Central Valley's Fitness Visionary - HER LIFE Magazine

herlife | cravingsPAPAPOLLONIMEDITERRANEAN BISTROby adriana broggerphotos by bre baszlerFor many of us, the new year brings many hopes and dreams.For David Alonso, owner of Papapolloni Mediterranean Bistro,his new restaurant in Oakdale is just that—the embodimentof hopes and dreams. The restaurant opened in August2012 and is quickly becoming the place to visit for fineMediterranean dining.David knows a lot about restaurants. He started out working in one asa teenager and quickly worked his way up to chef. His passion and drivehelped him advance in the restaurant industry. He dreamed of owning hisown restaurant one day and finally made that a reality with Papapavlo’sMediterranean Bistro & Bar in Modesto. In the past 11 years, David and hisstaff have become a staple on Standiford Avenue. Business was going wellthere and David wanted a challenge.“I checked Turlock, Manteca and Tracy. But when we came to Oakdale,we realized that business could be great here. This location is perfectfor a Mediterranean restaurant. We offer Oakdale our best.”That best turned out to be Papapolloni Mediterranean Bistro, locatedright in the heart of Oakdale. The restaurant in its current state is a remarkabletransformation from what it used to be. Formerly two other businesses,the restaurant space used to be a pizza restaurant and a stereostore. Today its open floor plan and tall ceilings exude sophistication andmodern elegance. David and his team renovated and designed the entirespace. The result includes a gorgeous bar and spacious table seating. Ilove the neutral, earth tone color combination and attention to detail in thedécor. David said he handpicked everything, and chooses only pieces hethinks will be meaningful to the space and those who visit it. I was instantlyimpressed with the classy, upscale atmosphere and welcoming staff.The food here is delicious! My photographer, Bre, and I were luckyenough to have round two of a menu we enjoyed when we visited Papapavlo’sin Modesto. David said the menus are similar with Papapollonioffering more pasta dishes. The head chef from the Modesto restaurantmoved over to Oakdale to ensure the same standard of excellent qualityand consistent flavors.To get us started, Bre and I were in Spanakopita, Moussaka andPastitsio heaven! This lovely trio of Greek deliciousness is a samplingof authentic casseroles that can be enjoyed at Papapolloni’s. All casserolesare served with seasoned vegetables and can be ordered as ameal or à la carte.The Chopped Chicken Salad is fresh and delicious. It features a charbroiledchicken brochette with a combination of crisp fresh lettuce, juicytomatoes, red onions, Greek olives, cucumbers and gourmet feta cheese.I am such a sucker for a great salad. You can’t go wrong with this one—itwill be perfect every time.Just like its sister restaurant in Modesto, Papapolloni’s has phenomenalLamb Chops! The lamb chops marinate for 24 hours before beingplaced on the grill. They are served with a wonderful side of flavorful riceand fresh vegetables. The green beans were so tasty—perfectly seasonedand crunchy.32 HERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM