Paola's

4.5 ( 387 reviews )
Checking... 5:00 AM - 10:00 PM See Hours
$50–100
1361 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10128, United States
+1 212-794-1890

Welcome to Paola's, an exceptional Italian restaurant nestled in the heart of New York's Upper East Side. Patrons rave about its exquisite atmosphere and authentic Italian cuisine, making it a must-visit for lovers of traditional fare. As noted by diners like Luca De Lisio and David Cunningham, the ambiance is inviting, complemented by a fine selection of wines that enhance the meal experience.

Signature dishes like the rigatoni with porcini and sausage have garnered significant praise, with customers declaring it among the best meals they've had. Families and couples alike enjoy the cozy setting, often noting the restaurant's ability to cater to individual requests, as highlighted by Mona Al-Kazemi's delightful cheese plate experience. The owner-chef's friendly demeanor adds a personal touch that makes every visit memorable.

Don't miss the fettuccine bolognese or the house-made desserts like tiramisu. Even if a dish is missing from the menu, the team at Paola's is accommodating, ensuring a delightful dining experience. With its perfect blend of great food and stellar service, Paola's stands out as a charming gem near Central Park that captures the essence of Italy.

Amenities and More

  • Accessibility
    • Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
    • Has wheelchair-accessible seating
    • Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
  • From the business
    • Identifies as women-owned
  • Service options
    • Has outdoor seating
    • Offers kerbside pickup
    • Offers delivery
    • On-site services available
    • Offers takeaway
    • Serves dine-in
  • Highlights
    • Has fast service
    • Serves great cocktails
    • Serves great coffee
    • Serves great dessert
    • Has great wine list
  • Popular for
    • Popular for lunch
    • Popular for dinner
    • Good for solo dining
  • Offerings
    • Serves alcohol
    • Serves beer
    • Serves cocktails
    • Serves coffee
    • Serves food
    • Serves organic dishes
    • Serves spirits
    • Serves vegetarian dishes
    • Serves wine
  • Dining options
    • Serves dinner
    • Serves dessert
    • Has seating
  • Amenities
    • Has toilet
  • Atmosphere
    • Cosy
    • Romantic
    • Trendy
    • Upmarket
  • Crowd
    • Good for groups
    • Popular with tourists
  • Planning
    • Reservations required
    • Dinner reservations recommended
    • Accepts reservations
  • Payments
    • Accepts credit cards
    • Accepts debit cards
    • Credit cards
  • Children
    • High chairs available
  • Parking
    • Paid street parking

Reviews For Paola's

Luca De Lisio
Jul 9,2025
I was shockingly surprised to find such a proper Italian restaurant next to Central Park. The atmosphere was very nice, the food was on point and the wine too. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to enjoy the traditional Italian cuisine. Bravi!
David Cunningham
Jul 7,2025
Incredible food, service, and atmosphere. One of the best meals I’ve had in a while. Try... everything! The rigatoni with porcini and sausage was delicious.
Madelin Fenianos
Jul 6,2025
We frequently come here as a family with a toddler and on date nights and we always have an amazing experience. The food is great, the place is warm and cozy with lovely music. We had the pleasure of meeting the chef who owns the restaurant and he was very friendly. Highly recommend the fettuccine bolognese, the pesto pasta dish is not on the menu anymore but it’s my favorite (chef still offered it). The tiramisu and biscotti are great to top off a delicious meal. It’s a gem on the upper east side.
Mona Al-Kazemi
Jun 28,2025
I really like it, when a restaurant accommodates my requests and goes beyond the printed menu. I believe this is one of the factors that make the restaurant stand out from others. At Paola's, I asked for a cheese plate. It's what I wanted for my lunch with desserts and coffee. Although the cheese plate is not on the menu, the server was open and gracious, and the kitchen was able to present a pretty dish, with honey that had truffles in it. I totally enjoyed my food, the lively background music, and the efficiency of the servers. Highly Recommended!
javier_jerez
May 25,2025
Had not been there in a decade at least. Went there for a late dinner and we ordered the swordfish. It was overdone for us but probably right for American tastes. Sent it back with no problems. Came back excellent. Worth every cent: great food, great staff, great service.
Benjamin Sommer
Apr 27,2025
Paola’s is a fabulous upscale restaurant that recently relocated from Madison Avenue to Lexington Avenue. Let me break down our most recent meal. We started off with the warm mozzarella which is hands down the best in the city. The portion is a bit small but the taste makes up for it. We also started with the Arugula Salad which is always very good. For main courses we ordered the salmon, branzino, the veal and the pesto which we got to share. Both fish dishes were a relatively big portion and were very tasty. The veal was small but tasted really great and so did the potatoes that came along with it. Finally, the pesto was a pretty small portion, but very good. For dessert, the cappuccino was just the right size however it could have been a little warmer. We also got the tiramisu which was so so good. Finally the biscottis were just the right thing to top off the fabulous meal. Overall a great experience. 5 stars.
shai shani
Apr 17,2025
Authentic Italian food with original flavors. The pasta was made as it should be and blend's perfectly into the excellent sauces. Highly recommended
Katie Cunningham
Apr 2,2025
A fantastic meal in a beautiful restaurant. We came for an early dinner and were blown away by how wonderful each dish was. We had the duck ragu and the rigatoni with sausage and porcini. Fantastic. 100/10!

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