Wow what a spectacular dinner, and such a warm way to be welcomed into Ann Arbor for the first time! This restaurant is super underrated. Walking in, we walk past the kitchen and I'm seeing freshly made dishes and meat being flame grilled, already feeling excited. Our party of 6 gets seated and, mind you, this is our first dinner out after our great grandmother passed away. Our server Joe really made things lighthearted for us... very warm, punny, attentive... he really made the evening. But we're not going to hand out 5 stars unless the food is excellent. The food was indeed excellent. Firstly, the pasta is made fresh here, and you can tell. The texture, the lightness, the taste - all refreshingly delicate and sophisticated in flavor. Really loved it. The soup is also made fresh here, we loved the pomodoro and the toscano. I ordered the fettuccine Alfredo with grilled salmon and boy was that salmon perfectly cooked - absolutely tender and juicy on the inside with crisp char on the outside. Best salmon I've had in a long time. Common phrases heard at our dining table include: "Best soup I've ever had" "Best pink sauce I've ever had" "Best pasta I've ever had." The food feels homie and cozy and authentic with generous portions. Highly recommend. We'll be back! Until then, I'll be dreaming about that creamy delicate and incredibly flavor infused Alfredo! read more

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A far cry from the restaurant you used to be excited for your parents to take you to when in school during parents weekend. Probably the worst Italian restaurant I've ever eaten at frankly. There were multiple items on the menu that were not available (salmon dish, gelato for example). The food took a good 45 minutes for the entrees to arrive. The portion sizing was very inconsistent. The pasta was over cooked like it had been sitting in a pot for hours before being served. While the wait staff was pleasant, we were not visited by the manager to apologize for a few dishes that needed to be sent back for being incorrect. Would not recommend. Especially in a town with so many great restaurants. read more

The service was good, the food was decent, the conversation was the highlight :) Met up with friends for dinner and we ordered the following items: - Carbonara - Manzo - Bolognese Rigatoni - Luccheese - Calamari - Bruschetta Funghi As for pasta dishes go, it was decent, but definitely had better pasts at other places (not in Ann Arbor). It didn't have that "wow" factor that would make me wanna come back over and over again to eat it. Our favorite was the calamari. The service was the best part of the meal. The waiter checked on us often, made sure everything was good. read more

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I have eaten here 2X and have not really enjoyed it both times. The first time I had fettuccine Alfredo which lacked seasoning and richness. This time, I had the pesto gemelli which was definitely better but again, lack luster. The Zuppa Toscano also lacked flavor and was pretty disappointing. The service the first time was alright but this time, he barely refilled our water (maybe once) and we had to wait around 15 minutes for him to come back so we could order when we asked for a quick minute. He so didn't refill the bread which only fed half of our table. I also overheard a server yelling at the chefs in the front of the restaurant which was definitely a poor image. The ambiance is alright but honestly not that special in my opinion. Overall, if you want mediocre inauthentic Italian food, I would go to Olive Garden and pay less for something more seasoned. read more

Palio Ann Arbor - Cup Zuppa Toscano - Food Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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We experienced the most perfect summer evening on Palio's rooftop this evening. The staff was extremely attentive, the food on the special charity 5-course dinner tasted delicious and the Daou wine pairings were icing on the cake. Thank you Palio Ann Arbor for a fabulous charity event. read more

Palio has been me and my boyfriend's go-to restaurant for some of our greatest life events- anniversaries, birthdays, end of semester celebrations, good news on exams, and everything in between. And rightly so, as we've never had an issues with our food, service, or experience until now. We went on a Thursday evening and it wasn't packed, but we were told it would be a 30 minute wait, probably shorter. It ended up being ~20 minutes. When we arrived back to the restaurant from walking around downtown Ann Arbor, the whole entrance was smoky and the host had to open the door to let it out. However, that didn't stop the smoke from permeating the entire building and our clothes the rest of the dining experience. We were greeted by our young server, who it seemed was training at the time because he had an older gentleman hovering over him. I felt bad for the trainee because his trainer was breathing down his neck and wouldn't allow him to answer any of our questions and was continually talking over him. If you're going to train someone, maybe allow them to do their job? Just a thought. My main issue was the food. The portion sizes have gotten increasingly smaller over the years. While I don't expect to have Olive Garden's Never Ending Pasta sizes, I do expect portions that fill me up for the price I'm paying. Secondly, the Rigatoni Bolognese was so chewy we had to send it back. Along with being regulars at Palio, we are also creatures of habit when it comes to our orders. The dishes we ordered our first visit are still the same at our 7th. My boyfriend was willing to power through because he didn't want to inconvenience anyone but after trying it, I wasn't sure how he could even eat 2 bites of it! With that being said, I am very appreciative of the server and his willingness to exchange the dish and for the manager to personally deliver a new one. I was also disappointed at the taste of my Fettuccine Alfredo and it's texture. The noodles tasted like they had been sitting out since lunch. The bread given at the beginning was rubbery and stale. For a restaurant dearly loved by me and my boyfriend, this visit made me less confident to recommend to our friends. I don't want one bad experience to steer me away for good, but in all honesty, I am nervous for the next. I have always been highly impressed with the atmosphere, service, and class from moment one of walking through the doors, but this visit was not it. I want others to experience the Palio we've known and loved for the past 3 years. read more

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After many years we finally made it back to Palio. We remembered a really good dinner. And our oldest has been back as a newish UofM student and touted the pizza. We were there on a relatively busy night with homecoming kids but we got quick initial service from a friendly waiter who claimed we were their last table. We ordered the calamari for an appetizer and enjoyed the complementary bread with oil but that's almost where the goodness ended. Let's face it. The food was disappointing, almost across the board, with the exception of the pizza which really was quite good. My rigatoni with Italian sausage, my wife's fettuccine Alfredo, and daughters rigatoni (with vodka sauce) we're all pretty lifeless. My wife's dish added insult to injury with a small portion. Service was fine if a little slower as the meal progressed. At Ann Arbor prices we won't be back. read more

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The rooftop in summer time was delightful. Great Italian food, awesome service and perfect setting.

The food was fantastic! I started with the Bruschetta, which was fresh and flavorful. For my main I went with the Pasta Bolognese which was perfectly cooked. My sister tried the Wood-Fired Pizza, which had a crispy crust and the right balance of toppings. Both dishes did not disappoint as we shared. The wine list is solid, offering a good selection of Italian wines. Dessert- bring on the Tiramisu, which was light, creamy, and the perfect ending to the meal. This was our 4 th time here and I have to say service has been great most of the time. They are very tentative and friendly. Just seems like the food gets better and service with each continued visit. The quality of the food and the atmosphere made for a great dining experience, and I'd definitely return for my 5th visit the next Trip, Michigan Smash Football. Go Blue!! read more

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My wife and I dined at Palio tonight. We had a lovely and affordable dinner. We had the assagio and bread (GF) appetizer. We both had salads - her the house and me the ceasar. Both were good. I can't remember the names of our entres, but hers was chicken and pasta with white sauce... mine was beef tips, mushrooms, pasta, and shroom sauce. Both were excellent!! We had drinks before and during dinner - fine. Our waiter - Caleb -was probably on par with any of the best waiters in my lifetime. I have traveled the world. Caleb is easily in the 95% tile. Well done Palio!! WELL DONE!! read more

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Enjoyed a wonderful dinner here. When you enter the building, you're struck with what a beautiful place. It is. Dark wood everywhere, and decorations ranging from statues of horses to silken squares hanging from the ceiling like flags. It feels like you're in a fancy Italian restaurant, but it's okay to wear jeans there. For appetizers, we started with calamari and a pizza to share. We got the one with sausage and pancetta.(which is Italian ham) and we asked for no banana peppers. Both were really good. The calamari was nice and crisp and not soggy. And the pizza was woodfired with eight slices, which was plenty for the four of us. Soup or salad came with all the pasta and meals we ordered, we all got the Caesar salad salad. It came out and it was a large portion. By now, along with the bread and olive oil, oil, half of my companions weren't sure they would be able to eat their meals. For dinner we ordered: - Fettuccine Alfredo with light sauce, and chicken added - Gamberi Scampi con Spaghetti. ( msautéed shrimp served with spaghetti, a white wine sauce, sundried tomatoes, and spinach) x 2 - Chicken Parmesan Everyone likes what they ordered. I really enjoyed the fettuccine Alfredo with the homemade pasta. It was so good to have homemade noodles. The portion size of the pastas was regular, not too big, but with everything else we ordered, we were fine. All of the pasta was homemade and incredible. It's so rare to find homemade pasta nowadays. Fiona was an excellent waitress, friendly and took very care of us. In addition to our primary server, other people kept the water filled constantly and offered fresh ground pepper and Parmesan on the appetizers and our main course. The bathrooms are also kept pristinely clean. read more

Palio Ann Arbor - Fettuccine Alfredo with light sauce, and chicken added - Food Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I went to Paulio last week and the food wasn't good. For me and my co worker. It tasted terrible. Paulio use to have good food, but it doesn't taste good anymore and there were small portions of food. I will never go back there or refer anyone to Paulio again! read more

I had a great experience thanks to Chelsey. She was professional, personable, and provided prompt service throughout our visit. She was attentive, made sure our drinks were always refilled, and checked in regularly to ensure everything was perfect. It's clear she genuinely cares about her customers and takes pride in providing excellent service. We will definitely be back and look forward to seeing her again. read more

I was greeted kindly as I entered and then sat at the bar as I was by myself. The bartender Brooke was very attentive and I never had to wait or wonder. She gave some great food recommendations and made yan amazing cocktail! The prices were very affordable! The building was old but remarkably clean even the bathroom! I will definitely be back because the food is all made from scratch and it shows! read more

We ate there two nights in a row. Ingredients fresh, service excellent, decent drink menu. Everything we ordered from fried ravioli to salad, and various entrees were all satisfying. My favorite was the veal stuffed ravioli and rigatoni with Italian sausage pasta. Excellent choice for a reasonable portion and price. Family atmosphere. read more

Best restaurant in Ann Arbor! Great chicken parmigiana and the Tiramisu is delicious!

Palio has been a family favorite for many, many years. The entire restaurant was empty except for two tables at the back, but there was a 30-60 minute wait, which seemed odd. Our table was ready in 30 minutes. Yay! I guess they were seating everyone on the rooftop, because it was packed. The complimentary olive oil and bread with a chewy crust is always a great way to start a wonderful meal. We followed that with a Caesar salad, which has shrunk considerably in size in the last couple years. It had quite a bit of dressing on it, but it wasn't drowning and the flavor was great as was the crisp romaine lettuce. On this visit my husband and I ordered chicken parmigiana, which came out quickly, and they split it for us in the kitchen. As usual the chicken was delectable with a perfect amount of breading, and it was expertly cooked. Our server did an all over wonderful job. She told us we can switch out the pasta sauce with the chicken parmigiana in the future if so desired, so we might give that a whirl on a future visit, though the sauce they use with the chunks of tomato is scrumptious. One suggestion for improvement for Palio is to give those tables on the rooftop a thorough cleaning on the top AND bottom. I showed one of the managers a napkin we used to wipe up a drop of olive oil and it was completely black where we wiped. I did see him walk to the kitchen downstairs with the napkin in his hand, so I assume he took my suggestion seriously, which made me happy. So, overall this was a great visit with good service and excellent food. See my previous review for Palio for more suggestions. Enjoy! read more

As always great service and food! Ambience is a vibe. We got off the menu drink - cosmo Italiano which was very nice. Must order. The pasta was delicious, and grilled chicken was perfectly cooked. read more

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First I want to say that their dining experience under normal circumstances is quite good. This review is specifically for our dinner during A2 Restaurant Week...a special A2 week, where they create a special menu for a 3-course meal. There are 4 different entrees as your choices. Our dinner was booked for 6:15 PM, so technically, a fairly early dinner time for a Friday. Unfortunately, the entree that both of us wanted/chose was not available anymore. How does one run out of a main entree this early in the night? Then we both ordered a special spicy peach Sangria. Unfortunately, the Sangria arrived with Zero fruits inside. Fruits are essential for any Sangria. Otherwise, it is just a glass of cold wine with some liquor added. Just some honest feedback. read more

LOVE PALIO! This is the ONE restaurant that I MUST go to every time I return to Ann Arbor. My favorite is the Rigatoni! TIP: Go early to put your name down as there will most likely be a wait, depending on the time of year; so that you can explore the Main St area while you wait! read more

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Palio's is part of a restaurant conglomerate so we were a little concerned about how it would be (we prefer local vibes). Despite that, the food was fabulous!! Our daughter came earlier in the week and loved their Margherita pizza so much she drug us back for me. We started with the Asiago al Forno. We got the chicken cavatappi and chicken mostarda for dinner and all of it was absolutely scrumptious. The server was kind enough to bring us more bread crisps for the Asiago. They have a nice wine list and interesting cocktails as well. We will definitely be back. read more

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When I go to a restaurant without a reservation I know I might get turned away. However, I don't think I've ever been shooed away like a pesky fly for politely asking before. A simple sorry, we've nothing available would have worked. Why be rude? read more

Went here for my birthday with my friends and it was wonderful! Waitress was so nice to us and the food came out quick. It was absolutely delicious and we all downed our food. Will definitely be coming back soon! read more

My husband and I have been here at least 5 times and tonight was the worst. I'm not sure if they were trying to have things premade because of Valentine's Day or what but tonight was horrible. Meatball starter- worst meatballs we've had. Dry and thrown together. Salads- no dressing what so ever Entrees- okay. We got the pesto and eggplant parm. Everything came out freaky fast like it was just warming in the kitchen. We poured our own wine from the bottle we purchased. And the bread tasted old. We will take a break from returning with this experience. read more

Dinner spot in Ann Arbor on Main Street! The espresso martini and pizza were pretty good, however the pasta was seriously lacking sauce. The service was quick and ambiance was homestyle Italian. read more

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Until tonight I had not been here in quite a few years. I love that when you walk in you're hit with the aroma of fine Italian cooking and you can see the chefs crafting pizzas. Again, until tonight I had only been here in the summer and have been seated in the upstairs outdoor rooftop. Seeing as it's December in MI, we were appropriately seated inside the restaurant. It's charming. We were greeted right away and offered ice water or bottled water. We ordered our drinks (Tucson Mule - a smooth refreshing cocktail, and a Venetian Mule - a little mire bitey but tasty in its own right). The soup and salad were excellent - soup was hot and full of flavor and the salad had all fresh ingredient. Dinner was a pesto pasta - a beautiful green and flavorful dish and the eggplant Parmesan - a little crispy on the edges, but I kinda like it that way and served over a very generous plate of spaghetti! Everything was reasonably priced and service was friendly and efficient. It was an excellent evening experience. read more

Palio Ann Arbor - Melanzane Parmigiana - Food Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Very good Italian restaurant. The bread was warm and delicious. The wine was fantastic. The star of the show, the pasta was very good as well. I got the eggplant parm and it was simply delicious. After eating so much bread and salad, I definitely had some to take home. read more

Palio Ann Arbor - Eggplant Parmesan - Food Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Phenomenal service. Everything we had was great and our waitress was super attentive and friendly. We love Palio and can't wait to be back.

Waitress completely messed up my order and instead of coming back to clarify because of confusion just simply went ahead and gave me the wrong food read more

Cozy atmosphere, friendly and efficient service, and good food. We were seated as we each arrived (6 people) and greated with warm bread and olive oil. The server allowed us ample time to choose our meal which was good because they had a lot of options. The server was very knowledgable as well. A few of us ordered the cavatappi pesto pasta with salmon, one of us ordered the mushroom ravioli and then a speciality pizza. Each of the pasta dishes came with salad or soup. We also ordered tiramisu and the chocolate cake for dessert. Everyone cleared their entree plate except for me and the desserts were gone before they hit the table. Overall great meal, reasonable prices for the portion size, and good service. read more

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Either my memory is flawed, or Palio has really gone down the tubes. From my student days I remembered it as a nice bustling restaurant, and when I visited this summer after over a decade, it was dead, dirty, with terrible service. The entrance was obscured with piled up furniture and boxes, the tables on the rooftop patio were set up in no particular order, our table had a dirty plastic tablecloth that the host reluctantly wiped - after we were seated - with a dry dinner napkin. Only a few tables were occupied on a nice evening around 7 pm. We waited for about 15 minutes for a server who never came and eventually just got up and left, so can't comment on food or drinks. read more

We went in with a reservation and were seated right away. Our server was friendly and attentive. We ordered the espresso martini and Cabernet. Both were great. For food we got fettuccini Alfredo, cheese pizza, and Caesar salad. all of our food was excellent and didn't cause any upset stomachs! read more

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Shrimp dish was awesome. Service was very good. Salad was good. I'll be back when I'm in town. read more

Palio Ann Arbor - Shrimp dish was awesome. - Food Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

Palio is so good for some great comfort food as the portions are large and super tasty! We got rigatoni eith bolognese sauce and the cavatappi pasta with pesto and chicken. I love the pesto sauce as it really infiltrates the pasta and you can taste it in every bite. They cook the pasta to a perfect al dente, and it has the perfect chew. You have to ask for the bread, as they don't automatically provide it, but it's typically a hit or miss. Sometimes it's really soft, and sometimes its hard and dry. We love their infused olive oil though, so we still recommend trying the bread. read more

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One of my favorite places to eat in Ann Arbor! Homemade food, decent service and a wonderful ambiance. The rooftop is a must visit during the warmer weather. You can order anything here and be pleased. It's a good price for great food. Perfect date night, anniversary, girls dinner, or family outing place to go. Also, their pesto anything is top tier and I am picky with my pesto. More favorites are the espresso chocolate cake, Mezzacorona Pinot noir and Pepperoni pizza! Xx read more

Palio Ann Arbor - Alfredo and Pinot Noir - Food Near Me - Ann Arbor, Michigan

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I went to palio the other night and i got the calamari ive been sick for 2 days with food poisining. Not to mention their service was horrible. read more

**DO NOT ADD SHRIMP TO YOUR PASTA YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED Let's start with the ambiance of the place. You'll feel very cozy and taken care of at this restaurant. The service is excellent and prompt. No complaints there. However the food is hit or miss. Starting with the bread and olive oil. The oil is good quality and the bread is decent but not the warm fresh bread you would like to see at an Italian restaurant. We requested balsamic & herbs although they did not have any herbs for the oil they do have balsamic vinegar. Moving on to salad. With each dish you have the option of salad or soup. The cesare salad was not great. The parmesan was the best part as it was fresh cheese but that's where the praise stops. You'll receive one or two croutons (my date had one) that are rock solid, lettuce that is wet with water and not dressing, and hardly any dressing. So if you like cold lettuce and a sprinkling of cheese I'd recommend the cesare. Now the redeeming (sort of) part of the meal. The tortelloni was good. I'm not a red sauce person but the noodles, cheese, and sauce paired well together. I had the Alfredo and added shrimp for $6.99. The Alfredo was excellent. The shrimp were tasty. BUT FOR $6.99 WHY DID I RECEIVE 4 SHRIMP?! Honestly laughable. This is not a fine dining restaurant experience and dishes are average in price. There's no reason to pay $1.75 per shrimp. read more

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I hosted family from out of state for dinner - 10 of us and we all had wonderful food - great flavor, perfect portion sizes and wonderful service by our waitperson Jeanette. The manager stopped by several times to ensure we were being taken care of. Would highly recommend Palio for a casual but special dinner ! read more

We went here for dinner after my nephew graduated high school this past Sunday. We went as a large group, and unfortunately we didn't have the best experience as far as the food was concerned. I will say that my Tortelloni Alfredo was perfect, but many other people in our party got food that was cold or incorrect. That being said, our server was doing his best and so was the server in training! The manager also came to our table and took care of us. It was not until we left that I found out that a member of our party approached either the server or the manager and berated them very harshly for the food and/or service. I was absolutely appalled to hear that. At least three people in our party have either worked or are currently working in the food service industry, myself included, and while the majority of us were dissatisfied with our meals that was NOT the correct way for the situation to be handled on the member of our party's part. I am very sorry to whomever that guy that was with us unloaded on, whether it was the server or the manager. Neither of them deserved to be treated or spoke to in that way. read more

Dinner tonight. Brought the entree salads/pasta before the soup/appetizers. Then the meatball appetizer showed up and we wished they would have kept it. Caesar salad with salmon was meh, salmon tasted fishy? Soup was great. Sat outside and it was wonderful though so there's that. We saw the waitress twice, once to order, and again when we requested the check. read more