Love love love Don Pepes! My parents were married here 25 years ago and it is always first choice for birthdays, anniversaries and other important celebrations. The food is always great, generous portions and the wait staff is excellent! The two best waiters there are Joe and Alex. They have been there for over 25 years and they always do a phenominal job. Don Pepes would get 6 stars from me if I could! read more

Great sangria and the amazing paella big enough to share for 3 people- it's my favorite paella I've ever had! Large calamari appetizer portion. read more

Quaint, attractive place in downtown Newark - Intimate atmosphere and quiet. Had the garlic shrimp appetizer - was quite tasty, then we each had the rib eye special and it was simply the best rib eye I've had in a long time. read more

Absolutely amazing. Such an amazing place. The food was outstanding. I was very very pleasantly surprised. Diamond in the rough.

My first time at this Portuguese restaurant and I have to say it far exceeded my expectations. I loved the attentiveness by the waiters, the teamwork among them and the food was phenomenal. I had the filet mignon and my fiance had the breaded chicken. All cooked to perfection and the red sangria was also very delicious. Oh and the older Spanish gentleman host coming in and out of the restaurant was super nice and friendly greeting us on way in and out. Made us feel at home. This is by far the best Portuguese restaurant in New Jersey in my opinion. You have a customer in me for life. Thank you Don Pepe! read more

This is the best food by far. I would come back anytime. Service was excellent and food was excellent. Give 5 stars people. This restaurant deserves it. Recommended for everyone. read more

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Came here with some co-workers and order seafood paella....all I can say is yummy! Service was decent for a busy lunch hour. There is parking on site. The restaurant ambiance is nice and lots of business folks are there during the day. read more

I really like it here, although I'm told this is not a place for "authentic" Spanish/Portuguese fare. I don't buy it. Don Pepe's is all about huge portions of hearty, family style portions of food. Right in my wheelhouse. The chorizo is excellent and many of their main dishes are very tasty. The service can be spotty and the prices are a bit expensive, but you'll forget all about that stuff when you're chugging sangria. I probably wouldn't go out of my way to eat here unless I were already in Newark, but I don't think you'll be disappointed. Almost forgot to mention that they valet park. We'll be back at some point. read more

Make sure you are hungry before entering the restaurant. Everything from the appetizers, side dishes to be main entree are very generous portions. I would suggest the filet and then be prepared to be amazed by the quality of the preparation to he portion/size of the meat. I'm going back again with clients next month. read more

Omg, extremely expensive for mediocre food... Do not order Chilean Sea Bass. Had it returned twice for rawness. The third time I canceled the order. My date had a shrimp and garlic appetizer that taste like it was canned. Wouldn't even consider coming here again. read more

Had dinner on 4/1 before a concert at Prudential Center. We didn't have a lot time so I mentioned to the waiter we were kinda in a rush. There was 4 of us, we ordered 3 apps and Seafood Paella and a pitcher of sangrias. When we ordered "he asked only 1 Paella?" We said yes and the apps together cuz we don't have much time. Apps came and I called him to ask about the Paella and he said it would take 30 min. He was not very friendly and seemed annoyed when I asked. Paella finally came we ate a little and took the test to go. The bill came and there was charge that I didn't recognized and asked what it was. It was for 3 plate sharing charge. Spoke to the manager and ask why he would charge plate sharing when we ordered 3 apps, all cost as much as an entree. Manager said he shouldn't have and will correct it. He told the waiter that we shouldn't be charged but he seemed like he didn't care. If I ever go back there hope I don't get him as my server. Wish I got the servers name. read more

Absolutely delicious Garlic Soup...so flavorful! My paella may have been one of the best I've ever had- it was moist and chock full of seafood. My friend's pork chops were also very good as was the flan. Some negatives...the chorizo was more "hormel" than "homemade" and the chicken pieces in the paella were small and not too meaty. But a definite return is in order! read more

Been coming here, on and off, for many years. It is a main stay in Newark and the food is fine. Not great, not bad. I see reviews complaining about service, I didn't find that a problem. We came with 2 small children and they were very accommodating with booster seats. I ordered a broiled lobster and requested that they shouldn't overcook and dry it out. Lobster came out done correctly. Two of the people ordered the paella. Problem is a paella for two came out. It is always a problem when two people, who do not live together have to share from one pot. How much should each take? Then the leftover problem. We ordered two, didn't get a discount for a shared pan. The Spanish potatoes were put on one plate for 5 people to share. Not sure if they would bring out more. All the other restaurants in that area put out a family style salad. Some even offer free soup. Not here. We assumed, I know don't assume, we were going to get salad. We were never asked if we would like to order even if we had to pay. Sangria was standard stuff. Lobster $14 a pound for 2 pounds and up. read more

We came here this past weekend for my brother birthday. The waiters and employees were really nice and welcoming. The food was not worth the price and just a heads up there's no free refills. I wanted the seafood rice but I couldn't get it unless I ordered two orders and had to pay over $25 for both (don't remember the exact price). I thought that was really inconsiderate especially because I HAD to change my mind on what I wanted to eat. Then my boyfriend ordered pork chops and they forgot his order which was fine things happen, but the my gave him the pork chops uncooked. There literally was blood once he cut it down the middle. I don't think I will ever go back, especially when there's other restaurants I can order what I want without being forced to buy extra. read more

Do not believe the Yelp haters -- Don Pepe has some of the best steaks and seafood around. The owner and his staff always go out of their way to make me feel at home. Hands down, one of my favorite restaurants. So good! read more

Not bad but not great I was thrilled with the seasoning of there for overall however the quality of meat and desserts was good read more

Don Pepe - Poached pears in Port wine sauce with vanilla ice cream- I recommend - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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I stopped by Don Pepe's with some coworkers for dinner and overall, I must say I wasn't impressed. I ordered the shrimp in garlic sauce. It was heavy and sat in my stomach like a rock for several hours after the meal, threatening an encore performance. -shudders- I tried very hard to love this place. Alas. I lived in Spain for a year and know good Spanish food. Good Spanish food this certainly wasn't. Sorry kids. read more

This place came recommended and we were told to get the paella. I love paella, so done deal. Decided to eat in the bar 'cause the game was on and my coworker wanted to watch. Wish we would have known how humongous the paella was, cause we ordered one each, a Valenciana and a Marinera. Both had the same seafood (lobster, shrimp, scallop, mussel, clam), but the V also had chicken and chorizo. The dish definitely gets a point for huge portion and good variety. Except, the paella was soupy-er than it should be. Minus a point. And, it didn't seem like it was cooked over a fire in a paella pan. (What? No crusty edges?) MInus a half point. And, the rice tasted suspiciously like one of those flavored rice-a-roni box mixes. The beautiful smokyness of the chorizo wasn't enough to mask this San Francisco treat. Minus, minus, minus. Edible like airplane food, but not at all noteworthy. So sad. read more

Great for couples, groups of friends, as well as families. The menu and food was fantastic..the steak melted in my mouth! However their "fatal flaw" was the lack luster sangria. After about 18 glasses I maaaaay have had a slight buzz, but not really! Stick with a regular glass of wine for your meal. read more

Don Pepe - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

Two stars is being generous , I've both been a customer and employee here. As a customer , my family and I loved the food. We loved the food to go and reserve the place for our family parties. Now as an employee, that was a complete nightmare. To start, Don Pepe is so into his ego that he had no mercy on yelling at a new employee in front of guests. Other employees would either spit or eat some of the customer's food. That's to name a few of the things Don Pepe's is doing behind closed doors. After that I have stopped going to that place. Go at your own risk ! read more

Had lunch on Don Pepe's yesterday, and boy was it good. They start you with fresh steaming hot bread (yummy). We ordered a pitcher of red sangria, which is fantastic and comes from a tap which I love. I've been here several times, but it was time to bring my oldest son and he loved it. Paella was delicious, calamari was tender, rice was moist and the atmosphere was fun, as the people from the local businesses were pouring in. Red or white sangria on top over fresh fruit. Need I say more folks! read more

The only reason I went 2 stars instead of 1 is that It wasn't awful, I didn't get sick or anything. However it was way less than mediocre which would have been a 3 in my book. Sadly, the paella (shouldn't that be the specialty??) was blander than Uncle Bens. In general was cooked ok however the clams and mussels had a whole lot of grittiness. The veggies in the paella looked frozen? And the shrimp- small and overcooked. Not worth the price and not worth half the price. Yes, the portions were huge, but as my colleague with me said "I'd rather have 5 great jumbo shrimp then a bowl of 20 little bad ones." I honestly don't get these Yelp reviews... Urbanspoon foodies were dead on here. Even the bathroom was a little falling apart and dated, not just the food was. read more

Awesome place, great food & Staff! The seafood is soooo fresh... my niece had chicken with tomatoes & onions with the saffron rice DELISH!!! The best shrimp & garlic EVER! read more

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We were initially hesitant to try Don Pepe due to the number of complaints about service. But the restaurant's great location, right between NJTransit's Newark Penn Station and NJPAC (N Jersey Performing Arts Center), made it a compelling choice. To our delight everything was fine. Don Pepe is an old-school restaurant with quality food and professional service. The place gets very busy pre-theater, so arriving at least 2 hours before showtime gets you to NJPAC, a 7 minute walk from the restaurant, in time. Perhaps the staff displays a little Newark (think Sopranos) 'tude, but that's part of the charm. So if you are coming from the midwest or, worse, the gushingly friendly west, steel yourself for exposure to local culture. Simply broiled sea bass was fresh and cooked exactly to order. Shrimp in garlic sauce was freshly succulent, full of flavor. The house mixed salad was pleasant and ample for two. The entrees were easily enough for two as well. The shrimp came with a huge side of arborio rice and the fish came with freshly steamed veggies. Drinks were generous and reasonably priced. Poached pear for desert (yep, enough for two) was a delicious, light finish. In all, a nice pre-theater experience. Highly recommended. read more

My parents have been coming to Don Pepe Restaurant since 1983. I went there on Mother's Day to pick up food for my Mom as we have an ongoing tradition of ordering Don Pepe's for our family dinner at home. We usually order from Don Pepe's 10-12 times per year. Anyone who has had dinner with our family has had Don Pepe's, no joke. This tradition unfortunately ended on May 14, 2017. Not only was my food 3 hours late, and the staff unapologetic, but the owner Pepe Lopez was verbally abusive to my wife and myself, for asking to speak with him. Pepe's arrogance and dismissiveness was unlike anything I've ever seen. Cleary 34 years of patronage means nothing to Pepe, nor does the tens of thousands of dollars my family has spent at his restaurant. As you can tell from other customer's feedback, the restaurant is very "selective" with who receives good customer service. You've lost some once loyal customers. read more

Came here on a Friday evening. There was no waiting. The first thing I noticed was that the complimentary bread was freshly baked. The mozzarella tomato and the portobello mushroom appetizer was pretty good and was probably also the best part of the entire dinner. Got a vegetarian pasta dish. The portions were enormous and the food was just ok for the amount you pay. Other than for the food, I felt the waiter was slightly in a rush at passing the food over. A little mistake and the entire food would have spilled over. At any rate, the décor and service otherwise was pretty decent. read more

Huge portions! I started with that because it really is the first thing you notice. The food is pretty good though. You are pretty safe going with the seafood or with the red meat. The prices are reasonable especially with the portions in mind. You'll run between 20-30 per entree. They have an adjoining parking lot. The ambiance inside can be a bit formal though so keep in mind if you're looking for somewhere more upbeat. They are great for large parties though. read more

The Shrimp in garlic entree is dynamite.. sangria one of the best down neck and the Chilean sea bass on the money.. like all Spanish places down here they over cook the beef so if u like medium steak order it medium rare..like the golden rule anywhere in the area read more

Great surf and turn, nice staff.. only improvement is they should create a drink menu

Just another run of the mill Spanish restaurant. They are solid in their regular menu offerings. Problem is, I went here for an office christmas party a year ago and man!....did the food suck! The food sucked incredibly! The verdict? Drive down to Ferry St. (100 yards west) and hit up Iberia instead. read more

My husband and I were there last night. Needless to say my husband ate something that made him sick very quickly. We believe it might have possibly been an avocado appetizer that made him vomit and have severe stomach pains for almost 24 hours now. Stay away from this restaurant. read more

Paella was average at best and the price/ value was off in addition. They served bread first and did not include the butter. The sangria did not measure up and the paella lacked chicken and seafood. Better options in the Ironbound. read more

We eat here every time we go to the NJPAC. It's a short walk from the PACs parking lot, about 7 min. We absolutely love their Paella Valencia. We order one appetizer, usually the shrimp in garlic sauce and the paella and share both. We still have take Home! The portions are very generous and the food is delicious. The waiters are very nice but at times can seem want to rush you. You just have to let them know you are not concerned about the time and they will leave you alone. read more

While my overall experience at Don Pepe was very satisfactory, the parking situation was relatively sketchy. Was not given a ticket by the valet to park there and the valet left my friends car unlocked the whole time. But besides that, the service was absolutely superb, all the servers were very attentive. The food was absolutely DELICIOUS and they give you HUGE portions, so be ready to bring home leftovers! I had the Paella Valenciana, and i definitely would have it again! My friends got the garlic shrimp, and that was awesome as well. For dessert, I got tartufo. YUM! Also, my girls and I got Red Sangria, which was affordable and DELICOUS!! I definitely am coming back here again with my boyfriend. read more

Don Pepe - Spanish Near Me - Newark, New Jersey

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The service was good, first of all. Reading the other reviews, this seems to be a primary complaint. Guess I got there on a good day. Easter Sunday lunch, by the way. The food was... good. Nothing knocked my socks off. I guess the best way to describe the cuisines was "competent." Best dish of the meal? The seafood penne. Had lobster, shrimp, and scallops in it in a pink sauce. Very good. Worst? The insipid and crunchy rice pudding. DO NOT GET IT. Overall, it wasn't bad but ultimately, not worth the price in many cases. Stick with Forno's or Iberia. read more

ABSOLUTELY DISGUISTING!!!!!!! racial people, I speak portugese, and I heard everything they were saying. They over charged us. almost 200 dollars for two people haha, the very tall man at the door was very rude, yelling at us to take our hats off. Food was 2 out of 10. Crap........... Do not take this down, if you want the truth... The steak was worse than plastic. The lobster was undercooked, I threw up a few hours after. The bus boys were very nice. (UPDATE JUST CALLED, THEY WERE RACIALLY DISCRIMATING ME!!!!! ) no remorse, I will have this restaurant taken down in one second. I have connections to fox, CNN etc. read more

We went to this restaurant from a suggestion from a family member to celebrate a birthday. This restaurant would have received 3 stars from me for food, 4 stars for the waiter service, but 2 stars for the host experience. There was a private lot in front of the restaurant and we found parking relatively easily considering the area. I had high expectations as I walked in the restaurant was very filled and looked clean and polished. The host was not so friendly. When we walked in and gave a name, he seemed to have trouble finding the reservation and seemed frustrated/annoyed. We weren't exactly sure which name the reservation had been put under but I don't think the host should have displayed such frustration being that he is supposed to be the HOST. Also, we told the host that our group informed us that they had already arrived and that we could just go in and look for them. There was a waiter standing by who looked ready to seat us with our group. Instead, the host insisted that our group had not arrived (even though he did not know still which group we belonged to) and continued to take a phone call while we were waiting. We were already running 15 minutes late to our reservation and knowing that our party was already seated; I was frustrated. After taking the phone call, and us still standing at the host's table, the host finally found our reservation and escorted us to the table. For what is worth, he did check on us several times throughout the evening. It didn't really make up for the fact that he was rude and inattentive to us in the beginning. As for the food, it was probably a solid 3 stars. They give bread at the table with butter to start you off. We ordered chorizo and calamari which were ok. I shared a paella with my husband and others ordered steak, lobster, pork chops, etc. Our paella was HUGE even though we asked if we could share with the table and were told it would be too small. Between my husband and I, we ate and still took home the "leftovers" which filled a LARGE FOIL PAN (you know, the kind they use for catering). We ate it two more times as leftovers before we were just tired of it and had to toss it. It would have been nice if the waiter that took our order was a bit more honest about the portion sizes. The other waiters were extremely attentive and professional; they deserve a solid 4 stars. They were very quick and efficient and also seemed highly trained in service. This was the only part that impressed me from this experience. From the slew of great restaurants that the Newark area has to offer, adding in cost/value of the food/experience, I don't think that I would necessarily come running back to this particular restaurant again. read more

I forgot to post my review last week. When I ordered from here I didn't expect the place to look so nice and clean regardless of the situation. The service was great fast and the food was so good and well presented. Thanks read more

Went to Don Pepe with my hubby, sis and her friend about a month ago. The place was horrible. Ordered seafood penne, sis had lobster, hubby had swordfish, friend had chicken, 2 bottles of wine, merguez sausages, calamari, crème brûlée, flan, cappuccinos. The food was beyond underwhelming. The pasta was tasteless and so over-cooked, the sauce had no flavor at all- had to add salt just to have some flavor. The seafood in the sauce were ridiculously tough. The lobster was dry. The calamari were tough and over cooked and without flavor. The swordfish was overcooked and tasteless. The chicken was bland as well. The brûlée was burnt! Super burnt! Like bitter, black top. The crème was watery. The flan wasn't flan at all either! It was gelatinous like gelatin! Literally the texture was exactly like a gelatin dessert. True flan is smooth, creamy and delicate. This was just awful. The waiter was rude and pretentious. He didn't give any suggestions for the wine when we asked. When we wanted to order our appetizers first so we can keep deciding on the main course, he said no and that we have to order everything at the same time. It was also impossible to get his attention after that and had to ask another waiter for assistance and the busboy to even pay our bill. After all of this he still expected a 20% tip! He literally stopped us as we were leaving and tried to embarrass us by loudly telling us that his tip was not enough! We gave him the courtesy to explain our discontent and he dismissed us. Would never go back and would never recommend this place to anyone. I'd give it no stars if it were possible. Don't believe the positive reviews. read more

Highly price menu but with no wow factor on the food. Came here with my family for dinner, the host seem like he had enough of being there. The restaurant was clean and organized and the waiters were very good and very attentive. We got the octopus appetizer which was sprinkled with olive oil and paprika and was pretty tasty. Following with my entrée of Shrimp enchilado with rice and Spanish fries. Portion wise very good! Taste ehh just good and that's it, I think I could get this some place else with no problem. Sangria was pretty strong but I have definitely taste better some place else. Will I come back? Probably not! Just because you see high prices on the menu doesn't high quality on the food. I suggest just getting takeout from any other Portuguese restaurant for a fraction of the price!! read more