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    Ciao Papi at River Lodge

    4.2 (43 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Ciao Papi at River Lodge Photos

    CIAO PAPI AT RIVER LODGE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Hipster
    Casual
    Touristy
    Outdoor seating

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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

    Cara and Angie are so amazing!!! They went above and beyond and kept us laughing the whole time!

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    Photo of Matt G.
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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Lovely setting, attentive staff, extremely fresh selections. We had lunch but will make a point of returning for dinner ~

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    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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    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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    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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    Amazing, food, service and drinks. The trifecta of dining happiness. Very first time visiting every…read moreitem was delicious. Service was top notch from the welcoming, our liquid chef Anthony to our fabulous server Danny. The dining area is lovely. We ate in the bar area with a nice view of the busy street and downtown Paso feel. We will be back!

    On Monday, April 20, the four of us went to dinner while visiting Paso Robles. Since we were all…read morefrom out of town--and one member of our group is vegan--we were looking for a nice restaurant that could accommodate everyone. This restaurant came highly recommended, and it absolutely lived up to the praise. When we arrived, the setting was lovely, and we were warmly welcomed by Michelle. She was gracious, attentive, and made us feel right at home. We especially appreciated the personalized place card waiting for us with our reservation. At first, my wife and her friend were a bit unsure as they reviewed the menu, as they didn't immediately see options that appealed to them. However, that quickly changed. Our friend ordered the asparagus salad and croquettes, while my wife chose the rosemary garlic grilled prawns and roasted heirloom carrots. Both dishes completely exceeded expectations--they were blown away by how flavorful and well-prepared everything was. Over the course of our trip, we visited many wineries and enjoyed several excellent meals throughout the Central Coast. Yet by the end of it, both my wife and her friend agreed that this dinner stood out as the most memorable--truly the highlight among many great experiences. Thank you for starting our trip on such a high note.

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    Pappy McGregor's

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    3.6(823 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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    Ciao Papi at River Lodge - pizza - Updated May 2026

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