There's a moment when you sit down at Paesanos River Walk where you realize you didn't just pick a restaurant... you picked front-row seats to the whole show. Perfect day. Not too hot, just that easy breeze rolling off the river like it's got nowhere else to be. I'm there with my daughter and family, and the world's walking by boats cruising, people laughing, a little chaos, a little charm... dinner and a show, no ticket required. Now the food real Italian food. Not the kind that just throws red sauce at you and hopes for the best. This is layered. Garlic that actually means something. Rich, buttery sauces clinging to perfectly cooked pasta like they're in a lifelong commitment. You taste herbs, you taste depth it's the kind of Italian food that makes you slow down mid-bite and just nod like, "Yeah... they got this right." Drinks? Smooth enough to keep ordering, strong enough to make you question your life choices in the best way. Service was dialed in. Nobody missing, nobody stressed just right there when you needed them, like they were reading your mind or watching you a little too closely... either way, it worked. And the atmosphere? That's where it gets dangerous. Because you sit there watching the River Walk roll by, the noise, the laughter, the movement... and suddenly two hours disappear. You're ordering dessert you didn't plan on, another drink you don't need, and nobody at the table's in a hurry to leave. I came for Italian food... ...and ended up staying for everything else. read more

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This restaurant came highly recommended by the locals we spoke to & if you're seeking pasta. It is a beautiful setting. The ambience within the premises is also lovely with that of a cellar vibe, low lighting (at night) and of course the water which works well. The staff were professional, friendly and attentive. Menu-The menu was quite extensive. However, would not normally attend a place this pricey, but it was a special occasion & you tend get what you pay for. Meals- We ordered the Capellini Pomodoro Crudo & the Spaghetti ( Spicy ) The red sauce is delicious on the spaghetti.The Crudo, it was a little disappointing. It hardly had any roasted tomatoes in it and large chunks of mozzarella that never melted. The olive oil was very present & not much else. Would have been better tossed with some of that spicy tomato sauce! (see pics). Note-Advise you to make a reservation! We were fortunate: as we went late in the evening, no wait time, seated outside & they were still fairly busy. The restaurant offers a private cruise dining $ experience. Check their website for details.This Italian cuisine is catered aboard a floating vessel while surrounded by the historic scenery of the river. read more

Paesanos Riverwalk - Spaghetti (Spicy) with fresh basil - Italian Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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A San Antonio Riverwalk staple, they have a nice menu and a very convenient location on the River. You have some great views for people watching here, especially outside. The food is average, but they can easily accommodate large groups which is nice. We at here with like 30 people using a set menu, it was good. They gave us a chicken, beef and fish choice as well as some really good dessert and appetizer options. The service was great. Need a reservation if you are there during busy times. Im rating this 3 stars because the menu is pretty plain and our chicken parm / fish entrees were over cooked. Would go here again if it was with a big group, but there may be better choices for smaller groups or a date. read more

We just got dessert and everything came out deliciously. The atmosphere was great there was a lot of low lighting which felt romantic and homey. Our waiter, Johnathan, was a little off putting but i think he was just disappointed that we were a group of teenagers and only getting dessert. I understand that, however it was a little disheartening. I ended up having to go ask for a check myself because he refused to actually check up on us . However we did have a photographer come up to us and brighten the mood a little bit. The photos were only $15 and actually pretty good quality! read more

Went for a late lunch with four other people. The restaurant was pretty empty, and the lighting was very dim (we sat inside). The atmosphere gives a more upscale vibe. I wish the menu had the pizza size written out (pizza is 10 inches), but that is a small detail. My husband and I ordered cheese bread for the table (was enough for everyone) and we split a pizza. It was okay! read more

If you find yourself on the riverwalk, Paesanos is the stop you have to make! Even on a Saturday night we literally were walking on the riverwalk and decided to eat there and were seated right away. I saw the lady seated at table next to us had burrata and then the waiter mentioned it as a recommendation, I was sold. It was hearty and ended up being my main! We also got spaghetti (perfectly cooked noodles) sans cheese and cheese ravioli. The cheese on the ravioli could pull forever, I haven't had cheese like that since Little Italy in NYC. The great thing is afterwards you can walk it off along the Riverwalk. The only issue we had is that they charged us $26 for parking at the lot nearby but that is not of the fault of the restaurants along the Riverwalk! read more

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Had a very delicious dinner at Postino with some coworkers. The cheesy garlic bread was a tasty appetizer- I couldn't get enough! As my main meal, I had the Chicken Marsala which was filling and the sauce was on point. A coworker ordered the Snapper and was very impressed with the size and flavor of the dish. The overall ambiance is warm/cozy and the server was very sweet and handled our large group very well. Food came out within a reasonable time on a Sunday night. Will be back again to try more on their menu! read more

Paesanos Riverwalk - Chicken Marsala - Italian Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Friendly service, good wine, great meal! I ordered the veal picatta and added two shrimp Paesano (their specialty) and a glass of Pinot Grigio. The wine was tasty and the good came out piping hot! And it stayed hot for quite a while. The shrimp were perfectly cooked with a wonderful texture and delicious flavor. I may order this as an entree next time. But I'm a sucker for veal picatta and this one was worth it. The veal was tender and the sauce was perfect. Not too tart or salty. The pasta was al dente and the spinach was crisp and fresh. I look forward to returning to try more dishes. read more

Paesanos Riverwalk - Veal picatta with shrimp Paesano. - Italian Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

We dined on the patio with a large private party. It was a little noisy outside but you are directly above the Riverwalk so that is to be expected. Service was excellent! We had several servers attend to our group and they were all friendly and attentive. The restaurant provides bread with Olive oil for the table. We started with the Shrimp Paesanos which was lightly breaded with garlic lemon butter. The shrimp was good but the sauce made the breading soggy. We also ordered the Oven Baked Meatballs which were excellent. Very moist and flavorful. For the entree, I ordered the Meat Lasagna. Pretty good, not excellent but my husband ordered the Chicken Parmigiana served with a side of spaghetti. The chicken was cooked perfectly. It was very tasty. For dessert, we had cheesecake and tiramisu. The cheesecake was New York Style. Both were really delicious. Overall we had a great experience and would go back. read more

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The excellent service & river walk view was worth it alone! However we really enjoyed all of our entrees . The grilled artichokes were delicious, perfectly seasoned. Great bread & dip options . Penne primavera was sooo good ! The portions here are generous so keep that in mind when ordering , everything is very shareable. Indoor seating is also available. Paid parking was rt next to Paesanos, quick trip across the street and down stairs. ( elevator available ) You'll want to take advantage of the shopping , live music , boat rides and the fun after dinner walking river walk - much longer than it looks . Beautiful area. Better in the evening for sure. read more

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We were craving Italian, so we decided to do lunch here on the Riverwalk. Actually, we've been here before, but felt compelled to revisit. Anyway, initially, I wasn't too thrilled with the patio set-up (like others that we've been to). While there were posh seating areas, the ones that were available weren't too great. I say that because the tables were squeezed way too closely to one another...and for some reason, the scenery in this area was quite hectic, and not as scenic as most on the riverwalk strip. Then the foods. We started with their "Giant Calamari", which was not your usual Fried Calamari, but a bit chewy. Luckily, they were on the softer side...and we ended up liking it. For our entrees, my husband ordered the Eggplant Parmigiana, and I ordered the Penne Poblano, and added their version of Fried Chicken. Well, my husband really liked his Eggplant dish...and I ended up liking mine as well. As for drinks, my husband ordered his current beer of choice, Modelo Especial, and I got this mocktail, Spicy Mango Virgin Rita. Service was a bit slow...and there were moments we felt that our waitress forgot us altogether. As it turned out, the place was understaffed...and our waitress probably did the best she could. Still, we had to wait a LONG time for our dishes. Thanks to the great weather, we really enjoyed the patio dining here...but thought things could have gone better. Guess I was disappointed in the speed of service, and the cramped patio dining space. Still, we liked the foods...and succeeded in getting our Italian fix! read more

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Waited almost an hour for 3 entrees. It was my mother's bday and after waiting an extra 20-30 minutes for a bday dessert we ended up leaving instead. Nice server but terrible kitchen structure. read more

Paesanos Riverwalk is located in Downtown San Antonio right on the world-famous Riverwalk offering fine delicate Italian cuisine, pastas, appetizers and many more tasty options! We decided to stop by and give it a try after walking all day sightseeing the beautiful city of San Antonio. We were greeted by the hostess and were seated promptly outside on the Riverwalk giving us stellar views of the beautiful water and everything in its vicinity. We Went ahead and ordered the Italian meatballs, giant calamari, Italian Herbs & cheese garlic bread and a kids alfredo fettuccini. Our Waiter did a fabulous job in giving us a detailed short version of the menu and what they are known for with their specialty dishes with a brief description of the entree and ingredients. Shortly after placing our order our food was ready and brought to our table. Every dish looked magnificent and the attention to detail was thought through when plating and garnished respectfully. The oven baked meatballs were nice and plump while the inside was as moist as it could be with melted mozzarella and tomato sauce. The garlic cheese bread was toasted with fresh mozzarella and had a nice snap back when biting through. The bread was garnished with fresh chopped parsley and complimented by a side of tomato sauce. The star of the show was the giant calamari where each cut was different in size and breaded and deep fried golden to perfection. The alfredo fettuccini pasta was cooked Al 'dente or to the tooth with an excellent chewy but yet firm noodle. The sauce was creamy and flavorful and had my kids digging in for more. Altogether we had an excellent dinner with gorgeous views of the river. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for a nice night out in San Antonio to pay this place a visit. The food and the customer service were second to none and was all affordable at the same time. Thank you, Paesanos for creating unforgettable memories for my family! read more

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Our party of six wanted lunch during our River Walk tour. We decided on Parsanos because the majority voted Italian. We order two appetizers, two pizza, and a pasta dish. We were pleasantly surprised how good the foods tasted. We were not expecting much since we were eating at a tourist trap restaurant. The table service was friendly and efficient. Prices were fine for the location. We enjoyed our lunch break at Parsanos. read more

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Food was great! Atmosphere was great as well. However I'm big on customer service and our waiter Alex, was HORRIBLE! So much sarcasm in every thing we asked. Even from the beginning asking for a table of 7. I don't want to specify it as racism although that's how my kids and teammates felt, but it wasn't welcoming at all. Once seated, every single question we asked there was sarcasm. What really blew me, I asked why the receipt price and them menu have two different prices he told me that has nothing to do with him and proceeded to ask how I was paying. I'm big on customer service more than anything, so I won't be back thanks to Alex! read more

I came here with a big group for work and we had a lovely experience. We were able to sit outside and the ambiance was very nice. The waitstaff were extremely friendly and energetic - shoutout to Jonathan for being a great server! All the dishes looked really tasty and I noticed that the pasta dishes were not too huge and had a good pasta to protein ratio. The pizza had the most cheese I've ever seen on a pizza (not necessarily a bad thing...) and was pretty good. I think the shrimp paesano pasta was the best choice - it was so buttery and delicious. The drinks were also great and there was some type of donut dessert which was to die for. Overall, a great experience on the riverwalk! read more

The good is the location and the service. The bad is the overpriced average Italian food.

4.5 stars My friend and I were looking for a place to have dinner and decided to give this establishment a try. Situated on the River Walk, Paesanos gives off romantic vibes with its cozy atmosphere ad twinkling lights. We were seated outside, and the weather was perfect for dining under the stars. Our waiter was darling. I wish I remembered his name. He recommended the Italian Herb & Cheese Garlic Bread, which was fantastic! A generous serving of crispy bread with perfectly melted mozzarella on top. He also recommended the house signature dish - Shrimp Paesanos, which my friend ordered. I tried some and it was amazing! I had The Special Salad and a side of Seasoned Fries. The Salad was exceptionally good - loaded with artichokes, hearts of palm, tomatoes, and sliced avocado with a creamy red wine vinaigrette. The fries were also tasty. Both hit the spot. My Lemon Drop was perfect and the addition of Limoncello made it even better. My friend and I were very impressed with this place. The food was amazing, the ambience was lovely, and the service was fantastic. I recommend it, especially if you are celebrating a special occasion. read more

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We came here for dinner with a group from work and we all enjoyed the atmosphere, the location is right on the river, the drinks were excellent and the food was truly wonderful, very tasty! The staff were also all very friendly and attentive. Our waitress was particularly great but I forgot her name. We had three people celebrating birthdays and she brought a cake for each of them, all different, and it was just such a special moment for us because we didn't expect it. read more

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I had a lovely experience this week at this restaurant and felt compelled to share my praises! Kaylee's service was excellent; she was incredible to me and my family. She was very quick and helped me navigate my experience. This was my first time dining here but my family had recommended it strongly. I heavily enjoyed both my drinks and entree, and I felt the portions and flavors matched the price we paid. Italian food has my heart, and this place nails it!! read more

Even in the heat of June, sitting under the fan was very pleasant while we enjoyed our meal. Very tasty and deliciously flavored. read more

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Very busy night because of Texas Cavalier Parade, but we were sat immediately and our waiter came shortly afterward. Our server was a bit confusing at first when placing our order, but quickly cleared it up and helped with recommendations. He brought our drinks right after, but I was not a fan of the tea, so had it replaced with a Sprite. Since this was part of a Fiesta event, we had a prix fixe menu. Apps, including bread, were extra, so we opted out and went with the included Ceasar salad. For our entrees, we ordered the Shrimp Paesano and the Pork Osso Buco. Finally for dessert, we chose the Ricotta e Pere and Tiramasu. It took a while to receive our salads and my Sprite, but they were very busy. The salad was good with large shreds of fresh parm. Fresh cracked black pepper would have been nice, but we did not want to wait to ask for any, so we just used the table pepper. When our entrees arrived, we were surprised by the sizes. The food was more than ample, especially the pork. We both enjoyed the dishes, but I preferred the shrimp because I was not a fan of the pork's sauce. My partner, however, loved the sauce and preferred that dish. Overall, both were solid choices. Unfortunately, we were too full to eat our dessert, so we ended our meal with a cup of coffee and had the dessert wrapped to go. Based on other reviews, I was uncertain about how the service and food would be, but in the end, I was pleasantly surprised. read more

Paesanos Riverwalk - Shrimp Paesano - Italian Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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An amazing experience and our waitress Lorie was absolutely amazing!! Food was great, service was quick and it's right here on the river walk read more

I don't know what I was thinking ordering a ribeye steak at an Italian restaurant--the cut was very tough and pretty mediocre. Lesson learned. That said, the Italian food here is fantastic! The meatballs were excellent, the pizza was fantastic, and everything else we saw coming out of the kitchen looked delicious. What really made the experience stand out was our waitress, Laurie. She was incredibly engaging, friendly, and attentive. The ambience is about what you'd expect from a busy tourist spot in any major city, but Laurie's service elevated the whole meal. The highlight came when I realized I had dropped my wallet about five blocks away. I rushed back in a panic only to find that Laurie had picked it up and kept it safe in her pocket. I gave her a huge hug and a generous tip--I can't tell you the relief I felt knowing I'd still be able to get home without any TSA drama. Overall, while I wouldn't recommend the steak, I'd definitely recommend Paisano's for their Italian food, friendly service, and staff that truly go above and beyond. read more

We had such a nice dining experience here. Ray was our server. He was so friendly and shared his favorites with us. We each ordered salads and the shrimp Paesanos and veal Marsala. The tables are pretty close together at this popular restaurant. It's interesting to watch the servers navigate to their tables. The pizza looked really good! We'll have to try it next time. We enjoyed our Italian meal on the Riverwalk. read more

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Mozarella sticks were served cold. The lobster bisque was overly salted. The crab cake bites were kinda old tasting. It was late after a show and this was open so that's why we even stayed. The restaurant needs a deep clean. Would not recommend. read more

Paesanos Riverwalk - Italian Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Everything went well. I put in a reservation with open table we a arrived early and a table was arranged for us quickly. Our server was Jeffery. He was very good. He was knowledgeable, attentive and very respectful. His service was great. Since it was our son's birthday it was a nice touch to have the managing chef come out to make sure we were satisfied with the food and to wis him a Happy Birthday. The whole experience was very pleasant. read more

Honestly this place was pretty good. I really liked the food and so did the rest of my family. This was pretty expensive though, $30 for a plate of pasta and to add protein like chicken was another $9. This is the river walk so I expected it to be expensive but I wouldn't come again just because of the value. The waitress was nice though she didn't come by often. The place was nice and quiet and dim lit and felt fresh even on a hot day outside. read more

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After the river boat tour, I decided to drop in here for dinner. I'm tired of the spicy bbq fare so yes I want Italian. I asked for a seat inside. It's pretty dark inside. I couldn't even make out the menu. I ordered the chicken marsala which was huge and delicious. My waiter was friendly. He even helped me bag the left over and gave me a fork so I can nuke it in my hotel room for lunch tomorrow. Service was quick. read more

Paesanos Riverwalk - Chicken Marsala - Italian Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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The food was amazing. The service was excellent. Both inside and outside seating were great.

Well I've been going to the original Paesano's store on McCullough Ave since the early 80's and since the expansion across town, the quality has been diluted. It's one of those that if you do 1 thing well, don't change it. Maybe they are spread too thin for QC. read more

Arriving in San Antonio in the later evening after our typical dinner time, this was the only option where a reservation could be made. We made it here on a late Friday night in early March after driving; arriving the place was still quite packed. Fortunately we got seated immediately and placed outside right next to the Riverwalk. In terms of location, this restaurant nails it with the nice view of the water right on the riverwalk allowing for fun people-watching. As for food/drinks, it's your standard italian american menu with some european wines, traditional cocktails, and domestic beers. They have a red zinfandel (Decoy) by the glass which I ordered; I'm glad this one was available. The girlfriend ordered the house margarita on the rocks, not bad. She didn't realize they had frozen ones available, she mentioned next time, she'll order that one. Oh well. Now for the food. We started with the sampler for two which consisted of shrimp paesano (fried shrimp), calamari, & parmesan artichoke hearts. While you get a sample of items, the artichoke hearts were the only good items in the sample; enjoyed the texture with some crispiness. The shrimp and calamari are served in a lemon butter sauce which adds to the flavor but both could've used more seasoning. For entrees, my girlfriend ordered the lobster ravioli and I had the crab stuffed salmon. The ravioli dish is a drowning of a wine cream sauce, parsley, and cheese so if you like saucy dishes, this is a good one. The lobster tasted fine; as for the ravioli, you could tell it was made pre-packaged. Nonetheless, my girlfriend still enjoyed it. The salmon was alright, good seasoning but a bit dry. Fortunately it's served over pesto linguine and some lemon butter sauce which adds to the flavor. For dessert, we ordered the orange ripieno. We definitely should've ordered something else because the sorbet was hard as a hockey puck and difficult to eat. Probably should've went with the creme brulee or the tiramisu. This place definitely screams tourist trap but it will generate a lot of customers due to it's location and people's taste for italian. Not sure if we'll be back here again but I suppose we would if we needed to eat somewhere in a pinch late at night. read more

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We had an AMAZING experience here! My fiancé and I made a last minute reservation for a late lunch after finishing up at my bridal makeup trial. My birthday is on Christmas Day so we decided to make this my "birthday lunch". I'm glad we did because they made this such a wonderful experience for me! First, they placed a white table cloth on top of the last open table that was facing the river front. Ours was the only table like this so I know they did this to make it special for me. Plus, they added a cute poinsettia plant and left a little birthday card on the table too. It was so nice! The service was great and our server was not only friendly, but he was down to earth. He started his spiel about the shrimp pasta and I cut him off, telling him, "let me save you some time - we're vegetarian". To which he chuckled and thanked us for informing him so he could cut right to the chase. I got my favorite Italian dish - the Eggplant Parmigiana and it was the perfect amount of thin and crispy for me. Absolutely loved it! Before bringing us the check, he brought a complimentary slice of tiramisu cake complete with a candle and "happy birthday" sign to celebrate my birthday. We loved and appreciated this gesture so much! Also, the tiramisu was INCREDIBLY DELICIOUS - I definitely recommend trying it out!! Thank you, Paesanos, for an incredible birthday experience! Next time we make it back to Aan Antonio, we'll be back to see you! read more

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Amazing food and service and great waiter Johnathan was our server and we had a great time! read more

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Service and Ambience 5/5. Super friendly waiter who took great care of us! And we got an excellent table right next to the river. Food 3/5. Honestly, we didn't really have high expectations given how touristy the Riverwalk is. We had the Paesanos shrimp as an appetizer- kind of heavy with the lemon sauce, the Cappelini Pomadoro and the Spaghetti with Olive Oil. The pastas really didn't have any flavor. We doctored them up with cheese and salt and pepper. So overall just kind of meh. But we enjoyed the view of the Christmas lights. read more

A lovely Riverwalk location with solid Italian dishes and friendly service. The cake we tried was delicious--moist and perfectly sweet! A great spot for a scenic meal with satisfying desserts. read more

Paesanos Riverwalk - Italian Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Found this restaurant through conference board -- one of most popular local Italian restaurants. I came here around 5pm with hunger. The waitress lead me to a quiet area, and the waiter Mike professionally brought ice water right away with utensils. Then he started introducing the most popular dish - 55 years old history dish "Shrimp Paesanos "( the restaurant name as well), his story on the dish totally sold me on it. And the food served in 5 minutes--- wow is it freshly made ?! The plate is cold ( one star off , also because heavy coated shrimp, a little greasy), but the food tasted pretty good especially with the Parmesan cheese and pepper flakes, definitely needs those layers of flavor to balance the heavy butter grease . I also like the house complimentary bread and seasoned Oliver oil dip, flavorful . Usually the best way to judge an Italian restaurant, it is its house made Tiramisu. The Tiramisu definitely holds its high bar on taste, presentation and sweet balance. The only thing I would like to suggest is to have more fresh chocolate powder on top to mix the moisture texture at the bottom. One hour later, the inside sitting area is half occupied on a Friday night , so suggestion is to come early :) the inside dimmed light, big space, which can host big party. Meanwhile this is a great restaurant to have family and friends gathering. Food portion is generous, price is reasonable and waiter is professional. Bravo!! read more

Right on the riverwalk, so we decided to give it a try. While the pasta sauce leaned a little too heavily on butter for my personal preference, this Italian restaurant on the Riverwalk offers a delicious and welcoming experience. The generous portions, friendly service, and prime location make it a worthwhile choice for anyone visiting San Antonio, especially those craving a taste of Italy with a Texan twist. Just be sure to inquire about the sauce composition before ordering if you prefer a lighter, oil-based pasta dish! read more

Paesanos Riverwalk - On the riverwalk - Italian Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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This place is pretty nice . I had salmon and a side of pasta marinara .. they bring you alot of bread . My husband had stuffed shells . It was red sauce and Alfredo mixed . He loved it . There is a photographer that goes to each table and takes your picture . We had a really nice server Atlas , He was very attentive and went above and beyond on food allergies which i appreciate. This would be a nice place for a special occasion or a date night . read more

Paesanos Riverwalk - Italian Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

- 3.7 cheese sticks - 3.3 garlic bread - 4.5 garlic bread with cheese - 3.0 Cappuccino - 3.0 Alfredo with chicken grilled - 3.5 Alfredo with chicken Parmesan - 4.5 Shrimp paesano read more