PAON Restaurant & Wine Bar

Review summary

1. T

   TOM

   VIP

   San Diego

   29 reviews

   3.0

   29 reviews

   Dined on 9 February 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Disappointed overall. Indifferent reception upon arrival, less than spectacular food (although my sea bas was very good, but the sides not so much), my wife's scallops were few, 3 or 4, and pretty tough. No salt at the table. The complementary birthday desert was good. Great ambiance, but mediocre food and service.
   

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2. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Baltimore

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined on 8 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Paon always has great food. Service was a bit slow but that’s to be expected on a Friday night. Overall would come back
   

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3. P

   Patrick

   San Diego

   21 reviews

   3.0

   21 reviews

   Dined on 26 January 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   We wanted to try something different and Paon looked fun. 1st off, the service was good, but I felt the server was kinda robotic; not that warm. The ambiance is warm and comfy. We paced our meal and started with the Hamachi appy, which was rather good and presentation was nice considering this wasn't a Sushi place. We ordered the pear salad next which we also split. This was the best course of the meal. The pears could have been a little riper, but all in all my wife's favorite. We ordered Lamb and Venison entrees. It felt like these took a little too long, which often means they are coming out less than hot. My Venison was fine for temp, but my wifes plate was tepid, warm but not hot. In general both dishes were under seasoned and there was no salt or pepper on the table. The lamb was a little too rare for medium rare and lacked seasoning or some type of sauce which made it kinda flat. The venison was somewhat disapointing. It was clearly cut away from the rib roast too rare and then poached. It was kinda grey and lacked seasoning which the poaching probably knocked off. I'm a cook; I would have grilled it a bit; put some marks on it ILO poaching. We almost never do this, but opted for dessert. Strawberries and a scope of Ice Cream. It was great; kinda hard to go wrong with that. So with a couple glasses of wine; bill came to about $250. The experience was OK, but I feel like there are so many other places at that price point, it should be better than OK. We will likely not return.
   

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4. K

   Kristin

   VIP

   Boise

   2 reviews

   1.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 20 January 2025

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   Saw the reviews on open table and after running the Carlsbad marathon, my husband wanted a steak. Looked at the menu and thought there were some good entree options. 2 teenagers 2 adults. 1 cocktail, 2 glasses of wine. 2 salads and 4 full entrees. $400. The bread and salads were good. 2 of us ordered the rib eye. Very thin cut and unevenly cooked with odd texture. Also ordered duck duo - so dry the skin stuck to the meat and was almost powder. The last entree was the pork chop, again dry. All entrees were lacking in flavor. I’ve never been so disappointed in any meal. I almost asked not to pay for the entrees they were so bad. I can’t believe deal with bad service (which we did not have) but bad food at $400 for what we ordered is unforgivable. Been to plenty of $400 meals with the family that were delicious- this was not one of them.
   

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5. S

   Stephanie

   Los Angeles

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 19 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   I have never had a bad meal or experience at Paon. A beautiful place with wonderful service and food!
   

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6. T

   Terry

   San Diego

   12 reviews

   5.0

   12 reviews

   Dined on 17 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The food and service were outstanding, highly recommend visiting if you are looking for a quality meal.
   

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7. j

   javier

   San Diego

   5 reviews

   2.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on 16 January 2025

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   Food is not that good anymore. And something I ate was not good I got sick !
   

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8. L

   Linda

   VIP

   Alabama

   10 reviews

   5.0

   10 reviews

   Dined on 1 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We thoroughly enjoyed our New Year’s Eve celebration at this beautiful restaurant! Atmosphere was festive and beautifully decorated. Waitress Prentiss was outstanding and very helpful in describing the menu. Their NYE Menu was exceptional! Lobster was impressive and delicious! Don’t miss this restaurant… it’s a gem in Carlsbad! Always the best French cuisine and excellent service!
   

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9. P

   Pamela

   VIP

   San Diego

   42 reviews

   5.0

   42 reviews

   Dined on 1 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   New Years Eve. Dinner in the bar area with great service from Kristen and Adolfo. And Prentice is the expert on the wines. The friends we have made here are forever. The kitchen has seriously improved. They were good before but the meals have been elevated by their new executive chef. Lamb was beautifully cooked and served with the best mashes and fresh vegetables. My husband had the filet and raved about it. We love this place.
   

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10. J

    Juliana

    San Diego

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 1 January 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    I was a lovely way to celebrate the end of a wonderful year, and the promise of an exciting year to come! The prime rib was unbelievably generous!
    

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