Took spouse here for anniversary dinner. There was a wait with reservation. Not much room at a bar crowded with suburbanite divorcees and golf/tennis types. Food was meh -- I can't even remember what we had, but it wasn't anything spectacular or truly flavorful. I'd have preferred to get food at nearby Ippolito's for about 20% less and without the pretentious wait. Service was terse and intermittent. I have not been back, and it's less than a 5 minute drive away.
(2)
Josephine J.
This is my new favorite Italian restaurant...it is the real deal! While I do very much like the Americanized Italian food/restaurants (chicken parm, family style salads, soft warm garlic rolls sopping in butter, etc.)...this restaurant serves delicious, upscale, more authentic-type Italian (if you've been to Italy). Everything is made from scratch and is quite good. The lasagna is to die for. It is simple but so very tasty. As they say, "it's all in the sauce" and the pomodoro sauce that comes with it is delicious and obviously homemade. Cannot be beat. I ordered the full portion ($15) and am so glad I did, as I came home with some leftover for tomorrow. My husband had the carbonara, which was very good but just a tad salty...likely because of the pancetta (there was a lot of it). We ordered a full carafe of their house red wine (sangiovese). Very smooth and a good value. A full carafe is $18 and is just about equal to a bottle (4 glasses). Next time we will get a half carafe ($10), which comes to 1 glass each (at $5 each). For dessert we split their crème brulee, which comes slightly frozen (believe it or not). It is different, yet excellent and very refreshing. We would definitely order it again. I read reviews about the service being bad, however, that was not our experience. We were there on a Friday, after they just opened up (5:40pm), so it was not crowded. The hostess greeted us with a huge smile. And our young server, Chris, was very nice, professional and was right on with his recommendations. I myself, who is 100% Italian (and have been to Italy twice). love this place. What else can I say? Check it out for yourself.
(5)
Bill G.
Probably the best neighborhood Italian restaurant in Atlanta. Professional service, calm ambience, excellent menu. We've been there dozens of times, never been disappointed. Lamb shanks a favorite, good seafood with pasta, great individual pizza. Make a reservation. Plenty of parking as the strip shopping center is half empty.
(5)
Jack K.
Love this place. Waitress remembers names. Food is good, they are gluten-free friendly, and service is outstanding. Best gourmet Italian in north Atlanta.
(5)
David C.
Di Paolo is the best Italian restaurant I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. They have a scratch kitchen, almost everything is made on-site from the bread to (almost all) the pasta. The dining room has a very romantic atmosphere; it is lighted almost entirely by candle light. The service staff was very friendly and accomodating. After confessing that we did not know what a certain nut on a potential dish was, the waiter brought us over a sample to taste test before we made our decision. I ordered the lasagna, which was unbelievable. The texture of the pasta layers were soft and almost creamy. The cheese was not overbearing, and the meat had just a hint of a spicy kick to it. All of this was perfectly complemented with a bed of herbal tomato sauce.
(5)
Jorgen M.
I am not from this area but was recommended to go by a local. When I pulled up to this depressing strip mall ( one of thousands in this part of the country), I was not optimistic. When I opened the door, I was pleasantly surprised! We were greeted by the hostess, who after talking with her I assume is the owner of this family run Italian restaurant. The atmosphere is very nice and once inside you forget about the outside surroundings The food was very good with the stand out being the Duck Lasagna was fantastic. Made the homemade pasta and perfectly prepared duck. The scallops entree was also perfectly prepared, though the sauce had a bit too much salt for my taste.The service was also very good in this casual Italian eatery, we'll be back if we are ever in the area again.
(4)
Reed J.
Bump - Still a favorite! Recent specials have been outstanding. Look out for the bresaola - it's amazing!
(5)
Jerry C.
Simply put, a marvelous evening at Di Paolo. Brilliant service. Wonderful appetizers. The tile fish was delicate with a luscious lemon sauce and big beefy asparagus. My first experience with tile fish but this made me a fan! We were a large group and passed around 3 or 4 really delightful deserts. Di Paolo will split entrees which is a huge plus for us! Nice job all around.
(4)
E M.
We were so pleased that we took the time to drive out from Atlanta to Alpharetta just to have dinner at Di Paolo. The restaurant was very quaint, the staff was very friendly and the food was wonderful. Appetizers: insalata con cuore di palma, cozze alla ligure, pappardelle con sugo di carne 1/2 order. We shared these appetizers among three of us and all the plates were clean. Very good. Entree: braciola di maiale and stinco d'agnello. We also shared the bone in pork chop with cabbage carbonara in leek butter and the braised lamb shank with the tallegio polenta. Wow. Dessert: affogato al cafe and selection of gelati. Nice finish. So, when your in Atlanta and have an craving for good Italian food, take the drive to Di Paolo you won't be disappointed. P.S. Good wine selection by the glass.
(4)
Cousin D.
Went there last night and was awesome! Who would think that there was this gem in a strip mall. Food was fresh and service was great. Nice decor and prices very reasonable. The pasta was definitely made in house. Had a party of 4 and we ordered some anti pasti, some bruschetta and 2 pasta dishes to pass around the table. A bottle of wine and good company topped it off. Would definitely go back
(5)
Anthony P.
I would call this a neighborhood restaurant. Everyone seemed to know everyone else. Quite a busy little place so make sure to get a reservation as we did. The decor is pretty average. We were greeted and seated quickly and waited a few minutes for our friends to join us. I would say the service was a little slow. It wasn't a big deal for us as we weren't in any hurry but at times it seemed we were forgotten. The food was good but nothing memorable.
(3)
Cynthia B.
I am so picky about my Italian food. I grew up in a purely Italian town in RI and have visited Italy so I do have to say that I am finicky about my restaurants. My husband and I visited Di Paolo a few months back for the first time and it just happened to be a Sunday ( 1/2 off bottles of wine). Come to find out the location is about a mile from our house and we never noticed it in a little plaza. The interior definitely didn't look like it belonged in a plaza setting. We are vegetarian so we ordered the asparagus chilled soup, gnocchi, and one other pasta dish. They were all amazing, i think i would have let my husband lick the plate...he would have! Then to top it all off we had a pineapple cheesecake which we found out are all made fresh daily at the restaurant, OMG it was so good! We have gone back just to have dessert!. They have a rotating seasonal menu, this is great since there is always something new to try. If you love food, especially Italian...this is the place to try, you won't regret it one bit. Enjoy!
(5)
Lillie P.
Love this neighborhood italian place. Diane gives the warmest reception whether at the bar or entrance. Bolognese fantastic. Fish too good. Homemade breadsticks are so good they should be illegal.
(5)
Emily R.
Just to clarify, for people who are looking for Maggiano's, this is not it. You will not get enormous piles of Americanized "Italian" food. This is the Italian food that the Italian people eat. It is thoughtful, it is creative, and it is wonderful. I will agree with previous reviewers that service can be pretty awful and I honestly won't even go there on a weekend night after spending one too many meal being completely neglected. However, if you go during the week, service is generally ok and the food more than makes up for service issues. Most recently I tried a half order of the beet gnocchi with arugula, goat cheese, pistachios and pancetta. There wasn't much beet flavor, but it did make the gnocchi a beautiful red color that was very festive with the white goat cheese and green arugula, the flavor and texture contrasts were fantastic, especially the sauce which was white balsamic, chicken stock and butter. It was sweet and sour in the most delicious way - they kept trying to take my empty plate, but I was using my entire bread plate to wipe up every last bit of sauce before I surrendered it. I think the waitress may still have fork marks on the back of her hand from trying to clear it before I was done =) Then I had a half order of the special pasta, a tagliatelle type pasta with a truffle cheese cream sauce and asparagus. It was so rich and earthy - it would have been a 5 star pasta except some of the asparagus pieces were a little woody. The desserts at di Paolo are also very good. Currently they have a pumpkin raisin cake with toasted pine nuts and a sage chocolate chip ice cream, although if they have the balsamic ice cream, it is delicious with the cake. Go on, venture OTP one weeknight, you will be glad you did.
(4)
Todd M.
I'm not a big fan of traditional Italian Food. I'm actually married to an Italian, but we find ourselves going out to Sushi or Vietnamese more then Italian. I think the reason why is that no Italian Restaurant leaves me with a lasting impression. The menu is always the same thing...meh! So a good friend and foodie took me to Di Paolo recently. I was completely blown away. Everything from the greeting at the door to how personal the service is makes you feel like your in the best restaurant, long before you even take a bite. The greatest thing about Di Paolo is how they work their menu. Their small plates are like appetizers, but not your traditional appetizer fare. These are like "small plates" or little tastes of what could seriously be good enough for a whole meal. They also have pasta dishes where you can order a half order, or a whole order. What this allows you to do is try different things and flavors without busting the bank or emptying your wallet. As a foodie I really appreciate that. For a small plate I had Polenta with Rabbitt. Never had Rabbit...I was amazed at how warm and tasty it was. The best way to describe it was complete comfort food. For my dinner I had their seafood linguine, which was amazing. The best thing is that all of their pasta and sauces are made in-house. If you are not used to fresh pasta you might think that something is wrong with your pasta, as it is supposed to feel different in the mouth and have a little bite to it. Again...amazing. Can't say enough good things. Going to take the wife back here. Worth a trip out of your way...it is that good.
(5)
M R.
I just have to chime in and say that as long as we've been eating at DiPaolo, it's always been outstanding. Service used to be outstanding too, but admittedly, service in the last few years has gotten inconsistent. But the food is always top-notch, and the atmosphere while nice, isn't stuffy. The display kitchen is also fun if you sit at the bar, because you can see all the guys making everything. The food is wonderful and the wine list is very good. You can BYOB but I think they charge a $20 corkage.
(5)
Nick D.
This place is really good. I recently moved away from the restaurant's area but I would actually consider tracking across the northern burbs to go back. I have never had a bad meal here.
(4)
Sthanunathan S.
Great food, right portion size and friendly staff. Will visit this place more often
(4)
G G.
We went there last night to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The restaurant is located in a depressing strip mall. For a sunday night it was surprisingly crowded and loud. The food was fresh and outstanding. I loved the pizza base and handmade pasta. We got complimentary chocolate biscotti since it was our anniversary. I think that was very nice. The service was very good. I will definitely go back.
(4)
Joe R.
Food and service exceptional with great wine choices. Capres sald, mushroom risota, butternut squash ravioli. Hard to find a better place.
(5)
Oswald M.
My wife and I love this place.....Sunday nights 1/2 off btls of wine great deal.
(4)
Naveen D.
Went to Di Paolo yesterday. Good pastas but that's about it... What to get: Antipasto misto (assortment of meats and cheese), this was great insalata di barbabietola (red beets, arugula, candied pecans, goat cheese, white balsamic vinaigrette) linguine alla vongole (linguine, littleneck clams, gulf shrimp, tomatoes, spinach, toasted garlic) What not to get: pizza con mellanzana (eggplant, piquillo peppers, caramelized onions) We were really not impressed by Di Paolo. After reading reviews on Yelp I thought that it was going to much more than it was. The ambience is very nice but the food and service is just mediocre. Our waiter did not visit often so we would go for stretches before ordering courses. My main indicator in restaurants is how attentive the staff are at refilling water. My glass ran dry several times. Also, I had to ask for olive oil about 10 minutes into the bread course because I could not find my waiter nor figure out why their bread would be served without olive oil. The good part was the bread was excellent and did not require butter or oil. The secondi plates looked very interesting but I wanted to try the pasta that they are known for and with the waiter's recommendation, I ordered a full order of linguine alla vongole. This dish was superb. It was the right balance of sauce, meat, and vegetables with a perfectly cooked super thin linguine. My only gripe... a full order of pasta at $18 serves one. The full order portion was perfect for me but I was under the impression that we would be able to share amongst our table. If we did that it would have been more of a pasta tasting. Do not go into the restaurant thinking it is going to be like Maggiano's family style. Portions are strictly per person. Although if you ordered a few pizzas, you might be able to share them. Pizza. We ordered the pizza con mellanzana. Having been to many authentic (or as close as you can get to authentic in Atlanta) Italian pizza restaurants such as Fritti and Baronda, this pizza does not come close. There were way too many toppings and it overcrowded the pie. Also, it seems that they use an excellent dough and can fire it well but they put way too much olive oil and the pizza was served a little soggy. We could tell the quality of the dough and firing from the excellent, crisp crust. Perhaps we would return to Di Paolo but not for a long time. I'm hearing about Dominick's in Old Norcross. That's next for our Alpharetta/Peachtree Corners group.
(3)
Marcus D.
Quite simply put...the best Italian restaurant I have tried in Atlanta.
(5)
Jack B.
Di Paolo states that they are the Zagat top rated Italian restaurant in Atlanta. While my dinner there was very good, I have had what I thought was better in terms of Italian cuisine. This is not a family-style Italian place. While the some of usual Chicken Parm-type staples are on the menu along with pasta, most of the selections are more what I'd call "fancy food". I had roasted salmon over risotto and my wife had a lamb shank (which nearly fell off the bone). The food was artfully presented and cooked perfectly, with generous portions, and the service was attentive. For dessert, gelato, marscapone, etc were very good as well. Total damages for the two of us, including an appetizer, entree, dessert, and 3 glasses of wine, came to $85 before the tip. For that price, I have had better meals. I prefer Dominick's in Norcross, or even some of the chain restaurants, for Italian dining.
(4)
Don S.
Last night my wife and I ate here. I ordered the Linguine with clams and mussels. She ordered the Lasagna. Her's was OK but my was really terrible. The waiter brought me a large bowl and spoon for the shells and I was anticipating a grand meal. Out came a very small portion of pasta with 3 little clams and 3 mussels. The pasta was not cooked and it clumped together. It was brittle and the sauce was like dish water. All this and the price was $17.00 for this dish. My wife's half portion was twice the size of mine and she could not believe that I had a full portion. On the plus side, the beer I had was cold and the salad was fine. Other than that, this is the third time I have had dinner here and believe me it is the last. Too bad so many other people who rave about this place, had a palate more suited to hamburgers and not quality food.
(1)
Erick O.
ordered the great usual: the bolognese pasta! Great everytime! They are doing a summer special: salad and half portion pasta dish for $10.00 on mon-thurs 5:30 to 6:30PM Can't beat that! Even at Artuzzi's
(5)
Wayne W.
One of the best places in N. Atlanta. All their pastas are good. The menu changes regularly, but anything with the tagliatelle is a good choice. Also they have great polenta. Sometimes the service can be hit or miss, but the food is always great.
(4)
Lilly L.
I live far from this restaurant, but I have been there a few times, and they never disappoint. If you have not been to Italy, which I have (40 different cities in fact), you cannot completely understand where their food is coming from. I have searched high and low in Atlanta, and this is by far the best most authentic Italian restaurant in town. And what I love most is that their menu is seasonal. Their food is based on what they can cook best at the time. Can't beat that, and I will pay for the prices. Usually a real Italian meal consists of appetizer, first course, second course and dessert. I never can finish that much food. Di Paolo made it easy for us by having half sizes for their first course. Ingenious! Yes prices are a bit high, but for a little slice of Italy I'll go back again and again. As far as what to order, well, I cannot say because their menu does change. I especially love their primi pratti (first courses - pastas)!!!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
Michael B.
Took spouse here for anniversary dinner. There was a wait with reservation. Not much room at a bar crowded with suburbanite divorcees and golf/tennis types. Food was meh -- I can't even remember what we had, but it wasn't anything spectacular or truly flavorful. I'd have preferred to get food at nearby Ippolito's for about 20% less and without the pretentious wait. Service was terse and intermittent. I have not been back, and it's less than a 5 minute drive away.
(2)Josephine J.
This is my new favorite Italian restaurant...it is the real deal! While I do very much like the Americanized Italian food/restaurants (chicken parm, family style salads, soft warm garlic rolls sopping in butter, etc.)...this restaurant serves delicious, upscale, more authentic-type Italian (if you've been to Italy). Everything is made from scratch and is quite good. The lasagna is to die for. It is simple but so very tasty. As they say, "it's all in the sauce" and the pomodoro sauce that comes with it is delicious and obviously homemade. Cannot be beat. I ordered the full portion ($15) and am so glad I did, as I came home with some leftover for tomorrow. My husband had the carbonara, which was very good but just a tad salty...likely because of the pancetta (there was a lot of it). We ordered a full carafe of their house red wine (sangiovese). Very smooth and a good value. A full carafe is $18 and is just about equal to a bottle (4 glasses). Next time we will get a half carafe ($10), which comes to 1 glass each (at $5 each). For dessert we split their crème brulee, which comes slightly frozen (believe it or not). It is different, yet excellent and very refreshing. We would definitely order it again. I read reviews about the service being bad, however, that was not our experience. We were there on a Friday, after they just opened up (5:40pm), so it was not crowded. The hostess greeted us with a huge smile. And our young server, Chris, was very nice, professional and was right on with his recommendations. I myself, who is 100% Italian (and have been to Italy twice). love this place. What else can I say? Check it out for yourself.
(5)Bill G.
Probably the best neighborhood Italian restaurant in Atlanta. Professional service, calm ambience, excellent menu. We've been there dozens of times, never been disappointed. Lamb shanks a favorite, good seafood with pasta, great individual pizza. Make a reservation. Plenty of parking as the strip shopping center is half empty.
(5)Jack K.
Love this place. Waitress remembers names. Food is good, they are gluten-free friendly, and service is outstanding. Best gourmet Italian in north Atlanta.
(5)David C.
Di Paolo is the best Italian restaurant I have ever had the pleasure of visiting. They have a scratch kitchen, almost everything is made on-site from the bread to (almost all) the pasta. The dining room has a very romantic atmosphere; it is lighted almost entirely by candle light. The service staff was very friendly and accomodating. After confessing that we did not know what a certain nut on a potential dish was, the waiter brought us over a sample to taste test before we made our decision. I ordered the lasagna, which was unbelievable. The texture of the pasta layers were soft and almost creamy. The cheese was not overbearing, and the meat had just a hint of a spicy kick to it. All of this was perfectly complemented with a bed of herbal tomato sauce.
(5)Jorgen M.
I am not from this area but was recommended to go by a local. When I pulled up to this depressing strip mall ( one of thousands in this part of the country), I was not optimistic. When I opened the door, I was pleasantly surprised! We were greeted by the hostess, who after talking with her I assume is the owner of this family run Italian restaurant. The atmosphere is very nice and once inside you forget about the outside surroundings The food was very good with the stand out being the Duck Lasagna was fantastic. Made the homemade pasta and perfectly prepared duck. The scallops entree was also perfectly prepared, though the sauce had a bit too much salt for my taste.The service was also very good in this casual Italian eatery, we'll be back if we are ever in the area again.
(4)Reed J.
Bump - Still a favorite! Recent specials have been outstanding. Look out for the bresaola - it's amazing!
(5)Jerry C.
Simply put, a marvelous evening at Di Paolo. Brilliant service. Wonderful appetizers. The tile fish was delicate with a luscious lemon sauce and big beefy asparagus. My first experience with tile fish but this made me a fan! We were a large group and passed around 3 or 4 really delightful deserts. Di Paolo will split entrees which is a huge plus for us! Nice job all around.
(4)E M.
We were so pleased that we took the time to drive out from Atlanta to Alpharetta just to have dinner at Di Paolo. The restaurant was very quaint, the staff was very friendly and the food was wonderful. Appetizers: insalata con cuore di palma, cozze alla ligure, pappardelle con sugo di carne 1/2 order. We shared these appetizers among three of us and all the plates were clean. Very good. Entree: braciola di maiale and stinco d'agnello. We also shared the bone in pork chop with cabbage carbonara in leek butter and the braised lamb shank with the tallegio polenta. Wow. Dessert: affogato al cafe and selection of gelati. Nice finish. So, when your in Atlanta and have an craving for good Italian food, take the drive to Di Paolo you won't be disappointed. P.S. Good wine selection by the glass.
(4)Cousin D.
Went there last night and was awesome! Who would think that there was this gem in a strip mall. Food was fresh and service was great. Nice decor and prices very reasonable. The pasta was definitely made in house. Had a party of 4 and we ordered some anti pasti, some bruschetta and 2 pasta dishes to pass around the table. A bottle of wine and good company topped it off. Would definitely go back
(5)Anthony P.
I would call this a neighborhood restaurant. Everyone seemed to know everyone else. Quite a busy little place so make sure to get a reservation as we did. The decor is pretty average. We were greeted and seated quickly and waited a few minutes for our friends to join us. I would say the service was a little slow. It wasn't a big deal for us as we weren't in any hurry but at times it seemed we were forgotten. The food was good but nothing memorable.
(3)Cynthia B.
I am so picky about my Italian food. I grew up in a purely Italian town in RI and have visited Italy so I do have to say that I am finicky about my restaurants. My husband and I visited Di Paolo a few months back for the first time and it just happened to be a Sunday ( 1/2 off bottles of wine). Come to find out the location is about a mile from our house and we never noticed it in a little plaza. The interior definitely didn't look like it belonged in a plaza setting. We are vegetarian so we ordered the asparagus chilled soup, gnocchi, and one other pasta dish. They were all amazing, i think i would have let my husband lick the plate...he would have! Then to top it all off we had a pineapple cheesecake which we found out are all made fresh daily at the restaurant, OMG it was so good! We have gone back just to have dessert!. They have a rotating seasonal menu, this is great since there is always something new to try. If you love food, especially Italian...this is the place to try, you won't regret it one bit. Enjoy!
(5)Lillie P.
Love this neighborhood italian place. Diane gives the warmest reception whether at the bar or entrance. Bolognese fantastic. Fish too good. Homemade breadsticks are so good they should be illegal.
(5)Emily R.
Just to clarify, for people who are looking for Maggiano's, this is not it. You will not get enormous piles of Americanized "Italian" food. This is the Italian food that the Italian people eat. It is thoughtful, it is creative, and it is wonderful. I will agree with previous reviewers that service can be pretty awful and I honestly won't even go there on a weekend night after spending one too many meal being completely neglected. However, if you go during the week, service is generally ok and the food more than makes up for service issues. Most recently I tried a half order of the beet gnocchi with arugula, goat cheese, pistachios and pancetta. There wasn't much beet flavor, but it did make the gnocchi a beautiful red color that was very festive with the white goat cheese and green arugula, the flavor and texture contrasts were fantastic, especially the sauce which was white balsamic, chicken stock and butter. It was sweet and sour in the most delicious way - they kept trying to take my empty plate, but I was using my entire bread plate to wipe up every last bit of sauce before I surrendered it. I think the waitress may still have fork marks on the back of her hand from trying to clear it before I was done =) Then I had a half order of the special pasta, a tagliatelle type pasta with a truffle cheese cream sauce and asparagus. It was so rich and earthy - it would have been a 5 star pasta except some of the asparagus pieces were a little woody. The desserts at di Paolo are also very good. Currently they have a pumpkin raisin cake with toasted pine nuts and a sage chocolate chip ice cream, although if they have the balsamic ice cream, it is delicious with the cake. Go on, venture OTP one weeknight, you will be glad you did.
(4)Todd M.
I'm not a big fan of traditional Italian Food. I'm actually married to an Italian, but we find ourselves going out to Sushi or Vietnamese more then Italian. I think the reason why is that no Italian Restaurant leaves me with a lasting impression. The menu is always the same thing...meh! So a good friend and foodie took me to Di Paolo recently. I was completely blown away. Everything from the greeting at the door to how personal the service is makes you feel like your in the best restaurant, long before you even take a bite. The greatest thing about Di Paolo is how they work their menu. Their small plates are like appetizers, but not your traditional appetizer fare. These are like "small plates" or little tastes of what could seriously be good enough for a whole meal. They also have pasta dishes where you can order a half order, or a whole order. What this allows you to do is try different things and flavors without busting the bank or emptying your wallet. As a foodie I really appreciate that. For a small plate I had Polenta with Rabbitt. Never had Rabbit...I was amazed at how warm and tasty it was. The best way to describe it was complete comfort food. For my dinner I had their seafood linguine, which was amazing. The best thing is that all of their pasta and sauces are made in-house. If you are not used to fresh pasta you might think that something is wrong with your pasta, as it is supposed to feel different in the mouth and have a little bite to it. Again...amazing. Can't say enough good things. Going to take the wife back here. Worth a trip out of your way...it is that good.
(5)M R.
I just have to chime in and say that as long as we've been eating at DiPaolo, it's always been outstanding. Service used to be outstanding too, but admittedly, service in the last few years has gotten inconsistent. But the food is always top-notch, and the atmosphere while nice, isn't stuffy. The display kitchen is also fun if you sit at the bar, because you can see all the guys making everything. The food is wonderful and the wine list is very good. You can BYOB but I think they charge a $20 corkage.
(5)Nick D.
This place is really good. I recently moved away from the restaurant's area but I would actually consider tracking across the northern burbs to go back. I have never had a bad meal here.
(4)Sthanunathan S.
Great food, right portion size and friendly staff. Will visit this place more often
(4)G G.
We went there last night to celebrate our wedding anniversary. The restaurant is located in a depressing strip mall. For a sunday night it was surprisingly crowded and loud. The food was fresh and outstanding. I loved the pizza base and handmade pasta. We got complimentary chocolate biscotti since it was our anniversary. I think that was very nice. The service was very good. I will definitely go back.
(4)Joe R.
Food and service exceptional with great wine choices. Capres sald, mushroom risota, butternut squash ravioli. Hard to find a better place.
(5)Oswald M.
My wife and I love this place.....Sunday nights 1/2 off btls of wine great deal.
(4)Naveen D.
Went to Di Paolo yesterday. Good pastas but that's about it... What to get: Antipasto misto (assortment of meats and cheese), this was great insalata di barbabietola (red beets, arugula, candied pecans, goat cheese, white balsamic vinaigrette) linguine alla vongole (linguine, littleneck clams, gulf shrimp, tomatoes, spinach, toasted garlic) What not to get: pizza con mellanzana (eggplant, piquillo peppers, caramelized onions) We were really not impressed by Di Paolo. After reading reviews on Yelp I thought that it was going to much more than it was. The ambience is very nice but the food and service is just mediocre. Our waiter did not visit often so we would go for stretches before ordering courses. My main indicator in restaurants is how attentive the staff are at refilling water. My glass ran dry several times. Also, I had to ask for olive oil about 10 minutes into the bread course because I could not find my waiter nor figure out why their bread would be served without olive oil. The good part was the bread was excellent and did not require butter or oil. The secondi plates looked very interesting but I wanted to try the pasta that they are known for and with the waiter's recommendation, I ordered a full order of linguine alla vongole. This dish was superb. It was the right balance of sauce, meat, and vegetables with a perfectly cooked super thin linguine. My only gripe... a full order of pasta at $18 serves one. The full order portion was perfect for me but I was under the impression that we would be able to share amongst our table. If we did that it would have been more of a pasta tasting. Do not go into the restaurant thinking it is going to be like Maggiano's family style. Portions are strictly per person. Although if you ordered a few pizzas, you might be able to share them. Pizza. We ordered the pizza con mellanzana. Having been to many authentic (or as close as you can get to authentic in Atlanta) Italian pizza restaurants such as Fritti and Baronda, this pizza does not come close. There were way too many toppings and it overcrowded the pie. Also, it seems that they use an excellent dough and can fire it well but they put way too much olive oil and the pizza was served a little soggy. We could tell the quality of the dough and firing from the excellent, crisp crust. Perhaps we would return to Di Paolo but not for a long time. I'm hearing about Dominick's in Old Norcross. That's next for our Alpharetta/Peachtree Corners group.
(3)Marcus D.
Quite simply put...the best Italian restaurant I have tried in Atlanta.
(5)Jack B.
Di Paolo states that they are the Zagat top rated Italian restaurant in Atlanta. While my dinner there was very good, I have had what I thought was better in terms of Italian cuisine. This is not a family-style Italian place. While the some of usual Chicken Parm-type staples are on the menu along with pasta, most of the selections are more what I'd call "fancy food". I had roasted salmon over risotto and my wife had a lamb shank (which nearly fell off the bone). The food was artfully presented and cooked perfectly, with generous portions, and the service was attentive. For dessert, gelato, marscapone, etc were very good as well. Total damages for the two of us, including an appetizer, entree, dessert, and 3 glasses of wine, came to $85 before the tip. For that price, I have had better meals. I prefer Dominick's in Norcross, or even some of the chain restaurants, for Italian dining.
(4)Don S.
Last night my wife and I ate here. I ordered the Linguine with clams and mussels. She ordered the Lasagna. Her's was OK but my was really terrible. The waiter brought me a large bowl and spoon for the shells and I was anticipating a grand meal. Out came a very small portion of pasta with 3 little clams and 3 mussels. The pasta was not cooked and it clumped together. It was brittle and the sauce was like dish water. All this and the price was $17.00 for this dish. My wife's half portion was twice the size of mine and she could not believe that I had a full portion. On the plus side, the beer I had was cold and the salad was fine. Other than that, this is the third time I have had dinner here and believe me it is the last. Too bad so many other people who rave about this place, had a palate more suited to hamburgers and not quality food.
(1)Erick O.
ordered the great usual: the bolognese pasta! Great everytime! They are doing a summer special: salad and half portion pasta dish for $10.00 on mon-thurs 5:30 to 6:30PM Can't beat that! Even at Artuzzi's
(5)Wayne W.
One of the best places in N. Atlanta. All their pastas are good. The menu changes regularly, but anything with the tagliatelle is a good choice. Also they have great polenta. Sometimes the service can be hit or miss, but the food is always great.
(4)Lilly L.
I live far from this restaurant, but I have been there a few times, and they never disappoint. If you have not been to Italy, which I have (40 different cities in fact), you cannot completely understand where their food is coming from. I have searched high and low in Atlanta, and this is by far the best most authentic Italian restaurant in town. And what I love most is that their menu is seasonal. Their food is based on what they can cook best at the time. Can't beat that, and I will pay for the prices. Usually a real Italian meal consists of appetizer, first course, second course and dessert. I never can finish that much food. Di Paolo made it easy for us by having half sizes for their first course. Ingenious! Yes prices are a bit high, but for a little slice of Italy I'll go back again and again. As far as what to order, well, I cannot say because their menu does change. I especially love their primi pratti (first courses - pastas)!!!
(5)