I was introduced to Pagliacci’s a few years ago by some friends who, ironically, were out of town but go there every time they visit. High praise.

There is usually a line at dinnertime, but it’s never particularly long. The short wait is impressive, when you consider the small space inside.

The food is excellent, it doesn’t matter what you get, you will be happy with it. The atmosphere is lively but comfortable. Service is quick and friendly (I imagine it’s easy to be quick in such a small space). The prices, however, are less than impressive. You definitely pay a premium for eating in a “nice” restaurant.
At $20 for a plate of pasta (albeit a large one), one must wonder what they’re paying for, exactly. The short answer is: you’re paying for your seat in Pagliacci’s.

That said, if you’re looking for a nice place to go for dinner, perhaps on a date, or taking out some family, you absolutely will not be disappointed. I highly recommend Pagliacci’s, but it’s not the sort of place to go too often if you’re on any sort of budget.

the food is always great here – I have had hit and miss experiences with kids, there’s a host there (man) who isn’t too friendly to kids but i have always found the servers to be great with my kids.
and the food – so good! italian, lots of variety, lots of food, and great salads, and the cheesecake, mmm…oh and the cappezio (it’s a drink) – tastes kind of like a creamsicle, it’s sooooo good!

Be prepared for large portions and rich sauces. It’s not the place for a calorie conscious eater so enjoy! The desserts are super rich but not as diverse in choices as the mains. Sunday nights are fun with live music but go early because line-ups are typical. The tables are a bit squishey (too close together) so I wouldn’t recommend it for families with restless children.