Best Dining in Clermont County- #6 Padrino Italian

Padrino Italian

111 Main Street Milford, Ohio 45150

513-965-0100

I took a late lunch to check out this hip and unique Italian restaurant. I was greeted by a nice waitress and took a seat in the corner of Padrinos, which means “Godfather” in Italian.

I started my lunch with a simple water but trust me when I say their beer and wine menu was impressive. A lot of local beers to try and a wide range of wine to please the crowd.

I have always heard great things about the Garlic Knots on the appetizer menu so I gave them a try. Just as I expected, they tasted just as amazing as they looked. They were handmade and toasted with garlic butter, Parmesan cheese and served with house made marinara sauce. It makes my mouth water just looking at this photo.

When checking out the menu there was a wide variety to choose from. With an Italian chef in the kitchen, you will find many traditional Italian plates with the majority of your options being gourmet pizza, pasta entrees or hoagie sandwiches. You will also find an assortment of soups and salads to compliment either the side of your meal or as a whole meal for those looking to grab just a quick bite.  You can also take advantage of their limited time XL chicken wing special featuring a variety of hot sauces.

For myself, I decided to try the popular lasagna entree. With each entree you will be served a perfectly sized salad. The salad looked so delicious with its homemade ranch, I immediately began to eat it. I started eating it so fast that I totally forgot to take a picture of it. Just believe me when I say it was a great start before receiving my entree.

Before I knew it, my entree was served to me and if this lasagna wasn’t already enough carbs, I graciously accepted another garlic knot to go along with it. And did I mention cheese? For all you cheese lovers, this is the spot for you! My lasagna was served at the perfect temperature and was everything I thought it would be and more. I could only eat about a fourth of it because the serving sizes are huge, but what I did have was totally worth it.

After my lunch I connected with the owner of this popular restaurant, Hunter Thomas. Hunter seemed like a relaxed and causal business owner who pours his heart into this restaurant. I chatted with him for a while and he told me his story about how Padrinos became this beloved spot in downtown Milford. Opening in 2009, this restaurant was first thought to be a BBQ spot, but after each meeting Hunter and his team would order a pizza from his neighboring restaurant, which gave him the idea of Italian. A lot of pieces fell into the right spot, one thing lead to another and before he knew it Padrinos was open for business. This has always been a family owned and operated business and the dedicated staff gives you an experience you cannot find anywhere else.

I asked Hunter what his favorite item on the menu was. He said that was a tough question to answer, but meatball sliders on garlic knots, chicken Parmesan and pizzas were the top of the menu for him and the majority of his customers. The creation of the menu is a collaborated effort between the chef, owners, and staff. Lastly, I asked him what else a visitor or a customer should know about this popular American- Italian restaurant. He said plan to be entertained as you enjoy your dinner with Wednesday’s music trivia, Thursday’s Last Call Trivia and Saturday’s live music from talented local bands and musicians. During the spring, summer and early fall you can enjoy your meal outside on their front and back patio. And don’t let the street parking of downtown Milford scare you, Padrinos has a parking lot behind the restaurant for all customers to enjoy. This food is worth a try. Try it once and I can guarantee you, you’ll be back for more. For more information about Padrinos you can visit their website at www.padrinoitalian.com.