Zio Peppe

This place is a true local gem! Everything here is amazing, and you can really tell they care about the food and the experience. Definitely one of our favorite spots. I always recommend this place when someone is looking to try something new.

+3

First time here and our waitress was super friendly, she gave great recommendations, and we thoroughly enjoyed our meal.

Excellent pizza and service. Unique desserts and the mushroom risotto is amazing. We’ll definitely return.

+3

Excellent five stars plus!!! Super tasty innovative dishes

Awesome pizza! Shrimp scampi the best flavor! Small but huge in quality. Highly recommend

Everything we order was amazing! We want to come back to try the full menu! Specially the pastas!

Today was my first time trying Zio Peppe today since they've opened. Let me just say, from the atmosphere to the food and the great service received. I must say, I will be coming back and definitely putting it out there that this is a must try. Thank you for your service today.

Zio Peppe catered a reception event for us this fall and to say our expectations were beyond exceeded would be an understatement! Our guests had so many wonderful things to say about the food, having the pizza made fresh onsite was a great touch that meant everything tasted phenomenal, and we could not recommend them more!

This is easily the best restaurant in Tucson! The Mexican-Italian fusion is unbelievable. I'm excited to try the whole menu, but the Ravioli was exquisite! Would recommend to anyone looking for a unique tasting experience!

Wonderful evening at Zio Peppe. Everything I tried was great and unique. My dining partner tried the fettuccine alfredorado (don’t bother Googling) and enjoyed it as well. They also have their liquor license now and have some great local options.

New favorite pizza in town! The crust is soft yet crispy, with a sweet tone in each bite. It kind of reminds me of a Neopolitan NY/Detroit pizza (puffy crust with a thin base). The sauce is subtle, with a perfect texture. The mozzarella stands out on its own which makes the Margarita pizza a beautifully well balanced pie. The Rustica is a must try in my book. Never had a pie like this one... The side of consume is a perfect pair as well! The bread + spread (not pictured) was soft and hot. Same dough as the pizza I suspect. It was accompanied with minced garlic, oil, and sea salt. Great app!

Amazing!!! Found on a whim by googling places that served pasta. We were in for a real treat! Very small, quaint inside with a cute patio area outside. It's one of those restaurants where you order first, but they have menus for you to sit and look at, then you can go to the register to order. It's a scratch kitchen so they make everything by hand. The bread was absolutely amazing! It comes with oil and you can order a side of this goat cheese honey and chamomile spread. I would buy it in a container if I could! Best goat cheese I've ever had. We got the fancy wolfberry pasta and it was so tasty. Normally I expect to add salt and pepper to my meals, but this pasta was so incredibly flavorful and the shrimp was perfectly cooked. My only regret is that I filled up on the bread and cheese! Would absolutely come here again. Update: Have come back multiple times since then. The bread, goat cheese, and pesto are the main reason. I cannot get enough of these scratch kitchen items. They've added this ganache chocolate cake that is absolutely delicious. Very rich and creamy. Whenever we get a chance and a little extra cash, we usually opt for Zio Pepe. We went the other night and it was very busy! Glad the word is getting out, but I'd recommend calling ahead on weekends now to ensure there's seating.

It was great. We had the Birria pizza (one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had) and shrimp pasta. Did the fundido app and flan for dessert. Everything was super on point besides the flan was dry. Can’t wait to go back and try more of their menu. They got really busy on a Friday night, service was pretty good, not great. Food was best we’ve had in a loooooong time.

Phenomenal experience from beginning to end. The quality of food was awesome, and we had our food within 10 minutes of ordering. The prices were reasonable and even seemed like a bargain for the quality of food and service we received. Great for date night!

The food was a cool mix of Italian and Mexican. The margarita pizza was amazing. The arrachini balls were good and a cool mix with the Mexican corn. The Caesar salad was great! Everyone cleaned their plates and enjoyed the food. This would be a return restaurant for me if I was a local!

It's my favorite place to eat pasta in town. They are so tasty and flavorful! I love their salads, they are big and fresh. My favorite pasta is the rotini alla tequila and a new one they have with pesto and arrabbiata sauce.

Went to Zio Peppe for the first time tonight because the menu intrigued me - Interesting, creative, *Purposeful fusion*. Not like every other "Italian" restaurant in Tucson, touting themselves to be "authentic" when they resemble nothing of what served in Italy, and should be ashamed of what they serve. I digress... The quality of food at Zio Peppe was en pointe, and well-executed. A delightful surprise! They offered a unique menu, well-presented cuisine with taste that lived up to their description of it. A concise and thoughtful wine list. Loved the lambrusco!! Not pictured where some of the other dishes we ate that were delicious, the elote arancini, and the shrimp wolfberry linguine. For dessert we splurged and got their chocolate tarte and "Tacoloni" ( I may have gotten the names wrong but you can see in the picture what they are.) For the food being such a level of fine dining, the ambiance was more casual than I expected. Not a bad thing. Just noting it. The service was good. I was glad I took a scarf to cover my shoulders because it was really cold under the air conditioning that was compensating for the Wood Fired Pizza oven. I look forward to going back and trying many more delicious creations here!

Dinner at Zio Peppe with my hott Red Head! Don't sleep on this place, TRUST THAT! I had the Ravioli Sonorense – Chile Ricotta Stuffed Egg Pasta, Marinara, Poblano Chile Con Queso, Beef Chorizo, Pecorino in a foccacia bread bowl. J-lo had the Beef Short Rib Peposo – Braised Beef Short Rib, Polenta, Red Wine and Black Pepper Braising Jus, Onions en Escabeche, Fennel amd we started with the amazing Bread & Spread – with garlic and oil Pick one spread: Artichoke fonduta Honey/chamomile goat (MY FAVORITE) cheesePoblano chile con queso Cilantro & basil pesto 6502 E Tanque Verde Rd It doesn't matter where you spend it, just spend it locally! PLEASE & THANK YOU #localmoneymatters #teamtucson #buylocal #suppportlocal #yocal #tucsonstogether #curbsideservice #buylocalorbyelocal #takeout #suppportyourfriends #togo #yocaltucson #ziopeppeaz #keeplocalalive #keeplocaltucson #takecareofusweareallwehave

Just absolutely amazing food, with a relaxed atmosphere. I've spent a few years in Italy and the food tasted spot on. We got two fettuccine alfredo bread bowls and we had to take them home, there was so much food! The pizza's crust got absolutely demolished, it was so crunchy. Wish I still lived nearby to visit again. Side note but I really liked the design of the bathroom.

I had dinner here last night, and had one of the best meals I’ve had in a restaurant in a very long time. The special was a venison rib chop, and it was absolutely incredible. Not only was it plated absolutely beautifully, but all of the flavors were fantastic and the meat was tender and cooked perfectly. I also had the umami tsunami pizza, which was delicious! I’d recommend the bread and spread as well. They serve it hot with olive oil, fresh grated garlic, and flaky salt. This place is a little pricey but the food is worth it. I hope they stick around for a while.

I have been wanting to eat at Zio Peppe for some time and finally we made it! We started off with Whiskey Del Bac Fundido – $12 A fun twist to enhance nachos . I ordered the Green Chile Rigatoni Bolognese – $21. I enjoy spicy and this dish had a nice amount of heat to give it some Character. Also, we ordered Lasagne Sonorense – $18, El Rustico Birria – $20, Margherita – $16, everything was a hit. For dessert we ordered Chocoflan – $9 and Taconnoli – $9, both were amazing. When you arrive, you will be seated as any type of sit down restaurant however, you place your orders with cashier and pay. The system seems to work well. Supporting locally owned restaurants. Thanks for a great meal, we will be back.

+2

Absolutely loved this place!! First and foremost, the service was beyond great; We had Kathleen serve us and I think she has to be one of best servers we’ve had; (we eat out very often and for many years, so this is saying a lot)Other staff was great also. Food was so good. I had the Bolognese and my husband had the Ravioli; we enjoyed the twist on both. Toconnoli very good also! Bottle of wine and the night was perfect!

The elote and the birria pizza are so delicious! I also loved the prickly rose tea. The service was excellent and the restaurant was quiet. I highly recommend this place!

A wonderful dinning experience. Everything we ordered was top notch. Make sure you order the fresh bread…you will not be disappointed! We will be back.

+2

Excellent food and excellent service!! We started with a Cesar salad that was very good. We then ordered the Margherita pizza and the Figgy Stardust. Both were delicious. We loved the flavors the Figgy Stardust had. It was sweet and savory. Highly recommend! Thank you Phil for taking care of us!

Great service. Thank you Nico for the recommendations. Definitely the best charcuterie board I’ve had all year. Definitely a curated board instead of meat and cheese thrown together. They also have a rotating selection of items. Our favorites was the combo of varied pecans and blue cheese. Figgy stardust was delicious.

+3

Great food! I was really happy with my entree which was a mix of Tucson and Italian flavors. Our appetizer was good, we got the calamari on chicharrones, unfortunately the chicharrones were dry and seemed not super fresh? The calamari was superb though, so it was saved. The atmosphere is kind of budget but we went for lunch so it was quiet and felt cozy. After eating the food here, I have no doubts they will have some upgrades coming soon. Service was great! I would go back in second, there are so many good looking choices on the menu. Parking seems like it might be a challenge on a busy night.

I did not like the tamale appetizer had no taste and I was just disgusting when I had that come first to my table I was disappointed because I drove from Phoenix to eat here. But when the other plates starting rolling to my table they were. 5 stars kitchen. Love the service the waiter was great !!! Will come back for sure !!! But please take the tamale off the menue

+6

Zio Peppe’s staff treated us to a wonderful dinner last night. The food and service were first rate. The Caesar salad and Bianca pizza were amazing. I recommend the sangria to go with that. We will definitely be back to a new favorite ❤️ in Tucson

Enjoyed dinner, drinks and dessert. Everything was well made and tasted great. The menu is the perfect size. Highly recommend visiting if you are in the area. Pictured are a few of their great options

+2

Wonderful appetizers, but the halibut was very salty

+1

An Italian-Mexican fusion restaurant, and it is so unique and delicious! The honey, chamomile goat cheese, and Cilantro pesto With the freshly baked bread was absolutely amazing! We also had The elote arancili. They came out fresh and had a perfect fry on the outside and soft on the inside! My husband and I split the Figgy Stardust pizza, we both enjoyed the flavor! The crust was thin but supported all the toppings on the pizza. For dessert, I had the chocoflan and my husband had the flourless chocolate cake, we both loved the taste of the desserts. We both got the espresso martinis with Ibarra Chocolate shavings on top. They were both a perfect pairing with the drink. Additionally, they do not have a kids menu but offer kids dishes when you dine in. My son was offered pasta or a pizza. I would recommend this restaurant if you are looking for something different and that intrigues your palette.

+3

10/10 experience at Zio and Peppe. The birria pizza is amazing. The meat, cheese, bread, and dipping sauce combo was packed with flavor that I will be thinking about until my next fix which will be soon. I also look forward to trying their new spring/summer desert menu. The waitress was awesome and very personable aiding to a fun and light atmosphere.

We really enjoyed our delicious and unique dinner tonight, Zio Peppe lives up to the ☆☆☆☆☆ reputation. Brianna was our waitress and Bryice was our server both of them where attentive without being intrusive engaged in such a busy atmosphere. We really enjoyed the delicious starter Calmarrones a take on Calamari and chicharrones every single bite was so delicious! We shared the Ceasar salad and it was the perfect paring for the Bianca pizza, the crust on the Bianca was crisp and the flavors OF ricotta & fennel sausage with blue oyster shrooms very delicious, next time I want to try tge Figgy Stardust. We enjoyed the Chocoflan to go.

+2

We were a party of 6 tonight, it was our first time dining at this amazing restaurant! The staff are super friendly and love to talk about the food and restaurant. Chef Devon and his team are cooking up such amazing dishes that are full of flavor and we loved the hint of southwest flavor’s being added to Italian cuisine. We talked to Chef at the end of the night and thanked he and his staff for a memorable experience. Casual atmosphere, order at the counter and then sit and enjoy! Very creative drink menu! They shared their home made limoncello with us and it was outstanding. Can’t wait to go back!!!

+4

Italian meets Mexican and makes magic! What a complete delight. I started with calamari with chicharrones and the bread with an infused goat cheese spread. The bread was amazing and the spread you eat by the spoonful. The calamari was perfectly executed, I did not care for the black underlayment for the calamari, it had a texture like charcoal and a charred flavor, I personally did not see how the dish benefited from it. For entrees we had the figgy stardust pizza, it was epic, you would think those flavors would not go together but they do. We also had the tequila rotini pasta dish, a play on vodka penne. I really enjoyed that as well. We also tried the chili and cheese infused ravioli. Those I would not order again as they simply paled in comparison to the other dishes. Dessert was a little more hit and miss. They’re version of the tiramisu dish was a tasty adaptation. The Jamaican cheesecake I would pass on in future visits. The taco style cannelloni honored its roots and tastes just like the original at a classic Italian restaurant. My personal preferences aside, there wasn’t a bad dish to be had. It’s a refreshing and daring adaptation of Italian classics, but it just works and it works well. There is a lot of love and passion in the food and it comes through! I will be back and I look forward to tasting other creations. Side note, the bourbon selection is weak but again, that’s a personal point for me and in no way impacts how I feel about this amazing little place.

Zip Peppe is a delightful fusion of Italian and Sonoran cooking with some of the best pizza in Tucson. I visited Zio Peppe multiple times while in Tucson for work. The pizzas are unique and delicious, over several visits I was able to try all of them. The Birria pizza is the standout, with ample Birria from the chef at Taco Rustico, but the Figgy Stardust is unique and almost a dessert pizza with the figs, pomegranate drizzle, and sweetness of the goat cheese. The roasted broccoli is an excellent starter, the char from the pizza oven is well complemented by the citrus and Parmesan cheese. The desserts are all fantastic, with the Tres Leches Tiramisu as my favorite. Nice range of cocktails and wines at affordable prices. The staff are always friendly and attentive and seem to genuinely enjoy the food they are serving!

The service and atmosphere here are fantastic and we liked the concept - Southwest/Mexican/Italian fusion. There were several things we each wanted on the menu but we finally settled on the bread, mesclun salad, garganelli, tequila sauce pasta, ravioli and the special chicken tinga pizza. Everything was fantastic. Wish we had time to go back and try more before leaving Tucson!

+3

Visited Zio Peppe while we were in town for a conference, and it was absolutely a hidden gem. We were about a 25-minute drive from our hotel, but it was worth it. The staff was great and the service too. Good pizza, good drinks, and great company. Great little spot!

+4

Probably the best restaurant in Tucson! You have to start with their bread and spread (poblano chili con queso spread), you arent ready for how amazing it is and ill post a picture! The Rotini Alla Tequila is another dish to get, the addition of the ricotta puts it over the top! Personally the Birria Pizza was just okay but im not crazy about birria so try it if you are into it because it did taste fresh! The cannoli taco wins the creative dessert award, if you love cannolis definitely try them! Service is great and you can sit inside or on a little outside stretch thats nice! I highly recommend this place!

+1

During my stay in Tucson, Zio Peppe was by far the best place that I ate! The Sangria Rossa was made perfectly and was delicious. I had the Ravioli and it was outstanding with just the right mix of tender pasta and delicious filling and topping. Even though the seating was close due to the small size of the restaurant we had no problem conversing. Highly recommend!

I have passed this place several times and have wanted to give it a try. I'm so glad I made the journey across town. I recommend the Elote and bread for apps.The calamari was good as well but I don't care for the dried checheron, so that app didn't hit as good as it could have. For the main the Braised short rib with polenta along with the Wolf & shrimp linguine were wonderful. The birria Pizza was dry, probably because it sat at the window drying out before we got it. The taco cannoli was good, but the hibiscus cheesecake cake was a little too tart for me. Overall it was a good dining experience and I will make sure to eat there again in the future.

+3

We travel here every year and try out new restaurants. We decided to try at Italian! Very lovely atmosphere, just small place, I felt a little too cozy. The food was amazing. We got the Ravioli and the Shrimp Linguine, both well flavored, warm, and made from scratch. We also ordered the Calamari which had this delicious chili oil and a fun twist with pork rinds. Service was top notch, attention from the moment we entered the building and reservation was quickly honored. Wait staff was very knowledgeable and had a great manner, as well as offered to help us order and gave good recommendations. Overall, a great spot for authentic housemade Southwestern style Italian. We spent a little over $100 on two people, only one alcoholic beverage included.

Zio Peppe is interesting but good. Pulling up to the building you wouldn't expect the interior. The bar area, tables, and pizza building section are very open and nice. The front counter is just okay and nothing fancy. Our server was spectacular, other than being a Mets fan 😉. I was a bit surprised how long it took for the order to arrive being we were the first ones to order over lunch, but I'm also not in a hurry so it was okay today. The appetizer (Calamarrones) was interesting and good. I would have never thought the combination of camarrones, calamari, and homemade chili oil would work but it definitely does... try it! The bucatini arrab meatball dish was very good and will order again, uses local meat. Wolf shrimp linguine was a bit salty for our taste but the idea was very good. Would try again if less salty. It's not traditional Italian flavors but uniquely Sonoran. The bottom line is I definitely recommend Zio Peppe! We'll be back!

Came here for a late birthday meal with my fiance and mom! Drink menu was very creative. The food was very yummy. The prices were a bit high for the portions you get but all together the food was great. Server was also very friendly and had a great personality.

+1

Small, cozy establishment but with amazing drinks and food! The pastas are fresh and homemade. Every bite was absolutely delightful. Service was good despite how busy they were. Can’t wait to come back and try their other dishes!

+1

Delicious. The ambiance was wonderful. Didn't have a reservation but they took us anyway. Restaurant was crowded the entire time.

PLEASE BRING BACK THE MUSHROOM RISOTTO!!! IT WAS MY FAV!!!! PLEASE OH PLEASE ON THY UPCOMING HOLIDAY SEASON! IM ON THE NICE LIST ASK SANTA! I WANT ZIO PEPES MUSHROOM RISOTTO UNDER MY TREE FOR CHRISTMAS I BEG I BEG I BEG. HAVE MERCY ON MY POOR SOUL! BRING BACK MY SOURCE OF HAPPINESS

This place just gets better and better. We even brought the kids and they tried all sorts of delicious things. I had the calamari pasta and pizza combo fit for a long.

Fantastic meal at Zio Peppe. Service was excellent and atmosphere vibrant. Excellent food with great options on the menu. Highly recommend visiting.

Yummy Birria Pizza, theAwesome Figgy Stardust and great cocktails make this a favorite place!

Great pizza. The crust is so unique having some mesquite flour in it. The cooks are pros and the service is prompt. The only downside is the price but since there is insanely good quality control it's worth the cost. After 20 orders I never had one bad pizza. The parking here is horrible tho but the people and food is well above average.

One of our go to places in Tucson, and brought our Colorado friends here for a meal. They were big fans! Loved the wines, the roasted broccoli, the hearth bread with the goat cheese, chamomile and honey spread, the mesclun salad, the figgy stardust and birria pizzas and the chocotacannoli. Thanks for another nice evening!

Muy rico, sobretodo el pan. Es excelente 😍

​If you are looking for a dining experience that perfectly captures the soul of the Sonoran Desert through the lens of classic Italian comfort, Zio Peppe is an absolute must. We recently visited and every single dish we had was phenomenal. ​The Appetizers ​We started with the Elote Arancini and the Burrata Verde. The Arancini was a brilliant twist on the classic, and the Burrata was fresh, vibrant, and perfectly balanced. They set a high bar for the rest of the meal. ​The Mains ​The kids absolutely loved their pastas—the Fettuccine Alfredorado and Rotini Alla Tequila were both hits. For the main event, we shared the El Rústico Birria Pizza. You can really taste the quality of the local ingredients; the crust, made with Sonoran heritage grains and mesquite flour, has a depth of flavor you just don't find at other spots. The birria was tender and rich, making for a truly unique Southwest fusion masterpiece. ​The Desserts ​We couldn't pick just one, so we tried three: ​Tiramisu Tres Leches: A dream for fans of both desserts. ​Jamaica Cheesecake: Bright, floral, and refreshing. ​Flourless Chocolate Cake: Incredibly rich and decadent. ​Verdict: Whether you are a local or just passing through, Zio Peppe is a standout. The creativity behind the fusion menu and the execution of the flavors make it one of the best dining spots in Tucson.

This place really surprised us. Go early. Dinner is a rough time to get in unless you have a reservation. Pricey, but worth it. We had the bread with garlic and olive oil and warm chamomile goat cheese tonstart. Ordered a Birria pizza, a little heavy in the onion and cilantro, but very very good. We each had 1 alcoholic beverage and a tiramisu to go. Sorry, no pictures

Zio peppe is beyond amazing. Not only did they accommodate us on a crazy packed reservation only night, the food and service blew that out of the water. The street corn appetizer is one of the best things I’ve ever had, the lime sauce is insane. We then split a pizza with sausage and verde salsa that was so good we overate. All of the pasta dishes that passed us by looked amazing and we will back to try them. 10/10 on all aspects

My husband and I ate here after recommendations. We ordered the Roasted Broccoli, the Scampi Mojo de Ajo and the Burrata Verde. We shared everything and it was all excellent. Amazing tastes with all the flavorful combinations they have created. I can't recommend this restaurant enough.

The restaurant has very soft cute decor. The staff attentive, knowledgeable, and efficient. The birria pizza is amazing. Full of flavor. We consumed two between 3 of us. More than enough to feel beyond satisfied. Highly recommend this place.

We went there on an early Sunday night. I had a chance to wait for a while on my date showed up. Feel like the wait staff kind of ignored me initially they didn't get water out to me at all until she showed up and sat down. The inside seating arrangement is pretty close quarters we were sitting within hand reach of another couple but we didn't pay attention to their conversation hopefully they didn't pay attention ours. The salad we ordered was okay I wouldn't say it was anything super special kind of tasted like fries lettuce with some fancy toppings. We shared a pasta dish it was very good very flavorful and rich. We were both very happy with the main course and the wine was good so I would recommend this place for a good meal not cheap.

Birria pizza was out of this world! Absolutely loved the tacocannolis, definitely recommend getting one of each. Service was a little slow, I think its because the servers are also hosts and bussers so they get busy quick. Recommend a reservation. Definitely would come back!

Had to wait an additional 30 minutes for a reservation but the food was really good. The birria pizza was amazing. Pastas were also quite good but didn't hit as well as the pizza.

Our dinners were scrumptious. The Calamari was excellent. We both had pasta dishes which were very good. Our one complaint was its a 'go to the counter and order' place. Seemed totally wrong for the type/quality of food. They bring you your first glass of water, and then in the middle of your meal you have to make your way over to the soda/water machine to refill your own glass . 🙄 And. At any given time, there were at least 2 wait staff standing around doing nothing. At least walk around and see if someone needs another glass of water. (Or wine). Yes, I would go back and eat there again because the food was good. The service, so-so.

Absolutely delicious elote arancini and the figgy stardust pizza is a must try if you like a slightly sweet pizza. The birria pizza is a chef special and tastes wonderful in the dipping sauce it comes with. For dessert, the flourless chocolate cake is delicious and rich enough to share between two people. The restaurant is usually very busy so reservations are encouraged.

We got the birria pizza, soronese bolognese, and the pistachio dessert tacocannoli . Loved the pizza, the crust we really good! I didn’t love the red and green salsa in the pasta, but the bread bowl it came in was amazing. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate. Definitely worth a try!

Enjoyed my lunch at Zio Peppe. Had the Birria Pizza. That was delicious w the lime and consumè. It came out hot and melty. Wife had pasta alla tequila. I liked the fennel sausages. Wish there were more. The pasta seemed a slight bit over cooked but the sauce was delicious w a little bit of spice. W also ordered the shrimp pork rind appetizer. That was ok. Calamari was good. Couldn't tell if they made the rinds. Finished w Jamaica cheesecake. Definitely a cheesecake. Thick. Lime coulis was solid.

Food was great, this is Italian with a twist. Spicy meat gravy for the ravioli. You can tell the pasta is all made from scratch in house.

+1

The Cesar salad was one of the best I've had, an absolute must try! The pasta was also amazing! The birria pizza was good, I personally would have loved some purple onion on it.

This lunch experience at Zio Peppe went very well and, I must say, this is one of the more unique, local, and distinct pizza restaurants in eastern Tucson. For my meal, I began with the Elote Arancini, followed by the El Rustico Birria pizza. The portion size of the appetizer was generously large. The most unique aspect of this dish is the lime crema, which complements the actual arancini quite well. The El Rustico Birria pizza came out hot and looked very well prepared. The flavors of this particular pizza are quite subtle, but the birria is a great addition and is what makes this pizza stand out. Service was average and generally attentive while I was in the restaurant. The ambiance of the restaurant is very nice and relaxing with some jazz music playing. One note -- the door knob of the front door does not turn. You just need to pull the door open. That's just a part of the vibe of the place!

+3

There’s a lot to like about Zio Peppe, from the location to the good service. And the bread — oh, the bread and that honey-chamomile goat-cheese spread! The menu is a little beef-centric, but the chef is flexible (and served the ravioli without the chorizo for me). The salmon is artistically plated and has a unique basil/pea coulis, and the taconnoli is an interesting share-plate dessert, with strong pistachio and only a light sweetness. Only complaint would be the processing of my Tucson Originals gift card. The manager noted that it was really meant to be used at the owner’s other restaurant, Fresco, but that they would go ahead and honor it anyway, which seemed odd in that the website clearly lists Zio Peppe as a participant. Other than that, it was a great meal, and we’ll be back.

+1

Came here with a friend , not one item in the menu was vegan … ehhh but my friend said her Caesar salad and giant croutons were delish as well as her fig pizza . Unfortunately without 1 vegan entree in the menu I can’t make this a regular spot but I’d recommend making a reservation . Indoor and outdoor seating available .

+2

The food was very good! Loved the Italian mix with southwestern taste! The service was great! The ambience of the restaurant was just ok. Very casual. The parking area was a little odd at least the back alley area not much room up front for m parking. There's a wash with homeless ppl om it and located next door is a mj dispenser so all you small is weed.

+1

Italian food with Mexican food accents. (Chiltepins) (Hatch green chile). Had Meatballs and Pasta, Margherita Pizza. Glass of red wine. Amazing Service. Very attentive.

My husband and I went here on Valentines Day. The food was amazing! But I felt very rushed and our waitress was nice but did not seem organized and did not make us feel very welcome, especially considering the occasion. The atmosphere was nice but cramped. I would still like to go back and give it another try, but I hope I can enjoy my food more. My food was taken away and I was not offered a box so I was a bit sad because it was soooo good.

Everything was delicious. The food was good. The atmosphere was fine. I think it was a little pricey but other than that everything was good that we had.

Love this place! The staff is incredibly friendly, the food is delicious, and the atmosphere is spot on. What really impresses me is how busy and successful they are despite the location being a little tricky to find and navigate—it just shows how much people love what they’re offering. The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is that the pasta I took home for leftovers was a bit too oily for my taste the next day. Otherwise, everything was fantastic!

Really enjoyed our dinner. Quite the eclectic blend of flavors and textures. Spent some time on Google learning about the menu. This all added to the experience and enjoyment. In the end everyone enjoyed tasting each other's dinners and deserts...

We went to celebrate Thanksgiving week with my son since we were heading out of town, and I had made a reservation in advance. When we arrived, I kindly requested the booth by the entrance, but the attendant said it was reserved. We finished our entire meal and noticed it remained empty the whole time, which was disappointing. We ordered the calamarrones and the Rústico Pizza. Both dishes were delicious, but the pizza was extremely thin (much thinner than what we’ve had before). It feels like they might be cutting back on ingredients. The restaurant itself has beautiful lighting and a great overall atmosphere. Prices are definitely on the higher side though. $28 for a six-slice pizza!

Went for lunch with a friend after seeing the reviews. We ordered the Calamarrones (starter) and the Figgy Stardust (pizza). All together the experience was underwhelming. It was clean, inviting and the staff was friendly - the atmosphere was just strange. The food was just so so. The fried calamari part of the starter was cold, which was confusing because we were the only ones in the restaurant at 1 pm on a Wednesday. I found myself wanting a little more from the pizza than what I got. Of the bites that did have all the ingredients on it the flavors played well together and were nice. Zio Peppe may not be for me but give it a try and see if it is for you.

This restaurant was recommended by a friend for a birthday celebration and it was really good. EVERY dish we had on our table was good. Except for mine--it had WAY too much lime in the sauce and after I ate the shrimp, I was done. It was great though because I got to try everything else and it was so super yummy! Great cocktail and wine list!

I'm trampy for the scampi. Pasta sauce could've been better. Ordered a torta, received a salad with breadsticks?

Tried this place twice. Food is OK. Not worth the prices. More focus on local food than great flavor. Condescending waiter.

Expensive, very limited lunch menu. My Alfredo came out with chicken ice cold and had to send.back and that is after waiting over 40 mins for entrees to come out ( only 4 other people in restaurant) no hot beverages ( told to discourage people from lingering!) Never before paid $27 for spaghetti for lunch serving! Food was good but will not be going back! $60 for only 2 entrees and one soft drink. We also went for celebration of birthday and anniversary and nothing offered as celebratory dessert.

The calamari appetizer was delicious. Very unique with pork rinds. The fig pizza was inedible for my wife and I. We tried it and had high hopes but the goat cheese and figs were just not a good combination. The bacon might have helped except it was raw. Non of it was cooked. We both tried one slice but could not eat it. We both had upset stomach's from it all evening. Service was exceptional, our waitress was very nice, although she could have offered an accommodation for the pizza which we obviously could not eat. We paid and will not return.

Greeter/waiter was friendly. We ordered Cesar salad with chicken. Chicken was not served warm which we were offered and ordered. Broccolini side was very greasy. Croutons on salad were greasy and flavorless. Bread was delicious. I’m not sure I can recommend at this point. They do not offer any complimentary Birthday dessert.

Arancini appetizer was pretty good. However, the ravioli and wolf shrimp were barely lukewarm and tasteless. No contact with waiter who took our order. Went to bar to ask him for our bill. With one cocktail the bill was an expensive $87. The pizzas being prepared smelled good. Although, I won't be going back anytime soon.

I really want to like this place because the food is decent, but the consistently poor attitude from the staff makes it hard to justify coming back. There’s an ongoing snobby, hipster vibe from the front-of-house that feels unwelcoming and borderline condescending, like they’re doing you a favor by letting you eat there. Hospitality seems to be an afterthought, which is disappointing for a restaurant that positions itself as a neighborhood spot. On multiple visits, the service has felt cold and dismissive. The overall tone is negative rather than warm or inviting, and that’s been the case almost every time I’ve been here. The food is fine, but it’s not nearly good enough to excuse the attitude. Also worth noting: despite an 8:00 pm closing time, if you show up even one minute after 7:30pm you will not be seated. Bottom line: decent food, but service that fundamentally misunderstands the meaning of hospitality. Until that changes, this place is hard to recommend.

The first red flag of this restaurant is their insistence on using the term "gastronomy" so much so they painted it on the side of their building. The second being the blue sugar rim on their featured house cocktail. Lastly, when the only delicious food item on the menu isn't made in house (shout out to Juan Almanza of El Taco Rustico) that should be the final straw that this restaurant isn't worth dining at. Zio Peppe is a ghost of its former self and it seems the descent has been steady and drawn out. We dined there on a Thursday evening some weeks back and I am still baffled by the experience we had. Looking at the menu it shows a lot of promise. Who wouldn't be excited to try Sonoran cuisine fused with Italian classics? We ran the gambit and tried something from each section. The elote arancini's crust was a mile thick and the contents held therein were cold and under seasoned. The caesar salad was wet and overdressed, while again also being under seasoned. The birria pizza hit the table before the ravioli Soronese...and that was interesting to say the least. The birria itself was perfect and easily the most delicious item on the menu (again, not made in house, they source it from El Taco Rustico) and it tastes like a tio made it for the family get together, very comforting, fatty and well seasoned. The pizza crust has entirely too much whole wheat flour, so the sugars caramelize too quickly, leaving the bottom of the crust burned while the rest of the dough is raw. This amount of whole wheat is so off balance that it interferes with the overall flavor profile of the pizza. Then the most diabolical dish I've ever been served hit the table. The ravioli Soronese. Looking at the ravioli you can tell in an instant that they had been frozen and for entirely too long, the skin of the pasta was was grey and entirely too tough for ravioli. In addition, they tried to cover this up with entirely too much red pasta sauce (I refuse to call it marinara because it tasted exactly like out of the can chunky tomatoes), there wasn't a green chili in sight and I shudder to remember the beef chorizo perched atop all of this like a freshly opened can of cat food. We did not touch it beyond a single bite. Outside of the birria, our server was lovely. She was kind and doubling as the bartender for the night. I will emphasize I do not blame her for how bad the cocktails are. That responsibility lies with the bar manager...seriously, that blue sugar rim has got to go and the limoncello margarita needs serious re-calibration. The icing on the cake for the evening was another server (who we had no contact with outside of the end of our meal) that decided it would be a good idea to call me a hipster not once, not twice, but three times because I was wearing a Fernet Branca shirt. When he asked where I got it, I said I was a bartender and it was free at an event, but he interrupted me saying "[I] probably got it walking around Brooklyn because [I] was a hipster like that." Truly a bizarre interaction. If this restaurant can turn it around and start putting out food and drinks that sound as awesome as they do on their menu, I will gladly give them another shot. As it stands, they need to leave 2006 behind and start operating in the present day. There really isn't an excuse for a lot of this. Photo of the shirt for reference.

Spent way too much time and money for poor quality food. Got there at 5:30 got seated outside on the patio by 5:50 put our orders in at 6pm and waited till about 8 pm to finally be fed flavorless and aldente pasta. Now I understand some pasta is supposed to be cooked aldente but not fettuccine. The alfredo sauce was 90% water and just bland. My $7+ chicken add on to my fettuccine alfredo was undercooked yet somehow burnt on the outside. Sounds like too hot too fast kind of thing. The shrimp scampi had enough lemon and lime in the sauce we thought we were at a Mexican restaurant for a minute. They kept telling us it was being made, and it will just be a few more minutes, and how sorry they were. They did comp us for the beers and I know it's not the waitresses fault she was sweet and apologetic and obviously gets points for comping beer. I don't think we will be going back. It's a shame I had such high hopes for them....

Had a table booked for 4 at 7pm. Was told after being seated that all the draft beers were down. Waited forever for one wine and one bottled beer only to be told the birria pizza was sold out.... at 7pm..... on a Saturday. One of the restaurants 'star' dishes..... and what 3 out of the four of us had booked for. How a restaurant can sell out of their main dish by 7pm is frustrating. We left. 2 of the 4 were visiting from out of state and were dissapointed.