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| - I must admit, in a world full of franchises and chains I have a soft spot for family businesses. They are pillars and true staples in the neighborhood that are able to survive and flourish despite existing in a world engulfed by commercialism. This being said, there needs to be substance in order for this to be a reality and Il Paesano hits the spot.
I have ordered delivery from Il Paesano on multiple ocassions and on a slow Sunday night felt like Italian so decided to give the restaurant a shot.
The outside of the restaurant is not impressive. Nestled outside a small strip mall on Browns line with your typical lineup of convenience store, laundromat and hair salon. 1970-80 urban planning at its finest! I must admit, if I had not seen their website I probably would not have guessed that they have tables inside.
Upon entry was pleasantly surprised by how cozy it felt. Yes it is small but has a charm that is scarce nowadays. A place that feels warm, a place where you can actually have a conversation. This was my first impression, my second impression was that the restaurant has a damp smell, similar to what you'd expect from a basement of a house built in the 70's. You can't win it all, but the environment is not where Il Paesano excels.
From start to finish was waited on by an attentive waiter who was cognizant of what was going on, friendly, yet not in a desperate sort of way. Very rarely do I notice good service as it is something that I expect, but let's just say it was good enough for me to put it in this review.
The food is nothing groundbreaking but what they have done is taken classic italian rustic dishes and made them well. I ordered a pizza and cheese ravioli with meat sauce and was impressed by the acidity of the sauce, just hits the corners at the back of the tongue and the consistency and freshness of the toppings was good. Not to say that the pizza is authentic Italian but if you are a fan of Pizza Pizza and some of the other chains, you might not enjoy the pizza as they do not cook the peperoni to a crisp. I rather like this as it keeps the saltiness at bay and gives the pizza a fresher taste.
In summary, Il Paesano has been in business since 1959 and I understand why. They have stuck to what they do well by providing classic Italian food in a convenient package away from the inconveniences that you would expect from Italian restaurants in the city. They provide good service and good food at very reasonable prices to solidify their place in the neighbourhood. True comfort without the gimmicks.
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