CAMERON PARK, Calif. — For the 19th consecutive year, readers in the El Dorado County Foothills have named Papa Gianni’s Ristorante the area’s Best Italian Restaurant — a streak that has helped cement the family-run eatery’s place in the region’s dining landscape.
Papa Gianni’s, located in the Goldorado Shopping Center at 3450 Palmer Drive, Cameron Park, serves a broad menu of Southern Italian classics and house specialties drawn from family recipes that the restaurant says have been passed down through generations. The restaurant’s website and menu describe the food as traditional, homestyle fare — from baked lasagna and eggplant parmigiana to sandwiches, pasta and classic desserts such as tiramisu and cannoli.
“Papa Gianni’s is honored to be the Best Italian Restaurant for 19 years in a row, as voted by Style Magazine readers in the El Dorado County Foothills,” the restaurant wrote in a recent social-media post celebrating the Readers’ Choice result.
Founded in the early 1990s (the restaurant’s branding references an establishment date of 1991), Papa Gianni’s positions itself as a neighborhood destination for family dinners, celebrations and casual nights out. Locals and visitors consistently point to large portions, familiar flavors and friendly service in online reviews.
Operationally, the restaurant keeps relatively traditional hours with lunch and dinner seatings during the week and evening service on weekends; patrons are advised to check the restaurant’s site or call ahead for holiday schedules and last-minute changes.
Why the streak matters to El Dorado County
The long string of Readers’ Choice wins reflects both consistent patron loyalty and a broader appetite in the foothills for locally owned restaurants that emphasize authenticity and continuity. For business owners in the area, repeat recognition from community polls like Style Magazine’s can mean steady foot traffic, opportunities for private events, and positive word-of-mouth that national review aggregates don’t always capture.
What locals say
Online reviewers frequently highlight signature items — the sausage sandwich, house-made sauces and desserts — as reasons they keep coming back. While most feedback is positive, occasional reviewers note variability in consistency, a common refrain for long-running neighborhood restaurants that rely on busy kitchens and regular staff rotation.
For readers planning a visit
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Address: 3450 Palmer Dr., Cameron Park.
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Reservations: recommended during peak evenings; call ahead for availability and special events. Papagiannis
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For menus and specific dish descriptions, see the restaurant’s official pages.
