$$$, Dine At The Bar, Fine Dining, Hidden Find, Local Favorite, Notable Wine List, Special Occasion Dining
Welcome to di Paolo. As one of the most respected and well-regarded restaurants in the area, di Paolo offers intimate dining in a neighborhood setting minutes away from Atlanta. With its wood-burning oven and open kitchen carrying Italian aromas into the warm and comfortable dining room, di Paolo presents beautiful Northern Italian cuisine and faultless service without being too pretentious. No detail is overlooked. Our mozzarella is made on the premises. Our pastas are hand-made every morning with precision and care. di Paolo finds and uses only the finest and freshest ingredients to offer signature Italian cuisine. The menu changes seasonally to appropriately reflect the availability of the ripest ingredients. di Paolo promises authenticity in its cuisine, so when selecting from the wide array of appetizers, first and second courses, and desserts, you will be delighted to know that
I've always had very good food at this restaurant. Lamb shanks are especially delicious. My only complaint is that the noise level is so high you cannot talk to the person at the table with you and it's even difficult to hear the waiter. Still, I've returned several times and the food is consistently good.
Posted 07/23/08 | Report Abuse
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Good food and creative, authentic menu. I read that this has been the top-rated Italian restaurant in Zagat for the past several years. It's a challenge to find so make sure you check out an online map before you come. My wife and I celebrated our anniversary at di Paolo on a recent Sunday night. The restaurant is nicely decorated, but falls short of 'romantic' because of the noise level. The background music is too loud, as was the noise from the other patrons. One final tip. All bottles of wine are 1/2 price on Sunday nights.
PROS: Good, creative, authentic Italian food
CONS: Noisy
Posted 10/03/06 | Report Abuse
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This restaurant is tucked in an old strip mall. Itisahidden gem. The food is so creative and wonderful. It is Italian but in an elegant and creative way. They change the manu seasonally. The atmosphere isvery romantic but I have also gone here with the girls. Not real child friendly.
PROS: Awesome food, great service
CONS: Pricey $$$ but worth it
Posted 06/02/06 | Report Abuse
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Beware...don't question them or complain!
by lexie379
Actually, the meal we had was decent. BUT, for us, a dining experience is more than the food alone. We have eaten at this restaurant twice, and both times the management/owner has significantly lacked in customer service skills. On our most recent visit, we voiced a concern about an item on our bill and the owner ARGUED with us about it. To me, this is not acceptable. Quite obviously there are better ways to deal with customers than to argue with them! We had a valid concern and, in my opinion, we were treated as though we were just cheap, stupid diners. There are plenty of decent places to eat in this area?no need to be treated like dirt when you?ve spent good money for a meal!
Posted 09/17/08
Best of Alpharetta for Italian and rivals anything else in the ATL
by degustation
We come to Di Paolo often on Sundays for their half off wine feature. The wine list is wonderful, and now with the new GA law, you can order a few bottles take them home with you, so you can start with a glass of white and red and then have them at home too! The service has always been impeccable and the food a cut above any Italian restaurant I have been to in Georgia. And really, the price is reasonable for the techicality and flavor depth of the food. And I recommend finishing with an espresso, they always come with their biscotti digiorno!
Pros: Wine List Menu Service
Cons: More bottled/sparkling water selection
Posted 08/27/08
Not worth the drive!
by wisk
Do not believe the hype! After dining at Sotto Sotto and Allegro recently, we decided to take the drive out to Di Paolo. I do not know what are all the raves are about? First, the bread tasted days old in bin they store it in. Oh, who has their hands in the bread basket? It seems all the servers do by sticking their hands in there. The pastas are ok at best but nothing to drive out of the way to. I recommend La Tavola or Sotto Sotto.
Pros: None
Cons: Not worth the money or the drive
Posted 05/08/08
Authentic, carefully crafted cuisine - consistently delivered
by jmsilver
OK, so it looks like they don't exactly need another raving review, but I thought I'd add my 2 cents worth - this place is fantastic! It's a favorite of ours, so we've had plenty of experience with it, and actually have never had a bad meal there! From signature salads to homemade pastas to artful desserts, every dish seems designed to delight in taste, texture, beauty, etc. The wine list is a lot of fun as well, and changes often enough to keep things really interesting. It's pretty unbelievable that you'd find this place in a strip mall like it is, but just imagine how good they must be to consistently overcome that, and keep coming out on top. We consider ourselves very lucky to live very close by!
Pros: Fantastic food! And it sounds strange, but a great "hearth" smell when you walk in
Cons: Not open on Mondays
Posted 01/09/08
My Favorite Italian! No One Tops This Place!
by hbfrog
This is the best Italian in the city, by far. Nothing outside of the motherland itself has ever beat this place for me. If you've not been, it is a must try. Just make reservations first! Every dish is amazing and the service can't be beat. I've never been disappointed and I've been here numerous times. My husband and I don't very close, but it is always worth the drive. Just about everything is made in-house and Susan, the owner, is very hands-on and receptive during dinner. The place even had a facelift not long ago; very cute, charming atmosphere, especially for being in a strip mall. Check this place out when you get the chance!
Pros: quaint, unbelievalbly good food, excellent service
Cons: wait can be a bit long without a reservation, wish i lived closer
Posted 03/25/07
Great Food! Closes too early, like everything in the suburbs.
by reneeextensiondiva
This place has the food, they have half of the atmosphere. An amazing painting sets the mood but the floral apholstered seating ruins it. What can you expect from Alpharetta? If you took that painting and the chef and moved this place to a warehouse in cabbagetown you would need a reservation months ahead. I wish this very thing would happen. It's wasted where it is with a dull crowd and dowdy tables. Too bad because the food rivals anything in a better neighborhood.
Pros: Food
Cons: Neighborhood and lackluster decor besides the pasta eating monk on the wall
Posted 11/13/06
1st time success
by jeba
I've found it VERY difficult to find decent food in N. Fulton but this place is pretty good...Seems like N. Fulton has a couple decent Italian places...
Pros: Cool place, very easy parking, kids were kept in line
Cons: none this trip...
Posted 09/07/06
The Absolute Best Italian in the City!
by jessicajflowers
If you are looking for Italian beyond spaghetti, meatballs and marinara sauce, you will be blow away by this place! I've been numerous times and have nothing but superb things to say. Service is top-notch and food is to die for. If you've never had authentic, NORTHERN Italian cuisine you must try! It's the best thing outside the country itself. The chef is talented and extremely creative, and the owner is always a delight. If you live ITP, this place is well worth the drive. If you live OTP, you're missing out!
Pros: Authentic Food, Great Value, Fantastic Service
Posted 04/30/06
Class act
by mchadjackson
If you want great food and service, this is your place. I've dined at establishments that charge three times the price and have not been half as satisfied. Solid wine list, outstanding food, and very good service. If you are seasoned dining pros, you won't be disappointed.
Pros: Service, Food, Wine List
Cons: Atmosphere
Posted 11/18/05
What an Excellent Restaurant!
by rent017
We went here last weekend, and it was superb! This is such an excellent Italian restaurant in a neighborhood setting. The service was faultless, and the food was by far the best in the Southeast. If you want AUTHENTIC Italian cuisine, di Paolo is the place to go!
Pros: excellent food, service, intimate
Cons: sometimes a wait, make a reservation
Posted 09/16/05
'Burbs Are Coming Up!
by janker
An in-townerm, I ventured a bit 'OTP' for Di Paolo's and it was very well worth it! On a busy Sat. night with reservations, we still had to wait about 15 minutes. But from that point on, it was great. Delicious and inventive dishes - as well as some traditional bites - and the Secondi option of half-portion pastas made for a great appetizer. Service was attentive and helpful and an overall wonderful meal.
I'd also advise making reservations. It's a small dining room and, apparently, a pretty popular place.
Pros: Food Quality, Service, Price
Cons: The wait
Posted 02/13/05
Mr.
by jim_feely
Different from most traditional Italian restaurants with very unique selections as well as not overwhling to the palate. Excellent
Pros: Great food, Excellent menu, Moderate pricing
Posted 08/30/04
More than just a meal!
by dartsmind
When I dine out, I want to do it right, and Di Paolo knows how to deliver a complete experience. We went for the wine (and their recommendation was perfection) but it was the great food that impressed us more with every course. One night and they have been engraved on my top 10 list.
Pros: Overall Experience, Food, Service
Cons: Small
Posted 09/19/02
Classy Italian in the Burbs
by kbuzun
I have never been dissapointed at Di Paolo. There is always something new to try, but they keep the favorites too. Probably one of the best Italian places if not the best in Georgia. Just make sure your full party is there or they won't seat you!
Pros: Good wine list, Always something new
Cons: Can be a little loud, Only seats full party
Posted 08/22/02
