Ciao Papi

Ciao Papi reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. N

   Noel

   San Francisco4 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on February 21, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We were a little hesitant about having dinner at an outdoor restaurant at this time of the year but that was put to rest when they closed the roof and turned on the heaters. This, plus the fireplace in the center of restaurant made such a comfortable atmosphere. We ordered the Thursday night special of ribeye steak with sides and it was delicious. The only regret about it is that they only do it once a week, they need to do it more. We ordered quite a bit of food and all of it was delicious. The staff was so nice and professional that it made our evening quite enjoyable. Because they knew that we were celebrating our anniversary, they brought over two glasses of champagne on the house which we truly appreciated. They honestly made this night one to remember.
   

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2. E

   Eric

   San Francisco1 review

   5.0

   Dined on December 27, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   It was a nice place to celebrate our 35th anniversary. The host was very nice, the place was clean and even that it was raining and we were outside the place was great. Loved to come back some other time.
   

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   Ciao PapiResponded on December 27, 2024

   Thank you for celebrating your 35th anniversary with us! We’re so glad you enjoyed the atmosphere, our hospitality, and the experience, even with the rainy weather. We’d love to welcome you back again soon for another memorable visit!
   

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3. S

   Sarajane

   Los Angeles1 review

   2.0

   Dined on December 26, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Nice Outdoor seating and atmosphere. Food was not good. Root Vegetable Salad had uncooked turnips and cold uncooked kale and one small piece of carrot. Crab cakes were dry and had no flavor or interesting taste. Soup was more like a pumpkin pie filling, Lasagna was poor and uneatable. I am really suprised as I had a wonderful meal here back in July when they first opened. Maybe the Chef was hung over from his Xmas celebration.
   

   Ciao PapiResponded on December 27, 2024

   Thank you for your feedback. I’m sorry to hear the food didn’t meet your expectations, especially after your wonderful experience with us in July. Your comments about the dishes have been shared with our culinary team to ensure improvements are made. We’d love the chance to welcome you back for a better experience. Please feel free to reach out to us if you’d like to discuss further or plan a return visit.
   

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4. T

   Timothy

   San Francisco11 reviews

   2.0

   Dined on December 26, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 4

   My wife and I had looked forward to eating at Ciao Papi as it looked like a fun place with good ratings. Due to the holiday it was a set menu, 3 courses with options to choose from. The first course was fair, my wife sent her shrimp and polenta back as it was not hot, came back same temperature, lukewarm. My fish was dry on my main course, and both of our potatoes and vegetables were over cooked. The panna cotta was the highlight of the meal, very good. The service was poor took 4 requests to get water, we were overcharged for the wine and the server was sarcastic. For a $200 meal it was less than satisfying. The host was very polite and friendly although we won’t be going back.
   

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5. c

   cindy

   San Francisco27 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on December 26, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 2

   While we were glad to find Ciao Papi open on Christmas Day, our experience was very disappointing. The only dining space was outside wrapped in clear plastic with space heaters scattered around. There were big gaps in the plastic so we were very cold and uncomfortable. The service was so slow that by the time they came to take our order several items on the pre-fix menu were gone. Then what we did get was not appetizing - fish had no seasoning & tasted fishy. The lamb shank (osso buco) was also unseasoned and tasted blah. The steak was good but the crab butter on top was fishy. Dessert choices were odd and not great. Bartender was amazing. We saw potential but not without some changes.
   

   Ciao PapiResponded on December 27, 2024

   Thank you for sharing your feedback about your Christmas Day visit to Ciao Papi. I’m truly sorry to hear about the discomfort with our outdoor setup, the slow service, and the issues with your meal. This is not the experience we aim to provide, and I’ve shared your comments with our team to ensure improvements are made. I’m glad you enjoyed the steak and the bartender’s service, and we appreciate your recognition of our potential. We’d love the opportunity to welcome you back for a better experience. Please feel free to reach out to me directly at [your contact information] if you’d like to discuss further or plan a return visit.
   

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6. D

   Dave

   Central Coast1 review

   2.0

   Dined on December 26, 2024

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 4

   We are locals who have been wanting to try Ciao Papi since first learning the River Lodge would have an onsite restaurant. Unfortunately, our experience was subpar. That said, we dined on Christmas Day so take the following with a grain of salt as I used to work in the restaurant industry and am wildly grateful for anyone who works on holidays. Pros: The River Lodge is a beautiful desert-style setting. We loved the lighting, the design, the fire vibes. Our server (unfortunately I forget her name) was really sweet. She got our orders correct and was very kind even on a busy day (and a holiday, nonetheless). Cons: The entire seating area is al fresco, which I normally love, but wasn't great during winter and won't be great during Paso's hot summers. The tables are squished in together so noise travels easily and we felt kind of on top of each other. The food was just "eh" and was small portions for high prices. We wouldn't choose it The biggest bummer was the manager. We had chosen to make a reservation at this restaurant because of their a la carte options. As we were booking for Christmas Day, most restaurants were very clear that they would be serving prix fixe meals. Understandable, but not what we wanted. I read every word of their description, their policies, etc. It very clearly stated that the menu would be "limited a la carte options as well as family-style options". When we arrived, we were seated and provided with a $75pp prix fixe menu (the first we heard of this) with a handful of options that we weren't fond of. We were not very hungry and didn't want to spend $150+ to eat things we weren't interested in. We got up and let the hostess know of the miscommunication. She brought her manager over who was very rude and inconsiderate, not ever acknowledging that they had miscommunicated. His dismissive attitude made it feel like the deception was purposeful. This guy does not belong in service.
   

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7. S

   Swathi

   Minneapolis1 review

   1.0

   Dined on December 26, 2024

   1. Overall 1
   2. Food 1
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 2

   Terrible food quality, overpriced. Never coming back here again.
   

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8. N

   Nilda

   New York City5 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on December 16, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Delicious food- especially the shrimp scampi dish! Drinks were also excellent! Beautiful setting and our server was great. Will definitely return!
   

   Ciao PapiResponded on December 22, 2024

   Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you enjoyed the shrimp scampi, our drinks, and the ambiance. It’s also great to know our server helped make your experience memorable. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon!
   

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9. L

   Lily

   New York City3 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on November 29, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Don’t be fooled by the motel exterior inside it is just beautiful. The outdoor bar has such a cool vibe and the dining area has a beautiful fire pit in the middle with gorgeous furnishings. We enjoyed a Thanksgiving meal here and it was amazing! 
   

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   Ciao PapiResponded on December 22, 2024

   Thank you for your fantastic review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the unexpected charm of our space, from the cozy fire pit to the cool vibe of the outdoor bar. It’s wonderful to hear that your Thanksgiving meal with us was amazing—we’re honored to have been part of your celebration. We hope to welcome you back again soon!
   

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10. C

    Courtney

    Central Coast4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on November 28, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    Food was amazing. Ambiance was great. The staff was super nice! Loved the non-alcoholic cocktails!
    

    Ciao PapiResponded on December 22, 2024

    Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the food, ambiance, and the friendly service. It’s wonderful to hear you loved our non-alcoholic cocktails too—they’re a favorite of ours! We can’t wait to welcome you back soon!
    

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