Paciarino

Just okay. Maybe we had high expectations, but the spinach ravioli and duck ragu were good, but nothing special. The atmosphere is fine but a little barren feeling. Overall, I’d skip this Italian for the price.

Simple, classic Italian fare in a family style setting. Feels like you’re in your kitchen, down to the mismatched plates. But, the food was good. Simple olive oil pepperoncini over spaghetti, but the flavor was fantastic and we licked out plates clean. The waiter was distinctly unattentative, forgot our wine for 15 mins and forgot the Parmesan. I don’t know which was more of an affront! But worth a visit to sample something comforting and tasty. I’ll be back.

WARNING — HOST IS CLUELESS Had put my name down at 6pm and was told a table would be ready by 715pm. We checked back in at 620pm and all was ok and at 645pm when we checked in we were told they could not accommodate their commitment !!
Was really frustrating since we were waiting with our family !! Food looked really good if they can seat you as promised !

Fabulous place. great food. Friendly service. Highly recommend! Worth a trip back to Portland just to dine here

Absolutely the best Italian food I’ve ever had! I ordered the Ravioli Milano and it was perfectly cooked. The sauce was delicious, and the bread with olive oil that they bring at the beginning of the meal was heaven on a plate. I highly recommend taking the time to sip an espresso and to savor one of their desserts! I ordered the amaretto cookies with marscapone and the flavor will haunt my dreams.
I’m already looking forward to my next visit!

We drove from Montréal for a short stay in the Portland area, as we do once a year. This time, with our two young children in tow. Last time we dined at Paciarino, I specifically requested the table at the front (kitchen table) and when we arrived promptly for our reservation, they had given it away before we got there. We were thoroughly disappointed.
This time, I reserved that same table and even called in an hour before our reservation to re-​confirm that our choice of table was noted. Lo and behold, we arrived to find the table given away once again.
Despite the tasty pasta that arrived nice and hot, our pre-Mother’s Day dinner was ruined by the inability of the restaurant to honor my table request. At no time was I told the request was not guaranteed, otherwise we could have kept our expectations in check.
I don’t think we will be returning to Paciarino again, given the vast choice of dining options in the city.

The chef is from Milan and it shows in the authenticity of the food
Absolutely delicious and if you close your eyes you will be transported to Italy
Great staff and they do not skimp on the wine pours… loved it

This restaurant was a favorite when my wife and I lived in Portland. I was delighted to find that the ambience, the quality of the service, and the luscious food were all fully up to expectation when I brought two friends and fellow convention-​goers there last weekend.
We had fresh bread, drizzled with olive oil — and refilled when depleted; an order of the salami appetizer, and then pasta dishes; my own choice was the lobster ragu. I know one of my companions had ravioli, and the other something Bolognese; I didn’t pay too much attention, being preoccupied with my own dish.
They were impressed also, and I’d say are likely to be back. I’m certain to return myself, hopefully in the near future, with my wife!

We were intrigued to try somewhere for Italian food and loved the thought of fresh made pasta and sauce. This place did not disappoint in the least! The Italian salad was very light and fresh with wonderful flavor. I had the Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino which had amazing flavor and a nice spice to it. Very attentive service and great atmosphere. I highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for something fresh and flavorful. Another added bonus is their diverse wine list and reasonable portions.

Came here with my mom for dinner on a Friday night. Made a reservation and I’m glad we did because the place filled up slowly. Loved their concept of fresh pasta and sauces, and the restaurant felt really cozy. Our waitress was friendly, and from observation, all the wait staff were really nice too.
The specials for the day were a Porcini mushroom ravioli and a spaghetti pesto. My mom got the ravioli and I got the Maccheroni Paesani. I loved my Maccheroni and gobbled up my whole plate — I definitely could taste the freshness of it and I liked that it was al dente. I hardly ever eat a whole plate of pasta so this is saying something!
P. s. the bread they give to start is yummy too

My wife and I made reservations at this spot after seeing previous reviews and its ability to take reservations through Unilocal. (We made it for 6pm, which is when they open on Saturdays.) I was glad we made the reservation, because the restaurant was full 10 minutes after arrival… a good sign. The staff was courteous and attentive, seating us quickly.
Water and bread were immediately delivered to the table. Though we didn’t order alcohol, we noticed an extensive, but not overwhelming, wine list. We stuck with water, and then ordered three amazing dishes: a Caprese for starters (which we split,) Maccheroni Paesani, and a mushroom-​stuffed ravioli with a walnut sauce (it was on special, so I don’t have the official name.)
The Caprese was delicious and a nice portion… devoured in seconds. The meals arrived, and we traded bites on both entrees, deciding the ravioli was our favorite. The maccheroni was also excellent, just a bit heavier. (We boxed it, and finished it later that evening.) We didn’t have room for dessert, but I ordered a cappuccino, which was made to perfection. Total bill was $ 58 before tip, which we thought was appropriate.
Bonus points: As busy as it was, the staff continued their constant attention, and they never appeared overwhelmed. Our waters were regularly topped off, and they returned to check on us often. Fantastic food, lovely atmosphere, paired with a professional and enthusiastic staff… this was a great find for a couple out-​of-​towners.

We found the food to be bland and pricey. Had the bolognese pasta and was not impressed. The salami starter was good but the tomato and cheese plate was just so so. Starters were really expensive for what you get. Overall would not return. Three diners all felt the same way about the food.

Great service, fun/​laid back atmosphere, and tasty food! We came in on a Friday night without a reservation. They sat us almost immediately. Our waitress was sweet and very helpful.
You get bread throughout the whole meal. We ordered the caprese salad which was pretty large and gave both my husband and I enough for an app. Then I ordered the pesto special and my husband got the Maccaroni dish. Both were delicious. We got coffee and tiramisu for dessert and it was good.
I recommend this place to anyone in the area.

The goat cheese ravioli is amazing!!! I got it with a brown butter sage sauce instead of the bolognese and it was dreamy! Can’t wait to get it again!

My fiancée and I are avid pasta (and everything Italian cuisine) lovers. She is from an Italian family and I’m always skeptical threating her to Italian fare because no one compares to her grams or mom’s sauce. Have to say we especially her were impressed. It was the perfect Valentine’s Day dinner. From the quick service (30 minutes tops from sitting to empty plates), to the courteous staff and especially the amazing food we would rate this as a 10! If you are in the mood for fresh pasta. Give Paciarino a shot!!!

Super casual and fresh like eating at grandmas house (if I were Italian). Seriously, this is a pasta place with a small but high quality menu and everything is homemade to ensure you don’t ever forget what it is supposed to taste like.
There is a tradition here greatly different than most American versions of common meals. Lasagna for instance is nothing like what you’re used to and once you’ve gone here for a nibble there is no going back!

I do not recommend this restaurant.
DECOR:
Its absolutely lousy. The restaurant isn’t very big. Their kitchen is open and you can actually see how cramped and dirty it is. We were made to sit between their store room and kitchen. Some big boxes were piled up next to our table (see photo). I do not know what they were. But the place was not clean at all.
FOOD:
I wanted to eat their Lobster special linguini (got carried away but the photos on Unilocal). However, they did not have this dish. They have a very small menu, no chicken or vegan dishes. I had no idea what to order and the waiter didn’t have any recommendation. My friends mother in law ordered the shrimp and haddock linguini. The waiter did caution her that the dish could be very fishy/​meaty. But she is a hardcore fish eager from
Philippines so she was quite okay with it. I ordered the goat cheese ravioli and shared it with my friend. This dish has 15 pieces and isn’t very filling at all. The shrimp and haddock linguini was average. We were also served complimentary bread. However, none of us are that after seeing the waiter cut those breads with bare hands (no gloves used). So dirty and unhygienic!
SERVICE:
The only reason we went here is because this restaurant was located just opposite of the hotel I was staying in (Hyatt Old Portland) and secondly all other restaurants had 2 – 3 hours waiting. At first, the waitress told me that the wait is only 20 minutes. However, after 20 minutes she started making other people sit who came after us. We found it very racially discriminatory. Each time we sled, the lady asked us to wait for 20 more minutes. We waited for nearly 90 minutes and then asked her why she made them sit to which she said that she was waiting for table for 3 to get empty and she couldn’t make us sit on a table for 4. We did see he giving table for 4 to a couple. Even after the take for 3 was empty, the waiter was not calling us. My friend’s mother in law walked up to the table and sat there even before the waitress assigned us the table. I think that was a very bold decision on my friend’s mother in laws part. I liked it! The waiter was not coming to take our order. We had to wait for 20 mins, waive our hand at the waiter to finally catch his attention. The waiter knew nothing. He did not make any recommendations and wasn’t very familiar with the Menu. Our food came within 20 mins after placing the order. You will see the waiter cooking in the kitchen as well as serving the food.
PRICE:
This restaurant is definitely not $$. It us $$$. The price is totally not worth the food served here. The food tastes awful. I wouldn’t recommend this place for a several reasons:
1) Unclean kitchen
2) Ignorant waiters/​serves
3) Bad tasting food
4) Wait time

We decided to go for italian since we were with a few kids. The food is very good and the service is attentive. The prices are a little on the high side, but ok. This is a small place (~40 seats) with simple furnishing. We had a range of appetizers and pastas which were all tasty. The surprise was the Spaghetti Aglio Olio e Peperoncino — although we had them hold the peperonicino since it was for a little girl who doesn’t like things too spicy. See the picture I post. It looks so simple and plain, yet it was full of great garlic and oil flavor.

Paciarino is a small, simple Italian restaurant. The pasta and sauces are all scratch made, and sold separately for customers to try them at home. The lunch menu is fairly simplistic. My parents had the small green salad. It was amply filled with wild greens and oil and wine vinegar. A generous portion.
The bolognese sauce was decent. It had flavor highlights of the ground fresh veal used in its making. True to its origin, the sauce is heavily meat based, with the tomato being a secondary component. It paired nicely with the goat cheese ravioli, which was perfectly cooked el dente and again, amply portioned for a lunch item. The house chianti was flavorful and complimented the menu nicely.
The theme here is pasta and sauce, which I feel the restaurant does fine. I’d personally like to see a bit more expansive and creative menu… but, that said, they do a good job with their niche… which is pasta and sauce.
The lunch items are roughly $ 10…a good value for the scratch cooking that goes into making the dishes. Three lunches, two salads, and a half carafe of chianti was $ 55 with tip… which is a decent lunch for three.
All said… I’d recommend… 4 stars

This place is delightful. It is a simple, friendly restaurant with a well-​curated beer and wine selection and menu. The staff here was kind, patient, and helpful.
We started enjoying the fresh bread, and appetizers of salami and buffalo mozzarella as recommended by our waitress. We weren’t pushed to order or move too quickly while we waited for a couple of late arrivals to our group of 10. When our main courses arrived, we were delighted and fairly quiet — always a good sign. The homemade pasta is delicious, perfectly cooked and sauced. There was not a clean plate in the group.
I’m excited to head back to Paciarino again when I am back in Portland.