Paradiso, San Leandro

I am a San Leandro resisdent for over 35 years, and always want to support our local businesses and resturants in the city where I live. After going reguarly to Paradiso for the last 5 years, (minimum once a month) I finally have to write and share my overall impression and experience. First of all, the food has always been very good. Most of the waiters there are also very friendly, especially Francisco, who greets us cheerfully everytime, and knows our food preferences, likes and dislikes, and talk to us like old friends during each of our visit. However, it is the manager and hostess who need to improve their service and attitude. The reception people never recognize us or greet us warmly even they know we are returned customers after all these years.They never remember what we prefer, like our favorite table by the window. Today, even at 5:15 when there were eight tables empty in the front dining room, the manager tried to seat us at a table in the back dining room area where they are all lined up a row, close to each other where you can hear your neighbors' conversation. I asked to sit in the front, our favorite area, where the tables are less crowded, and more spaced apart. He said there were reservations requesting tables by the winwdows side. That's it. I don't think I want to patronize this place anymore. We left without ordering dinner. A resturant is not just about food. It is the whole atmosphere of hospitality, and respect. The management's haughty attitude finally confirmed my suspicion that they don't welcome minotiry customers equally as they do others. I will rather go to resturants where they want our business, remember our names, and welcome us cheerfully as old friends.

Hands down, the best restaurant in San Leandro. The wait staff and decor are top notch and the food is always excellent. This a great place to enjoy an excellent meal or sample any of the superb wines from their extensive list. I'm an SL native and this has been a jewel in our city since it opened.

I haven't been there for awhile because they took the lamb shank out of the menu. Last night I ate there because of my friend's request for her birthday dinner. The atmosphere & service were good as before (5-star). My order, penne pasta with Italian sausage, was way too salty (1-star). I hope they bring back the lamb shank then I will give them the 5-star again.

I went to paradiso last night with my boyfriend and i was very surprised at how wonderful the atmosphere was. it was nicely decorated for xmas and the staff was very friendly. we running late on our resv. but there were very nice about it. we ordered the filet mignottes to start with and the sauce was really great. i dont think this meat was anything close to filet mignon but it was still good. my bf loved his chicken rigatoni pasta and i ordered the tortellini which was i think too rich for my taste but still good. however the overall experience was great and will definitely go back although not too often since it is a bit pricey for the area it is in and for the food.

a must visit restaurant. great atmosphere, great wine bar, great variance in the menu from day to day, great staff, just a diamond in the rough. i'd recommend this modern wine bar to anyone who wants to get the best napa has to offer without leaving the east bay.

San Leandro's well-kept secret... This restaurant exceeded my expectations. The food was creative, well-prepared, reasonably priced and delicious! The staff was pleasant and accomodating. And, finally, the service was excellent. I often recommend to people who are looking for a wonderful dining experience.

Great waitstaff (one snippy waitress, but not at our table). I had the rib eye steak. One of the top 10 best I've ever had. It was cooked perfectly. Nice salad and starters before the meal. Decent beer and wine list. Great vibe to the place.

We live down the street from this great restaurant and we love being able to walk over for a great meal. The owner & staff have always been great to us and the food is always delicious. The only problem we have had is not getting a reservation some nights when we really wanted to eat there.

Paradiso has become my restaurant of choice...a regular haunt on Friday nights. The wait staff is extremely friendly and skilled, the wine list is very good and fairly priced, and the ambience is hip without being cold. Sit at the counter and watch the cooks...the pizza oven will keep you warm. Love the ceasar salad, the ahi is seared just right with an excellent wasabi sauce, and their ice cream sundae is awesome. If you want to go a bit lighter, the pepperoni and mushroom pizza is killer. The only downside? parking can be a bit challenging at times...

We live in the neighborhood and have given Paradiso three tries, once for lunch and twice for dinner, over the past five years. While the menu is more varied than it once was (wider range of non-pasta/pizza offerings), the service has somehow remained consistently poor. Tonight, no water refills, no bread, long wait for the table to be cleared, and a longer wait for the check (which was finally pick up by another waitperson) ... and the food was served lukewarm. And what's with the southwestern art on the walls - that's a disconnect to the rest of the restaurant. Next time we want a nice meal, we'll take a drive to Italian Colors in Montclair, Sazio's in Castro Valley, or Sozic's in Oakland - anywhere but Paradiso.