The story
Ristorante Paoletti sits at 440 Main Street in Highlands, North Carolina, serving a lineage of Italian cooking that traces back to 1930.
Rita and Arturo Paoletti brought traditions from Trisungo in Italy to the American South, opening their first eatery in 1953 after relocating to Miami. Luigi later purchased a historic Old Spanish style building in Coral Gables and moved the operation to Delray Beach in 1976, prompting guests to affectionately dub the trip the "Pasta Pilgrimage."
Gina kept the spirit alive after Luigi passed away and opened Ristorante Paoletti in Highlands on July 8, 1984, welcoming regulars who traveled hundreds of miles to join them. Rita's grandson Arthur now owns the establishment while his daughter Gina oversees day-to-day operations, guiding the fourth generation to uphold the recipes perfected over decades.
Sommelier Julio Bonilla curates a wine program that has held the Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence honor since 2005. The kitchen anchors its service in Italian gastronomic tradition, emphasizing uncompromising quality and recipes refined across generations. This dedication secured a rank of 13 on Tripadvisor's 2025 list of America's finest restaurants, placing the Highland location among fewer than one percent of eight million global listings.
The dining room offers an intimate scale where reservations open thirty days ahead, with standard seatings lasting one hour and forty-five minutes for smaller parties. Maître de Maison Gina "Mama G" Cowell guides the floor alongside General Manager Zac Paoletti, cultivating a welcoming environment rooted in the hospitality principles established by earlier generations. Beverage Director Kyle Tarczynski curates a bar list featuring cocktails and whiskies that complement the evening's meal, ensuring every detail supports the guest experience.
Recognition
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