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Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown Reviews List

Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown

The very first Paolo's found its home in historic Georgetown in the 1980's, and has been a Georgetown staple ever since. The bustling ristorante has become a corner fixture in this centuries old melting pot amongst politicians, travelers, shoppers and students. Dine outside and watch the world go by, or sit inside and watch your pizza being prepared in our fabulous brick oven, and most of all - enjoy! Located in the heart of Georgetown, Paolo's serves fine Cal-Italian cuisine full of exciting pizzas and exquisite pastas.
See more Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown details
57 Current Reviews
Summary of Diner Ratings & Reviews
Overall 
3.8 / 5
(Very Good) 3.8 / 5
(57 Reviews)
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating Breakdown 57 reviews
5 stars
(13)
4 stars
(25)
3 stars
(13)
2 stars
(5)
1 star
(1)
Food 
3.7 / 5
(Very Good) 3.7 / 5
Service 
3.8 / 5
(Very Good) 3.8 / 5
Ambiance 
3.7 / 5
(Very Good) 3.7 / 5
Noise Level
2.5 / 3
Energetic
Filter Reviews By:
Diners classify this restaurant as:
  • neighborhood gem(25)
  • good for groups(16)
  • vibrant bar scene(16)
  • great for outdoor dining(14)
  • fit for foodies(12)
  • hot spot(11)
Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown Reviews List
Review 1 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5

Great place for drinks

Customer Avatar
OpenTable Diner
Dined on 5/15/2013
Food 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Service 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Ambiance 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"Food and drinks OK. what makes this place is the location."
Dined on 5/15/2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, scenic view, late-night find, hot spot
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Review 2 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5

Food is Hit or Miss

Customer Avatar
OpenTable Diner
Dined on 5/05/2013
Food 
1 / 5
(Poor) 1 / 5
Service 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"We live in the neighborhood, and so much want this restaurant to be nice. Alas...
My pasta primavera was swimming in olive oil, comprising only shredded celery and a few soggy green peppers. Hardly seemed "primavera". Husband had pasta bolognese, tangy and nice, properly al dente. Fried calamari was the highlight -- crispy batter, mixed with pungent hot peppers and a spicy sauce.
Service was friendly, even chipper, but the entrees were served too quickly, creating a traffic jam of plates on the table.
Go there fore the outdoor seating, and watch the people walk by on busy Wisconsin Avenue."
Dined on 5/05/2013
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, scenic view
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Review 3 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5

A very nice place to dine

Food 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Service 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Ambiance 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"A very nice place to dine with a group or as a date night. My husband and I enjoyed the evening. Staff very nice and helpful. We will return."
Dined on 04/27/2013
 2012
Special Features: good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch
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Review 4 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5

We sat in the patio. The weather

Food 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Service 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Ambiance 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"We sat in the patio. The weather was nice and the street was lively. We had a nice time, so our overall experience was good, but the food itself was mediocre."
Dined on 04/26/2013
 2010
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Review 5 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5

Poor, poor service

Food 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Service 
1 / 5
(Poor) 1 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Quiet
Quiet
"Brunch would have been infinitely more enjoyable if our waiter, or any staff for that matter, ever came to check on us. Routinely had to flag down busboys from inside (we were seated on the patio) to refill water, forget about other drinks. Trying to get the check was another mess."
Dined on 04/14/2013
 2006
Special Features: great for brunch, great for outdoor dining
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Review 6 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5

Great place in Georgetown

Food 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Service 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Quiet
Quiet
"Food was outstanding. The Paolo salad was great and it was different. The Devil's Chicken was unique as well. Spicy and delicious."
Dined on 04/09/2013
 2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem
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Review 7 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
1 / 5
(Poor) 1 / 5

Not good at all

Food 
1 / 5
(Poor) 1 / 5
Service 
1 / 5
(Poor) 1 / 5
Ambiance 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"The service in this rest. Was awful! My whole experience was awful. You would think that by doing a reservation they would have a good table reserved but they didn't. Lets start by they didn't have a table ready and they gave us (reservation for two) the most awful uncomftable table in the restaurant... Then I told the hostess An told us there wasn't any more tables then the manager gave us another table( so much for not having any tables available) then we ordered a risotto that was undercooked... It was bad! And our waiter was really not nice. When we got the bill it was hurtful to pay so much! For such a poor service and poor dinner!! Really disappointed."
Dined on 04/04/2013
 2009
Special Features: vibrant bar scene
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Review 8 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5

The food was just not good,

Food 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Service 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"The food was just not good, period."
Dined on 03/30/2013
 2008
Special Features: vibrant bar scene
0points
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Review 9 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem
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Review 10 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

The veal chop was excellent

Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Ambiance 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"The veal chop was excellent and the gulf shrimp risotto also was tasty. I would return"
Dined on 03/16/2013
 2006
Special Features: neighborhood gem
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Review 11 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

an old favorite

Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Quiet
Quiet
"I've been to Paolo's when it is full and the noise level is equal to the number of people. We went at 7 on a Monday with much fewer customers so the "quiet" designation needs to be appropriate to the reservation.
Carbonara was very good as was the calamari. The breadsticks served with the tampenade are very good as long as you eat them quickly while warm. If allowed to cool they get that tough (heated in a microwave) type bread.
"
Dined on 03/11/2013
 2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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Review 12 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5

Dissapointing

Food 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Service 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Ambiance 
2 / 5
(Fair) 2 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"The food was mediocre at best. Certainly not the caliber of food at the other Paolos in Baltimore. With all the choices for good food in Georgetown, I do not plan to return to Paolos."
Dined on 03/10/2013
 2009
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Review 13 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

The margherita pizza was really

Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
5 / 5
(Outstanding) 5 / 5
Ambiance 
3 / 5
(Good) 3 / 5
Noise Level
Energetic
Energetic
"The margherita pizza was really good! But the best part was our server... I wish i remembered his name. Best server ever. African-american young, tall built guy. Thank you whatever your name is. You made our experience soooo much better ; )"
Dined on 02/09/2013
 2011
Special Features: good for groups
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Review 14 for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Overall rating 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5

Decent, though not extensive,

Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Ambiance 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Noise Level
Moderate
Moderate
"Decent, though not extensive, wine list. Sports bar seating good but noisy - same food."
Dined on 01/26/2013
 2011
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Paolo's Ristorante - Georgetown
Based on the average of (43) ratings-only reviews
Overall 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
6 out of 6 recommend this product
Food 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Service 
4 / 5
(Very Good) 4 / 5
Ambiance 
3.8 / 5
(Very Good) 3.8 / 5
Noise Level
2.5 / 3
Energetic