It takes something special to stand out when eating in Porterville but found on 1549 West Olive Avenue is a hidden gem with a welcoming vibe and flavor-packed, delectable dishes.
The undeniably welcoming atmosphere when you walk through the doors of Papas The Loaded Baked Potato Company sets the mood which makes one feel cozy and at home. Upon being greeted at the door you are given a menu as soon as you step into the restaurant. The restaurant is spacious and has hand-carved chairs which provide a traditional Hispanic style with televisions displayed on the sides of the tables. Something that can not be missed and sticks out is the glass above the tables. It is evident the pride they take in their service, reflecting on time and the service. It is observable that the food is freshly made.
Known for their baked potato that comes in a variety of ways they also serve other delicious dishes. From asada fries to tortas, tacos, and burritos they have 11 style dishes. Aside from this, they have an amazing selection of alcohol with their bar being open for those who are 21 and over.
While a variety of dishes are available the most popular dish on the menu would have to be the Asada Baked Potato – Door Dash also confirming the popularity. Something that is overlooked is the slices of meat that are placed on top, the meat is well-seasoned, bite-size, and combines well with the other condiments in the dish itself.
“The most enjoyable part for me was the carne pieces. They were a good size that meshed well with the rest of the potato,” Granite Hills senior Karla Mendoza said.
Upon reviewing the baked potato, an order of asada fries was placed.
“My favorite part was that the cheese was gooey and stretchy,” Granite Hills senior Esmeralda Ceballos said.
Even though there are many great aspects of this growing business, there were a couple of downsides.
“Although being so good, something that could have been better is just the wait time. It took 30 minutes to get my papa,” Granite Hills senior Jose Nava said.
Aside from the wait time, other customers found that the parking space could initially be a problem as well.
“Being a very popular restaurant, the parking could be an issue. When I went, it was too crowded and the cars were within very close range of each other,” Ceballos said.
The food quality is something that one does not miss when eating here. The price of the food ranges from $10-20 for each person. The sizes are worth the price and are also very fulfilling.
As a realtor, the owner of this establishment was able to come up with the grand opportunity of re-opening and expanding the business she was under previously.
“We opened here about 2-3 years ago but it was not under us,” said owner Diana Torres. “The building came up for lease then the comments flooded for us to come back to this building.”
This welcoming spot brings the community together and it is apparent.
“This business is family-oriented,” Torres said. We are not trying to make it like a sports bar or anything. It’s more of a family thing and it’s papas, you know. It attracts a lot of seniors. We have a lot of seniors who come in.”
If you’re in the area and looking for a place to eat or even try something new this would be a notable recommendation.
