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Restaurant Reviews List > New York / Tri-State Area Restaurant Reviews > Manhattan Restaurant Reviews > Upper East Side Restaurant Reviews > Italian Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Reviews for Paola's Restaurant

Paola's Restaurant reservations Paola's Restaurant

1295 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10028

Paola's Restaurant has been a fixture on the Upper East Side for the past 23 years. It was first located on a small storefront on 85th Street and First Avenue but later moved to its present location.

Paola's is a comfortable restaurant with rosy walls, mirrors and flowers. A brick oven warms the restaurant in winter. Paola's service is professional but not stiff and our menu is versatile and tasty, featuring fresh and seasonal ingredients.

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Price: $31 to $50
Parking: Street Parking
Cross Street:
See more Paola's Restaurant details
Average Diner Rating
Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 4.0 out of 5 (45 Reviews)
Food 4.2 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 3.7 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 3.9 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.3 out of 3 (Moderate)
Summary of Special Features

Diners classify this restaurant as:

  • neighborhood gem (36)
  • fit for foodies (17)
  • great for lunch (9)
  • special occasion (8)
  • good for groups (7)
  • great for brunch (5)
  • romantic (5)
  • hot spot (3)
  • kid-friendly (3)
  • notable wine list (3)
  • vibrant bar scene (2)

Paola's Restaurant Reviews List
Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"Everything was excellent.Drinks,Wine,Food and the service."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Service 5.0 out of 5 (Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 03/03/2010
(review submitted 03/09/2010)
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Review 2 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"we've been through many incarnations of the same place.. Busby's then something else, now Paola's..and this might be the nicest result!"

Special Features: good for groups, great for brunch, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, great for lunch

Food 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Ambiance 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 03/07/2010
(review submitted 03/09/2010)
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Review 3 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"food was very good. tables a little too close together. service excellent. a neighborhood place. most people appeared to be regulars. i'd definitely go back"

Special Features: neighborhood gem

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 03/06/2010
(review submitted 03/08/2010)
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Review 4 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
"this was one of the few times we were seated at our reservation time. overall experience is good. looks better during the day when the curtains are open. when closed at night it could be a corporate enclosed dining room in an office building. it's the biggest complaint from neighborhood friends."

Food 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Ambiance 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Service 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 3.0 out of 3 (Energetic)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 02/28/2010
(review submitted 03/02/2010)
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Review 5 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"Delicous food and great service in this neighborhood favorite spot. Always delivers."

Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 02/25/2010
(review submitted 03/01/2010)
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Review 6 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"terrific food in a lovely setting. we would go back (this wasn't our first time) and so would our guest."

Special Features: kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, great for lunch

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 02/22/2010
(review submitted 02/26/2010)
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Review 7 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"This was my first visit since the move to Madison Avenue. The menu is inventive and the food seemed better than ever. It has lost some of charm of the old location, but it is a pleasant and vibrant environment. I do hope they will do something to dampen the noise; it is deafening when the restaurant is full."

Special Features: neighborhood gem

Food 5.0 out of 5 (Outstanding)
Ambiance 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 3.0 out of 3 (Energetic)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 02/22/2010
(review submitted 02/24/2010)
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Review 8 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"A welcome addition to the neighborhood Not exactly cheap for a Wednesday dinner out, but the food and ambiance always make it a pleasure"

Special Features: neighborhood gem

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 02/18/2010
(review submitted 02/22/2010)
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Review 9 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"A bit on the expensive side, but a nice place in a neighborhood that isn't overrun with dining options."

Special Features: neighborhood gem

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 02/16/2010
(review submitted 02/18/2010)
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Review 10 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 5.0 out of 5 (Outstanding)
"I have been dining at Paola's for almost 25 years. The move to Madison Ave. seems to have emboldened everything about her business. The food is fantastic and inventive. The atmosphere is warm, chic, and friendly. Service is tops and it makes for a fabulous food experience and night out."

Special Features: special occasion

Food 5.0 out of 5 (Outstanding)
Ambiance 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 1.0 out of 3 (Quiet)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 02/14/2010
(review submitted 02/17/2010)
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Review 11 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"Food is terrific. Paola herself is great. I think the restaurant is a little loud and I find the waitstaff to be a little lazy and arrogant. Asking for red pepper flakes is an imposition. I think the food is first class and Paola makes it special."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Service 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 3.0 out of 3 (Energetic)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 02/08/2010
(review submitted 02/12/2010)
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Review 12 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
"The new Paola's lacks the coziness of the one close to First Ave., and it's much noisier -- and (where we were sitting) very hot indeed. As it was February, that was unexpected, and though they tried to bring down the temperature, they weren't entirely successful. The food was good, but overall, it wasn't a memorable meal."

Food 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Ambiance 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 3.0 out of 3 (Energetic)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 02/02/2010
(review submitted 02/04/2010)
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Review 13 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"Dinner was just wonderful serivce excellent and food was perfect"

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 3.0 out of 3 (Energetic)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 01/26/2010
(review submitted 01/28/2010)
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Review 14 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"We had not been to Paola's since its shift to Madison Ave. We were a family group and all seemed to enjoy it considerably - there is a wide menu selection, a good wine list and all well delivered."

Special Features: neighborhood gem

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 01/24/2010
(review submitted 01/26/2010)
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Review 15 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"Paola pays attention to every detail. food was great. absolutely go back."

Special Features: neighborhood gem

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 01/22/2010
(review submitted 01/24/2010)
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Review 16 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"Great food,friendly and very competent service,a real gem."

Special Features: neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 5.0 out of 5 (Outstanding)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 01/17/2010
(review submitted 01/20/2010)
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Review 17 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 2.0 out of 5 (Fair)
"Very noisy place to try to have a business lunch, but otherwise a nice neighborhood stop."

Special Features: kid-friendly

Food 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Ambiance 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Service 2.0 out of 5 (Fair)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 3.0 out of 3 (Energetic)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 12/18/2009
(review submitted 12/20/2009)
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Review 18 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"Excellent restaurant. Pricey for lunch though."

Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, great for lunch

Food 5.0 out of 5 (Outstanding)
Ambiance 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 12/15/2009
(review submitted 12/19/2009)
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Review 19 for Paola's Restaurant

Overall Rating 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
"I'm a vegetarian and there were some vegetarians options. I loved my salad and white wine was good as well"

Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, great for lunch

Food 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 3.0 out of 5 (Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.0 out of 3 (Moderate)

By an OpenTable.com user
who dined on 12/13/2009
(review submitted 12/17/2009)
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Ratings-Only Reviews for Paola's Restaurant Based on the average of (26) ratings-only reviews
Overall Rating 4.1 out of 5 (Very Good)
Food 4.3 out of 5 (Very Good)
Ambiance 3.8 out of 5 (Very Good)
Service 4.0 out of 5 (Very Good)
Restaurant Experience:
Noise Level 2.3 out of 3 (Moderate)
160*600 Advertising Space