Brandon Morris I am going to rate this establishment based off of many traits. Atmosphere. Friendly Staff. Family Friendly. Wait times. Food flavor. Consistency.
Starting with Atmosphere. They have both indoor and outdoor seating areas. The first time we sat inside, the second we went outside. Both are absolutely gorgeous. I had to double check the menu prices to make sure we werent eating at a crazy fine dining restaurant. Beautiful marble panels and fake shrubbery on the walls. A large flatscreen above a fireplace. Outside is even more beautiful. Turf floor with shrub panels lining the walls. A area with a roof that contains a couple outdoor couches. They nailed the name paradise, it was stunning. The atmosphere makes you forget all your troubles as if you are on vacation dining at a fancy restaurant or one of those fancy mansions in the movies.
We had different waitresses both times we went, both were very friendly. Always serving with a smile and checking up on us a few times to make sure everything was good. They do offer high chairs and do not serve alcohol so they are purely family friendly.
I saw some reviews about wait times, but I laugh at unprofessional reviews. Which once again, those reviews only glorified their ignorance. We arrived at 7:54pm on a Tuesday the first night and were seated immediately. The second time was 4:55pm on a Thursday and we were seated close to 5:00pm.
Now for the juicy part. The food and drinks.
Drinks: We tried the Shirley Temple, Blueberry Breeze, and Tropical Fizz. All wonderful drinks. My personal favorite was the Blueberry breeze, if you were to picture a flavor to represent summer, it would be this drink. The tropical fizz was very tart. I love tart/ sour things, but this one was a little too tart for me, still had a very good taste though.
Appetizers/ Sides: Mozzarella sticks, mac and cheese, and french fries. The mozzarella sticks were simply delightful. Cooked so perfectly to where the cheese felt soft and creamy in your mouth. The marinara was also very good. It was unique, nothing you would buy in a jar at a store. The fries were also very good. Unfortunately not fresh cut, but they had a nice batter on the outside that gave them a perfect crunch when you take a bite. They were also seasoned nicely to where you could enjoy them even without ketchup. Paradise eatery nailed the cheese game. I want to know their secret on cooking cheese so perfectly. Again the cheese was soft and creamy, melting in your mouth. The blend of different cheeses mixed together really nicely with the spices they added to make a delectable dish.
Main dishes: Tacos and steak bowl. This was the consistency test. I was blown away by the tacos. The flavor in the meat has a very dynamic profile, all of the spices create this beautiful robust flavor that bursts as soon as your tongue touches it. I had the soft tacos, but they gave them a slight fry with gave the shells a satisfying crisp. The flavor was consistent through every single bite. This is the dish I tested for consistency, ordering it both visits. PASSED with flying colors. How can you be blown away with something a second time? I dont know, but they did it with their tacos. A nice touch is the build your own where you can choose a variety of toppings and sauces to put on your tacos to meet your liking. Next the steak bowl. It is served with their "boom boom sauce" in the bowl which has some spice to it. Tastes like a french dressing base with some kick. Really nice flavor, but if you dont like spicy, then ask for it to be removed. The steak in the bowl was perfectly seasoned. I love my seasonings so a typical "over seasoned" steak I would still love. But the seasoning on their stake was there, but not too overpowering so you get the nice steak flavor along with it.
Overall, Paradise Eatery in Herkimer is an absolute wonderful place to eat and a must try if you are visiting the Herkimer area. If you are feelings stressed out, stop into Paradise, the scenery will make you forget about all your troubles. I am looking forward to their future.
