Went for the paella, ended up also trying the chilean sea bas. Both were incredible. Portions are huge; we easily took half the food home. One meal will easily serve 2 people. read more

Only been here once to get paella take out for lunch ... but I HIGHLY recommend this! For $18 you can get the Paella a la Valenciana with shellfish, sausage, and chicken. I'm not sure if they changed their portions but MAN, it came in the largest container and I'd say it's enough to feed 2 hungry hippos and 1 dog. It's cooked very well and did I mention the portions were very generous?? Not sure how you can really mess up paella, but it's one of the best I've had in NJ. read more

This is my local restaurant that I eat at all the time. The garlic shrimp and twin lobster tails I order ever time and it's always delicious. The staff are the same guys since I have been coming and are always nice and super friendly. This is my favorite restaurant in the area read more

Service friendly and great. You try to complain, they take care of it right there just to make you happy. Satisfied! read more

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A "go to" place for our extended family for what seems like a hundred years. And it hasn't changed much at all - same generous portions, reasonable prices - even the same waiters, mostly. Good Spanish/Portuguese comfort food. Paella is always a good choice, but they do a good job on steaks (which are huge) and shellfish (including lobsters) too. Menu hasn't changed much at all in 30+ years - but I think that's what my mother-in-law (age 91) likes most about it. Full bar -- including sangria, of course. read more

First time and last. Ordered the Paella, which you think would be a signature dish, but the chicken, shrimp and sausage was dry, as though it had been reheated numerous times. A glass of house wine tasted mediocre at best, despite the ten dollar price tag. Over priced for what you get in return. read more

food is excellent! I've had the prime rib, red snapper, salmon, lobster tail and a few other dishes here. Everything is excellent. Garlic shrimp is an excellent appetizer as wel. Chocolate lava cake and chocolate chip pie are excellent dessert choices here as well. The staff is punctual and precise, but not very friendly on any occasion. Good ambiance inside, full bar that has a great selection. Red Sangria is excellent. Give it a try for sure! read more

Don Pepe II - Chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream - Spanish Near Me - Pine Brook, New Jersey

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Great seafood. The staff is cordial and attentive. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable. It's a little on the pricey side but worth it. The sangria we ordered was really strong. Not for the faint of heart. read more

An interesting menu especially for seafood lovers. The service was attentive and friendly. No need for a midweek reservation for two. We have every intention of returning to try more of the menu. We're very happy with the overall experience. read more

We have gone here every Christmas Eve for over 15 years. Tonight we arrived a 5pm with a party of 3 and were told a 30-40 min wait. After 45 minutes, I checked with the hostess to see how much longer. Her reply was "The same as when you arrived 30-40 min". I confirmed she met I was to wait another 30-40 min on top of the 45 already waited. We left, never to return. read more

My parents love it here! We've been coming for over 10 years. The service is incredible and the food is always so tasty. Highly recommend the lobster, filet, and any of the paellas. Parking is easy and the wait time has never been bad for us. read more

We had a bad experience at this place many years ago and have not gone back for over 20 years. We decided to give them a second chance recently. What a mistake, our waiter was the rudest person that should not even be in the service business! We also heard the table behind us asking to send their expensive dish back to the kitchen. I will not be visiting this establishment in the future. read more

Pretty good place. Not the Spanish tapas place that you go to in NYC, but it is decent within its location. Went there with parents and had a great meal. I got the lobster plate while my parents ordered the grilled whole fish and sea food platter, which was huge and had crab, lobster, and other shell fish. Definitely a nice place to spend the Sunday evenings. Thanks, T read more

If only I can give them zero stars. The hostess was completely unorganized and rude. Our reservation was ignored and we had over an hour wait to be seated when we specially called for a reservation for 5 people at 7pm. When we sat at a 7 person table, the hostess was annoyed that there's weren't 7 people. Maybe because it was a 7pm reservation not a 7 person reservation? Once seated the food was fine; however our experience prior to being seated was an absolute disaster. read more

My husband and I have been excited to try this place out but we're deeply disappointed by the service and food...waiter comes and drops off the menu and hurried off before I get a chance to ask anything. My husband and I both ordered lobsters which are the most expensive things on the menu btw, at $40 each...we waited over an hr before our food arrived. Then when our lobster arrived, they looked like the pictures below...we saw gross green stuff on my lobster and then black goop on my husband's. They said you don't eat it...it's the "tripe." Well it was still touching part of the meat on my tail! And if they say don't eat it, why didn't they clean it like every other restaurant? So unappetizing. Even red lobsters cleans theirs...the only reason why it had 2 stars is because the untainted parts of the lobster tasted decent (not overcooked, but nothing special). Also the guy who dropped off our food didn't even clear our table is the empty bread dishes (we clearly didn't have room on our table too). I had to call after the guy who looked like he was ignoring me and then finally he paused but looked annoyed and came back and asked what we needed and I asked him politely to remove the dirty dishes. He grabbed it quickly while knocking stuff around. At the end, when we left, the host was standing around and clearly just idle and didn't bother to say bye. Will never return... read more

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Not worth the hour long wait for a table. They are not truthful about how long you will be waiting to be seated. A 10 minute wait was actually an hour. The portions are very large and it would have been nice if we were told that when we ordered. The veal dish was good, but the chicken dish was dried out. We will not be returning. read more

This review is solely based on our experience, or lack there of. My brother celebrated his 40th birthday last week. We decided to try Don Pepe for dinner. My sister in law, called earlier in the week to make a reservation. She was told that "you don't need a reservation". The man she spoke to did not elaborate on any details. He simple said that a reservation was not needed. So, Saturday night, we took the 25 minute ride out to Pine Brook, excited, and super hungry! We walked in and were greeted by the hostess. She asked for our name, and time of our reservation. My sister in law explained that she called and said no reservation was needed. The hostess, scoffed, made a "oh boy" kind of face, and said we would have to wait a little bit. She then informed us that reservations were recommended for parties of 6 or more, and that weekends were a first come first serve. Totally understandable, we were a party of 5, and it was 730 on a Saturday night. As she was explaining that to us, a gentleman approached, the hostess stand, she explained the situation, in Spanish, in which the gentleman made the same "oh boy" face, and they continued to have a conversation, in front of my family and I, in Spanish. A few things are wrong with that. Yes, I understand that we are in a Spanish restaurant, BUT, I find it very rude and unprofessional that they sat there and had a discussion, clearly about us, in front of us! Strike one! As we were standing there, waiting for the two hostess, to finish their bashing session, in spanish, another group walked in. An older gentleman. He approached the stand, and the hostess asked for his name and reservation time, as well. He said that they were 5 and they had no reservation. The hostess made the same face she made at us, and informed him that he would have to wait. The man, asked to speak to, I believe he said Jon. Not sure who Jon is, but within 5 minutes (if that) this man and his PARTY OF 5 WITHOUT A RESERVATION was seated. So let me get this straight, his party walked in after us, same amount of people in his party, and no reservation, YET he is seated before us. So, we went up to the hostess, yet again, nicely asked her how much longer, she said she wasn't sure. So we asked her how come that other group, who walked in after us, had the same amount in their party, AND did not have a reservation, was seated before us. She said, "Oh they had six people", they did not, they only had 5, we heard them say that when they walked in. She then lies and says "no they are waiting for their 6th person", no, lie number two. You asked us if our whole party was here, or else we couldn't be seated, so, you wouldn't have sat them if their whole party wasn't there. ALSO WE HEARD HIM SAY PARTY OF 5 AND NO RESERVATION. So, hostess lied to us, twice! Strike 2!!! All of a sudden, a man came up to the stand, must have been the manager, possibly Jon, who knows, comes up and asks the hostess what was going on, she explained, in Spanish again. All of a sudden there were tables ready, he said "Yeah yeah we can sit you now". Please don't do me any favors, you told us reservations weren't needed, you lied to our face, you sat a family who walked in after us, simply because the "knew the right person" and then after we made a scene a table magically appears? Do yourselves a favor, take a class on management and professionalism. read more

Made a reservation called to confirm the reservation got there and had no reservation. After waiting an hour and manager telling us just 5 minutes 9 times finally sat down. Not even an apology. Never again food was crap service crap valet crap. read more

Delicious. My family has been coming here for years and we always thought the food was just "good", not amazing, but good enough for us to return from time to time. We came here last night for a family birthday and everything we ordered was better than usual. We ordered the Chorizo, the Stuffed Scallops and the Shrimp in Garlic Sauce appetizers, which were all delicious. For our entrees we had the Shrimp in Garlic Sauce entrée (which consisted of a huge portion of jumbo shrimp), Shellfish Casserole in Green Sauce, Veal Cutlets in Lemon & Wine and Veal Cutlets in a Sherry & Mushroom sauce. Everything was great, including our waiter who held it together with a great attitude during an extremely busy night. read more

Had a reservation for 6.30 for 8 people. We were told our Reservation was "lost" we would have to wait. Many people inside the doorway..definitely a fire hazard. We waited 45 minutes and 2 of our party was seated..the rest were told our table wasn't ready. Finally found the table....Shame on management for their poor handling of the front of the house..The waiters were hard working and professional.. They did their job but management has some damage control to do...either too many reservations were taken or walk ins were given preference. Having never been there before I now hesitate to go back..such a shame because wait staff handled the pressure! read more

Usually try not to write negative restaurant reviews, but we were sorely disappointed in our expensive dinner last night. The dining room seems very dated and in need of refreshing. No valet service on Sunday night. Twin stuffed lobsters at $38.00 appeared to have been precooked and then reheated; both the lobsters and the stuffing were overcooked and totally dry. Spanish potatoes were also dry and totally without seasoning or flavor. Chicken in paella was bland. Mariscada average at best. Large portions aren't worth it if the food is not enticing. We had several plates of piled shells before someone came to take anything anyway; no replacement bowls were delivered. Been many times over the years, but would not go back. Too bad. read more

My husband I have eaten here a lot and it's always our fall back place. We have eaten at the one in Newark and the one in Pine Brook. It really doesn't matter, you can't go wrong. The food is amazing. The sangria is the best around. The waiters are awesome. Fun group of people and we have seen the same guys there a long time. I love their garlic shrimp, and so does my husband. I had Skate there once and it was the best thing I have ever tasted. I have yet to see it on the menu since, but my fall back is always a cod dish or Shrimp. They have a great selection and always have good specials. Definitely try this place out! read more

Don Pepe II is every bit as good as the original in Newark. They serve up wonderful Spanish food in a very efficient manner. The wait staff is excellent. The sangria is great. And, oh yes, the food is outstanding. The decor is very much the same as in Don Pepe's, Newark which I find very pleasant. This establishment is certainly worth a visit. read more

Wow this place is just simply great Portuguese food . The filet is enough for 3. The garlic shrimp is out of this world and the piealla for get about it's the best . You also have to get the red sangria make sure you get the large piture , you will be sorry if you don't . Enjoy read more

You don't have to go to Spain to get good food! However finding good spanish food in New Jersey is no easy task. Unless you are talking about Don Pepe. Other day I was walking in the park, in Rockaway. A man was talking to 2 women about this PERFECT seafood dinner he had eaten. He went into detail about the freshness of the seafood, the flavor, the atmosphere of the restaurant. I walked up from behind to join them, and said "That's Don Pepe!". And to my surprise, that is what he was talking about! I have been coming here for years! The food is consistently the best quality IN NEW JERSEY. The atmosphere, cool, sitting in a room with frescoed walls, eating Paella Valencia. If this is heaven, then I'm ready to die! EVERYTHING HERE IS GOOD, EVERYTHING HERE IS FRESH, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! BRAVO DON PEPE! BRAVO! This is not watered down, americanised, spanish food. There really are pimentos in there.... read more

This is my husband's favorite restaurant in town. He always orders the paella! The Sangria is fabulous as well. Every time we come to this restaurant the food is outstanding! It's always fresh and delicious and plentiful. We are never disappointed when come to Don Pepe for dinner! read more

I love this place so much I haven't been there in a while but the Paella is fantastic.And so is the sangria the Service is five-star .

Sorry but can't say I could recommend this place or that I will ever go back. I decided to take my family there for a special day-there were 12 of us. I ordered the salmon which came out raw, yes raw not rare or whatever else---the manager agreed with me---would I like something else? Yes, I will have the steak-Well, the steak came out and it was burnt on the top and raw on the inside-I guess that's what happens when you try to cook it fast at a high temp-The manager agreed-would I like something else? No, because now my group was on dessert, and I would clearly be holding up everyone else. This place was a total disappointment. You would think after the first blunder, someone would have paid better attention to make sure that the 2nd dinner came out correctly.Especially at those prices, I don't mind paying top dollar for a meal out, but I don't like feeling like I am being taken. It seemed like "oh, well ha ha -how about that" It may not have bothered them because they seem to be riding on a reputation but for me, I had rolls and rice - which was really infuriating. The manager told me he wouldnt charge for me the steak, like he was doing me a favor-I hadn't even had one bite of it-try to collect! I am not sure which bothered me more, the poorly cooked food or the "who gives a damn" attitude. You can bet your last dollar you won't ever find me there again. SHAME ON THEM! At those prices, no one wants to take a chance on HIT AND MISS. read more

Although this review is not necessary we just had a birthday dinner with 7 people including 2 children and had an exceptional meal the wait staff was very attentive and the food was incredible we all had a great experience so if you like spanish cuisine this is the place in Morris county to go! Enjoy........ read more

Every time I go there it's excellent service, sometimes I sit in the restaurant but mostly at the bar with my girlfriend for dinner and a drink. Awesome place Awesome time always!! read more

Always great food! The portions are gigantic. Shrimp in garlic sauce is a MUST!!!

Great place for a large party to eat! If you are looking for a place to have a large group attend dinner Don Pepe will not disappoint. With the generous portions they serve all the guests will be sharing and it makes the dinner very pleasurable. If you like sangria, they make a delicious one. Of course this is a great place for a couple only dinner also, they just seem to handle larger parties better than some establishments. read more

This is our go to restaraunt......when we wanna get a good meal without any fuss.... from the appetizers to your main coarse.....I enjoy their filet mignon.....the service is very good and they always do a great job......good service along with great tasting food......always a pleasurable experience..... read more

I used to live in the area and visiting again. It's been 10 years since I've had the wonderful experience of top class Spanish food and. Excellent professional and polite and humble service. The paella and fish and lobster specials are as fmgood as always. Highly recommend Don Pepe any day any time. read more

Very efficient service and delicious food. Perfect for a windy and cold evening in New Jersey. I was promptly shown to my table, and impressed by the prompt servers, nice settings and cozy atmosphere in the first dining room. The wait staff stay on their toes with the owner(?) keeping an eye on them to ensure seamless service. I started with a delicious chicken broth-light but flavorful accompanied by warm bread and a complimentary bruschetta slice heaped with cilantro, onion and chopped tomato. The special Rack of Lamb was cooked to perfection (rare just as I had ordered.) The meat and accompanying sauce was seasoned nicely and was rich and flavorful. I would have preferred rice or maybe mashed potatoes to soak up the sauce-but this was accomplished with a slice of the bread. The lamb was served with a large plate of thick sliced chips of potato and another plate veg medley of onion, green bean, bell pepper and sliced mushroom. The sides needed more salt and pepper, and should have been hotter when served. The dining room is a bit noisy, and my experience was diminished by an adjoining table with a couple that kept droning on an on about their lives to their poor guest who was silent but politely listening and suffering. read more

We ate here last night for the first time. The food was great. Paella, stuffed flounder and garlic chicken. Our appetizer was shrimp in garlic......yum and of course we had the sangria. We agreed we would return. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Probably my favorite local restaurant. Great food, generous portions and outstanding service. The steaks are always great pieces of meat, large and well prepared. Seafood always fresh and the sangria is so good it goes down too easily. read more

Well, all I can comment about is the four things I have tasted from their menu. Filet mignon, scallops, potato chips and sangria. And WOW, are they ALL YUMMY! Particularly the sangria. I could drink that all day... That stuff is dangerous. And the filet was absolutely huge... I shared it w/someone else and thank goodness I did because I would have never finished it alone. Homeade potato chips are crisped to perfection, mmm mmm mmmmmm. read more

Ate here for the first time five years ago and today, the family and I went here for Sunday dinner. I guess I forgot just how large the food portions are, particular the paella! Great wholesome and good-tasting eats but enough for two meals! We should have shared dishes. It is a bit of a pricey place, but for what you get, it is worth it. Very friendly wait-staff and a very pleasant ambiance. It is great for families. The lobster tail in my seafood paella was great and as I write this, I have leftovers in the fridge which I eagerly await to eat for lunch tomorrow or later tonight. A great place, but the next time we come back, we'll definitely be sharing portions! read more

Service and staff were great, most of the food was good with one major exception. They squeezed us in for an early valentine's day reservation, and still seated our large party, even though we ended up getting there 20 minutes late for the reservation. Shrimp with garlic appetizer was very good and portion was quite generous. Unfortunately, the Chicken with garlic entree, was horrendous. Overcooked chicken in a completely tasteless wine sauce... we ate a few pieces and left the rest of the dish untouched on the table. Paella we quite good, and the Mariscara in green sauce was fairly good... both were probably 3-4 star dishes. Red Sangria was also 4-stars... no complaints there. We'll probably try again, but we definitely won't be ordering the Chicken with Garlic again. read more