Cucina Di Paolo

I was so impressed with this place! Loved the atmosphere, Paul and Mary Jean were just the sweetest! The food was quickly prepared and so fresh! Everything is home-​made and you feel right at home as soon as you come in! I would recommend this place to everyone! They also do take home dinners. Check it out!

My new most favorite Italian restaurant in the country. Don’t be fooled by the fact that it’s a tiny little place. The food was totally flavorful and amazing. I decided on the Chicken Fior, which is a chicken breast stuffed with mozzarella, prosciutto and spinach served over fettuccine noodles, accompanied by the roasted asparagus. I am not a fan of tomato sauces since they usually give me heartburn, so I skipped the sauce in favor of olive oil and grated Parmesan on the fettuccine. So the chef explained to me that the chicken fior is roasted til almost done, then when you actually order it, he slices it and grills it before putting on the noodles. It was so fresh and delicious I will have to drive the 922 miles back to Boise some day just to order it again.
I ate every crumb of everything on my plate. The thing of it is, I was eating alone so both the chef and his wife, came by my table just to chat with me as if I was a friend visiting in their home. They were so friendly, gracious and kind. Although I was totally full, when Mary named off the many desserts they had to offer, I knew I had to try the eggnog pie since not only had I never had such a thing, I’d never even heard of it before. It was so wonderful that I’m now searching the internet for an eggnog pie recipe so I can try making it myself. If you are ever anywhere near Boise ID, I urge you to make it a point to eat at Cucina di Paolo.

By far the gem of Boise. By far the best plating of any area restaurant, showing the care and pride that is taken with every dish that leaves the kitchen. Service was fast, expedient and actually encouraged fluctuations from the printed menu as if to challenge the expertise and flexibility of the staff. Perhaps our best dining experience ever

FOOD:
I love this place. So. Much. My first visit, I had their Traditional Beef & Sausage Lasagna because lasagna is their specialty. What can I say, it was absolutely delicious. Though the size was not super huge, but I truly enjoyed that meal. In my next visits, I’ve tried the shrimp scampi, the seafood pasta (I can’t remember the specific name!), lobster ravioli, everything was a delight. They have special menu that is changed weekly, so you better check those out too! Their website is always up to date so you can go online and check the specials before you go. Lasagnas are always available if you don’t see anything you’re interested in the specials.
Now, the dessert. I’m not a sweet tooth, just to put it out there. But this place is perfect because apparently there’s nothing in their dessert selection that is overly sweet. I’ve tried their tiramisu and it was amazing. Again, it was perfect to my taste because it wasn’t TOO sweet!
PLACE/​AMBIANCE:
While I’m writing this review, I kinda notice the trend of great places having small space. Same goes with this gem. There’s a high table for max 4 people, 2 tables for 2, and a counter with bar stools maybe for 5 people. The counter is a slightly awkward option for a large group because you can’t really interact with each other. Trust me, I’ve been there. I’ve visited a few times and I haven’t seen a trend when it’s always super crowded. It seems like it varies day to day. It also looks like people come for take out quite often. They have ample parking spaces outside their restaurant, which I really appreciate!
SERVICE:
Mary Jean is the sweetest. She’s usually behind the cashier and the magic hands behind the desserts. I think she knows their customer faces, because on my first visit ever she asked where did we hear about them because we’re new faces to the restaurant! Every time I go, I always feel like visiting a friend’s house :-D Paul goes out of the kitchen and asks how we enjoy the food — which we always enjoy. This is a lovely place with awesome people who put their heart into serving such awesome dishes!

What’s not to like, I had one of the daily lunch specials. Kobe beef and sausage meatballs on linguine with a red sauce. Amazing! Don’t forget to try a dessert, too many options to list and all made in house.
You can get take out or dine in. Defiantly check it out.

I’ve eaten here numerous times… and turned a few friends on to it as well. Paul and Mary are a hoot and occasionally you get to witness a yelling match. The feel is of a neighborhood Italian deli and the food is scrumptious. Paul will custom make pretty much any take home lasagna that your heart desires.

Great place! Friendly people and awesome food and dessert! Cozy, not extra room for many people but fine. Definitely go there if you like home cooked food served by terrific folks!

Coming back again and again. Authentic Italian every bite is worth it. As a picky eater I was worried that I wouldn’t like it, but after trying the first bite I was blown away. Every bite was savory and worth every penny. Definitely bringing others to try! 5 stars easy.

Every time I fly up from Phoenix I stop here for lunch. Mary Jean and Paul are the best. The food is amazing and is reasonably priced. 5 stars from me

Found this place on Unilocal,walked in and said «oh wait this is a deli» and almost decided to walk out. I’m so glad I decided to stay! The food is exceptional and the service is superb. Lasagna was great, bread was great, soup was great, sandwich was great, cheesecake was great. Highly recommend!

I’ve never been a big fan of lasagna. It almost seems like an Italian cliché. It’s the first dish non-​Italians try to impress family and friends with after mastering spaghetti. Growing up, my sister thought she made the best lasagna in the world. Sadly, it wasn’t and it turned me against the dish.
Until now.
I heard good things about Cucina Di Paolo and after viewing their menu online, I decided to try them out for lunch. Co-​owner Mary Jane Wegner greeted me warmly and after I hesitated while viewing the daily special menu, she asked if this was my first visit. She then went on to explain the specials and the regular lunch items.
I decided to try the traditional beef and sausage lasagna, served with a salad. The lasagna, which came with a white cream sauce and real parmesan cheese — not the sawdust in the green can — was very flavorful and a nice portion. It changed my mind about what lasagna can be.
Chef and co-​owner Paul Wegner came out from behind the open kitchen and asked what I thought. He also thanked me for coming in, as did his wife as I paid my bill.
What a gem of a restaurant. They have also preserved the iconic Maytag washerwoman sign that has graced the Boise Bench for decades.

The food was amazing, can’t wait to go back. The hardest thing was trying to decide what to order, because the entire menu interest me.

This place is a treasure for Boise and i am surprised its my first time here. Food is amazing and the people that work are so kind and sweet. It has a great European atmosphere but not much seating. I had the chicken spinach lasagna and its just the right amount of cheese, sauce, and noodles but packed with a ton of flavor! My friend had their Italian sausage and mushroom lasagna and she enjoyed it too. They do take and bake meals also! Check it out, your taste bugs and stomach will than you.

Rockstar food, and no need for advertising with the word of mouth that is bound to happen with the food that is created here and overall atmosphere. Paul and his wife are so friendly and hard-​workers, and couple that with the exceptional food and it’s a winning combination for the customer experience seen here. I’ll be coming back and telling many more people of the experience had at Cucina Di Paolo!!!

Loving this place!!! Delicious food and outstanding service!!! My daughter and I had the 3 sausage Alfredo. My husband had the meatloaf sandwich and clam chowder. My other daughter had the baked mac and cheese in 4 cheese sauce… They were all delicious however my favorite was the mac and cheese!!! We had the peanut butter cheese cake & the bread pudding!!! Love this place when we move here we will definitely be back!

Let me start of by stating I have spent years in Europe. This place in a European hole in the wall. I ordered the 3 sausage fettuccini which was fantastic. I just wish the pasta would have been a little more Al Dente. Little over cooked, but it was still molto delicioso. I love how we could see the kitchen, and the freshness of the ingredients was top notch !! Fresh tomatoes garlic. The sausages were fantastic !! If you come to Boise, make sure you check out this place !
Amazing customer service and very friendly people.

I am here at Boise for training with the Forest Service, and I looked on Unilocal to see what restaurants are good to eat at. I saw that Cucina Di Paolo was rated very high; and the rates are not kidding.
The food is good; I had the meat loaf sandwich with the soup of the day. It was very good, just like your mom and dad were cooking for you. The best part of this restaurant is the owners: Paul and Mary Jean Wegner. This couple is great!!! They are very engaged in their restaurant and are passionate about their craft.
I will be back.

I brought more friends and my wife with me today. They concur… Best. Burger. Ever.
Next time, we will have to venture off into their specialty menu, although if we happen to be in when the Kobe burger is back, it would be hard to resist.

Had lunch here the other day and oh my gosh it was good. I literally scraped every little bit off my plate. It is just good Italian comfort food. The lasagna really is amazing. I can’t wait to come back and try more. I really like that the environment is very casual and relaxed. The outdoor seating offered is nice during warm weather. Felt very welcoming and staff was pleasant.

I frequent Cucina’s for lunch, and I have yet to be disappointed with regard to either the service or the quality of the food. The flavors have been consistently rich, portion sizes are appropriate, and the service is prompt.
The restaurant itself is fairly small, with limited seating. If you’re going to dine-​in I’d suggest you arrive earlier in the lunch hour. The menu varies with many dishes disappearing and reappearing from time to time.
The soups are a personal favorite of mine, with the mushroom soup sitting atop the list. It is a bit spendy for a lunchtime meal, but I’d consider it a worthwhile splurge.
4 stars for unique, tasty Italian food. A Bench staple.