Tio Pepe II Reviews

You would never imagine such a good food in this corner of Philadelphia. Delicious food and excellent combination of flavors. Nice staff and good bar and also sit in restaurant.Good prices.

It may not be easy to find since you enter on the side of the building and have to go upstairs nevertheless the food is FRESH and DELICIOUS!!! We have enjoyed our meals every time we have eaten here! The Delmonico was juicy and flavorful and the Paella was delicious.

Our whole dining experience was great! We read other reviews and knew they the bar was on the first floor and the restaurant was on the second. Our table was waiting when we got there as we made a reservation. Our server was adorable with a great personality. We started with fried calamari, octopus in a vinaigrette sauce and our server recommended the clams sautéed in a garlic white wine sauce. Sure, why not! Each of the appetizers were delicious. As per our server’s recommendation, I ordered the grilled branzino. Absolutely delicious! My son ordered the grilled octopus and it was so tender and my daughter-in-law loved her stuffed salmon. My husband, the birthday boy didn’t even put a dent in his paella… we have enough left for dinner for possibly 2 nights. Finally our friend was disappointed that they were out of the veal special but instead her devoured his lobster ravioli. Everyone had room to “taste dessert”… flan, chocolate mousse, and the parfait were delectable! As you can see in the photos, they even decorated the plate for my husband’s birthday. This was a perfect meal with drinks, atmosphere, and service! Plenty of street parking and they do accept reservations. We’ll definitely return!

My wife and I came here for dinner on a Saturday night. It was not crowded at all. The service was good and quick. The food portions were long and it all tasted good. The prices were reasonable, considering how much food we were given. I will definitely return.

We went to Tio Pepe in Baltimore and that was awesome so we decided to try this one in Philly. Still not sure if they are affiliated with each other though. Any way, the restaurant is on the second floor above the bar of the same name. We walked into the bar by accident. Pretty funny. It felt to us like those old movies where everyone stopped talking to see who the outsiders are. When we finally got upstairs the service was friendly. We were seated quickly. The choices were plenty. When the food came out it felt like a bottomless pit of seafood. It was great. I forget the name of our dish. Sorry. Also the sangria was delicious. I highly recommend you take the trip. There is metered parking up front and free parking in the neighborhood behind the restaurant.

The staff made us feel very welcome. The atmosphere surprised us. It's located above a pretty noisy bar. Once you're upstairs, however, it's kind of charming. Some of the food was good, and the rest was just okay.

Great food. Fresh seafood. The sangria is really good. The grilled salmon and the paella are my favorites. Have never had a bad meal here. Love it

Great food, large portions, warm wait staff. Parking was the only issue. I don't like sangria. We drank two carafes. I like this sangria. A party of four, We had filet mignon, a porterhouse, chicken Marsala, and an enormous seafood paella all Portuguese style. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. It was recommended to me by a Portuguese/Brazilian couple. Thank you for a great meal.

We have been here several times and have never left disappointed. The food and service is great. The seafood paella and garlic shrimp are our favorites.

This is a small hidden treasure in the Castor Gardens area in lower northeast Philadelphia. They have delicious food and sangria. Best portuguese food in the area!! Never too crowded or too loud. Its great for family gathering or lunch/dinner with friends over good food & drinks. Been going there for years and definitely recommend it!

My experience here started the moment we walked in the door. No hostess, no greeting. We walked past the half full bar with the feeling that this was just a neighborhood bar. Nonetheless we took a seat in the back because we had our heart set on authentic Portuguese cuisine. As it turned out the bartender was our waitress. She came over and took our drink order and shortly after came over with our drinks and bread. The bread was very good. She also gave us one menu. I had to ask for a second. We ordered the CHOURICO ASSADO appetizer. It came on an open flame grille and was okay. Next my partner ordered the Branzino and I the PAELHA A MARINHEIRA. The branzino was good but the lobster, shrimp and clams in the PAELHA A MARINHEIRA were dry and tasteless! The sauce was very tasty and I wanted more rolls to soak it up but never got them even though I asked 3 times!

This Mexican restaurant with a hint of Brazilian is on the second floor of a storefront on Castor Avenue. The menu is comprehensive and includes steak, fish, and shrimp (as well as traditional cultural cuisine) expertly cooked. One of the owners was cooking the night I was there and came out to make sure he knew exactly how my daughter wanted her filet cooked, then followed the steak to the table to make sure she didn't want it more well done. The prices were reasonable and the servings were quite generous. The house wine was good, as well. This place is a real find.

This is by far the best Portuguese restaurant in Philadelphia. True, the sports bar downstairs can get a little load but the amazing food more then makes up for it. The seafood specialties are exquisite and the delmonaco steak is absolutely delicious. I had both of my children's Christenings here and they did an amazing job both times. We had 85-90 guest and everyone was totally satisfied. A must try place when in Northeast Philadelphia.

Our family has frequented Tio Pepe on average once a year for the last 10 years. I can honestly say the food is consistent. We tried the quail appetizer as this was new and the fried calamari. The quail was seasoned very delicately and was flavorful. Obviously not a lot to eat on such small birds but these were worth the taste. Tio Pepe is known for their Paella and whole cooked fish. As a table of 5 we ordered the Paella Valenciania , a whole Bronzino fish and two orders of the Suckling pig, a special. The paella once again stole the show. Plentiful and cooked to perfection. The fish was tastey. The Suckling pig was disappointing as it was too salty. Our other favorite dish is zarzuela, a fish stew served with rice on the side. The service was attentive. Did I mention the home made red Sangria? A must! We will continue our patronage to this hidden treasure!

I have been a patron of this restaurant and their staff for the last thirty years. They have always satisfied my desire for amazing Portuguese food. The octupus salad is superior in presentation as well as taste. The portions allow me to enjoy the cuisine for the next day or two depending what I order. Need a change of paces this is a diamond in the rough. Your only regret will be that you didn't eat here sooner. Every one who knows me simply says dinner and I say what time. The destination is understood.

We've eaten in Tio Pepe several time, each a very pleasurable experience. Don't let appearances fool you. The noisey downstairs bar is nothing like the upstairs restaurant. They feature Portugese dishes and really know their stuff. The octopus is fantastic. My wife ordered a few servings for a dinner party we were having. The paella is wonderful as is everything else we've had here. The servings are large and the staff is pleasant and helpful. The only negative is that you can hear the loud jukebox downstairs in the bar.

Best paella I've had. Best sangria. Authentic atmosphere. The servers are friendly. Neighborhood picturesque bar on first floor. The location is not ideal--parking can be tricky--not the best neighborhood. But, the quality of food trumps everything.

The room is very cute, the family-style service is spot on. The food is clearly prepared with care. A definite gem in NE Philly.

Great Portuguese Food, very nice dinning room and the Expresso is Awesome. The bar down stairs is not attractive at all, thank god they have a seperate entrance for the restuarant. You enter through the side and go up the stairs (like 30) but once you get up there its like a different world. Joao (John in Portuguese) which is the head waiter is great. The serve warm bread and black olives, which is typical of a Portuguese Restaurant. I always order the Carne Porca Alentejana (Pork cubes with fried potates, clams, black olives in a tasty sauce) and a side of rice. It is very good (depends on the cook that day it can be Ok or Spectacular) my wife orders Paella which she shares with our daughter - Fantastic. Don't be scared by the bar go upstairs and enjou the food.

I've only been to Tio Pepe's twice. Both times were with my wife and both times the food was great. My wife goes for the steak and she said it was flavorful and tender. I'm a seafood person. The paella valencia was unbelievable, more than enough for two people. They don't skimp out on the seafood, the cuts of meats, great flavor. For dessert we had a flan which was a generous portion. Come here with an empty stomach, trust me. Def. Looking forward to our next visit.

I went a couple of times while my stay in Phily and i have nothing to point since the friendly staff, the food well prepared, clean and the decoration makes us feel in portugal, good choice for whos fancy for portuguese food, congrats to all staff, was all good, including the check

I really liked the food! The place is a little outdated, but the food was really good! It meets the standards of portuguese food and the customer service is very good. We ate at the restaurant so I cannot speak for the bar. Thank you!

I went with 7 other friends, and our food was delicious. The chef came out to each table to inquire about the food, which was a nice touch. The squid was tender and the flaming chourico reminded me of many meals in Portugal. The sangria lacked a bit of taste, but the wine was very nice.

Having recently returned from Portugal, my wife and I wanted to relive our Portuguese culinary experience. We were in the area to pick up items from a Portuguese meat market, and decided to stop at Tio Pepe for a mid-afternoon lunch.And we were not disappointed! We enjoyed grilled bronzino and red snapper, nicely prepared, in a lovely setting. We will surely return.

Went for a late lunch with a group of 5 (a few of whom are Portuguese and return customers). After reading many enthusiastic reviews, was very much looking forward to the "Paelha Valenciana." A big letdown. Rice was a bit too moist, but the major problem was that almost everything seemed to have been overcooked and tough (chicken, pork, scallops, etc.). Friends' octopus seemed okay, but we've had better (e.g., at Cafe Liz). On the plus side, the sangria was quite good, as were the two appetizers -- grilled sausage (chourico assado) and shrimp in garlic sauce (camarao a guilho). And loved the heavily garlicked dipping sauce that accompanied the rolls. Strangely, the waiter was frustratingly inattentive -- despite us being, for most of the time, the only people being served (upstairs).

Although this place is nearby and has been open some time we visited recently and were amazed to find the type of restaurant that would not be out of place in Lisbon sitting right on Castor Avenue. The decor is delightfully old fashioned with tiles and street lamps and the menu is traditional Portuguese, too--lots of olive oil and all fresh ingredients prepared simply. Service was good too. We tried the antipasto platter, the cold octopus appetizer the zarzuela and the house dessert, with nice wine. The rest of the menu looked good too so we'll be back.

This restaurant serves some of the best food in Philadelphia. The steaks are awesome and I would recommend Paella you will not be disappointed. The flaming sausage is also terrific and a great presentation. The only warning would be the neighborhood is okay at night.

Extremely delicious food. Chorizo, Paella and the Octupus.. all super tasty during our first visit. We visited with a party of six and made reservations for a Saturday night. The Paella was big enough for two adults to share. The Sangria was also very tasty. We plan on going back very soon.

My fiancé grew up in the area but moved away years ago ...never thought we'd find such a nice restaurant built above a corner bar like this. The staff was friendly and attentive and the food was delicious and served in huge portions. We will definitely be stopping in every chance we're back in NE Philly. Great job Tio Pepe!

Went there for dinner 4 of us. Originally I was hesitant and wondered if we had made the right choice as the bar area is the first door the restaurant is through the side door and up the stairs. Food was served nice and hot, no issues regarding getting more bread that was also delivered warm. Our waiter was very efficient and was willing to go the extra mile to make sure we were happy. I had the shrimp, clams, scallops with rice it also comes with mussels which I cannot eat. Not a problem they gave more shrimp instead. My mother had the Bass which was on special she really enjoyed it. My husband had the salmon nice piece of salmon for the men who have a big appetite and mother husband had tilapia. For all the dishes the fish portions were not small. For 4 please along with beer and wine $96.00. Well worth the visit we will be back.

Very good Portuguese restaurant. Definitely order the Delmonico Steak and Seafood Paella - enough for 4! Portions are huge.

Friends brought me to Tio Pepe as this is one of the their favorites . octopus dinner looked good, I had Bife a Portuguesa as a good representation of Portugese cuisine - it was ok but would try something else next time . Dinner for 3 with sangria and 1 coffee and tip $160 Service was friendly but slow - we waited 45 min for our food No parking available// have to park on the street.