Best Italian I've had. The smoke old fashioned was fantastic. Service was exceptional. Our entire group was very impressed. read more

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo - Italian Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Higher end restaraunt at the commons. Enjoyed some dishes more than others but overall a great experience. We sat at the bar which was staffed by two very efficient bartenders who did it all. It was nice to be able to see right through to the kitchen from the bar. Really enjoyed the mussel special (not sure if this is always on the menu). The prosciutto fig salad was quite good too but a very small serving size for two people to share as an appetizer. The crostini served with the burrata was very tasty and crispy. The best dish was the fettuccine which has pork ragu and fresh parmesan. This was recommended by our server and it did not disappoint. I only wish there were just a couple more noodles because the amount of meat was very generous. If you're deciding between here and the other Italian place also at the Commons (I don't think I can say it by name) I would actually recommend PepeNero's over that one!!!! read more

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Brussel sprouts were to die for! Sweet and crisp and excellent with the almonds! The focaccia was pretty standard. I had the branzino parchment and it was cooked perfectly. My partner had the gnocchi with Gorgonzola sauce, and though tasty, it was pretty ordinary. We tried the roll Latini and sausage and well I regretted initially not getting that. I felt that my fish was more outstanding. The tiramisu in the chocolate shell and the cheesecake with amereno cherries were outstanding! Service was good. But there was an unusual request from the chef to have the whole order come in rather than ordering appetizers first and main courses following.. The ambience was very chic. read more

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo - Tiramisu in a chocolate shell. - Italian Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Went to dinner for a friend's birthday and definitely recommend! The server was awesome and greeted us with a small aperol spritz drink to celebrate her birthday. If you do go, you have to get the beef tartar it was amazing! The smoked ash is beautifully paired with the beef and yolk. We also got the shrimp carpaccio which was a special and was also pretty good very fresh. We also got the pasta for dinner we tried the creamy pasta with leek, pancetta, and asparagus and also the beef ragu. The creamy pasta was the winner of the 2. We also finished with their special cheesecake with taleggio cheese which gives it a very different taste that isn't overly sweet but still very good. It was nicely decorated and a nice ambiance. If you are nearby, give it a try! read more

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Food was excellent and creative but small portions prices were high, service wasn't commensurate to the upscale vibe of the restaurant. They were pretty busy and we were eating at the bar. read more

Had the pleasure of trying this restaurant recently with a group of friends and it was such a fantastic dinning experience. The restaurant is beautiful inside we were seated in a very private area in the back of the restaurant making for a fantastic space for conversation. The service was impeccable,our waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and did a fantastic job managing our party of 8. The food was excellent I can't stop thinking about the steak tartar and the amazing plating and presentation. The pasta dishes were perfectly al dente and so rich in flavor. I would highly recommend making this a go to location for any special occasion you will not be disappointed. read more

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What a great find! This place came highly recommended by the locals. You always want to go with the local recommendations! PepeNero haa a gorgeous atmosphere. Very romantic and up scale feel to it. The menu is small but the food is absolutely amazing!!! I literally can't wait to go back!! read more

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PepeNero is an absolute standout and easily our favorite dining experience that we've had in Traverse City! From the moment we arrived, we were enchanted by the gorgeous atmosphere--we dined on the patio and loved the vibe out there. We started with the Foccaccia bread with Balsalmic and it was divine. Next came the prosciutto and fig salad, which was nothing short of epic--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully plated. Then came the filet with shaved truffle... OMG. It was pure perfection--tender, rich, and honestly one of the best meals I've ever had. And just when we thought it couldn't get better, we tried the tiramisu (which is gluten- free!) . It was heavenly--light, decadent, and tasted like a dream. PepeNero checks every box: ambiance, service, and unforgettable food (and super friendly staff!) . A must-visit if you're in Traverse City. We'll be talking about this dinner for a long time! read more

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo - gluten free Tiramisu - Italian Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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PepeNero was a fabulous experience. The food was delicious and it had such a romantic atmosphere. I got the branzino and my husband got pasta. We shared some calamari and the mushroom soup as an appetizer and also a chocolate dessert that was quite indulgent. Overall the service was great and we enjoyed our mini vacation in Traverse City! read more

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Went back again. Just as amazing as the last time. Highly recommend!!! The mocktails are notable too! read more

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Excellence in every aspect! Brad, our server, was extremely knowledgeable, attentive and just the right amount of friendly & funny to make the evening even more enjoyable. I asked him if the Reisiling was dry or sweet, and his description of the taste was spot on. The chef special appetizer, tuna tartare, was delicious and the focaccia was light and fluffy served with house balsamic and olive oil. My branzino was amazing - cooked in parchment with artichokes, potatoes and tomatoes to liven the flavors. My husband's lobster fettuccine was a perfect blend of light cream sauce, homemade pasta, and fresh shellfish - lobster, shrimp and clams. For dessert we shared the chocolate cake which almost looked too beautiful to eat - almost. It was chocolate heaven. read more

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The food was more than delicious! Service was quick and so so friendly- we had Brad as our waiter. The ambiance was very classy and overall just what I was looking for in a memorable experience for my sister's bachelorette dinner. I can't wait to come back for a date with my husband here- getting a sitter for the kids. The drinks were so good, great drink list. Espresso martini was top! And the glassware looked vintage. The most authentic Italian I've had in the states. Nothing was overpriced for the quality! Well done Chef! This place was amazing! read more

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Fantastic experience! Wonderful service, delicious food, and a beautiful unique atmosphere. I do not have one negative thing to say. The handmaid's to us are perfection. We had the most delicious meal. We ordered three separate pasta dishes, and we all shared. We had one fettuccine pasta with a baby back rib Ragu, the curry linguine, but we substituted for gnocchi, and tortellini with pear. I had hands-down, the best chocolate dessert of my life. The wine selection is seller. It is set in the middle of an old mental hospital. Everything from the lighting to the menu makes sense a beautiful experience. read more

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Good service and it is in a historic building with good ambiance. The food is true Italian fare. They serve wonderful wines there. If you want a special place to go to, try this place next time you dine out. In the Summer they have some outdoor seating. read more

Friend and I visited the wine bar, aka the bar inside, earlier this week. Beverages consumed: Amaretto on the rocks- Me Mocktail- them. I appreciated the bartenders thoughtful suggestion of ice to add to my liqueur. Dishes consumed: Them- Tuna tartare, I tried a bite "not bad, not bad." And, I'm not really a raw foods person unless it's fruit or veg. Them- panna cottage. Yum. Me- Zucchini carpaccio. Beautiful presentation. There were hazelnuts (I love hazelnuts) and it was tasty. Kinda sweet, so it went really well with my beverage. Love when a plan comes together. Final consensus: $$$, but, as is often the case, you absolutely get what you pay for. Unrushed service, seriously swell vibes, and eclectic and undoubtedly delicious food and drinks and, don't forget, desserts. read more

YELP MENU WAY OUT OF DATE. Least expensive entre is $34 and is a simple pasta dish. No bread, no antipasta, and no side dishes. Should be $$$$. Wife got a small margarita and it was $17.50. A local said to go there because it was cheaper than Trattoria but her information must be out of date Dinner good but not remarkable read more

Halibut was good, not great. Little dry and not a lot of flavor. What really killed my mood, was receiving the bill. Focaccia bread with oil and vinegar $7.50. ?? I am currently going through cancer treatment and experiencing extremely low iron levels. After my infusion appointment, I went in search of a beautiful piece of prime protein/low carb meal. Pepe Nero's. After ordering my fish and salad, the bartender asked if I would like bread with oil and vinegar. I hesitated, trying to keep my blood sugar, low, however, I thought, "well maybe just a bite or two". Enjoyed my average dinner and asked for the check. I don't mind spending a lot of money for a nice dinner. The dinner was OK however I noticed a charge of $7.50 for the bread. I questioned it and the bartender said well I did mention it came with oil and vinegar. ?? I don't know, it just seemed kind of sneaky, never did he say as a separate appetizer, no nothing. It just seemed kind of sneaky. I realize this is too much information, however, my point, my intent was to get a good piece of fish piece and vegetable. No offer of removing bread from bill. I had to change my past review of Pepe's from five stars to three. It has always been at the top of my list when asked for recommendations of great food and service. Disappointed. $105, no drinks. read more

Everything about this restaurant is excellent - the food is always interesting and yummy, live the softly lit dining room, the servers are very knowledgeable about menu and wines and very attentive. We had dinner there during restaurant week and appreciated the $45/person three course dinner. Normally more expensive but always worth every penny. My favorite Traverse City restaurant. read more

My husband and I have had great experiences at PepeNero over the past few years! First we had the pleasure of being served by Noah who had wonderful recommendations and also an amazing and fun personality! So, our next visit to the area we brought friends! Brian helped us and was equally enjoyable! Thank you both for the best meals in TC! We'll be back! read more

Delicious! Excellent service. Very attentive team. Our food was incredible. The bread was fresh and delicious w the olive oil. Appetizers all perfect pairs w our meals. read more

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo - Italian Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

The food , the environment, the staff. Hidden secret, eat at the bar Best tiramisu ever, anywhere in the world. Everything on the menu is wonderful. If our trip to TVC was longer we would have eaten there another 3 times!!! read more

The food was delicious. The service(bartender) was terrific. The ambiance was warm and cozy! Not pretentious at all! read more

My husband and I visited PepeNero to celebrate our last date night before becoming parents. This restaurant was highly recommended by one of our neighbors, and we can see why! The restaurant ambiance is very nice - the lighting is dim, the restaurant is on the quieter side, and it's just an overall nice experience for a nice dinner! We ordered a couple servings of the focaccia, which was absolutely delicious, and I ordered the mushroom tortelloni as my main course. When they brought out the pasta, it didn't look like a lot of food, but I ended up not being able to finish it, so the portion size was misleadingly large! The only bummer is that the mocktails that they offer aren't too exciting, so if you don't drink, you might be disappointed in that area. Overall, I'd highly recommend coming here! read more

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo - Focaccia - Italian Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday, and we were not disappointed! The food was so yummy, the only thing I would note is that my friends that got the pasta dishes said their food could have been a bit warmer. I got the branzino which was cooked perfectly and the flavor was amazing. I paired it with the mixed veggies, so good!! A special note about the service, our server was absolutely incredible. Noah, you are amazing!! So so so welcoming and informative! Noah truly cares about us having a wonderful experience. We were served sparkling wine on the house as a little birthday gift! So so nice! We finished off with the tiramisu, it was creamy and light...amazing!! read more

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Absolutely amazing meal from start to finish. Chef special foie gras - simply perfection. Melted in your mouth, rich and savory served with local pear and figs. Scallops - I am not a huge fan but decided to try at the recommendation of our server. They were seasoned and prepared well. At the time, they were the best I'd had at a restaurant. Linguine with wild boar - hard to turn down a well seasoned and prepared "exotic" meat and amazing pasta. Tiramisu - we were stuffed, but still a must with some espresso. Cannot say enough good things about our experience here. We actually traveled up just for the afternoon and this was our highlight before returning back to SE Michigan. read more

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Extraordinarily Amazing! Every aspect of this finely tuned restaurant works like clockwork. The atmosphere is upscale and trendy yet comfortable and welcoming. The staff work together as a team- so refreshing. The food was finely crafted with the best ingredients and served up beautifully on the plate. Best of all, every dish was delicious. Our server Noah was attentive and very knowledgeable about the menu. This place is worth every penny! We will be back! Highly recommend!!! read more

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Oh where do I even begin! I absolutely love this wonderful Italian restaurant. It just so happens that my two favorite restaurants in the state are located in the same building! PepeNero is a fabulous classy and modern Italian restaurant located in the grand traverse commons "asylum". PepeNero is the reason I am currently fixated on negroni's. They can sure make a drink here! I often sit at the bar and the bartenders are extremely knowledgeable, efficient, kind and friendly. I have never had a meal I didn't like here. The truffle tortellini is incredible, but equally rich. They have bright salads, amazing burrata, impeccable pastas and beautiful seafood dishes. I love bringing family and friends to this incredible restaurant. My friend raved about the bolognese pappardelle, and my mom was thrilled with her perfectly cooked scallops. I cannot recommend PepeNero enough! Reservations usually required (particularly in the summer months). And this place is certainly on the pricier end of the spectrum; but I believe rightfully so. Do yourself a favor and spend your next celebratory meal at PepeNero! read more

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo - MY "perfect Negroni" by Jen - Italian Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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We sat outside in the summer and loved it. It was a spacious outdoor seating area. Our server was very friendly and food came quickly. It's a little on the pricey side but totally worth it for a special occasion. read more

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo - Pasta - Italian Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

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Came on a Saturday night to celebrate a special day with my wife. The ambiance of the restaurant is very nice and formal, but not too nice where you'd have to dress up if you don't want to! It would make quite the impression on a first date. We made a reservation ahead of time and our table was waiting for us when we arrived. There were plenty of new items on the menu, as it is updated frequently but unfortunately there were no specials that night. We started with the focaccia (two of them because they were that good) and both decided on pasta dishes since the pasta is made fresh in house. The linguine with lobster, clams, calamari, and shrimp was fantastic! I'm not a huge seafood person, but I was really drawn to this item for some reason and was not disappointed. This is a wonderful restaurant for a special occasion or if you'd like some delicious pasta! We'll have to return to try the other entrees and desserts! read more

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After we had dinner at Trattoria Stella one night, a local told us--you have to go to Pepe. So even though we'd just had a beautiful Italian dinner, we snagged a last minute rez at Pepe, seated at a high top, in the bar. We were barely inside the door, so I really feel I have NO idea what it looks like in the restaurant. High end nice restaurant, some very dressed up people, and we were there early, 5pm? Our server, Noah, was excellent, giving us some good recommendations for dishes to share & wine pairings. We thought he was very good. In order to not explode, we shared everything. Had the Prosciutto & Fig Salad (delicious!), Pappardalle with Ragu (so tender, so delicious), the Branzino (light, tender, flavorful) & finally the Semi Freddo, beautiful presentation but wasn't what we expected when we think of Semi Freddo. We even shared a glasses of perfect wine pairings. Dinner was wonderful & we would go back. I'd love to be seated in the dining room next time, so I can get an actual feel for the space. read more

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Amazing food, amazing service, beautiful restaurant. Everything you can ever want is at PepeNero. It's build in an old mental hospital which is super cool and looking at the history is interesting. The food was AMAZING, such authentic Italian food. We are not from around Traverse City but we would totally eat here again next time we visit. read more

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo - Appetizers - Italian Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

What a find! We are visiting from Florida and we were lucky enough to get the last reservation for the evening. The location is super cute and the inside is lovely. I'm unfamiliar with Italian wines but our server recommended a great Tuscan red blend. Y'all, the mushroom soup was outstanding. It is a must try. I'm still thinking about it today and I'm so sad I don't live right around the corner so I could stop by for a bowl whenever my heart desires. Our party of 4 agreed it is probably the best soup we've had. Ever. In our entire lives. If the mushroom gnocchi is on the menu, get it. It's wonderful. I liked the pappardelle, but preferred the gnocchi. The filet was cooked to perfection and had lovely flavor. Needless to say, we all enjoyed our experience. Unfortunately we did not have room for desert, we were full! If you are in the area, add this to your "must try" list. read more

PepeNero Ristorantino Mediterraneo - This porcini mushroom soup is life. It's a must try!! I remembered to take a photo before it was all gone. - Italian Near Me - Traverse City, Michigan

Delicious meal in unique setting. Great wine, pasta and ambience. Service was great. Wait staff super.

This was once our favorite Italian Restaurant. Made a reservation on line for 5:00pm. Drove 30 miles, got there about 4:00 and waited for them to open. No sign on either entrance to indicate that they would not open at their normal 4:30 time. At 4:30 a man (believed to be the general manager) unlocked the door and informed us they were closed for a private event this evening. Showed him our reservation on my wife's phone and he said, sorry we are closed and rudely ended the conversation. read more

Second time we've been to Pepenero with a large party (14 people). They do not disappoint. The red Ferrari was delicious (light) The pasta ragu was probably my favorite dish of the whole night- that or the steak tartare. Our party shared quite a few appetizers- which I think were better than the dinners. The dinner was still very good- I had a special, and I cannot remember what it was which says a lot! I'm pretty sure it was a halibut special- and if I'm remembering correctly it was cooked perfectly but it needed salt. ALL of our appetizers and salads were excellent. I will definitely go back. Warm yet elegant atmosphere, and the staff and owner are always inviting. read more

Party of six - three ordered pasta, all of which was significantly undercooked to the point the interior was still hard. 26$ for a meager serving of spaghetti noodle with pomodoro sauce placed in a small depression on an oversized plate. More like a side. Server was MIA for extended periods of time. 3 hours from sitting down to leaving. Otherwise, food was tasty. Drinks were cold. Setting was pleasant. No one's life was changed. Takeaway - been there, done that, no need to return. read more

Great place - excellent food, service and ambience. One of best Italian meals I've had! I had prosciutto and fig salad, fresh focaccia bread, otto chicken (w black truffle and foie gras sauce) and tiramisu to finish. Everything was divine. Server Jennifer was helpful and friendly. Definitely coming back again during my visits to Traverse City. read more

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Amazing food, the overall dining experience is what you would expect at a restaurant of this caliber. The staff is extremely attentive, knowledgeable adds to a great evening. The atmosphere is outstanding. read more

This beautiful space is housed in the lower level of the Traverse City Commons-formerly a psychiatric hospital. The original tile floor, brick walls and structural beams have been preserved and are lovely. Reservations are recommended. They communicate with you by text with reminders and an alert when your table is ready. We were warmly greeted by the hosts, seated and then welcomed by our lovely server who was kind and well studied of the menu. The wine list is extensive. She answered our questions and made recommendations when asked. Before dinner cocktails were refreshing. It's clear that mixers are all fresh and of the best quality. We selected three antipasti to share between the four of us, followed by two salads. Creative flavors and textures (Gorgonzola gelato on a salad ) were delicious. The focaccia was outstanding-beautiful crisp crust coated with sesame seeds and an inside light as clouds. We each chose our own mains-parchment cooked Bronzino, house-made pasta-linguine with lobster and shrimp and pappardelle with short rib ragu. Sadly, we had no room for desert. Chef comes out to say hello and check on you-this was a lovely and thoughtful touch, especially on a busy Saturday night. This was a memorable meal for flavors, service and ambience. We'll return. Thank you, chef! read more

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What can I say? I came here last at least 7 years ago on recommendation from co-workers, and the food and vibe were as amazing as they'd said. I had the opportunity to treat a dear friend recently, and I was so happy that food and vibe were even better than I remembered. Our server Brad was warm, friendly, with excellent knowledge of the menu and specials. I hope I can return sooner than 7 years! read more