Paesanos — Restaurant in Sacramento

4.5 stars. These guys were on target with their food. We called ahead to ask about reservations. They don't take any. It is first come first serve and it a pretty big restaurant, so there is place. We got seated immediately and our server was friendly and prompt.

We started with a Mexican lager and a sangria. For our entrees, we ordered the Fettuccine Arrostiti and the Spaghetti Carbonara with a side of the tomato basil soup, and a tiramisu for dessert.

They say their sangria is amazing and they are right. It is smooth, sweet and tangy and cold. It flows down very easily and is simple delicious. For this hot summer, it felt like the perfect drink to begin a meal.

The entrees were both excellent but needed more seasoning and a "oomph". This could be because we love our flavors to be bold and maybe the restaurant makes the dishes a little on the bland side to serve all palates. After all, it is much easier to add some cheese or chili flakes than to remove them. The carbonara needed a lot more cheese than it had. Once we added more, it tasted delicious and husband says that it passed his test. He likes to order a carbonara at a new restaurant to see if they get their classics right. The arrostiti was delicious but needed some spicy component to compliment the lime cilantro cream sauce. I had to add a lot of chili flakes but once done, they brought out the flavors very well. The blackened chicken was great but we needed a few more pieces. The portion was quite big and I ended up with leftovers. Both plates came with delicious and buttery garlic bread, one of the best I've eaten. The tomato basil soup was excellent and definitely one of the best I've had. It is 100% a must try.

The tiramisu was nice but again, was missing that "oomph" factor. I thought it needed more coffee to emphasize the bitter component and my husband thought that an additional sweet component was needed. It came with a custard on the side and he thought the custard and tiramisu together were very good. I still needed the coffee.

Our check was $87 so it was a pricey-ish restaurant. The food was very close to 5 stars (as mentioned above) and is one of our better Italian experiences. A few more tweaks and it will be just perfect. We will be back to...

The food was amazing! The service was fine. Nothing over the top, but not bad either.

That said, the reason I’m only giving four stars is because it felt like the Spirit Airlines of restaurants. My father in law asked to try a beer before getting an entire pint of a peach wheat beer. The server requested the taster and then came back and said they had to change the keg. My FIL decided to just order a different beer rather than wait. About 5-10 minutes later, the server brought the taster over and said she figured he’d still like to try it. When we got the bill, the taster was almost $2 (for maybe 1 oz of beer). We were never told it would cost extra…

The next hidden charge was for butter, of all things. My spouse has Celiac, so she ordered from their gluten sensitive menu. We moved here from Colorado about six months ago, and really appreciate the fact that Paesano’s even has a GF menu, because most places here only label their menus vegan/vegetarian, and then look at you like you have three eyeballs when you ask what, if anything, is GF. Anyway, the GF carbonara was great! It was $2 more for GF, but that’s fine, most places do charge extra for GF options. It even came with a GF baguette, which for a Celiac, good bread is a godsend. The GF baguette came out totally plane and cold. No butter, no garlic, nothing… Just a piece of super dense bread. So, we asked for butter. Mind you, the non-GF pasta dishes all come with a wonderful buttery garlic bread, at no extra cost. Meanwhile, we had to pay $1.25 extra for butter to have any sort of flavor on the GF bread. The butter they brought out was cold and rock solid and couldn’t even be spread on the bread, and we were never told there was an upcharge.

Honestly, it’s less about the extra amount we were charged, because the amount was negligent compared to the overall bill, and more about the principle that we were charged more for multiple items and never told there was any extra cost. It’s a bit ridiculous to charge $1.25 for two tablespoons of cold unspreadable butter when you’ve already charged extra for the GF pasta and bread, but less than $1 for a whole second piece of non-GF, buttered...

A Five-Star Evening at Paesanos Midtown: Service, Atmosphere, and Culinary Delight!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

From the moment I walked into Paesanos Midtown, it became abundantly clear that I was in for an extraordinary evening, characterized not just by culinary prowess, but by the warm and welcoming service of its exemplary staff.

Conner, who doubled as our server and bartender, was nothing short of spectacular. His vibrant personality, coupled with his vast knowledge of both the menu and the drink list, made for a seamless dining experience. Every cocktail he crafted was a masterpiece, a testament to his exceptional skills behind the bar. With each recommendation he offered, our taste buds were taken on a delightful journey, making the evening memorable.

However, Conner wasn't the only star that shone bright that night. Mario, the Assistant Manager, was the embodiment of hospitality. His welcoming demeanor and genuine interest in ensuring our comfort added a personal touch to the evening. His hands-on approach, ensuring every guest feels valued, sets a gold standard for hospitality in the industry.

Last but by no means least, I must give a special mention to Kelly. From the moment I placed our order, her delightful and efficient nature shone through. She was attentive, ensuring every detail of our order was perfect, and her pleasant conversation added a dash of warmth to our interactions.

The ambiance of Paesanos Midtown complements the stellar service. The setting, an elegant blend of modern sophistication with comforting touches, makes it the perfect backdrop for any occasion, be it a casual meal or a grand celebration.

In summary, Paesanos Midtown is a gem that shines brightly in the culinary landscape of the city. The combined efforts of Conner, Mario, Kelly, and the entire team ensure an experience that goes beyond just food. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone seeking a harmonious blend of delicious cuisine and top-tier service. Cheers to many more memorable evenings...