Absolutely the best pasta restaurant around. Cosey setting right on the Thames River and during the summer, plenty of outdoor seating.

Beautiful view, good food, nice people. I got the ravioli (huge and delicious), the pizza (sized to share and very good), and meatballs (beef, not amazing but still good). Everything comes in big portions while staying relatively cheap. Would go back and highly recommend! read more

The food has always been delicious and filling every time I visit. The workers at the counter are polite and friendly, and the atmosphere of the establishment reminds me of my childhood when my grandmother took me for Sunday lunch. My only complaint is parking, which is a given considering the location. Definitely would recommend. read more

After reading all the rave reviews we were looking forward to stopping at Paul's for some house made pasta. Then I saw they have a new owner? So I went in with a 'let's see' mindset. We both ordered spaghetti, one with a meatball, one with sausage. The pasta is flat as it would be if house made. However, having lived in Italy, eating many a 'house made' restaurant pasta, and, having made my own, to me this spaghetti does not have the taste or texture I expected from house made. My meatball did taste homemade. However, as is common in the restaurant industry, the texture leads me to believe a big batch is made and frozen for later use. It was tough to cut. A bit rubbery. The sauce was OK, Not delightful. Not bad. All together this was not a dish worth chewing for me personally and I left half of it behind. Seating is available both indoors and outside over looking the river. Parking is available behind the building or about a block away in a free public lot. One restroom for all. Prepared foods available 'to go' at a deli counter by the entrance. The entrance is a few steps up from the sidewalk. read more

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What a quaint little place in Groton. Found it in yelp and it lived up to the recommendation! Portions, even the small ones, are a lot. Spaghetti pie was good but dense and a lot. Wife had the chicken parm, very tasty and pasta was delicious. We were greeted immediately, sat down, and shared the specials of the day. Server was friendly and helpful. Would return if ever back in area. read more

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This little homemade pasta joint had been on my to try list for awhile, a trip to Mohegan for an event and the ride back home made it a go, so glad it did! Skip Mohegan's pricey food and stop off at Paul's where the food is fresh, and absolutely delicious start to finish. Our waitress was great we chose to sit on the covered deck overlooking the River. We had waters and iced teas, and scrumptious stuffed mushrooms (vegetarian) and cheesy garlic bread with red sauce to dip. Then we all ordered small pasta entrees (plenty of food) crispy chicken Alfredo, pesto gemelli, chicken parm on spaghetti, and eggplant parm on spaghetti. Waitress was quick on refills and just perfectly friendly. We couldn't fit dessert but the cannolis looked good. read more

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We found Paul's in a Yelp search and thought it was excellent! Small place with an indoor dining room and a covered area in the back that overlooks the water. It appears to be well loved by locals, it was surprisingly busy for Sunday mid-afternoon. We were greeted warmly, seated quickly and the waitress was friendly and helpful. Hubby had the cheese lasagna, I had fettucini alfredo and both were excellent. Limoncello cake for dessert was the perfect ending. I am still thinking about the bite of lasagna I stole from hin and their incredible red sauce. Looking forward to visiting again! read more

We tried this because it had great reviews. Honestly, it wasn't all that we had hoped for. I ordered the lasagna and it was SWIMMING in marinara sauce. I couldn't even taste the lasagna which was such a bummer. Really, everyone's plates were swimming in sauce which made it hard to taste anything but the sauce. I just don't understand why so much sauce is needed--you can't appreciate the homemade pasta because of it! read more

Super unassuming and super delicious. I took my son to the driving range in Groton and he wanted spaghetti for lunch, so why wouldn't I happen upon a place called "Paul's Pasta Shop"? It was so good. I had the gemelli with pesto and my son had...spaghetti. A kid's spaghetti was only $4.99 for a huge portion. The pasta is fresh (you literally have a front-row seat to the process of making it if you eat inside), the garlic bread is pretty basic, and the food in general was just so damn delicious. The entire bill for a lunch portion of gemelli, a kid's portion (huge) of spaghetti, two cookies (because why not?), a soda, and a lemonade was $24. Unreal and unbelievably yummy. read more

Since I moved to New London, everybody told me I had to try Paul's. I agree that if you visit the area, you should try Paul's It really has its own vibe and aesthetic going on. The Spaghetti pie was absolutely insane. Huge portion and I ordered the small. My son had the Ragu pasta. He wasn't thrilled with all the green peppers, but he knew that it came with that in the dish. He did however like the fettuccine pasta that was in it. 4/5 stars would highly recommend and an added bonus was we may have had the world's prettiest waitress. read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - Son could not decide - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

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Really nice restaurant on the Thames River. Views are beautiful (especially in the summer), and the food is great. Portions are huge and the prices are incredibly reasonable. Service is always good as well. Would absolutely recommend to anyone who likes pasta, this place is arguably among the best pasta places in Southeastern CT. read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - View - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

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Great Italian restaurant! The pasta here is made fresh. This restaurant serves a variety of standard pasta dishes as well as daily specials not on the menu. I was visiting the area and came by self on a busy night. The staff was very friendly and sat me promptly and clarified any questions I had about the menu. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. I ordered the clam linguine with red sauce (you have the option to choose a white sauce). You have the difference size options to order for your pasta dishes and I went with the small. The small was a pretty big! The restaurant does not skimp on their portions. The pasta itself was very fresh and the clams were abundant and divine. The pasta was so good that I came back a second time! I was visiting the area and unfortunately did not have time to come back more times. There is street parking and a little parking lot out back where you get a view of the water. Overall a great place to eat at and will definitely come back if I am in the area. read more

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If you are in the Groton area you haveeeeee to stop at Paul's!!! The pasta is made from scratch and cooked perfectly every time! The Alfredo is heaven, the garlic bread is to die for and the place is set overlooking the river, the service was great it can get busy but we got there at the perfect time, must go!!! read more

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Recommended by a hotel staff so we tried it. Place is small so get there early, call ahead to see how long the wait. Sitting inside can get stuffy and sitting outside can get cold, specially when the sun goes down and when the breeze blows Water was served in a clear plastic cup... I ordered the small eggplant parm over angel hair and hubs got the small fettuccine rags. Skipped the dinner bread...saved the carbs for dessert. Portion was just right, but I still took a quarter home. My red sauce we kinda bland, no flavor, like a waterdown diced tomato. I did not taste any garlic, oregano, basil...nothing . I tasted my hubs, his sauce had a bit of flavor from the green peppers. I really wanted to like the place but it was "aight". Ordered Cannoli to go...it was good, not too sweet. read more

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Paul's pasta is a great local restaurant, we love getting take out and the occasional dinner in. In the summer the views from the deck are so nice at sunset and the pasta is always delicious. Their Alfredo sauce is my favorite! read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - Sunset from the deck - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

Went for pickup because I'd been craving lasagna for weeks, and I was disappointed to find it swimming in marinara There was so much sauce that it honestly took away from the dish for me. I've heard great things about this restaurant, so maybe my expectations were high, but unfortunately I just wasn't impressed, maybe I'm not Italian enough ‍ read more

Checked out this pasta shop and we had a delicious dinner! The half portion of ravioli was perfect for a light meal. The meal came out very fast and the restaurant was cozy! read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

This place has not changed one bit since I was here 6 years ago and that's a great thing! I was stationed in Groton for two years and this was a staple for comfort food. The place is quaint and has a New England charm to it- the service was great. In fact the waitress has been there 16 years! I came with a party of five & we were sat in about five minutes. I got the buffalo Mac n cheese and everyone tried it and we all loved it. It's cheesy with a little hint of buffalo sauce, topped with breadcrumbs ! Yummy! My nephew got the kids spaghetti and he said "this is good!" So that's his review. Lol My husband got Alfredo and he ate the whole thing and loved it. His twin got chicken parm and said the chicken was really good but he was not a huge fan of the noodles and red sauce... I forget what the name of the dish his wife got but it was thick noodles with a white sauce & peas and she said it was so good. read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - Kids spaghetti - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

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The place is very small but cozy functional. The waitress was all alone and it was very busy on this particular Friday. I went with friends. The food was good. I got the cheese ravioli. They were good but still very hard around the edges. The sauce was plentiful which I appreciate. It was not hot or spicy, which I really enjoyed. I would not travel all the way out here again as the food was not that impressive. They had several assorted desserts that looked really good. So if you're in the area it's a decent place to eat. read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - Cheese ravioli - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

"Same as it ever was, Same as it ever WAS" Talking Heads Pulled right up to the front in the hot rod just in time for lunch. The tables were filling up fast. I had a choice table on the back porch overlooking the water ! This was my first time back here since the new owners took over. Hence, same as it ever was! Without even looking at the menu, I ordered my favorite here, linguine with white clam sauce, small portion. I also ordered a Sprite. My friendly server brought me the soda almost immediately, and within 10 minutes my lovely lunch arrived. Oh, that linguine! That clam sauce, with the lovely garlic smell and taste included. Those minced clams, so generously added to the sauce. And the price, so reasonable. I passed on the bread, even though I wanted it to sop up the rest of the goodnesses. Anyways, this pasta dish was heavenly! I love coming here. This little hole in the wall sticks to a small menu with everything so well done. I love the touch of the two gentlemen in the front making the homemade pasta. Parking is easy in front, on the main street, or in back there are approximately 8 to 10 additional parking spaces. Thank you, Paul's Pasta for making me feel so at home. I really thought this was gonna be a loss of an institution. Instead... same as it ever was, same as it ever was! read more

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I ordered takeout from this restaurant and it was expensive and not worth the money. The pasta was really mushy and the sauce was too sweet, like they added sugar? Gross read more

*THERE IS PARKING IN THE BACK* What a wonderful dinner we had with our son & new Daughter in law recently. The weather was so perfect! The food was perfect! Our food was fast hot and brought out fast! What a perfect day! read more

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Ordered take out on a Thursday evening. Pretty easy to call and get it ordered. They said it would be ready in about 30 minutes. It was very easy to go in and pick up the food. My friend and I ordered the chicken parmigiani and breaded chicken Alfredo both large to split. They were both very good. The portions were large and we were able to both get two meals out of the portions! Sauce was good and chicken great. Good price for the portions! Overall would definitely come back! read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - Large Breaded Chicken Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

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So fresh and delicious! The garlic cheese bread was incredible. If I ever go back to Groton, I will definitely eat here again.

The back porch was amazing watching the sunset!!! I ordered the 1/2 order of lasagna. It came out and I was like WTF???!!!! portion size was outta this world and the taste to match. The waitress was super nice and accommodating for the first time being there. Definitely swing thru and get your grub on!!! YUM read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - 1/2 order of lasagna with meat sauce. - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

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It took me way too long to finally check out Paul's. I've been a couple of times now, and every time I leave, I'm already asking, "When are we going again?" Here's the deal: you go to Paul's for the pasta. It's fresh, simple, and really well done. There's no over-the-top presentation, no unnecessary ingredients, no excessively strong flavors or fancy garnishes--just straightforward, delicious pasta that hits the spot. You can even watch the noodles being made to order, which is pretty cool. I always get the "large," and it's always a little too much... but I never regret it. I'll eat pasta until I pop. After reading some of the other reviews, however, it may be helpful to set expectations: if you're someone who's mostly in it for the sauces, toppings, or mix-ins, this place might not totally hit the mark for you. The pasta really runs the show, and everything else is kept pretty simple. Now, a few things to know before you go: it's a small place and it's popular, so there's usually a wait. They don't take reservations (understandable for a spot this size), and there's not much room to wait around. Parking can be a bit of a pain, but there's a small lot and some street parking nearby. Also, it's probably not the best pick for big groups, people with gluten issues, or anyone wanting a long, slow, multi-course kind of dinner. It's more of an in-and-out experience focused on good food, not lingering for hours. Bottom line: if you love pasta, this place is absolutely worth checking out. Just come hungry--and maybe not with a party of more than six (Probably ideally not more than 4). read more

Best lasagna evar, simply to die for. Finished off an entire small and can't believe they sell a large!!! Mozzarella bread app & Chianti were out of this world. Small spaghetti & meatball was pushed to the side after first bite. The meat lasagna was really the star of the show! Wear some warm clothes if visiting during colder months, lovely place for a romantic dinner! read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

Paul's Pasta is exactly that, a great place for pasta. The experience of watching them actually making the pasta right in front of you shows you that it definitely has not been sitting around! The food is excellent and the service is generally good and if a mistake happens they will make good on whatever happens. It is one of my favorite places. read more

We went on a Monday for lunch on a recommendation of a friend. It was fairly busy at lunch which is always a good sign. We sat in the outdoor seating as the weather was fine. The river view was appreciated and the sea breeze was fresh. The place has a "joint" feel about it which suits me just fine, not a place where you feel like you need to pay $5 to breath the rarified air and one could come in wearing errand running clothes as we did and fit right in. The service was prompt and friendly. I had the lasagna and my husband had the spaghetti pie. Both were quite good and filling. We will be back to check out the rest of the menu. What a find for times when our business takes us over the Thames River bridge. read more

Best pasta ever Not super authentic at all if that's what you're into but great dishes and portions. Buffalo Mac N Cheese and Chicken Alfredo are to die for read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

Paul's has been on my radar for years, and recently one of my Food Blogger friends reported that she had been frequently eating there. When I visited nearby Fort Griswold Museum with family and saw how close Paul's is, it was the ideal time to visit. The back of Paul's abuts the water overlooking the New London Fairy Area. The front is on a Groton Street I had never seen before. There is a small inside dining area and a covered, but open area out back overlooking the water as you walk in, there's a case of pasta salads and desserts etc.. The people who work at Paul's are very friendly. I had fun talking to the person behind the counter in the front. I don't know if that is Paul, or even if there is a Paul, but he had a good deal of pride in representing Paul's Pasta. Cheers to that. When I first visit a beloved place, sometimes I double order to expand what I'm trying and make sure I have leftovers. My friend and Foodie Twin Jen H. knows what I'm talking about. I don't usually look at the actual words of Yelp reviews before I order (I generally go by overall score and food pics until I write my review), but I saw Don P's review sitting up top and I always like to hear what he has to say. Very knowledgeable about the restaurant industry. He said something like Paul's has the best pasta Alfredo he's ever had (as of the time of his review at least). That's all I needed. The breaded chicken Alfredo was one of my two orders, even though that's a rare order for me. My second order? What's the opposite of chicken Alfredo? Meat lasagna with red sauce! Done! The breaded chicken with the Fettuccini was awesome. Perfectly breaded, tender and tasty. The pasta texture was very good too. As I said, I don't often order Alfredo sauce. I normally prefer a sauce that is saltier, more acidic and/or and more seasoned. I'd normally choose carbonara for that reason if I wanted a white sauce. But I think this Alfredo Sauce was executed very well. There was a substantial amount of sauce. And it coated the fettuccini well. It was smooth and rich. But as is often the case for me, I needed some more salinity for this sauce to beideal for me. I can see how Alfredo purists love it though. The lasagna was gigantic. I got the larger of the two portion options. It was visually impressive on the plate. You're happy you ordered this when it arrives at the table. This was a good lasagna, but the red sauce was a bit sweet for me. I probably would have preferred a larger proportion of meat to the pasta as well. Notwithstanding my comments, this was a very good first visit and I saw enough to know that I need to explore more of the menu. While I was there, I overheard somebody say to always order something with the shrimp. I look forward to that. 4.25 Stars. read more

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While in Groton a couple of days ago, I had dinner at Paul's Pasta Shop. This highly rated restaurant showed up on Yelp and I said, why not? It's located next to the water and has a small parking lot behind it and free street parking just watch for some no parking signs. Paul's is a smallish restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating. Inside they have a small refrigerated display case of food to sell and near the front window you can watch them make and cut their fresh pasta. I chose to sit outside that has a nice view of the Thames River with New London on the other side. From their specials menu that evening I ordered the shrimp linguini and asked for the large version for $22. I added a side garden salad for $4 and a small order of garlic bread for $2. The salad arrived shortly after and it was excellent. The lettuce, tomatoes, etc. tasted like they were harvested the same day. Very fresh and with the honey poppy seed vinaigrette dressing absolutely delicious. Get this salad! The entree arrived about 15 minutes later. The bread basket had enough bread in it for two people and was brushed with garlic butter with bits of garlic in it. Their version of this bread is crusty and I enjoyed it. Finally the large bowl of pasta had 8 large shrimp in it with squash, red peppers, garlic, olive oil and white wine all bathed together into the house made linguini. Two things about this dish. 1. It was delicious. 2. It was a lot of food. I almost wished I had ordered the smaller version but it was also so good to eat. , The table service was very good too. I could find no fault with this meal. Everything was excellent tasting, the prices were very reasonable and the portions large. I now understand why it is so highly rated. read more

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Delicious food and great service! Prices are very reasonable for the quality you get!

I really wanted to like this place. All of the staff were attentive and friendly. The service was wonderful. And the atmosphere was so cute and quaint. Which is why I was generous with giving it a 3 star review. But the food was lacking flavor. In every dish that my significant other and I ordered and ate. read more

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Had the privilege of visiting my son at the sub base. He recommended we eat at Paul's. What a lovely place! Very charming! While it overlooks the river, we chose to eat inside. Our table was comfortable and the service was excellent. My wife and son had the Chicken Parmigiana and I had the Chicken Marsala. The portions were generous! The pasta was perfectly cooked. The chicken on both dishes was moist. The sauces were divine! My only regret was that I didn't ask to buy one of their shirts. It had "Legalize Marinara" printed on the back. How could anyone disagree with that! read more

Nice small restaurant with indoor and outdoor dining, food was good, service was a little slow getting to us and took some time for food to come out, but it was a busy Saturday night so i understand why. Overall, check it out if you're in the area! Beautiful views right on the water. read more

I picked up a large meat lasagna order. The lasagna was just a pile of noodles stuck together. One sausage link whole on the edge under a noodle. Not a meatsauce. The edges were burnt. My guest said that was the worst she ever saw. I felt so let down by Paul's Pasta. Told new owners, no response. They don't care. Sad. Post a 1 star. Now a charge for bread. read more

Wow.. found this place on yelp. Spectacular food, intimate seating. Our waitress,Madison was awesome. Try the Alfredo sauce mixed with Pesto....simply delicious. read more

Wow! Small storefront with great view of river. Exceptional food. Caesar salad was a standout. Great value old style cooking, friendly staff. Wish it was closer to us, but we'll worth a trip. read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - Meat lasagna, pasta carbona, both small size plates, and garlic bread. - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut

Paul's is a local treasure. It's been around so long that most people probably take it for granted (myself included). But when you think about it, it's really a one of a kind place. If I am craving pasta- obviously I want it to be good. And when I think of where I can get the best pasta in the area, my mind instinctively goes to some of the higher end Italian restaurants. All of those restaurants have their time and place, but sometimes I don't want to bother will everything that goes along with going to a nice restaurant- Do I need to make a reservation? What should I wear? That's where Paul's comes in. Five star pasta dishes, house made from scratch, in a laid back setting. Does it get any better? A couple of other things that I very much appreciate about Paul's: - Consistency. I'm a creature of habit. Probably 75% of the time I go, I'm ordering the breaded chicken alfredo. When I get it, it's always the same, and it's always excellent. I haven't seen them have an off day yet. - The food travels well. In most cases, I feel like takeout always loses quality by the time you get around to eating it. When I pick up Paul's, it is always piping hot and just as good as it would've been at the restaurant when I'm eating it at home. - Excellent service. The people here are so accommodating and helpful, without fail. Sometimes I'll put in big orders at Paul's for a work lunch, which I know can be annoying for the person picking up the phone. They're always friendly, and always have the food ready right on time. If you live around here, I know I'm preaching to the choir. Paul's isn't a secret. If you're not from here- go check it out. You won't regret it read more

Paul's Pasta Shop - Breaded Chicken Alfredo - Italian Near Me - Groton, Connecticut