Pepe Nero

Pepe Nero became our restaurant by chance, as we were looking for a quick spot during a heavy rain shower. What we found was truly outstanding. We had octopus as a starter, followed by swordfish and tuna, both perfectly cooked and very well seasoned. A very good regional white wine accompanied it, fantastic. The price is a bit high, but I still definitely recommend it.

Without a doubt, the best seafood restaurant in Calabria. The octopus appetizer was the best octopus I’ve ever had in my life, the pasta with vongole and sea urchin was outstanding, the shrimp tartare was divine, the fish incredibly fresh, and the appetizer recommended by the owner was simply unforgettable- all accompanied by exceptional service. We came here twice, for both lunch and dinner, and we’ll definitely be back if we ever return to Calabria. A true hidden gem. Wholeheartedly recommended.

While in Italy and decided to visit this restaurant, service is outdoors, the owner Giovanna is very knowledgeable and attentive and a little pushy. The food was exquisite but the portions were small. I had a hankering for seafood but the owner insisted the Branzino was caught fresh that morning and we had to try it! So we did and once they cleaned it and served it to 5 of us, my portion was very small and I for pieces of salt they had covered it with. There was no price listed for that fish so once we received the bill the fish alone was 122$ €!! The antipasto was 30€ very pricey and everything was charged independently. The buratta and squash stuffed ravioli was the most decently priced at 20 € . They do have vegetarian option but it’s limited. The owner was accommodating to my 8 yr old niece who doesn’t eat meat or fish by making her a ravioli stuffed solely with buratta and mozzarella on tomato sauce. The also had fried potatoes with fried Tropea onions. All in all it was quite pricey and we had to pay for parking.

food was the most average thing we’ve had on this trip so far, and costing the most. what was most disappointing for us was purchasing the 26€ grilled prawns and getting only 4 tiny little wet slimy mushy disgusting prawns. we had 1 and left the other 3 they were so bad. service was good but food was absolutely horrendous

We were in Pizzo for five days and ended up coming here three times – that probably says it all. The fish is absolutely top quality – fresh, perfectly prepared, and full of flavor. Hands down the best we had in the area. But what made the experience even more special was the team. Everyone in the restaurant – from the kitchen to the service – was warm, genuine, and incredibly welcoming. There’s something honest and heartfelt about this place. You don’t just feel like a guest – you feel like part of the family. A very big thank you to Francesco and the whole team for making our time in Pizzo even more memorable. Highly recommended – we’ll definitely be back

If you’re a tourist looking to splurge on actually good seafood (and more) that’s worth it this is the place.

Everything was amazing, however pricing for fresh fish was vague. If costs are no issue then the flavours here are wonderful

This is a difficult review to write. I have to give high marks to Pepe Nero for the quality of the food and the atmosphere — both were very good. However, we left feeling completely taken advantage of, which is why I can only give two stars. Within a minute of sitting down, before we even had a chance to look at the menu, a woman came by with a cart of fresh fish (this was not our server, who was great). Caught up in the excitement of choosing something fresh for dinner, I selected a fish that seemed large enough to feed the three of us. It was probably too big, but no advice was offered about portion size or pricing. No prices were mentioned at all in fact. That was our mistake — we should have asked — but being in a small Calabrian town known for its reasonable prices, I assumed it would be fair. Imagine our shock when the bill arrived: we were charged 140 euros for the fish alone. The food itself was delicious, but the experience left a sour taste. We paid the bill and left, feeling that we’d been misled and overcharged. After 9 days in Calabria, this ended up being our most expensive meal. A shame, because with a bit of honesty and transparency, this could have been a wonderful memory of our trip. Instead it was probably the worst experience of our 20 days in Italy.