Tio Pepe

I visited this restaurant a few weeks back with my girlfriend on a rainy Sunday night. We arrived at around 12:15am and were informed 3 times by 3 diffent people that the kitchen closed at 1am. I took a look at the wine list (nothing special) so we ordered 2 beers. For dinner I ordered Lubina a la Vasca (Sea Bass) and my girlfriend had Chicken and Rice. When I asked for some bread I was told that there was none left and that I could have some tortillas. The Sea Bass was served with a few clams, mussels, and frozen peas as a vegetable. The rice that came with it was COLD. I guess they didn't have time to put it in the microwave. When I tried the fish a knew immediately that it was spoiled. I sat with the plate for 15 minutes before I could get anyone's attention. (By the way, there was only 1 other table in the restaurant). Finally the waiter came over and I explained to him the fish had gone bad. He took the plate away and I never saw him again. The food runner came and told me that I couldn't order anything else because the kitchen was now closed. I ended up sharing my girlfriend's Chicken and Rice which was edible except for the burnt rice at the bottom of the plate. To my surprise when I asked for the check, a basket of bread was brought out with it! I think that this place really has to get it's act together if it wants to be considered a serious restaurant and not just a tourist trap, which it is now. Well I guess that you can't take a Spanish restaurant that serves Mexican food serious anyway. Or is this a Mexican restaurant serving Spainish food?

Posted 07/24/06

I brought my out-of-town sister and her fiance to Tio Pepe and was embarrassed by the end of the meal. Service couldn't have been worse, and our food was bad. We sat in the back patio, by my request, but instead of being a charming garden, it was a dirty dark room. Not pretty or fun. I'd recommend going elsewhere.

Posted 03/23/06

Try for your self and you will keep going back when in the city.

Posted 01/26/06

A friend and I went on a Thursday night and except for a couple of large parties the vast space of the restaurant was empty. The red wine sangria was strong but good and the guacamole was above-average. We both had the Burrito Del Norte (with veggies) and found our portions to be huge but satisfying. Overall, I would have enjoyed the experience more if the atmosphere was better. I did take a peek at their garden in the back...definitely try to get a table there. It was lit with white lights and cozier with more ambience.

Posted 12/10/05

I recommend Tio Pepe for anyone looking for really good Spanish cuisine. After having lived in Spain for a year, I have yet to find a restaurant that is as authetic as Tio Pepe. The paella is too die for, lick your figners good! We get pitchers of margaritas and sing along with the guitarist. The prices are very reasonable and the waiters are nice. I will keep returning because so far I've only been happy!

Pros: margaritas, paella, inexpensive

Posted 10/21/05

On a slow night the service was horrible, waited excessive amount of time and manager was clueless, there was no effort to apologize. food was marginal but expected for NY Mexican/Spanish. Location is nice but I would rather spend time in a "dump" that has good food and service.

Cons: Slow Service, lax management, average food

Posted 10/05/05

Everything that came to the table here was fantastic. I'm always expecting a little less from restaurants in this part of town, but Tio Pepe was incredible. The octopus especially. Great Service, great drinks, you should go.

Pros: outdoor seating, inexpensive

Posted 09/20/05

I was actually on a "Blind Date" last night (4/29/05), and her sister recommended the place. Great choice (the eats as well as the date). Upon entering, we were whisked to a table near the window (my fave spot). After ordering drinks, we both decided on the Paella Vallenciana, brought out on hot plates. Neither of us were very hungry, yet we could not stop serving ourselves this fantastic, and generous cornucopia of rice, seafood and chicken. We even saw them make fresh guacomole right at someone table. The staff was great, attentive, and always within view. The atmosphere was also great. Dinner for 2, including drinks and 2 cafe au lait totaled $40. bucks. Can't wait to check out the backyard garden room this summer. By the way, my date can't wait either ; )

Pros: Staff, Food, Atmosphere

Cons: n/a, n/a, n/a

Posted 04/30/05

I threw a party at Tio Pepe's on 1/8/05 and it was absolutely fabulous.

Everyone raved about the food, the service and the drinks.

The staff was so friendly they became part of the family (and that was before the pitcher of Pina Colada)

If you want to simply enjoy good food in a nice atmosphere visit Tio Pepe's

Pros: Food, Staff, Drinks

Cons: None, None, None

Posted 02/02/05

Tio Pepe is a great place to try Spanish/Mexican food. For first timers, I recommend the Paella Valenciana. It's seafood with rice. The rice was delicious and I think the sauce they used was from the clams. I went with a group of 6 and the wait for the food took over an hour. Could be because it was a Sat. packed night. They served tortilla chips for munches and yet the wait was still too long. It is a restaurant that can handle groups, but I don't think the group would want to wait TOO long for their food.

Pros: food, fair value, ambience

Cons: , service was average

Posted 10/31/04

Tio Pepe!!! An amazing deal for such an amazing taste! When I visit New York I make a sure stop at Tio Pepe & I never pass up on the Sangria. The service is beyond compare and there is a festive feel no matter what the occasion. Overall--a perfect Spanish/Mexican restaurant in the Village.

Pros: service, price, drinks

Posted 06/21/04

I held a bridal shower in the backyard garden room and it was absolutely beautiful. The guests said it was the best bridal shower they had ever attended. Of course, they had had a few of Tio Pepe's wonderful Margaritas at that point. It is a perfect setting to hold a private event - plenty of light, plants. The food and service were excellent. The staff helped me put together an easy menu with three choices within my budget. I really have nothing negative to say about the experience.
Highly recommended for a private event or a nice romantic dinner.

Pros: Ambiance, Reasonably Priced, Great Food

Posted 06/21/04

"Tio Pepe" is a family-owned restaurant and you know it from the easy, at-home feeling you get as soon as you come in. The waiters are friendly and competent. It's no problem to catch a waiter's eye. They are attentive (though never obtrusive). The menu features a wide-variety of Spanish-Mexican favorites, top-notch because the ingredients are always fresh, always first quality. Want guacamole dip? The waiter will make it fresh at your table. My favorite, the cheese quesadillas, are the best around town. "Tio Pepe" can become a habit real easy. Jim Smith

Posted 06/19/04

to a bar or club. The atmosphere was lively last night, full of groups. It's not really romantic, as the editors labeled it. The servers were friendly and it's not as expensive as I thought it would be ($11.99 for a main entree of paella).

Pros: Lively, Open late, Nice decor

Posted 05/15/04

It is very good to know a place where I can enjoy an exellent spanish-mexican food, late after theater. Great service, nice drinks and fabulous atmosphere. I think they deserve a 10 overall rating for the exellent quality

Pros: friendly, very good service, confortable

Posted 10/22/03

gucamole made tableside is delicious! margaritas are well priced and come in big glasses, they actually use fresh fruit! waiters are fast and professional. I've only been at Tio Pepe 4 times, but I look forward to my next visit.

Posted 08/19/03

THE FOOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN DELICIOUS. ONE OF MY FAVORITES IS THE GUACAMOLE AND THE SANGRIA. TIO PEPE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A FAVORITE, EVEN WHEN I MOVED TO INDIANA, I COULDN'T WAIT TO RETURN TO NEW YORK FOR AUTHENTICITY OF MEXICAN CUISINE.

Pros: GARDEN, FOOD, SERVICE

Posted 08/08/03

What a great brunch! I ordered the fruit salad and it came in a whole baby pineapple with fresh mango, it was delicious in a honey sauce. I will surely return. The service was great and the margaritas really were delicious. Next time I'll make dinner reservations!

Pros: Brunch, garden, margaritas

Posted 05/12/03

I'm glad to see that Tio Pepe has such great reviews on City Search. I completely agree that Tio Pepe is a great place. If you are looking for a dependable place with substance, seek out Tio Pepe. All those other trendy/flashy new spanish restaurants can't compare to the quality found at Tio Pepe.

Pros: fireplace, skylight garden, sidewalk cafe

Posted 02/07/03

Tio Pepe is the perfect place to go after work for a few drinks and a few tapas. The bar, the sidewalk cafe, or small lounge are great places to sit. Or of course you could sit in the enclosed garden. My friends and I go there almost every tuesday and enjoy it every time. What better than a refreshing margarita for after work?

Pros: fireplace, enclosed garden, sidewalk cafe

Posted 02/02/03

There is no place like Tio Pepe. Every time I eat there, I sit in the enclosed garden room in the back. It is so beautiful with all of the hanging plants, and quite cozy in the winter time. But best of all is the paella. Usually I order an appetizer like garlic shrimp and split a paella with my boyfriend. I wont forget to mention the pitcher of sangria that I always order.

Pros: fireplace, sidewalk cafe, enclosed garden room

Posted 01/29/03

We keep coming back to Tio Pepe for the paellas and drinks. No where else in the village can you find a bigger or better martini than the one Tio Pepe's friendly bartender serves up. The waitstaff is friendly and loves to celebrate birthdays. We keep reccomending this place to all of our friends and family because it is so reliable and a whole lot of fun!

Pros: side walk cafe, fire place, sky light garden

Posted 01/26/03

We had a great night out sitting in the romantic garden sipping margaritas and enjoying the daily specials. My date and I enjoyed everything from the Tapas (appitezers) through desert and I will never forget the Tio Pepe coffee. I recomend Tio Pepe to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Pros: Great Food, Romantic Garden, Great Sangria

Cons: hard to park

Posted 01/13/03

Great patio out back; paella was solid; wait staff very attentive and friendly; fajitas also very good

Posted 12/29/02

I drank negra modela, my girlfriend drank mango margaritas. I ordered mexican, my girlfreind ordered spanish. Tio Pepe was the perfect place for the both of us. We left very happy and we will be sure to return again.

Pros: great drinks, cozy, friendly

Posted 12/05/02

With an expert chef, friendly waiters, and a romantic dining area, Tio Pepe is a dependable place for any occasion. They are great with kids offering virgin specialty drinks and smaller portions. And I wont forget to mention how good their "adult" drinks are! And yes, the Paella Valencia is a wonderful selection.

Pros: friendly, reliable, dependent

Posted 11/17/02

No better place in New York for Paella Valenciana for two and a pitcher of sangria. Sit in the romantic skylit garden adn save room for dessert.

Pros: romantic, fresh, paella

Posted 11/11/02

With windows on lively West 4th Street, recently refurbished Tio Pepe is a dependable Village favorite of ours. We like to go with five or six friends and share an assortment of the delectable tapas with superb margaritas, before moving on to one of the great Spanish or Mexican entrée selections. Someone always tries one of the assortment of paellas, still an unbeatable value at $12.95, but we like the pork and steak preparations. The expert chef does well by the seafood dishes, as well. Best of all are the attentive but unobtrusive waiters, who are never far away and always eager to please. The lovely skylighted garden room is a tad crowded for true romance, but we've had some promising dates there, nonetheless. For many reasons--food, service, and ambience--it's almost impossible to avoid a great time here.

Pros: Charming garden, Terrific cocktails, Flaming desserts

Posted 11/06/02

It has a beautiful garden. great service, great food, great atmosphere

Posted 09/12/02