Paulo's Italian Trattoria

Reviews

• ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
  My husband and I went to Paulo's for the first time to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary and were very disappointed. This happened a couple of years ago but I just found out someone else we know ran into the exact same situation so I decided to finally leave a review. At the time I was craving gnocchi so we decided on Italian. Our server came to our table promptly and we both already knew what we wanted so we placed our orders but the server basically told me "You don't want the gnocchi - you need to try the special." I told him I really wanted gnocchi but he said he was bringing the special anyway. I am not the confrontational type and I was half wondering whether there was an issue with the gnocchi that he didn't want to disclose and half afraid he might do something to my food if I didn't abide by his decision. I didn't want to ruin our celebration otherwise I would have got up and left. To add insult to injury, I asked for a specific wine - it happened to be the wine we served at our wedding - and he once again told me he would bring something else instead. As some who worked at one of the top 10 restaurants in Toronto, I found the service was abysmal. It is one thing to make a suggestion but to insist on items when the client clearly wants something else and then disregard their order and do whatever you feel like is just the way to lose customers. Toronto used to have (maybe it is still there) a restaurant where the chef would talk to you a little, find out your likes and dislikes and come up with a surprise dish he feels you would like but that was their "shtick" and you were prepared to get some random dish. I haven't been told what I am eating since I was old enough to cook my own food - telling me what I am eating was reserved for my mom and even she doesn't do that anymore. The food was ok but we never went back and probably never will. The other couple we know had the same issue and same reaction - they went with it because they were too polite to argue and worried about what might happen to the food between the pass and the table. On a somewhat positive note, we used to love Dinkel's. Granted we haven't gone back since this happened - I honestly worry I will have bad luck and get the same awful waiter - but the few times we went to Dinkel's we enjoyed it all... great atmosphere, service and food.
  By Patricia Ferraro, May 24, 2017
• ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆
  Made reservations on Friday morning to dine there Saturday night. The girl on the phone was very nice and accommodating as I asked about dining on the patio. She said it wouldn't seat a table of 4 but could put us in the courtyard that was between them and Dinkels. I mentioned how I'd never been there and she said oh good then you have the option of ordering off either menu when seated there and she would let Dinkels know also. I was very much looking forward to this experience with our visiting friends. When we arrived on time we were greeted at the door by an older man who appeared to be the owner. I told him what I had booked and he said very rudely No no....i can't guarantee you there is a table in that area but you can dine here by the window. I asked if he would please check as I had made reservations. He came back very rudely and still said no and wasn't even the slightest apologetic! So I said we are not staying then and that there were other places to eat in Belleville. I told him we were leaving due to his attitude towards us from the moment we arrived, and he replied "Fine then". WOW...if he is the owner or manager (which I'm sure he was with his Italian accent), then he should really stay away and let the staff look after everyone and just collect his money! We went to Birdies on hwy 2 instead and had a wonderful meal and experience! Terra Empey
  By terra empey, May 13, 2017

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About Paulo's Italian Trattoria in Belleville