Cucina di Paisano

865 York Mills Rd #8, North York, ON M3B 1Y6

Call: (416) 222-5487

This Italian eatery is located in the Don Mills & York Mills neighbourhood serving up generous portions of flavorful food in a friendly environment.  The staff are attentive without being pushy and are happy to accommodate special requests. Service animals are also welcome!

Paisano’s threshold-free entrance has two sets of 34” double doors separated by a small vestibule, with automatic openers operating the outside set of doors. I couldn’t find an automatic opener to enter the inside set of doors, and the one to exit the inside set of doors is not within reach of anyone in a wheelchair due to a lot of clutter around it.  However, the staff were very helpful and quick to assist me. Otherwise, there is sufficient space to maneuver wheelchairs and other mobility devices throughout most of the restaurant.

The dining areas can accommodate groups within two separate private dining areas, or by putting tables together in the main dining area. You can actually see a virtual 360º tour on their website, under the “gallery” link.  The tables have 28½” clearance and my legs were able to fit under the table while in my wheelchair. There is also a section of booths along the long side of the bar, with a small raised dining area at the very rear of the restaurant. Other than this area, the restaurant is level throughout with tile and wood flooring.  Within the dining room, music is muted to facilitate conversation, however, in the restrooms, you can get a lesson in Italian (at a louder volume).

Both lunch and dinner menus are printed with white lettering on black background, in a large-sized font. They offer gluten-free and vegetarian options, and can accommodate other dietary sensitivities if asked. You can also access the menus online, and can place an order for pickup or delivery from Skip the Dishes right from Paisano’s website. The restaurant was relatively quiet during our early afternoon visit on a Saturday, however, it does tend to get busy at lunch and dinner times, especially on weekdays – reservations are recommended but not mandatory.

The restrooms are through a door and down a corridor which includes a private accessible washroom.  There are no automatic door openers, however, every time I’ve been there, a staff member will hurry over to assist me with the doors.  The accessible washroom is a generous 89”x 77” size with loads of turning radius and a 35” door. There is two grab bars, a sink that a wheelchair can get under with 31” clearance under the counter, an automatic hand dryer and an infant change table.

There is a good-sized parking lot around the front and west sides of the building that also houses a number of other eateries. There are accessible parking spots scattered throughout the lot, however, if you can snag the spot right in front of Paisanos, your side ramp will land you right onto the sidewalk. If taking transit, the #95 York Mills accessible bus will drop you off at Upjohn Road (on the west side of the building), and the #25 Don Mills accessible bus will drop you off about the distance of 2 downtown blocks away.  Of course, WheelTrans will take you right to the restaurant.

In the winter the patio is closed, however during patio season, it is another great way to enjoy all that this restaurant has to offer.