La Cantina — Restaurant in Paw Paw Township

Atrocious. The food was good, compliments to the kitchen staff. We arrived a little after 6 on Saturday night for dinner and were happy to wait at the bar for an outside table after getting the sense from the hosts (I believe they are the owners as well) that figuring out how to seat us was an inconvenience to them.

The bartender was terrific, pleasant, attentive, and skilled. After a bit, one of the hosts let us know that several tables on the patio had opened and we could pick any we like. She did not follow us out with menus or offer to help us with our drinks from the bar, it would have been unnecessary but there is this idea of customer service somewhat central to the restaurant industry.

We picked a table in the shade and sat down. The previous guests check was still on the table -- no problem -- someone should be over any minute to get it, bring fresh silverware, menus, offer water...right? Nope. Lucky for them we were happy to have the time to talk and were without kids. At least 20 minutes later NO ONE had been by the table. My date went back into the bar to get us a fresh round of drinks. The bartender was appropriately apologetic, covered the round, and carried my drink out to the table for us.

A few minutes later, a brand new server who I had not seen in any section on the patio appeared at our table. She was sweet and clearly busy with tables inside but took our order for an appetizer. I asked for some fresh silverware as she left but it didn't come until our actual dinner arrived. So nice to enjoy your appetizer while your food gets chilled.

Once the band ended, the patio emptied out, it was still relatively light out. We sat finishing our drinks and meal, when my date noticed that they had turned off the lights inside the restaurant. It couldn't have been more than a few minutes past nine. Several staff and the previously mentioned hosts were gathered at the bar when we walked through, someone managed to wish us a good night. This is not the first time I've had bad service at this restaurant but it will be the last. I appreciate their long history of being a cornerstone of the community but they clearly need to get some fresh management on the floor. Someone who actually wants to be there and look out for the...

How have I never been to La Cantina before now?!? No reservations, no problem, even on a Saturday night, while simultaneously hosting a class reunion party and offering riverfront live music. The hostess must be family/owner. I swear i was back in Brooklyn, what with the outstanding skills of the front of house staff, matched perfectly by the masterful culinary talent in the kitchen. The entire dining experience was enjoyable. Swans glided past our window view on the Paw Paw River as we were ordering appetizers. Learned from our server Megan (i think, i hope) that the graceful waterfowl are rarely seen this far up river from Maple Lake. So of course we took that as a fortuitous sign on mom’s 84th birthday. Wine selection was effortless, despite the extensive collection of bottles from around the globe, thanks to Megan and her obvious expertise. I said glass of white zinfandel? she said of course, and chose one perfectly. Calamari was the best I’ve ever had, hands down. Light and crispy fried, tender rings and delicious marinara. Portobello mushroom stuffed with seafood and breaded was scrumptious. One mushroom was the size of a salad plate. Pasta Emillio was a cornucopia of savory favorites - artichoke hearts, green peas, caramelized onions, Italian sausage atop a generous bowl of pasta with a delicate pesto sauce. Rigitoni E had a distinctive marsala cream sauce with mushrooms and basil. Chicken Alfredo was deeply flavorful and authentic in its loose consistency - refreshingly unlike sticky and thick Americanized sauce in a jar. Dessert was the exclamation point of the meal. New York style cheesecake, tiramisu and spumoni. Exquisite. I would get older sooner just to have my birthday dinner here. Like next weekend. TwNovember is so far away. Nuf...

This review is personal, and probably a little bit too heavy for someone who just wants to know if this is a good place to eat. Long story short: it’s a wonderful restaurant. I grew up in Kalamazoo but rarely ever ventured out to Paw Paw. My grandmother lived in a nursing home near La Cantina, and my mom and I were craving Italian, so we enjoyed a nice meal on the deck overlooking the water. It was bittersweet. The food was phenomenal, but I just want to thank our waitress for going above and beyond. My grandma was dying, you see, and she was Italian, and I just really wanted to give her a last taste of spaghetti sauce. But I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. So I discretely asked our waitress, and she slipped me a tiny to-go container with sauce. My grandma and her friends always used to drive out to Paw Paw on Tuesdays to get the discounted spaghetti. In Kalamazoo, we always used to enjoy Mangia Mangia, but a busy downtown restaurant on a one way street isn’t exactly easy for a group of old ladies to get to. I literally just learned that the owners of La Cantina also own Mangia Mangia, which explains so much. Mangia Mangia was such a huge part of being born and raised in Kalamazoo, and it was always my favorite place to eat. My cousin had her rehearsal dinner at Mangia Mangia. This is way too much information for the sake of a review, but I just want to make the point that this place is a little bit magical. The food is everything Italian food should be, and it’s a place that brings people together through a good meal. Again, I’m such a long story. My point is, La Cantina is a special place, and I hope...