We've been here a few times, and the quality has always been basically good and occasionally very good. The specials tend to be prepared with the best and most seasonal ingredients. Sometimes the basic Italian dishes can be a little bland, but the atmosphere and service are consistently great!
(4)
Chris T.
Best (Italian) Restaurant in Westminster. I eat lunch here at least 2 times a week. Don't even worry about reading the menu for lunch, just order one of the daily specials. Great for dinner too. Prices are definitely below other fine dinning throughout MD.
(5)
Dayle F.
They try, but the execution of their gluten free pasta is pretty bad. When it became evident that the pasta was so undercooked that it was crunchy and inedible they were nice enough to take off the dollar extra I paid for the gluten free pasta. Management fail.
(3)
Derek W.
This pasta paradise is a delightful surprise hidden off Main Street in the rather low-key, off-the-beaten path center of Westminster. Despite considerable fanfare on "Best Italian Restaurants" lists, we found the restaurant only half-full on a Friday night.. Our server was incredibly personable, and the simple, non-ostentatious dining room was an ideal setting for an evening of la dolce vita. The pastas were out of this world. The swoon-inducing evening special was a papparadelle with crab and asparagus in an Old Bay cream sauce. Any one of those ingredients would have formed a satisfying repast...but all of them together were a marvelous treat. The crab was sweet, tender and amply tossed throughout the dish, and the cream sauce was otherworldly with just enough Old Bay to be dangerous. We also had a more straightforward shrimp and scallop cappellini with cream sauce - smooth and silky without being rich, studded with extra-large pieces of gently sauteed seafood. The warm chocolate lava cake for dessert was the perfect ending.
(4)
Sarah R.
Very good food. Great Italian dishes for a night out. Nice upstairs dining room. Saw the bar/lounge area, but didn't go in. Will definitely go back.
(4)
Ginny B.
I definitely do not understand why this was voted "best Italian" in Carroll county. The side salad was yummy. Then we got the chicken margherita which sounded delicious with chicken, mushrooms, and sundried tomatoes in a marsala wine tomato sauce but it actually means two bland chicken breasts next to a pile of bland angel hair pasta all floating in an incredibly runny "tomato" sauce. I literally had to use my spoon to taste the sauce because it wasn't sticking to any of the food and it was clear neither the pasta, the chicken breasts or the mushrooms had been cooked in it. Maybe I could excuse one bad dish and try this place again but nearly every plate I saw going out had a giant pool of runny "sauce". Anyone's who's been to Italy knows that is NOT Italian! The prices were pretty steep for Westminster too. The best part were the drinks from the bar and the mousse for dessert.
(2)
annie z.
I have never been disappointed at Paradiso's. Clean, friendly and well priced for the quality. The salmon is my favorite with a salad and there awesome house dressing. Highly recommend!
(5)
Anne M.
After dinner here recently, my companions and I looked at each other and said "why did we wait so long?" Our party had fettucine with spinach and lump crabmeat, chicken with lump crabmeat in a cheesy cream sauce, and penne in vodka sauce. The server was attentive but not obnoxiously hovering, and quick with drink refills, grated cheese or more bread. Chocolate souffle and chocolate mousse rounded out a filling, and satisfying in all senses, evening with friends. Already looking forward to another visit in three weeks!
(5)
Scott R.
Unlike the previous reviewer - I have been disappointed at Paradiso. A few months back our small family went on a whim, and we ended up over $100 for a meal McRuby-Apple-Garden would have been lucky to charge $30 for. Which was exactly my experience the time before that (you'd think I'd learn...). To be fair, my wife and I had a far better experience this past Saturday night. I don't know, I guess we intended to slum it at Olive Garden, and showed up to find prom night going on. So we sauntered over to Paradiso instead. Maybe my expectations were just low. But my pasta dish (penne with broccoli, olive oil, garlic, chicken and lots of romano) was quite tasty, and my wife got some halibut special that had her swabbing every last bit of the sauce from the plate. No wine or appetizers. Total damage around $40. 2 stars for the previous experiences, 4 stars for this experience, let's call the whole thing just plain old average 3.
(3)
Steve M.
First time here. Very impressed with the menu, price and service. I had an amazing alfredo dish and my wife had stuffed shells. Both were excellent.
(5)
Allie M.
Upscale Italian in this tiny town can be found at Paradiso, but the prices are a bit extravagant. I had a nicely-cooked piece of salmon over a bed of asparagus and carrots. The building is nicely laid out, and the servers are extremely accomodating. The small town feel is accentuated when locals greet each other at tables. Teenagers in prom gowns and tuxedos laughed over pricey dishes, and families celebrating a Saturday night together were scattered throughout the two floors. All in all, I liked it just fine, but I won't be begging to go back.
(2)
Jeannette S.
Had a wonderful dinner this evening , fried green tomatoes topped with eggplant, buratta cheese and their homemade pesto. I can not tell you how really wonderful the meal was. Service as usual was top notch drinks the best in town. Over and over again I would return to Paradiso.
(5)
Amanda I.
It's ok but I feel like its overpriced for what it is. Never really got the hype of Paradiso but it has been around Westminster a long time so obviously other people have differing opinions
(3)
Katie S.
Given the price range and aesthetics of this place, my expectations were rather high. The first disappointment came when I explored the menu here on yelp. Turns out the explore the menu link takes you to a menu that they no longer serve. There were many things on that menu that I wanted to try, but when I looked at the menu on their website I saw that none of which were on it. I decided to get two small plates, so that I could try more than one thing. I got the bruschetta and a salad. The salad was interesting, because I had originally requested they make me a salad off the explore the menu with arugula and goat cheese etc. However they didn't have any of those ingredients so they offered to make me a salad with a bunch of vegetables on it. Literally. The bruschetta was very disappointing, big hunks of bread with only a sprinkling of a few pieces of tomato and then smothered in melted cheese?? I've never had bruschetta with melted cheese, and I won't again. It takes away all the freshness nuance that the tomato brings to the dish. The salad was just ridiculous. I really think they through everything on that salad. It was on bed of mixed greens w/ artichokes, mango, asparagus, tomatoes and who else knows. Let's just say, the flavors did not go together! Will I be returning? no probably not. My only regret is not trying one of their desserts as it looks like they have a pretty decent bakery.
(2)
Ned F.
Came in for lunch. got 2 salads sausage sub and chicken parm with spaghetti. the food has fresh and hot all very tastey. the salmon salad was pretty and delicous. Jacob our waiter was excellent, friendly, and well mannered.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Alexandra K.
We've been here a few times, and the quality has always been basically good and occasionally very good. The specials tend to be prepared with the best and most seasonal ingredients. Sometimes the basic Italian dishes can be a little bland, but the atmosphere and service are consistently great!
(4)Chris T.
Best (Italian) Restaurant in Westminster. I eat lunch here at least 2 times a week. Don't even worry about reading the menu for lunch, just order one of the daily specials. Great for dinner too. Prices are definitely below other fine dinning throughout MD.
(5)Dayle F.
They try, but the execution of their gluten free pasta is pretty bad. When it became evident that the pasta was so undercooked that it was crunchy and inedible they were nice enough to take off the dollar extra I paid for the gluten free pasta. Management fail.
(3)Derek W.
This pasta paradise is a delightful surprise hidden off Main Street in the rather low-key, off-the-beaten path center of Westminster. Despite considerable fanfare on "Best Italian Restaurants" lists, we found the restaurant only half-full on a Friday night.. Our server was incredibly personable, and the simple, non-ostentatious dining room was an ideal setting for an evening of la dolce vita. The pastas were out of this world. The swoon-inducing evening special was a papparadelle with crab and asparagus in an Old Bay cream sauce. Any one of those ingredients would have formed a satisfying repast...but all of them together were a marvelous treat. The crab was sweet, tender and amply tossed throughout the dish, and the cream sauce was otherworldly with just enough Old Bay to be dangerous. We also had a more straightforward shrimp and scallop cappellini with cream sauce - smooth and silky without being rich, studded with extra-large pieces of gently sauteed seafood. The warm chocolate lava cake for dessert was the perfect ending.
(4)Sarah R.
Very good food. Great Italian dishes for a night out. Nice upstairs dining room. Saw the bar/lounge area, but didn't go in. Will definitely go back.
(4)Ginny B.
I definitely do not understand why this was voted "best Italian" in Carroll county. The side salad was yummy. Then we got the chicken margherita which sounded delicious with chicken, mushrooms, and sundried tomatoes in a marsala wine tomato sauce but it actually means two bland chicken breasts next to a pile of bland angel hair pasta all floating in an incredibly runny "tomato" sauce. I literally had to use my spoon to taste the sauce because it wasn't sticking to any of the food and it was clear neither the pasta, the chicken breasts or the mushrooms had been cooked in it. Maybe I could excuse one bad dish and try this place again but nearly every plate I saw going out had a giant pool of runny "sauce". Anyone's who's been to Italy knows that is NOT Italian! The prices were pretty steep for Westminster too. The best part were the drinks from the bar and the mousse for dessert.
(2)annie z.
I have never been disappointed at Paradiso's. Clean, friendly and well priced for the quality. The salmon is my favorite with a salad and there awesome house dressing. Highly recommend!
(5)Anne M.
After dinner here recently, my companions and I looked at each other and said "why did we wait so long?" Our party had fettucine with spinach and lump crabmeat, chicken with lump crabmeat in a cheesy cream sauce, and penne in vodka sauce. The server was attentive but not obnoxiously hovering, and quick with drink refills, grated cheese or more bread. Chocolate souffle and chocolate mousse rounded out a filling, and satisfying in all senses, evening with friends. Already looking forward to another visit in three weeks!
(5)Scott R.
Unlike the previous reviewer - I have been disappointed at Paradiso. A few months back our small family went on a whim, and we ended up over $100 for a meal McRuby-Apple-Garden would have been lucky to charge $30 for. Which was exactly my experience the time before that (you'd think I'd learn...). To be fair, my wife and I had a far better experience this past Saturday night. I don't know, I guess we intended to slum it at Olive Garden, and showed up to find prom night going on. So we sauntered over to Paradiso instead. Maybe my expectations were just low. But my pasta dish (penne with broccoli, olive oil, garlic, chicken and lots of romano) was quite tasty, and my wife got some halibut special that had her swabbing every last bit of the sauce from the plate. No wine or appetizers. Total damage around $40. 2 stars for the previous experiences, 4 stars for this experience, let's call the whole thing just plain old average 3.
(3)Steve M.
First time here. Very impressed with the menu, price and service. I had an amazing alfredo dish and my wife had stuffed shells. Both were excellent.
(5)Allie M.
Upscale Italian in this tiny town can be found at Paradiso, but the prices are a bit extravagant. I had a nicely-cooked piece of salmon over a bed of asparagus and carrots. The building is nicely laid out, and the servers are extremely accomodating. The small town feel is accentuated when locals greet each other at tables. Teenagers in prom gowns and tuxedos laughed over pricey dishes, and families celebrating a Saturday night together were scattered throughout the two floors. All in all, I liked it just fine, but I won't be begging to go back.
(2)Jeannette S.
Had a wonderful dinner this evening , fried green tomatoes topped with eggplant, buratta cheese and their homemade pesto. I can not tell you how really wonderful the meal was. Service as usual was top notch drinks the best in town. Over and over again I would return to Paradiso.
(5)Amanda I.
It's ok but I feel like its overpriced for what it is. Never really got the hype of Paradiso but it has been around Westminster a long time so obviously other people have differing opinions
(3)Katie S.
Given the price range and aesthetics of this place, my expectations were rather high. The first disappointment came when I explored the menu here on yelp. Turns out the explore the menu link takes you to a menu that they no longer serve. There were many things on that menu that I wanted to try, but when I looked at the menu on their website I saw that none of which were on it. I decided to get two small plates, so that I could try more than one thing. I got the bruschetta and a salad. The salad was interesting, because I had originally requested they make me a salad off the explore the menu with arugula and goat cheese etc. However they didn't have any of those ingredients so they offered to make me a salad with a bunch of vegetables on it. Literally. The bruschetta was very disappointing, big hunks of bread with only a sprinkling of a few pieces of tomato and then smothered in melted cheese?? I've never had bruschetta with melted cheese, and I won't again. It takes away all the freshness nuance that the tomato brings to the dish. The salad was just ridiculous. I really think they through everything on that salad. It was on bed of mixed greens w/ artichokes, mango, asparagus, tomatoes and who else knows. Let's just say, the flavors did not go together! Will I be returning? no probably not. My only regret is not trying one of their desserts as it looks like they have a pretty decent bakery.
(2)Ned F.
Came in for lunch. got 2 salads sausage sub and chicken parm with spaghetti. the food has fresh and hot all very tastey. the salmon salad was pretty and delicous. Jacob our waiter was excellent, friendly, and well mannered.
(5)