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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
    Dogs allowed
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Paulie's

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    Reviews With Photos

    Primavera Aglio e Olio with Shrimp
    Clint M.

    I'd heard this Houston institution was closing, so I suggested to some friends that we go try it out before it closed for good. We're glad we did, but if the place was going to remain open, I don't think we'd make another trip back. This Italian restaurant has been off Westheimer for decades and has had a stellar reputation for food and service. We'd called ahead to place a reservation but were told that it's first-come-first-serve. We were assured that they'd be slow and it would be easy to sit a big group (8-10) on a Wednesday night, but there was a line out the door, and, even once you ordered, a decent wait before a table came available to sit at. Thankfully, the kitchen was running behind, so there was plenty of time for people to clear out. My wife had the primavera aglio olio with shrimp added. She devoured the entire thing. I went for the canestra alla fungi with chicken. Again, a delicious dish. The odd thing is, they both were lacking a bit of salt that would have brought out a lot more flavor. I managed to get that salt from the parmesan cheese, but that shouldn't have been necessary given this place's reputation. They have a series of daily specials, but unfortunately, all the good stuff was on other days of the week, I wasn't feeling the idea of eggplant for dinner, and I'm always wary of a menu that doesn't list prices.

    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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    8 months ago

    Such great quality pasta and wine. It was a bit packed but seats opened quickly. It was all so delicious!

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    Food was good. Scratched an itch for a deli sandwich but not the best ever though. I would recommend for quick service and decent food.

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    Page 2 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 - Our outdoor spread -- two wood-fired pizzas, a Robiola cheese board, antipasto, and Italian wine. The patio at its best.

    Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria

    4.5(153 reviews)
    1.7 miWest University

    If we could give this 6 stars, we would. Food was amazing and could tell everything was homemade. I…read moregot the cheese tortellini and wish I could drink the sauce it was so good. The lighting and atmosphere was perfect for a quaint date night. And I want to know what jazz playlist they were playing because it was great. What blew it out of the water was the service, particularly by the owner himself. As someone who works in the restaurant industry, having the owner on the floor is almost never seen. But this man was working all jobs: helping the hostess when she got super busy, food running, bussing, checking up on all tables, doing the best for everyone. Plus, he was incredibly kind with an amazing smile. Idk what he saw in my partner and I, but he gave us tiramisu on the house. We are not fancy influencers or rich folk, and I feel that was kinda obvious. But I think he did it just to make our date night a lil bit more special. And that kind of effort should be rewarded.

    Magdalena's was such a great find! The pizza was absolutely delicious and made fresh, with a crust…read morethat was just right. The Bolognese was also excellent--rich and flavorful without being overly salty, which I really appreciated. What stood out to me most was how well-balanced everything tasted. You can tell there's a real focus on fresh ingredients and authentic Italian flavors. The food is flavorful and satisfying without feeling overly heavy or salty like many American Italian chains. I feel comfortable feeding my child the food from here. I'm so glad to have found a quality Italian restaurant in Houston that lets the ingredients and flavors speak for themselves. Even the panna cotta was delicious, and I'm usually not much of a dessert person! Definitely a 5-star experience. We'll be back!

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    Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria - Center bar area

    Center bar area

    Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria - Cheese tortellini in garlic butter sauce was delish! Such a perfect meal.

    Cheese tortellini in garlic butter sauce was delish! Such a perfect meal.

    Magdalena's Trattoria & Pizzeria - 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 - Risotto at the top and ragu penne at the bottom

    Mimo

    4.5(114 reviews)
    4.6 miEastwood

    I celebrated my wedding anniversary and birthday at Mimo, and it was my first time visiting the…read morerestaurant. I've had Mimo on my radar for a couple of years, but somehow I never found the right occasion to finally give it a try. Well, celebrating both my birthday and wedding anniversary seemed like a pretty good reason! I must say, Mimo had to fight hard to earn those five stars. The experience was memorable, not necessarily because it was perfect, but because it wasn't. The imperfections, oddly enough, are what made it memorable. Let's start with the menu. There aren't many dishes, which is generally speaking a good sign these days. There's really no excuse not to use fresh ingredients when you're working with a smaller menu. At the same time, I wouldn't say the offerings were particularly adventurous. That said, the quality was definitely there. We started with the Fritter as an appetizer, and it was super delicious. The combination of fried zucchini, corn, and that touch of honey somehow really worked! Then we ordered a pasta dish each, under the common assumption that a pasta dish in most Italian restaurants (including the ones in Italy) is supposed to be filling. Well... no! These were pretty small. I ordered the spaghetti al limone, while my wife went for the gnocchi. Both were good, although the spaghetti were cooked somewhere on the borderline between al dente and chewy. The corn in the gnocchi also felt a little alien, like it didn't really belong there. Still, we couldn't deny that the flavors were good and the ingredients were fresh. Oddly enough, we were still hungry, so we ordered a second dish each: the Pork Milanese for me and the Pesce del Giorno for my wife. And this is where Mimo saved the day! The Pork Milanese, with mortadella and pecorino cheese on top, was delicious. And the polenta that came with my wife's dish was one of the best I've ever had. Interestingly, these dishes were disproportionately larger, more than making up for the minuscule portions of the pasta dishes. So, I guess it all worked out in the end! Another date saver was the service. It was outstanding. Attentive, friendly, and exactly what you would expect from a restaurant trying to create a special experience. Then came dessert: the Zeppole. It was good, but nothing particularly special. To me, it tasted like churros made with a dough that incorporated ricotta. Not bad at all, just not something I'll be dreaming about later. And that was our experience at Mimo! I think the review probably benefited from the fact that I was there celebrating a special occasion. It was a somewhat strange experience, with some ups and downs, but we genuinely enjoyed it. Would I be back? Possibly... Four stars stretched to five? Yeah... FIVE Stars!

    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
    Mimo - Interior

    Interior

    Mimo - Appetizer

    Appetizer

    Mimo - Outdoor dining area

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    Outdoor dining area

    Mia Bella Trattoria - Seafood Capellini

    Mia Bella Trattoria

    4.5(812 reviews)
    2.0 miGreenway
    $$

    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.

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    Mia Bella Trattoria - Inside

    Inside

    Mia Bella Trattoria - Eggs bene

    Eggs bene

    Mia Bella Trattoria - Ceasar salad (half)

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    Ceasar salad (half)

    North Italia

    North Italia

    4.2(2.6k reviews)
    3.4 miGalleria/Uptown
    $$

    Everything was delicious. Our waitress was a big discombobulated, but it was busy in there. In our…read moreseating area, which is like the side room, the lighting was way too dim and the noise level was way too loud. BUT, all of our dishes - and we had four different meals, was absolutely delicious. I would definitely come back. Two of us have the lasagna, which is not pictured small portion, but so worth it. Just be sure to order something else, if you come hungry. A friend had the squid ink, and i'm typically not a person that likes a tomato based pasta outside of spaghetti, but the black pasta was good. And the chicken pesto i have to come back for it was delicious Everything was flavored well. I didn't have any alcoholic beverages, but my friends said the drinks were good. We went for Houston restaurant week. So we got a really good deal. I had the calamarians and appetizer. A friend had the meatballs, which was a huge portion and others had the arrugula salad with avocado, which they said they loved. The pistachio gelato was delicious as dessert. My other friends got the teramasu, which I tasted. They didn't really like it, and I didn't like it either. Plenty of parking in the garage, which is free and street parking. Definitely a one win for this restaurant.

    Very tight quarters. Was very busy when we went...maybe…read morearound 1500 on a Saturday. But because they were busy our waiter kept forgetting our food and checking in on us. Food was very good and good portions. 10/10 on all the dishes we got. Service 7/10

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    North Italia
    North Italia
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    Aperitivo - The trio dip appetizer.

    Aperitivo

    3.6(75 reviews)
    4.2 miFifth Ward
    $$$

    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!

    The place itself is gorgeous. The patio and view of downtown is amazing. The vibes alone are a…read more10/10. Now on to the food. I would say stick to the pizza. I have been twice and regret not ordering the pizza on my second visit. We had the Wellington bites, mozzerella sticks, steak frites, truffle fries (no truffle), caesar salad and pizza. We gave everything 2-3 stars and the pizza 4 stars. Definitely recommend taking advantage of pizza and a bottle of wine on Thursday nights for $40. The mix cocktails are on the sweeter side so either stick to wine or straight up tequila.

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    Aperitivo - Gorgeous place

    Gorgeous place

    Aperitivo - Brussels Sprouts

    Brussels Sprouts

    Aperitivo - Aperitivo spritz

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    Aperitivo spritz

    Bellissimo - Tiramisu

    Bellissimo

    4.5(87 reviews)
    5.2 miIndependence Heights

    We had planned to dine at another Italian place but they aren't open for lunch on Saturday so…read moreGoogle directed us here. Didn't even know this place was there. We arrived at the restaurant at noon and it was completely empty - but in all fairness they only opened at 11. We were a party of 6 and all ordered something different. I chose the 25th Street Pasta which was very unique & very delicious. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their selected items. The portions were on the larger side in my opinion but not extreme. The bread & oil they serve was also amazing. Sadly we were all too stuffed to try desert but certainly will next time. This is definitely a "don't judge the place by the location" because it was a delicious dining experience. Our server was attentive & accommodating, the prices were very reasonable for the portion size, incredible quality and freshness. If you are looking for a new fav spot don't miss this one.

    The food was very good, and the service was decent overall. We enjoyed our meal, which is why it's…read moredisappointing that our experience ended the way it did. We ordered the tiramisu for dessert, and nowhere on the menu did it mention that it was served with a slice of kiwi hidden underneath the whipped cream. I'm allergic to kiwi, and because it was completely covered, I didn't realize it was there until after I had already taken a bite. I brought this to our server's attention, not because I was looking for a discount or anything free, but simply because I wanted the staff to be aware so this wouldn't happen to another customer with a food allergy. Instead, the first response I received was asking if I had read the menu, which I had. Unfortunately, the menu never mentioned kiwi being part of the dessert. What really bothered me was overhearing the conversation afterward. Our server spoke with another staff member a few booths away, and I heard comments along the lines of, "Well, he should've mentioned his allergy," and "He should've asked." It felt like the responsibility was being placed entirely on me rather than acknowledging that an undisclosed ingredient had been served. I understand that customers with allergies should communicate them whenever possible, but I also think restaurants have a responsibility to disclose ingredients that aren't typically expected, especially when they're hidden in the presentation. I've had tiramisu many times and have never encountered one served with kiwi tucked beneath whipped cream. Again, the food itself was good, and this review isn't about trying to get compensation. I genuinely wanted to help prevent a similar situation for someone else. Unfortunately, the way my concern was handled left me feeling dismissed and caused me to lose confidence in the restaurant's approach to food allergies.

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    Bellisimo

    Paulie's - sandwiches - Updated September 2026

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