This place is off the charts for gluten free foodies. It's not just ok, it's truly fantastic Italian cuisine.
(5)
Jeffrey L.
My wife and I have been here as a couple and in groups on several occasions. It is our favorite Italian place in ABQ and is one of our typical date places. We have taken our kids but there isn't a kids menu. We ordered a regular dish to split between our three little ones and the staff had no issues. This is not Olive Garden; it is fresh, homemade authentic Italian. I've had the eggplant parmigiana, spaghetti, chicken parmigiana, linguini alla Livorno and fettuccini alla carbonara. They were all good but the last two were the best. I have NOT had the poor service of others. We have had very nice waitresses each time even with the large parties. I should also mention that the bread and spiced oil is excellent. If you are wanting ordinary Italian food then go somewhere else. This food is distinctive for its freshness.
(4)
Roxy W.
I was not impressed at all and won't ever b going back to this place. Italian food is my fav but both of the plates we had were disgusting. I like to try every restaurants Alfredo dish and theirs was the worst I've ever had in my life! Even the bread wasn't good. And I didn't like the atmosphere either, it was way too crowded and our table outside was cheap and tiny. I like expensive restaurants but the plates were way over priced for not even good food. Its like they're trying so hard to b fancy but cant pull it off. You'd b much better off going to bravo, macaroni grill, or Olive Garden
(1)
Asia S.
I have a pretty severe gluten allergy, so when I heard they did gluten free Italian you can imagine my excitement. I played it pretty safe and got the lasagna. I've never been so sick in my life. I don't know what they did but for a restaurant that boasts being gluten free I sure got gluten sick. Another gluten intolerant friend of mine went and got sick as well. What the heck?! Don't advertise being GF when customers have a chance if getting sick. Needless to say I won't be back.
(1)
Ana L.
This place rocks! For those of us with celiac disease this is a little bit of Italian heaven! I've had the GF pizza and oh me the Italian Wedding Cake is to die for and yes Gluten Free!!
(5)
darren l.
A varied menu that would appeal to most with tasty and well prepared food and EXTREMELY friendly to food allergies, including gluten. Almost any dish could be made gluten free! We all enjoyed our meals, but felts prices were perhaps $3-4 a plate higher than they should have been. But since the quality of the food was high it is a 4 star restaurant in our book.
(4)
Chadwick C.
Classic Sicilian American dishes. The pasta made to order seemed at first to be a needless gimmick, but it was really light and delicious. The portions on the pastas are heavy at the full size, and come with a salad. At twenty dollars, that seemed fair. Wine list is fairly pedestrian. It is a nice locally owned spot with a pleasant ambiance.
(3)
Jessica N.
Exceptional! I absolutely love this restaurant - it never disappoints. Have been coming here since I moved to Gallup two years ago - any time I came into the city this was my hands-down go to restaurant. No other Italian restaurant in Albuquerque - including Scalo - remotely compares. Now that I live just a few blocks away I frequent this spot. I've tried most of their vegetarian options - there are plenty to choose from - and the gluten free pasta is terrific. Everything is made from scratch and fresh, and it is very affordable. This is the best priced meal I've found in Albuquerque. Would give it 10 stars if I could.
(5)
Mike R.
This place always has the best Gluten Free food in ABQ and the quality is always consistent! Family owned and operated and never cuts corners on food or staff quality! Thanks for yet another great lunch!
(5)
Bike Chaplain O.
I am from NYC, lived in most big cities. I know Italian food. This New Mexican style Italian "Paisano's" is not Italian by any means. The pasta is not al dente. The sauce is watered down, the meat has no flavor. No thank you. Thanks for reading. The Bike Chaplain
(2)
Stephen W.
While I was eating a glass of iced tea was spilled on me. I went by with the cleaning bill and the owner refused to pay it. Need I say more?. I have never been back!
(1)
Kimi T.
Although this place serves "fresh pasta", homemade marinara sauce, and grain-free pasta, it's mediocre at best. I had the tomato soup and the eggplant parmigiana dinner with spaghetti. The tomato soup was on the acidic side, almost to the point where I couldn't eat it. The eggplant parmigiana was pretty good but I was expecting a little more from the "fresh pasta". The overall dish was okay, but nothing I'd recommend to other people. A little pricey too (eggplant parmigiana dinner was about $20). The service was a little slow, but very friendly. We might give this place another try later on.
(2)
MV G.
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(5)
Sandra T.
HOLY MOTHER OF ALL THINGS DELICIOUS! I can't say enough good things about this place. Nice atmosphere, impeccable service, amazing food. They start with a variety basket of fresh baked breads with oil and vinegar to dip. The salads are the perfect mix of greens and dressing. Didn't try the soup, but it's also homemade and I'm sure very good. Hands down THE VERY BEST chicken Parmesan I've ever had. Our beverages never got below half way without someone refilling them. The entire staff was friendly and courteous. We will be going here often.
(5)
Nicole D.
This place deserves all the stars. The food was delicious and there were so any options. I'm vegetarian, I had the linguini with pesto and the special which was a caprese salad (I think magic fairies grew the tomatoes!). My boyfriend had the fettucini alla lucchese (sausage chicken and mushrooms) with a cup of Italian wedding soup. We each had a glass of wine which was suggested to pair with each of the dishes. I also liked that there were many gluten free options, I know many people that would find it helpful! We didn't try the desserts because we were so full, but we decided that they sounded so good that we will come back just to try. I'll give the service an A+ too.
(5)
Christina S.
What a great little pace this is! It's a little further than we usually drive for a meal but it was a dinner with friends and they've always had nothing but nice things to say about it. It was definitely worth the drive! The pasta is made fresh and boy did it make a difference. The wine was good and the service was too. We had a good-sized group but I imagine it would also be a great place for a romantic dinner. Also, one of the only places that will still take a reservation. I hope to be back soon!
(4)
Bella B.
I absolutely love Paisano's when it comes down to eating traditional authentic Italian food "like Noni use to make" this place is such a charming place that has been historically around for years. Never, ever have had a bad meal, or service or no wait never ever had anything but a wonderful & noteworthy meal at Paisano's. This is truly one of ABQ's authentic place for fresh and very authentic food. The menu isn't confusing at all if you can read and take the time to look at the specific menu you will be ordering from. They offer a Presto Lunch menu for under $10.00 so when you're in a hurry......it Fast or it's FREE ~~~~you cant really go anywhere nowadays for lunch and get a delicious lunch dish for under $10.00 soup or salad included along with authentic Italian bread & oil........just sayinnnnnnn. In the last month 1/2 Ive eaten at least 6 separate occasions and its always "OUTSTANDING" Remember my beautiful people they "Paisano's" pride themselves by indicating "we cook like your Italian Grandma would" so don't confuse yourself if your looking for "new innovative culinary cuisine", this is traditional Italian Style at its FINEST!!!!! CIAO BELLA
(5)
Laurie O.
Awesome Italian Restuarant! You can't go wrong on their homemade pastas, soups, breads and desserts!! I am gluten free and their menu is available gluten free for almost 100% of the items. Long time customer, have never had poor service or a unhappy experience!!!!
(5)
Denise P.
Cool venue. It feels like a converted house so when you get inside you try to figure out what the house looked like before the conversion. We were given a table in a tiny room all alone. The girl who provided our service was very thorough and not shy about offering her opinions of meals on the menu. I ordered the stuffed shells. When I ordered it I thought I was ordering something too tame. I wanted to step outside the normal. I didn't go wrong though. They were very good.
(4)
Tiffani C.
I always really want to like local joints but these guys are living in the past. Everything seems in dire need of a revamp. I'll jump right into the food experience. The menu is bizarre. They offer 2 sizes. You have no idea what size either of them are. Most of the pasta dishes were prices at 12-15$ for the small portion and 22-25$ for a "full" portion. Whatever that is. So not really knowing if this food was going to be good I didn't want to break the bank with a full portion so I opted for a small. Since I got the small it didn't come with an option of salad or soup which I didn't mind. I shared my husbands bean soup. The soup and long strands of fettuccine in it kinda like a garnish, It was weird and hard to eat with a spoon. The concept of this was lost on me. My entree was a pasta dish with artichokes, chicken, and a few other unmemorable veggies tossed in a unflavored sauce. They are trying to make fresh pasta but it lacked in flavor and that wonderful toothsome bite that well made fresh pasta has. Mine kinda laid limp. The chicken had a few pieces that were tendon-y. I had to keep adding salt because the whole dish had no flavor. It looked like a normal dinner size to me so like I said before I have no idea what the full size looks like. Whatever it is I didn't need or want any more of that dish. My husband got Chicken Parm. 20$ for cparm. It better be good. So it was a heaping plate of chicken smothered in cheese and sauce and a side of pasta. There was also a side of sauteed spinach that didn't look like it belonged. The chicken was dried out, it was greasy, and it was sad. He had the same limpy pasta and the spinach could of brighten the dish if it had any flavor. It was just a lump of soggy spinach. I did like the marinara sauce it. It tasted fresh and was bright. It couldn't save the dish unfortunately. I tried my buddies spinach ravioli and it was dry with a few dollops of marinara on top. It didn't taste fresh the whole dish was bleh. We were celebrating a birthday. It was only 8:30 and all the oldies were all finished up and gone by the time we were having dessert. The kitchen turned up the music in the back. That to me was a sign they wanted us the hell out of there. The staff was cleaning up furiously. That didn't keep us from continuing to finish our night. We opened a few presents and were done by 9:00. The whole place was shut down while we were saying our goodbyes in the front of the restaurant. That part of our experience definitely upset me. When you are spending your hard earned money on dinner you shouldn't be shoo'd out of the restaurant. Especially when they are still open. I hate to go all Gordon Ramsey on them but this place needs a revamp bad. That chef needs to get back to basic Italian fresh ingredients! Stop living in your old greasy chicken ways. What your doing is old and its not working. There is no passion in this place. Change your weird menu size portions and get that pasta right!
(2)
Josh W.
How do you screw up chicken parm.... For a perfect example go here for dinner, watch them hammer a chicken breast into submission then submit it to freezer burn and over cook it so the "chicken" crumbles like the bread crumbs. Then watch them follow up with spaghetti noodles that crunch like wonton noodles in tomato sauce so watered down you'd think it was just water and red food coloring.
(1)
Barbara R.
My husband and I went here for the first time for our wedding anniversary. I was so excited to see such a large gluten free menu. My husband had the regular chicken parm and I had the gluten free shrimp Primavera and gluten free garlic bread. We split a tiramsu dessert. All of their desserts are gluten free. It was amazing. They ate a little pricey but so worth it, especially if you are gluten free and love Italian food. I would've given more stars but our waitress was hitting on my husband right in front of me... on our special occasion date night. Although she may not have been aware that it was our anniversary, we were clearly on a date.
(3)
Monty M.
Great Italian. Good atmosphere. Gluten free options. Fast and knowledgeable service. Will definitely return.
(5)
Kelsey M.
Story time! So I'll start with saying that my family and I are all extremely mellow and easy going folks. We decide to go to this fine establishment for Italian nourishment and atmosphere. My parents, my sister, our aunt uncle and grandparents were together. All of which very easy going happy people. Well once our food finally arrives we all start eating. All is dandy until... Until my aunt felt something hard in her pasta. She took it from her face cavity inquiring what it could be and low and behold! An invasive piece of glass nearly made it's way down her gullet! Now that is not the reason I give this place a one star (I wish I could go lower!) but it was how they handled the situation! When confronted with this, our waiter asked to take the glass back we said no but he insisted and took it to "see where it came from". Never saw him for the rest of the night. No one was going to eat their food and no employer dared come to our table. We confronted the manager who played dumb. The glass piece was " accidentally" thrown away. They decided to only compensate for my aunts food even though the rest of us refused the food for fear of glass shards. In the end we were chastised by the staff for "making a scene" and had to pay for the rest of the meal. Because my grandparents are nice people. In conclusion, we would've been ok if only they handled the situation better. And now we hate this restaurant with a passion. The end.
(1)
Mary A.
Usually I love the food at Paisano's--but today I ordered the mussels appetizer. I guess it was my fault for not paying attention to the description of the preparation. They were covered with dry bread crumbs--thus the mussels were dry; and the bread crumbs were mixed with a lot of spices--some type of chili included--so it was quite spicy. Totally overpowered the mussels. What a terrible thing to do to mussels!! My salad was great. So I will go back. But, just beware if you love mussels.
(3)
Michael C.
Group retirement luncheon today if about 40 people. Restrurant superbly handled the affair. Food was excellent, service top notch. I recommend for anyone searching for venue for a group gathering or on an individual basis for a good meal,
(5)
Sandra L.
Excellent food and service! I had the best white clam sauce I have ever had. Both of our entrees had pasta cooked perfectly. Our server was great, despite coming in late on a Sunday night. My only complaint was that the red wine was a bit warm.
(4)
Amy L.
We just had an AMAZING meal here tonight! I have been gluten-free for over 2 years and have not been here to try the extensive GF menu - and now I am kicking myself. As I told my husband, since going GF, most of the time my restaurant/eating out experiences are just "OK." If I can find something edible, that isn't going to make me sick - that's good enough. But the meal I had tonight at Paisano's was more than just OK - this is food I would be happy to eat any time, anywhere. I had the GF lasagna and it was light and EXTREMELY delicious - great by any standards, not just "this is OK as gluten-free food goes." My husband loved it so much he wished he could trade with me :) My son and husband had traditional (with-gluten) dishes and reported that they were delicious. We had the GF garlic bread and GF tiramisu to share as well. I hadn't had tiramisu in so long that I nearly had tears in my eyes tasting it, NO KIDDING. This is an amazing place and we will be back soon. One other note - some other Yelp reviews have commented on service problems. Our service was quick and attentive and we didn't spend a lot of time waiting for anything. It is a very different experience than most places in Albuquerque, where your waitperson may be FAST, but they don't even look at you while you're giving your order. Here, the waitstaff is friendly, warm, polite, and very interested in helping you understand the menu. I am very picky about service, and I have no problems recommending Paisano's to anyone, whether you need GF food or not.
(5)
Jenny H.
Not going to lie, I was not very impressed with this place. Yes, they are great when it comes to food allergies, but their food is sub par and extremely over priced. Their gluten free pasta was awful and my parent's (regular) pasta dishes were not impressive either. I'd say save a few bucks and hit up another spot.
(2)
Brent David F.
brilliant!! my wife is celiac but i don't eat gluten either, her brother and mother have sensitivities also, and celiac or not this is GREAT food, great service, nice atmosphere and an overall wonderful mission had made this a place like no other. i can't believe and also regret there is not a place like this in L.A. where we live or anywhere else we've been for that matter. thank you guys for letting so many be included in great eating where we would otherwise have no chance. great job. -BDF
(5)
Geoff N.
Paisanos is a great little Italian place up in the Heights. Their prices are higher than the Olive Gardens of the world, but you do get a bump in quality for the jump in price. They have a wide selection of Gluten Free options (which for a place that serves a lot of pasta is saying something), but I'm not a good judge on whether or not the GF menu options are any good. But their 'traditional' options are very tasty, and they have a signature dish of Butternut Squash Ravioli which they have on the menu regularly in the summer. And speaking of summer, their enclosed patio is somewhat of an oddity. Not very sheltering in a spring windstorm, however.
(3)
Matthew V.
A bit overpriced but very good Italian food. I have a hard time imagining anywhere else in Abq that can match up at similar prices. I still hold that the pricing is slightly too high for Abq and for the quality, but it is now my favorite overpriced Italian joint! !!
(3)
Anthony J.
I've been here thrice now and it gets a solid average from me. You can get just as good of food for cheaper elsewhere. I am also a little bothered that an upscale place like this doesn't take American Express. They do have many gluten free options, though.
(3)
Michael S.
My wife and I ate here last Thursday evening and we were very impressed. I have a gluten allergy so I enjoyed the variety of choices available to me. My wife does not have a gluten allergy so her main gripe was the prices of the dishes as they are a wee bit high. I expected that kind of cost for a GF dinner. Anyways, I ordered the fettuccini carbonara which was filled with delicious bacon. I loved it. My wife ordered the eggplant parmigiana and was originally disappointed with it. NOTE: the eggplant is not crunchy and breaded like other places might make it. After sending it back, the manager came to us and told us the chef was willing to make it the way my wife was used to it. Great news! Rarely is a chef or manager willing to budge on their own menu but we were impressed with the flexibility of this place. They brought out the fixed dish and my wife loved it! I am very impressed with Paisano's, we'll definitely be back!
(4)
Tisha H.
They are the best! Wonderful specials and fantastic menu. I am celiac and have always had a great experience. They have the mostextensive gluten free menu in town. The service is professional and friendly. Definitely a must!!!
(5)
Melissa J.
I LOVE this place! Great gluten free menu! Desserts are so good and their gluten free pizza is the BEST I've ever had. Worth the money.
(5)
Paul G.
Local guy here who supports local restaurants religiously. I am puzzled by all of the negative reviews. I ate here for the first time with my family....a belated 50th birthday dinner. None of us had ever been even though we grew up in midtown and my mom has lived in the NE since 1952. So we gave it a try. We all thought the food was quite good with lots to chose from. Home made pasta, dishes seasoned well, big servings, great pizza we ate as an appetizer. This is a more upscale than we thought (having driven past it 100s of times) and we spent more than planned but I do honestly believe it to be some of the best in town (thus my 4 star).....not your average pizza/pasta place or Olive Garden. They could use a full liquor license and maybe spruce up the outside. Now, the ONE thing that bothered all of us was the robotic nature of the service. Our waiter, who is a professional and it was busy, never engaged with us; no name given, didn't respond to my compliments, very cold shoulder. No one really said thanks, hello, or goodbye....felt very odd. I never heard any laughter,chit chat,or saw smiles on any of the very sullen eerily silent staff. Even when I thanked for refills, etc never a 'you're welcome'. Even when we mentioned it was a birthday meal....zippo comment and certainly not a free dessert. Last comments, crying babies should stay home with a sitter.
(4)
Haley N.
So very disappointed, especially with their carbonara which was made with cream sauce and bacon. What?!! And it was overcooked. I've only had carbonara one way in Italy and that was with egg, pancetta, and pecorino. I will not go back.
(2)
Anita R.
We are from Springfield, Mo and wanted Italian for lunch. 1st of all the restaurants closes at 2:30 and reopens for supper. We called about 2:05 and the hostess (didn't catch her name) told us we told her okay no problem. She then told us to come on down they would wait for us. The service and the food was absolutely fantastic. They sell the marinara sauce and I had to buy a jar. All you locals that haven't eaten here are missing out. The prices were great, too. I had lasagna and my husband had spaghetti and meatballs. Pure freshness
(5)
Eliza L.
I picked up their gluten free pizza when we traveled through Albuquerque in late 2010. It was the only time I have ever had gluten free pizza crust that was not thin. This made it an extra special treat, as I ate it in the car watching the desert landscape fly by! It was really good, I do remember wishing it had a bit more sauce and a bit more salt. I will definitely try this place again, if I have the chance. At the time I did not inquire about their cross contamination safe guards; luckily I had no problems although you might want to ask about that. Please give it a chance if you need to be gluten free and are in the area.
(4)
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Address :1935 Eubank Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM, 87112
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : 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.
Sparks A.
This place is off the charts for gluten free foodies. It's not just ok, it's truly fantastic Italian cuisine.
(5)Jeffrey L.
My wife and I have been here as a couple and in groups on several occasions. It is our favorite Italian place in ABQ and is one of our typical date places. We have taken our kids but there isn't a kids menu. We ordered a regular dish to split between our three little ones and the staff had no issues. This is not Olive Garden; it is fresh, homemade authentic Italian. I've had the eggplant parmigiana, spaghetti, chicken parmigiana, linguini alla Livorno and fettuccini alla carbonara. They were all good but the last two were the best. I have NOT had the poor service of others. We have had very nice waitresses each time even with the large parties. I should also mention that the bread and spiced oil is excellent. If you are wanting ordinary Italian food then go somewhere else. This food is distinctive for its freshness.
(4)Roxy W.
I was not impressed at all and won't ever b going back to this place. Italian food is my fav but both of the plates we had were disgusting. I like to try every restaurants Alfredo dish and theirs was the worst I've ever had in my life! Even the bread wasn't good. And I didn't like the atmosphere either, it was way too crowded and our table outside was cheap and tiny. I like expensive restaurants but the plates were way over priced for not even good food. Its like they're trying so hard to b fancy but cant pull it off. You'd b much better off going to bravo, macaroni grill, or Olive Garden
(1)Asia S.
I have a pretty severe gluten allergy, so when I heard they did gluten free Italian you can imagine my excitement. I played it pretty safe and got the lasagna. I've never been so sick in my life. I don't know what they did but for a restaurant that boasts being gluten free I sure got gluten sick. Another gluten intolerant friend of mine went and got sick as well. What the heck?! Don't advertise being GF when customers have a chance if getting sick. Needless to say I won't be back.
(1)Ana L.
This place rocks! For those of us with celiac disease this is a little bit of Italian heaven! I've had the GF pizza and oh me the Italian Wedding Cake is to die for and yes Gluten Free!!
(5)darren l.
A varied menu that would appeal to most with tasty and well prepared food and EXTREMELY friendly to food allergies, including gluten. Almost any dish could be made gluten free! We all enjoyed our meals, but felts prices were perhaps $3-4 a plate higher than they should have been. But since the quality of the food was high it is a 4 star restaurant in our book.
(4)Chadwick C.
Classic Sicilian American dishes. The pasta made to order seemed at first to be a needless gimmick, but it was really light and delicious. The portions on the pastas are heavy at the full size, and come with a salad. At twenty dollars, that seemed fair. Wine list is fairly pedestrian. It is a nice locally owned spot with a pleasant ambiance.
(3)Jessica N.
Exceptional! I absolutely love this restaurant - it never disappoints. Have been coming here since I moved to Gallup two years ago - any time I came into the city this was my hands-down go to restaurant. No other Italian restaurant in Albuquerque - including Scalo - remotely compares. Now that I live just a few blocks away I frequent this spot. I've tried most of their vegetarian options - there are plenty to choose from - and the gluten free pasta is terrific. Everything is made from scratch and fresh, and it is very affordable. This is the best priced meal I've found in Albuquerque. Would give it 10 stars if I could.
(5)Mike R.
This place always has the best Gluten Free food in ABQ and the quality is always consistent! Family owned and operated and never cuts corners on food or staff quality! Thanks for yet another great lunch!
(5)Bike Chaplain O.
I am from NYC, lived in most big cities. I know Italian food. This New Mexican style Italian "Paisano's" is not Italian by any means. The pasta is not al dente. The sauce is watered down, the meat has no flavor. No thank you. Thanks for reading. The Bike Chaplain
(2)Stephen W.
While I was eating a glass of iced tea was spilled on me. I went by with the cleaning bill and the owner refused to pay it. Need I say more?. I have never been back!
(1)Kimi T.
Although this place serves "fresh pasta", homemade marinara sauce, and grain-free pasta, it's mediocre at best. I had the tomato soup and the eggplant parmigiana dinner with spaghetti. The tomato soup was on the acidic side, almost to the point where I couldn't eat it. The eggplant parmigiana was pretty good but I was expecting a little more from the "fresh pasta". The overall dish was okay, but nothing I'd recommend to other people. A little pricey too (eggplant parmigiana dinner was about $20). The service was a little slow, but very friendly. We might give this place another try later on.
(2)MV G.
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(5)Sandra T.
HOLY MOTHER OF ALL THINGS DELICIOUS! I can't say enough good things about this place. Nice atmosphere, impeccable service, amazing food. They start with a variety basket of fresh baked breads with oil and vinegar to dip. The salads are the perfect mix of greens and dressing. Didn't try the soup, but it's also homemade and I'm sure very good. Hands down THE VERY BEST chicken Parmesan I've ever had. Our beverages never got below half way without someone refilling them. The entire staff was friendly and courteous. We will be going here often.
(5)Nicole D.
This place deserves all the stars. The food was delicious and there were so any options. I'm vegetarian, I had the linguini with pesto and the special which was a caprese salad (I think magic fairies grew the tomatoes!). My boyfriend had the fettucini alla lucchese (sausage chicken and mushrooms) with a cup of Italian wedding soup. We each had a glass of wine which was suggested to pair with each of the dishes. I also liked that there were many gluten free options, I know many people that would find it helpful! We didn't try the desserts because we were so full, but we decided that they sounded so good that we will come back just to try. I'll give the service an A+ too.
(5)Christina S.
What a great little pace this is! It's a little further than we usually drive for a meal but it was a dinner with friends and they've always had nothing but nice things to say about it. It was definitely worth the drive! The pasta is made fresh and boy did it make a difference. The wine was good and the service was too. We had a good-sized group but I imagine it would also be a great place for a romantic dinner. Also, one of the only places that will still take a reservation. I hope to be back soon!
(4)Bella B.
I absolutely love Paisano's when it comes down to eating traditional authentic Italian food "like Noni use to make" this place is such a charming place that has been historically around for years. Never, ever have had a bad meal, or service or no wait never ever had anything but a wonderful & noteworthy meal at Paisano's. This is truly one of ABQ's authentic place for fresh and very authentic food. The menu isn't confusing at all if you can read and take the time to look at the specific menu you will be ordering from. They offer a Presto Lunch menu for under $10.00 so when you're in a hurry......it Fast or it's FREE ~~~~you cant really go anywhere nowadays for lunch and get a delicious lunch dish for under $10.00 soup or salad included along with authentic Italian bread & oil........just sayinnnnnnn. In the last month 1/2 Ive eaten at least 6 separate occasions and its always "OUTSTANDING" Remember my beautiful people they "Paisano's" pride themselves by indicating "we cook like your Italian Grandma would" so don't confuse yourself if your looking for "new innovative culinary cuisine", this is traditional Italian Style at its FINEST!!!!! CIAO BELLA
(5)Laurie O.
Awesome Italian Restuarant! You can't go wrong on their homemade pastas, soups, breads and desserts!! I am gluten free and their menu is available gluten free for almost 100% of the items. Long time customer, have never had poor service or a unhappy experience!!!!
(5)Denise P.
Cool venue. It feels like a converted house so when you get inside you try to figure out what the house looked like before the conversion. We were given a table in a tiny room all alone. The girl who provided our service was very thorough and not shy about offering her opinions of meals on the menu. I ordered the stuffed shells. When I ordered it I thought I was ordering something too tame. I wanted to step outside the normal. I didn't go wrong though. They were very good.
(4)Tiffani C.
I always really want to like local joints but these guys are living in the past. Everything seems in dire need of a revamp. I'll jump right into the food experience. The menu is bizarre. They offer 2 sizes. You have no idea what size either of them are. Most of the pasta dishes were prices at 12-15$ for the small portion and 22-25$ for a "full" portion. Whatever that is. So not really knowing if this food was going to be good I didn't want to break the bank with a full portion so I opted for a small. Since I got the small it didn't come with an option of salad or soup which I didn't mind. I shared my husbands bean soup. The soup and long strands of fettuccine in it kinda like a garnish, It was weird and hard to eat with a spoon. The concept of this was lost on me. My entree was a pasta dish with artichokes, chicken, and a few other unmemorable veggies tossed in a unflavored sauce. They are trying to make fresh pasta but it lacked in flavor and that wonderful toothsome bite that well made fresh pasta has. Mine kinda laid limp. The chicken had a few pieces that were tendon-y. I had to keep adding salt because the whole dish had no flavor. It looked like a normal dinner size to me so like I said before I have no idea what the full size looks like. Whatever it is I didn't need or want any more of that dish. My husband got Chicken Parm. 20$ for cparm. It better be good. So it was a heaping plate of chicken smothered in cheese and sauce and a side of pasta. There was also a side of sauteed spinach that didn't look like it belonged. The chicken was dried out, it was greasy, and it was sad. He had the same limpy pasta and the spinach could of brighten the dish if it had any flavor. It was just a lump of soggy spinach. I did like the marinara sauce it. It tasted fresh and was bright. It couldn't save the dish unfortunately. I tried my buddies spinach ravioli and it was dry with a few dollops of marinara on top. It didn't taste fresh the whole dish was bleh. We were celebrating a birthday. It was only 8:30 and all the oldies were all finished up and gone by the time we were having dessert. The kitchen turned up the music in the back. That to me was a sign they wanted us the hell out of there. The staff was cleaning up furiously. That didn't keep us from continuing to finish our night. We opened a few presents and were done by 9:00. The whole place was shut down while we were saying our goodbyes in the front of the restaurant. That part of our experience definitely upset me. When you are spending your hard earned money on dinner you shouldn't be shoo'd out of the restaurant. Especially when they are still open. I hate to go all Gordon Ramsey on them but this place needs a revamp bad. That chef needs to get back to basic Italian fresh ingredients! Stop living in your old greasy chicken ways. What your doing is old and its not working. There is no passion in this place. Change your weird menu size portions and get that pasta right!
(2)Josh W.
How do you screw up chicken parm.... For a perfect example go here for dinner, watch them hammer a chicken breast into submission then submit it to freezer burn and over cook it so the "chicken" crumbles like the bread crumbs. Then watch them follow up with spaghetti noodles that crunch like wonton noodles in tomato sauce so watered down you'd think it was just water and red food coloring.
(1)Barbara R.
My husband and I went here for the first time for our wedding anniversary. I was so excited to see such a large gluten free menu. My husband had the regular chicken parm and I had the gluten free shrimp Primavera and gluten free garlic bread. We split a tiramsu dessert. All of their desserts are gluten free. It was amazing. They ate a little pricey but so worth it, especially if you are gluten free and love Italian food. I would've given more stars but our waitress was hitting on my husband right in front of me... on our special occasion date night. Although she may not have been aware that it was our anniversary, we were clearly on a date.
(3)Monty M.
Great Italian. Good atmosphere. Gluten free options. Fast and knowledgeable service. Will definitely return.
(5)Kelsey M.
Story time! So I'll start with saying that my family and I are all extremely mellow and easy going folks. We decide to go to this fine establishment for Italian nourishment and atmosphere. My parents, my sister, our aunt uncle and grandparents were together. All of which very easy going happy people. Well once our food finally arrives we all start eating. All is dandy until... Until my aunt felt something hard in her pasta. She took it from her face cavity inquiring what it could be and low and behold! An invasive piece of glass nearly made it's way down her gullet! Now that is not the reason I give this place a one star (I wish I could go lower!) but it was how they handled the situation! When confronted with this, our waiter asked to take the glass back we said no but he insisted and took it to "see where it came from". Never saw him for the rest of the night. No one was going to eat their food and no employer dared come to our table. We confronted the manager who played dumb. The glass piece was " accidentally" thrown away. They decided to only compensate for my aunts food even though the rest of us refused the food for fear of glass shards. In the end we were chastised by the staff for "making a scene" and had to pay for the rest of the meal. Because my grandparents are nice people. In conclusion, we would've been ok if only they handled the situation better. And now we hate this restaurant with a passion. The end.
(1)Mary A.
Usually I love the food at Paisano's--but today I ordered the mussels appetizer. I guess it was my fault for not paying attention to the description of the preparation. They were covered with dry bread crumbs--thus the mussels were dry; and the bread crumbs were mixed with a lot of spices--some type of chili included--so it was quite spicy. Totally overpowered the mussels. What a terrible thing to do to mussels!! My salad was great. So I will go back. But, just beware if you love mussels.
(3)Michael C.
Group retirement luncheon today if about 40 people. Restrurant superbly handled the affair. Food was excellent, service top notch. I recommend for anyone searching for venue for a group gathering or on an individual basis for a good meal,
(5)Sandra L.
Excellent food and service! I had the best white clam sauce I have ever had. Both of our entrees had pasta cooked perfectly. Our server was great, despite coming in late on a Sunday night. My only complaint was that the red wine was a bit warm.
(4)Amy L.
We just had an AMAZING meal here tonight! I have been gluten-free for over 2 years and have not been here to try the extensive GF menu - and now I am kicking myself. As I told my husband, since going GF, most of the time my restaurant/eating out experiences are just "OK." If I can find something edible, that isn't going to make me sick - that's good enough. But the meal I had tonight at Paisano's was more than just OK - this is food I would be happy to eat any time, anywhere. I had the GF lasagna and it was light and EXTREMELY delicious - great by any standards, not just "this is OK as gluten-free food goes." My husband loved it so much he wished he could trade with me :) My son and husband had traditional (with-gluten) dishes and reported that they were delicious. We had the GF garlic bread and GF tiramisu to share as well. I hadn't had tiramisu in so long that I nearly had tears in my eyes tasting it, NO KIDDING. This is an amazing place and we will be back soon. One other note - some other Yelp reviews have commented on service problems. Our service was quick and attentive and we didn't spend a lot of time waiting for anything. It is a very different experience than most places in Albuquerque, where your waitperson may be FAST, but they don't even look at you while you're giving your order. Here, the waitstaff is friendly, warm, polite, and very interested in helping you understand the menu. I am very picky about service, and I have no problems recommending Paisano's to anyone, whether you need GF food or not.
(5)Jenny H.
Not going to lie, I was not very impressed with this place. Yes, they are great when it comes to food allergies, but their food is sub par and extremely over priced. Their gluten free pasta was awful and my parent's (regular) pasta dishes were not impressive either. I'd say save a few bucks and hit up another spot.
(2)Brent David F.
brilliant!! my wife is celiac but i don't eat gluten either, her brother and mother have sensitivities also, and celiac or not this is GREAT food, great service, nice atmosphere and an overall wonderful mission had made this a place like no other. i can't believe and also regret there is not a place like this in L.A. where we live or anywhere else we've been for that matter. thank you guys for letting so many be included in great eating where we would otherwise have no chance. great job. -BDF
(5)Geoff N.
Paisanos is a great little Italian place up in the Heights. Their prices are higher than the Olive Gardens of the world, but you do get a bump in quality for the jump in price. They have a wide selection of Gluten Free options (which for a place that serves a lot of pasta is saying something), but I'm not a good judge on whether or not the GF menu options are any good. But their 'traditional' options are very tasty, and they have a signature dish of Butternut Squash Ravioli which they have on the menu regularly in the summer. And speaking of summer, their enclosed patio is somewhat of an oddity. Not very sheltering in a spring windstorm, however.
(3)Matthew V.
A bit overpriced but very good Italian food. I have a hard time imagining anywhere else in Abq that can match up at similar prices. I still hold that the pricing is slightly too high for Abq and for the quality, but it is now my favorite overpriced Italian joint! !!
(3)Anthony J.
I've been here thrice now and it gets a solid average from me. You can get just as good of food for cheaper elsewhere. I am also a little bothered that an upscale place like this doesn't take American Express. They do have many gluten free options, though.
(3)Michael S.
My wife and I ate here last Thursday evening and we were very impressed. I have a gluten allergy so I enjoyed the variety of choices available to me. My wife does not have a gluten allergy so her main gripe was the prices of the dishes as they are a wee bit high. I expected that kind of cost for a GF dinner. Anyways, I ordered the fettuccini carbonara which was filled with delicious bacon. I loved it. My wife ordered the eggplant parmigiana and was originally disappointed with it. NOTE: the eggplant is not crunchy and breaded like other places might make it. After sending it back, the manager came to us and told us the chef was willing to make it the way my wife was used to it. Great news! Rarely is a chef or manager willing to budge on their own menu but we were impressed with the flexibility of this place. They brought out the fixed dish and my wife loved it! I am very impressed with Paisano's, we'll definitely be back!
(4)Tisha H.
They are the best! Wonderful specials and fantastic menu. I am celiac and have always had a great experience. They have the mostextensive gluten free menu in town. The service is professional and friendly. Definitely a must!!!
(5)Melissa J.
I LOVE this place! Great gluten free menu! Desserts are so good and their gluten free pizza is the BEST I've ever had. Worth the money.
(5)Paul G.
Local guy here who supports local restaurants religiously. I am puzzled by all of the negative reviews. I ate here for the first time with my family....a belated 50th birthday dinner. None of us had ever been even though we grew up in midtown and my mom has lived in the NE since 1952. So we gave it a try. We all thought the food was quite good with lots to chose from. Home made pasta, dishes seasoned well, big servings, great pizza we ate as an appetizer. This is a more upscale than we thought (having driven past it 100s of times) and we spent more than planned but I do honestly believe it to be some of the best in town (thus my 4 star).....not your average pizza/pasta place or Olive Garden. They could use a full liquor license and maybe spruce up the outside. Now, the ONE thing that bothered all of us was the robotic nature of the service. Our waiter, who is a professional and it was busy, never engaged with us; no name given, didn't respond to my compliments, very cold shoulder. No one really said thanks, hello, or goodbye....felt very odd. I never heard any laughter,chit chat,or saw smiles on any of the very sullen eerily silent staff. Even when I thanked for refills, etc never a 'you're welcome'. Even when we mentioned it was a birthday meal....zippo comment and certainly not a free dessert. Last comments, crying babies should stay home with a sitter.
(4)Haley N.
So very disappointed, especially with their carbonara which was made with cream sauce and bacon. What?!! And it was overcooked. I've only had carbonara one way in Italy and that was with egg, pancetta, and pecorino. I will not go back.
(2)Anita R.
We are from Springfield, Mo and wanted Italian for lunch. 1st of all the restaurants closes at 2:30 and reopens for supper. We called about 2:05 and the hostess (didn't catch her name) told us we told her okay no problem. She then told us to come on down they would wait for us. The service and the food was absolutely fantastic. They sell the marinara sauce and I had to buy a jar. All you locals that haven't eaten here are missing out. The prices were great, too. I had lasagna and my husband had spaghetti and meatballs. Pure freshness
(5)Eliza L.
I picked up their gluten free pizza when we traveled through Albuquerque in late 2010. It was the only time I have ever had gluten free pizza crust that was not thin. This made it an extra special treat, as I ate it in the car watching the desert landscape fly by! It was really good, I do remember wishing it had a bit more sauce and a bit more salt. I will definitely try this place again, if I have the chance. At the time I did not inquire about their cross contamination safe guards; luckily I had no problems although you might want to ask about that. Please give it a chance if you need to be gluten free and are in the area.
(4)