Dinner with friends - Il Palio, Chapel Hill, NC

Wood grilled octopus - Il Palio, Chapel Hill, NC

Private dining room - Il Palio, Chapel Hill, NC

Il Palio

Name: Il Palio
Address: 1505 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC, United States, 27514
Telephone: (919) 918-2545
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.7

4.7

1562 Reviews

$50 and over

Italian

Top Tags:

Il Palio is an intimate restaurant in the Siena Hotel. We strive to emulate the best of the great Italian tradition of hospitality and quality at the table and in the glass. Our vision is simple – use the best local and Italian ingredients as purely as possible and serve them with comfort and pride. We cook as an Italian might in North Carolina.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 27, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 12 times today

Private dining

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View details

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–10:00 am Sat, Sun 7:00 am–11:00 am Dinner Daily 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
Phone number
(919) 918-2545
Website
http://www.ilpalio.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Executive chef
Robert Compton
Catering
Private dining and meeting space available from 2 - 200. Please contact the Catering & Sales team at 919.929.4000 or via email: astruble@sienahotel.com
Private party facilities
The Ballroom at The Siena Hotel is beautifully appointed with natural light and can seat up to 100 and receptions up to 150. It can also be split into two smaller rooms. The Terrace Room off of Il Palio is also available for events of up to 36 people.
Private party contact
Michelle Castro: (919) 918-2539

Location
1505 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514
Neighborhood
Chapel Hill
Cross street
Franklin St. and Estes Dr.
Parking details
Ample, complimentary self parking and valet parking available.
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

Popular dishes

Farmers Market Omelet$14.00
tomatoes, red onion, kale, mushrooms
Egg White Omelet$14.00
spinach, red onion, ricotta
Frittata$15.00
potato, tomatoes, spinach, goat cheese
Two Eggs Any Style$14.00
choice of bacon or breakfast sausage, yellow corn grits or potatoes, and your choice of breakfast bread
Breakfast Sandwich$14.00
scrambled eggs, cheddar cheese, choice of bacon or sausage, grilled English muffin

House Specialties

Banana Bomboloni$4.50
lemon curd, whipped ricotta
Buttermilk Pancakes$14.00
fresh berries, maple syrup
Waffles$14.00
berry compote, maple syrup, whipped vanilla cream
Smoked Salmon$15.00
plain or everything bagel, tomatoes, red onion, capers, lemon, cream cheese
Il Palio Eggs Benedict$18.00
poached farm eggs, grilled English muffin, classic hollandaise
- ham$18.00
- salmon$21.00

Sides

Bacon$5.00
Breakfast Sausage Patties$5.00
Turkey Sausage Links$5.00
Yellow Corn Grits$5.00
Roasted Home Fry Potatoes$5.00

Breads

Grilled English muffin$4.50
Croissant$4.50
Muffin$4.50
Biscuit$4.50
Bagel$4.50
plain or everything

Coffee

Cup of Coffee$3.00
Cappuccino$4.50
Espresso$3.00
Latte$4.50
Hot Chocolate$3.50
Café Mocha$5.00

Beverages

Milk$3.00
whole, 2%, skim
Chocolate Milk$3.00
whole, 2%, skim
Hot Tea$3.50
Juice$3.00
orange, grapefruit, cranberry, apple, tomato
Fresh Squeezed Juice$7.00
orange, grapefruit

What 1,562 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.7Service
4.6Ambience
4.3Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
Great for fine wines
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
Romantic
Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
Italian
Durham
Great for fine wines
Durham
Romantic
Durham
Good for special occasions

1,562 Reviews

WG
WinG
Memphis/West TN
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience4
The service is what makes this place so special. The food is delicious too but fantastic service
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SW
SheelaW
Denver
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Dinner was delicious! Frutti de Mare was exceptional. Our waiter Lyle was very friendly and courteous. Pasta is made fresh. Fig salad was amazing. Ended dinner with a cappuccino, cannolis and berry sorbet. This place is a sweet find in a small town.
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JT
JeffT
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on September 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The staff and service are top shelf. We were greeted with a genuine warmth and closely attended to throughout our dinner. We had an early reservation which in my experience usually leads to a service that is lacking. Not so here. The food was AMAZING! This was a special occasion for me and my wife that was enhanced by sharing it with IL Palio. Thanks and see you soon.
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SJ
ShellyJ
New Orleans
5 reviews
4.0
5 reviews
Dined on September 8, 2023
overall4food5service5ambience4
The food is very good! The wine is excellent and the service makes for a memorable experience. We will certainly go again when we are in Chapel Hill!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on September 7, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience3
Good food, amazing staff, too expensive for the quality of food.
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P
Paul
Raleigh
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on September 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was amazing from the Massimo fig salad to the truffle pasta we shared and the Iberico pork. All of this made even better by Massimo who is beyond compare!!
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j
joannam
New York Area
26 reviews
vip
4.0
26 reviews
Dined on August 30, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Absolutely loved the restaurant ; loved the choices offered. The service was excellent to the point I did not want to go anywhere else in my three days staying at The Sienna Hotel, Chapel Hill.
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M
Marc
Atlanta Metro
18 reviews
4.0
18 reviews
Dined on August 29, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
Nothing was standing, and nothing was poor... I guess it struck me as though had the bill been $50 less I would have felt better about the overall experience...
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EM
EMichael
Raleigh
2 reviews
2.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 27, 2023
overall2food2service2ambience3
Food very underwhelming especially for the price. Scallops cold and undercooked. Service was mediocre. Would not recommend.
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f
foodie
Columbus
6 reviews
vip
2.0
6 reviews
Dined on August 26, 2023
overall2food4service2ambience3
While we enjoyed our food, we were very rushed through our dinner. We were in and out in an hour while having drinks an appetizer and an entree. It would have been nice to sit and enjoy a night out and not feel so rushed. The only thing we did not enjoy was the bread. The prosciutto was good as was the truffle data and the snapper.
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CT
ChapelThrill
Raleigh
48 reviews
vip
4.0
48 reviews
Dined on August 25, 2023
overall4food5service3ambience2
The most important thing, the food, is outstanding. However, it has gotten exceptionally loud in the dining room. They need something to absorb some of the noise. Some years ago, it was not like that. We've dined there quite a few times over the years, and come back for the exceptional food. It is a bit on the pricey side.
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MK
MKM1
Raleigh
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 21, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a lovely anniversary celebration at Il Palio. Food and service were both outstanding and the manager took numerous steps to recognize our event.
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UE
UESFoodie
New York Area
17 reviews
vip
4.0
17 reviews
Dined on August 19, 2023
overall4food4service3ambience4
Excellent food, moderate service, overpriced but worth the dining experience at least once.
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RP
RussellP
Raleigh
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on August 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We always get the Tasting menu with wine and is different each time but always outstanding. The wine selection was especially well paired with the food. Service always perfect and not rushed. Just behind Fearrington House at this level.
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f
frequentdiner
Minneapolis
239 reviews
vip
5.0
239 reviews
Dined on August 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
The pastas are homemade and the overall experience here was fantastic. Highly recommend
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MP
MchaelP
Raleigh
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food and service. Massimo is one of the true professional wait staff persons in the area
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Raleigh
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
It was an amazing experience and the food was incredible! We will definitely be returning!
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LD
LDN28501
Raleigh
15 reviews
vip
5.0
15 reviews
Dined on August 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Very excellent service. The food was expertly prepared and tasted fantastic. Nice atmosphere and great menu. A+++
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TJ
TomJ
Washington DC
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our meal was superb. Everything we ordered was exactly as described in the menu, and arrived in a timely fashion. Waitstaff was helpful and knowledgeable.
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MA
MAONC
Charleston
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on August 13, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Fantastic meal and service! We all had pasta dishes for our main courses and they were superb. All their pasta is made in house.
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a
ashleyd
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The service and food were absolutely amazing! If you haven’t been make a reservation ASAP!
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P
Paul
Raleigh
26 reviews
vip
5.0
26 reviews
Dined on August 12, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Awesome dinner and Massimo is such an awesome and knowledgeable part of the restaurant. Our favorite restaurant by far!
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MA
MimiA
County Durham
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on August 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious food as if we were in Italy! The sever of as very friendly
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Raleigh
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on August 11, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We brought an out-of-town friend to Il Palio knowing we would have a lovely evening. The service by Lyle and Amaya was attentive without hovering and the food was delicious. Each member of our party was very complimentary of his or her entree:, including diverse pasta dishes, chicken piccata, and the vegetarian spinach-stuffed artichoke hearts. The flourless chocolate torte was quite rich but the affogata sundae was delectable. We have never been disappointed here.
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AW
AWESOMEDATENIGHT
Raleigh
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined on August 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Words can’t express our overall delight in our dining experience. Every aspect of dinner from the greeting we received upon entering the restaurant to the ambience, the service, the food and will double down on our phenomenal waiter. The word waiter is not even befitting of his level of service and interaction he offered. This is a 5Star restaurant with 10Star delivery on all levels.
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H
Hallee
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Went to Il Palio for my partner’s birthday and it did not disappoint. We had an amazing waiter who was very helpful in navigating the menu and choosing a perfect bottle of wine for us. We felt very well taken care of and the atmosphere was very lovely and well lit. Perfect for a date night. Will be back again to visit the bar and try some specialty cocktails!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Charleston
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Massimo was fantastic as always, great food and drink selections. Would love the beef drippings crostini to make a comeback!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wow, second to none. Excellent experience.
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AW
AdrayllW
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on August 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Took my girlfriend there yesterday for her birthday. Great food and service. Spencer was awesome.
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s
sallyt
Atlanta Metro
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 30, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
As always, quite the gem of a restaurant. They wrote us a card as we were celebrating our 12 yr anniversary and also surprised us with a delicious dessert. Lyle took wonderful care of us. We love this place.
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M
Marlow
Cleveland
46 reviews
vip
5.0
46 reviews
Dined on July 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The bar was a little slow, but the service was attentive. The black truffle pasta was amazing! Probably some of the best Italian we have had in a long time! We hope to be back soon!
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JD
JayD
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 28, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Way exceeded our expectations! We’re Italian American. My wife is a superb Italian cook. We can rarely eat at Italian restaurants outside of Italy because it’s such a disappointing experience. This was the exception. The black truffle pasta was simply incredible. All the ingredients in all the dishes were first rate. We had breakfast there the next morning and the same thing applied. The service was great and we sat outside and that was great too. We can’t recommend it highly enough.
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O
Ostrikon
Western NC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 24, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience4
Food was very tasty. Service was attentive, but not overly so. We had a question about the food preparation - unable to identify all the ingredients from the flavor- and the chef came out to talk to us. Overall, very nice evening.
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KM
KrutiM
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on July 23, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience5
The food was great, a bit oily with the pasta. Bruschetta is an acquired taste here. Great tiramisu.
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E
Emato3
San Diego
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on July 23, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Il Palio is the best restaurant in Chapel Hill. The food was so beautiful and so delicious and the service was impeccable.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Columbus
4 reviews
3.0
4 reviews
Dined on July 21, 2023
overall3food3service5ambience3
Not impressed with the food. We ordered tomato salad , oysters and pasta . The food was ok but not anything like upscale . I won’t return to this Restaurant.
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JM
JohnM
Raleigh
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food and service were at another level. Each dish was expertly prepared, portions that left you wanting to eat more but too full to finish. Be prepared to take some home at the end of dinner. Fantastic wine selection at all levels of price. We will be adding this restaurant to our have to go back to frequently list! Thanks, John
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s
sandy
New York Area
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on July 18, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The food is exceptional and the service incredible. We have been going to Il Palio for a couple decades now and have never been disappointed.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Minneapolis
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Oysters out of the park and black truffle tagliatelle pasta spot on!!
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LA
LoriA
Raleigh
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on July 14, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Massimo gave great service! We had the Iberico Pork Pluma and Black Truffle Tagliatelle- YUM! Followed with some homemade limoncello and an affogato- perfecto!
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FAQs

Il Palio is rated 4.7 stars by 1562 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 27, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 12 times today

1505 East Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Franklin St. and Estes Dr.
Neighborhood
Chapel Hill
Hours of operation
Breakfast Mon–Fri 6:30 am–10:00 am Sat, Sun 7:00 am–11:00 am Dinner Daily 5:30 pm–9:00 pm
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Ample, complimentary self parking and valet parking available.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Robert Compton
Additional
Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.ilpalio.com/
Phone number
(919) 918-2545
Catering
Private dining and meeting space available from 2 - 200. Please contact the Catering & Sales team at 919.929.4000 or via email: astruble@sienahotel.com
Private party facilities
The Ballroom at The Siena Hotel is beautifully appointed with natural light and can seat up to 100 and receptions up to 150. It can also be split into two smaller rooms. The Terrace Room off of Il Palio is also available for events of up to 36 people.
Private party contact
Michelle Castro: (919) 918-2539

Il Palio

Make a reservation

Private dining

Dining areas

Additional information

90 Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Discover the Top Women-Led Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada

Ravioli di Buratta

500 day Aged Prosciutto

One Cheese

The Siena "Continental"

Coffee or Tea and Juice with freshly cut fruit and your choice of pastry$11.00

Healthy Start

Fresh Fruit$9.00

Greek Yogurt$10.00

Old Fashioned Oatmeal$10.00

Crushed Avocado Bruschetta$12.00

Eggs

Farmers Market Omelet$14.00

Egg White Omelet$14.00

Frittata$15.00

Two Eggs Any Style$14.00

Breakfast Sandwich$14.00

House Specialties

Banana Bomboloni$4.50

Buttermilk Pancakes$14.00

Waffles$14.00

Smoked Salmon$15.00

Il Palio Eggs Benedict$18.00

Sides

Bacon$5.00

Breakfast Sausage Patties$5.00

Turkey Sausage Links$5.00

Yellow Corn Grits$5.00

Roasted Home Fry Potatoes$5.00

Breads

Grilled English muffin$4.50

Croissant$4.50

Muffin$4.50

Biscuit$4.50

Bagel$4.50

Coffee

Cup of Coffee$3.00

Cappuccino$4.50

Espresso$3.00

Latte$4.50

Hot Chocolate$3.50

Café Mocha$5.00

Beverages

Milk$3.00

Chocolate Milk$3.00

Hot Tea$3.50

Juice$3.00

Fresh Squeezed Juice$7.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

How is Il Palio restaurant rated?

Is Il Palio currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Dining areas

Additional information

Featured in

90 Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill Restaurants to Love This Valentine's Day

Discover the Top Women-Led Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada