Horrible Change!
This place was great before they moved to their new location. It was simple, cozy...and now it seems they've gotten too big for their britches. Some of the best dishes have been taken off the menu and replaced with fare that's really trying to be something it's not. The waitstaff are obviously stressed to the max, both times I ate there I heard the manager lady yelling at them. If the acoustics were better perhaps it wouldn't be so obvious, but with the huge open spaces, it sounds like a cafeteria. Your money would be better spent elsewhere.    [23 Dec 2006 12:25:43]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Anonymous   

Love it!
Honestly I love this place. I eat here at least once a week, and when I'm busy at work they'll do take-out for me. The green chile potato soup is to die for! Keep up the good work!!!    [13 Feb 2007 13:42:46]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Anonymous   

Has Potential, but Needs Help
Went to the Paisano Cafe the other night since I had heard some good things about it, including something about a very accomplished chef. Strange to say, there were no cars in the parking lot (never a good sign!) and upon entering we found we were the only people in the place. And, we remained the only people in the place throughout the meal!! A waitress...there was only one...seated us wherever we wanted and gave us the menu. Upon looking the menu over we realized it was a breakfast and lunch menu. When we questioned the waitress about this she said they were re-doing the dinner menu and were only serving lunch-type meals!! The owner came out and explained that the supposedly highly accomplished chef had left for better parts and that the pastry chef had gone to Albuquerque. The new cook was not familiar with the dinners the former chef had prepared and that they had no option but to serve the lunch menu. She said it would be a couple weeks before they got going again. It is a shame because the place was nice with a bright and clean interior, and had a nice outdoor patio. I ordered a Southwest Chicken Wrap with a cup of potato-chile soup. The meal was fairly priced and pretty good. My companion had a steak-salad which was reported to be very good. The price was reasonable for its size. German chocolate cake was very good as was the coconut cream pie. This place has potential, but they have a long way to go to get their act together. I will not return for dinner until I hear tales that they do...and that may take a while!    [02 Aug 2007 14:08:49]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Lunch only for the time being!!!!

     ­Roberto, Las Cruces   

New Management, But Similar Problems!!!
Paisano Cafe has been advertising the fact that they are now under new management, so I took a chance and went back for lunch. The ambiance is the same and it appears some of the help is also! Upon entering I was confronted by a chalk board with the specials of the day. A gentleman, the owner/manager it appeared, was up front by himself near the bar. Three tables to the side of the restaurant had customers...so it was not busy. I was "not" greeted by the manager/owner when I arrived...almost studiously ignored! I said, "Hello," but got hardly a response. Great management style! After checking out the board a couple more minutes and gazing into the cafe I asked the manager if they were serving lunch presently. He said, "Yes," and then proceeded to ignore me some more. Finally, after another minute or two of standing there, he inquired, "Do you want a table?" I said, "Yes," but I was really saying to myself, "No, I'm standing here for my health! What do you think?" After being seated I was timely greeted by a pleasant waitress who took my drink order. I ordered one of the specials of the day...a BBQ Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich with sweet potato fries. Since the diners at the other three tables were already eating their meals it should not have taken long to prepare my meal (which was a daily special), but the food arrived only after a fifteen minute plus wait. The owner/manager type was sitting nearby making some calls and doing some paper work, yet made no attempt to "expedite" things. He seemed oblivious to my long wait, and there was no one else in the place ordering??? Great management style. The pleasant waitress came by once and apologized for the delay and said it would be just another minute. It was about five more. Once the food arrived I was presented with an attractive plate by the cook himself, a young man in his twenties. He was quite friendly and asked if I needed anything else. On my plate was a sandwich on a nice roll, cut in halves, with an ample serving of fries and a thin slice of melon...a nice touch. The fries were pretty good. The sandwich was also very good, but it did not have much meat inside...mostly mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and cheese. With so little steak I am sure their profit margin was quite good on that one.This was a shame because the steak pieces I could find in the sandwich were juicy, succulent, and flavorful. There needs to be more. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the meal. I don't know if was worth the $8.50 I paid, but it was quite good. One has to believe, however, that if this place is to be really successful, they need to cultivate a more welcoming and enjoyable atmosphere. People in the restaurant business have to learn that they must not only provide good food, but they must go out of their way to make the diners' meal an enjoyable experience. This we do not find at Paisano Cafe. The management style, if you can call it that, seems to be one of casual indifference. This is not good when you have the friendly and wonderful St. Clair Bistro across the street. Although, Paisano is by no means a bad dining experience, you can find better places to spend your time and money. If you happen to be in the neighborhood, it is OK, but one would not go out of his way to eat here. I do not think I will return.    [04 Feb 2008 15:25:25]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: ????

     ­Roberto, Las Cruces