Ristorante Paradiso is a long time Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Kirkland. I have been coming here for as long as I can remember (20 to 30 years maybe, so long that I didn't realize I never wrote a review). This restaurant has been well received for both business dinners and personal dinners. They are old school charming Italian (not to be confused with American Italian). The service is often warm and charming. The restaurant is painted with warm tones and artworks of villas. Business partners from foreign countries often find this restaurant adorable. The menu has some hits-and-misses, but we have settled on our favorites by now. My hubby orders their lasagna as his favorite; he often orders it early since it's a longer time to cook. I recently visited with girlfriends, so extra desserts are involved. Lol. The Food: Salmone Piccata, $32 - 4.5 Stars Menu: Fresh salmon filet, capers, lemon, garlic, white wine sauce This is my standing order - a good size piece of salmon rests on veggies with a wonderful wine sauce. It's light, it's a repeatable dish, and I don't feel guilty afterwards. Tartufo Classico - 4.5 Stars Menu: Chocolate Gelato, zabaglione cream center, covered with crushed caramelized hazelnuts and cocoa powder Tiramisu - 4 Stars Menu: Ladyfinger biscuits, espresso coffee, mascarpone cheese, and whipped cream Curse my sweet tooth friend who convinced us to order not one but two desserts to share. The tartufo is more unique, and somewhat reminds me of a much better Ferrero Rocher. I particularly like the cool gelato. The tiramisu is of course the classic. If I am sharing with hubby, the tartufo is the easy win. read more

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My wife and I went for a lunch date for the first time in a while. Our 3rd baby had his first day in daycare, so we decided to plan for lunch during Seattle Restaurant Week. My wife had never been here, and for me it had been over 10 years, so we were looking forward to it. Unfortunately, it turned out to be disappointing. On the positive side, the bread was good, the burrata appetizer was tasty, and my Marsala chicken wasn't too bad. However, my wife's Linguine Tutta Mare was not good at all. The mussels tasted completely off and had a bad smell. I tried them myself and they were fishy, not how mussels are supposed to taste. We told our waiter, and he kind of brushed it off, saying they get their seafood in daily and that mussels can sometimes be "that way." He gave no apology and no real acknowledgment to the issue, but just cleared our plates and walked away. To top it all off, they were out of the Panna Cotta, which was the dessert I'd been looking forward to. The other options didn't appeal to us as much, but we settled for them anyway. Afterwards, we still felt a little hungry. For our first lunch date in a while, this was a real letdown. Definitely not worth $35 per person. read more

Ristorante Paradiso has a cozy atmosphere and solid Italian dishes. My chicken was extremely dry and it felt scratchy going down my throat, but the tiramisu was fantastic--rich, creamy, and perfectly balanced--which made the meal worthwhile. Overall, some dishes might be hit-or-miss, but the desserts like the tiramisu make it a place I'd still recommend visiting. read more

Ristorante Paradiso - Italian Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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5/5 did not no pasta came with 50 cut up tomatoes had to remove them but it is okay because the pasta was good and then i also like the water glasses and the ice too read more

We love this gem!!! We've been here about 5 or 6x with our family and it's great every time. The food is amazing and the service is always so friendly. We tend to get the same waiter almost every time I think his name is Mussolini (I hope I spelled that right). We've tried appetizers, entrees, and dessert and we've loved it all! Mojitos and sauvignon blanc are great as well. The space is cute and gives cozy vibes and reminds me of little local places in Italy. 10/10 recommend! read more

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RISTORANTE PARADISO @ DOWNTOWN KIRKLAND Parking is available via street parking, or you can also park in a nearby paid lot, just be sure to double-check the rates. I believe the parking lot is currently under renovation, so I'd also recommend parking closer to the beach and walking over. This Italian spot has been on my list for a while, so I was really excited to finally try it with a couple of my friends. There wasn't much of a line, and the restaurant itself is pretty small. It's located right in the heart of downtown Kirkland, with plenty of other restaurants, cafés, and dessert spots nearby. We were seated immediately, and the staff was extremely friendly, I really loved the service overall. For food, we ordered a few different pastas to share. I got the fettuccine, and it was delicious. I especially loved the garnish they added on top it was a really nice touch. The ambiance of the place is also great. It's not super dark like a traditional Italian restaurant; instead, it's lighter and has a romantic feel to it. I'd definitely recommend stopping by if you're in the downtown Kirkland area and craving Italian food. read more

Tried this restaurant for the first time recently. I am Italian and I absolutely loved the old school Italian food and atmosphere of this restaurant. The pasta dishes we tried had great flavor and texture. The decor was simple, but perfect - white table cloths, a piece of art hung above every table. Many "regular" customers. Jesus, the waiter, was amazing! Very comforting. read more

The place is somewhat upscale. The reason for adding "somewhat" is because it is a bit dense and noisy. Interior is good. Their special appetizer was tasty and the same goes for Penne Paradiso and Lasagna. The server and other staff was straight faced. No smiles. Not saying thanks for coming here. read more

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On a very busy street with tons of other restaurants, Ristorante Paradiso is thriving. The service is great. We were seated right away. The wine list has a good selection and my husband tried a glass of the super Tuscan. There are so many good choices on the menu. It is hard to choose just one dish. I started with a small Mista Salad. It had fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, salad greens with a white balsamic dressing. My husband had a true Caesar salad that had old fashioned raw eggs. For a second course, I had the linguine tutte mare. It was a huge portion of pasta with clams, mussels, shrimp and calamari. There is a choice of sauces and I chose white. It was very good. My husband had the salmone picatta. He opted to have the penne instead of vegetables. He ate every morsel. The portions are large. So we decided to have tea and coffee. He ordered espresso. Although it came without the lemon, he said it was very good. I had chamomile tea. It was a very enjoyable meal. The huge down side is the parking. But once we found a spot, it was worth the trip. It is a small place, so I recommend reservations. But it is cozy without feeling crowded. read more

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Great neighborhood gem! Can't believe it took us so long to finally try it! Everything was delicious and service was great!

EVERYTHING in this place is amazing! The staff, the drinks, the appetizers, the bread, the FOOD, and the desserts!!!! OMG! There are not enough stars! We had an amazing dinner! My husband had the rack of lamb and I had a chicken dish that I cannot pronounce, but was amazing! Chicken, artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes over roasted vegetables! Just layer after layer of flavor! We will return!!! read more

Ristorante Paradiso - Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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I have been going there for years.On average, they have a 4+ - 5 rating over the last eight years, however tonight was a minus . We were seated in an area where my wife and i could not talk or hear because of the section we were seated in was so loud. I will NEVER go back unless they make our experience nback to what we areused to. read more

Service is decent. Ambiance is fine. Food is mid. I'm surprised and quite disappointed that Yelp rating has 4 stars. I expected more and better. We ordered: Calamari (decent) Antipasti (subpar) Beet salad (fine) Gnocchi (terribly overcooked and mushy) Linguine norcina (pretty good) Capellini pomodoro (slightly overcooked) Pork tenderloin (don't want to repeat) Salmon (average) Again I'm quite shocked that this place has a 4 star rating. I could be spoiled by my experience at Carmine's or Cantinetta but Paradiso isn't my first choice. read more

Cute place with very attentive service. Their Lasagna is the best, the thinly sliced prosciutto cotto gives it flavor, authenticity, just like my Nonna used to make. Our server last time was Fernando and he is amazing recommending wine, perfectly pairing with our dishes. Great place! read more

What a treat! We had a dinner of moms and sons at Paradiso and it was a dream! Private area off to the side made it a really intimate area, but the tables outside looked lovely too. Appetizers were phenomenal - calamari, bruschetta, and beet salad were so good. Dinners were devoured - swordfish special was amazing, I loved my angel hair pomodoro with chicken, and there were a lot of smiles and happy "oh my god this is SO GOOD!" comments! Our server was adorable and super attentive and the whole evening was a great experience. I'll be back!! read more

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We came here for our daughter's birthday celebration in October. I was disappointed with our table location (right next to the kitchen) as I had noted birthday on our reservation. However, my daughter had arrived first and already settled in so we didn't ask to move. We ordered drinks and sipped a bit. Usually bread and butter come immediately after ordering drinks , if not earlier. After a bit, as we were all starving and their bread is FAMOUSLY FANTASTIC we had to ask for. It did not disappoint. Drinks were great, extra large martini glasses; wish they would offer hand-stuffed cheese olives (blue, Gorgonzola, etc.), so simple to make a limited number each evening during prep and such a classy thing to do (I'd even pay $1 or 2 for them as add ons, depending on how many I get. Caesar salad was fantastic!Entrees: #1- Penne Paradiso (a succulent marriage of perfectly cooked penne, artichokes & a pink sauce) with added grilled chicken (a little dry and rather tasteless) #2. Pollo Limone (a thin and tangy white wine lemon sauce that encompasses two pounded thin chicken pieces over linguine). We added tableside freshly shredded Parmesan, however had to request as it wasn't offered as in past times. Surprisingly this chicken tasted more flavorful and was perfectly cooked. Birthday dessert- a smaller portion of their blissful tiramisu (my absolute favorite of all tiramisu's)--although their perfectly crackled and vanilla bean creamy crème brûlée is a close second. Espresso martini was excellent, arriving in a large martini glasses with a perfect coffee bean afloat in the center. Ciao and mille grazie! read more

Ristorante Paradiso - Penne Paradiso with chicken - Italian Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Food is nice sized portions. Pasta is heavy and you could definitely take home leftovers. Plating is well done. The dishes look beautiful. Lasagna was delicious and the cannelloni was excellent. My chicken dish has a long name and was last item on menu. You can opt for veggie and potatoes or pasta in a red or white sauce. The chicken was saucy so next time I just might get plain pasta for the sauce with chicken. Dessert, which i didn't get a pic, was a a tarfuro (?), not spelled right, which was zabiglione with a chocolate Gelato surrounding it and a powdery coating. It was gooood.....reservations are a must. Went on a Monday night and it was packed! read more

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I came here for an anniversary dinner and was pretty disappointed. I thought some of servers we encountered were pretty nice and friendly while others were cold and stiff. The service we got was a little conflicting and definitely varied by person. After we sat down, it took about ten minutes before someone came by to fill up our water glasses; I genuinely thought they had forgotten about us. As for the food, it was alright and was definitely made fresh. I personally love Italian food and have been to Italy, so maybe my standards are a little high, but I wouldn't come here just for the food, especially after my conflicting experience with the service. After finishing the entrees, I asked the server if they did anything for anniversaries, and they said they only offered something for birthdays unfortunately. read more

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We had the perfect evening with friends at Paradiso a few weeks ago. To start, the restaurant had nice ambiance with candles on the table and a full house. Our waitress couldn't have been better. She was so knowledgeable about all the dishes and charming to boot! We started with the mussels & clam appetizer along with the Bruschetta and a cocktail. Halfway through our appetizer, our waitress brought piping hot bread. The bread was delicious dipped in the nectar from the mussels. We all loved our entrees: The Lamb special, Seafood Pasta, Penne Moda and Pollo alla Boscaiola. We all ate every bite! We just couldn't stop it was sooo delicious! And it was all paired with a lovely wine. We can't wait to go back! read more

Amazing food. Every time with no exception. My family and I have tried just about everything on the menu and everything has been more than good. I moved from Italy 14 years ago and I'm so picky when it comes to Italian food this is the only spot I'll go to when I want authentic Italian food. A million starts lol read more

Ristorante Paradiso - Italian Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Paradiso is our goto place when we crave some traditional Italian food, the kind that brings you comfort and happiness. It isn't fancy, and staff is always friendly. I came here because i craved lasagna, and their version definitely hit the spot. A generous meat sauce that has small pieces of ham, uncommon but added another level of savory. Hubby had the stuffed chicken breast that unfortunately was slightly dry. It was a very busy weekend night but staff was working hard to take care of everyone in a timely manner. It is a neighborhood gem! read more

Ristorante Paradiso - Italian Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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The pasta dishes we got were delicious. Pasta was cooked perfectly with the right amount of sauce and tons of flavor. We added chicken to mine for an extra charge and they provided a generous amount. My hubby added scallops for $11 extra and only got 3 which he was disappointed with at first, but when he tasted them, he said they were amazing and worth the $11. They will substitute GF rigatoni for any pasta and mine was cooked perfectly. No cross-contamination with the pasta They do serve AMAZING complimentary bread (no GF option) The server was very knowledgeable about menu and GF details. He was always there when we needed him and friendly The ambiance is very nice and Italian. Easily can be romantic and "dressed up". Easy to be casual too. Great experience and food. We will be back to try even more dishes. read more

Ristorante Paradiso - Capellini al Pomodoro with optional scallops - Italian Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Went in for Italian food with my friend as I have heard good thing about this place where I actually been a few times while ago. We were able to make a reservation despite it was Sunday night around 6:30 on the last minute. The place was pretty full and lively. The service was ok. I ordered Risotto di mare and my friend creamy pasta can't remember the name. They were solid with fresh ingredients. I liked their complimentary bread that were warm and soft. The portion was huge even the cocktail I had. The food here would be good to share. read more

Ristorante Paradiso - Pasta with sausage - Italian Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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The service was pretty quick and I really like their bread. Love the way they make the bruschetta where the garlic bread is so crunchy and the tomatoes were very fresh. The pasta was also very good with lots of seafood. Great place to bring the kids! read more

Ristorante Paradiso - Salmone Piccata - Italian Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

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Hands down still the best Italian restaurant in Kirkland. I've been coming here for years and I guarantee that whatever you choose from the menu will be delicious. I recently made the mistake of visiting another 'Italian' restaurant close by in Kirkland that recently opened, and the food was utterly terrible. Paradiso has nothing to fear ! read more

Came by for a weeknight dinner in downtown Kirkland. Vibe of the area is a cute and cozy downtown area. The restaurant wasn't too busy at 7:30pm and we were able to get seated immediately for a party of 5. There's a couple small tables outside for outdoor seating but the majority of the tables are indoor. We started with the bruschetta as an appetizer which came with several pieces of toast, chopped tomatoes, olive oil, and mozzarella. After looking over the menu and reviews I decided to go with the chicken alla Mia maniera, a few others ordered the linguine tutto mare or the cioppino. Everyone said the food they got was fairly average and nothing that wowed. The chicken stuffed with spinach and mozzarella tasted pretty good although the chicken was a little bit over cooked and on the drier side. The Marsala sauce was just okay and some of the Brussels were a little too dark. Overall I would give this place a 3.5/5 since the food is solid but not amazing. read more

Ristorante Paradiso - Pollo Alla Mia Maniera - Italian Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

It was our first time visiting this restaurant. We were able to sit at a table outside on the sidewalk, which is always nice to dine al fresco. We ordered the arugula salad with roasted beets and goat cheese, linguine alla norcina, penna Moda, and the linguine di mare. The salad was good but not great. It was average. The dressing could and should have had more flavor. My family loved the penna Moda the most of the 3 pasta dishes we ordered. It was a creamy tomato sauce, perfectly balanced flavors. The linguine alla norcina was good but it is such a creamy and heavy dish, it's difficult to eat a dish like that in one sitting. The seafood tasted very fresh for the linguine di mare. It could have had more flavor but it wasn't bad. Overall we would rank this place higher than Due in Totem Lake (which is really more of a Pallinos quality) but lower than Carmine's. Overall we were happy to visit. The server was good and knowledgeable about the specials. Not sure if we will come back but it was overall a nice dining experience. read more

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We stopped by for a late lunch and sat outside. Nice setting and felt very Italian. The bread was amazing and the food was great. Both bolognese and lasagna were solid. The lemon chicken was a little too much citrus to my pallet. The service was polite but a little cold. Overall very authentic southern Italian food. read more

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I went there for my birthday. The food was amazing. The staff were awesome. I will be going back there again.

Love this restaurant. The food, wine and attentive service is superb. We also appreciate that it is small, quiet and romantic. Great please for a date night but they can also accommodate groups. read more

This has been a regular go to for my family for years. The ambiance is great, as is the service and food. The chef is Italian. Some of the waiters are as well. But what I really love is they can make two vegan dishes. The Penne Moda in particular is fantastic. Also they have great bruschetta. This place is a real gem. read more

Food was okay, edible, but not great. Service was okay, food came out quickly, but bill came out slow. Ambiance was okay, older but well maintained. I wouldn't come back here, but I also wouldn't discourage people from coming. read more

Service was superb and food was really good. Will be back for sure. Our server, he was great on explaining the food on the menu.

Food was good, servers were attentive and friendly, but what I was most pleased about was the dessert and espresso! We ordered three different desserts and they were all delicious. I especially liked the lemon sorbet, which came in a lemon shell, and there was a lot of it too. And I think it's hard to find a good espresso, so I was happy to have one that was not sour at all and was very rich and flavorful. Would definitely come here again! read more

Ristorante Paradiso - Lemon sorbet, chocolate decadence, pana cotta - Italian Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Pretty good experience coming here. The food was absolutely delicious. I got the salmon pasta in a white sauce and it was so so good. They used smoked salmon and it didn't taste dry like fresh salmon so it was a nice infusion of flavor and texture. The outdoor seating was awesome. It was nice and spacious. Our waitress was nice and efficient. I just wish we got more water refills during our time eating here. The indoor facilities were all clean and inviting. We had a wonderful dining experience here. read more

Had a wonderful meal here on a busy Friday evening. Can't believe I've never been here as I almost always pass by when in Kirkland. We arrived without a reservation, and the place was packed so we didn't think we would get a table, but they accommodated us almost immediately. Since they were busy, it took a little while for the server to come around but once he did the service from there on was wonderful. We decided to go for the bruschetta to start, this arrived fairly quickly, and I wasn't expecting the bread to be perfectly crunchy and soft at the same time, and the mix of tomato, feta cheese and olives was perfect. For entrée I ordered the Linguine Tutto Mare, with the white wine sauce, and it was absolutely one of the best seafood pastas I've had in a while, there was plenty seafood, and the pasta in the sauce was delicious. My partner got the lamb rack which was one of the specials of the night and really enjoyed the dish. They also have a broad range of cocktails and wine, and these were also great accompaniments to the meal. They serve fresh bread once you order some food, and this was also perfectly baked. For once I was so full that I wasn't even tempted to order dessert even though it was tempting, maybe next time. The restaurant was definitely a bit noisy, but it was a great vibe for a Friday evening, and it does feel a little bit like being in a small restaurant in Italy. The prices are a bit on the expensive side, but once I tasted all of the food, I definitely wasn't complaining. Everything was really great. Look forward to returning. read more

Ristorante Paradiso - Bruschetta - tastes better than it looks!! Very delicious! - Italian Near Me - Kirkland, Washington

Another wonderful time at this restaurant! NYE dinner! As always, great service from our favorite server whom we view as our friend. Had their specials -- seafood ragu and swordfish. Both were good! But first, the appetizers: Antipasto AllItaliana - Italian specialty meats, provolone, olives, grilled and marinated vegetables. -- our go to appetizer, great for sharing! Bresaola, Rucola e Grana - Thinly sliced Italian cured meat, arugula, shaved parmesan, lemon vinaigrette. First time ordering this and it was good too! It's one kind of cured meat on a bed vs the the other appetizer where it had a variety of meats. I think these 2 appetizers complement each other. Their bread. Served as if they're fresh from the oven! Must have their bread! Ok, so back to their specials.... The flavor of the seafood ragu reminds me of cioppino...and I love cioppino! Portion size was good and the dish had good seafood to pasta ratio. The swordfish was a delightful surprise! We've had swordfish before and found it dry. So glad we tried this dish because the fish was so tender and juicy! The texture and buttery taste of the fish reminds me of Chilean sea bass....and we love Chilean sea bass! So glad we tried this dish! If ever you're debating between a dish on the menu and one of their specials....go with the special. You can always order the one from the menu on another visit! :) We also ordered lasagne....it seems it's a must at every visit. :) For dessert, we had Tartufo Classico and gelato. What a great way to end 2021 and welcome 2022! Cheers! read more

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Went right before lunch hour ended, had the garlic crostini complimentary while we decided on our courses. Started with the caprese salad, nice and fresh! Mom had the stuffed spinach green crepes and I had the fettuccine Al panna with added prawn. Got a tiramisu to go! Overall good and good service. Not to forget about the cosmopolitan drink! Should've gotten wine with the pasta though, more fitting. read more

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The food was outstanding as always, the waiter was very polite, friendly and provided exemplary service, and the ambience was perfect--peaceful, cozy, with the ability to carry on a conversation. I love this place. My favorite meal is the salmon piccata. read more

We have been to Paradiso three times. Their first time was good, probably 3 or 4 years ago. But the subsequent trips were not ... The last trip was particularly poor with a server who could not care less and poor food. The pasta was both overcooked and not warm enough. That's an achievement! Having a great location apparently is enough as the food and experience is disappointing. Also, very pricey for the quality read more