PepeNero

We haven't been here in a long while and it is our loss because this was one of the nicest dining experiences we've had in a long time. the atmosphere is incredible. The service is equal and our two dishes were fantastic. One was the pork and the other was a vegetable dish. Both perfectly cooked but what stole the show was a magnificent dessert orchestrated by Monica.

Pepenero holds a special place in our hearts; it's where my wife and I had one of our first dates during Traverse City's restaurant week. Since then, it has remained a reliable choice for an exceptional dining experience. From the moment you step in, the attentive service sets the tone. We always request Noah, our favorite server, who excels at suggesting wines to complement our meals. While the menu boasts consistently excellent dishes, we've explored them all and now wish for a bit more variety. Whether it's your first visit or an annual tradition, Pepenero is perfect for a special date night or a memorable evening out in TC.

One of the best meals/experiences I've had in TC. We had the octopus and mushroom soup for appetizers with scallops special and homemade pasta for our entrees. The service was top notch and waitress very knowledgeable. Only complaint was the dessert. Thought both of them were just ok.

A excellent Italian restaurant. Chef owner operated (he will likely stop by your table). Possibly the best restaurant experience among the many great choices in Traverse City. Book ahead as it is often fully booked for last minute reservations.

PepeNero's was definitely one of the best food experiences we've ever had. The food was soo good! We took advantage of it being a special celebration and tried more food options than we needed. We sat at the bar, which was a fun experience watching the kitchen and bartender (Karen) work their hearts out. It's was definitely a busy night! 👍Love watching that hustle n bustle in restaurants. The atmosphere was exceptional, fun, and beautiful! Being in Traverse City, it was unexpected. It had a big city's quaint neighborhood vibe, if that makes sense. Felt like we had stumbled on a gem, one the locals would recommend to an outsider (which is how we learned of it!) Ooh, we'll be back, and we'll definitely be recommending this restaurant to everyone! Exceptional!

genuinely such a wonderful experience all around every time. not only is the food delicious but the staff is excellent. working in restaurants most of my life, i know that allergies and dietary restrictions are not always taken well, but the servers here always go out of their way to make sure i have a great gluten free meal and never make me feel like a burden and it's always so very appreciated:)

Appetizer
seasme seed focaccia with EVOO and Balsalmic just melts in the mouth.

Vegetarian
roasted cauliflower,sprouts, toasted pumpkin seeds, preserved tomato, wild mushrooms, pistacchio butter, shaved Parmigiano Reggiano
Add fresh Umbrian Truffle 5 gr

Crunchy and delicious!

Dessert
panna cotta Madagascar vanilla, passion fruit sorbetto, caramel touille with a double shot of espresso - freshens the palate

Hard to find a table without reservation during the summer months

Just had another amazing dining experience at PepeNero! I've actually been here a few times before, but my most recent visit was during TC restaurant week, and it was incredible!

The first thing that stood out to me was the excellent service. The staff was super friendly and attentive, making sure we had everything we needed and were enjoying our meal. We had a slight mixup with our order and the manager and waiter were effusive and emphatic about trying to fix it. It was great to feel so well taken care of while dining out.

Now, let's talk about the food. Oh my goodness, it was so good! The menu is full of delicious Italian dishes that are bursting with flavor and beautifully presented. I personally love their pasta dishes and Spedieni, but their seafood and other meat options are equally delicious. And if you have a sweet tooth like me, make sure to save room for dessert because their tiramisu is amazing!

But let's not forget about the drinks. PepeNero has an extensive wine and cocktail list that is sure to please any palate. And what I really appreciated was that they also have a great selection of mocktails for those who don't drink or want to take a break from alcohol.

Me and my wife came here and had an amazing experience. We sat outside in the large outdoor seating area. They allowed our puppers which we really appreciated. The staff was friendly and helpful. For an appetizer we split the crab croquette and it was phenomenal. I had the seafood linguine and it was pretty good. My wife loved the pappardelle (10 hour pork ribs) and I'm not going to live I was a little jealous it was so good. For dessert my wife tiramisu and they did such a good job. My desert was a dessert for the day and wow. All the desserts are made in house by the chef's wife and she does amazing work. I would recommend and would love to come back.

We’ve visited PepeNeros four times and it is always such a treat! Serving staff is wonderfully attentive and the food is out of this world. We enjoyed several glasses of wine and a few smoked old fashioneds. Burrata, tagleire, and croquettes for apps. I had the squash soup too (forgot to grab a picture) as it’s one of my favorites and has a really nice sweetness to it. For dinner we had the filet, ravilolini, and papparedelle. And for dessert we split a tre cioccolate and semifreddo (beyond delicious). Everything was exquisite. Not a single dish was disappointing. It is worth the price. We will continue making this a regular visit when in the area.

What an excellent dinner . Fairly limited menu but everything we ordered was fantastic. The bread was so good. Great drink menu with taste and presentation. Will absolutely be back.

My teenage daughter and I dined at Pepenero two nights ago and the experience was fantastic. Brad, our server, was professional, polite and very helpful navigating the varied food choices. Once the food arrived, we were amazed by the quality of the food and the overall flavor. Each dish was a perfect blend of spices and sauces over tender and sumptuous cuts of meat and freshly made pasta. And the dessert was to die for! We don’t make it to Traverse City often but when we do there is no doubt we will return to this fabulous restaurant.

Excellent food and amazing service! My wife and I recently went to Italy and ate tons of food, eating at PepeNero we felt like we were back in Italy. The owner is from Sicily and it definitely shows in the food. We highly recommend going here, but be sure to make a reservation ahead of time because they book out several weeks in advance most of the time.

The staff is always awesome and very accommodating. I always feel as though I am their only customer. The cocktails and food are always very good. The cost is a bit higher and more of a special occasion type of outing, but well worth it.

Very beautiful ambiance. Ordered fig & beet salad as a starter. It was beautifully presented but lacked in dressing and flavor. I ordered Casarecce as my entree. This was flavorful with home made pasta, rock shrimp and huge prawn. Then our party tried three desserts...all of which
were light and delicious. Victoria was our server and she was impeccable and very detailed and highly attentive. Perfect service! I would return to this restaurant any time I'm in the area. High quality dining experience all around!

Brad was an amazing server. He was very attentive to our needs. Perfectly described the dish I was curious about and helped us have an amazing dinner. I would definitely recommend to someone celebrating a special occasion!

I’ve had Italian from Italy as well as different states in the US. This is by far one of the top places I have been that the food is exceptional, the staff is complimentary, and everything from the atmosphere and little touches were thought out.

I could go on about both the food and the staff, but food tastes as though you were eating at someone’s home kitchen. Nothing is left wanting.

I sat at the bar and the staff there were knowledgeable and delightful.

I would have gone ever night if I could.

The food here was delicious! We enjoyed the mushroom soup, focaccia, spiedini (tenderloin roll), mushroom tortellini, and semifreddo, plus a glass of lovely rose. The service was stellar!

We dined at the “other” Italian place the night before and PepeNero knocked our socks off. We preferred the modern vibe and classic dishes with slight twists. Wine, cocktails and service were supreme as well.

Went here for the first time over the weekend and it was delicious. Their pasta dishes fill you up and have high quality ingredients. One thing, if you go with more than 5 people 20% tip is automatically included in your meal.