Il Palio Restaurant — Restaurant in Shelton

This place was awful. Quite possibly one of the worst screw job ever at a restaurant. Went there for a bachelor party dinner. Very very expensive at 45 a head for approx 20 people. We had the private room downstairs which was about the only nice thing. We were supposed to get apps for everyone, a salad, 3 choices for dinner, and dessert. We got no apps, a very small mixed greens salad and a childs portion meal. Apparently the salad is considered an app in this place. Thats a new one. I had the lasagna and you get a bigger piece in the smart ones lasagna. Most people were not full at all. And parts of my lasagna tasted burnt. A few people complained and we were able to get a round of beers for everyone. Even those were 6 bucks for imports and I think 4.75 for the domestics. This isnt Stamford or NYC. Then the real screwjob is we were short the 20 person min. and only had 18 and I guess there is a room charge or something if your short. The event planner there is a real jerk. I didnt book it or anything but my friend said they told him apps, salad, dinner, dessert. He also informed them that we were not exactly sure of the count on people we may have 18 or 19 or we could have over 20. They said no problem if you dont make the 20. Well its a whole different story when you get there. They knew we were short the 20 and never said a word about adding on the room charge fee or whatever, but apparently they put that on the bill and it was an extra $300!!! Instead of just having us pay for the 2 dinners at 90 total they screwed us and made it 300 I dont know exactly how it ended up but I heard that maybe they waived the room charge but charged for the round of beers so it really didnt even make up for anything. I also think the manager on duty said he couldnt do much as the gm wasnt there and said to call next week to try to get some money back or something. That is ridiculous. First of all this gm isnt going to have a clue how many people were there so they had no right to charge 300 room rental and I never even seen where they would actually do that and charge that instead of just the 2 dinners at 45 each. They also had to sign a contract or something which stated about the apps being a whole list to choose from with salad on there and all these others but they did it very sneaky and put all the others on another page. All in all I will never got back to this place and I hope they go out of business the way this went down. Awful awful. Dont ever book a private party there. For that price we could have went to a seafood place had lobster tails and filet and it prob would have been cheaper. What a ripoff. I certainly hope...

This exceptional establishment transported us on a culinary odyssey, reminiscent of Italy's rich gastronomic heritage. From the moment we descended into the enchanting setting on the lower level, we were enveloped in a modern and gorgeously lit ambiance. This environment served as a vivid testament to the essence of Italy, not merely anchored in its historical architecture and design but pulsating vibrantly in its present. Modern Italy, celebrated for its contemporary architecture, exquisite design, fashion, and pioneering spirit, reminds us that the finest Italian restaurants are those that seamlessly blend tradition with modernity.

The service was unparalleled—excellent, knowledgeable, and adaptable. Our server offered a plethora of recommendations, each described with such fervor and detail that it sparked an irresistible urge to sample every item on the menu. It felt as though we were meandering through the Italian countryside, led by a local connoisseur eager to unveil the best of its culinary delights.

Our gastronomic adventure began with an assortment of starters. These initial delights were akin to the opening notes of a classic Italian opera, setting the stage for the magnificence and beauty that was to unfold.

Then, as if transitioning to the second act, the main course gracefully took the spotlight, with the roasted butternut squash filled ravioli making a grand entrance. It was as if a masterful aria had come to life on our plates, with each component contributing to a harmonious fusion of flavors and textures. The unexpected crunch of crumbled amaretti cookies, a dusting of chocolate powder, and a velvety butter and sage sauce created a resonance that exceeded our expectations. The lasagna followed suit, embodying a dish that, much like a meticulously conducted orchestra, escalated to a crescendo of flavors, both comforting and invigorating.

Our culinary journey reached its zenith with a dessert that provided a fitting finale—the ice cream with heavy cream and real pistachio, alongside the Blueberry shortcake. These desserts, simplistic in their assembly yet intricate in taste, were akin to the concluding act of a grand Italian opera, leaving us in a state of enduring satisfaction and wonder.

This establishment stands as a pinnacle of Italian dining, where each dish serenades Italy with love, and every moment spent delves deeper...

A tale of two restaurants! The first time my wife and I went to Il Palio it was not a very good experience, but the second time....WOW WOW WOW!!! Our dining experience this time was nothing but AMAZING! I won't dive into my previous review of Il Palio so let's move on!

You are asking yourself why would we go again if we gave it two stars and such a bad review. We believe everything deserves a second chance, and from all the reviews we read everywhere we decided we should go again....this time for my wife's birthday. I can make this easy for you, so you don't have to read the following which might make you drool uncontrollably over your keyboard....Ambiance=Great, Service=OUTSTANDING, Food=AMAZING. There you have it. NOW, if you read on, please don't blame me for any drooling or mouthwatering that may happen.

Ambiance: Okay, my original comments might have been misguided by the poor food experience, but I stand by the fact that this is the decor that I would expect at any fine dining establishment. Il Palio is excellently decorated as well as clean and inviting. The lighting is just right and there is nothing but the wonderful smell of food throughout.

Service: WOW, the service! What can I say but amazing. Just like the first time, this time was out of the world. Between every course there was someone there to clean our table, replace our forks, refill our water, whatever we needed! This time our waiter was Ron, WHEN we go back we want Ron again! He was prompt, he was perfect in his timing and never interrupted a conversation my wife and I were having. Ron was incredibly knowledgeable about wines and pairings with food. He EXPERTLY paired wines with each course! I have never had such a level of service, it was truly incredible!

At this point I would usually break down each part but it was my wife's birthday and we were treated to a 6 course chef's tasting that was simply amazing! If Il Palio was to do a tasting menu once a month I think we would go broke eating there! Getting back on track, I would usually break down each course for you and tell you the good and the bad of each, but this would be nigh impossible because google will only let me input 4096 characters and it is more easily summed up in the following sentence.

Il Pallio has incredibly amazing food...