This place was amazing!! The food was great, especially the garlic butter dip. Stan was the nicest waiter ever! I wish this restaurant was in Nebraska. We will be back! read more

Always a great time! Music was spot on and so was the food!! Haven't had a bad thing here. One of our favorite local places we love to go to. read more

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Not sure what the hype is, how the heck is this place busy? We ordered the STUFFED MUSHROOMS, with Papas famous stuffing. They came out in soupy white sauce with spinach. We each tried one and noticed there was no stuffing in any of the mushrooms. Asked the waitress if they forgot the "Papas famous stuffing" the response, "Well they aren't ACTUALLY stuffed, it's a casserole." ....WTF!?? it's literally in the name of the food. Would've left, but had already placed a order for an All Meat Pizza.....spoiler alert....it was trash. Should be called the BARELY Any Meat Pizza. Nothing but cheese and a ton of thick, soggy, bland bread. Add two luke warm beers and boom $50 to take just a few bites of food. What a waste of time and money. The phrase on their T-shirts say " Warm Beer & Lousy Pizza"....at least I can say they are honest about that I guess. If you are in Gulf Shores craving pizza call Dominoes and grab a six pack of beers at Walgreens, it'd be better. read more

Went around 9:30 pm, crazy long wait but we got lucky and 2 chairs came up at the bar. We ordered a dozen oysters, and the 10 in price buster pizza to eat at the bar. Oysters were 10/10(they have been the best we've had in Gulf Shores to date) pizza 8/10. Also got a large pepperoni pizza, Philly cheesesteak, and patty melt to go. The pepperoni was 8/10, cheesesteak 10/10 (but more of a classic bar food type cheesesteak which is my favorite) and patty melt 8/10. Definitely your typical bar atmosphere. Would go again! read more

Papa Rocco's - 10 inch price buster pizza - Bars Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

The pizza was amazing!!! 10/10 I would recommend!!! The owner came over and talked to us and the waitress was so nice. I glad we stopped in because it definitely is now a favorite spot. read more

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Improvement needed: SERVICE, FOOD. We only had to wait about 10 minutes to be seated, place came recommended by a local. Drinks arrived at our table quickly. Ordered our food shortly thereafter and almost an hour later it arrived. The food quality was a disappointment. Did not bring out everyone's food at the same time. Some guy showed up at our table mumbled something about the time our food took and walked away. Turns out he gave us a $2.00 discount on our meal. While it is appreciated, I would have rather had our meals in a reasonable time, and seasoned better. Noticed people who were seated after us not only received their appetizers but their food LONG before we did. We were ready to leave. read more

A little slow to get a table but the pizza is fantastic. Great flavor and the ambiance is terrific

The food was delicious with very reasonable prices. We didn't receive all of our order and then they tried to charge us for it. When the waitress brought our credit card back it was the table next to us credit card and they had mine. The next day I noticed on my credit card account that the waitress got our table and the table next to us switched on credit card payments, charging us for the table next to us which was much higher than ours. A few dollars would've been fine, but $30 before tip is not. I am still waiting to see how much they left for a tip. Food delicious, service not so good. read more

Super small place, so you have to time it just right or be prepared for a bit of a wait. Food was FANTASTIC. Pizza crust was perfect, lasagna had great cheese and flavor, and the shrimps were 10/10. No complaints in the food department. I will say it definitely takes awhile to get your food and bar drinks, but I give them lots of grace since it was super busy and they were hustling! We will definitely be back! read more

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We always love local food in Gulf Shores, and I never leave reviews, but this place knows nothing about the service industry. We ordered pizzas, got there after 20 minutes to pick up and I ran in to get them. I was stopped at the door and told there's an hour and a half wait. Said I'm picking up 6 pizzas. She said, somebody will be with you soon. This person never looked and me, then she turned and left. I went inside, to see where I pick up my pizzas. Stopped server #2. At least they're consistent! She barged past me (practically assault) and ignored me! Nah, I'm not having it. Talked to waitress #3 and she says, "I don't know". Hope y'all enjoyed those pizzas. Only a fool would support such bad service. Ambience....loud as hell with waitresses pushing people out of the way. Never will I go here. Call domino's or any other place. You're a nuisance to these folks! read more

We heard people talking at the pool about the Seafood pizza. So we decided to try it. Shrimp, scallops and mushrooms on Alfredo based sauce. Totally worth it!! The lobster ravioli was yummy as well. My dad devoured his Italian combo --- no sharesies lol All pasta dishes came with garlic bread. It was a little hard... prob from transport. We ordered to go. Reasonably priced considering all other eating options read more

Visit Papa Rocco's regularly had a special request while sitting at the bar. I usually get oysters with cheddar and a little Mexican seasoning baked and when I asked for the second seasoning there for Mexican, the bartender basically threw the menu at me and told me this is what we got you need to look at this not very accommodating anymore just Papa Rocco wouldn't be happy.! read more

Local favorite! Been around for years. Food fair. Service ok. Atmosphere FUN! Entertainer of the night was a former member of the Platters. He spotted my daughter dancing to the music and asked her to join him on stage. She was underage, but she felt like she fit in with all the adults in " house" that night. They clapped and cheered her on, as she danced in front of everybody there. It put a smile on my face and ended up being one of our best family memories. My husband joined her on stage, and a few others in the restaurant did too. I looked over at Papa Racco, who was smiling ear to ear. He was obviously enjoying seeing everyone have such a good time! read more

I was there yesterday on st Patrick's day and the corn beef and cabbage was excellent! The music, the 2 person band was exceptional! Service was great too, I will definitely go again! read more

Papa Rocco's - Corn beef and cabbage - Bars Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

Went on a June mid weekday summer night. Place is small but the staff is quick with their service so not too long of wait times. We were told it would be 30 minutes for a party of 8 and it was right on time. Drinks are affordable (and they have happy hour). They had live music when we went. Enjoyed the pizza and sampler trip appetizer. read more

Papa Rocco's - French Dip Sandwich - Bars Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

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It was so loud the waitress could not hear our orders. The Dr Pepper tasted funny, never got a new one. The waitress said she knew it would take awhile to fix it and offered a different drink. The food... wow, it was quite the let down. Based on the reviews I was surprised by how bland it was. It took a solid 45 minutes to get our order. My son's wings came out cold. Between the waitresses not acknowledging ANYONE nor the other staff it took longer to explain that the food was cold. For the 1.5 hours there we saw two other tables send their food back because it was cold. Fortunately, this is our last night in Alabama. read more

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Incredible experience here! I visited with my mom and aunts the week of Sand In My Boots festival and had an awesome time. We were greeted warmly by both the Papa Rocco's staff and a rep from Kona Big Wave that gave us some free merch! The oysters were fantastic, they were huge and juicy. The pizza was also verrry good, we got the veggie pizza and added pepperoni. Can't wait to come back next time I'm in town. This is by far my favorite pizza and oyster joint around! read more

Papa Rocco's - Veggie pizza with pepperoni - Bars Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

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Some of the best oysters I've ever had. Service was fast and wonderful. Pizza was also super yummy!! Everything came out fast and wonderful. Best happy hour I've ever seen too. M-F 11-7pm as of April 2026. Next time my family is visiting, we will 100% be coming back!! read more

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I have been a regular dine-in and to-go customer here for 40 years and have had some good times and made some great memories here. But sadly I am not been pleased with my last few trips and it's unfortunately not likely to return unless some changes are made, drastic ones at that. Papa Rocco's, has been a beloved Gulf Shores institution known for its pizza, oysters, and quirky atmosphere, and a local favorite since its establishment in 1985. Founded by Bill McGinnes, the restaurant gained a reputation for its unique slogan "Home of Warm Beer and Lousy Pizza," which has become a tongue-in-cheek trademark for this beachside eatery. Despite its humble beginnings and unconventional marketing approach, Papa Rocco's has been a go-to spot for good food and good times. Over the years, Papa Rocco's has endured challenges such as hurricanes and the ever-changing culinary landscape of Gulf Shores. In June 2024, they made headlines, and lots of buzz when they filed for a liquor license transfer from Papa Rocco's Pizza to a local business called KJJ Group, owned by Kenneth Jones. The transfer was debated and eventually approved by the Gulf Shores City Council, preparing for a new chapter in their history. Although ownership has changed hands, Papa Rocco's continues to operate at their iconic location just a short distance from the beach. They have added some comedy nights, and still the annual St. Paddy's Day Pub Crawl, a tradition started by former Pink Pony Pub owner Vince Murphy in the 1970s, has continued under Papa Rocco's banner since 1989, continuing that role in the Gulf Shores community. But the food is the big FAIL, as three visits ago I was very disappointed when I received one of my favorite dishes The Italian Combo with meatballs, spaghetti, lasagna, ravioli and manicotti. It was undercooked, under seasoned and cold inside, really incredible. My next visit has a decent stuffed mushroom dish but the pizza was overcooked and bland but I had to give them one more chance after a few weeks. My son was happy with their AYCE spaghetti Wednesday but my baked French Onion soup was just awful, like worse than a Campbell's soup in a can version and my meatball sandwich was not much better. To make it worse the service is just okay but is not as friendly and welcoming as it has been in the past. Bottom line: If the "new" Papa Rocco's is trying to live up to the Home of Warm Beer and Lousy Pizza marketing then I'd say their on target but it's a shame their just not the place we've been fond of for decades. read more

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Papa Rocco's has that old-timey, family-owned vibe that makes you feel like you've been going there for years, even if it's your first time. The food hits the spot, especially the nachos. Docking a star because they don't have any beers on draft, kind of a letdown for a place with a full bar. read more

Stan is an amazing waiter! Pizza and pasta are to die for! Love the vibes and the bread is also so so yummy! Definitely recommend! Everyone there is so nice! read more

I called in a pizza order, and it seemed that everything was rushed from start to finish. My order was not repeated back to me, nor was the total given. Then when I got there they took my card without telling me the total again (I had to ask). Then, most importantly, the pizza was not as well done as I saw in photos from other reviews. I like it when the cheese starts to caramelize with little brown spots on top, but ours was barely cooked through. Even a bit too much cheese in my opinion. read more

The food was mediocre. Not enough sauce. Store bought crust, tasteless. The service wasn't very good either. After we ordered the server came and slid 2 styrofoam plates and forks on our table without a word or smile. I tried their TKO drink. It tasted weird. Maybe they have a big vat and haven't cleaned it in a while! There was music. The old guy was pretty good really it was just loud for the small space. We are just visiting but won't be going back. We saw the sign "Warm beer and lousy pizza" we thought it was funny but it turned out it was true! read more

We have been here twice now because the pizza is amazing. The wait staff are incredible. The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because it gets way too loud in there with the live music and people yelling at the bar in such a small building. It mostly just depends on who the live music is also, the first time we went, it was almost unbearable but this time was great! So glad we gave it a second chance! read more

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Clearly a local favorite as the restaurant was packed from the time we arrived until we left. For our preference, the pizza was a little underbaked. I would try it again but I would request that the pizza spend some extra time in the oven. read more

Was told multiple times that this place had the best oysters and lowkey didn't believe them. I was sorely mistaken. We ordered the stuffed mushrooms, that came out cheese still bubbling from the oven. Was fantastic. We couldn't decide between the baked oysters or raw ones, so just decided to get both. Started with the raw ones, and they were huge! I have never had oysters taste so good. We also got the parm hot shucked oysters and the Cajun ones, and they were heaven. Our servers Stanley and Paul were very thorough and fantastic. We absolutely enjoyed our experience here and will definitely be back every time we are in the area. 10/10 read more

Pizza and cheese bread were some of the best for Gulf Shores, but I took 2 stars away for rude hostess and got charged .75 cents for marinara sauce I didn't even ask for on my to go order read more

Great neighborhood restaurant. Good service. Fair prices. I had Alfredo seafood flat bread. My friend has steak sandwich. Had to cut off 1/4 to get rid of fat. Flavorful though. Drinks were good & happy hour is 11am - 7pm read more

Papa Rocco's - Decor - Bars Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

We waited 15min to be seated which was good. But we waited 2 + hours for our food to come out The pizza was decent but the wait was entirely too long for pizza. The waitress was nice. But the kitchen has to get it together. We ordered 2 large pizza and 3 small pizzas. I am not sure how long it takes to make pizza but Unmmm I'm certain it doesn't take 2 hours. Unfortunately, I would not return. If you ever come to Papa Rocco's make sure you pack a lot of patience and don't dare come hungry. read more

Excellent local joint we always hit when visiting gulf shores. Their pizza is always amazing and I highly recommend the Buffalo and Garlic Parmesan Ousters! read more

Great friendly hometown feeling restaurant with good food and great service. My husband is recovering from radiation and hasn't been able to eat since starting vacation until we found this place. The server let him try the spaghetti sauce and he could eat it. He ordered it and was able to leave happy with a full belly! I had the pizza and it was good too. We will definitely be back next time! read more

Some foods are good; some are really bad-tastes like frozen meals from the grocery store. Do not recommend the baked ravioli or steak sandwich. Pretty fun atmosphere! read more

Good restaurant for locals and repeat visitors. Love the hole in the wall vibe and live music. Bo grant is the best if you have the chance to hear him you totally should! Service truly depends on the night and so does the chicken Alfredo. Sometimes it is a hit or miss with the pasta, can be watery and cold. Best to go with the pizza which is always good. read more

Papa Rocco's - Alfredo base small cheese pizza - Bars Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

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So the first time I ate here about 2 years ago, the pizza was "ok at best." I visited again 3 weeks ago but told myself I'm ordering something other than pizza. So I ordered the chicken parm. I will say it was phenomenal. The marinara sauce was possibly the best I've ever had. So I returned again this past weekend and order the meatballs & spaghetti. Once again, it was phenomenal. Don't let the name "pizza" in the business name fool you. This Italian menu is incredible and I will be returning. read more

Papa Rocco's - Bars Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

We were so disappointed with the Prime Rib Special on Thursday night. We were looking forward to it as we so enjoyed it 2 years ago! It was tough, chewy, and had no flavor! Couldn't even eat it. Whatever happened to it...please bring it back! On a positive note... everyone at Papa Rocco is very friendly! read more

Loved the friendly staff, had the pizza which was fantastic, and the music was a bonus. Definitely going back on my next trip to Gulf Shores!! Keep it up Papa Roccos read more

Delicious pizza! My wife loved the alfredo pizza with spinach, mushrooms, bacon, red onions. It was very good. 16" Pepperoni Pizza was only like $15. Not bad. Friendly, hard-working employees. Can be very busy and not a big space inside. Any wait needs to happen outside. We usually just get take-out. I love coming here when we visit. read more

Papa Rocco's - Signature Spinach Alfredo pizza, delicious! - Bars Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

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Had a great pizza at the restaurant earlier in the week. However, ordered carry out for the Super Bowl; arrived 25 minutes later. Paid for the order and pizza came out immediately. The box wasn't even warm. Pizza was lukewarm and the crust was a bit burnt. I think they reheated a leftover pizza. I should have ordered a pizza from the Domino's next to the hotel and saved the time and money. They went instantly from a place I would recommend to a place I would tell people to avoid. read more

My husband and I were looking for a late night dinner spot while in GS for vacation and stumbled upon Papa Rocco's. The fact they were open at 10pm, was already a plus for us. All of our food was absolutely delicious. For dinner, I ordered the spaghetti with meat sauce which came with a generous piece of garlic bread and my husband got a medium pepperoni and sausage pizza. We loved every bite of our meals and didn't leave with leftovers. The sauce had a nice flavor and good size pieces of meat. My husband said the pizza was very good and cooked perfectly. Our server, Jessica, was great! There were about 10 tables with people and she was the only server; and one of the best server's we've ever had. She was friendly, handle all of the tables amazingly, and didn't miss a beat on refills or anything we asked for. I could hear other tables complimenting her on her skills as well. It's not your fancy Italian restaurant, more of a cozy make you feel at home style place and we loved that too. They offer live music every night of the week while really adds to the ambiance. They're been around for quite a while and the walls are covered with pictures and articles to prove a testimony to how good they are. We enjoyed our meal so much this first night, we ended up going back two days later for lunch. I got the same spaghetti but added meatballs this time. The meatballs were good, just as expected. They were soft, flavorful, and had a nice sear to them. My husband switched up his order and got the Italian Combo Dinner. Oh my goodness! I wish I had a picture. It was 5 different items, in a small casserole dish, topped with melted/toasted cheese. He said it was phenomenal. We also ordered the cheesy garlic bread after seeing another table order it on our last visit. Another menu item that didn't disappoint. All of our food was so good both visits and we'll definitely be going again whenever we're in town. read more

Papa Rocco's - Pepperoni & sausage pizza and spaghetti with meat sauce - Bars Near Me - Gulf Shores, Alabama

Our food was good. The salad, mushrooms and spaghetti were very good. Our server was awesome! And didn't tell us the tip was included because we had a larger group. And we tipped him AGAIN! He thanked us twice, now we know why. Not the way to screw someone at their first(and last visit). The restaurant is very old and dated. I would think a big wind would blow it down. Way too loud and way too tight for people to walk around. You will enjoy the food. read more