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    Paulie's

    4.1 (1.1k reviews)
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Paulie's Photos

    Business Info

    PAULIE'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Paulie's

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    Interior
    David C.

    Paulie's has been a Montrose staple for about as long as I can remember, and after coming here countless times, I feel bad that I'm just now writing a review to show my appreciation. Unfortunately, Paulie's is closing on 12/31/25 so I had to come in 1 more time to get my pasta fix. I came here right at 1145am on a Thurs just before their major lunch rush came in. Their service is counter service, which is generally quick and efficient, but their food is definitely full service dine in quality. The casual ambiance makes this a popular spot for lunch everyday of the week. As far as the food goes, they have a variety of pasta, salad, paninis, entrees, and sandwiches to choose from. I generally rotate between getting their bucatini amatraciana and their canestri alla funghi. The half portion is already a ton of food especially if you add chicken or another protein. Get the full portion if you're looking to share or take home leftovers for sure. The pasta here always comes out piping hot, consistently delicious, and it comes with their perfectly buttered toasted bread to soak up all the sauce. Thank you Paulie's for being a neighborhood institution! You will for sure be missed!

    Bolognese
    Tiffini D.

    Absolutely gutted that they are closing soon. I've lived in Houston for so long and never got to try but I've been twice this month and I absolutely loved it. The lines are long but service and turnover is quick with seating outside as well. The service is quick and the servers efficient, knowledgeable and friendly. The first time I ordered the bolognese with lamb and beef and the second time I got the spaghetti but subbed meatballs for grilled chicken with a vegetable soup on the side for later. The pasta on the bolognese had the perfect chew and the sauce flavorful and rich. The entrees come with grilled sourdough toast which was different but still tasty. The spaghetti noodles were a bit too soft but was delicious still. And the soup was perfect for a cool day paired with some rice. I am thankful for small, cozy places, especially ones like Paulie's. It's like eating with family.

    CANESTRI ALLA FUNGHI
    Tiffany K.

    Paulie's is closing down by the end of the month, so I decided to bring my family here to try it before the Houston OG is gone. We were very lucky getting there at the perfect time. We were able to snag a table and the line was moving fast. When sat and waiting for our food, the line was out the door! Everybody is trying to visit Paulie's so beware that it's very busy. I don't want to say it, but perhaps that's why the quality fell off. The canestri alla funghi was delicious as always. If there's anything you should try, you need to order this one. Highly recommend. I decided to try Mediterranean Pasta Salad, and it did not disappoint. Great flavor and very refreshing. Now onto why this updated review is so disappointing. We ordered the Fusilli Pasta with Pesto and the Rigatoni Bolognese, with half chicken per order. Both of these pasta dishes were lacking in flavor, and both need to be salted quite a bit. The chicken was also dry. My sister said that it might be the most bland pesto pasta she has ever had. I have the tendency to overhype certain restaurants, and this is what happened here. My family and I were looking forward to this all day. My family members said that they most likely wouldn't return.

    Zanarah K.

    So I know this place is closing down soon and it's been on my list forever, but unfortunately, the hype that I had in my head with the line out the door was not it for me. The food was not as tasty as I would've imagined with how packed it was on a Friday night. We were very shocked on how bland the food was. This place has been open for a while, so I understand it's closing down, but it was underwhelming. Very chill place. Street parking

    Creste di gallo, fusilli with pesto
    Jess F.

    After years of waiting to try Paulie's, I finally went and I'm so sad I haven't been earlier. Some of the best pasta I've ever had, and portions are huge! Incredibly disappointing that it'll be closing soon. The restaurant is fairly casual, with a counter to order from and then you seat yourself. Tables are scarce for the amount of people that come! I went around 5:15 pm and that was the last time I saw an open table without people waiting to snag it. Fusilli with pesto - a warming, comforting bowl! Not quite as flavorful as I'd prefer, but the olives did contribute to the overall profile. The pesto was great but more aromatic than strong. Creste di gallo - absolutely amazing. This pasta alone will live in my memory forever. The sauce is so rich, tangy, and spicy; combined with the sausage and onions, every bite left me wanting more. I'd go back just to get this again! Overall, Paulie's is a truly memorable Italian spot that holds a special place in Houstonians' hearts for a reason.

    Rigatoni Bolognese
    Rachel W.

    Solid place for well priced pasta! This place seems to balance value and flavor well, with a bit more emphasis on value. I enjoyed the Rigatoni Bolognese the most - though for all their pastas, I wish there was more sauce. It felt a tad skimpy on the sauce. Portion sizes are fairly large! It was so busy when I came on a Thursday night. The line was slightly out the door when I arrived, and by the time I ordered food, the line was a good bit out the door. I did hear that this place is closing by the end of the year, so perhaps lots of people are coming before its gone. It took a while to find a table after ordering, but it should (magically) work out. By the time we found a table, our food was ready within a few minutes, so don't panic if you order and you can't find a table. Some indoor and outdoor seating, but it would've been easiest to take out in my opinion. With it getting colder, I think more and more people will be crowding the indoor seating. There's a small parking lot for Paulie's, but it seems like it's always full, so I ended up finding free street parking

    Grilled Chicken Sandwich with pasta salad.
    John B.

    One of my favorite places in Houston! Always friendly service. Always pumping food out as fast as they can. It's a very casual-elegant feel type of restaurant. Nothing fancy, but it has a comfortable feeling of a classy joint. Tonight I had the roasted salmon. Great char on it! It comes with broccoli and creamy potatoes, but I subbed sautéed spinach for the potatoes. And of course, I ordered a small side salad which is always delicious! Portions are a little on the small side for me....I have a Texan sized appetite. But the food is always great, fresh tasting, and hits the spot! Give Paulie's a shot if you actually like amazing food.

    Friend doing her Yelp thing
    Mark W.

    A Houston iconic restaurant that has been here for 27 years as they open back in 1998 but set to close at the end of December 2025, so visit they one more time before it is too late. They are known for their home made pasta and other Italian food and a great wine list and the cookies. You order at the counter, then find your table, and when your food is ready your pager will go off and you get your food at the pick up food area. You will get your own water and utensils, it is a nice and clean neighborhood restaurant where if you live around here you may run into some what you know and I feel like that is a good feeling.

    Cacio e Pepe
    Lorece S.

    Went because their special is the Cacio e Pepe which is my favorite pasta dish. But it had absolutely no flavor at all. I appreciate a more casual less expensive Italian spot, but the food is not great.

    Creste di gallo w chicken
    Jennifer V.

    I came during the closing period because I wanted to try this beloved Houston staple. Because it was 2 days before closing, the wait to order was over an hour and they had run out of the mushroom and bucatini, so my friend and I decided on sharing a large creste di gallo with additional chicken ($33!). The portion was prettt abysmal for $33. The pasta texture was good but the tomato based sauce was very one note. I wish there were more spices, herb, flavor?! The chicken was bland to complement the pasta however the smoky taste from the grill was a bit much.

    Italian Potato Salad
    Sonia C.

    Paulie's in the Montrose area is a charming little Italian spot with a cozy, casual vibe. The ambiance is definitely one of its strengths--it's cute and laid-back, making it a potentially great pick for a first date or a relaxed lunch with friends. The location on Westheimer, across from Lanier Middle School, adds to the charm, and there's limited but pleasant outdoor seating if you want to people-watch while you eat. It's important to know going in: it's all counter service, no table service, and seating is limited. They also ask that you wait to claim a table until after you've placed your order, which makes sense given the small space, but can feel a bit rushed--especially with staff who seem eager to keep the line moving. As vegetarians, we didn't find many options, so we let the group behind us go ahead while we made up our minds. We tried the Pizzitola panini, the portobella mushroom sandwich with roasted red peppers, and the fettuccine alfredo. The alfredo was good, not outstanding, but my daughters enjoyed it. The panini was unfortunately bland and forgettable. The standout of the meal was definitely the portobella sandwich, which was flavorful and well-balanced. It came with an Italian potato salad, which I didn't personally care for, but others might enjoy the tangy, herb-forward profile. Prices are a bit high for what you get, especially considering the self-service format and the average quality of some dishes. That said, the food is fresh, the atmosphere is inviting, and it's worth a visit if you're in the area--especially if you're drawn more to the ambiance than the menu. With a few tweaks to elevate the flavors, Paulie's could really shine.

    Panini with Mushroom Soup
    Bryan V.

    I ordered the lunch special with a panini sandwich and mushroom soup. Very underwhelming. I thought the panini would have a nice sauce/spread and vegetables in it but it was just meat and cheese... the mushroom soup was also extremely bland and watery. I tried my friend's mushroom pasta in hopes that'd be a lot better but it was also quite bland... Overall, I was very disappointed.

    Rigatoni and cacio e pepe with Cesar salad
    Maddie F.

    Decided to try this place out, there was a line outside the door around 7:30pm. They had a special with cacio e Pepe that came with a salad and bread so we ordered that as well as the rigatoni. Service was fast and our food came out fairly quick. Very casual spot you order and pay then come up and grab your food. Our food was very bland unfortunately, we had high hopes it looked better than it tasted. They also ran out of bread.

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    3 years ago

    Their food tastes homemade to me. Very friendly service, too. I ate the Alessa pizza twice while on vacation.

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    Page 9 of 28

    Ask the Community - Paulie's

    Do they have a lunch menu?

    They have the menu with regular and small portions. The small portion is perfect for lunch and priced under/or close to $10. The menu also offers a Daily Dinner Special.

    Do they have oat milk?

    Yes they just started

    Paulie's is one of my all time favorites. Unfortunately, we recently learned that my husband has celiac and therefore cannot eat any gluten. Are there any GF pasta substitutions? Are any of the main dishes gluten free?

    There are no GF pasta substitutions at Paulie's but several main dishes are gluten free. Please call the restaurant and they will be happy to go over their gluten free options with you!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria

    Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria

    4.5
    (145 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Magdalena's Trattoria was an absolute standout. The food was beautifully prepared, thoughtfully…read moreexecuted, and full of the kind of flavor that makes you slow down and appreciate every bite. Each dish felt intentional--comforting, elevated, and made with genuine care. The ambiance was warm, inviting, and effortlessly elegant--perfect for a relaxed but elevated dining experience with friends or a significant other. The service was equally impressive: warm, polished, attentive, and never overbearing. And Chef Nicolas, was a true delight--almost as sweet as the ice cream, which is saying a lot because that dessert was dangerously good! A wonderful Houston dining experience from start to finish. Magdalena's Trattoria is absolutely worth a visit--and a return visit.

    This hidden gem in the West University area is fast becoming the top Italian restaurant in Houston!…read moreThe renowned Chef, Nicholas, who is using his mothers recipes, past down thru generations, hint the name of the restaurant is his Mothers name. Magdalena. Everything is home made down to the olive oil.. The bread, the pizzas, the salads, the pastas. Amazing. Delicious. Extensive wine list, nice quiet inside you can actually hear yourself talk. Great ambiance. 1st class service. Can't wait to go back.

    Photos
    Center bar area
    Center bar area
    Cheese tortellini in garlic butter sauce was delish! Such a perfect meal.
    Cheese tortellini in garlic butter sauce was delish! Such a perfect meal.
    Every table at Magdalena's is set with care. Warm booths, candlelight, and fresh flowers perfect for date night or a special dinner.

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    Every table at Magdalena's is set with care. Warm booths, candlelight, and fresh flowers perfect for date night or a special dinner.
    Mimo

    Mimo

    4.5
    (110 reviews)
    4.6 mi

    Went here for a late dinner date and I cannot recommend it enough! The service was quick and easy…read more Our waiter was so helpful in going over the menu for us. We ordered two different pastas to try and fritters to start. The vibes were IT for both a date night or to have a chill night with a big group. I think the menu had a good variety in each course without it being overwhelming, I will be going back to try their large selection of wine and more of their dishes!

    The restaurant has old school New Jersey Italian vibes - low ceiling, a little moody ambiance - but…read morenone of the attitude. The staff is super friendly, and we were welcomed as we were (we had hoped to eat at a sister establishment but they sold out of what we wanted). Mimo's offers a great selection of Italian inspired apps, three well appointed pizzas, a few varied and surprising options for pasta dishes, and some mains. Items we tried: Pane - delicious Roasted Carrot Pizza - AMAZING, A little spicy, but definitely something we would order again. Pastas we ordered initially came out cold - our incredible waiter immediately corrected the issue. But from a flavor profile - Pansotti - sooooo delicious. You'd never guess that it was a vegetarian option - the mushrooms were so meaty. The delicate pouches with the spinach and ricotta were heavenly. Pappardelle - The lamb braised sauce had a depth of flavor that could rival any restaurant in Italy. My only tiny hope was that the pasta would have been served aldente, it was a little overcooked. But to each his own. Overall - really great. Would recommend. This would be great for a weeknight dinner or an off the beaten path date night.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Appetizer
    Appetizer
    Outdoor dining area

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    Outdoor dining area
    Mia Bella Trattoria

    Mia Bella Trattoria

    4.5
    (811 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    Thank you Mia Bella for the amazing food and service. I genuinely felt at home for my birthday…read moredinner here recently. Every dish was amazing from the appetizer sampler, fish, chicken all the protein options. We really enjoyed the burger, calamari, Brussels sprouts and seafood lasagna. The portions are done so beautifully and very generous. Thank you and thank our server Willie for making my birthday so special. The whole team worked very hard. It's so appreciated!

    Food: Margherita Pizza (7.5/10) - Thin crust pizza, fresh…read moretasting dough & ingredients. Could have a little more cheese. Came out quick. The fresh red pepper offered at the table really kicked the flavor up a notch. Beet salad (8/10)- nice presentation. Red beets tasted really fresh & clean (not earthy) and the beets were thick enough to actually taste them! Balsamic dressing is very tasty. The fried cheese, tomatoes & candied pecans are a great complement to the beets and greens. Add the fresh cracked black pepper offered by the server. Seafood lasagna (8/10) - the seafood is not lacking! Its very seafood-forward. Salmon, shrimp, clams. You definitely know you are eating seafood. The cheese/seafood/pasta/sauce ratio is spot on, well balanced. It felt more like a seafood dish than a lasagna/pasta dish. My only complaint (and it's not really a negative) is I was in the mood for lasagna & after eating this dish, although it was very good, I still had a hankering for lasagna. Other: - Service in general was good. It was a slow day during my Sunday afternoon visit. - Bathrooms were well kept & had cool big mirrors in the hallway upon exiting the bathroom. - Parking in the attached garage is free. I would return again.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Eggs bene
    Eggs bene
    Ceasar salad (half)

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    Ceasar salad (half)
    North Italia

    North Italia

    4.2
    (2.6k reviews)
    3.4 mi
    $$

    I'm not often wowed by Italian food in restaurants but North Italia is amazing! I find that a lot…read moreof restaurants don't put enough seasoning. Here everything was hot and fresh and flavorful. First off, get the Zucca chips. I could literally eat a whole basketful. I need to figure out what slicer and oil they use because I can never get mine this thin and crispy. We then Arugula and Avocado salad, which was light and refreshing. Then onto the Cacio e Pepe Arancini. Cacio e Pepe is my favorite pasta, so I was a little disappointed they don't have it on the menu as a dish itself, but the arancini was delicious! For mains, my husband had the salmon. We ordered it medium and it came more well done, however, it was perfectly crispy on the outside and still moist in the center. Very tasty. I had the ricotta cavatelli, which might be the best pasta I've ever had. The shrimp were so plump and fresh. There was plenty of crab throughout. And the flavor had the perfect amount of salt and spice. My husband, who isn't a pasta person loved it too. It's a nice open space and service was friendly. We will definitely return to try more things.

    Stopped by for the first time and I thought it was okay. With the open concept, it's pretty loud…read more Parking on the weekday wasn't horrible but I could see it being difficult during busier times. As for what I had: Zucca chips: 3/5 what I received was much different from everyone else's pictures. My chips were much smaller and mostly pieces of chips. Maybe I got the bottom of the batch? The flavor was good, but because they were small and folded in on themselves, they held a lot of the oil. The oil did taste fresh though. Eggplant parm (small plate): 3/5 most cheese and very little eggplant. The flavor was good. My waitress told me it came with noodles but then no noodles came out. I know this place is popular and everyone seems to like it. I would try it one more time just to see if maybe I ordered the wrong thing, but overall I didn't think it was worth the money.

    Photos
    North Italia
    North Italia
    North Italia

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    Aperitivo

    Aperitivo

    3.8
    (70 reviews)
    4.2 mi
    $$$

    It was my first time at Aperitivo and I must say I'm still impressed. I've had some time to sit…read morewith my thoughts/experience so here's the review you've all been waiting for. We arrived on a Friday evening during Happy Hour (HH) around 5:30pm. Maurizio stopped by to introduce himself and let us know that he would ensure we were taken care of. As stated above, it was happy hour during our time there but we ordered from allllll the menus haha! Check out the eats below: -Fried Shrimp -Chicken Parm Sliders -Tuna Tartare -Brussels Sprouts -Aperitivo Sliders -Bottle of Wine + Pizza (x2) ~Pepperoni Pizza ~Chicken Alfredo Pizza Bottles of the Sparkling and Rose - these are the bottles we selected based on their Social Hour menu bottle of wine & pizza deal for 35 dollars! Great deal! The experience was great, there were many waiters and waitresses stopping by the table to check in on us. The food was fresh, flavorful, and piping hot! The views are lovely and the ambiance is a combination of chill, chic, and relaxing. Very vibey and spacious place. The restrooms are really nice as well and they were clean and stocked. Aperitivo is definitely on my list of places to return to, especially for happy hour. It's worth it to check this place out!

    We had a reservation for 9:00 PM for an indoor table, but ended up waiting until almost 10:00 PM…read morebefore being seated in the lounge area. We were never asked for our drink order and, for the most part, weren't even acknowledged by any server. The manager did stop by and apologized, offering complimentary shots, which was appreciated, but we still weren't asked what we wanted to drink afterward. Meanwhile, we watched several groups who arrived after us get seated, order, and receive both their drinks and food before anyone came to our table. At that point, it felt like we had simply been forgotten. The atmosphere is nice, but the service really took away from the experience. I understand busy nights happen, but basic communication and acknowledging your guests goes a long way.

    Photos
    Gorgeous place
    Gorgeous place
    Brussels Sprouts
    Brussels Sprouts
    Truffle fries

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    Truffle fries

    Paulie's - sandwiches - Updated July 2026

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