Paradiso Italian Restaurant

Paradiso recently catered a reception for our family following a memorial service. Luis came to our church several days before the reception to confirm how the room should be set up for good flow of serving lines, etc.. They came early on the morning of the reception to set up serving tables, etc and then returned later with the hot food. The customer/​guest service was absolutely marvelous and the quality of the food was outstanding. Paradiso staff did a wonderful job clearing plates as guests finished eating and totally cleaned up after the reception. I have no hesitation giving Paradiso 5 stars.

My family had a very good food excellent dinner on last Monday, their perfect kids room and attention on the part of Mr Raul will definitely recommend it.

The WORST place to bring a big party. We met with managers, planned weeks in advance, met again the day before, and they still messed everything up. When we were schedule to arrive they had no areas to fit our group of 30+. Instead of having a good time, we had to stand and wait for over 30 minutes before even being seated. It was a terrible experience and they have very poor customer service. I would not recommend. If you want an Italian buffet go to Joe’s in Arlington.

I love this place. Had the Schiacciata Salamino or better known as a 2 crusted pizza or calzone. I had mine with meatballs as a filling. This round two crusted calzone, I guess you could call it any of the above was absolutely delightful ! The crust was light and airy, the meatballs were tasty and it had the right amount or red sauce.

If you are looking for a venue to book a luncheon for a group with use of a private dining room — then don’t go to Paradiso. They overbook groups and when you show up they profess they know nothing about your prior reservation and squeeze you into the common dining area. They book so many groups for the same time that their parking lot fills up near opening time.
In September 2015 we booked this venue for a luncheon of 35 people — well in advance. We double checked the booking in advance. When we showed up, the room had been given to another group. We were seated in a common area and could hardly hear our guest speaker. So many groups were in attendance that the kitchen ran out of many food items.
Management apologized and said this would not happen again. So we booked a luncheon meeting in September for 40 people in December. Double checked in advance that we would have the private dining area. At opening time another group told management they had booked the private dining room. That group held a heated discussion in the lobby with management. The restaurant staff gave the group the private dining room. We fit 41 people into an open dining area next to another group of 30 or so. Hardly any room between chairs. Long waiting lines at the buffets. Management said to our meeting planner they had no idea how this happened. Management gave our meeting planner 1 nonalcoholic drink as an apology. We informed Paradiso that were would not be coming back.

Got the pleasure of stopping by this place this past week for a neXco happy hour event. Wow, such a great gem hidden in plain sight.
The parking lot is huge, which doesn’t happen often in Alexandria, so I definitely appreciated how easy it was to get to from the interstate. In addition to great location, the restaurant is very charming and warm in ambiance when you walk in… think family run Italian, not overly stuffy, but instead, classic and comforting with that lovely Italian panache.
There is a cool stage for live entertainment and a font parlor area that is filled with rustic booths that made me feel nostalgic. It also looks like they have a heck of a lunch deal with 2 food bars located in the parlor area. The outdoor patio was closed, but I’m sure in the warmer months it’s very nice and intimate.
The full bar is well run, and kept drinks coming despite every seat being filled and even more folks standing around in the open spacious area of the restaurant. Drinks are poured well and generously, which is always good. Prices aren’t bad either!
We ordered margherita and pepperoni pizzas. The margherita was phenomenal, really fresh and the crust and sauce were really well balanced for the basil and mozzarella. The pepperoni, was typical of a pepperoni pizza, very tasty but very greasy and salty. The sweeter sauce and the dough did help balance that though!
The service was great, waiters checked on the party often, and the bar tender, Christian was attentive and quick, The manager, Fernando runs a tight ship, and made us feel right at home. Can’t wait to come back and try out more of what this place has to offer!

It is a little busy and the service is great and the people are very friendly. If you haven’t been here before you should check it out.

Hidden gem, wish we went here years ago. The pasta is made fresh on site and is delicious. Best part, they have a kids section where you can drop off your children and eat in peace. The kids section has its own servers and lids can eat, watch a movie, and get a dessert.

Not many buffets in the area. No worries, this one does the job! Food is good and so is the price.

Went for brunch on Sunday and I have to say I was impressed with the spread! There’s a huge table full of fresh fruit, bacon, eggs, potatoes, biscuits/​gravy and other breakfast favorites. They also have omelets and waffles made to order. If you want lunch food instead (or for round 2), they have pasta made to order, a beef carving station with mashed potatoes, other hot entrees and a salad bar. And if you’re not thoroughly stuffed — there’s a huge dessert area. I thought the food was overall pretty good. This place needs some serious updating though. Also, brunch is pretty expensive at $ 30 each so bring your appetite.

THE PIZZA NAZI. (No Pizza for you)
The food is really really good. The atmosphere is pleasant too. I LOVE the kids section they have. I have been here several times and my family and I always have enjoyed ourselves. I give them one star for this stupid rule they have regarding their pizza. They refuse to allow you to order a large pizza if you eat in the restaurant. After I have a few slices and my kids steal a few of them as well… I have always walked away hungry because you can only order a medium pizza inside the restaurant. You can only order a large pizza to go. Why? What a stupid rule. I enjoy the pizza and order a large because I want to take a few slices home. A BIG FAT NO!!! So a big fat one star for you until you change your stupid rule. What’s the big deal. Let customers choose what they want and quit being a PIzza Nazi.

Our servers name was Noah. He gave us the grand tour and even told us about their in house events such as painting classes etc.
our favorite part was the food of course, however if you ask our 4 children. They loved the children’s dining room! Movies, kids, ice cream! What a fantastic ideas for parents who want to sit at their own table:) Thank you Noah and team for such an amazing night!

We went here for brunch last weekend with some friends. It was about $ 25 per person if I remember correctly. The brunch comes with coffee, juice, and mimosas included in the price. The food was excellent and the buffet was extensive. Waffles, omelettes both cooked to order. Seafood, like oysters and smoked salmon. A pasta bar, salad bar, scrambled eggs, bacon, eggs Benedict, tons of fruit, Danish, muffins, etc etc. Several different kinds of pizza. Beautiful dessert selection. The staff was very attentive and friendly. My kids didn’t sit in the separate kids room, but there was a room just for kids to watch tv and lots of little tables in there. Despicable Me was on and then Finding Nemo was on after. The food was delish. They only charged us for the adult meals, although our kids (5 and 3) did eat. The atmosphere was casual and relaxed.
I’m sure we will go here again.

I am all about ruining my appetite before dinner. This place has the best Tiramisu in the area. The lunch buffet is decent due to the fact they have a large selection of food and a pasta station which is prepared to your specification. All in all 3 stars. The Tiramisu by itself gets 6 stars. What? You were expecting some sort of humor. What, I can’t write a review without some sort of funny or cool comment? What are you talking about? I felt that it was about time that I… What do you mean? Oh, here we go again. Why does it always have to be about you? Look, this isn’t working. Fine! FINE! I AM GOING OUT AND DON’T CALL ME! YOU NEVER LOVED ME OR UNDERSTOOD ME! PARADISO UNDERSTANDS ME! I HATE YOU!!! But do try the Tiramisu.

Came by here for lunch
ordered a seafood pasta with the white wine.
was really great! and lots of portions too! that fills you right up.
atmosphere is nice and along with their brick fire baked pizza !

another Reviewer wrote: «Basically this is a 2 star restaurant with a great breakfast brunch» — So what more can I say,
Except the Lasagne that I ordered was cold in the middle (enough? already?)
Hold on ! there is a big sign predominantly displayed «WOOD BURNING PIZZA OVEN» this pizza oven is NOT ! it is a GAS fired pizza oven have a look for yourself.
Thank but NO thanks.

I stumbled onto this place because I was looking for family-​friendly restaurants in the area and when I discovered they had this kids room where sitters watch your kids for free while you dine, I was SO EXCITED to come here with my 1 and 3 year old. I couldn’t find a ton of information about it so allow me to give you the skinny: the room has an open door so the kids may roam but the sitters are pretty good about keep the kids coralled inside. There are a bunch of Little Tikes picnic tables for the kids to sit at with a big screen tv and a whole library of movies to watch. They also have crayons and paper. It states on the door that the room was only for 3 and up, but when we ate during brunch it was empty and they had no problem with my 18 month old sitting in there and eating too. And the girls who work that room are WONDERFUL and so great with the kids and really want to make sure the adults get their alone time. They get a full star for this kids room, no joke.
So we first went there during dinner service and it was empty and we sat for a long time without a server. Throughout the course of our meal, we had about 3 different people waiting on us. I inquired about what the schiacciata was and the server did not know. She also did not speak much english. She came back and said it was like 2 pizzas on top of each other. O. K…
They don’t have espresso. They don’t have a bartender who is really willing to mix much of anything. Stick to wine here. We ordered the tiramisu for dessert: frozen.
We returned for the brunch the following day, which was MUCH better than dinner. Service was a little more on point but still took awhile with our bottomless mimosas. Brunch is $ 26/​person which is a little steep however the brunch food was much better than the pizza we ordered the night before. They get another extra star for the brunch.
Basically this is a 2 star restaurant with a great brunch and an awesome kids room. We just got the impression that service was consistently spotty and we decided it was a pizza kind-​of-​place, which is okay with me if it means eating kid-​free for a night. That’s their niche. On one online menu they show a bunch of different schiacciatas but they only have one: margherita. Yawn. My bf didn’t care for his pizza and we soon realized it was from the pepperonis. The pepperoni they use at this place is subgrade, low-​quality pepperoni with a very nasty taste. Not sure how else to put it. But hey, I am willing to take shitty service and eat cheese pizza for a night if it means enjoying a meal out without kids!

Came here a second time and the service was much better (even with the same server). Appetizers and entrees were timed correctly and our drinks were actually refilled this time.
I had the margarita pizza, which was excellent.

It’s really sad that this place isn’t more crowded, because the FOOD is GREAT. The building looks a little sketchy from the outside, and a not-​so-​full restaurant can be a little odd, but THE FOOD IS SO GOOD.
My husband and I have had many things on the menu, each better than the last. The specials are creative and intriguing and I’ve always enjoyed those as well. I am going to start bringing friends here in hopes that this place will get busier. I am hoping that it’s only not busy at the weird times I tend to eat dinner, because I don’t want it going anywhere!

About a 2 – 2.5: This review is for their take-​out only: I called ahead and ordered Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo and a Chicken Parmigiana for a pick-​up. Ordering was a breeze, and the food was supposed to be ready in about 15 – 20 minutes. You pick it from the bar side of the restaurant, so keep that in mind. There were many people in there, enjoying some drinks as well as watching some sports on the TV. The place did smell like cigs, so I’m thinking that the patio-​seating really wafts the odors in! Ernesto was the employee who took the order and retrieved the food — he was very professional and very nice! The entrees themselves still were warm, but I wasn’t a fan of the Alfredo as the pasta was just off — it had an extremely grainy texture to them, and it wasn’t as flavorful as the last time we had it! The Chicken Parmigiana was the better of the two, and the spaghetti noodles were cooked a little over al dente. I think I might either stick to dining in or might go to Fratelli’s down the road for my preferred choice for pasta!
+Fettuccini pasta can be inconsistent
+dine-​in might be a better option than a carry-​out