PAON Restaurant & Wine Bar

PAON Restaurant & Wine Bar reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. M

   Mike VIP

   Tahoe11 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 4, 2025

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

   High quality food and prepared perfectly. Excellent
   

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2. M

   Mike

   San Diego4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on May 3, 2025

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

   Again, absolutely fantastic experience! The food was so damn good! Each dish was something to crow about. The scallops, pheasant, salad oh and the dessert…scrumptious. We had reservations at 5:30 and it was pretty quiet. Great ambiance. Service was spectacular and our server k ew what he was talking about. We had a wonderfully romantic experience. Yep, we will be going again!
   

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3. N

   Nauman VIP

   San Diego21 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on May 2, 2025

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

   Good service - but seriously over priced ! Ordered a ($125) tomahawk which came out rare twice when I had ordered medium. I gave up as my friends had waited long enough to eat with me.
   

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4. J

   John

   San Francisco1 review

   3.0

   Dined on May 1, 2025

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

   My duck confit had probably been cooked then frozen. The outer skin was tough and it all lacked flavor. The bean cassolet was bland. The mint ice cream was excellent. Order it without the chocolate which would overwhelm it. Wife's salmon was just OK.
   

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5. R

   Robert VIP

   San Diego45 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 20, 2025

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

   We had a fabulous Easter afternoon dinner at Paon. Duck, Lamb, Chilean Sea Bass, Shortrib - all delicious, as usual. And, of course, excellent service on the beautiful patio. A meal at Paon is always memorable!
   

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6. G

   George VIP

   Phoenix86 reviews

   1.0

   Dined on April 20, 2025

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

   Wow what a terrible experience. This place has gone completely downhill. We used to come here all the time, but our Easter lunch was an absolute disaster. The service was painfully slow and we barely saw our waiter. The food was awful and has gone down hill terrible. The whole experience was a mess. The worst part? My 9 year old son sent back his burger because they put blue cheese instead of cheddar, and the replacement came with a nasty, coarse hair smack in the middle of the bun. Not sure if they did it on purpose, but the place was a ghost town, and it’s no mystery why. Terrible food, terrible service, terrible everything. Absolutely disgusted. We won’t be back.
   

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7. c

   claudia VIP

   San Diego1 review

   5.0

   Dined on April 3, 2025

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

   A local favorite with quality food and ambience. It serves an updated and delicious menu, without trying too hard to be hip . Comfortable and classy.
   

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8. S

   Sandragon VIP

   San Diego2 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on March 22, 2025

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

   Mediocre food. Scallops and Crab was bland. Tasted corn and salt more than any other flavor. Very disappointed. Recent French restaurants I have dined at were in French Polynesia, for example 2 Michelin Star Le Lotus. Don’t waste your time and money at Paon. Ambiance was old and crusty.
   

   PAON Restaurant & Wine BarResponded on April 4, 2025

   Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We’re truly sorry to hear that your experience didn’t meet expectations. We always aim to deliver dishes with balanced and memorable flavors, and it’s clear we missed the mark for you—particularly with the scallops and crab. Your feedback will be shared with our culinary team for immediate review. We also understand that ambiance plays a key role in a dining experience. While some guests enjoy our classic setting, we realize it’s not for everyone, and we appreciate your honest perspective.
   

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9. S

   Scott

   San Diego1 review

   3.0

   Dined on March 13, 2025

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

   This is a nice place, but the food was underwhelming. It was just rather bland and uninteresting…no distinction to it. For the price, we expected to have a positive reaction to it, but instead just kind of powered through the dish joylessly.
   

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10. J

    Jonathon

    San Diego3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 10, 2025

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

    The rib eye was excellent. My wife was not impressed with the short rib she had. Service was perfect, however this was a Sunday evening and their were not a lot of patrons. I cannot attest to the quality of their service when they are busy. I was disappointed by the ambiance. For this style of cuisine I expect a traditional atmosphere and light classical music. I think the dance club style music being played was a very poor choice for this setting.
    

    PAON Restaurant & Wine BarResponded on April 4, 2025

    Thank you for dining with us and for taking the time to share your feedback. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the rib eye—it's a staple on our menu. We’re sorry to hear that the short rib didn’t meet expectations and will be sure to pass that along to our kitchen team. It’s also great to know you received excellent service. While Sunday evenings tend to be more relaxed, we strive to provide that same level of attention no matter how busy the dining room gets. We also appreciate your comments regarding the ambiance and music. While we aim to create a traditional and comfortable atmosphere we understand that preferences vary, and your input is helpful as we continue to shape the overall experience. We hope to welcome you back again soon—maybe for another round of that rib-eye!
    

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