My family and I had the privilege of dining at Ristorante Paoletti twice during our recent stay in Highlands. The restaurant is located on the main street that runs through the town making it easy to find. Be sure to make a reservation as it fills up quickly. The staff we encountered during both visits were friendly and professional. The food was exceptional each visit. The eggplant parmigiana starter was tender and so flavorful. Three of the four of us ordered it on the second visit as it was that good. The beef carpaccio and meatball starter were also enjoyed. For entrees we had the trout Frances, stuffed halibut special, the gnocchi special, the mushroom tortellini and the linguine pescatore. All dishes were delcious while the trout Frances, mushroom tortellini and linguine pescatore were our favorites. It is worth mentioning their gnocchi could not have been better prepared as it was like a fluffy pillow as gnocchi should be. Had it been paired with the truffle sauce from the mushroom tortellini then it would have been perfection. For dessert, we sampled several ice creams, sorbets, the tiramisu and the Blueberry Coconut Layered cake. The raspberry sorbet and cappuccino Oreo gelato were the fan favorites for the dessert course. Ristorante Paoletti receives our highest recommendation as it is on point with offering a positive atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food. read more

The ambiance and service were great. With that being said, unfortunately the food was terrible. Everything was covered in cheese- usually a good thing but not on these dishes. The grouper was over fried and doused in butter. The pasta dishes had so much cheese- it was over powering- same for potatoes. Lasagna was good. Unfortunately we won't be back. read more

Exceptional meal and service at Paoletti. Perhaps the best meal I've had in an Italian restaurant in decades. Expertly prepared and presented. Wonderful wine list. Busy but intimate. Outstanding! read more

Paolettis is outstanding in every regard. Tonight my wife & I had their lasagna which was absolutely superb. Our server was Mary she was professional & very knowledgeable. The owners are present to assure your dining experience is going perfectly. We will look forward to returning to enjoy another fabulous meal at Paolett's. read more

Another great experience at Paoletti's, our fourth or fifth visit. We shared the Oysters Rockefeller, a special app and a small Caesar salad both excellent. I had the Cioppino Paoletti, which was served over linguine, and my wife had seafood in a cream sauce served over pasta, both were perfectly cooked and tasty. Also a couple of cocktails each. Service was as usual superb, with our waitress Sandra and Mama G. taking care of us. We always save this restaurant for our last night in town as it is always the highlight of our visit to Highlands. read more

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We came in with high expectations given the pricing and the way this restaurant is positioned, but unfortunately the food did not live up to it. I ordered the Coppola Paoletti ($60), which was surprisingly completely tasteless. For a dish at that price point, I expected depth, seasoning, and balance--but it fell flat in every way. My wife had the Cacio e Pepe, which was also very disappointing. It lacked flavor entirely, and the pasta itself was overcooked and sticking together, definitely not al dente. For such a classic and simple dish, execution really matters, and this missed the mark. The Wagyu beef ricotta meatball with polenta was the one highlight of the night. That dish was done well and deserves credit--3.5/5 for the appetizer. As for the atmosphere: it's marketed as a relaxed, Italian-style dining experience, but in reality, everyone is packed in very tightly, almost like sardines. I understand the intention, but it didn't feel comfortable--and it certainly didn't feel authentically Italian. I'm not expecting Italy, but please don't sell it as such when the experience doesn't match. I also have to question some of the glowing reviews. Either our experience was a major outlier, or some people have simply never had properly cooked, well-seasoned pasta and don't know what it should taste like - as long there are sheep, there will be wool I guess. Overall, for the very high prices, the quality and execution just weren't there. One solid appetizer can't make up for bland mains and poorly cooked pasta. read more

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I am in the highlands area and decided to take a stop at one the "top 20 Italian restaurants" in the U.S. I ordered the Gnocchi alla Sorrentina with a housemade ricotta gnocchi in a light tomato sauce with fresh basil and three Italian cheeses. It's soft, pillowy gnocchi a great dish for pasta lovers. Overall great experience would definitely recommend. read more

Ristorante Paoletti - Italian Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

Upscale Italian restaurant in downtown Highlands. Good food & Service, though a bit slow if you have plans afterwards & need to be somewhere. $$$$$$$ read more

We had reservations for 4 and was seated promptly. Lovely Ambiance and food was excellent. 3 out of 4 of us had the elk chop cooked medium rare while my sister had the fish special which she also enjoyed. We also had Cesar salads topped with anchovies (we asked;) We had a red wine recommended by our waiter and me and sis a glass of rose champagne to start. The food, ambiance and service all great as would be expected for a top quality northern Italian restaurant in Highlands. We will definitely be back. read more

Ristorante Paoletti - Me and hubby(Paul), my sister and brother-n-law. We had a lovely evening - Italian Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

Elk chop pictured here. This is from the same visit I reviewed earlier, just adding a picture from our experience for more emphasis. Chop was good, and cooked perfectly. Service was super slow, and hostess was a rude nightmare. Ambiance was dark and not elegant. White tablecloths, at least. read more

Ristorante Paoletti - Spiced Cervena Elk Rib Chop - Italian Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

Another great experience. Forgot to get photo, but never skip the bread pudding either. read more

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Perhaps the best meal I've ever eaten. We had veal cannelloni and gnocchi sorrentina. Absolutely amazing. Eggplant parm to start was so tasty. Great food, service and atmosphere for a date night! read more

Second chance and same outcome - not enjoyable. The food was average, they use tricky wine glasses to give you less than average pour, and felt like we were being rush out when the place was mostly empty and we were at the bar. Faded glory. read more

This was our first time to the highlands and after researching where to go for my husband and I's 10th anniversary and my birthday we decided to just walk in on a Friday night We knew we would probably not get a table but we were fine with that. We put our name down for the bar and got a call maybe 45 mins after. Nicole was the bartender and our server and she was excellent! Cocktails were fabulous and the food was fantastic we ended up going back the 2nd night! They change specials daily and the entrees come out pipping HOT, which I dearly appreciate, because no one likes a warm pasta, needs to be HOT and the pasta was al dente, perfect doneness. Ingredients, wines, and ideas for menu come from Italy, and the cakes we had (pumpkin & blueberry) were to die for. Probably some of the best desserts I have had and we lived in Manhattan for 8 years, so that says something! Will absolutely come back and recommend, Mama G and little G were lovely people, customer service goes far in my book and they nailed it. read more

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Been here twice now during my visits to Highlands, and it's truly some of the best Italian cuisine I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying! Service, quality, and aesthetics are 10/10 in my opinion. Pro tip: book your reservation well in advance if you are planning a visit in or near Highlands, NC as they get booked up very quickly (sometimes for months ahead of time). It's truly that popular. This most recent visit, our server was incredible! She never once wrote anything down, and had all of the daily specials and off-menu dishes memorized and was constantly checking in on us and clearing the table between courses. Her energy was so enthusiastic and contagious in the best way. Truly, anything on (or off) their menu is absolutely divine, but my favorite thing this most recent visit was the Cacio e Pepe with spaghetti tossed in a Pecorino Romano and Black Pepper Sauce, but the Nonna Marla's Rigatoni Bolognese was a close second! I cannot wait for my next visit! They do change out their specials and some menu items seasonally, so I'll be excited to see what's new on the menu next time! read more

Outstanding service and incredibly delicious food! We will definitely come back again. read more

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The ambiance here and the food was terrific. Very nice menu with typical favorites done right. Great wine list, too great making it hard to choose. The bolognese was excellent as was our wine choice. My only concern was, while nice, they weren't very attentive to our table, and while busy, it's still part of the experience. I always eat here when in the mountains, but I wish only that were better. read more

Paolettis is a must do in Highlands. The food and service were amazing. Heather was our server and very kind and attentive!

Amazing Italian food! My husband and I dined here on our last night in Highlands and it was a treat. Be sure to make reservations weeks in advance because this place books up fast! We didn't make a reservation until the day before, but luckily they had a spot available at 5:15. Out waiter was extremely prompt and friendly and gave great menu suggestions. We each had a glass of wine and both were very tasty. We also ordered the meatball appetizer over polenta and it was fantastic. For our mains we had the carbonara and mushroom ravioli. Everything was so delicious and reminded me of the food I had when I visited Italy a while back. The owner was there and made her way around each table to greet every guest. She was so friendly and truly made us feel at home. Everything about the evening was lovely and I will definitely dine here again if I get the chance! read more

Ristorante Paoletti - Meatball over polenta. Fantastic! - Italian Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

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Food, service, and overall atmosphere was great. Only complaint I have is their wine pricing which is 3x retail price value, that is too much and gauging! read more

This is our third visit to Paoletti's. I was so excited to share what I considered the best restaurant in Highlands with my daughter and her family. We had the best table in the restaurant and I was anticipating a fabulous and relaxing meal. However, the service was not up to the previous visits standards... forgot cocktail orders. Either ignored or forgot specifics to the order. But mostly it as the attitude of our "man bun" server. He rushed us and when we requested a repeat of the desert choices, rushed through them again. We decided therefore that we must have been a burden to him, cut desert out (went to Kilwins), and left a 15% tip (which we never do). The food was fine but not as fabulous as I remembered... perhaps because of our servers attitude I was underwhelmed. We will not be back. read more

Mama G was very nice and the food was great ! Will come back in the future Made my anniversary that much more special read more

A fabulous meal in Highlands!! Ristorante Paoletti never disappoints!! The food was amazing , the ambiance and service 5 stars!! read more

Great restaurant in Highlands. Menu specializes in Italian dishes, great meat choices too. Good wine list too.

Food and service were absolutely 5 star. Fresh and delicious! Highly recommend if you enjoy true Italian cuisine!!

Classy ambiance. Prompt, professional service. Our entrees were tasty and well presented. Wine list is deep and broad. Wine recommended by sommelier listed as $150, retails for $39. A 3-400% markup is unacceptable. Sorry. Disappointing overall experience. Please....no token management rebut. read more

Very expensive for the quality and portion size. I would not go back. There are better restaurants in the area.

As always - Some of the best Italian we've ever had, rivaling major food cities. Incredible service. Of course it's not cheap, as it shouldn't be! They also were accommodating to our kids! Vibrant atmosphere and such a classic spot. read more

Just finished up the most lovely dinner here tonight. Our server, Warner, could not have been more friendly and welcoming. He helped us figure out exactly the right variation of dishes, that when paired with a delicious wine suggested by the Somm, yielded a fantastic result. Such a gem in the heart of the highlands. All of this wrapped by a fantastic energy in the restaurant of people that truly care. read more

My wife Babs, daughter Paula (a foodie/tree hugger residing in Charleston, SC and grandson Colin), enjoyed dinner last evening. The wine sommelier-Julio and server-part owner Zac, were knowledgeable and very helpful. The meal, suggested appetizers and, desert were outstanding!!! We will try to dine here often this spring and summer!!! read more

The most popular Italian restaurant in the area is Usually crowded so Plan ahead. We try to eat there when visiting Highlands. read more

Highlands might not be the first place you'd look to find a decades-old, family-run Italian restaurant but that's what you'll find with Paoletti. In terms of ambience, it's a bit nicer than the neighborhood white-and-red checkered tablecloth joints you'd expect in Little Italy but it's also not at all stuffy. But the food can definitely hold its own with said joints in terms of flavor and authenticity! My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our insalate, and the pasta dishes were great as well. I ordered the Nonna Maria's rigatoni which was amazing (and enough for lunch the next day) and my wife loved her Tagllatelle con Tartufo e Funghi. Service was prompt, and the staff was extremely nice; the owner and her daughter both chatted with us for several minutes about the family and restaurant history and were both genuinely welcoming. I'm a big fan of Italian food and a big fan of Highlands, so now I'm a big fan of Ristorante Paoletti as well. Try it and I'll bet you will be too. read more

Ristorante Paoletti - Nonna Maria's rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

When I made reservations a few weeks ago I advised the hostess that my daughter and I were going to be there for the weekend celebrating her birthday. When we arrived it was lovely that the hostess immediately wished her a Happy Birthday, along with the waiter and wait staff. The service was wonderful, couldn't ask for a better waiter and the FOOD was truly old world Italian. We both very much enjoyed everything we had (my daughter had 2 different pasta dishes as they allow for half portions of each- great idea). We were so full that we did not intend to have dessert but the waiter brought out a small apple dessert with a candle, again wishing her a Happy Birthday from the staff. To top it off, the owner came by the table at the end of our meal. Introducing herself and telling us the history of the restaurant that started in Coral Gables by her grandmother. They moved to Highlands 40 years ago and have been serving in that location every since. So lovely to have met her and for her to spend a few minutes on a very busy evening to speak to her guests. If I am ever in Highlands NC again, I will definately dine here. read more

This restaurant seems to accept more reservations than it can reasonably service. While our server was friendly, the service itself was very slow. The food was bland and the quality does not align with the steep prices. The Caesar salad was limp and lacked any presentation. The rigatoni alla bolognese was flavorless and the spaghetti alla carbonara was drenched in a thick, over salted sauce. The servers were clearly trying their best but that only goes so far when you're spending $300 on a meal. read more

A trip to Highlands is not complete without a visit (or two) to Paoletti's! From the friendly welcome, to the outstanding servers, and the delicious food we always leave looking forward to our next visit! 10/10 every time!! Book your reservation in advance of arrival or try to grab a coveted spot & dine at the bar for an Italian dining experience you will not forget! Our favorite restaurant in Highlands! read more

Every visit to Highlands, it's a MUST that at least once, we visit this fine Italian restaurant where we love interacting with the owners. We love Italy. Great we only live 2 hrs away . Speaking of this wonderful restaurant, I'm waiting to make a reservation 1 month out now! read more

Looked like a very pretty place and came recommended. The big sign stating that reservations for you a table for 1:45 was foreshadowing, not that I wanted to stay that long. The service was a 3/10 with a moderately grumpy older woman serving us. The wine menu is long but horribly overpriced. Had a bottle of super Tuscan red that is $22 at the grocery...they charged $76. Solid markup indeed Onto the food,....... Bread was ok but served with a weird herbed butter which was way too cold to spread and prettt underwhelming. My wife had the gnocchi, which was actually pretty decent. O had the rigatoni bolognese which was embarrassing. I eat Italian out about once a month, and it was easily the worst I've had in a couple years. Watery, soulless and just no real flavor. Advertised as served with a ragu and there was meat, but meh. The real problem really was that all of the food was mediocre, the bill was huge. In summary, if you want exceptionally expensive Italian, that isn't that good, this is your spot read more

Went to dinner here. Been trying to get here for nine years and finally got to dine here. They did not disappoint. From the entrance to the exit the staff was excellent and wanted to ensure our experience was enjoyed. Meeting the 3rd generation family member running daily operations was a true wonderful experience. The staff truly cared and the food was beyond excellent. The decor of the place is classic high end italian. White tablecloth tables and the pictures are beautiful black and white of Italy and Italian foods. After listening to the plethora of additional dinner specials we actually reverted to tried a true Italian fare. The burrata caprese salad was excellent and very flavorful. The pollo di limone was probably the best chicken and lemon I've ever eaten. When you can cut your breaded chicken breast with a fork you know they are doing something right. I got the spaghetti carbonara which truly had great flavor and the pancetta used added that right amount of saltiness that is needed. Sadly was overfull and couldn't partake of their desserts but all of them looked devine. This is definitely a place to eat and you have to get your reservations if your here. You will not be disappointed!!!! read more

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Thus place recommended by at least 3 people so I decided to check it out. Did not disappoint!! I ate at the bar- they actually let me schedule a time for bar service...like call ahead seating but for the bar. That was pretty cool. The company and staff were friendly and the food was top notch. A little pricey but the food was worth it. I got the escargot and gnocchi and both were amazing! Highly recommend. read more

Ristorante Paoletti - Bread service and gin martini - Italian Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

very good food and service. great ambiance. upscale restaurant - feels like you are in a bustling metropolitan restaurant