Paolino Italian Restaurant in Mid Sussex

As newcomers to the area, my family and I decided to give That's Amore Italian restaurant a try for our evening meal. Unfortunately, our experience was somewhat overshadowed by the tail end of a children's birthday party, resulting in a cacophony of excited screams and shouts that didn't quite align with the calm, authentic Italian vibe we had hoped for. Understandably, there's not much the venue can do about such occurrences, but it did affect our overall impression upon arrival. The ambiance within the restaurant itself left something to be desired. The design and décor felt a bit dated and lacked the quintessential Italian charm we had anticipated. Our seating arrangement, positioned near a walkway, led to frequent disruptions as waitstaff inadvertently bumped into our chairs while passing by, which was rather off-putting. On the bright side, the welcome we received was warm, and the menu offered a concise selection of Italian classics. We opted for the Calamari Fritti, which unfortunately arrived a bit soggy and lacking in flavor. The Linguine Mare and Risotto Mediterraneo were deemed "OK," while the Linguine Bolognese stood out as the better option. However, overall, the portion sizes seemed rather small, and the dishes lacked the depth of flavour we had hoped for. Service-wise, we found ourselves having to repeatedly request small items like ice and lemon for our water, which detracted from the dining experience. Additionally, the lack of a meal check until after we had finished was disappointing. The automatic imposition of a 15% service charge on the bill was a practice I personally dislike, as I prefer to determine the gratuity based on the service received. In conclusion, our experience at That's Amore Italian Restaurant can be summed up as "a very good average experience." While there was nothing inherently wrong with the food, the lack of memorable flavors and attentive service left us feeling underwhelmed. Despite the restaurant being a family business facing tough competition, we believe there is room for improvement in terms of both culinary offerings and overall atmosphere. While we may not rule out a return visit entirely, That's Amore didn't quite do enough to leave a lasting impression that would compel us to return eagerly.

Amazing experience. Food was incredibly tasty and all team members were super great and attentive. We will definitely return as the menu is attractive and we wanted to get it all. Many many thanks

What a lovely lunch! Thank you for all the great fresh fish and the amazing tiramisu! We love this place and we will be back soon !

A perfect evening starting with a warm welcome. Good menu. We both decided on pizzas, I loved my choice of gorgonzola and mushroom, delicious. I could have been tempted by any of the desserts and was delighted by the gelati. Thank you for such a lovely evening, we look forward to returning soon.

Consistently good food and service. Pizzas are especially great tasting and the Linguine Bolognese is a firm favourite.

We came night after valentines, we were served really quickly by friendly and smiling waiters / waitresses. Went with burrata and ham to start which was very tasty and linguine mare which was hot and yummy plus tagliatelle zucchini and prawns equally as tasty. We haven’t been for a while but won’t leave it so long next time

This is a genuine Italian restaurant run by two ladies from Sicily. It’s a very friendly family restaurant, children are made very welcome but also nice for a quiet meal for two for dinner. The food is delicious, all freshly cooked, wonderful pizzas but also pasta, meat and fish dishes. The service is very friendly and efficient. We eat there a lot and have never been disappointed with our meal.

Family dinner, great service. Menu was spot on with great flavour and spot on service. Highly recommend for a good meal.

Best Italian around. The kids love it, the food is great and they are so friendly. Pasta was amazing and the ice cream at the end was a real hit with the kids

We fancied having a night out and were ready to pay whatever it cost to have a really good meal. The menu sounded good and the reviews seemed to be sound. What an absolute DISASTER! I ordered a Pina Colada and the Calamari and the second most expensive item on the menu - The Grilled Fillet Steak in a Red Wine reduction. My partner ordered the GF spaghetti with a Carbonara sauce. The Pina Colada was absolutely the very worst of its type I have ever had! This is a classic drink that should be mixed with a white rum and at £9.95 should have been with two measures of rum, pineapple juice and a good measure of coconut cream. What arrived was nothing like the classic drink. Needless to say I was not going to accept it. Back it went! The Calamari was another fiasco. Done correctly it is meant to be fried in a seasoned batter so it loses its sponginess and is crisp and slightly crunchy. It was served with a wedge of lemon and something that was supposed to be a Tartare Sauce. Instead, it was chewy, with a Tempura type batter and a long way away from adequately cooked. So, this got taken away and re-fried. This was marginally better and just about acceptable! The Fillet Steak was supposed to be grilled and served with Porcini Mushrooms, Red Pepper and Onion. I asked for it to be Medium Rare. What arrived was very far from grilled, virtually no charring and it was smothered in a sauce that was tasteless, lacked any semblance of a Red Wine reduction, lacked seasoning and could well have been taken out of a packet of Birds Eye sauce. It was supposed to be served with chips which were “frozen chips”. I know they were. We saw the chef go dig out a pack of them… Oh, we had ordered wine to go with our main courses. This arrived halfway through our main courses. My partner’s Spaghetti Carbonara was insipid and lacking in seasoning and utterly tasteless. Our evening out turned out to be an utter unmitigated disaster and we will be doing our best to alert others to avoid this establishment if they value their time and money! We were not charged for the Pina Colada! We paid our bill and left. It saddens me that a restaurant such as this, in a prime location and with everything to strive for, can be so lacking in passion and soul. If you value your time and your money, and do not enjoy playing Russian Roulette with your “hard earned…”, go somewhere else!!!

Been here a few times..in fact every time we are in Lindfield, both lunch and dinner. We all love it..especially the kids. Calamari and pizzas are excellent, and they also serve my all time go to..linguine vongole (clams). Wine and service is excellent, and always feels like a welcoming place. I really can't fault it for absolutely anything, and will always look forward to returning.

Amazing food, the service was wonderful, the lovely ladies who served us throughout are brilliant and very caring, we even got a shot of Limoncello on the house before we went. 10/10 would recommend!

Fabulous meal as always The best Italian restaurant in west Sussex Food is amazing and the service matches.

It was absolutely amazing. They are very kind people and the service is very efficient and I felt like I came back in Italy for one moment. The food was delicious and the presentation of it was stunning. Absolutely recommend. I will back again definitely. Stupefacente

The best Italian I’ve had for a long time, and I’ve spent a lot of time in Italy so I’d like to think I know a thing or two! The service was fantastic and the team were so friendly to accommodate a large group of us (15 of us). If you want to try some authentic Italian this is the place to go! A very reasonable price too

The 3 of us arrived after 2pm which was slightly late for lunch as they normally close at 3pm. However not a problem for the owner who showed us to our table. We all chose a starter, main, and dessert. I was also offered a...

Due to the weather last week we decided to stay local for my wife's birthday meal, sadly wish we braced the weather and went out of our village for the celebration. We had heard a few worrying things about the restaurant since moving here in...

Unlikely to go back. Saturday dinner - rushed through, feels like they want you in & out as quickly as possible. Ordered cocktails but the starter wine & cocktails all arrived at the same time 🙄.. honestly felt like you were being rushed. A 3...

What a super Italian restaurant right in the heart of Lindfield. The Gnocchi Pesto & Ravioli Bolognaise very tasty. We also had a mixed salad 🥗 with black olives, another triumph. Definitely worth a visit and will go back soon.

Arrived just before booked time and seated - the place was nearly empty with just a couple of tables occupied. We were ignored for 15-20 minutes and then caught the waitresses eye and said we wanted to order drinks - she wanted to take the...

I recently ordered a birthday cake from that's amore ,and it was simlpy outstanding!the cake looked stunning,tasted havenly and made our celebration unforgettable. Hingly recommended!

Great food and great service, booked last minute and wasn't disappointed. The food was delicious, the only point I would make is that there could be more linguine in the seafood linguine mare, there was plenty of seafood but a little extra linguine would make...

We dined in That's Amore last night with an Italian friend whose husband was Italian and a chef! The three of us had Linguine Mare, pasta with seafood in a rich wine sauce. My friend asked for it to be not too rich or spicy...

Visited last Saturday evening with 4 other friends, 2 of whom rated this restaurant as one of their favourites. On arrival we were shown to our table then ignored for almost 30 mins. The restaurant was compact and busy but the staff did not appear...

Service was good, staff very friendly and helpful. The prices of the desserts and liquors are very reasonable. Next time will have to have the Amarone grappa.

Finally we were able to come here again. We went in february 2022 and we went back yesterday with some friends...you are Amazing! Super fresh fish. Linguine con polpo fantastic, zuppa mediterranea meravigliosa, really good italian pizza...we will come back soon with more friends! Staff...

There were 21 of us and all my guests appreciated the quality of the food and the dishes prepared by the kitchen and the service of the waiters. Well done. We'll see you soon!!! Thank you

Came here with my daughter as it had been recommended as authentic. Pleasant location and attentive staff. Was disappointed however because the menu choice appeared to be more like a Zizzi restaurant than a real Italian restaurant. The beer was nice.

Our late mother was a resident of Lindfield for over 50 years. In her last years this was her favourite restaurant so we thought it appropriate to have lunch here with family and friends after her funeral. We could not have wished for better service,...

Had lunch here May 3rd. Lovely authentic Italian trattoria with a sun drenched terrace. Excellent starters, then had the calzone as main which was huge and generously filled. Mellow courtyard setting so stayed for drinks afterwards. Great service, great food, great prices.

E pessimo ristorante sia come professionista che da persona non sono persone accoglienti scorbutico e

Fa schifo come ristorante poi i proprietari sono scorbutico e persone viscite incapacità 0 comunque è da evitare

We use this local restaurant regularly and have never been disappointed. My advice is to stick strictly to the Italian menu dishes; going off piste is not recommended. Nice wine list, especially those from southern Italy and Sicily. Service is consistently cheerful and efficient under the watchful eye of Anna, the owner/boss.

On Saturday I went to have dinner here with my friends. The food was delicious, the service was excellent, and the atmosphere was lovely. Quite a busy night there for a weekend, but the staff were amazing and food came on time.

My boyfriend and I have been meaning to try Paolino's for a while and finally got there yesterday for dinner. We had a wonderful meal- the service was attentive, the staff were mindful, and the atmosphere including the setting was lovely. The Christmas menu was absolutely excellent value, and well as being super tasty - a brilliant experience. We will surely be revisiting.

Restaurant premises appear nice enough, although somewhat chaotic and cramped. External space resembles a pub garden.Food was mediocre. Starters: olives came straight out of the tin, garlic bread was naan shaped pizza dough, undercooked and greasy - both pretty tasteless. Mains: linguine were overcooked, pizza undercooked with suspicious topping, salad unseasoned/undressed (I disregard a small pot of shop mayonnaise!) - again all tasteless.After all that we didn't bother with the dessert.Worst of all, service was terrible: restaurant is clearly understaffed and disorganised, both front and in the kitchen, and no amount of quasi-Italian banter can mask that. We waited for minutes under a full hour for the starters to appear...Prices would have been just about this side of expected/reasonable - but in the context of quality, excessively high.Pity... But an experience not to be repeated...

This is a beautiful Italian restaurant for all.Meat cooked perfectly and the desserts are delicious.Book in advance it's popular and very friendly staff. Well done Paolino and teem

We visited in August this year, and just had to say how lovely the experience we had at Paolino was. First of all the staff was well mannered, amusing and quick serving at the same time- it's such a good combo for staff to have! Secondly for the food itself- Personally i had the calamari, which tasted very fresh indeed, my family had different dishes, a variety of meat, fish, pizza and pasta too, which they described as "tasty, and full of Italian goodness, which really brought out the Italian standards within the food" we didn't wait long at all before the food arrived, with great timings i must say. The atmosphere was busy, buzzy, although it was comforting and relaxing (it really felt like we were in Sicily whilst having our meal!) as well as it being a very busy August summer evening! We will definitely be back, and our first visit was one of the best decisions we could possibly make as being our first time here. Definitely recommended! Thank you Paolino And Staff!

Visitato per la prima volta qualche giorno fa, è un bellissimo ristorante di Lindfield. Cucina ottima. Eccellente il servizio. Ci tornerò sicuramente. DA VISITARE ASSOLUTAMENTE!!!

First visit to Paolino this evening with my husband. The staff are very friendly. The restaurant has a great atmosphere. The food is excellent. I couldn't recommend this place more. It was a lovely evening and booked to go back again on xmas eve. Hope to go again before then. Thank you for a fab evening! You are doing it right!

On the way home from Nymans we stopped at Lindfield and popped into Paolino's. Eventhough we were a bit early for service, they treated us like the most important guests. The food was excellent and staff most attentive. The whole place was very clean. Interrupting your journey and having a bite at Paolion's is worthwhile at any time. We certainly will recommend this place to all our friends and family.

I heve been at Pauline with a group of my friends,last Thursday,Everything was excellent, the service very good, the food delicious and fresh, I ate calamari super good, my husband spaghetti seafood, my friends ate the pizza, finally a real Italian pizza, and my brother ate the meat with a delicious sauce, definitely go again, thanks Paulino for the delicious dinner,

Paolino seems to be an exercise in playing it safe. Upon entering we were greeted by the owners personally which was a lovely touch, even on a busy Saturday evening. The decor is light and casual, although the modern aesthetic makes the place feel a little sterile and devoid of character.To start I had the aubergines with tomatoes and mozzarella, while my partner had the calamari. Both were unfortunately very bland, with a tasteless tomato sauce covering my aubergines. The calamari suffered the same taste-free fate, although I must say they were cooked well.The main courses didn't fare much better in terms of flavour. I chose Tortiglioni Paolino (pasta with Italian sausage and dolcelatte cheese) and my partner opted for Spaghetti Americana (pasta with homemade meatballs). The meatballs were small and seemed to be overpowered by saltiness, while the sausage in the Tortiglioni Paolino was completely lost in the sauce. The pasta was also overcooked; strange considering the owners are Italian, but not that surprising as I imagine they are catering to their market.Desserts were average at best - a slightly dry chocolate cake for myself, and an underwhelming tiramisu for my partner. That seemed to be the theme of the evening, which is a shame. Don't get my wrong, the food was nice, but it was nothing special. I'm glad to say however that the charm of the owners and the value for money makes up for the disappointing food. I would recommend Paolino, but don't expect superior cooking or authentic flavours. Perhaps they need to experiment with some bolder tastes rather than just playing it safe.+ Friendly, accommodating owners+ Attentive service+ Well managed portions for a three course meal- Underwhelming food- A sterile dining environment

Visited Paolino’s for the first time but not the last. What a lovely friendly restaurant. It was wonderful seeing a family pull together to make the restaurant run like clockwork. Clean and bright, with amazing artwork and décor. Very relaxed afternoon with my daughter. Clearly the King Prawns are a favourite here (a number of photos to prove this). I had the medium steak and my daughter had the prawn risotto, followed by panacota and zabaglione. The only two problems i) the steak was almost rare. I did not mind because deep down I do prefer it this way and ii) my daughter did not get to sample the zabaglione because she was given Tiramisu instead! No complaints or grumbles because the food was first class. Regardless I would go out of my way to go back to Paolino’s for Italian food because it was of a very high standard. Just a place that serves good quality food.