We were made aware of Zio Peppe a month or so ago and we finally got out to try it. Wow, the food is so good! Three of us went for dinner. We had a couple of appetizers plus dinner and dessert. Everything was outstanding. Blending a Sonoran influence into Italian cuisine is creative and well executed. It's such a pleasure to find restaurants run by local chefs with such good food. We support them as much as we can rather than corporate food factories. Service was very good, friendly and efficient. It's a relatively small place and if recommend getting a reservation. The noise level was pretty high, driven by some loud tables, but that's not unusual there days. read more

The food was very tasty. We came here because Zio Peppe was at a vegan restaurant event- and had one of the best dishes there! So I was disappointed that the didn't have anything overtly vegan or labeled on the menu. The server was wonderful at suggesting a pasta dish that could be veganized. However, although they left off the cheese, and added a couple veggies, there was an up charge for the veggies. I would come back here again with non-vegan guests. But I wouldn't bring another vegan. The drinks were delicious and beautiful. Also our server was wonderful. read more

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Knocking a star off because I went here recently with a large party and we weren't all super impressed with our food. The pizzas were great - especially the birria pizza. Super flavorful, thin and crispy crust, with plenty of birria plus consomme on the side for dipping. My friend's mushroom pizza was also delicious. Both weren't skimpy toppings-wise. We were happy. However, we were all not thrilled by our pasta dishes. The pasta itself was al dente, but the sauces on most of our pasta dishes were underseasoned and underwhelming. I had the chiltepin arrabbiata and didn't get much chiltepin flavor, just tomato and a little bit of garlic. My friend had the alfredorado and it was almost completely flavorless... it had very little red chile flavor or even parmesan flavor. Both were in desperate need of salt. As for the cocktails, they were fine. My espresso martini was too sweet for me, so I swapped with my friend's limoncello drink. That was pretty good. I think I'd come back here just for the pizza. For the price, the pastas were quite disappointing, and the cocktails were just OK. Regardless, I think their concept of Sonoran-inspired Italian dishes is very refreshing and unique, but the execution needs work. read more

My husband picked up the order. I tried the EL RUSTICO BIRRIA pizza which was decent. The crust was not impressive. Crust was soggy. The RAVIOLI SONORENSE was sold out so I tried a pasta dish with sausage. The sausage tasted like it had been previously frozen. The pasta was on the bland side of things. As a pasta lover it's hard to recommend this place. read more

Zio Peppe - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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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! read more

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Everything about this restaurant was nice , cozy . Service was friendly the chef came out to see if everything was good . The server was very attentive as well. It's a definitely a place to come n try out thumbs up . Sure next time we come we will bring our friends to experience the delicious food . read more

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I treated myself to an early dinner and decided to stop in after seeing pictures of the wolf shrimp linguine. It was delicious- the chef did an amazing job packing so much flavor and seasonings into the basil pesto. I also ordered the taconnolis which were good but not sweet enough for my very sweet tooth. Service was excellent and the ambiance was cozy and sophisticated. Overall, a great dining experience. read more

I was here about three years ago when wood pallets sitting on the floor were literally part of the decor. My experience at that time was one of the worst I could remember. The food was bad. Fast forward and I thought it only fair to give them another chance. How has this restaurant improved? Well, the decor is much more appealing with black tablecloths having replaced the redneck jamboree vibe. I ordered three of the same items that I ordered three years ago: polenta, margherita pizza, and their take on the cannoli. I can say that all were better. The pizza was the most improved with a better tasting dough, but the polenta and cannoli were only marginally so. The polenta had no nuanced flavors. It was cooked polenta drizzled with seasoned olive oil and topped with some corn kernels and a few pepper pieces. Polenta can be spectacular but this was mushy boredom on a plate. Their take on the cannoli, called a taconnoli, was overly tangy with the pistachio and orange zest doing it no favors. I have to say that this item didn't look visually appealing, either. I didn't know what to expect on this return visit but I hoped for the best. Unfortunately, the meal was incredibly average. I don't plan to return but, if I did, I'd limit myself to the pizza. Look, folks still say this restaurant is great. I seem to be an outlier even after three years so keep that in mind as you consider dining here. I'm not writing this to discourage anyone. Find out for yourself. One big plus: the staff was very nice and professional. read more

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We got lucky enough to snag a same-day reservation for my birthday today. It is a cozy spot with not a ton of seating, and upon walking in, we felt a bit overheated (likely due to the ovens). However, our service was excellent and the options were unique and delicious! We had the Mesclun salad, the bread and spread with the poblano queso sauce (one of my favorites), the birria pizza (honestly, a marvel in and of itself, and done sooooo well) and the pasta bolognese. It was so flavorful and I honestly loved the fusion of Sonoran Mexican and Italian. We washed it all down with a red and white sangria (both of which were awesome). We will absolutely be back! read more

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I ate dinner here yesterday with two friends. We ordered two Figgy Stardust pizzas ($23 each) and we weren't disappointed. I recommend it. We also had a Tiramisu Tres Leches cake ($13) for dessert, which was good but not exceptional. Service was good. The ambiance is cozy and homey. Prices are a little high, with pasta dishes in the $20-30 range. read more

Zio Peppe is consistent with great food and crafted cocktails. The bread appetizer is a must. I enjoyed the halibut, which was delicious, while my husband loved the sausage pasta. For dessert, I highly the Jamaica Cheese Cake . read more

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I visited Tucson for the first time recently and wanted to branch out, so a friend and I decided on Zio Peppe. Pulling into the parking lot, you kind of wonder what you're getting into because the building looks older and established--which I usually take as a great sign that a place has staying power. However, once we stepped inside, we were honestly stunned. The interior is super clean, modern, and really pretty, creating a great atmosphere that feels much more polished than the outside suggests. The food was a bit of a mixed bag, but definitely interesting. We started with the elote arancini, and it was a total win. Usually, fried starters can feel a bit greasy, but this was surprisingly light. The crema served with it was packed with flavor, and the lime added a refreshing kick that balanced everything out perfectly. For my main, I went with a pasta dish and added the short rib. The meat was incredible--perfectly tender and pull-apart soft--and the portion was very filling. My only critique was that it lacked a bit of a punch. Despite having a thick sauce, it tasted a little bland and felt like it was missing some acidity or heat to really make the flavors pop. The service, however, was top-notch. Our waiter was super nice and stayed very attentive throughout the night, checking in on us multiple times to make sure we had everything we needed. Even though the pasta wasn't my favorite, I'd definitely go back. Between the great service and how intriguing the rest of the menu looked, I'm curious to see what else they can do! read more

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We had such a nice time here! Didn't realize we arrived at closing until after we ordered (got the days confused, we felt so bad!). But the staff waved our apologies, and were super sweet and friendly. Made us feel welcome despite the time! The food was incredible. Highly recommend if you're interested in something unique and delicious. read more

Zio Peppe - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We are visiting AZ for our cousin's wedding and found this place through Yelp. And I highly recommend this place. Definitely make a reservation as it was packed on a Friday. Highly recommend their Birria pizza and the calamari chicharrones. My husband liked the elote, but I liked the calamari more and their salad. The combination of the fruits really went well with the dressing. And the service was amazing. Our waitress was very attentive and provided us with great service. We will definitely come back again when we are in Tucson! read more

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Dined here for lunch, and like my previous review mentions, we were the only customers...again! The service was very attentive but not overbearing. I thought the tablecloth dining was a little overkill for lunch. We shared the Mesclun salad which was light and refreshing on this hot day. For my entree I got the salmon which was pretty good. The salmon was cooked perfectly, but for the price point I expected better from the tamale cake and sauce. The presentation was beautiful. We ordered the chocotaconnoli and then the server came back and said they were all out of the cannoli desserts. Womp womp. read more

Zio Peppe - Salmon - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Wow! 5/5 indeed! We finally tried Zio Peppe after many years in Tucson to use our Tucson Foodie Insider subscription. The food is phenomenal. The Calimarrones appetizer is excellent. The delicious calamari with chicharrones, blood orange, and a salsa macha sauce. The perfect combination of crispy and flavor. The pasta dishes are also made to order and fantastic as well. The garlic butter shrimp pasta and new chile bolognese were both unique and you can taste the freshness of the pasta. The balance of flavors used in each dish is noticeable. I like the mild spicyness from the chile bolognese and tangy flavor from the garlic shrimp pasta. read more

Zio Peppe - Calimarrones - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Came here for NYE dinner without a reservation and the restaurant was able to accommodate us at the bar. They do their take of Sonoran and Italian fusion and it brings some great flavors. We ordered the elote arancini for an appetizer and it was delicious. It wasn't too crunchy and it wasn't too chewy either. Just the right amount of crunch. The tangy and the sweet was the right amount. Definitely recommend this appetizer. We ordered the birria pizza which had deliciously seasoned birria on a thin crust with cheese and a cup of consommé and lime wedges. Definitely squeeze a drop of the line on the area of the pizza you dip into the consommé as it really brings out the flavor. We did not get any dessert but I'm sure it's amazing. Also, they make their own drinks and let they age in little wooden barrels on the bar. I'll have to try them next time as the old fashions looked delicious. Our waitress/bartender, Sophia, did an excellent job and answered some questions we had too. Very friendly and courteous too! The restaurant isn't huge so I recommend making a reservation. Also the parking is a little tight, so have patience when backing out. read more

Zio Peppe - Elote Arancini - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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What in the world?! What a great combination of cuisines!!! Italian and Mexican! And Chef makes it all work beautifully! We got there right as they opened and we had all the attention! We sat at the bar and ordered cocktails and an app! We started with the chicharron and calamari! It had this pepper paste delicious goodness spread at the bottom that works perfectly with the chicharron and calamari! ! Their wines were a little limited on the day we visited but nonetheless we had a good couple of glasses of both red and white wines! Onto our mains, hubs had the Birria stuffed ravioli and I had the salad. What flavors! By the time we left a few more people had arrived. Nice quiet place to have really good food and awesome conversation with your significant other. read more

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We went here when they first opened with another owner/chef. Same menu items but the ingredients are now noticeably different and lacking sadly. The beef short rib was dry and not as flavorful. The margarita pizza's cheese was not as melted or flavorful. Not sure where they are buying their groceries but it's noticeable. They added more tabletops but not more waitresses so service was slow. We tried sitting outside for ambiance but felt forgotten out there. read more

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Another amazing dinner! Brought a group of friends here tonight and most hadn't eaten there before and they did not disappoint. Bread and spreads were hot and fresh, pepperoni, birria, and figgy stardust pizzas were delicious, as well as the desserts, and the flourless chocolate cake were all spot on! read more

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The food here is such a fun twist of Mexican and Italian! I had ordered. They were busy so our waiter was a little tricky to flag down but it was also really awesome to sit in a full restaurant. We did yave to wait for a little bit because it is a small space but we didnt have to wait longer then 25 minutes and honestly the food was worth it. read more

My mother and I came for lunch and it was our first time at Zio Peppe and I must say it was a cute little intimate spot with a rustic look. Our server Julie was super sweet and always had a smile. She also shook up the best tasting espresso martini I've had here in Tucson! We had our own tasting and ordered a handful of shareable dishes. The deviled eggs were soft boiled, so a little different than the norm but very flavorful, although I used lemon juice to tone down the fishy anchovy aioli. the other appetizer that stood out was the tamale polenta fungi which was different than I imagined with its creamy cheesy texture, corn kernels for that mass flavor, marinated mushrooms and I believe the roasted chilies was the green swirl that topped the dish, yummy! Caesar salad was so good, we demolished it! The different breads were excellent but dipping the bread in the scampi sauce was a good way to clean the plate lol. We took the jicama cheesecake home cuz we were stuffed! Compliments to the chefs! I'll be returning for dinner next time read more

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I am so fortunate and grateful to my friends for celebrating my birthday with lunches at my favorite places. Last week a friend who shares my birthday week and I had a joint celebration at Zio Peppe, absolutely one of my favs. We began with lemon swizzle cocktails. They are tart and sweet, the glass rimmed in green sugar, and so good. Our starter was the tamale polenta, with smoked cheddar, roasted chiles, red pepper relish, and kernels of corn; definitely my polenta of choice. For our main course we both wanted the Caesar salad, and because it was our main, we added shrimp. The shrimp were expertly cooked: tender with that perfect slight resistance when biting into them. I have reviewed Zio's Caesar before, with the perfectly tangy dressing, lots of parm, and the giant garlicky buttery croutons that taste like the best garlic bread you've ever eaten. That was last week. This week, I was treated by a dear friend and we just had to repeat the lemon cocktail I had the week before. We enjoyed it as much as I had previously. We split a Caesar salad, because that's another must-have. We settled on two entrees to share: the Green Chile Garganelli Bolognese and the Ravioli Sonorense. The bolognese is described as New Mexico green chile garganelli, braised beef short rib, bolognese sauce, salsa verde, Pecorino Romano. The short rib was luscious and fork tender, and the sauce for it and the ravioli were so tasty that we had to order bread to mop up the sauce and not waste a bit of that deliciousness. The menu describes the ravioli as Chile Ricotta Stuffed Egg Pasta, Marinara, Poblano Chile Con Queso, Beef Chorizo, Pecorino. I describe it as amazing. The bread deserves its own commentary. It was served hot and chewy from the oven, perfect for dipping. We were stuffed, and our personable and helpful waiter (who I suspect is one of the owners) was packing up our leftovers. But my friend said we have to have a birthday dessert. We decided to share the flourless chocolate cake. Funny how you can be so full and yet make room for a fudgy extravaganza, described as decadent chocolate bourbon cake, chocolate mirror glaze, espresso buttercream. It was so good! There were no cake leftovers. And, lucky me, I have two more b-day lunches to look forward to. I feel like the middle schoolers I taught for so long, celebrating a birthday month, not just a day. read more

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If you are expecting an Italian restaurant- you will be confused. To note this is fusion of Italian + Southwest . The Elote Arancini (appetizer) was a little too over flavored if that is a thing... I felt there were too many flavors competing and it tasted more on the sour- salty side. The bread and spread is essentially bread and olive oil. Nothing fancy except the bread.. omg so delicious. We got the green chile garganelli bolognese and the ravioli sonorese. The ravioli was our favorite. Service was super attentive. The restaurant is a mix of cozy and trendy at the same time... intimate date or dinner with girlfriends. Good selection and reasonably priced cocktails and wine. Will definitely return. read more

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Came here with a friend , not one item in the menu was vegan ... ehhh knocking 1 star for that guys ...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 . read more

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What a unique dining experience! Visiting from California and this will definitely be on our list of places to go when back in Tucson. Never experienced anything like it. They call it Italian/Sonoran fusion - we just call it "mmm, good!" From the fresh baked bread starter, the Elote Arancini, to the taco inspired cannoli dessert every course was mouth watering. The service was attentive, friendly, and prompt. Warm and cozy atmosphere. The wine pairings were also spot on, and the prices very reasonable. We will definitely be back to try more dishes, and until then be dreaming about their poblano chile con queso! read more

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I've been dreaming about eating at Zio Peppe's again for the past year. And today, that dream came true. *Swoon* This place is Italian-Mexican fusion which may seem strange to some, but my tastebuds absolutely love it. And I've been telling people who come up to Phoenix from Tucson to go eat here for me. I'm in love with the fettuccine alfredorado. They purée red chiles and add it to the fettuccine sauce. It's got a slight kick that's subtle so if you don't like spicy food, don't feel intimidated. You'll be fine. I also ordered the tamale polenta with my meal. My husband kept trying to steal bites from it. The polenta came in a mini cast iron pan. It was rich and filling. It was definitely a meal in itself. We also ordered the broccoli which was came generously sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper, coated with EVOO. My husband had the Green Chile Garganelli Bolognese which he seemed to enjoy. Our friends split the Ravioli Sonorense which I had a bite of; the ravioli was chewy which was a nice contrast to the cheesy goodness of the ravioli. Dessert was the star of the show! The flourless chocolate cake was dense. If it was a human, he'd be named Forrest Gump. It was delectable. I'm wishing that I'd ordered one to take home to Phoenix. We also got the Jamaica cheese cake that looked like someone's acid trip from the 70's. It was tart because they add key lime curd which made it feel light. I couldn't get enough of it. read more

The food was delicious and exploding with flavor. This is Italian food with a Mexican flair. Very unique and very flavorful.

This place is busy on the weekend, so a reservation is a good idea if you don't want to wait for a table. The ambiance is nice for a family gathering and perfect for a date. Zio Peppe attempts to create fusion dishes of classic Italian and Sonoran. Elote Arancini [2/5] Though this is a popular appetizer, it is not to my taste . The seasoning is bland and the dish is not warm. The sauce is sour with a hint of spiciness which I thought makes up the lack of flavors. Calamarrones [4/5] A unique calamari dish combined with chicharrones. Underneath the calamari and chicharrones is a spicy base made of chili. The only components missing are acid and heat. The dish came out barely warm and it could be elevated with lemon/lime. I love the sprinkle of candied orange pieces! Rotini Alla Tequila [3.8/5] Love the high quality sausages! The bowl came out warm and has adequate amount of sauce, pasta and cheese. If I return, I would definitely try the Birria Pizza. Service was amazing! read more

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Don't delay, run don't walk. Beyond yummy food. Get the salmon, you'll love it! Great service, yummy drinks too. :) read more

Zio Peppe - Salmon and tamale cake - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

As you will read from many reviews, this place has some unique and interesting menu items. Really cool place with a relaxing ambiance. We started with the bread and spread, which was amazing. Definitely get that! My wife had the El Rustico Birria Pizza that comes with a Consommé dip. That was also really good! I had a new menu item, they were trying out - Bucatini Arrabbiata and Meatballs. I thought the meatballs and pasta were very dry, and given the price for it, that was a little disappointing. We finished up with the tres leches tiramisu which was good. They have so many unique menu items that we will definitely be back to try more. read more

Zio Peppe - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The sausage and fennel pizza at Zio Peppe is one of my favorite things to eat. The calamari is outstanding. The staff are cool and kind. The chocolate flourless cake is super delicious. read more

The food here is good. Their pizza is delicious and the flourless chocolate cake is melt in your mouth yummy. I think the prices here are a bit too expensive for what it was. The interior is quite somber with the black tablecloths, dark interior, etc so perhaps a better spot for date night or evening dining. Service was good too! read more

Zio Peppe - Fig pizza - Pizza Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Sadly not as before. Pasta as others have mentioned was very bland, watery and didn't stick to the noodles. The fig pizza is made with a different cheese than before. We loved it the first 3 times there. But won't go back. Arancini were outstanding though. read more

Delicious ! We recommend the aranciini appetizer, the birria pizza and the green chile bolognese. Outstanding ! read more

Got a little worried because the place was empty at 5pm. Glad we stayed! Wonderful creations! Birria pizza was great. Fried corn balls too. Good service read more

So happy that my spouse and I checked out this place. It was wonderful! It's cozy inside but also has some outside seating, reservations recommended. We were lucky they were able to accommodate us, on a holiday evening no less. We didn't have drinks, but it looked like they make amazing options. They do some pre-mixing and aging so not sure if they can easily accommodate non-alcoholic options but the bartender seemed talented, so I'm sure she could mix up something delicious. While everything on the menu may be inspired by the fusion of Sonoran and Italian flavors, we had to go with a couple classics - elote arancini and birria pizza. Plenty of food for two with light appetites and delicious flavors. We had no room for dessert, but I think we will have to return just for dessert and maybe a mocktail another time. Service was top notch. Can't wait to return. read more

My partner and I absolutely love this restaurant. We've gone three times and each time is better than the last . Food is delicious it's a bit "pricey" not too crazy tho but you get what you pay for and it shows , amazing food and I always recommend it to people. read more

This is one of the finest Italian restaurants in Tucson, in my opinion. I have been here several time's. I have never been disappointed with a meal. The ambiance is elegant. There is limited outdoor seating. I however enjoy inside because of the Italian feel. Our seating host Esteban was fabulous. He is a great conversationalist and is very welcoming and inviting. Server was exceptional, unfortunately I didn' get her name her name. Started with the bread and spread which is a great starter. Main course, I had the wolf and shrimp linguini which was exceptional. I normally get the Rotini Ala Tequila which is always delicious. I will continue to go here again and again. read more

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We came back here for dinner this Monday night and it was the opposite as last time. Service was extremely slow and they forgot about us at one point. We ordered the salmon again and the salmon was fishy and the tamale cake tasted bitter. I wasn't sure if some ingredient in it had gone bad. I wasn't a fan of the birria pizza. The beef tasted bland and the whole pizza was really greasy. He got the Tart n' Flannel cocktail which he thought was ok but I thought was too bitter. I loved the Sangria Rossa. One of the best sangrias I've ever had. read more

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