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Paola’s Restaurant has returned home to Carnegie Hill. Now located at 1302 Madison Avenue—just across the street from its former location—Paola’s continues the tradition of serving authentic, time-honored Italian family recipes to the neighborhood. Established in 1983 by the acclaimed chef Paola Bottero, Paola’s has been a local favorite for almost 50 years. Proudly run by Paola’s son, Stefano Marracino, who continues his mother’s vision of community, where the love of sharing good food brings people together.
Authentic Italian fare draws crowds to this sophisticated Upper East Side eatery.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 1302 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10128
Phone: (212) 794-1890
Website: https://www.paolasrestaurant.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Reservations: opentable.com
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Related Web Results
PAOLA’S – NYC
PAOLA’S. 1302 Madison Avenue, NYC. Between East 92nd & East 93rd St. 212-794-1890 · DIRECTIONS. Dinner daily | 5–10 PM. Lunch Mon-Fri | 12–3 PM.
Paola’s Restaurant – New York, NY | OpenTable
Welcome to Paola’s Restaurant at our new location: 1302 Madison Avenue, New York, NY, between 92nd and 93rd Streets. Please note: Our restaurant at 1361 …
PAOLA’S CAFE | Discover Authentic Italian Flavors — Visit Today
Experience classic Italian dishes with fresh daily pasta and seasonal ingredients at Paola’s Cafe on the Upper East Side of New York City.
Reviews
清水崇紘
I had been curious about this restaurant for a while, but I hesitated to go in because it seemed to have the slightly heavy, formal atmosphere that some Upper East Side places can have. I finally had dinner here recently, and as is also often the case on the Upper East Side, once you step inside, it turns out to be a very comfortable space.
The ambiance strikes a nice balance. It does not feel too formal, but it is also not overly casual, which makes it suitable for many occasions. I visited on a weekday, and I noticed what seemed to be neighborhood regulars stopping by. Even though I am a foreigner, the restaurant still felt somehow warm and welcoming.
The service was also nice. Our server kept a perfect sense of distance, attentive without being intrusive, and we were able to enjoy a relaxed conversation as a couple.
We ordered the Insalata Di Mare, Fettuccine Bolognese, Gamberi Alla Griglia, Linguine Gamberi, Tiramisu, and Frutta Zabaglione. The seafood dishes were especially impressive. Even from a Japanese perspective, the ingredients were treated in a way that preserved their natural flavors, and after the first bite, I knew I would want to come back.
The pasta was served at a great temperature. The seasoning did feel a bit salty at times, but overall the flavors were gentle and pleasantly mild. I also appreciated the wide range of dessert options, which my wife in particular enjoyed.
Of course, this is an restaurant in the U.S., so I would not deny that some dishes lean toward stronger seasoning. Still, throughout the meal, it was clear that the kitchen cares about bringing out the character of the ingredients, and everything felt carefully prepared.
If I had to point out one thing, it would be the wine selection, which felt a bit limited. Also, as is common in the U.S., a few bottles on the list seemed quite young depending on the label. If that were improved, the experience would be close to perfect.
That said, this is truly a minor point. We had a wonderful weekday evening here, and I am very happy to have such a lovely restaurant in the neighborhood.
… moreThe ambiance strikes a nice balance. It does not feel too formal, but it is also not overly casual, which makes it suitable for many occasions. I visited on a weekday, and I noticed what seemed to be neighborhood regulars stopping by. Even though I am a foreigner, the restaurant still felt somehow warm and welcoming.
The service was also nice. Our server kept a perfect sense of distance, attentive without being intrusive, and we were able to enjoy a relaxed conversation as a couple.
We ordered the Insalata Di Mare, Fettuccine Bolognese, Gamberi Alla Griglia, Linguine Gamberi, Tiramisu, and Frutta Zabaglione. The seafood dishes were especially impressive. Even from a Japanese perspective, the ingredients were treated in a way that preserved their natural flavors, and after the first bite, I knew I would want to come back.
The pasta was served at a great temperature. The seasoning did feel a bit salty at times, but overall the flavors were gentle and pleasantly mild. I also appreciated the wide range of dessert options, which my wife in particular enjoyed.
Of course, this is an restaurant in the U.S., so I would not deny that some dishes lean toward stronger seasoning. Still, throughout the meal, it was clear that the kitchen cares about bringing out the character of the ingredients, and everything felt carefully prepared.
If I had to point out one thing, it would be the wine selection, which felt a bit limited. Also, as is common in the U.S., a few bottles on the list seemed quite young depending on the label. If that were improved, the experience would be close to perfect.
That said, this is truly a minor point. We had a wonderful weekday evening here, and I am very happy to have such a lovely restaurant in the neighborhood.
Natalia
Paola is such an intimate, private little gem on the Upper East Side. The atmosphere feels rich and cozy without trying too hard—exactly what you’d hope for in the neighborhood. The service was incredibly warm, with great conversation and spot-on recommendations. And the duck? I absolutely fell in love with it. A fantastic experience all around.
… moreCatherine Johnson
My friend’s got married yesterday and hosted guests at Paola’s in between the ceremony and service. We had the place to ourselves and it was a perfect setup. The drinks are great and the staff is awesome! They even let us have aux. Would recommend for small private parties!
… moreMadelin Fenianos
We frequently come here as a family with a toddler and on date nights and we always have an amazing experience. The food is great, the place is warm and cozy with lovely music. We had the pleasure of meeting the chef who owns the restaurant and he was very friendly. Highly recommend the fettuccine bolognese, the pesto pasta dish is not on the menu anymore but it’s my favorite (chef still offered it). The tiramisu and biscotti are great to top off a delicious meal. It’s a gem on the upper east side.
… morePIETRO BOTTERO
Paolas stands the test of time, a true classic. A beacon of simple original Italian food based in Roman cuisine they have things you can’t eat anywhere else. Carciofi artichokes fried like in Rome. They don’t worry if it’s fancy only that it’s good. The fresh pasta is amazing
… moreDavid Ober
Very stuffy place. Food is a ok at best. Not sure why they went after the previous owner and ousted him out. The word on the street it was driven by discrimination and boycott due to his origin untill they got him out of business.
Place set empty for over a year and they end with Paola Stay away! Island is far more welcoming.
… morePlace set empty for over a year and they end with Paola Stay away! Island is far more welcoming.
Wal-Doe Davison
I expected this place to be so much larger than it actually was. It was the good kind of tiny. Seating was well placed, I was able to sit for a quick dinner for 3 with a reservation. Wish I could’ve stayed longer but all that means is I’ll have to go back again soon. Loved it.
… moreFrank H
Top notch food. I just got back from Rome and was craving some real Roman style Italian food and Paola’s delivered. The duck ragu was perfect. The zucchini blossoms stuffed with cheese were delicious. Loved the ambiance. Cozy dark wood, small tables but never felt cramped. Bonus Michael Pollin was sitting at the table next to me. Fun!
… moreBenjamin Sommer
Paola’s is a fabulous upscale restaurant that recently relocated from Madison Avenue to Lexington Avenue. Let me break down our most recent meal. We started off with the warm mozzarella which is hands down the best in the city. The portion is a bit small but the taste makes up for it. We also started with the Arugula Salad which is always very good. For main courses we ordered the salmon, branzino, the veal and the pesto which we got to share. Both fish dishes were a relatively big portion and were very tasty. The veal was small but tasted really great and so did the potatoes that came along with it. Finally, the pesto was a pretty small portion, but very good. For dessert, the cappuccino was just the right size however it could have been a little warmer. We also got the tiramisu which was so so good. Finally the biscottis were just the right thing to top off the fabulous meal. Overall a great experience. 5 stars.
… moreRoberta Chesler
This is one of my neighborhood restaurants but after last night it lost me for good. I’m not sure what happened but my friend and I shared an appetizer of artichokes which were delicious after we added salt. The pasta we split – bucatini all’Amatriciana was too salty, too overloaded with large cubes of pancetta and was completely forgettable. We ordered this after asking if the chef made the Cacio d’ Pepe in the original Roman way (assumed they would) but no, the chef adds cream instead of making it without cream and allowing the cheese to mix with the pasta water to make the cream. Anyway, it was an expensive Americanized Italian meal. Not what we were looking for –
… more