America’s No. 1 Fine-Dining Restaurant Is Hiding In A Tiny North Carolina Mountain Town
A lasagna with more than twenty layers of house-made pasta gets finished with vodka sauce right at your table. It often sells out every night. I can’t imagine leaving that off my order.
That lasagna lives in a restaurant Tripadvisor just named the top fine-dining spot in the entire country. It also landed at No. 16 in the world. Not bad for a place in a mountain town of roughly 1,000 year-round residents.
The story behind it stretches back to Italy, then Miami, then the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Four generations of one family have kept it going. I appreciate that the same family still helps shape the menu.
So how does a tiny mountain town end up with the best fine-dining table in America? The answer starts with a determined widow and a big decision.
A Family Recipe That Traveled From Italy To The Mountains
Ristorante Paoletti’s story begins long before anyone in Highlands tasted its pasta. Arturo and Rita Paoletti came to the United States from Trisungo, Italy, in 1930.
Rita later opened the first Paoletti’s in Miami in 1953 with her children, Luigi and Maria. The restaurant moved to Coral Gables in 1960, where Luigi and his wife, Gina, ran the show.
Another move followed in 1976, this time to Delray Beach. Then life took a hard turn when Luigi passed away unexpectedly.
Gina could have stepped back. Instead, she opened a new location on Main Street in Highlands in 1984.
That choice took real courage. Starting fresh in a small mountain town is no small leap, especially after a family loss.
The gamble paid off in a big way. The family business has now lasted more than 70 years, with over four decades in Highlands alone.
It has weathered recessions and plenty of changes along the way. President Richard Nixon was even counted among its regular guests back in the Florida days.
Knowing this history makes every plate feel a little more meaningful. You’re not just eating dinner. You’re tasting a family’s stubborn, beautiful refusal to quit.
The Award That Put A Small Town On The Map
Plenty of big-city restaurants chase national rankings for years. Ristorante Paoletti claimed the top fine-dining spot in the United States in Tripadvisor’s 2026 Travelers’ Choice Awards.
The same awards ranked it No. 16 for fine dining in the entire world. That’s a serious leap from 2025, when it placed No. 13 in the country.
These awards aren’t handed out by a secret panel in fancy suits. They come from the quality and number of traveler ratings over a full year.
Winners make up less than one percent of all Tripadvisor listings. So the competition is about as crowded as a holiday mall parking lot.
What makes this win so fun is the setting. Highlands has just over 1,000 year-round residents, yet it now holds bragging rights over places like New York and Chicago.
North Carolina has plenty of great food, but this honor feels extra special. A mountain town beating major cities is the kind of story people love to share.
My advice? Book early once you decide to go. A national title tends to make a popular restaurant even busier.
Twenty Layers Of Lasagna Deserve Your Full Attention
Some dishes are good. The Lasagna alla Vodka is practically a legend.
It’s built with more than twenty layers of house-made pasta, plus ricotta and mozzarella. Then your server finishes it at the table with the family’s own vodka sauce.
That tableside moment turns dinner into a little show. It also explains why the dish often sells out every night.
If lasagna is your thing, plan accordingly. An earlier reservation might give you a better shot before the kitchen runs out.
The pasta list keeps going from there. You’ll find Cannelloni All’ Emiliana, Mezze Rigatoni alla Bolognese, and Spaghetti Alla Carbonara.
There’s also Tortellini Alla Panna Con Prosciutto E Piselli, a mouthful to say and probably a pleasure to eat. Trofie Ai Funghi brings mushrooms into the mix.
Meat-free diners can look at the Eggplant Lasagna. Seafood fans might lean toward Linguine alle Vongole with clams.
I’d probably start with the lasagna and share it with the table. That way everyone gets a taste, and nobody has to fight over the last bite. Probably.
Fresh Fish Flies In Before You Even Sit Down
Being far from the coast doesn’t slow this kitchen down one bit. Fish gets flown in fresh daily, and the restaurant has a decades-long reputation for coastal seafood.
That reputation makes sense when you remember the family’s Florida roots. Miami, Coral Gables, and Delray Beach all sit close to the ocean.
The menu features Faroe Island salmon, Gulf black grouper, and red snapper. There’s also North Carolina rainbow trout, a nice nod to the home state.
Several fish can be prepared Francese or Piccata. Both are classic Italian styles, so you get to pick your favorite.
Then there’s the Linguine Pescatore. It packs scallops, shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams into one bowl.
Garlic, olive oil, crushed red pepper, oregano, and basil bring the flavor. A hint of cream rounds it all out.
Picking just one seafood dish might be the hardest part of the night. Good luck ignoring the Pescatore once someone reads that ingredient list out loud.
Daily specials often spotlight seasonal and local ingredients too. Ask about them before you lock in your order.
Hearty Mountain Plates For Serious Appetites
Cool mountain evenings call for something rich. The meat section of the menu answers that call with real confidence.
Osso Buco and Brasato Al Barolo bring slow-cooked comfort to the table. Piccata Di Pollo offers a lighter, lemony choice.
Feeling adventurous? The Elk Rib Chop fits the Blue Ridge setting perfectly.
Steak lovers can go for the Grass-Fed NY Strip with Gorgonzola Butter. The Porcini Crusted Rack of Australian Lamb sounds just as tempting.
Starters deserve some love too. The Pulpetta di Ricotta is a ricotta meatball, and the Calamari Fritti is gluten-free with spicy marinara.
Carpaccio Di Manzo, Cozze in Bianco with Prince Edward Island mussels, and Risotto Con Funghi round out the antipasti. Salads include a Burrata Caprese, Roasted Beet Salad, and a classic Caesar.
Save a little room at the end. Classic tiramisu and homemade gelati usually wait on the dessert menu.
A smart move is splitting a starter and a salad. That leaves space for a big entree and something sweet without needing a nap in the car afterward.
A New Chef Keeps The Old Magic Fresh
April 2024 brought a big change behind the kitchen doors. Chef Massimiliano Proietti was chosen to lead the kitchen at Ristorante Paoletti.
Bringing in a new chef at a beloved restaurant can feel risky. Nobody wants their favorite dish to suddenly taste different.
The family handled it wisely. They still help create the menu, working alongside the chef.
Chef Proietti adds his own creations to the lineup. He also collaborates on dishes inspired by the family’s trips to Italy.
That mix keeps things balanced. Longtime favorites stay put, while fresh ideas find their way onto plates.
The menu reflects Northern Italian cooking at its core. Classic dishes sit right next to modern takes on old traditions.
Think of it like a family recipe box with a few new cards tucked in the back. The heart stays the same, but there’s always something new to try.
For repeat visitors, that’s great news. You can order your old favorite and still find a surprise on the specials list.
I love that balance. Tradition with a little curiosity is a pretty good recipe for staying on top.
Four Generations Still Greet You At The Door
Family businesses often fade after a generation or two. Ristorante Paoletti is now on its fourth.
Arthur Paoletti, Rita’s grandson, is the third-generation owner. His daughter, Gina Paoletti, serves as director of operations and represents the fourth generation.
That shared name is a sweet touch. The younger Gina carries on the legacy of the woman who brought the restaurant to Highlands.
The family circle stretches beyond blood relatives. Julio Bonilla has welcomed guests for 30 years and is considered part of the family.
Thirty years at one restaurant is rare these days. Most people switch jobs more often than they replace their sneakers.
The setting matches that family feel. Expect a warm, sophisticated, old-world atmosphere with attentive service and white tablecloths.
Knowledgeable staff guide you through the menu. The dining room also keeps partitions, which helps tables feel a bit more private.
Fine dining can sometimes feel stiff or chilly. Here, the goal seems to be making you feel like a guest at a big family dinner.
Dress nicely, relax, and enjoy being looked after for the evening.
Your Seat On Main Street Requires A Little Planning
You’ll find the restaurant at 440 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741. It sits right in the heart of this small mountain town.
Highlands rests at 4,110 feet in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Georgia state line is only a few miles away.
That high elevation means cooler air than much of North Carolina. A light jacket for the evening stroll after dinner might be smart.
Dinner runs every day from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations are recommended and open up to 30 days ahead.
Most bookings go through Resy. You can also send a request through the restaurant’s online portal.
Thirty days isn’t a long window, so set a reminder. With a national title in hand, tables may go quickly.
Separate bar seating is another option. It gives you a different way to enjoy the menu and atmosphere.
Plan some extra time to wander Main Street before your reservation. A small town walk is a lovely way to build an appetite.
Just don’t wander so long that you miss your table. That lasagna won’t wait forever.