We had dinner tonight at Papa's Italian Restaurant, and if you've never been, it's a place you absolutely must try in Prescott. If you've dined here before, you already know exactly what I'm talking about. We ordered the Spicy Sausage & Broccolini Ravioli and the Meat Ravioli, and both dishes were outstanding. Every bite was flavorful and perfectly prepared. The service was exceptional, and the warm, inviting atmosphere makes you feel as though you're dining in Italy. Thank you to everyone at Papa's for continuing to make dining out such a special experience. We'll definitely be back! read more

Papa's Italian Restaurant - Meat Ravioli - Italian Near Me - Prescott, Arizona

See all

So while I understand this establishment is owned by human beings who likely care I will just say this, if you own an Italian restaurant, my advice would be for you to go to Italy, or in the U.S. to New York City, Chicago and other places where there large swaths of Italian culture and the Italian food is galaxies more authentic and much better. Experience it. Learn from what you experience and take that back to Prescott. In sum, the food (while Italian style) was not at all representative of authentic Italian culture. The warmth of being in an Italian home like many establishments throughout Italy and the U.S. was not present. And the food! The sauce was amateurish at best - composed of huge chunks of canned stewed tomatoes than actual sauce. The chicken (in my Chicken Parmesan) was intensely dry and rubbery which tells me that the breasts we're made and then frozen. The pasta was regular cheap grocery store pasta. The salad - "Italian" dressing - tasted it came from a commercial brand. Lastly the service, was ok at best. No one offered or was even around to give us fresh grated Parmesan cheese or fresh cracked pepper in our salad. The bread served on the table was good and our Aperol Spritz was excellent. Overall, I suppose we should have expected this... ethnic food in a small town is far more "miss" than it is "hit" but I did appreciate how warm and inviting the atmosphere is. Sorry... I just want people who come from out Of town who have traveled and experienced many beautiful versions of of the Real Thing... this is not that. read more

I always order the meatballs as they are absolutely the best...PERIOD! I usually order the Minestrone Soup and it's always served hot & delicious! Caesar Salad is also perfect w/Parmigiano Regiano cheese & plenty of grated extra ! Sierra & Fast Eddie are fabulous bartender' for beverages served with personality & smiles ! Jamie, Sierra, Tanisha, Aaron & formerly, Maddy, are fabulous servers! Can't forget Sam, who's always refreshing waters, bread & butter! Ambience is "Dean Martin & Frank Sinatra", along with their music & very comfortable seating throughout! read more

Fri 5/29/26 Haven't been here in a couple yrs. I had lasagna, if that was Italian sausage in it, it didn't taste like it, it was pretty bland My girlfriend had shrimp scampi that was pretty bland too We had moscato wine and Port wine and ice cream for dessert Jamie and her son provided excellent service and was very attentive. I love the ambience there. The price was very fair $88 Let's step up the sausage to real Italian sausage and will be back read more

When we travel, we look for locally owned restaurants to visit. Papa's is a treasure. Food outstanding, service incredible. Old school Italian without being stuffy. Clearly a local favorite, as the waiters and hostess greated many folks by their first name. Huge plates of food. My grandson ordered from the kid's menu, enough to feed two kids! Table bread and butter was excellent. Next time we travel thru Prescott, Papas will be on our must visit list. Thank you for a wonderful meal! read more

One of the best Italian restaurants I've ever been to hands-down. Whenever I'm in Prescott, this is a non-negotiable. I haven't tried one bad thing on the menu. Can't wait till next time read more

Papa's Italian Restaurant - Restaurants Atmosphere - Italian Near Me - Prescott, Arizona

See all

The food was very delicious. I will be returning next time in town. Had eggplant parmesan and linguine and clam sauce

The food was amazing as always and those steamers, oh my. The service was good. My only negative is getting stuck in their back room. It's horrible and the level of service always suffers somewhat. But if your in the main dining room your going to have a great experience. We always go back read more

Eddie the bartender is fantastic! Food and service are wonderful as well. We eat here every time we are in town.

Service was AMAZING and food followed suit!! Lovely atmosphere, interior was beautiful and we were offered a table farther from the door as it was cold outside. 10/10 amazing service - from a former server. Thank you guys for making the last night of our honeymoon unforgettable. read more

Papa's Italian Restaurant - Chicken Parmigiano - Italian Near Me - Prescott, Arizona

See all

Upon walking in I was greeted right away. I asked to sit at the Bar and I was walked back right away. A very gracious and happy Bartender, Eddie, came up and immediately made me feel at home. May I add, he makes the best cocktails and hand pours the liquor. I love it! The food was amazing. I will definitely be back for the great food and ambiance and the wonderful conversation. In this time and age where I feel a lot of Restaurants lack the service and serve mediocre food and drink I was pleasantly impressed. read more

See all

What a great spot in Historic downtown Prescott. We had a reservation for a large group if 13. We were met at the door with complementary glass of champagne. Our table was ready ahead of time and we were sat prominently. The staff went out of their way to make sure we had what ever we wanted. The restaurant always has a very warm feeling and nicely decorated. This visit was special as it was the tree lighting so Christmas decorations were everywhere. The food and drinks are well priced for the size and quality. We will be back! read more

See all

I dined here again recently, so the experience was nearly the same as my previous review, but with the notable addition of special menu bargains available Tuesday through Thursday. Check the restaurant's website for specifics and applicable time frames. Unfortunately, musical malpractice continues at Papa's with playlists comprised frequently of 1980's pop music and often delivered at bar level volume, which together with the cacophony of fellow diners, challenges table conversation. To be accurate, more appropriate music selections like Frank Sinatra, Michael Buble, etc., are in the mix for this cozy Italian restaurant, yet oftentimes they are played as the exception rather than the rule. The last I checked, a 1980's Michael Jackson song didn't exactly strike an Italian note. Oh well, at least the bread is good. read more

I wasn't going to review this restaurant again, but after visiting them again, I just have to! They are our favorite restaurant in Prescott and we wish it wasn't so far away. We made a reservation ahead of time to take advantage of their happy hour and their Tuesday evening specials. I was needing a table away from people for health reasons and they put us in the back dining area where we had the room to ourselves for much of our meal. Then, for health reasons again, I asked if they could substitute something for the pasta. She said they could do a chef's choice of veggies. When I specified certain ones I could eat, our server talked to the chef and that is exactly what I got! And it was a huge amount of them. So very kind. And, as always, the food was top notch--calamari, meatball, chicken parm, spumoni, bread, and two complimentary beverages for St Patrick's Day (green champagne and a green after dinner aperitif). Plenty of food for another meal or two. Still our favorite restaurant there! read more

See all

Was up in Prescott a few weeks back for my son to qualify for his black belt in karate. We were all hungry and decided we would head to downtown for something Italian. Papa's popped up so we checked it out. First, the surrounding area is amazing! TONS of little shops everywhere and at night, it's especially pretty. Great place to walk around and take in the small town vibes. We were greeted immediately at Papa's and taken to our table. Service was phenomenal. The decor inside is cozy and slightly on the romantic side. It's a great place for a date. The food was delicious! I went with the ravioli bolognese and a side of minestrone soup. Loved both! On a scale if 1 - 10, I'll definitely come here again on the next trip up here!! read more

See all

We were visiting Prescott and were in the mood for Italian and specifically pizza. We were directed to Papa's. The 3 stars are mainly for the service. We were seated promptly, order taken by our waitress who was very nice and provided excellent service. Unfortunately, I cannot say the same for the pizza, which actually isn't. The crust is bread dough, not pizza dough, and the sauce is marinara, not pizza sauce. It was more of a flatbread than what I would call a pizza. It was also completely devoid of mushrooms which we specified in the order. We didn't eat it all and our waitress was so apologetic, that she brought us a free dessert. The Tiramisu was delicious. I would say if you're looking for Italian in Prescott, this probably the place to go. However, if you're looking for a killer pizza, I'd take a pass. read more

I regret not taking photos of this place, as from looking through past reviews I see they painstakingly change the decor around to fit the relevant holidays. Hundreds of dangling roses draped from the ceiling which gave the restaurant a very romantic and homey feel. It was very exciting and inviting to be inside there! But the food is the center of attention here. From the opening well-garlic'ed bread to Mama's Meatballs to the mammoth-sized calzone (filled with ingredients) and a perfect Old Fashioned, everything was fantastic. I also had a tiramisu which was also excellent. Service was very friendly and prompt. Simply put, I'll go here every time I get to Prescott from here on out!! read more

Amazing!!! Another 5 star dinner at Papas. Jesse was so attentive. The food, service, music, and atmosphere can't be beat. Come here and GET THE CASSATA CAKE!!!! read more

2 out of 5 stars - Disappointing Visit As Prescott locals, my dear friend made a 7 PM reservation for four at Papa's Italian Restaurant bc of my recommendation. We weren't seated until 7:30 PM. When we asked the hostess why, she was rude and dismissive, saying walk-ins had "checked in first." That didn't make sense for a reservation and set a poor tone. When seated the waitress brought water right away. Our soups arrived only one quarter full and lukewarm (see photo). I've had much better soup here before the ownership change, full bowls and hot. I ordered my usual meat lasagna. The waitress returned later saying they were sold out and suggested the manicotti instead, saying it was similar. It was. The baked ziti ordered was rather bland. When the cassata lemon cake was ordered for dessert it was ALSO sold out. That was the final let down of the evening. The server was kind and she actually saved the experience from not bombing entirely. Some items were comped, which helped. But overall, the experience fell short of the consistent quality I've had here in the past. New owners: a few suggestions to win back locals: * Train the front-of-house staff (especially red haired hostess) to be more professional and welcoming. * Improve inventory management so you don't run out of signature items. Don't make your servers jobs harder than they already are. * The meaningful gesture of comping some of our items meant a great deal. Thank you. In this economy, locals remember poor experiences. Prescott has choices, including La Bruzza's, Rosa's and Vicenzo's. When Papa's is firing on all cylinders, it's a great spot! We can all have off days. I'll give it another chance in a few months to see if things improve. read more

Papa's Italian Restaurant - Soup served one quarter full and not hot. - Italian Near Me - Prescott, Arizona

See all

Papa's was very busy for a mid week evening. Reservations are recommended. I found Papa's cozy and romantic, especially all the roses hanging from the ceiling. My entre, " The Shrimp Fra Di Avolo", really knocked it out of the park for me. The gravy was the best I've had. The staff was efficient and friendly. Looking Forward To returning. read more

First of all, the owners Vanessa, who is the front office, administrator, and hostess, and Justin, the Chef, are simply fabulous! For example, I required a right hip replacement, and parked almost a block away to enjoy my dinner at Papa's Downtown Prescott! Vanessa asked me where my car is parked and walked to it and drove it right up to the door so I didn't have to walk to my car! She is customer service personified! She always greets me by name and tries to find a spot for me in the restaurant, even when it's full. Justin, the Chef, creates just excellent Italian food! The bartender's, the wait servers, and the staff are very attentive and make sure that their guests have everything they need to enjoy their dinner! I particularly enjoy the seafood medley with linguine, the meatballs which are fabulous, the Caesar salad which is excellent, and the other Italian dishes that they serve! The desserts are out of this world! And the bartenders will make & pour whatever of drink you want! The ambience in the restaurant, is purely Italian, with a lot of the music from Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and other old school entertainers who epitomized Italian cuisine and heritage! If you live in or you're visiting Prescott you must eat at Papa's Downtown Prescott, or you're really missing the boat! read more

The food was COLD and not cooked enough. I ordered through DoorDash and they doubled my order. I WAS a fan of Papa's but, this was my last time with them!! Also, the manager was nasty to us and hung up on me. But that's ok because I stopped payment. read more

Love the calzones especially they are large enough to share. Old style Italian vibe. Casual prices and good wine list. read more

We love papas! The 2 hour drive from the valley is so worth it. My husband got the Alfredo and i tried something new tonight and got the manicotti with meat sauce. We got here early for happy hour. My wine was only $6 a glass. Again, the ALFREDO 10/10 same with manicotti!! We also ordered a cannoli to share read more

See all

We went there on a Tuesday night and had reservations. The service was fantastic and a beautiful atmosphere. The staff and our waitress Candice was awesome and so welcoming. The warm setting and low lighting made it the perfect place to unwind. The food was excellent. read more

See all

We loved the ambiance, Italian upbeat feel of this place! Servers were all great & made awesome recommendations. The bread is bomb, salad and soup check out. And our pasta's were amazing. Dipping the bread in the red pepper pasta sauce is a power move! Also - really good prices!! read more

Papa's Italian Restaurant - Mushroom ravioli & Chicken Prosciutto pasta - Italian Near Me - Prescott, Arizona

We had a large family group (14) and they accommodated our party with a reservation. The place was packed on a Saturday night (5pm). The waitress was very pleasant and had a great knowledge of the menu. She gave us good suggestions and even checked on any off menu "specials". Sometime they have some special run ravioli from a previous day. My wife and I shared the chicken Alfredo. I'm a big guy and it was enough for both of us. The chicken is breaded, butterflied, and probably pounded thin pan fried. The bread had a good crust and flavored. The Alfredo sauce was flavorful and creamy. The bread they bring to the table is incredible. Sour dough sticks with butter. There is a garlic seasoning on them, probably 2" in diameter. Very good. Highly recommend this place. You're paying at least $20ish per entree. Very tasty. read more

On the evening of April 18th, 2026 we ordered food for delivery from Papa's Italian Restaurant through the guest link on their website. We ordered a calzone, a small pizza, and a salad. The delivery was delayed and we received a message from the driver saying he was waiting for the food. Around 8 pm I heard our gate open, someone walk in our yard, approach our door and leave. I assumed it was our delivery, so I went out to retrieve the food. There was no food, but I heard a car idling. I went back in to talk to my boyfriend about the delivery, and he went outside to talk to the driver after he saw the video footage from our door cam of the driver walking in and then out of our gate with our food. Upon exiting our gate my boyfriend encountered a large black truck blocking our driveway. He gestured to the woman sitting in the passenger's seat that this is the correct house for delivery. She ignored him so he called me to talk with her. I approached the truck, mere feet from my gate that has our address plastered on and asked the woman if she was here for delivery. She did not speak to me and simply gestured "I don't know" with her arms raised up. I was super confused about what was going on at this point. Suddenly, as I am still standing in my walkway, in front of my gate that has my address on it, looking around confused wondering where the food is and why this truck is here if it's not for food delivery, a man started walking very rapidly towards me from down the street hollering "Mind your own business, lady" and "Step back, lady" over and over and over again, gesturing aggressively at me. I attempted to interrupt his tirade to ask, "are you here for food delivery?" Finally, he stopped hollering at me and said "Yeah, it's all done" as my boyfriend stepped out through the gate asking the same questions. I was still confused as we still did not have any food. The delivery driver finally informed us, "yeah, it's at the front door." My boyfriend then confirmed again with the driver that he did deliver our food to another door. I then said to the delivery driver, "See, it is my business." The delivery driver replied, "Right back at ya" and smirked. Very weird, strange encounter. The female passenger seemed oblivious as to what was going on, and the man appeared to be under the influence of something based on his aggressiveness. He was extremely rude, unprofessional, threatening and dismissive. This driver is an individual who should NOT be involved in customer service. After that experience I had bad taste in my mouth and was no longer hungry. My boyfriend informed me the calzone was good but only ate half. He tried my pizza and said it was bad. We threw the rest away. read more

Every visit is amazing. The customer service is phenomenal. So nice & courteous. Celebrated out 32nd Anniversary last week with an amazing meal & then couples night with great friends and amazing food. We tried the pizza last night and it was the best! I recommend everything on the menu. Have not had even a mediocre meal. Also recommend the Prosecco & the lavender lemon drop martini. Make reservations! read more

See all

Tonight, seven of us went to Papa's for dinner. We had a variety of entrees, salads and soups. Some of the entrees were: angel hair pasta with meat sauce, baked ziti, chicken fettuccine, portobello ravioli with spicy Italian sausage. The minestrone soup was probably the best that I have ever eaten and my pasta with meat sauce was terrific. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals also. Very homey and friendly atmosphere. Service was outstanding. read more

If there were 10 stars, Papas would get them all! Called earlier in the week for my wife's birthday, requesting the bar area on a Friday. Upon arrival, we were seated promptly, at the table with the Venice background! There was a Happy Birthday sign on the table, and the service was excellent! Seafood Special Pasta was incredible! And they brought my wife a Cannoloni with a candle in it for dessert! Every single employee there does an incredible job, regardless of their role! I highly recommend Papas for any occasion or just to enjoy a Great Experience. Our favorite in Prescott!!! Thank You! read more

Service 10/10 Staff 10/10 Food 10/10 Ambiance 9/10 Prices 9/10 Portions 10/10 Food presentation 10/10 Eddie treats us like family. Everyone is so nice and hustling! Very efficient. Bread is great. Pours are tall. This is a true gem. Probably the best Italian I've had and there's endless competition. If they don't change a thing, I'm a customer for life. read more

It was excellent - including the service. The food was amazing! We plan to go back when we return to Prescott.

Thanks so much Venessa for a terrific evening! Had a friend in town and we thought we'd show her a good time at PaPa's and boy did that work! We have a wonderful time! Candice and all the crew were awesome. Our friend was very impressed... great job guys thanks! Food was great and the ambiance couldn't have been better. Bravo all! read more

Made a 7pm reservation and only waited a short time to be seated, despite it being a busy night. Candis was our server, she was fast, very polite and just a great person to converse with. We had the muscles with linguine in a spicy red sauce and the mushroom ravioli. Both dishes were very tasty. We also had 2 glasses of house wine (hefty portion) was a solid choice. We ended with a piece of their house made cake. Overall a good experience. Will definitely return. read more

What a wonderful experience! Friendly service, beautiful atmosphere, delicious food, and great value. Giving 5 stars was an easy decision. read more

See all

Food was great service was amazing. Location was easy walk from hotel. We will be back! read more

Papa's Italian Restaurant - Fettuccine Alfredo and a shrimp dish. - Italian Near Me - Prescott, Arizona

See all

We escaped to Prescott for the weekend to avoid the metro Phoenix heat. Little did we know we would also find our new favorite restaurant. We were 3 adults and a kidlet. and we all loved our dinner here. The calamari was awesome; best we've had anywhere. The pastas and gnocchi received high marks, and the kidlet scarfed his pizza (which was amazing considering all the bread he ate beforehand). The house wines hit the spot. We shared a tiramisu for dessert; unique presentation but good. The service was excellent. Both our server and the runners were spot on. The ambiance of the place is cozy and welcoming. I'm glad I made reservations here BEFORE we left home. We would have really missed out. This is definitely our new Prescott must! read more

Vanessa,Aaron and their team satisfied 40 of our IJWR members on Wednesday night! Being able to order off of the menu makes it so much better for a group. Plenty of boxes on the way out with leftovers as well as deserts to go! read more

Thank you to the waitresses who helped me get us an Uber as we didn't feel safe to drive after a few drinks. The food was excellent and appetizers was great too. We got back to our hotel safely. Thank you Candace for all that you've done and you were an awesome waitress. read more

See all