04/03/09

Great atmosphere Great Food

by Ander

Il Palio has changed since the last time we were here back in the fall. I love the new floors and walls. The menu is more approachable and less expensive. My friends and I had a great time meeting the Chef and hearing that his menu is over 75% local.

• Pros: Wonderful Menu, great new look

03/18/09

one of the worst places ever

by manu7692

mama mia, what a bad place. This has nothing to do with an italian restaurant. Antipasti misti were sweet - which you might enjoy in this country, but believe me, that's not italian. Chicken was super salty. Gaspacho was solid. I had to apologize to my GF; lesson learned, never bring your GF to a place you've never been before. I'm half French, half Italian and I can say I know a little about food. This is just a wrong place, don't go

• Pros: nothing
• Cons: everything

01/08/09

Chintzy atmosphere, hyped reputation, average food

by vulpes

Went for pharmaceutical seminar with 40-50 other individuals present. Buffet style assembly line set-up. Appetizers, Entrees, Desserts. Delicious breads and rolls served to each table. Too much Gold finish and enamel everywhere...no fresh and unique design or furnishings to this "highly reputable" restaurant. Trying to ignore the "bling" and brass, we delved into our plates, which we had taken to the line and served our own food (other serviced business seminars had staff serving the set selections, cleaning and replenishing as needed). My table and I enjoyed the beef with marinara, flavorful basil, garlic, and thyme just right. But we ALL found the sweet potato gnocchi flavorless, chewy, and a waste of caloric intake ;b Dark chocolate dipped berries and perfectly "hard candy" topped creme brulee was fresh, silky, and delectable. Went back for many more desserts! Staff seemed ill-prepared for such a large group event, with presentations and speaking involved, and multiple displays and printed material handouts. People getting up and down to serve themselves was ridiculous protocol and opened the floor for many collisions and catastrophes with the electronic equipment, our tables and chairs, and screens everywhere.

05/25/08

Amazing

by dwe1978

This is one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. Everything from the wine to the dessert was excellent. I was there to celebrate a special occasion and I picked a perfect place. The food was great. The service was good. There's nothing I can say bad about it, except possibly the cost. It's not a cheap restaurant. But for something special, this is definitely a place to splurge.

• Pros: Amazing food
• Cons: A little pricey

09/25/07

a unique chapel hill experience

by scout_about

I recently dined at Il Palio, and as always, I left with nothing but compliments for Chef Adam Rose, Sommelier Hailey Rose's pairings and the rest of the staff. I would love to have the recipe for the pesto chick pea spread that was served with the house made foccacia...the flavor combinations were perfect and the spread complimented the foccacia just wonderfully. That alone with a simple, yet delicious green salad would be a wonderful lunch or light dinner.

I have traveled to the Tuscany Region and Siena, and hold the lovely meals I have had over the years at Il Palio with just as high regard as those I had in Italy.

• Pros: attentive service, seasonal menu, expert wine pairings

09/24/07

best special occasion dining in chapel hill

by aloha9

the food, ambience and service can't be beat for a special occasion dinner in chapel hill. service is outstanding - they always go the extra mile to do something special for a birthday or anniversary, just let them know you're celebrating!

and the food is scumptious... try the chef's tasting menu. you won't be disappointed. totally worth the money!

• Pros: food, service, ambience, parking

06/21/07

This place is not right...

by darkblue99

Before I type my review, let me say that I actually have been to Italia.

I've dined all over - from Michelin star'd ristorante's in Milan to a centuries old small house just outside

of Siena where the locals come to eat and drink caffe.

This place is WRONG. Pasta was cold and hard - and yes, I do know what al dente means.. It means

"to the tooth" and this was simply cooked incorrectly.

Service was terrible. Not attentive at all.

Wine list: all super-Tuscan wines are over-priced. Why should I pay $200 when I can get it at Southern Season for $45?? Typical margins in the industry is 1.7x to 2.5x, at the most!

This is gentleman's club pricing.

Also, a glass of a decent San Giovese should be offered at around $6-8 a glass...

After 2 hours and $150 later, I'm COMPLETELY dissatisfied. The next day, I video-chatted with my

friend in Siena about this experience. The friend said: "remember the bad pizza americano you got

in roma for 10 euros? you said that there are no pizzas like this in America.. well, my friend, you don't

have Siena in America, either"

• Pros: High prices
• Cons: This list would be too long

01/12/07

Best Special Occasion Restaurant in the triangle

by jcevens

What a great find, with all the trendy, chic, new restaurants opening around the triangle it was a wonderful surprise to rediscover the Il Palio. The Italian food was authentic and the service was perfectly executed. The special occasion feel is alive and well, the servers are professional and knowledgeable, and the Sommelier is well versed and fun to talk to.

Refined Italian cuisine in an elegant, upscale setting at the Siena Hotel.

by Contributor

In Short
It's a hushed atmosphere: carpeted, columned and heavily curtained in rich colors reminiscent of an Italian villa. Servers glide around as they bring food promptly out of the kitchen, make wine suggestions and replace the place setting after every course. The slices of the 500-day aged "pio tosini" prosciutto di Parma are transparent and meltingly tender. The lemon-mascarpone gnocchi is handmade, bathed in a creamless saffron-colored lobster sauce with chunks of Carolina crab.

• Cons: expensive

09/29/06

Thursday Night Martinis

by mkennedy517

Bar none, Il Palio has the best martinis in the Triangle. Every Thursday night is Martini night, all martinis are $6, an outstanding bargain when you consider the portion size and the craftsmanship with which it is prepared. So much better than spending twice as much for a thimbleful of liquor at other places. The selection of over 30 variations is impressive, running the gamut from a dirty vodka with gorgonzola stuffed olives to the sweeter Tuscan Sunrise. Delicious complimentary hors d'oeuvres seal the deal. The staff are knowledgeable, professional, and friendly, and the setting is top notch. Classy and opulent with leather chairs, marble tiles, and subdued lighting, the open seating in the lounge has an Old World feel and provides the perfect forum for friends to meet for a drink after work. Word has gotten out about Thursday Night Martinis at Il Palio, and it has become popular with the young professional crowd in the past few months. Bottom line: If you want to meet interesting people in a beautiful setting and enjoy a first class martini, look no further than the Il Palio in Chapel Hill.

• Pros: Great drinks, reasonable prices, beautiful atmosphere
• Cons: Get there around six pm if you want a place to sit!