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    Ciao Papi at River Lodge

    4.2 (43 reviews)
    Closed 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 week ago

    Ciao Papi at River Lodge Photos

    CIAO PAPI AT RIVER LODGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Touristy
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Ciao Papi at River Lodge

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    Seabass, citrus glazed, polenta
    Hellie N.

    We decided to eat here after a long drive up to Paso Robles. A new restaurant within the renovated River Lodge motel, I ordered a "Pool side Hugo", a gin based cocktail with mint. It was so refreshing while sipping away next to their restaurant firepit. Food-wise, we ordered the roasted chicken, the seabass sitting on top of a bed of polenta, and we were served the ciao papi on the house. Everything was fresh and delicious. Service was friendly, the poolside view was great.

    Really delicious Holiday drinks and appetizers.
    Shannon M.

    Stopped by with some girlfriends for Holiday drinks and appetizers. We had heard so many good things about this place. It was a little chilly. You have to eat outside. They had lots of lap blankets we could use as well as overhead heaters. We had great service from Charlie. We felt like we had made a new friend. The appetizers and focaccia bread were so delicious. They were nice enough to bring us an extra order of bread as we just couldn't get enough. We will definitely come back, but might wait until it is a little warmer.

    View from the open air restaurant.
    Soraya L.

    Beautiful open air restaurant, food was delicious had pizza and Ceaser salad all very good. Customer service was great. Next visit I want to dip in the pool.

    Simple D.

    Kodi, Louie and Anthony (sorry if spelled wrong) were simply amazing. We had pool passes two days in a row at this lovely place. We ate amazing food had great liquid refreshments and some sun. The service, friendliness and professionalism exhibited with their servers was profound. Thank you!

    Mark M.

    Delicious pizza and the lettuce wraps were perfect! The setting is perfect. What a cool roadside hotel!

    Aaron D.

    Everything was fine except portions. The cheapest food a restaurant can make is spaghetti and they give children size portions. Check the photo. Is that worth $25+ tax &tip? The quality of food and atmosphere are amazing but you should never leave hungry after a $25 meal. There was so much sauce left over they could have included $.50 more spaghetti and given a good meal.

    Burrata arugula peach salad
    Tony C.

    The place is casual, by a motel pool. Warm even in the shade... The waitresses were friendly and helpful. The food was very good, with a limited menu.

    Manzanilla Salad
    A F.

    Hoping the Panzanella salad was vegan because I love this place. Super dog friendly and chill updates 50s vibe with a creative menu. Great service. Brave the elements and check it out when you're over downtown Paso. The hotel is adorable too! Would love to see vegan options highlighted on the menu.

    Daiana F.

    Food was delicious and fresh. The meatballs, pasta, and salad were dinner. Loved it all. The fries we had by the pool with some wine earlier.

    Electric Boots (tequila, grapefruit, jalapeno & strawberry) & Ciao Papi (espresso martini)
    Frugalista C.

    So happy to see what they've done with this hotel and restaurant! The ambiance is amazing! The food is interesting, but could use some fine tuning. The prices are a bit high for the portions, and the flavors could be punched up a bit. Both the Sea Bass Crudo and the Burrata Salad could have used more citrus, and the Electric Boots cocktail could have had a bit more intense flavor. The Ciao Papi cocktail was great. Hopefully they'll get the food a little bit more dialed in.

    Poolside dining

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    2 years ago

    The ambiance is spectacular. The food is amazing and so full of flavors. The server was very kind. Definitely a spot you need to check out.

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    1 year ago

    10/10 amazing food amazing service. It's tucked away with a nice firelight ambiance. Will be going again.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Ciao Papi at River Lodge

    Are dogs allowed?

    No. Kids aren't even allowed outside of the immediate restaurant area.

    Do they have gluten free options?

    Yes they do

    Hi for your restaurant are customers also allowed to use the pool or public just open to the restaurant?

    Pool is for hotel guests only right now

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    4.3(318 reviews)
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    Let me just preface this by saying, I knew 'jack diddley' about this place till my cousin took me…read morethere, so I owe her all the thanks and praise for that. Then, of course, one would need to thank the bar for their drinks and presentations, which are awesome. You need a bit of showmanship to perform and serve at a place like this. Ok, here we go. Tucked away on a back street in Paso lies this interesting and very amazing venue. I would have never imagined in my wildest dreams going to a place like this, let alone what was inside. To be honest, I at first felt like I was entering the twilight zone, the first time I came here. In the back of my mind, I was thinking, " Is this what it felt like going to something like this during prohibition times? Now, in this post, I will not share all about your entrance, etc., into this place, as that takes the fun out of it, but I must add that if you are in the Paso area, this is a must on your list. Let's go back and recreate yesteryear, a very intimate and very exclusive, club-like atmosphere. You never know who is watching you; it's all that mystery. Does it feel a bit like the game CLUE"? You tell me. :-) Just remember this: speak easy, abide by their rules, speak quietly, and have fun!

    Our visit to 1122 was like taking a step back in time! From the bartenders in their vests and hats,…read moredimmed lighting and 'ol timey music playing in the background, everything is legendary. No phones allowed, so you are completely free from distractions and can completely enjoy the intimate experience. We went shortly after opening hours, as we did not have a reservation. Our wait was short and we were soon seated at the bar enjoying our signature cocktails. Love the atmosphere and the fact they are using cocktail smokers and absinthe fountains in front of you. I can see why The 1122 is considered to be in the top 50 speakeasy bars. A must visit and cool experience in Paso Robles.

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    Wine Shine & Tin City Distillery  - Tin City Distillery Tastings

    Wine Shine & Tin City Distillery

    4.7(85 reviews)
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    Wow! This place was a great stop for those discerning spirits drinkers. It was hopping outside…read morewith the younger crowd getting the mixed drinks and hanging outside in the beautiful weather. I was more interested in sampling their collection and it did not disappoint. The host was gracious to let us try several bottles of gin, vodka and bourbon. Personally, to my surprise, I liked the really deep and rich flavors of their top shelf bourbon. The Chocolate Love vodka was quite the surprise. My friend loved it and I had to get at least one bottle through I really should have gotten three. Great vodka flavors with a nice hint of chocolate. Personally, I recommend going inside to get the full service tasting and go outside for a cocktail to enjoy during those wonderful last afternoons.

    I have been going to tin city for years. and I I've just now spotted this distillery that has been…read moreestablished for over 12 years! Tucked in the middle of tin city you will find this distillery that offers both inside and outside patio seating. The distillery offers two bars: an indoor/outdoor bar and a more formal indoor bar. The distillery offers both tastings and mix cocktails. The cocktails are solid in taste and amount of alcohol! Plus you can buy their products! Gin, vodka and whiskey can be had there! I also appreciate the great staff! Solid knowledge of the distillery process and their products. On the weekends parking can be challenging but across from tin city you can find an overflow parking lot.

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    Wine Shine & Tin City Distillery  - Scrumptious craft cocktail from Tin City Distillery

    Scrumptious craft cocktail from Tin City Distillery

    Wine Shine & Tin City Distillery  - Tin City Distillery Bourbon - 80 proof ($65)

    Tin City Distillery Bourbon - 80 proof ($65)

    Wine Shine & Tin City Distillery

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    Pappy McGregor's

    Pappy McGregor's

    3.6(822 reviews)
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    Really straightforward gastropub! Really nice staff and patrons!…read more Really enjoyed the happy hour! Drinks were very yummy and solid. We ordered the chili cucumber and birdie juice. 10/10, yummy, strong, and enjoyable We ordered raw oysters which were solid. Also the Rockefeller which was super good! Pretty solid options for food, drinks, and friendly service. Will be back!

    This was my second visit to Pappy McGregor's in about six months. It had been recommended by…read morefriends who live in the area, and my first experience was solid enough that I was looking forward to coming back. On my first visit (evening), we walked in without a reservation and were quickly seated at the last available table. The place had a lively atmosphere, and it looked like part of the space turns into more of a dance floor later in the night. I had the French onion soup, raw oysters, and the pot pie, all of which were good. The pot pie in particular is something I would recommend. This most recent visit was for lunch on a weekday. There were plenty of open tables, and we were seated right away. Parking was easy, which is typical outside of busy weekends. The experience this time around was more mixed. We wanted to order oysters Rockefeller, but they were completely out of oysters, which was disappointing. I ordered a black and tan, which tasted fine, but it came with a design on top that I wasn't expecting. Not a big deal, just different from what I had in mind. For food, my girlfriend ordered the blackened salmon and said it was good. I went with the corned beef and cabbage. The corned beef itself was flavorful and served over mashed potatoes, which were well done. The cabbage, though, wasn't what I expected. Instead of a more traditional preparation, it was grilled with char marks and topped with au jus. The texture came out a bit rubbery and didn't really absorb the flavor well, which made that part of the dish underwhelming. Service was okay but not great. My water ran empty at one point, and I had to ask for a refill. We also ordered boneless wings as an appetizer and asked for extra ranch, which didn't come out until we reminded the server. The biggest issue, though, was something I noticed from our table with a partial view into the kitchen. An employee had their shoe up on a shelf that appeared to be holding clean dishes, which didn't come across as sanitary. I also saw food being adjusted on a plate by someone who didn't appear to be the cook. I can't speak to what's happening behind the scenes in terms of handwashing or procedures, but visually, it raised concerns. That part of the experience honestly left a bad impression. Between that, the missed items, and some inconsistencies with the food, it changed how I feel about coming back. My first visit had me excited to return, but after this one, I'm not sure I would.

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    Pappy McGregor's
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    The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar - Shrimp & Grits

    The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar

    4.1(1.9k reviews)
    2.8 mi
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    We were in town and looking for a place for dinner and decided to make a reservation at the hatch…read morerotisserie bar...We're glad we did! Here is what we noticed: - The inside is very cozy and the location is just about a block or so off the Paso Robles Square. - The menu has a broad range of cocktails, so my wife and I each selected one of those. There are daily specials and so we opted for the Chicken Pot Pie, which was the special on Monday. We started with the Wedge Salad with Chicken, and split both that and the pot pie. It was a perfect amount of food and both dishes were really good. - Service was very good. Bottom line: The Hatch was a great place to go...Not super fancy but also not too casual. Food was great as was the atmosphere. We would go back!

    A couple of years ago, we were planning to host a private dinner event here, so since I was in the…read morearea, I decided to check it out. The space is somewhat small and tight for larger parties; however, it is perfect for casual dining. I really liked the place--it wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but I wasn't disappointed either. Keep in mind that it can be a bit pricey; it's not so casual that it's inexpensive. I would estimate spending between $50 to $100 per person for a nice meal, including drinks and gratuity. When you're in Paso Robles, do what the locals and visitors alike do: head over to Hatch Rotisserie & Bar for a nice, down-to-earth upscale vibe.

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    The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar
    The Hatch Rotisserie & Bar - Cocktails & fresh garnish

    Cocktails & fresh garnish

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    Pony Club Bar

    4.1(118 reviews)
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    We walked in to Pony Club hoping to grab a warm tea and beer after walking around in the cold night…read moreair. We were greeted by a friendly server named Sara (hopefully, I recalled her name correctly). Before we were seated, I asked if they had hot herbal tea and she said they definitely did. Although hot tea wasn't part of the bar menu, she went out of her way to accommodate my request. She even had to get the hot water from the hotel. She was so sweet! The bar lounge wasn't overly large but they did their best to accommodate their patrons. Before we finished our drinks. some new patrons walked in and they had to be turned away since the lounge area was already filled. We kept our visit short so they could accommodate more patrons. I'm sure the food they offered would have been delicious but we had already eaten dinner. The sticky toffee pudding sounded like it would have been wonderful! Perhaps we'll be able to stop for dinner or a casual bite to eat next time we're in Paso Robles! I hope others enjoy their visit with Sara and the other staff at Pony Club too!

    Fun evening at Pony club bar with our friends from Sculpterra winery. Paul the wine maker…read moreentertained us with accolades of his amazing wines . We enjoyed the vionier, mega focus and reserve Cab that we paired with the chocolate cake. We love his wines and we be enjoying the upcoming winery events.

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    Pony Club Bar at Hotel Cheval

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    Pig Iron - Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich

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    4.0(304 reviews)
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    It's Pig Iron like the name says folks!! The pig iron sandwich is absolutely the best pulled pork…read moreI've had in San Luis Obispo county! Maybe it is because we are watching "Yellowstone" on TV, but I was craving the flavor of the Old West, which can still be found in many places around SLO. We returned to Pig Iron Restaurant in Templeton, where we had dined about three years ago when they very first opened up! it was kind of bare and spacious our first time there. It was great to see how they have added to the space and now have room for multiple functions! There's a huge outdoor dining patio with a coffee pick up bar. There's a an indoor dining area where you order your food at a counter. There's also the Club Car Bar with its own separate room. I remembered that Pig Iron sando was good. My husband ordered the Pig Iron. I went for two smoked chicken, Cowboy Tacos, and our friend got a burger. We topped it all off with onion rings. It's the kind of place that you order at a counter in the Merchandise room, then take a buzzer to your table. We commandeered a large booth in the fairly small dining room. It has maybe eight or 10 tables. There is are a couple lounge chairs by the fireplace, which is very cozy on a cool day. By the time our food was ready, the dining room was full. That Pig Iron pulled pork sando is worth the trip! The meat is super tender, and the sauce is piquant and not too spicy. Topped with cole slaw, it is a perfect lunchtime meal. Burger was also nicely done kind of a smashed burger. The tacos were aptly named Cowboy Tacos, as I felt that they were gringo tacos. They were bland, since they didn't have sauce on them and the chicken was in tiny chunks and not shredded. The onion rings were crispy and fun to dunk in the Ranch dressing. We hunkered down cowboy style and enjoyed our meal, talking about about outer space and the moon trip while enjoying our food in the cozy ambience of an evocative historic setting!

    Today my family and my infant child went to visit your establishment and this was our second time…read morethere. The first time was pleasant and was during your grand opening (we are not locals, so even though we occasionally visit family in Atascadero we finally had a chance to come back.) We walked in around 4 to get a drink and walked to the bar area to sit at a big round booth since it was not very busy. While we were waiting for the bartender to come back and as I was talking to my family amongst ourselves wondering where the bartender was, someone at the bar said "You cant sit at that booth because it was reserved" and said a specific time range and says of the week it was reserved. A few minutes later the bartender shows up and I ask him where we could sit and he says "Anywhere you'd like!" I told the bartender that the man at the bar said we couldn't sit at the booth we asked about and the bartender said to ignore him because he worked there. Both the bartender and the man at the bar that was supposedly an employee off duty were visibly drunk. The bartender was very friendly at least. I would think that even if you are an employee off duty you would either ignore customers or be courteous at least. There was another employee interacting with the rude off duty employee as well so I can only assume. I felt extremely uncomfortable especially since after that interaction I saw a sign that said family was welcomed throughout the restaurant. I feel that this was unprofessional... if this was just a joke this was unacceptable from the bartender.

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    Etto Pasta Bar

    Etto Pasta Bar

    4.4(438 reviews)
    0.9 mi
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    I feel like "fresh" pasta can be pretty overrated and is a very common thing to see advertised a…read morelot. However, this is some differentiated pasta served here. We shared the Gamberi fra Diavolo and while we were not even hungry, we really enjoyed this dish. A ton of fresh juicy prawns to the point I felt like almost every other bite had a prawn in it. We enjoyed this so much that it motivated us to buy some fresh pasta, sauce, and a lasagna from the attached market to take home for later. Also, service was so fast, we were peaking at the market and were surprised as our food was ready so quickly.

    My wife and I decided to try Etto Pasta Bar after reading the positive reviews and hearing others…read morein town raving about the food and service. We called ahead and were told no reservations were needed as they were not busy. We arrived about 1 hour before the lunch service was ending and there were only two other families in the restaurant and we were promptly told to select our table I was told that we had to place our order at the counter after we reviewed the menu. Our table had dinnerware and water glasses but no salt and pepper or other spices. We suspected they would be provided when we placed our order. I ordered the daily special - lemon cream linguini with salmon and my wife ordered the eggplant parmigiana (one of her favorite dishes). We also ordered the Caesar salad to share and the house-made potato chips. We both ordered ice tea drinks but had to request sweetener and when we did not receive any I had to retrieve some from the front counter. Our entrees were served within a few minutes and before our Caesar salad so we could not enjoy our entrees immediately. When our salad arrived I had to ask for a separate plate to share with my wife even though I had told the person who took my order that we were sharing it. When the salad arrived we had to ask for pepper and Parmesan cheese to season our salad and were told they did not provide croutons with the salad. By the time we got to our entrees they were lukewarm. The eggplant parmigiana was served in a small dish and lacked flavor. The lemon cream linguini also lacked flavor and the salmon portion was very small. At no time during our meal did our server check on us to ask us if we needed anything or whether we were enjoying our meal. We did notice the servers chatting in the corner while the customers were dining and appeared to be ignoring the diners. We did not finish our meal and boxed up the potato chips (which were delicious and plentiful) and left the restaurant without any acknowledgement from the waitstaff or the front counter person. I think management needs to train their waitstaff on their customer service. It wasn't as if they were busy with other customers. One more thing: since it was lunch service and I had to order our meal and pay for it before we were served I left a generous tip which, in retrospect, was not earned since we were completely ignored during our meal. I suppose I should have mentioned it to the staff but there was no one around when we left the restaurant except the three waitstaff who were still chatting in the corner. Needless to say, we will not be returning to Etto even though we live in Paso Robles.

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    Etto Pasta Bar - Dining area.

    Dining area.

    Etto Pasta Bar - Italian sausage

    Italian sausage

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    Ciao Papi at River Lodge - pizza - Updated May 2026

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