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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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    Foos is amazing. food, relaxing, service amazing! definitely go back again. Have to have a dessert!!

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    2 years ago

    Super good portions for the price especially if you go for lunch! It was very yummy , highly rec!

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    Page 3 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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    San Dong Noodle House 山東麵館 - Minced Pork Over Rice - Lu Rou Fan

    San Dong Noodle House 山東麵館

    4.2(752 reviews)
    9.3 miChinatown, Sharpstown
    $

    My BF told me this place has incredible food for great value…read more Beef Noodle Soup - This is only $10? The value is as incredible as the flavor. Goodness, can we have one open near me? Very hearty and not too spicy. The broth is rich with a refreshing relish tang. My BF and I shared a bowl because there was no way I would've finished it on my own with everything else we ordered. Chicken Dumplings in Beef Soup - Seems to use the same broth as the Beef Noodle Soup. Not my personal favorite because the dumpling wrapper is a bit too thick, but it's a small miss considering how fond I already am of this place. Pan-Fried Pork Dumplings - How is this place making money? These things are massive and deliciously oily. There's a clean Maillard effect on the bottom that adds so much flavor. They also have an interesting fold--I've never seen dumplings shaped quite like this before. The pork flavor comes through strongly with the classic scallion combo. Steamed Bao Bun - Yaass, reliving my Chinese drama dreams. These weren't as sweet as the commercial ones, which I personally prefer. Still, I reckon this is how they tasted in those shows, so I'm stoked for the experience. Now, will I say this is the absolute best dumpling place in Houston? No--but there is something undeniably attractive about this place, and it is fundamentally delicious. It embodies one of the best versions of a classic mom-and-pop restaurant, serving homemade food that isn't perfect but reflects craftsmanship and care beyond the appeal of modern restaurants. My dumplings weren't wrapped with perfect precision, nor were they the pinnacle of healthy eating. They were just blatantly delicious--like when your mom cooks your favorite meal on a weekend night. That's why I would come back. This place represents the most authentic form of home and freedom in food. The downside of all the carbs I ate is that I had to volunteer at my local theatre afterward, and I was crashing haaaaaard while sending this place so much love.

    Woow I never knew about this place, ive walked past this place countless times so color me surprise…read morewhen this came up on one of the most recommended and longest standing restaraunts in Bellaire This place really is a hole in the wall, its fantastic. Generous generous portions, cheap, and overall pretty dang great. Chicken steak rice - soo much food. Very crispy chicken and great! Comes with a boil egg and I believe it was tofu. I ended up making a second meal for later with all the food. Had a option of rice/ noodles. I wish I got the noodles. Tried friend's roasted beef noodle and wow the texture on the noodle is fantastic thick, little chewy, but felt perfect and I don't say that lightly. Pan fried dumplings - 12 of them! Pretty great for sharing. Loved it! Perfect amount of crispyness Shrimp and pork siu mai - I think it was good but to me it didn't taste fresh to me personally. I think its still quite good in taste though Overall I was pretty happy with this place! The owners were so nice, answering all our questions, recommending options on menu. I would come back!

    Photos
    San Dong Noodle House 山東麵館 - Packaged good to go

    Packaged good to go

    San Dong Noodle House 山東麵館 - Black Sesame Bun

    Black Sesame Bun

    San Dong Noodle House 山東麵館 - Pork Bun

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    Pork Bun

    Northern Pasta 北方面食 - ig: @whatsviveating  |  oil splashed noodle with beef

    Northern Pasta 北方面食

    4.3(167 reviews)
    8.8 miChinatown, Sharpstown
    $$

    Splash Oil Noodles were amazing!! Keep it spicy and I would say to not get it with a meat. The meat…read morehas no flavor, however it gets some with the soup that comes with the noodles but not worth getting it in my opinion. The Green Onion Pancakes and Chinese Hamburger are also must haves. The hamburger especially! The meat in it is very flavorful and it has the taste profile of pho somehow if that makes sense. Either way, the burger is juicy and my favorite item so far aside from the noodles. When you get inside, you have to order first and then find a place to sit. It can get packed pretty quickly as it is a relatively small spot but so worth it if you get the chance.

    Northern Pasta is a hole in the wall located in a strip mall in Chinatown. The parking lot is…read morespacious and relatively easy. You order at the cash register and the menu has quite a large selection of dumplings and buns. You seat yourself and there is a station with cups, a water dispenser, plates and chopsticks. The liangpi is the reason I come to this restaurant. The noodles have an amazing texture and it pairs perfectly with the bean sprouts, cucumber and cilantro. The sesame sauce brings everything together and it's amazingly refreshing and hearty at the same time. The pork leek dumplings have a delicious filling and the wrapper is very clearly handmade with a delicate chew. The pan fried buns were also quite yummy with a golden crispy bottom and fluffy exterior. My diagnosis: come here for the best liangpi and well made dumplings and buns

    Photos
    Northern Pasta 北方面食 - Inside (chairs put up at 3pm, but can bring them back down if needed)

    Inside (chairs put up at 3pm, but can bring them back down if needed)

    Northern Pasta 北方面食 - Beef noodle soup

    Beef noodle soup

    Northern Pasta 北方面食 - Lamb soup.

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    Lamb soup.

    Hu's Cooking

    Hu's Cooking

    4.5(1.1k reviews)
    2.6 miWest University, Braeswood Place
    $$

    5 Stars - Authentic Szechuan that absolutely nails the classics…read more During our short trip to Houston, as a custom, we were determined to find real Szechuan food, and luckily we found Hu's Kitchen. The location is a bit unassuming, and parking is definitely tough (the spaces are very shallow), but the second we walked through the doors and smelled the Szechuan peppercorns, I knew we were in exactly the right place. I generally judge a Szechuan restaurant by their 夫妻肺片 (Fuqi Feipian)--which they cleverly name "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" on the menu. They completely nailed it. The beef, tripe, and tendon were incredibly cohesive together, yet you could tell each component was prepared and marinated in a slightly different way to perfectly highlight its specific texture. The chili oil was right on the spot. We went through a massive bowl of rice just eating this dish alone. Honestly, if I weren't feeding a family of four, I could have just ordered that and been perfectly happy. While the Fuqi Feipian proves their skill with dry dishes, the 水煮魚片 (Fish in Szechuan Hot Chili Oil) proves their skill with wet ones. It's another must-order. The execution was flawless--we didn't just finish the tender fish chunks, we ate every last piece of cabbage soaked in that incredible chili broth. For my two daughters who can't handle the heat, we ordered the fried rice, garlic pork ribs with onion, and the 紅燒獅子頭 (Giant Meatball with Cabbage). The giant meatball was spectacular. The kids completely devoured it on their own, but I managed to steal a bite, and it instantly brought back childhood memories of exactly how this dish is supposed to taste. We also had the Dan Dan Noodles, which were great and rounded out the meal perfectly. I loved all of the dishes we tried. Should we ever find ourselves in Houston again, we will absolutely be revisiting this hidden gem.

    My mom wanted steamed fish with ginger, scallions, and that light sweet soy sauce. Hu's Cooking…read moredelivered! When we ordered, they mentioned it'll take about 20 mins but it came out in 10. No complaints here since we were starving from an 8 hour road trip. The Dan Dan Noodles...I had high expectations but sadly this dish fell short. I recommend Hu's Cooking to use a bigger bowl and more sauce because it was difficult to mix the noodles and the sauce wasn't...saucing, unfortunately. I wish there was more flavor in this dish. The Scallion Pancake was super over-fried and oily. See image in my review. The outer parts of the pancake were fried to a crisp and only a small circumference in the center stayed chewy. I know Chinese tends to be oily but this pancake soaked up way too much oil. Half a Peking duck: super great price for so much meat. The difficulty when eating this dish is gnawing the meat off the sharp bones of the duck. Mapo Tofu with white rice: pretty easy staple, no complaints here. Dinner on a Saturday was packed but we got seated quickly and food arrived fast.

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    Hu's Cooking - Spicy chicken, clear noodles with red pepper sauce, and stir fried green beans

    Spicy chicken, clear noodles with red pepper sauce, and stir fried green beans

    Hu's Cooking - Open til 11:00pm on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat

    Open til 11:00pm on Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat

    Hu's Cooking

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    Xing’s Kitchen

    Xing’s Kitchen

    4.3(81 reviews)
    15.8 mi
    $$

    the 热干面 (hot sesame paste noodles) is an absolute must!! the sesame sauce is rich and thick,…read morecoating the noodles really well instead of being watered down we also really enjoyed the braised chicken which was super fresh and flavorful (and spicy, be careful!) the 凉皮 (cold flour skin noodles) was also good, though i personally think it couldve used a little more salt very casual ambiance, not much service, food comes out fast

    I love Xing's Kitchen. Whenever I find myself in Sugar Land, it's my go to for Chinese, mainly…read morebecause I love the Shanxi oil noodle which is the best I've had. I swear it's just one really long hand made noodle, so it's a bit hard to share, but it's a must-get. We also tried the Claypot noodle and it was good as well but a bit of an acquired taste. The restaurant is located inside Jusgo grocery store. The seating is quite limited so I wouldn't recommend it for large parties. And it's pretty mom and pop, so if that's your jam, go for it. Chairs are mismatched, drinking water is somewhat self-service in small cafeteria-style plastic cups, and tables are small. Like I said - mom and pop, and that's not a bad thing. It's just not exactly a place where you would have a nice business meeting. Service was ok - nothing to note. You pay at the cashier which is like 2 feet from where you ate. Yes, it's a small space. Overall - I love this place and will keep coming back.

    Photos
    Xing’s Kitchen - Interior / ig: @joyyeats

    Interior / ig: @joyyeats

    Xing’s Kitchen - Henan lamb stewed noodle / ig: @joyyeats

    Henan lamb stewed noodle / ig: @joyyeats

    Xing’s Kitchen - Outside

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    Outside

    Hi Trendy Dumpling - General Tso's Chicken

    Hi Trendy Dumpling

    4.4(436 reviews)
    2.1 miThe Heights
    $$

    One of my favorite Sichuan places in town!…read more Dishes had this time around: Pork Soup dumpling - always temps me to order more Shrimp and pork Shumai - i recently had shumai that was good but not as great as the ones here. I've never had any oeovlem with any of the food not tasting fresh here Spicy chicken cube - crispy, spicy, what more can you ask for Walnut shrimp - a common Cantonese style chinese dish with crispy shrimp, mayo, and walnuts. A perfect combo! Overall would recommend to anyone in town, a favorite of mine for sure

    My three friends and I were in the area when one of them suggested this place after having a good…read moreexperience here previously. We ordered quite a bit of food, and everything came out quickly. The staff were attentive and friendly, and overall, the food was decent. My favorite dish was the Chicken Steamed Dumplings. I usually prefer pork dumplings, but these were surprisingly tasty. The wrappers were on the thicker side, which I personally enjoy, the filling was moist, and the sauce was packed with flavor. I also ordered the Beef Noodle Soup. The portion of noodles and beef was generous, but I thought the broth lacked depth and had far too much chili oil. Instead of providing a pleasant spice, the excess oil left a greasy coating in my throat that actually made me cough. The other dishes were less impressive. The Pork Bao tasted like they had been frozen and reheated, with slightly soggy, overcooked buns and a filling that lacked flavor. The Egg Rolls were also extremely small and had that same frozen, store-bought quality. Overall, the service was great and there were a few solid dishes, especially the chicken dumplings, but too many of the items tasted like frozen or pre-prepared food. I would come back for the dumplings, but I would probably skip most of the other dishes.

    Photos
    Hi Trendy Dumpling - Interior

    Interior

    Hi Trendy Dumpling - Braised chili oil fish

    Braised chili oil fish

    Hi Trendy Dumpling - Chili oil dumplings

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    Chili oil dumplings

    MDK Noodles - Pork Dumplings

    MDK Noodles

    4.2(304 reviews)
    9.3 miChinatown, Sharpstown
    $$

    Coming from Koreatown Los Angeles, this place is super legit. Kimchi is 10/10. The hand cut noodle-…read more10/10. The kimchi just brought me so much comfort like I never left home and the noodles were so delicious. The right texture and the amount of vegetables in there made me feel real good and tingly inside. Service was great cuz looks like the owners run the spot so you know it's A+++ on service The ambiance is modern, hip with the classic wood touches and seeing their noodle making machine to prove they make their noodles - no store bought noodles - made five months ago with preservatives and chemicals. Just your classic flour and water and etc. and you can taste the quality of the noodle & chicken broth in the soup. U cannot fake quality ... cannot MDK has the best kimchi and traditional kkal gook su. 100%.

    We went in at 11:30 AM on a Saturday - while the sign said they were open and the lights were on,…read morethere was not a soul in the restaurant - not even an employee. I went to the back and there was an employee who said sit wherever you would like. Hardly a propitious start. It only went uphill from there! Service was excellent - the waiter explained the menu to us - food, obviously all cooked to order, took about 10 minutes. Food was brought out as it was prepared so we got our lunch entrees at different time (within a few minutes), but we were sharing so this was good. My daughter loved the steamed pork dumplings. The savory pancakes with bulgogi were outstanding. This is not my area of time, so it took us about 20 minutes to get there - ample parking. A huge number of restaurants in this strip center area - you should explore.

    Photos
    MDK Noodles
    MDK Noodles - Seafood pancake

    Seafood pancake

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    Xiaolong Dumpling

    Xiaolong Dumpling

    4.6(304 reviews)
    1.4 miFourth Ward, Midtown, Montrose
    $$

    This little spot is my literal favorite place for fried rice. Everything is good but the fried rice…read moreis the best I've ever had! Pork Bao's are normally my daughter fave but the soup dumplings here are her favorite. She could finish an order on her own. The service is always great. As soon as you get in they give everyone a water and a carafe of more water. There is a QR code to order and you place your order on the phone. The order goes straight to the kitchen and you can add as you go if wanted. I always thought that was pretty cool. The owner came out to say hello and ask how everything is. She even brought out a small bowl of soup for my baby to enjoy. The waitress was also very sweet and attentive. I don't live close by but will make the trip when the craving hits. Today was one of those days. The last time I was here there was no ac and not enough seating. This time it was nice and cool in and well as having new seating! This little spot needs to be on your need to stop places!

    Was a little bit of a red flag when we were the only Asian customers in the restaurant - still…read moredecent but definitely catered towards Western taste buds. My favorite dish was surprising the fried rice, with generous portions and slight smokiness. The xiaolongbao weren't my favorite, as there wasn't a whole lot of juice; but hey if you're looking to be health conscious maybe that is a positive.

    Photos
    Xiaolong Dumpling - Excellent customer service!!!

    Excellent customer service!!!

    Xiaolong Dumpling - B1. Mongolian Beef B1.

    B1. Mongolian Beef B1.

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    Paulie's - sandwiches - Updated September 2026

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