Review of Il Paradiso This little gem of a restaurant is hidden away on Walmgate in York. I’d booked for date night on the recommendation of colleagues at work. First impressions weren’t great – when you walk in it’s tiny and packed, and I had to ask them to hold our table whilst I went to find a cashpoint. The sign on the door announced they don’t take cards. A warning when I booked would have been useful as I had to go out of my way to find a cashpoint. When we returned the table we’d been allocated was full, and we were asked to go outside, down the side of the restaurant and wait in back at the takeaway till another one was available. When we were seated (which was only a few minutes – long enough to get a drink and make our selections from the menu) I was surprised to find plastic seats. Let’s put all that aside, because by the end of the night none of it mattered. The staff, and I’ve never seen such a high staff to customer ratio, were all friendly and welcoming. Service was incredibly quick, without feeling rushed. We chose a mixed meat and cheese platter to start which came with olives and pickles. The meats were plentiful and the cheese was rich and creamy. This was accompanied by a complimentary basket of bread served with an olive oil\balsamic vinegar accompaniment. There was a constant flow of new diners arriving, all pre-booked and testament to the reputation this little eatery has. The décor is more reminiscent of a takeaway pizza shop, with one wall dominated by a large TV showing Italian sky sports, and is far from the romantic ambience I had been hoping for. That said it was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The specials board was a little overwhelming in terms of choice. There was everything from lobster, langoustine, mussels and king prawns to steak on there; although we were happy to stick with our original selections. The starter had barely been cleared from the table when the main course arrived. I’d gone for the mushroom risotto and my partner had chosen the carbonara. Both dishes were delicious. The carbonara had a thick and creamy sauce, and the risotto just melted in your mouth. The speed at which the main course had been delivered left my stomach believing it could handle a whole dessert on it’s own, rather than sharing one as had been my original intention. Our friendly waitress recommended the homemade Tiramisu (which she said she’d made) and my partner opted for the lemon cheesecake. Both desserts were light and tasty. The tiramisu was topped with small niblets of dark chocolate, although it really didn’t need them. It would have been just as scrumptious without. The lemon cheesecake was refreshing without being tart, and had a thin sponge base rather than biscuit. Two drinks each, a shared starter, two mains, two desserts and two coffees came in at under £60.00 and was well worth it. The staff are all friendly and efficient, without getting in the way and I’m pretty sure they’re all Italian as well. It’s crowded and warm in there so dress accordingly, you won’t need your sweater that’s for sure. Whilst the service was quick, it never felt rushed. Remember to take cash instead of your card and you’re in for a culinary treat. This is definitely somewhere I’ll be returning.

Fabulous little gem . Very lucky to get a table without booking , but they managed to squeeze us in. This has to be one of the best Italian restaurants we have been to. Food was excellent , price competitive, staff lovely and great atmosphere. Definitely worth a visit .