Papa Dio’s Italian Restaurant & Wine Bar

Ate here recently and can't wait to go back. Everything was delicious and it had a warm family feel to it! Highly recommend eating here when in the OKC area.

Been going to Papa Dio's since the 70's when we wrote our names on the walls. The food is always good, but I'd rather have a root canal than attempt another to go order from them. It really wasn't a difficult order: 5 pasta dinners, 1 super papa salad, 1 side of pasta, 5 side salads and rolls. I prepared my sister for total focus - you can't take your eyes off the counter as they load your bag. You have to watch like a hawk. You snooze, you lose. And might just come home with a chimichanga instead of ravioli. They prepared to hand us our sack that I knew was missing a dinner and salads. They said "it's right," I said "it's not." After tossing that back and forth a few times they took inventory and found that, yes, a dinner was missing. And then, "Oh, salads?" Yes, the salads that come with each dinner. Hmmmm. Fifteen minutes, yes 15, still no salads, food getting cold in bag. I'll spare the details, but we were treated like dirt because they messed up our order. One cashier/server told the manager we were lying when we explained what was happening. Not an apology - from ANYONE, including Bill the owner and the manager both of whom were right there. Punch line - still got home with no super papa salad and one wrong dinner. I must have blinked around minute 13.

Been going to Papa Dio's since the 70's when we wrote our names on the walls. The food is always good, but I'd rather have a root canal than attempt another to go order from them. It really wasn't a difficult order: 5 pasta dinners, 1 super papa salad, 1 side of pasta, 5 side salads and rolls. I prepared my sister for total focus - you can't take your eyes off the counter as they load your bag. You have to watch like a hawk. You snooze, you lose. And might just come home with a chimichanga instead of ravioli. They prepared to hand us our sack that I knew was missing a dinner and salads. They said "it's right," I said "it's not." After tossing that back and forth a few times they took inventory and found that, yes, a dinner was missing. And then, "Oh, salads?" Yes, the salads that come with each dinner. Hmmmm. Fifteen minutes, yes 15, still no salads, food getting cold in bag. I'll spare the details, but we were treated like dirt... read more

There is so much warm, good feelings I got at Papa Dio's. Perhaps it is the love this family-owned restaurant pours into the food, but all around a great experience. Our meal started with the Fried Pizza, and how fun! You get a little ramekin of powdered sugar to dip your leftover crust in. It was a fun, sweet, surprising way to end my appetizer bite. The salads were fresh and wonderful. Caesar: spot on (I stole a bite from my friend). I had the house salad w/ ranch (not the house Italian that was suggested to me). Oh my! Fresh, flavorful tomatoes, which are hard to find this time of year, a pepperoni slice, many many olives, a pepperoncini. It was a lot of goodness in every bite. This is how Italian salads ought to be! I took the suggestion of our waiter and kept it simple: Linguini pasta w/ Italian sausage. "Why not the meatballs?" was naturally my question. "The Italian Sausage is just better!" was the response. And boy was she right. EXCELLENT balance. Wonderfully tomatoey with just the right amount of garlic and spice. It may be the best marinara in town. Back to the meatballs. She did bring me a meatball to compare. And while it lacked the pizzazz, flavor, and excitement of the sausage, I did talk with the owner about our whole wonderful dining experience and inquired about the meatballs (whether this was a sacrosanct recipe from his grandmother or something, or if the recipe was negotiable). I got the best answer ever! He mentioned the high volume of Jewish patrons they have and how he definitely wants to keep an All Beef meatball on the menu. How wonderful! I do see how easy it would be to pep it up with some pork sausage, but hopefully by the time you read this review it will be a little more flavorful and full-bodied. Service was stellar. Ambiance was casual, yet relaxing. Close to the kitchen, with an open window, the sights and smells of steaming garlicy goodness fills the place. It makes it worth it. I didn't have room for dessert but they looked and sounded good. I am excited about another visit soon. This restaurant is a bit hard to find. May and a little south of Hefner, but set off the street in a small strip mall. Get your GPS to help!

There is so much warm, good feelings I got at Papa Dio's. Perhaps it is the love this family-owned restaurant pours into the food, but all around a great experience. Our meal started with the Fried Pizza, and how fun! You get a little ramekin of powdered sugar to dip your leftover crust in. It was a fun, sweet, surprising way to end my appetizer bite. The salads were fresh and wonderful. Caesar: spot on (I stole a bite from my friend). I had the house salad w/ ranch (not the house Italian that was suggested to me). Oh my! Fresh, flavorful tomatoes, which are hard to find this time of year, a pepperoni slice, many many olives, a pepperoncini. It was a lot of goodness in every bite. This is how Italian salads ought to be! I took the suggestion of our waiter and kept it simple: Linguini pasta w/ Italian sausage. "Why not the meatballs?" was naturally my question. "The Italian Sausage is just better!" was the response. And boy was... read more