Do a search below using the city or postal code search box if your city is not listed above.
Get dining news including restaurant closures and qualify for giveaways.
Papi's delivers the hearty flavors of Italy to their customers tables. Homemade pasta and tasty sauces make Papi's a Richmond favorite.
Was in Steveston looking for a place to have dinner and when we strolled by Mondo Burger, we saw a sign with daily specials that seemed more like the old Papi's. The specials looked good - starters included scallops, crab cakes, gnocchi; mains included medallions of pork, a couple of pastas, salmon etc. so in we went.
We were very pleasantly surprised, the food was very good. We shared the gnocchi in a chicken broth with walnuts and mushrooms - very tasty and earthy. The gnocchi and the crab agnolotti with prawns and a basil cream sauce were cooked perfectly al dente. My husband had the pork medallions with a port wine type of sauce with dried apricots in it which was very yummy. Warm focaccia was included in our meal and was perfect for mopping up the sauce. Clean plates went back to the kitchen.
The service was also excellent, knowledgeable and very pleasant. Water glasses kept full and more bread was offered.
So on Friday and Saturday nights, Papi's is back.
Don't bother going to the former 'Papi's/Mondo's', complete with confusing/schizo signage and web page. My friend and I ordered from a friendly but somewhat novice server. The wine we asked for was not in stock, the salad, though tasty, was missing the goat cheese, and the grossly overpriced 'larger plate' consisted of 4 agnolotti (for $18!!!); severely crab challenged with an over-powering tarragon sauce. Oh yes, the bread was $2. The prices have not changed from the fancy Papi's, but this is like a diner now!! AND our saucer sized plates were not changed between the salad and the pasta...
Steveston has SO much better to offer, some with a view...
My boyfriend and I went to Papi's/Mondo eatery for dinner on a Sunday night. We ordered the seafood risotto and pasta dishes of the day. The seafood was not fresh which is quite disappointing considering the restaurant is located in Steveston Village. The risotto and pasta soaked up the strange aftertaste of the not-so-fresh seafood but the food was still edible. The biggest complaint would be the server short changing us when we paid the bill. Although we were only short-changed about $0.81 and we would have left it along with the tip, short changing customers just ruins the restaurant's reputation. The server also expected a 30% tip and showed surprise when we only put down 15% tip, which is quite generous considering substandard service and short-changing us.
Food: had the caprese salad with tomato and bococinni (sp?), salmon, and tiramisu. Everything had a oily, greasy feel to it so did not enjoy that aspect of the meal. The cheese in the salad was quite good. Salmon (besides having that oily film) was not overcooked or dry, tasted ok. Tiramisu came in a wine glass, did not taste like the mocha flavor tiramisu that I associate w/ tiramisu. Tasted more like a lemon cheese cake with some raspberry sauce on top.
Service: good considering the big group we were. Although I had to stand at the door for a good few minutes before anyone noticed me and showed me to our table.
Value: didn't pay so don't really know. Portions were good enough to feed a person with average appetite.
Ambiance: a little dark inside. Other than that, everything looked clean. Atmosphere just like any other Italian restaurant.
Went there for dinner tonight and had a couple of appy's to share. They were very average. We picked a good wine . The main course was very average. Service was slow and girl was in rush to get our orders but the food was slow in coming. She did not thank us or say bye when we were leaving. Had to ask for the dessert menu. They were not very busy tonight. I would go someplace else for this kind of money. Too expensive for what the serve and a very average restaurant. Had the halibut cheeks which was very peppery. Not the best as i have had better.
Try it if you have no other choices. Not many Italian restaurants in Richmond so had to go to this one.
I went here last weekend with a few friends for dinner. I had never been here before, so I was quite pleasantly surprised.
Our server, a blond women who had a ton of knowledge on wines, suggested we have a nice red wine from somewhere in BC. It was something like Quinta. It was extremely delicious.
We ordered a few appys for the table, Frito Misto- which was different then your usual calamari. Prawns and Artichokes were added to it, which is a nice touch. It was served with a dip that was simple and light, unlike your usual mayo sauce.
Then we had tapenade. Which was our favourite. Not overly salty and a nice balance of flavours.
For mains we had: Osso Buco-which was the special for the night. It was so tender, it melted in your mouth. It was perfect.
A pasta with smoked chicken in a cream sauce, which was super flavourful. The only downside was the noodles could have been cooked just a little less. But we didnt say anything about it, since everything else was great.
Lastly we had the Scallops, which by the way, are the largest scallops Ive ever seen. The server said they were local. Cooked perfectly, super tender, with a orange butter sauce.
To finish off the night, we shared a Brulee, which was Amaretto and Espresso. Nice texture, and flavour was very good.
All in all I would go back for sure.
I arranged for a large party to dine at Papi's last night and we miscalculated the number of people who would attend. Even though we asked the server politely to see if arrangements could be made to add a few extra seats to our table, she seemed flustered and annoyed. I understand that it was our mistake and I apologized, however, I expect servers to be understanding or at least not to give me attitude when there is nothing that can be done. Definitely sensed a pretentious attitude. A small party finally decided to sit at a separate table. Our server didn't offer additional menus to people who arrived late and there was definitely no warmth or friendliness when we were being served.
The restaurant is small, so it doesn't accommodate large groups. It has a mature Steveston crowd and would be a good place to take dates. We liked the ambiance and the open kitchen. The food was above average, but not the best italian food I've had. I'm a big fan of mussels, and they were only OK there. My friends tried a variety of pasta dishes, and the overall agreement was they were good to above average, but not outstanding. I liked the bruschetta.
Overall, my friends and I would not go back because of the service, which made it a poor experience. Perhaps it was that one server, but I wouldn't want to give it another try.
The great Papi's that once was should be embarrassed of the Papi's of today.
This restaurant has run the classic cycle of what was1 - once a great restaurant which turns into 2 - an alright restaurant that everyone says is amazing based on the past performance and then becomes 3 - not even a decent restaurant that people still say is alright and now has become 4 - an awful restaurant that no one can even recommend to people let alone go their to eat themselves.
Most recently some co-workers and I went in for lunch. It was empty other than us and one other table. The service was a bit awkward and honestly a bit uncomfortable. With that said the real problem here is the food. Bland, bland, bland. The tortellini and macaroni were flavorless. The crab cakes were burnt, we actually sent them back.
As for value, it's fairly typical of Steveston...Downtown Vancouver prices in a suburb. Not overly expensive but not cheap ether. I would be glad to pay if the food was better.
It's really too bad about this place. I don't know what happened but to be completely honest I think it would be very difficult for Papi's to recover.
With restaurants all across Metro Vancouver raising their game Papi's just can't compete anymore.
Having done the weekend cooking demonstration in the past, we were really expecting a whole lot more from Papi's. Basically mediocre across the board.
It didn't help that the service was sub-par: either our waitress was new or just simply hadn't been trained in the basics. When two people order one starter to split, plus two other appetizers would you expect that all three would be delivered simultaneously? Especially to a table the size of a postage stamp? Never came to check if we enjoyed the food (we didn't) - not even when she cleared our plates (with more than 75% left on them). Had to flag her down for drinks after my glass sat empty for quite awhile. And a personal pet peeve of mine - clearing one person's plates before everyone at the table was done. That might be ok at a greasy spoon, but certainly wouldn't expect it from something billed as fine dining.
Food was "meh" - nothing special. The Frito Mista (what amounted to basic fried calamari & shrimp) were just ok. The mussels were just ok as well, flavouring was good but the quality of the mussels themselves was pretty poor. My wife's pasta special (with boar) was under-seasoned and rather dry. I had the Veal "Marsala" (quotes on the menu, when I asked the waitress why the quotes she had no idea) and it was tough and lacking in any Marsala flavour at all. Huge portion, but ended up only eating one of the three pieces - just didn't seem worth the calories.
Didn't bother staying for dessert - unusual for us - given the meal we didn't think it would be worth it.
Restaurant was also extremely noisy - could hardly hear each other once it filled up. For $140 (including undeserved tip) there are much better choices in the area.
This place is great.
We regularly dine in Steveston and were pleasantly surprised when we found out that this could be the go-to in Steveston.
Recently we have had really great expereinces at Papi's and the wine bar. For the longest time it just wasnt the place that we would make our first choice when going out to eat in Richmond. But now after giving it a chance and getting A+ treatment when dining there we have changed our ways of looking at it.
We have enjoyed many different dishes. The ever changing wine bar food menu is unreal. Share plates are fun and it gives you the chance to get a variety of dishes. Our favorite dish to date is the Qualicum Beach Scallops with lemon preserve sauce.
Bill, a server at the retaurant has always gone out of his way to make our nights memorable.
Thanks
we came in search of authentic italian food, and homemade pastas. 4 of us decided to take the trip out from white rock. We entered the restaurant which was mainly empty and it took a good number of minutes for us to be greeted. The maitre d' rushed us in and immediately asked us if we wanted a drink before we were even seated. Needless to say the group did not feel comfortable. The kitchen is wide open, perhaps a little too much so, and noisy. The room is sterile. We had appys first, my friend tried a spinach salad which he said lacked a good balance of acidity and flavor, and the bacon was raw. I had there house special pasta recommended by the server, it was some sort of ravioli or agnolotti. I could immediately tell it was not fresh nor homemade, could taste the freezer. The tenderloin was tough and too salty. Not to beat a dead horse down but none of us were remotely impressed with the dishes. Clearly this is not authentic italian, the sauces come from a jar and there use of dried spices, NOT FRESH!!! was appaliling. The pastas are not homemade as they advertise, will not be giving this over priced and false advertised authentic italian food another thought
My husband and I had a wonderful dinner and enjoyed everything we ordered. My husband's Gnocchi was outstanding! Unfortunately the restaurant was extremely cold. We were initially seated next to the window but asked to be moved due to the unbearably cold temperature. The waiter was very accommodating but the entire restaurant was freezing. Papi's remains one of our favorite restaurants so we will return but probably in the summer. Papi's could also benefit by providing a proper martini list. Difficult to order anything other than wine.
There is nothing bad to say about this little treasure of a restaurant. I first enjoyed this place with my family on Christmas Eve....great service, amazing food (did a specia order for us no problem)....I even ate the leftovers at 9 am on Christmas morning b/c I dreamnt about them all night :) Ken (owner and chef) and his wife are great people. They are super friendly and when their new wine bar was under construction, they were always happy to let us in to show us the progress...we're nosey!
Went again last night for a bday celebration. Everyone in my group absolutely loved it. Recently redecorated...more modern looking now and very warm feeling. The service was amazing once again...great wine suggestion...everyone makes you feel at home there. The food was fantastic....antipasto platter...gnocchi...authentic caesar salad. My all time favourite is the crab and ricotta agnolotti...so yummy I force myself to save some for the next day! Birthday boy had the halibut which was cooked to perfection (and he's a former chef...hard to impress!!). No room for desert last night but had it last time and it was yummy!!!
All in all I absolutely adore this place....it smells good in there...its comfortable...the service is impeccable and the food speaks for itself. Check it out sometime soon. Can't wait to try their new wine bar next door.
I have looked and looked for a restaurant in Steveston that has really good food. Most of the restaurants have the atmosphere and location, but Papi's has good food, good wine and a good service. I recommend it.
We were definitely not impressed with our dining experience at Papi's. Service was so-so, and the food was really not very good at all. I wonder if the ingredients used came from cans - as everything tasted salty and truly not the fresh, home-made taste I have come to expect from an exceptional Italian restaurant. I don't know how this restaurant can charge downtown prices, when the quality and ambiance are certainly not worth the prices they charge. The decor is pretty basic - reminds us of a Holiday Inn dining room - very bland and boring. (Surprised that they didn't hire a decorator for the redo after the fire.) We will not go back to Papi's - will take a taxi downtown to sample some of Vancouver's better restaurants.
I heard that the restaurant recently had a fire. I hope that they will be reopening because the food and service is always great. I always enjoyed their pasta. Always made al dente and the sauces are incredible. If anyone hears of anything please let me know!!
My husband and I decided to try the wine bar at Papi's last Friday. We arrived around 6:30 and had the place to ourselves. With 3 staff in the bar, we were well looked after. We were offered complimentary samples of wine to assist us in our choice and the sommelier clearly new what he was talking about. After selecting a S. African wine (@ $10 per glass) we perused the bar menu which consisted of small plate items - appetizers basically. Everything looked good, but we settled on the prawns, the scallops, the duck and a cheese plate. Each was priced at about $12-17 so not cheap to say the least. Every dish was wonderful, and the flight of wines we each had to go with the food ($17 each) was excellent. All in all it was an exceptional experience of both food and wine, spoiled only by the cost. While the food and wine were excellent, they were terribly overpriced. At $6 per prawn, and $4 per scallop the owners must be trying to recoup their fire restorations costs all in one season. These kinds of prices are why we stopped going to the main restaurant. Oh well, there are lots of excellent restaurants in Steveston
This review is based on a February 2008, three-person dinner visit.
Food
The risotto in particular and other dishes and appetizers were sub-standard, and certainly not worth the prices demanded. Not only were the dishes small portion-wise, but also over-cooked, oily, and/or salty. I don't know about the folks at the nearby tables, but our experience warrants a vote of 1 out of 5 stars.
Service
We loved how the host took our jackets when we went in and remembered whose jacket was who's when we left. Other than that, the appetizers took a long time to arrive, as did the main courses and dessert. Despite having three waiters serve the small, half-full restaurant that night, it was sometimes difficult to get any attention. Thsi was apparent at nearby tables also. Hence, my rating of 1 to 1.5 out of 5 stars.
Ambiance
This place may have been rebuilt after the fire and I believe they tried to make it upscale in some way. However, it is relatively dim in places and odd-shaped; I would not want to host a gathering here. It's only OK in my opinion. 2/5 stars.
Overall
I don't know why it is rated highly in the Richmond News / Review each year. I certainly would not want to come again unless a friend or family member tells me they had a good experience here. (IMHO, even Paesano's was better, and I don't think too highly of that place.)
We ate here on Dec. 30 just a few weeks after the restaurant re-opened after an 8 month restoration after a fire. Our server was kind and easy-going, but he definitely lacked the finesse usually displayed by servers in fine dining establishments. He took plates away when others were eating. Food was delivered at different times, so we had people with appies and with main courses waiting upwards of 5 minutes for others to get their's. The women's washroom was so small that you could not get into the stall without standing over the toilet. If you are a large person, forget about getting in at all.
The food was the best part, but it didn't overshadow the poor service. It would be better to save your money and go somewhere else.
PaPis is re-opening next week for everyone to know. It was closed for almost a whole year but after all the construction the past while it's just about ready to open back up with updated styles and the same favorites in food and service
hope too see everyone in there soon
thanks so much.
| 1. | Mondo Roadside Eatery (8 m) |  |
| 2. | Le Nakamura Japanese Dining (31 m) |  |
| 3. | Bean & Beyond Cafe (72 m) |  |
| 4. | Yokohama Japanese Restaurant (74 m) | |
| 5. | Mondo Burger (74 m) | |
| 6. | Hog Shack (86 m) | |
| 7. | Mandalay Lounge and Steakhouse (86 m) |  |
| 8. | Pat's Galley (86 m) | |
| 9. | Big Bite Pizzeria (97 m) | |
| 10. | Market at Papi’s, The (108 m) | |
