Paesano's is the mullet of pizza restaurants; it's not sure what it wants to be, so it's a little of everything.
In the front it's a casual take out joint where you order at the counter and play video games or watch your pizza being made in the open kitchen.
In the back it's a cozy, romantic restaurant where you sit in intimate booths with pictures of customers on the wall, twinkling lights overhead and a small balcony out back overlooking the Boardman River (ask the friendly staff for bread crusts to feed the ducks swimming by).
Whether it's served business in front or party in back, Paesano's food is amazing. The family-run restaurant makes its own dough (a secret family recipe), its own sauce, its own salad dressing (another family recipe), and slices its own vegetables, meats and cheese to ensure freshness. And your tongue knows the difference.
The pizza is superb, always carefully--even artfully--prepared with the perfect amount of cheese and toppings. Just be careful not to fill up on the equally delicious breadsticks first! The salads (especially the antipasto) are enormous and splendid. They don't serve adult beverages, but you can bring your own from the party store across the street.
Everything about this place is a treat; you must visit when in Traverse City (Be aware--everyone else visits too! Waits can be long in the summertime, but it's worth it.)
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