Cannot thank you enough for another fabulous experience at Paeoletti! You helped make my husband's celebration truly special. The food was outstanding--every dish was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Brian provided excellent service, and Natalie, the hostess, went above and beyond. She's truly one of a kind. Highly recommend! read more

This place was highly recommended. Service was fabulous, ambience top-notch. My dinner, Pollo limone, was sub-par. Description was pecan-crusted chicken breast topped with lemon garlic butter. Chicken was breaded, flattened cutlet tasting of lemon. The cutlet was so flat it was hard to see/taste chicken breast and I couldn't tell if it was pecan crusted or just breaded like in a fast food restaurant. I ordered a side of spaghetti with lemon butter sauce. The spaghetti itself was fresh and tasty, wonderful on its own - should've ordered it without sauce. The pasta sat in a pool of lemon butter sauce that overwhelmed the spaghetti. The prices didn't deter me, I'm used to spending that much and more on a good meal. But that's the problem-for me, this wasn't a good meal. My husband had the lasagna and enjoyed it so maybe it was this one particular dish. read more

Paolettis is outstanding in every regard. Tonight my wife & I had their lasagna which was absolutely superb. Our server was Mary she was professional & very knowledgeable. The owners are present to assure your dining experience is going perfectly. We will look forward to returning to enjoy another fabulous meal at Paolett's. read more

This is probably our fourth or fifth visit at this restaurant which is our favorite place in Highlands. We have never had anything that wasn't perfectly cooked. We had the Oysters Rockefeller and a House salad to start.. I had a Bourbon and my wife had a Tequila cocktail with Melon liquor which were both well crafted. We both had seafood dishes with pasta, mine being the Chioppino. Cooked perfectly. In the past I had the Elk Chop and the Rack of Lamb which were both amazing. Our waiter Jack was exemplary and the food was up to its usual standard. They do charge a 3% charge for using a credit card, but this can be avoided by using a debit card instead, which we did. This is a busy, popular restaurant, so make sure a book ahead. We will be back for certain next year. read more

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My wife and I visited here for the first time on Saturday. The staff was wonderful and extremely helpful. Gina (4th-generation owner) spent some time with us, helped us navigate the menu, and made wonderful recommendations. My wife had what she described as the best piece of fish she's ever had (cornmeal-dusted grouper) and a side of gluten-free pasta that tasted exactly like regular noodles. My veal piccata was absolutely amazing! The oysters Rockefeller was the best either of us had ever eaten. It's not cheap, but worth every penny. A phenomenal dining experience. Can't wait for the opportunity to visit again! read more

Atmosphere is rich and comfy. Busy with no reservation so ate at bar. Sometimes, I find service is not as good at the bar but not the case here. Excellent and friendly. Food was some of the best Ive ever eaten. read more

The ambiance and service were great. With that being said, unfortunately the food was terrible. Everything was covered in cheese- usually a good thing but not on these dishes. The grouper was over fried and doused in butter. The pasta dishes had so much cheese- it was over powering- same for potatoes. Lasagna was good. Unfortunately we won't be back. read more

Service felt rushed. They were pushing a pasta side that was unnecessary. They even said that one of the plates did not have accompanying side when indeed it had. Escargot was very good and it came with plenty of good bread. The ossobuco was fine, however, the lamb was bland and undercooked and the sauce seemed to belong to another dish - it closely resembled the sauce that came with the ossobuco - which was not appealing at all. The wine list is incredibly vast. The sommelier was called in too soon, so I did not have much of a chance to look at the list. Again, feeling rushed into having them make the selection for me. The wine selection was good after all - the price not so good. We were sat in a table that was too close to the bar and the passing of staff and patrons. not very romantic. read more

We came in with high expectations given the pricing and the way this restaurant is positioned, but unfortunately the food did not live up to it. I ordered the Coppola Paoletti ($60), which was surprisingly completely tasteless. For a dish at that price point, I expected depth, seasoning, and balance--but it fell flat in every way. My wife had the Cacio e Pepe, which was also very disappointing. It lacked flavor entirely, and the pasta itself was overcooked and sticking together, definitely not al dente. For such a classic and simple dish, execution really matters, and this missed the mark. The Wagyu beef ricotta meatball with polenta was the one highlight of the night. That dish was done well and deserves credit--3.5/5 for the appetizer. As for the atmosphere: it's marketed as a relaxed, Italian-style dining experience, but in reality, everyone is packed in very tightly, almost like sardines. I understand the intention, but it didn't feel comfortable--and it certainly didn't feel authentically Italian. I'm not expecting Italy, but please don't sell it as such when the experience doesn't match. I also have to question some of the glowing reviews. Either our experience was a major outlier, or some people have simply never had properly cooked, well-seasoned pasta and don't know what it should taste like - as long there are sheep, there will be wool I guess. Overall, for the very high prices, the quality and execution just weren't there. One solid appetizer can't make up for bland mains and poorly cooked pasta. read more

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I am in the highlands area and decided to take a stop at one the "top 20 Italian restaurants" in the U.S. I ordered the Gnocchi alla Sorrentina with a housemade ricotta gnocchi in a light tomato sauce with fresh basil and three Italian cheeses. It's soft, pillowy gnocchi a great dish for pasta lovers. Overall great experience would definitely recommend. read more

Ristorante Paoletti - Italian Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

Just when we thought our favorite restaurant couldn't get any better it did! The cioppino was incredible --- filled with wonderful seafood and the broth was divine. Our server, Mary, was exceptional and everyone is always so attentive and so welcoming. Can't wait to return !!! read more

Delicious birthday dinner. I had the gnocchi and my husband had a great pasta dish. Fabulous wine selection. Lovely birthday tiramisu surprise at the end! Loved it! read more

We had reservations for 4 and was seated promptly. Lovely Ambiance and food was excellent. 3 out of 4 of us had the elk chop cooked medium rare while my sister had the fish special which she also enjoyed. We also had Cesar salads topped with anchovies (we asked;) We had a red wine recommended by our waiter and me and sis a glass of rose champagne to start. The food, ambiance and service all great as would be expected for a top quality northern Italian restaurant in Highlands. We will definitely be back. read more

Ristorante Paoletti - Me and hubby(Paul), my sister and brother-n-law. We had a lovely evening - Italian Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

Elk chop pictured here. This is from the same visit I reviewed earlier, just adding a picture from our experience for more emphasis. Chop was good, and cooked perfectly. Service was super slow, and hostess was a rude nightmare. Ambiance was dark and not elegant. White tablecloths, at least. read more

Ristorante Paoletti - Spiced Cervena Elk Rib Chop - Italian Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

My family and I had the privilege of dining at Ristorante Paoletti twice during our recent stay in Highlands. The restaurant is located on the main street that runs through the town making it easy to find. Be sure to make a reservation as it fills up quickly. The staff we encountered during both visits were friendly and professional. The food was exceptional each visit. The eggplant parmigiana starter was tender and so flavorful. Three of the four of us ordered it on the second visit as it was that good. The beef carpaccio and meatball starter were also enjoyed. For entrees we had the trout Frances, stuffed halibut special, the gnocchi special, the mushroom tortellini and the linguine pescatore. All dishes were delcious while the trout Frances, mushroom tortellini and linguine pescatore were our favorites. It is worth mentioning their gnocchi could not have been better prepared as it was like a fluffy pillow as gnocchi should be. Had it been paired with the truffle sauce from the mushroom tortellini then it would have been perfection. For dessert, we sampled several ice creams, sorbets, the tiramisu and the Blueberry Coconut Layered cake. The raspberry sorbet and cappuccino Oreo gelato were the fan favorites for the dessert course. Ristorante Paoletti receives our highest recommendation as it is on point with offering a positive atmosphere, friendly staff and delicious food. read more

Wrote a review on trip advisor detailing unacceptable service and average food and was banned from the restaurant in letter from the owner. Have been going there for twenty years. Wow. read more

This was our first time to the highlands and after researching where to go for my husband and I's 10th anniversary and my birthday we decided to just walk in on a Friday night We knew we would probably not get a table but we were fine with that. We put our name down for the bar and got a call maybe 45 mins after. Nicole was the bartender and our server and she was excellent! Cocktails were fabulous and the food was fantastic we ended up going back the 2nd night! They change specials daily and the entrees come out pipping HOT, which I dearly appreciate, because no one likes a warm pasta, needs to be HOT and the pasta was al dente, perfect doneness. Ingredients, wines, and ideas for menu come from Italy, and the cakes we had (pumpkin & blueberry) were to die for. Probably some of the best desserts I have had and we lived in Manhattan for 8 years, so that says something! Will absolutely come back and recommend, Mama G and little G were lovely people, customer service goes far in my book and they nailed it. read more

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Exceptional meal and service at Paoletti. Perhaps the best meal I've had in an Italian restaurant in decades. Expertly prepared and presented. Wonderful wine list. Busy but intimate. Outstanding! read more

Another great experience. Forgot to get photo, but never skip the bread pudding either. read more

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Been here twice now during my visits to Highlands, and it's truly some of the best Italian cuisine I've ever had the pleasure of enjoying! Service, quality, and aesthetics are 10/10 in my opinion. Pro tip: book your reservation well in advance if you are planning a visit in or near Highlands, NC as they get booked up very quickly (sometimes for months ahead of time). It's truly that popular. This most recent visit, our server was incredible! She never once wrote anything down, and had all of the daily specials and off-menu dishes memorized and was constantly checking in on us and clearing the table between courses. Her energy was so enthusiastic and contagious in the best way. Truly, anything on (or off) their menu is absolutely divine, but my favorite thing this most recent visit was the Cacio e Pepe with spaghetti tossed in a Pecorino Romano and Black Pepper Sauce, but the Nonna Marla's Rigatoni Bolognese was a close second! I cannot wait for my next visit! They do change out their specials and some menu items seasonally, so I'll be excited to see what's new on the menu next time! read more

Perhaps the best meal I've ever eaten. We had veal cannelloni and gnocchi sorrentina. Absolutely amazing. Eggplant parm to start was so tasty. Great food, service and atmosphere for a date night! read more

Second chance and same outcome - not enjoyable. The food was average, they use tricky wine glasses to give you less than average pour, and felt like we were being rush out when the place was mostly empty and we were at the bar. Faded glory. read more

Outstanding service and incredibly delicious food! We will definitely come back again. read more

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The ambiance here and the food was terrific. Very nice menu with typical favorites done right. Great wine list, too great making it hard to choose. The bolognese was excellent as was our wine choice. My only concern was, while nice, they weren't very attentive to our table, and while busy, it's still part of the experience. I always eat here when in the mountains, but I wish only that were better. read more

Upscale Italian restaurant in downtown Highlands. Good food & Service, though a bit slow if you have plans afterwards & need to be somewhere. $$$$$$$ read more

Paolettis is a must do in Highlands. The food and service were amazing. Heather was our server and very kind and attentive!

Amazing Italian food! My husband and I dined here on our last night in Highlands and it was a treat. Be sure to make reservations weeks in advance because this place books up fast! We didn't make a reservation until the day before, but luckily they had a spot available at 5:15. Out waiter was extremely prompt and friendly and gave great menu suggestions. We each had a glass of wine and both were very tasty. We also ordered the meatball appetizer over polenta and it was fantastic. For our mains we had the carbonara and mushroom ravioli. Everything was so delicious and reminded me of the food I had when I visited Italy a while back. The owner was there and made her way around each table to greet every guest. She was so friendly and truly made us feel at home. Everything about the evening was lovely and I will definitely dine here again if I get the chance! read more

Ristorante Paoletti - Meatball over polenta. Fantastic! - Italian Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

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This is our third visit to Paoletti's. I was so excited to share what I considered the best restaurant in Highlands with my daughter and her family. We had the best table in the restaurant and I was anticipating a fabulous and relaxing meal. However, the service was not up to the previous visits standards... forgot cocktail orders. Either ignored or forgot specifics to the order. But mostly it as the attitude of our "man bun" server. He rushed us and when we requested a repeat of the desert choices, rushed through them again. We decided therefore that we must have been a burden to him, cut desert out (went to Kilwins), and left a 15% tip (which we never do). The food was fine but not as fabulous as I remembered... perhaps because of our servers attitude I was underwhelmed. We will not be back. read more

Mama G was very nice and the food was great ! Will come back in the future Made my anniversary that much more special read more

A fabulous meal in Highlands!! Ristorante Paoletti never disappoints!! The food was amazing , the ambiance and service 5 stars!! read more

Food, service, and overall atmosphere was great. Only complaint I have is their wine pricing which is 3x retail price value, that is too much and gauging! read more

Great restaurant in Highlands. Menu specializes in Italian dishes, great meat choices too. Good wine list too.

Food and service were absolutely 5 star. Fresh and delicious! Highly recommend if you enjoy true Italian cuisine!!

Classy ambiance. Prompt, professional service. Our entrees were tasty and well presented. Wine list is deep and broad. Wine recommended by sommelier listed as $150, retails for $39. A 3-400% markup is unacceptable. Sorry. Disappointing overall experience. Please....no token management rebut. read more

Very expensive for the quality and portion size. I would not go back. There are better restaurants in the area.

As always - Some of the best Italian we've ever had, rivaling major food cities. Incredible service. Of course it's not cheap, as it shouldn't be! They also were accommodating to our kids! Vibrant atmosphere and such a classic spot. read more

Highlands might not be the first place you'd look to find a decades-old, family-run Italian restaurant but that's what you'll find with Paoletti. In terms of ambience, it's a bit nicer than the neighborhood white-and-red checkered tablecloth joints you'd expect in Little Italy but it's also not at all stuffy. But the food can definitely hold its own with said joints in terms of flavor and authenticity! My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our insalate, and the pasta dishes were great as well. I ordered the Nonna Maria's rigatoni which was amazing (and enough for lunch the next day) and my wife loved her Tagllatelle con Tartufo e Funghi. Service was prompt, and the staff was extremely nice; the owner and her daughter both chatted with us for several minutes about the family and restaurant history and were both genuinely welcoming. I'm a big fan of Italian food and a big fan of Highlands, so now I'm a big fan of Ristorante Paoletti as well. Try it and I'll bet you will be too. read more

Ristorante Paoletti - Nonna Maria's rigatoni - Italian Near Me - Highlands, North Carolina

Just finished up the most lovely dinner here tonight. Our server, Warner, could not have been more friendly and welcoming. He helped us figure out exactly the right variation of dishes, that when paired with a delicious wine suggested by the Somm, yielded a fantastic result. Such a gem in the heart of the highlands. All of this wrapped by a fantastic energy in the restaurant of people that truly care. read more

My wife Babs, daughter Paula (a foodie/tree hugger residing in Charleston, SC and grandson Colin), enjoyed dinner last evening. The wine sommelier-Julio and server-part owner Zac, were knowledgeable and very helpful. The meal, suggested appetizers and, desert were outstanding!!! We will try to dine here often this spring and summer!!! read more

The most popular Italian restaurant in the area is Usually crowded so Plan ahead. We try to eat there when visiting Highlands. read more