Ristorante Paradiso

07/09/2007 Posted by chotivegas

My favorite Italian Restaurant! My wife and I have eaten there many times and we have always left very satisfied and happy. The food is absolutely awesome! Not thrown together like a "Vinces" or "Olive Garden" It looks like they actually put some effort in the recipe. The wait staff was very kind and the atmosphere was quant. I have had a few different dishes there but the Putanesca is my favorite. Also..the Kalamari is exceptional!

Pros: Food, Atmoshphere

02/28/2007 Posted by eastsidefoodie

This cozy place has the best bread, and at lunch, the best pizza. I wish they would serve the pizza at dinner. I got them to do it once, but I could see the chef from our table, and I could see he wasnt happy, but he did it. The Pomodoro pasta dish is very fresh and light, as is the Penne Paradiso. We've also had daily fish specials. Once, fantastic; another time, just average. We love the fresh butter, but it might be nice to have an option for some sort of olive oil dipping sauce (with balsamic vinegar, garlic, spices) as so many places have now. However, I hope they never stop making that divine bread! We've always had good luck with wine, but order something they have offered samples of, so we already know we like it. (they sometimes have tasting nights). Service is usually good--bussers keep water topped, bring bread promptly.

Pros: Cozy ambience, heavenly bread

Cons: no pizza at dinner!

02/10/2007 Posted by jkcddd

We have dined here 3 times and each time had a wonderful experience. The restaurant is very romantic with dimmed lighting and cozy tables. The service was top-drawer with excellent recommendations. Each dish was prepared with the freshest of ingredients and is very flavorful. I wish they had a few more choices on the menu, however the selections they offer are wonderful. The bread alone is worth another trip - just like we had on trips to Italy.

Pros: Thoughtfully prepared dishes with the freshest ingredients

Cons: Parking and wish they would add a few more selections to the menu

02/06/2007 Posted by melmothra

this used to be one of my favorite places but it's changing for the worse. On my last visit, the glass of wine I ordered was terrible--totally oxidized. The food was way too salty and things I'd ordered many times in the past were prepared differently although the menu was still the same. The sausage in the gnocchi was almost inedible from way too much fennel and it had such an bad, old taste I thought it might be dangerous. My friend had the lasagna which we used to love because it was so different than anywhere else but this time it was nothing special at all. It was very disappointing. The service was good, if you don't count the fact that the server never bothered to ask why I didn't drink my wine. On the upside, the warm rolls are still delicious. Now, if they would only serve something other than rock hard, cold butter with them.

Pros: Fresh, warm bread

Cons: Salty, inconsistent food preparation

12/01/2005 Posted by aa_seattle

I love the food here (lasagna, canninoli, veal, etc...) and salads, but I can't help but feel it's a bit overpriced. We ordered a carafe of the house chianti and were dissapointed to see a half-carafe in any other restaurant being delivered to our table. It was barely enough for 3 people so we had to order another ($30 later...ouch. for cheap wine that is $6 a bottle at QFC). Oh well, I guess that's why I shouldn't drink wine out. Oh the BREAD is wonderful. It's pillowy and tastes incredible. And they bring refills.

Pros: food, bread

Cons: price, parking, wine prices

04/02/2005 Posted by charliegooddog

Wonderful food professionally served in a romantic setting. Frenchy and Rita have brought a bit of Sardinia to downtown Kirkland. This is the best place on the Eastside to enjoy a leisurely lunch accompanied with a bottle of fine Italian wine. The owners and staff are experienced, warm, gracious and truly care about the customers. In addition to the regular menu items, the kitchen will prepare special dishes upon request. I enjoy "Chicken Steve's Way" (roasted red peppers, mushrooms, capers and wine sauce) and "Pollo Bascaiola" (mushrooms, artichokes and cream sauce). The bread and olive oil/garlic dip is outstanding. Best spumoni we have ever tasted. In good weather you can dine outside on Park Lane, a narrow european style tree lined street. Parking can be a bit challenging, but space is always available in the Kirkland library lot located two blocks from the restaurant.

Pros: Excellent Food, Wonderful Staff, European Atmosphere

Cons: Parking

03/16/2005 Posted by shawnaf

I have been here a few times more for convenince than anything. It does have a quaint feel so the atmosphere is about the best part. Our food was way to oily. Just swimming. The food was very bland. No flavor. My husband and I both were very unhappy with our food. We would not go back. The server was very slow but nice. There were only 4 tables so we didn't understand why the slow service. Trust me there are great Italian Restaurants in Redmond and Bellevue. Skip this place, the food is just plain BAD!

Pros: Atmosphere

Cons: Bad Food, Slow Service

07/02/2003 Posted by lauramango

I love this place , the food is always fresh and sooo good ! Cioppino & pollo maniera are my favorite . Good service.

Pros: Good food, good service, romantic

04/08/2003 Posted by yaypickles

My spinach crepes were over-salted, but my partner's lemon chicken was divine. For some reason, the server never acknowledged me: he dictated the specials exclusively to my male partner; poured wine only for my male partner; gave the bill to my male partner (though I was picking up the check).

Pros: Bread, Atmosphere

Cons: Sexist waitstaff?, Parking

03/02/2003 Posted by ann21

We went there with great expectations but were disappointed with the food. It wad too oily and bland. Also it was too noisy and the service was poor and we felt ignored.