Paisano's Italian Restaurant and Pizzeria — Restaurant in South Milwaukee

Horrible Food. Disgusting flavor. My wife and I were hungry for Italian food and have driven by this place numerous times, so we thought we would stop in for dinner. The first thing we knew was not right with the place was the shattered window in the booth we sat. The explanation was that the temp outside and the temp inside caused the pane to shatter. Tempered glass does not do this in commercial or residential buildings. The pane is cracked from one side to the other on all sides. The window is no longer stable and a major building violation. The second thing that caused my wife concern was the BROWN sauce on the pasta. My wife ordered mostaccioli and I ordered cannelloni. The meat in my cannelloni was an unhealthy shade of grey. The sauce was hard. The whole meal tasted burnt and under-cooked at the same time. We had pudding for desert. It came with the meal. My wife's chocolate was good. My tapioca tasted like Dawn dish soap. My pudding was ice cold in a heated dish. I could not finish the goo. The whole meal was disgusting. If I could give the restaurant zero stars, I would. This was the worst meal I have eaten in a very long time. We will not be back ever again. I am truly not sure I will be keeping this meal in my stomach for long and will update this review if I toss it back up later tonight. The health department really needs to investigate this place's cooking practices and the building department needs to look at the structure of the place. I do not think it is a safe building. My wife and I, as I edit this post some 6 hours later, are sick with diarrhea and vomiting from this meal. This meal and this restaurant is the worst meal we have ever had. Stay away from this place. The best thing that could happen to food service and public health is for this restaurant to close for good. Horrible food. Zero stars. The next day, after posting this review, I reported the place to the Health Department. They are investigating this place. I also discovered in the last year this place had about 7 health code violations, including insects found in the food. There are far better places to eat. Maggots would starve here, the food is that inedible. Two weeks ago, at the end of May, the Health Department called me to tell me what they found at Paisano's. I was told the Building Department ordered them to have the shattered window fixed. AS of mid-June it is still not replaced. That window will come down. I hope that whoever is sitting near that window when it finally gives out has the good sense to sue them out of business. I do not know where all the good reviews for this place are coming from or what kind of taste buds the Five Star reviewers have, but I have yet to meet a real live human who has had anything good to say about this "restaurant." The food and the seating area are a health hazard. Drove by yesterday. The window is still not replaced. Saw that the doors to the kitchen were wide open to the outside in clear health code violations. The screen doors were propped open and flies were buzzing in and out. I find it hilarious that every time we mention to people that we have eaten here those people either flinch or gag. There is no way the five star reviews here have come from people who...

What a gem. The exterior does not hint at how absolutely lovely the interior is. Beautiful decor, wonderful music - at a perfect volume to enjoy but still converse, and I have to mention their table sizes. Not usually something I comment on, but the tables here are great. So many restaurants have teeny square tables for two that they push together for larger groups. Well these square tables are not small. No crowding, lots of room for menus, food, drinks, elbows, etc.

Our server was friendly and accommodating, answered everyone's questions, and was prompt with her attention.

The food is delicious. They have a very wide ranging menu, but we were there for the Italian section. I ordered the Homemade Cheese Ravioli, and got a side of meatballs. First off they tasted wonderful. The size of each ravioli is amazing - nearly that of a DVD. Lots of cheese, very tasty sauce. The meatballs are quite large. Though I was not expecting them to be as small as those frozen ones I buy for a quick appetizer, I was not prepared for what was served. Sorry about the pic. I was excited and ate a ravioli and a meatball before I remembered to take it. But you needed to see how big they were. Dinner came with soup or salad and either garlic bread or Italian bread. I'd go back just for the garlic bread. So with the salad, the size of raviolis and meatballs, and the bread, I have two more more meals waiting for me in my fridge.

One of our group ordered a pizza and looked delicious. She said was for sure. I plan on ordering carry out one night so I can give it a try - and get garlic bread too!

One thing missing was the pudding. The menu states that each entree comes with a choice of pudding. We were offered none. I don't know if this is no longer being done and the menus not updated, or if it was an oversight on the server's part.

Delivious food, excellent price, wonderful atmosphere. ...

Honest review? The soup was phenomenal! Had the Mushroom Florentine and I loved it. But, then I tried the "smothered" steak sandwich. It was inedible. Besides the 2" thick mountain of greasy cheese, onions and mushrooms making it impossible to fold the bun closed, let alone attempt to pick it up or try to eat it, but try I did!

After a several pound mass of stringy, greasy cheese and toppings cascaded out of the sandwich, I was finally able to get it into my mouth to take a bite. I was greeted by the most chewy, rubbery piece of gristle I've ever bit down on in my life. After closer inspection it ran along the entire edge of the steak, literally making it impossible to eat without having to grab hold with both hands and PULL and tear a piece off of the steak!

No normal, cook would ever choose this cut/preparation of meat for a "sandwich" as it would take some serious, technical work with a fork and a sharp knife to try to get through this thing even if it were alone, by itself, on a plate!

It's like getting served a "rib" sandwich, that is a literal rack of ribs (bones an all) between two slices of bread, which isn't a far cry because bone and gristle are both equally incompatible with an entree that's meant to be eaten in a bun or roll!

Bad experience overall. Your...