Paparazzi is dedicated to the idea that every guest should be treated like a star. The restaurant reflects the philosophy of blending the classical and neo-classical elements of everyday Italian life. The menu offers classical Italian dishes that have become part of the American tapestry, while introducing its fair share of the interpretive, creative, and innovative. The regional recipes are authentic and passed down from generation to generation. They are marked by freshness and seasonality. The WOOD-FIRED OVEN, visible from every seat in the dining room, imparts a special flavor and aroma to the Artisan Pizza as well as other specially prepared dishes. Imaginative desserts put an exclamation point on the dining experience.
The Wine List is designed to take the stress out of the selection process. While it is descriptive and friendly, the knowledgeable staff is eager to assist.
"We love this restaurant! It is one of our favorites. The food it fantastic! I would highly recommend it!"
Dined on 6/16/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, hot spot, great for lunch, special occasion, kid-friendly
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We opted to go to one our favorites for Father's Day. As usual, we were not disappointed! The food was wonderful, and the service friendly and attentive."
Dined on 6/16/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups, great for brunch, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, great for lunch, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Our second Sunday buffet brunch-expanded selections for Father's Day. Reservation on time, great food and total enjoyment. One in our party of four is a vegan and there were many items on the buffet that satisfied both her food restrictions and her appetite. Looking forward to our next visit."
Dined on 6/16/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Enjoyed it for Father's Day with a party of 6. Food was really good, and I am usually very picky about finding good Italian food. I had the fettucini alfredo which was perfect (not a big creamy mess like most restaurants), and my Dad has the short ribs which looked AMAZING! Oh and my sister had the soup of the day which was a tomato gorgonzola bisque - it was so good we passed it around the whole table for everyone to try! I wish it wasn't as pricey, but guess I can't complain for the quality of the food."
Dined on 6/16/2013
2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining, notable wine list, romantic
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Love the food, love to sit outside watching my kids play on the field and still be able to have an adult conversation with my Family/friends! Best glass of white wine in town."
Dined on 6/14/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups, great for outdoor dining, romantic, kid-friendly
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Attentive server was available but allowed us some privacy to catch-up. Nice drink and wine by the glass menu. We had several apps and all were very nice; can't comment on the entree menu. We'll be back!"
Dined on 6/10/2013
2011
Special Features: great for brunch, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We dined at Paparazzi's for our 16th wedding anniversary. The food was fantastic. Special requests were handled with ease. Excellent customer service by everyone who came to our table."
Dined on 5/29/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, great for brunch, romantic, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, hot spot, great for lunch, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I am a resturant snob and a former Italian resturant waiter. I took my mother here for her birthday and we were both pleasantly satisfied. I had to meet the Chef. He is an awesome guy and has an amazing approach to his dishes. I'm a fan."
Dined on 4/29/2013
Special Features: great for brunch, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Everything was great, very good Veil Parm, service pretty good, but there was a piece of just gum under the table, a huge oen i put my fingers on...told waiter, he worked on getting it taken off as i went to the bathroom."
Dined on 5/18/2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"If you are looking for the best flavored faire consisting of the freshest ingredients, all hand prepared by an Executive Chef with a palate that is creative and purposefully distinct, enjoyed in a restaurant with quaint ambiance and top notch service, then choose Paparazzi! Whether it is a full course dinner, to a quick lunch bite, to a brunch that will leave you pleasantly full and relaxed, you will be excited to return to experience the next great art in cuisine. Atmosphere is also a positive mention, with a blend of modern and old world traditonal that compliment the food, and service that is attentive but not overbearing, and never hurried. Don't forget to leave room for a scrumptious selection of home made desserts. Five stars!!"
Dined on 5/10/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for outdoor dining, great for brunch, notable wine list, kid-friendly, romantic, neighborhood gem, hot spot, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"My husband and I took some other family that came in from alaska we were served by a gentleman named Daniel I Think, he went through the specials and his own recomendations, we had several diferant dishes because there was a total of 8 of us we traded tastes and enjoyed the entrees EVERY THING I TASTED WAS SUPERB we asked to talk with the chef Micheal I beleive his name was and he was a joy to speak with after a enjoyable time we all talked about our dinner NO COMPLAINTS GREAT FOOD GREAT PRICE WE RECOMMEND THIS TO EVERYONE for any occasion or just to go out. Thank you guys for a wonderful special occasion you WILL se us alot. The Blakes"
Dined on 4/26/2013
Special Features: good for groups, romantic, neighborhood gem, hot spot, great for lunch, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"To me, this place was sub par and not worth the money. The people I was with seemed to like it and said their food was great. I thought it was a little too loud in there for an establishment that's more so a restaurant than a bar. I ordered the shrimp scampi and I think that's why I am giving this place a poor review. The dish was AWFUL. There was a tiny amount of noodles and about 4 shrimp on it. The "sauce" on the noodles was completely tasteless. I felt like I was eating undrained pasta noodles with a few boiled shrimp. I've eaten microwave instant dinners better than that thing. The waitress was very nice. Had I gotten a different dish, my review may be completely different. My only complaint apart from the food was the noise"
Dined on 04/27/2013
2013
Special Features: good for groups
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"I recently had dinner at paparazzi w/ my parents & some out of town family, one world describes my experience AMAZING!! Muscles & clams w/ heirloom tomato sauce, Great.. Eggplant Napoleon, brilliant.. I had the pork chop w/ honey smoked brandy sauce, incredible.. My sister had the chicken parmesan & mind you we are Italians, best in Raleigh, our server was Conrad & he was awesome his table presence is very professional.. We can tell that the Executive Chef Michael Kuilan really has passion for his craft, we also had the opportunity to meet the owners Joe SR & Joe JR great people.. Can't wait to share this place w/ friend & coworkers.."
Dined on 04/26/2013
2013
Special Features: vibrant bar scene, fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, great for outdoor dining, kid-friendly, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, hot spot
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We both ordered Homemade Pasta - excellent! It was great to try new Italian wines. Outdoor dining looked beautiful. Hopefully, we can get a table outdoors next time. We will be back."
Dined on 04/27/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for outdoor dining
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"This restaurant seemed to have good ratings, but this is not what we experienced. When a restaurant in Raleigh is not completely full on a Saturday night, run the other way. Service was spotty. The food was not good for the price. Pasta was overcooked and limp. Veal was so tough you could hardly cut it. Chicken was tough and mealy. Salads were inundated with lemon dressing, which overpowered them. Even their pesto sauce was not tasty, but rather bland. Lafayette Village is a very nice place to walk around and this restaurant is located right there, but unfortunately, food quality and service are not good, so we will never ever return."
Dined on 04/20/2013
2007
Share:
-1point
0of1voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Disappointed in one dish in particular that a person in our party was served. They ordered a simple "spaghetti"; pasta with marinara; and he was very hungry. The portion was so small! Also, the bread that was given to the table, and the very small bits of butter that accompanied was disappointing. I don't like it when I go to an expensive restaurant and then someone leaves hungry! Not acceptable. For the price, a healthy amount of pasta could have been put on the plate. Paparazzi could think about bumping up a notch the amount of bread & butter served at the table with a group of 4 as well. We had to ask for more twice! Will not be back."
Dined on 04/12/2013
2009
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"We dined here for Easter brunch and it was our first visit here. I really like the decor, however the brunch I felt fell flat in several aspects. The omelets weren't fluffy, the pizza was too thin. The eggs benedict was on burned english muffin bottoms and I would have liked to have seen more hot items like maybe lasanga, maybe some chicken marsala."
Dined on 03/31/2013
2010
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Attractive restaurant and good service, but the food was just fair. Ordered fettuccine with lemon and caper sauce and could not taste sauce at all ... was like wet noodles with artichokes. Dessert (cheesecake and chocolate mousse)OK, but not great. Just not inspiring food."
Dined on 04/06/2013
2013
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"The restaurant just instituted a new menu. All of our entrees were mediocre, at best. The food came just barely warm and was totally lacking in flavor. While I celebrate innovation and menu updates, maybe they should throughly test new recipes before offering . I've always had good food here, and so I recommended this restaurant to my friends, who probably will not go back, based on their experience. Also, it was pretty noisy - must be the room structure contributing to this."
Dined on 04/03/2013
2010
Special Features: good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"My husband and I returned to this restaurant again this year on our Anniversary which is on Valentine's Day. We went there last year and we were very pleased with the food and the experience. This year they had a Special Valentines Day menu which to my horror had no items that did not contain meat or fish other than a bowl of soup and a strawberry salad. So for my 32nd anniversary that is all that I could order. We asked the waiter if I could get a entree without the meat sauce and he checked on it and was told no. Then I asked him if they could just make me a bowl of pasta without meat sauce and again the waiter checked on it and was told no. In this day and age not to have at least a chicken dish or a meatless dish is just stupid."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2011
Special Features: neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Food is very tasty. First visit to restaurant was on Valentine day. I ordered scallops which were Very Good. I was looking forward to having them on our second visit. I was very disappointed to find that scallops are not a regular menu item. Other people in our group enjoyed their meals very much. You are my new favorite restaurant especially when you serve scallops."
Dined on 02/25/2013
2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem, special occasion
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Wea are regular visitors to this restaurant and have never been disappointed. The Valentines specials were great, especially the stuffed lobster. Also a great value for a real lunch at a reasonable price."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"Always enjoy dining at Paparazzi....one of my local favorites."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2011
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, great for brunch, kid-friendly, late-night find, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion, great for lunch
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
"My wife and I ordered the lobster special on Valentines night and I had the Caesar salad. The salad was as good as I had had on two previous occasions. It took a long time for our lobster to come to the table. I would estimate about 30 minutes. It was very chewy. We had noticed our server along with a manager visiting a coupe at another table. She spent quite a bit of time with them. We believe our food sat under the warmer for more time than it should. This was not up to the standards of our previous visits and not what we expected. Prior to this I had recommended Paparazzi's to others. Now I would add a caveat."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2012
Share:
0points
0of0voted this as helpful.
Thank you! You have successfully submitted a comment for this review.
Ratings-Only Reviews for Paparazzi Ristorante Italiano