Papapolloni Mediterranean Bistro

Everything about this place is unexpectedly positive. I don't know if it's the location that you don't expect this place to be as elegant as it is. Been here several times and we love it. From the service, to the food, just excellent! Someone always helps you to make sure you have water and bread so you're not just waiting for the server. The attached pics are from two different visits with the wife. She loves the Spicy Grilled Chicken dish. I am the meat eater, so I tried the lamb chops once. They were cooked perfectly and delicious. The ribeye was a Surf and Turf special, not exactly sure the exact name. But it was always excellent. We will definitely come back here again!

I got this to go for the family and it was delicious and so filling. When I went in it was a nice classy looking place with friendly staff. Food was out almost instantly from order,but very obviously just made. Will definitely come back to try new things.

Amazing shrimp scampi, and their beef kabobs are delicious! I loved the mushroom risotto, and the atmosphere is very chic. A bit pricy, but very worth it! Best pasta in town, in my opinion.

Here for an event. David and staff did a phenomenal buffet display of Greek salad, red mashed potatoes, creamy pene pasta, chicken medallions with creamy mushroom sauce, steak medallions with balsamic vinegar sauce and bite-sized, homemade dinner rolls with herb butter. Many of us got seconds! Highly recommend 👌 Will return.

We attended a company dinner here and we had a blast, the waiters were attentive and well the food speaks for itself. Soooo gooooood!

The vegetables were the test and they past with flavor and cooked throughly. Veggies were not hard or too soft, but perfectly seasoned and soft for kids to enjoy. They had a cute table top lamp that shead just enough light to see your plate and admirer. The service was not that good as we were not checked on for a refill of water which we needed, were not anywhere to be seen (left alone), forgot our bread and didn't sing any birthday song when it came to my admirers birthday dessert surprise. Any guest should never be left alone nor treated like the last and left to just manage on their own. Even with that I would go back because the food was beyond the taste of seasons. I had the best delicate, flaky,layered, crust that stayed in tact Spanokopita. Might not be spelled right. Delicious

Went here for my birthday lunch a couple months ago and had Bruschetta, crab cakes, and chicken parm with fettuccine alfredo. This is my favorite Italian restaurant in the 209. Their food is always hot, fresh, and super flavorful! I can't come here without getting the Bruschetta and chicken parm. They also have a very tentative and freidnly staff. Truly a hidden gem of Modesto. 10/10!

(Long review) Very cute place, my first time here. I did google searches for somewhere nice to take my boyfriend to for his 40th birthday near his house that had a lot of options for him to eat. I don’t know Modesto well, so google and yelp were my friends. Searched for days and kept coming back to this place based on the menu, reviews and photos from reviews. I was worried at first because it looked a little sketch in the parking lot and it was very empty inside when we arrived (lunch time), but I did appreciate that it was quiet. More people showed up during our meal and you can tell it probably gets very busy in the evening. Nice atmosphere, food isn’t too expensive and everything we ordered tasted great and was fresh. My boyfriend kept asking me how I found this place. There was complimentary bread and we ordered 2 appetizers along with our meals and wine. This guy ate everything put in front of him…cleaned his plate. He’s a picky guy and watches what he eats…but not this time! Definitely recommend

WHY WE WENT HERE: - dinner THE LOOK (FROM THE OUTSIDE): - located in a plaza off the corner of McHenry Ave and Leveland Ln - located in the same plaza as Asian Market - shaded partially enclosed outdoor patio THE LOOK (FROM THE INSIDE): - intimate lighting; elevated casual/fine dining THE MENU: - appetizers - soups & salads - pasta - entrees - grilled pita wraps - grilled sandwiches - pizzas & calzones - young and kids menu - side orders - desserts - fountain drinks - coffee WHAT WE ORDERED: - saganaki "flaming cheese" - Mediterranean chicken pasta - gyros plate - spanakopita THE TASTE: - complimentary bread - perforations on it were odd; complimented the table olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette well - saganaki "flaming cheese" - didn't realize the flambe would NOT happen tableside, so we were presented with the finished product; any kind of cheese situation is always a winner - Mediterranean chicken pasta - pesto was VERY good! creamy and lemony I didn't care too much for the black olives (I honestly only eat those in a 5 or 7-layer dip or on a combination pizza) - side salad - very refreshing and crunchy - gyros plate - well-rounded; good seasoning on the meat - spanakopita - good mix/ratio of the spinach to cheese to phyllo dough CUSTOMER SERVICE: - top notch!

Came here for dinner with a friend and had a great meal! Located just off McHenry next to the Asian Market, Papapolloni Mediterranean Bistro serves some fancy dishes with a Greek twist. The inside felt very fancy with dim lighting and tableclothed tables and booths. My friend and I decided to sit at a booth. We had to use the little table lamp to be able to read the menu lol We ordered: - Saganaki flaming cheese - This was supposed to be flambe'd tableside, but the person doing the flaming did it about 20 feet behind our booth so we missed the show. The cheese was tangy and tasted great though. - Spanakopita - about 6 cut up pieces of crispy buttery dough with spinach and cheese. Can't go wrong with this order. - Side salad with balsamic - great dressing and the veggies were very fresh - Gyro plate - tender gyro meat and the rice pilaf was pretty good! - Mediterranean pasta - creamy but felt the only Mediterranean thing about it were the kalamata olives Service was great! Waters refilled, we were checked up on, quick service. Overall great meal and we left feeling really full.

This was our third visit, and unfortunately, it didn't live up to the previous experiences. The bread served was stale, and my wife's chicken was undercooked, with cold mashed potatoes on the side. Although the staff was friendly, they were not attentive, spending more time in the back talking instead of addressing our needs, like fixing the food and providing refills. Overall, it was disappointing compared to our previous visits.

Friends invited us to an early dinner late lunch. We never been to this place so we decided to give it a try. What a nice hidden little gem. Walked in immediately was transformed into a classy place. So elegant and service was on point. Definitely recommend for an anniversary dinner, date night! Food was very good and has a great selection of cocktails and wine.

I stopped in today because I am a huge fan of Kabob/Mediterranean food in general. The host was very welcoming and hospitable, very nice man who was happy to chat in between ordering and giving us the main dish options. This place has great service, delicious food, and reasonable prices, all with a very pleasant white table cloth atmosphere in doors. We sat outside on the beautiful patio surrounded by ivy on a gorgeous day! I always find it odd when a restaurant combines different types of cuisine and then has a very limited selection of each type. Here it is primarily a Mediterranean restaurant but has a couple of menu choices that veer away from that cuisine .i.e. jambalaya. They had right many pasta dishes and limited Mediterranean salads which is why I choose this particular restaurant of choice. I would probably been happier if the menu stayed closer to the Kabob concept. I chose a lamb gyros wrap (other choices: beef, chicken and lamb plate). It was very good! We sampled quite a few things off the menu and they were all good. (This is why you write reviews immediately for forgetful people like myself, this is a month overdue review). This is truly a hidden gem in a strip mall! This experience was good enough for me to dine here again and again in the near future! This restaurant is capable of servicing large gathering, small romantic dinners and wedding parties. This other side of the restaurant was decorated tastefully for any event. Never judge a book by it cover, would be the slogan here!

We tend to eat here multiple times in a month as we live right around the corner. Their food is always exceptional and the service is great. We even had our Christmas party in their back room this year with over 50 people. It went off without a hitch, and the food was amazing.

This is my new favorite place to dine. The service was awesome, top tier for sure, which made this a fine dining experience. Warm bread came to our table followed by a one of the best tasting alcoholic beverages I've had in some time. My appetizer came with a presentation, I ordered the flamed cheese and I was glad I did. The food was great, really really good. I had the salmon special and it was layered in flavor. It was quiet, dimly lit perfect for a date night.

Highly dissatisfied with my visit here all around. We waited over an hour for our dinner as we watched multiple people who came after us (Including the couple right next to us) eat and leave before we even got our dinner. When we finally did, my Mediterranean Chicken was cold and raw in the middle. After seeing how dissatisfied we were do you think the waitress offered to comp our meal or even appetizer? Nope, just offered a free dessert (which we turned down) and then said "I'll get your check so you can head out" don't worry though, she said it with a smile. I would have asked for a manager but I'm sure I would still be waiting for them to show up. Embarrassing.

I guess your mileage may vary but wow this was a rough experience. Seated just fine. No wine list or cocktail menu on the table, yet we were asked to order drinks. How about providing your customers with your offerings? Scanned the url on the paper menu and still no drink menu. Ouch. Appetizers were top notch. Flaming cheese and calamari both nailed it. Would almost raise the review a star for this course if it hadn't been for the catastrophe that followed. Ordered our mains and waited. And waited. Then we're delivered dishes in reverse order of how the ticket was put in. Server mentioned that the kitchen had put us through at the same time as a larger table despite the fact that we had arrived first. Oof. Sauces were broken on two pasta dishes. Beef brochette was ordered medium and came on the very well end of well done. Salmon was over. Chicken was dry. Beef was sent back to the kitchen. Inedible. Dessert menus offered at the end of meal. Weren't told they were out of cheesecake i til we ordered it. Come on. This is something you mention when you drop the menus off, not when you're disappointing your guests. Dessert was...ok? Crème brûlée was more of a pudding consistency than a custard. Flavor was good though. Tiramisu was dusted with enough cinnamon (not cocoa) that we had to scrape it to taste something else. Chocolate silk was good. When I sent the brochette back I asked for it to be removed from the ticket rather than have them send a replacement. When the check arrived we had been charged for the item. Server was generally pleasant and apologetic but the kitchen was a complete disappointment. I'd like to say I'd give the place another chance but we have so many better options in town, I just can't see it.

The most beautifully cooked lamb chops ever along with pistachio crusted salmon and chicken parmigiana. The ambiance is first class. The owner is so kind and the staff is very attentive. My fiancé and I will have our engagement dinner here . We know our guests will be blown away by this elegance

Mama Mia (this place is AMAZING)! This date night was more than a little surprising (SURPRISE!) PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT The location is NOT the best (don't let that stop you from enjoying the vibe). It'll be a little hard to find (burger joint blocking the view from the road...lol) but the treasure hunt is worth it (it is a treasure). As we walked in (going into the rabbit hole) we were greeted by a selfie wall between the two door (nice touch!...pic below). Upon our entrance we were greeted immediately by a server who asked our table preference (very friendly young man who was very accommodating...no! I didn't get his name. If your reading this, "you ROCK!"). He quickly had us seated. We were quickly greeted by Ashley/Server. Who extended us the specials and had our food our with a smile (love you girl, you ROCK). This evening we started with the coconut shrimp (YAS!). The shrimp is lightly battered with very little coconut (just the way I like it). The peanut dip was still steaming (careful, it's a little hot). Only four pieces, eat considerably. Our drinks (no drink menu...so, know you're cocktail and the incredible mixologist behind the bar will do you right) we're raspberry lemon drop martini (incredible). My fiancée had the crab cakes (appetizer) as a meal and I had the Seafood with a cup of minestrone (orgasmic). Let's start with the crab cakes. This lightly battered cake was a hand molded (yes! I can tell) cake full of crab (yes! Not batter or filling...CRAB! Aye, aye, Captain). The minestrone was full of flavor and bold. The veggies were meticulously cubed and still a little crunchy (mmmmmm, fresh). We shared the cup but took a bowl to go (do it...you'll thank me later). The Seafood pasta was heavenly. Orange cream colored sauce with a hint of coconut milk flavor (very nostalgic of a mild chicken curry). The noodles perfectly cooked and the bowl was overflowing with shrimps, claims, and mussels (Oh! My God). BE WARNED They bring fresh garlic bread to your table (in a little basket...not large enough for everyone. Ask for extra. Ladies, make room in your purse, I don't care if it's a Micheal Kors). The hip jazz over the speakers and soft lighting made this the perfect date place (do it). When your ready, go (and I don't mean go...I mean GO). Get your pumpkin carriage out and your dance ball room gown on Cinderella and find your Prince Charming a booth or table. Hell like the bread, feed him more). "Great CUSTOMER get great CUSTOMER SERVICE."

Food is fantastic chicken Alfredo is superb. Been their for lunch and dinner you can't go wrong with the food very fresh and tasty meals . If you haven't ... it's a must to try a meal their !

It was the first time my brother and I at this place. Great food and service. The vegetable pasta was fresh and tasty. My brother loved the clam chowder and chicken parmagiana sandwich. There was also karaoke in the big banquet room on Thursday which was really cool and packed with great singers. Very entertaining to say the least!

Sooooo yummy! I have lived in the Modesto area for over 30 years and somehow overlooked this amazing restaurant. We were promptly greeted, sat, and brought beverages. The server sold me on the special, which did not disappoint in the least. We had the clam chowder, greek salad, pita and hummus, FANTASTIC fresh fish, and gyros... we couldn't finish - but when faced with so many delectable options, why not go for variety?! The seasonal veggies were rich with flavor! As were the fresh made mashed potatoes. Will we be back? ABSOLUTELY! P.s. When I review, it is for the food, service, and feel of the restaurant. Not necessarily the surrounding area... With that, the neighboring businesses are worse for wear, but there are many places in Modesto suffering the same consequences of homelessness, substance-use, and theft (especially on McHenry). The restaurant is clean, bathrooms utilitarian- also clean. And, I caught a glimpse of the kitchen- which was well managed indeed.

Party of 10. After my brother & sister in law renewed their wedding vows, a group of us came here for dinner. The waitress was on her own for the whole restaurant, but she did an amazing job! The atmosphere is comfortable here and the food is amazing- everyone enjoyed their meal choices! I will definitely be returning!

I've visited here several times, and I'm consistently impressed by the professionalism and the exceptional quality of the food.

Great food and amazing service! The ambiance is great for any occasion and the drinks are top shelf!

We recently held our Volunteer Appreciation luncheon, and we decided to have it catered by the Papapolloni Mediterranean restaurant. The catering service was commendable as they delivered the food promptly, and its presentation was truly delightful. The meal itself received widespread acclaim, with everyone expressing their satisfaction with its deliciousness. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Papapolloni for their contribution in making our luncheon an absolute success.

This is an excellent restaurant for many occasions. I have dined here for dinner, and also utilized the large banquet room for a High School reunion. The staff are attentive and helpful with any needs. The food is very tasty, from the pasta dishes, to the meat and vegetarian options. Prices match the quality and generous portions. I would recommend any of the appetizers, especially the Hummus. Restaurant itself is clean, has an elegant touch, but not unwelcoming if you decide to wear jeans. There is a great wine list and full bar. I would recommend anyone to check it out.

Did a to go order but looking forward to lunch/dinner soon. The ambience inside is very nice. The food items I ordered were a bit salty but I will definitely give them another try. Chocolate mousse cake was nice.

Ate dinner with wife and daughter. Next day our daughter threw up due to the food she ate. Overall a nice place, but after this experience I would be hesitant to recommend eating here.

First of all upon coming here it seemed like it was ok, but once we started getting the food it something seemed off. All the food was under prepared and under seasoned. The once we got the Main entree, my dad bit into his food and got stabbed with a piece of metal. Not only did they not take it off they still charged us the full bill. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. Don't eat here. I mean metal in food and serving it to your guest! Really! Or maybe it was because we were the only people of color.

Wonderful salmon salad, wonderful service -servers dressed to impress tie and all I want a pvt getaway here but they close on Sunday the only day I can the family in . But it's ok I will bring them one at a time I ordered chicken wings for dinner at work . Ambiance is relaxing and great they got going on.. I will be back

Support a great family owned business! It will not disappoint! Thank you David for all that you do to make it a great experience

I really wanted to like this place. It's location is a strip mall but once inside it is very nicely decorated. The service is also very good...but the food not so much. The Lemon Chicken Soup and Greek Salad were decent but the Bolognese Lasagna was a mushy mess, still cold in the middle. There was mostly tomato sauce and not enough pasta since they didn't use actual Lasagna. In stead they used a few flat noodles The Peppercorn Ribeye Steak was drowning in a mediocre sauce which immediately tells us that it is not going to be a good cut. (A good steak can stand alone with nothing more than a little seasoning and a dab of sauce.) The outer fat strip of the steak should be trimmed leaving a little for flavor. A $35 Ribeye should have marbling for flavor. Large streaks or hunks of fat are less desirable --these may not cook as nicely.

The food and service is 5 stars. It was our first time here and everything was great. I had the spicy garlic chicken pasta and lemon soup. It was delicious. My husband enjoyed his jambalaya dish with a Cesar salad. The staff was super attentive. They were on top of our water, bread and anything else we may have wanted. We will definitely be back.

Excellent food wine and service. My wife and I enjoy coming here for dinner all the time.

Wonderful restaurant!! Love, love, love the atmosphere! Waitstaff was very attentive and friendly. Our dishes were delicious! We will definitely be back to try some new things!!!!

A gem of a restaurant in an otherwise pretty rough strip mall. This place has great service, delicious food, and reasonable prices, all with a very pleasant atmosphere that will make you forget the world outside. My wife and I ate here and loved it. This is our new favorite in Modesto.

Food was very disappointing, this is the second time we have eaten there we tried to give it a second chance still, food was disappointing, and service was poor.

We ordered this to go for dinner. We got lunch size portions. The chicken in our dish was burnt. No flavor. Very expensive. We won't be back. Bread was good that's about it.

It was a last minute date night and I sure wasn't dressed for the ambiance, the music ect. The food was freakin great!! The staff was kind and attentive, even though they had an event in there event center. Luv! Luv! Luuuv! The food!!

Great food, great ambiance, just a really nice relaxing way to enjoy your dinner or lunch.

Yes!!! Delicious Fresh Salads!!! Great Greek food and a very nice interior!! Perfect for a date night or special occasion. Not cheap, but worth the prices. We love going here!! I would go once a week if my husband liked Greek food more, lol!!!

The food was great! Service was very attentive. My fiancé and I went during lunch. I got the mediterranean chicken. The Ambiance is great for a late night out, celebration, or a date.

Most of the food was just ok. I ordered the chicken piccata and sent it back because the chicken was rubbery and was way too lemony. When I did my waitress was clearly annoyed and I could hear her talking to the cooks in the kitchen making rude remarks about it. She was reluctant to apologize but she eventually did. I got the gyros plate instead and it was just ok. They trying to make it upscale with little led candle lights and it's pretty dark in there which is ok, but the service definitely doesn't match the ambiance.

Best chicken fettuccine I have ever had. Most of their dishes are all very delicious, great service and can be a nice night / day out meal or a quick and easy visit. They are so accommodating. I highly recommend.

I had a craving for pasta and this restaurant was one of the very restaurants on uber eats that served pasta! Anyways I ordered an egg plant Parmesan with tiramisu and rice pudding. The food was very good! I asked for Angel hair instead of regular pasta but they didn't give it which was fine. I really enjoyed the food especially the tiramisu and rice pudding. It wasn't overly sweet and could taste all the delicious flavors! The food is very fresh I loved the side salad they gave me too.

This is a great restaurant. I love the menu. Lots to chose from. Prices are higher than some restaurants but it is more of an upscale dining experience.

Lots of options on the menu so at the table the four of us all had different areas of food ....it was all fantastic ! We told them it was our anniversary and they gave us a free ice cream dessert !

We held a corporate event here and it was fantastic. I showed up an hour early for set up and everything was done. There was nothing for me to do. The staff made sure everything was taken care of. The event was smooth and the food was great. We had great communication all the way through the process. I will definitely be rebooking for our next event.

Went here for the first time tonight. Have seen several posts of Facebook about this place and decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed. They take reservations which is nice. When we got there they seated us immediately. They serve a basket of bread and olive oil and balsamic vinegar. To just call this bread doesn't do them justice. They were 1" squares that had just enough crunch on the outside and soft on the inside to absorb the balsamic. I ordered the bolognese lasagna and my wife had the chicken piccata. Both were some of the best we've had. Wish we had come here sooner. Looking forward to our next visit. Also, my daughter is visiting for thanksgiving but she has a gluten allergy. I messaged them and they have gluten free pasta.

The food is excellent and the service was as well. I went back twice in one week, definitely not disappointed. They have great appetizer choices as well.

Everything was delicious. Restaurant was nice and cool. Quiet. Great customer service. Clean. Reasonably wait. Reasonably priced. Will be back.

Loved this place, wonderful atmosphere, great food, good service. Highly recommend.

We came here to celebrate Mother's Day and to meet our new baby niece Jesse. This place is really nice, and the food was excellent. My wife ordered the halibut and it was most delicious. I had the lamb chops and my daughter order the filet mignon. The deserts were tasty as well, and I definitively would return here.

This restaurant is amazing! The food was delicious and the service was incredible. Likely some of the best service I have had at any restaurant! Everything was very clean inside with some nice ambiance. Would certainly recommend.

Everything was very good. First time there. Service was good too !! Ambiance was nice also. Will definitely try it again. A lot of food choices !!

Always great food. Always great customer service. The dinning area is very nice, had a cool little light in the table that was bright but not too bright to read the menu. Hardly anyone there for the lunch crowd, but the price was not a typical lunch budget vibe. Great experience.