Casa Paolo - Cornwall

️‍⚧️ ️‍ Rating restaurants is always difficult due to the potential for so many things to go wrong. It has been years since I last dined at Casa Paolo here in Cornwall, so I thought I would give it another go. My bi-annual craving for a proper steak and previous experience told me I couldn’t go wrong at Casa Paolo. I was not disappointed. It was a Tuesday evening and uncrowded as I stood in the entry waiting. I was given a once-over look by the greeter, and I was asked to be seated between the front doors until the couple ahead of me were attended to. It was a hot, humid day, and the entryway was not air-conditioned, so I hoped the wait would be brief, and it was. It felt somewhat odd to be asked to do so, though, almost insulting. As always, I had my tunes playing in my ear for entertainment (and just in case I needed to block out background noise). My playlist is an eclectic dream. Asked whether I would like to dine in or on the patio, I chose inside. I don’t like swatting insects and sweating into my plate as I eat especially when I am solo-dining. It is somehow more bearable when I am with a fellow diner. Gentlemen especially are quite efficient at pest removal. Inside seating is a bit easier on staff as well. Wait time for a waitress to approach was a bit excessive at five minutes considering the heat demanded a cold drink in my hands. I was not asked when seated at my table which I found a tad odd. With a cold draft beer aperitif to keep me company, I scanned the menu. The meal I came for was on the chef’s special insert and on the main menu. Oddly enough, the price differed by one cent. $49.99 on the special and $50.00 on the menu with no discernable differences. I will leave that for the mathematicians to ponder. Perhaps they should reconsider calling it a “Special”. It was a 10oz New York strip loin (supposedly Alberta beef, which never impressed me much). Canadian beef, in general, is good regardless of province, and always superior to the U.S. in quality. My meal was served with warm rolls, salad, steak, baked potato, and mixed veggies. Choice of salad/soup, potato, veg/pasta. Delicious warm rolls and fresh salad were served promptly. My first trip to the washroom was pleasant. It was close by, clean with a pretty aesthetic and fresh scent, however, I disliked having to navigate stairs. Upon my return, the entrée was served with a good presentation. The waitress forgot the dollop of sour cream I requested, so I had to ask again. It is not a baked potato without it in my world. The steak had good flavour but was a bit thin and not as tender as I like for medium-rare. A glass of red house wine helped to wash it all down (another must for me with steak). I couldn’t eat every scrap but then again I am not a big eater. I suspect a larger appetite may prefer the 14oz cut instead. One hour and 45 minutes later, I was done. The table was cleared five minutes later and I was offered coffee, tea, and dessert. I am not much for desserts. After such a lovely meal, I like to cap it off with a freshly brewed cup of coffee and a snifter of fine cognac, neat. Oddly, my digestif was served with a swizzle stick and a cherry! I am unsure what a true connoisseur of Remy Martin Cognac would think about it, but it was decorative and did provide a sweet treat when I finished. Twenty minutes later I asked for the bill which totalled $106.80. The service was excellent overall. It was served hot and in a timely fashion. I suspect they were short-staffed (unsurprisingly for a Tuesday) because the chef came out from the kitchen a few times to help with various serving duties. The atmosphere was pleasant and quiet without loud music piped in to interfere with my playlist dutifully humming in my ears. My search for good restaurants in Cornwall continues, but in the meantime, I’ll always have Mexi’s!… Alanis Rae July 23/24 Cornwall, Ont.