our first time here, so we were excited to try it out. When we arrived, there was a short wait while they cleared off some tables. Since it was a nice day outside, we decided to dine al fresco. Once we were seated, we encountered another wait, but this time it was because they hadn't assigned a server to our table. We had to get someone's attention because we noticed other people seated after us were being waited on. We ended up with Sienna as our server. She started us off with complimentary bread. We decided to order our cocktails, appetizers, and entrees since we had been waiting. I had the sangria, and my husband had the limoncello. We enjoyed both cocktails. For appetizers, we had calamari and cheese sticks, and the cheese sticks were definitely our favorite--they had a unique twist. For entrees, we ordered the lamb ragu and the chef's special, which was seafood ravioli. To end the night, we had the brownie sundae with salted caramel gelato. We thoroughly enjoyed our food and drinks. Although the service was a bit slow at first, Sienna was attentive. We look forward to visiting Paolino again in the future. read more

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Cute local spot - very small town vibes I got the seafood squid ink linguini which has both squid ink and regular linguini which was interesting. I didn't care for having mixed pasta; would rather do one or the other but it was flavorful & large pieces of scallop/shrimp. The sauce was thinner than I expected and sweet for a cream sauce I also ordered the blue cheese chips & the house made chips were so crispy! I'd have liked more sauce but they definitely had an explosion of flavor The bread with dipping oil was a nice touch The staff were friendly & welcoming & they have a little gelato shop in front for dessert Parking lot was large with plenty of spots when we came for the shared lot read more

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While visiting Decatur for business, I tried Paoloni. It is a quaint little Italian restaurant in the midst of a beautiful little city area. The wait time was minimal and we were seated in the tented outdoor space. I ordered fettuccini with mushrooms and my friend ordered traditional chicken Parmesan sandwich. I ordered mozzarella sticks as well as a glass of moscato for an appetizer. The meal came out and the appetizer never arrived. The meal was so filling, we didn't mind, but the mozzarella sticks looked good and I wish I could have tried them. I ordered dessert to-go. I selected the ricotta cheesecake, and it was so incredible. The waiter recommended the gelato. They do have several flavors that are specialities, but I was happy with the cheesecake. I would have given it five stars if not for the missed opportunity to try the appetizer. The other food was delicious. read more

Paolino - Fettuccini Alfredo with mushrooms - Italian Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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Visited Atlanta this week and stayed downtown. Found this little gem in Decatur. Love the vibe, the food and the service was EXCELLENT. Our server was Dani and she was so on top of it with excellent recommendations and great service. Highly recommend! read more

Paolino - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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Let me start my review by saying that Eddie/Eddy our waiter was an absolute gem. Will be coming back just for his service. Pasolini is a tasty spot I found when looking for a last minute bite to eat. We walked in with no reservation (called ahead to let them know we were on the way) and were seated in a booth right away. As far as the decor and ambiance, it has a fresh gelato shop attached and then a gorgeous, mom & pop style restaurant with gorgeous plants and greenery all around. As a plant mom, I was in heaven and super jealous of the collection. Now on to the food + drinks: * They do not have liquor but we were able to get a glass of wine. (They offer beer as well) Food: 1. Calamari 10/10: love the batter. So light and flaky! Amazing portion and their marinara was so flavorful. 2. Caesar Salad 3/10: very average; needs more dressing or the dressing could have more flavor/seasoning. 3. French Onion Soup 7/10: delicious sweet flavor from onions and I loved the toast on top soaking up the delicious broth. I never thought I'd say it though, almost too many onions soaking up my broth lol 4. Sherry Cream Seafood 8/10: pasta is an amazing texture, can tell it is homemade. All of the seafood was fresh and juicy! Sauce was a bit sweet for me but just my personal opinion. 5. Pesto Fettuccini add Crispy Chicken 9/10: again, fresh pasta with the best bouncy texture; lacked a little seasoning but nothing a little salt + pepper didn't fix quickly. 6. Vanilla Gelato 9/10: loved the rich vanilla flavor (think more French vanilla than vanilla bean) We will be back to try more and of course to visit the best server! read more

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Meh. Service was slow. Food was okay. But I appreciated the $5/glass wine on Monday.

Great authentic Italian food. Very good service. Pasta and gelato were made at the restaurant and was fresh and delicious.

Amazing in every way. We stopped in fire a quick lunch before a movie at Madison Yards and found our new favorite spot. We had Calamari, two of those soups, Lasagna, and Zuppa de Pecce. My wife said the Zuppa was the best she's ever had. If we had to pick the highlight, it world have to be our server, Camryn! She's so great that we both thought she was either one of the owners or a manager. She's neither. She's just that good! read more

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We were going to a concert at Emory a bit later and were looking for someplace different for dinner (on a Sunday evening). Paolino showed up in a search, so we gave it a try. The website implied that reservations were advisable, so we made one for 5:30 p.m. We arrived a bit early. The restaurant is located in the Oakhurst business district. Their shared parking lot is not huge, but we did find a space. The restaurant appears to be fixing or renovating part of the front, so it was initially unclear where the door was. As we approached, they did have signs, though. It appeared that they have a deck (with a sort of tent-cover and presumably space heaters) but it was vacant as it was quite cold outside that day. This will probably see more use in the Spring. You enter via their associated gelato space, but if you then proceed to your right you will find the host station. Despite being a bit early, we got seated quickly. They do not have a huge number of tables inside, which is probably why reservations are recommended. They had a small bar in one corner. A line of booths runs down the middle parallel to the front windows. Our seat ended up being at the far end and was enclosed on about 3.5 sides. The decor is somewhat unusual. They have the sort of no-frills ceiling that you seen in some restaurants - exposed heating/air ducts, etc. However, they sort of camouflage this via the use of a huge number and variety of hanging basket plants. I was curious as to how they water them all without a lot of time and a ladder, but that wasn't my problem to solve. Our server showed up promptly and got our drinks. They brought bread initially also. It was sort of a dry sourdough, but it was tasty. We got calamari as an appetizer. It was good - the right ration of breading and fairly crispy, not limp. We liked it. Our entrees arrived soon. My wife got a fish dish which was served in sort of a vegetable broth. She liked it well enough. I opted for the mushroom ravioli, which I enjoyed. The portion size was about right for a single meal, but don't expect leftovers. We opted to get a dessert - a chocolate peanut butter torte. It was small but quite good! Prices were a bit above what I'd call moderate, but not quite at the 'fine dining' tier either. It is probably not out of line for in-town restaurants. We enjoyed it and might go back the next time we need dinner in the area. read more

This is truly a hidden gem in the Oakhurst/Decatur area. I came here once with my husband and another couple friend of ours. We had the gnocchi appetizer, and I had the Lamb Ragu pasta. You know when you leave a restaurant and you immediately can't wait to go back? That's exactly how I felt after that first experience. I then went back and took a big group of my family and friends and the staff was so accommodating they were able to get us in even though we were a large group and they are kind of a small restaurant. It feels like it's a family restaurant and you're part of the family. Once again, I got the Lamb Ragu and it did not disappoint. This is seriously some of the best Italian food in Atlanta. read more

First, I love the vibe here. The front of house people are authentic, warm, and super engaging. Paula is an absolute rockstar server. I met a longtime friend to celebrate my recent birthday. While the outside can be misleading, as shared by another reviewer or two, the inside ambiance welcomes fresh air channeled by a ceiling of hanging planting design from a high ceiling. It just felt cozy. Large high wall booths ensure privacy and seems to reduce any crowd noise. The food was pretty. Among the highs, a visionary menu with the promise of fried artichoke hearts, a house made mushroom soup, and lamb ragu. The preparation on all three was performative as each lacked soul and commitment as follows: *Fried artichoke hearts: 3/5 as they lacked the crisp that one associates with a frying technique and otherwise just tasted "pickled." The ingredients were quality. The plating was solid. Were they actually fried to a greater texture, then I would have loved a marina sauce, even on the fly. *Mushroom soup: 2/5 as it was watery like it hadn't settled. I actually brought mine home in hopes of giving it a second life. But I'd still need to up the flavor factor. It could have used some garlic and maybe have been garnished with truffle oil. But you knew it was freshly made with good source material. *Lamb Ragu: 4/5 as everything worked well, for the most part. When ordering pasta from an Italian restaurant of course pasta comes to mind, as does the sauce. The pasta was perfect as it melted in my mouth. The lamb was clearly expertly braised and tender but lacked a depth of flavor. Knowing how this meat responds to seasoning some garlic, cumin, and soy goes a long way, plus to e wine reduction seems watered down. The plating could be better (as shown). But overall this was a wonderful and inspiring experience for future home efforts on the culinary front. read more

Incredible service. Great atmosphere. Plenty of options. The food was amazing. Try the chicken marsala, you will not be disappointed. Love this place. read more

Sometimes, a meal will leave you speechless. Sometimes, the beautiful spirit of the people will just make you want to stay all night and never leave. Sometimes, you feel like you've just walked into the sweetest home full of love. Today, I found all of that and more at Paolino. I haven't had food this tasty in Atlanta in such a long time. Everything from the fried calamari, to the meatballs to the Lobster Ravioli to the Sherry Cream Seafood was divine! Every dish was seasoned to perfection and the pasta is made in house which is always a very nice touch. My entire first experience was perfection from beginning to end. Shout out to the amazing and talented Sienna who by far is one of the most incredible people I've ever met. She was sooo awesome. Many thanks also to Teresa (sp?) and Juelz (sp?) as well who were phenomenal and friendly and just really fantastic. I cannot wait to return and create more memories with this amazing family. Stellar work they're doing here. I NEEDED this more than any of them could ever know. read more

Paolino - Outside Patio - Italian Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

A perfect place to enjoy amazing food with great ambiance and friendly staff. Perfect for a great meal with friends or a casual romantic date night spot. read more

this was my first time here. the service was on point. absolutely loved our waitress. professional, kind, considerate, patient, and helpful describes her. i adore friendliness. it gives welcome for me. i can't really comment on the ambiance since we sat outside practically in the parking lot. space wasn't abundant in this location but it wasn't a deterrence from trying them out. i liked it because it gave urban vibes, and city comfort. the cramped lot, sidewalks, and patio felt like a gathering amongst neighbors. so glad we weren't discouraged by the limited parking because this cozy, cramped, corner was a pleasant surprise. the food was great! fresh, flavorful, and creative. i don't know how the chef came up with the fried artichokes with aoli and sweet chilli combination but it most definitely works and was my favorite thing, hands down. my mushroom ravioli was sooooo good and meaty respectively absent the meat. you could see every ingredient, and taste it. also ordered chicken parm, garlic bread, and calamari. the only disappointment was the garlic bread. looks and taste like frozen texas garlic bread from the freezer section of your local grocer. literally have returned three times since stumbling on this gem just for the artichokes. looking forward to trying other menu items after having such a positive experience. skip, walk, skate, ride your bike, scooter, or car; just don't miss the opportunity to add a new spot to your list of eateries. read more

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I remember loving this place in 2017 and 2018. Food was delicious and lovely neighborhood restaurant experience. I've tried to love it again. Have tried it 3 times in less than a year and am extremely disappointed with the food. My last meal was Sunday evening. Noodles were well beyond al dente. Marina sauce was flavorless. Fried eggplant was soggy. Cream of mushroom soup was bland. Please do better. read more

Paolino is a nice and intimate Italian restaurant nestled in the Oakhurst neighborhood. I always passed by and made a mental note to stop by next time I was in the mood for Italian Fare. Last night, my partner and I were able to walk in and quickly get a table two. I absolutely love the decor of the restaurant. The hanging plants and lighting reminded of a tucked off joint in NYC. Sienna was my server and she was absolutely wonderful and friendly. To eat, the table started with the "Italian Sausage Brushetta" . The appetizer was a 10/10! My entree, the "Lamb Ragu" was about a 6/10. Granted, Italian food doesn't contain a ton of frills, I still feel like this dish was just ok and kind of basic. I kind of wished I ordered the Mushroom Ravioli instead but, I'll try that next visit. read more

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Glad we tried this! We made a reservation for 6:30 on a Sunday evening. We arrived a bit earlier and tables were mostly empty, but within 20 minutes, the restaurant was full - so I would recommend the reservation if you're planning in advance! Service was great and our food was delicious. Pleasantly surprised by the prices compared to other Italian spots in Atlanta (or even outside the city). Would definitely come back! read more

Paolino - Italian Sausage Bruschetta - Italian Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

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I went here with a friend after work to grab dinner and it's such a cute spot! It makes me feel like i'm in an episode of Gilmore Girls or something, it has such a cozy feel! We ordered the Sausage Bruschetta (may have spelled that incorrectly) which was super delicious! I ordered the Sherry Cream Pasta for my entree and unfortunately I didn't like it, I think if you prefer a sweeter taste to your pasta then you may appreciate it. The best part about the service in this moment is that they were quick to get me another entree that better suited me and they didn't charge me for the pasta I sent back. I also love that a manager didn't come out to ask me why I didn't like the food, this made me feel more comfortable. I ended up switching my food to the Pesto Fettuccine & it was delicious. I got it with shrimp. I'd definitely come back here to try other menu items, they have quite a few options to choose from! read more

Service great . Good for lunch and work meetings ! This was my first time here I had the smoke salmon and linguine

Cute restaurant! I have been dying to try this restaurant since I drove past it a year ago. They pasta is fresh. They seated us outside in the tent and our service was fast. The oakhurst salad would have been a bit better if it came with cheese. Bathrooms were decent! read more

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Early dinner and we felt like Italian tonight. Paolino was the option and it was a great choice. Great appetizers, great entrees and great service. We started with the fried artichoke hearts and the blue cheese chips. The artichokes were delicious and perfectly bite-sized set on top of a sweet glaze and topped with a tangy sauce, Yum. The chips were blue cheese were delicious though you need to be careful not to let the pesto or the cheese fall as it makes its way from the plate to your mouth. My friend had lasagna and enjoyed it. I don't have lasagna out as my wife's is already perfect. Instead, I chose the linguine with clam sauce. Lots of garlic and lots of flavor here served on al dente linguine. It was a good portion of deliciousness. Our server was Scout and she took this from five stars to, well, five stars. She was friendly, fun and a great waitress. She's definitely a keeper! [Review 20036 overall - 636 in Georgia - 1011 of 2023.] read more

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How this place has four almost 5 stars is beyond me. Came here on a Sunday night with my son we ordered the chicken Parmesan and the lamb pasta along with the seafood saffron rice. All I can say is brand blend blend blend the rice taste like the ocean the Parmesan had no seasonings the lamb was halfway decent but it had no flavor whatsoever. Not to mention our server was subpar we had to keep looking for him multiple times. I usually don't waste any food and I want to take my food to go but I left all this food behind I didn't even speak to a manager because I literally would've asked everything to be taken off my tab. I will not be returning here anytime soon NO 246 Was Way better. If I didn't know any better I would say Italian is code for bland foods read more

Let me brag to you about this mom-n-pop Italian restaurant called Paolino. It's located in South Decatur, near East Lake. Offers free parking and Italian dishes made from scratch. Yeah, can it get any better? Yes it can! Cause it's reasonably priced and they offer some great specials during the week. There's lunch specials that is available M-Th until 4 pm. On Wednesdays, wine bottles are 1/2 off. Well, the bottles are significantly marked-up but the 1/2 off makes it grocery store level price, so not so bad a deal. Before jumping into food, let me draw the picture of ambience for you. In a world where we are all about getting that insta feed picture, well they tried to make it insta worthy. It's mom-n-pop so you can expect to see crates and supplies stores around you. That's giving hole in the wall vibes. But they did hang some beautiful plants all around the shop to give it a charming vibe. There's outdoor covered space available and the gelato shop is right next door. Now food. First - Calamari $16. Small calamari pieces. Smells AMAZING and tastes VERY flavorful. I'd use the word flavorful for all their dishes. It's as if they just dumped all the MSG on their food. I doubt they out MSG but I mean to say that the flavor is Lamb Ragu - $17. Lunch portion is not too carby and comes with salad. Fresh salad is just so refreshing. Lamb was a bit dry but again, expect to be filled with flavor. Alfredo fettuccine with shrimp $23. Lunchtime portion is small and comes with a salad. It's great cause really low carb portion and you enjoy some good Italian food. Kid's Alfredo pasta with penne was great except I have picky eaters. The strong smell of garlic didn't go well with the kids. So, I'd say 4 on 5 rating. It's a great spot. read more

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Wonderful food and service. I would recommend the sausage bruschetta. The ambiance was so nice and fitting

I really wanted to like it, it's in a cute neighborhood and really cool vibe inside. Ordered takeout. I ordered Chicken parmigiana with a caprese salad. I'm sad to report that the pasta was overcooked, the water wasn't salted properly so the dish was bland and the chicken was also overcooked and dry. The caprese salad came with an odd side of grilled peppers (not necessary), and the tomatoes were mediocre and poorly sliced (uneven and fat). The mozzarella was mediocre. Overall it just didn't work. True caprese really sings because of the quality of ingredients. This sadly for me fell flat. I would possibly try again, but probably not. Maybe with some different menu choices. read more

Paolino - Caprese salad - Italian Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

Great food. Very flavorful, generous portions, and sauces were prepared well. Great atmosphere and service. Gelato was about average. read more

Love the vibe! Super excited they brought back lobster ravioli!! It was delicious. I have no complaints. The to~go bartender was awesome! I'll be back. read more

Unfortunately, this was such a disappointment. Me and my sister visited the restaurant years ago (photo of my sister, eating the pasta) and for years, we crave the taste of this one pasta that we had once experienced. Unfortunately, when returning after years of hunting down this place the pasta tasted nothing like the one we had once craved if anything we were stunned and how he liked it in the first place. The cocktails were absolutely horrible. And the server barely checked on us, or even felt helpful to experience. At the end of the night me and my sister were kinda embarrassed because we had brought people out and we had spoke so highly of the restaurant and now we look like complete fools because no one was enjoying their meal. I guess will let the love that was once had respectfully have it's burial service right under that dish. read more

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I love sitting outside at this place, enjoying the fresh air. Great salad, wine and beer. I loved the pasta with clams - very tasty - and the seafood risotto. Bailey is a consistently pleasant and attentive server. read more

Wonderful little Oakhurst gem. Cute patio for outdoor seating and overall solid Italian spot. We have been here a few times and always had a good experience with food and service worth coming back for. read more

Paolino - Seafood pasta. So yummy. - Italian Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

The food and service was great. Great location and atmosphere. You won't be disappointed.

Such a charming and lovely local restaurant! We stopped by Paolino after a long and busy day and had such a wonderful experience. The staff was kind and welcoming, knowledgeable about the menu and helped us to feel right at home. There was a small incidence that happened at the beginning of dinner and management handled it quickly and efficiently, ensuring that everyone felt comfortable. I ordered the Spaghetti with Marinara and Meatballs and it was delicious! It was authentic and simple. Our food came out quickly and we truly enjoyed our time there. In addition to the stellar service, the ambiance was stunning. The front of the restaurant is covered with plants and there were hand-painted flowers that were done by one of the employees. I can't wait to visit sometime soon. Happy Eating!! read more

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Quaint & cozy, local Italian restaurant you don't want to miss out on trying. Things you should know: I. PARKING There's a petit private parking lot out front of the restaurant, but we couldn't find any availability, so we drove up the road and parked on the street within the adjacent neighborhood. Not too complicated. II. QUALITY Delicious ~ it won't disappoint III. SERVICE Our waitress was very accommodating IV. CAPACITY We ate here on a Friday night. I'm glad we made reservations on Google in advance since the tables fill up quickly at dinner hours. read more

Paolino - Branzino (Mediterranean Sea Bass) - Italian Near Me - Decatur, Georgia

My husband and I drove 30 minutes to and from Paolino to pick up food. In all honesty, it was underwhelming and we will not be coming back. For starters, their cheese bread looks like something out of the freezer isle which is not what the description makes you picture especially when thinking of Italian food. Secondly, they sent us home with no silverware or napkins and the wrong salad dressing - which was the reason we chose that particular salad over others. My husband's chicken marsala was bland and tasted like solely oil on spaghetti - not even a hint of marsala wine. I chose the pumpkin ravioli which were chewy, overly sweet and otherwise bland. All in all, I hate to say this as we really do love supporting small/locally owned businesse, thid was a waste of time and money and we will not be back. read more

Date night approved! After returning from Italy a bit underwhelmed with the food, we've been looking for something delicious locally. I believe we've found it! On Sunday evening, we parked at this small lot (for free) in the Oakhurst neighborhood. We didn't have reservations so they quickly looked for a table for 2. The bar and outside patio were the options as a large party had reserved the primary dining area. We sat outside where it was cozy under the heat lamps & covered by a tent. The servers were all welcoming, friendly and juggled the customers coming in for dinner. We are still observing dry January so I sipped in a blood orange Sanpellegrino. To start we shared fried artichoke hearts. They were light, seasoned well and delicious. For dinner I ordered the Smoked Salmon Linguine and he had the Zuppa di Pesce. It was definitely in our top meals for 2024 and it's just started! Flavorful. Fresh. Served hot. I can't recall a meal I've enjoyed so much in a long time. I stopped myself to save it for dinner the next day! Next door is the Gelato bar you can sample everything. I had the Pistachio and he had the Salted Caramel for dessert. The best part - a heaping cup for only $4! Best price and dessert on the block. We'll definitely be back to try the rest of the menu and have a drink. read more

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