Our anniversary dinner at Chef Paco turned out to be one of those rare dining experiences that lingers long after the last bite. Tucked away in a small, unassuming building just off the square, the restaurant feels like a well-kept secret. In a town that draws plenty of visitors, this spot...at least for now...remains pleasantly undiscovered. Honestly, if it were any closer to the square, I suspect it would be packed to the brim every night with a wait stretching down the street. From the moment we sat down, the service set the tone. Our waitress, a student from the University of North Georgia, was exceptional...attentive, warm, and effortlessly professional. She carried herself with the kind of polish you'd expect from someone formally trained in hospitality, not someone still in school. It added a personal, genuine touch to the evening that's hard to manufacture. We both ordered the Chicken Scaloppini, and it's no exaggeration to say it is now difficult to choose anything else on our return visits. The dish was beautifully presented...pan-seared chicken breast layered with capers, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and prosciutto, all resting alongside a rich, angle hair pasta accompaniment and topped with grated and shaved parmigiana cheese. Every element worked in harmony: bright, savory, and deeply satisfying without feeling heavy. It was the kind of plate you slow down for, not wanting it to end. Dessert was just as memorable. The chocolate divine cake, paired with vanilla ice cream and finished with a delicate flower, felt like a celebration in itself...elegant, indulgent, and the perfect closing note to the meal. Chef Paco delivers something special: refined food in an intimate, unpretentious setting, with service that elevates the entire experience. For us, it wasn't just dinner...it was a moment, and exactly the kind you hope for on an anniversary. read more

Chef Paco's - Italian Near Me - Dahlonega, Georgia

We had a lovely Sunday breakfast at this quaint bistro. The service was great and we were well attended to from the moment we hit the door. The food was exceptional! I had the Chilaquiles Verdes. The spice level was spot on, and I like spicy! It did come with sour cream if one needed to cool it down a bit. The eggs were BEAUTIFUL -- rich orange yolks, perfectly executed. The cinnamon roll was yeasty and just sweet enough. Also, the southern potato hash was killer! We would certainly return to this lovely spot for a great meal! read more

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Busy Saturday evening. Sat inside. Noise made it difficult to hear someone sitting across the small table. Outside seating was in front of the entrance and almost on the road. Traffic noise was obvious. We were looking forward to the calimari appetizer but disappointed by the size of the "meat" in the thickly battered strips. My partner described it as eating a battered straw. Scottish salmon was a generous size but a bit overcooked. The potato that came with the salmon was unique and tasty. Rainbow trout was probably the best entree. Servers were friendly and attentive. I might try their breakfast offering some time but not sure the dinner $$ was worth it. read more

Chef Paco's - Crab cakes could have been cooked more but nice appetizer to share. - Italian Near Me - Dahlonega, Georgia

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Great menu, service and overall experience. A small place so not great for large groups, but otherwise fantastic!

Based on all of the good reviews I was really looking forward to a meal there. Maybe I picked an "off" night, but the main entree for me and a guest were not on the level we expected. She had the Chicken Scaloppine and I had the Trout Almandine. Although the chicken was good my guest felt it lacked a sauce or something (butter?) to add flavor. Mine was more of a surprise: the meal wasn't that hot as if it sat out too long and was starting to cool. The fish was tasty, but underneath was salmon , which wasn't part of this item. The waitress was very sweet and had the head waiter(?) come to check. She told me "it's rainbow trout and it tends to be pink." With all due respect I know salmon when I see it and taste it and it was definitely salmon.. and it was also only slightly warm. Our dessert was very good and they kindly knocked off the price of the entree and dessert, but I'm not sure I want to go back for dinner anytime soon... maybe breakfast. Again it's a shame because the waitress was very nice and the people there are friendly , just a miss on the dinner menu. read more

My wife and I came here for dinner last night, but we didn't have a reservation and there were no tables available. So, we decided to come back for brunch the next morning, and we're glad we did! My wife had the salmon bagel, which was a bagel with dill infused creme fraiche with pickled red onions, capers and smoked salmon. Very good. I got the avocado toast, which was a toasted sourdough bread with avocado, smoked salmon and two poached eggs on top. Really tasty! And I got a side pancake to go with it, which was also very good. Our server, Kaleah, was very polite and attentive. Really pleased with our first visit here and hope to be back again for a dinner! read more

The salmon was easily the best I've ever had, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. My wife ordered the chicken scallopini and loved it just as much. You can tell this is a chef who truly cares about his food and takes pride in putting his name on the menu. We'll definitely be back. read more

Chef Paco's - Salmon - Italian Near Me - Dahlonega, Georgia

Dahlonega finally has a superb restaurant. Every entree on the menu is special. Service and food were exemplary. Staff, owners and sous chef are wonderful. Dahlonega has a fine dining restaurant at last. Reservations recommended, they are a small, and cozy environment with a welcome atmosphere, but limited seating. read more

Chef Paco's - We split the spinach salad, and it's delicious!! - Italian Near Me - Dahlonega, Georgia

Food and service was phenomenal! We loved the steak and eggs, French toast, and pastries...Had to get the cinnamon roll to go! This will definitely be one of our go to spot!!! read more

Absolutely obsessed with this restaurant. The intimate atmosphere, service and food is truly phenomenal. I've never had a bad meal here and Dahlonega desperately needed a fine dining establishment on the Square. You won't be disappointed with this gem! read more

Chilly day but the patio was heated nicely. Food was fresh hot, seasoned and cooked perfectly. There were no salt and peppers on the tables but the food was so good we didn't need them! The ONLY issue was that we (3 of us) ran out of water twice! Other wise it was a foodies paradise. We will be returning. Highly recommend!!! read more

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First time for brunch and it was good but with a couple of caveats. My French toast with fruit was good and I had a fruit bowl as a side. I also had bacon as a side but it arrived late and was overcooked as to actually be burned. The mimosa was fine but a larger glass would have been nice! Over all, I would return for brunch but there are a number of other Sunday brunch places in the area that offer great alternatives. read more

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Great service food was phenomenal. Here on a Girls weekend we came here sat and Sunday Ate and took Delicious pastries to go. Banana bread and Cinnamon rolls are to die for. I don't eat blueberries muffins.But I ate blueberries muffins and I loved them. Thank you Chef Paco can't wait to come back. read more

Cozy, serene, warm outdoor seating in a tented area! A delight, wonderful service. Every person was professional and friendly. Food was exceptional, salads - delicious, fillets - cooked perfectly and tasty! We will return, we wanted to try everything on the menu! read more

The food is excellent. The appetizers and main course are creative with great flavor. I've dined there with my wife several times and she likes the food. Their Scottish salmon is the best I've eaten. We recently moved to the area from Atlanta where we've eaten at many good casual dining restaurants. Chef Paco is an excellent chef. It's our favorite place to eat in Dahlonega! read more

We made a reservation for 6:15 and got there early 6:05. Totally know we are early so if you need us to wait that's fine. We were sat immediately..yay! It took us 20 minutes to be greeted by a server. That was after I flag someone down after 15 minutes to ask who our server is (surprise no one came until 5 minutes later) and flagging someone down for water after 10 minutes of sitting. We asked for water from the hostess when we were sat mind you. We were sat at the same time as another table right next to us...they were given water, given bread, told the specials and order taken. Interesting considered it was a pitcher of water and could have filled ours too and you came out with two plates of bread. Don't worry the second plate of bread was for a table that just got sat only 5 minutes ago even tho we were the next table over and the table that ended up with bread was on the other side of the restaurant. You literally passed us to give them bread (we had been sitting for 15 at that point). Finally we are greeted by a younger girl. She had not address why she was so late in greeting us. I would have accepted any lie but at least a "sorry" would have been nice. Asked if we wanted anything besides water and I asked what wines they had. She knew nothing, "I don't know I haven't been back since we got permit but we have all wines" I asked if they had a moscato or riesling. Something light since I was getting pasta. She looked like a deer in headlight.... And said she could be back after checking. I told her never mind about getting the answers. In my mind I didn't want to be abandoned for another 10 minutes. Having sat for so long I had heard the other servers talk about the wines and the specials for the night (our server never mentioned the special), so at least some of the staff knew and could give recommendations. We put in the order. Didn't take long after everything that we were put through or lack there of we decided to leave. Other tables that were sat after us were getting food when we had only just been greeted and ignored repeatedly. It felt like they didn't want to talk with us or deal with us. I was the only poc guest so maybe it was racially motivated. I don't know. We were well dress, no ripped jeans, no flip flops. But just seemed like they didn't want to serve us so we weren't going to forced them. As we walked out asked for the server to tell them to conceal the order since it had taken so long and to have a nice night. Also saw that about half the staff was just hanging around behind the curtain to the kitchen. VERY UNPROFESSIONAL experience with the staff. We were looking forward to the food and I'm sure Paco is an amazing chef just disappointed that the staff prevented us from being able to try it. Would recommend going somewhere else as even a reservation doesn't mean anything. read more

This was my first time eating at Chef Paco's. Everything was delicious and everything was made from scratch. My server, Sierra, attend us greatly I never went without tea I would recommend for any family's, couples, and anyone who knows how to eat good food. read more

Wonderful food and great service. Went here for my anniversary dinner and everything was great.

Excellent food. Try the oysters as they are worth the trip alone. Lunch sandwiches are delicious and appealing. Best to ask if your fries can be crispy. read more

An intimate restaurant off the square in Dahlonega with an international flair. The service was spot on and the food was unbelievably good. My wife got the filet and it was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. I had the best shrimp linguine. The dessert was homemade, beautifully presented, and delicious! If you are ever in Dahlonega and want a wonderful meal, try Chef Paco's! read more

Great Chef. Great Staff. Consistently exceptional food. Reservations are suggested as there is limited seating available. Don't miss this Dahlonega gem. read more

The food & service were great, enjoyed the trout wife had a special chicken entree. We will be back!!