Papi's in Cabarete...not my favorite restaurant anymore...

[LindseyKaufman]

Not sure it is possible to visit every bar, hotel, restaurant, nightclub, tourist attraction in the whole country in 3 weeks. Anyway with 119 posts on the subject seems like a pretty good research sample to me.

Matilda- I have been there several times over the past months and many times over the years. While I will say the quality has slipped a bit since the original owner, I would certainly not say it is as bad as some are making it on this thread. (You can get a far worse meal on Cabarete Beach.) Pappi's is one of the pricier restaurants on the North Coast, but I have found the food generally consistent and good. The service- even when the original owner was there- was not great. However, many restaurants here have mediocre service. I believe that is part of living here. I tend to tell myself to relax, enjoy the ambiance and not ruin a good meal by getting myself worked up over a slight wait.

And as for being out of fish.....during some seasons or weather conditions, fish are not as good or plentiful. When I go to a better restaurant here on the North Coast, one that serves fresh fish with special preparations, I always ask what is available and what is fresh. I have found that the better restaurants will readily tell you, for they, like you, don't want a bad experience.

Thus, if the fish restaurant (Pappi's- or any other) was out of fish, there was a good reason, and they are not happy about it, either.

Good luck with your guide, Matilda.

Lindsey

 

[CFA123]

Matilda, I ate there this week with a group of 5 in total.
The food was excellent, as is the norm there... langostinos and shrimp a la papi (in their 'famous' cream sauce).
Personally, I'd not take it off the list. It remains one of the better restaurant choices in Cabarete and in my opinion should be featured in any comprehensive guide book.

I do think quantities served have slipped... the pan was smaller and i could count the shrimp - which in years past was a challenge due to the quantity. The owner states the weight per dish is the same, and I won't call him a liar. But one also "eats with their eyes" and the appearance is of less food per plate.

Here's a photo from my recent dinner compared to a photo immediately below that was posted earlier of dishes served in the past. Note, I seem to recall they used to offer 'shrimp for two' that I don't think is on the menu now. The dish with more shrimp could possibly be for that reason?? PERHAPS WHEN WE USED TO ORDER FOR 2 OR 3 PEOPLE THEY'D PUT ALL IN A LARGE PAN?

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT 2 DISHES OF SHRIMP AND ONE OF LANGOSTINOS FED 5 OF US.
It's a good restaurant. I don't want to see them hurt, even though we think we 'may' not be getting quite what we used to.

 

[Matilda]

Fair enough Lindsey, but you are the only person, by now on page 13 who has spoken up in favour. I would not take a restaurant out where one person had had a bad experience. The guide only had room for 10 restaurants in Sosua, Cabarete and POP, and was looking for a wide range to suit the different tastes and requirements of the tourists for whom it is mostly written. Hence excellent food with price no object, romantic beach, interesting menu at reasonable price, authentic Dominican food etc. Good service, and consistency are also important. It did not seem to me that the people who commented on this thread would necessarily now have put Papi's on the list of the best 10 restaurants across all areas and price ranges on the North Coast. From what I have experienced, and I have eaten there, and according to the people I have spoken to who live in the area, plus the comments I have seen on this site and others, led me to believe I would be doing tourists who read the guide a disservice if Papi's was still in there as one of the 10 on the North Coast.

Matilda

 

[Acira]

Now, I am curious...
Which 10 restaurants on the North Coast will make it according to you in the guide?

 

[waytogo]

Going to the North coast for Sunday, Monday.................
Would love to see your top 10...............

B in Santiago

 

[Matilda]

Previous to these owners we had two of these for three people. There does seem to be a slight difference.

Matilda

 

[Matilda]

That would be telling! And I did ask for help on this board but only had one offer from the north coast for which I am grateful.

I can say that there are new entries, including Casa Veintiuno in Sosua, Kiosko beach and Las Palmas in Puerto Plata.

Matilda

 

[Acira]

Kiosko Beach, my favorite beach pub, good food/price, relaxed atmosphere, excellent service always with a smile...Johnny the owner can be a happy man.

Still need to check out Casa 21.

That is two Matilda...

 

[Matilda]

Kiosko Beach, my favorite beach pub, good food/price, relaxed atmosphere, excellent service always with a smile...Johnny the owner can be a happy man.

Still need to check out Casa 21.

That is two Matilda...

You are good at maths!

 

[CFA123]

...I have seen on this site and others, led me to believe I would be doing tourists who read the guide a disservice if Papi's was still in there as one of the 10 on the North Coast.

Matilda

Ok, may not belong in the top 10 on the North Coast. When you said 'comprehensive' I thought it was, well, a comprehensive guide!

 

[Matilda]

Ok, may not belong in the top 10 on the North Coast. When you said 'comprehensive' I thought it was, well, a comprehensive guide!

Bit more to the whole country than just the north coast!

 

[CFA123]

Bit more to the whole country than just the north coast!

Let's agree to disagree. To only have room to cover 10 restaurants in Sosua, Cabarete, and POP as you mention above is not exactly comprehensive. Also, to take your concept a little further of weighing heavily this or other DR1 threads... if you go by historical posts on DR1, Rocky's is among the 10 best! I don't think anyone would recommend it to the general run of the mill travel-guide-reading public! Hahahaha

 

[Malibook]

Matilda, I ate there this week with a group of 5 in total.
The food was excellent, as is the norm there... langostinos and shrimp a la papi (in their 'famous' cream sauce).
Personally, I'd not take it off the list. It remains one of the better restaurant choices in Cabarete and in my opinion should be featured in any comprehensive guide book.

I do think quantities served have slipped... the pan was smaller and i could count the shrimp - which in years past was a challenge due to the quantity. The owner states the weight per dish is the same, and I won't call him a liar. But one also "eats with their eyes" and the appearance is of less food per plate.

Here's a photo from my recent dinner compared to a photo immediately below that was posted earlier of dishes served in the past. Note, I seem to recall they used to offer 'shrimp for two' that I don't think is on the menu now. The dish with more shrimp could possibly be for that reason?? PERHAPS WHEN WE USED TO ORDER FOR 2 OR 3 PEOPLE THEY'D PUT ALL IN A LARGE PAN?

I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT 2 DISHES OF SHRIMP AND ONE OF LANGOSTINOS FED 5 OF US.
It's a good restaurant. I don't want to see them hurt, even though we think we 'may' not be getting quite what we used to.

So these pics look similar to you?
They look like night and day to me.

 

[Matilda]

Let's agree to disagree. To only have room to cover 10 restaurants in Sosua, Cabarete, and POP as you mention above is not exactly comprehensive. Also, to take your concept a little further of weighing heavily this or other DR1 threads... if you go by historical posts on DR1, Rocky's is among the 10 best! I don't think anyone would recommend it to the general run of the mill travel-guide-reading public! Hahahaha

The guide is not just restaurants. Whilst I wouldn't recommend Rocky's as a beach front fine dining romantic place, I might very well recommend Rocky's as top 10 for breakfast, for chilling out and using wifi, for ribs, for a budget place to stay, as a good expat meeting place......

 

[william webster]

Matilda, this is a hard/difficult/impossible crowd to please.......

AND, they are NOT your market.....

You're being kind/polite to respond.


People, She is in charge.....
Her way or the highway.....

Like it or lump it and any other blow-off saying you can come up with

Let's start that idea.... I JUST POSTED A COUPLE OF 'EM

'Screw yourself'... might not be appropriate

After all - we're talking fine cuisine here:rambo:

 

[p33tef]

Dined at Papi's last night two of us had shrimp and two had langoustine, portion size great and quality superb. Still my favourite. Oh one had fresh fish too which was also great.

 

[LindseyKaufman]

Extremely sorry. I had no intention of disliking your post. Rather, I am pleased to have a fresh review. Thank you.

Lindsey

 

[adivol]

<style> <!-- BODY,DIV,TABLE,THEAD,TBODY,TFOOT,TR,TH,TD,P { font-family:"Arial"; font-size:x-small } --> </style>

I have visited this restaurant 5 years from now, at that time the taste was good and especially the taste of sauce but recently I got the chance to visit this restaurant but this time I am totally disappointed with their food.

<colgroup width="586"></colgroup> <tbody>
</tbody>

 

[william webster]

Well, I had never been to Papi's - until today

The ceviche was excellent
The carpaccio, was excellent
And then the famous langostino plate was excellent.

I had relayed all the bad press to my pal Jorge...it's his favourite restaurant.... and my complaining paid off.
He bought lunch to prove me wrong


Clearly, I cannot do a 'before/after' review, but I would visit again......especially as a non-paying guest.
The food just tastes better that way, donchathink??:bandit:

 

[Africaida]

I need glasses :bandit: :nervous: