Restaurante Tio Pepe

This place is legendary. Im now 48 and my mom said she came here while pregnant with me. Food is very tasty, service and smiles excellent! I really enjoyed the garlic shrimp appetizer and stuffed rockfish. I can definitely see why local folks keep coming back. I believe I'd feel a bit more comfortable if the restaurant was in a location unburdened by underground moisture smell and those elements that go along with an older establishment. Overall, very nice experience celebrating my mom's 73rd bday.

I went to Tio Pepe for lunch with my coworkers on December 16, 2025, and as someone who has lived in Baltimore my entire life, I was surprised to realize I had never heard of this restaurant before. Let’s start with the pros, because there were many. The ambiance is absolutely lovely. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted warmly and professionally. They take your coats (checked at the front), seat you immediately, and the dim lighting creates a cozy, elegant, family-style atmosphere. It felt welcoming and classic, and I truly loved everything about the environment. The service was also excellent. Our servers were attentive, kind, and efficient. We didn’t wait long for our food, and the staff overall was very pleasant and professional. The menu had an impressive variety of options, all of which looked amazing. One of my coworkers and I both ordered the Pollo y Langosta Catalina — chicken and lobster tail sautéed in a sherry-infused seafood sauce. Flavor-wise, it was outstanding. The sauce was creamy, rich, and absolutely delicious, truly the highlight of the meal. Unfortunately, this is where the experience took a disappointing turn. When the entrées arrived, the other plates were placed directly on the table. However, the server removed both my plate and one of my coworker’s plates from the table to prepare our dish on a table directly behind us. I did not turn around to observe whether the entrée was divided or exactly what was done; however, after a few minutes, both plates were returned with food on them. By the time the dish was served, the portions we received were extremely small. Each plate contained only a small scoop of rice and very minimal amounts of chicken and lobster in sauce. I am unsure whether this is standard practice, but the portion size was disappointing given the price. The rice itself also lacked flavor. For a $50 entrée, there is absolutely no reason it should be split between two plates unless it is clearly intended to be shared (which seems to be what may have happened). Everyone else at the table received generous, appropriate servings, which made the discrepancy very noticeable. This was both surprising and disappointing. While the food itself tasted wonderful, the portion issue significantly impacted the experience. Sadly, because of this, I don’t think I’ll be returning. It’s unfortunate, because Tio Pepe has so much going for it, ambiance, service, and flavor, but portion value matters, especially at that price point.

Where do I even start? My husband made a reservation for 3 people on 12/27 to celebrate my birthday. After a little bit of a wait we were seated at a table in the corner while another staff member rushed to put plates and napkins down. About 5-10 minutes later someone, not a server, came and dropped off ONE glass of water… for 3 people. We joked that we would share it but for the next 10 minutes we actually did have to share it because no one came back. Finally a server came and took our drink order. My husband ordered a CLUB SODA and I said I was fine with just water. Since it took so long for a server to even come to us we decided to put some appetizers in also. We ordered 3 appetizers. After about another 10 minutes his drink was dropped off, but it wasn’t club soda. It was a vodka soda. Imagine if he was an alcoholic who no longer drank, imagine if our 8 year old daughter who regularly drinks club soda had grabbed it and took a drink. After confirming it was vodka soda, we got the servers attention and let him know. He seemed very confused as to what we were saying even after repeatedly saying “No vodka. Just club soda. Soda water. No alcohol.” A bit later someone dropped off bread and butter, but we had no silverware so unless we wanted to grab the butter with our bare hands, we weren’t eating that. Finally a server comes back and asks if we are ready to order. Of course the one thing my husband wanted to eat, veal, was not available. Okay, no problem. I ordered the crab cakes that were on the specials menu. After that the server asks if we wanted to order any appetizers. Umm, what? We put those in already, no? I let him know we already ordered those and again, pure confusion and he just started looking around the room. We were over it. Our reservation was at 7. It was now 8pm. We said we were leaving, got up, grabbed our things and headed out. We let the woman behind the bar know we had terrible service. She was very apologetic but it was getting late and we had our two daughters with us so we needed to find food and be done with it. We ended up going to a restaurant in Little Italy, where we had great service. Wouldn’t recommend. Won’t be trying again.

We celebrated my son Matthew’s graduation from Peabody Conservatory Masters program with supper at this iconic Baltimore establishment. The food, service, and atmosphere were all excellent and exceeded my already high expectations. Extra kudos to our primarily Spanish speaking waiter, he was outstanding in every respect. We indulged in sumptuous oysters Rockefeller as well as Tio Pepe’s special version, oysters topped with crab and smothered in champagne sauce. We sampled the puffed potatoes (sort of a three dimensional homemade potato chip that is addictively delicious), and incredibly savory mushroom toast, highly recommended. From rack of lamb to paella for two, our entree’s were cooked to perfection and served with military precision, exactly what one would expect from a first class Spanish Restaurant. Refreshing ice cold red Sangria flowed freely from a seemingly bottomless porcelain pitcher. In an era where glorified sandwich shops and Tapas bars substitute for what once was fine dining, Tio Pepe is a refreshing trip to times gone by. Thank you, thank you for never changing. We will return soon.

One word: mediocre. Service slow, not fine dining, server barely spoke English, didn’t introduce his name. All dishes came out bland, without much attention to detail of presentation. Appetizers: muscles tasty, but served without bread or dipping toast for the green sauce. I tried sautéed mushroom toast, not impressed one boring looking toast came out. Dinner we got lobster Emiliano which was decent, but over lays with sauce, and I got sea bass, after traveling the world in search for the best fish, this preparation and the serving style was 3/10 for me. Seabass was covered by an overwhelming brown salty caper sauce, masking the tender flavor of the fish. Dinner Served with rice and green beans, not much flavor, beans did not taste fresh, (frozen?) overall I was not impressed. Red Sangria was great & the highlight! Although I understand, this place has been in business for many years, my recommendation would be to consider an evolution and advancement of their menu items alongside with a more creative presentation of their dishes.

What happened to the food here? Bread came out with frozen middle. Then the chicken/shrimp/lobster in the $70 paella was drier than the Sahara. I ordered the suckling pug & 20 min later I am told they ran out, they have soft shell crab on the specials menu & it is out of season. Only decent thing was the sangria.

This is quite literally the worst place to visit in Baltimore for food and good service. I tried to be nice enough to give them a second chance tonight. For reference, I am a (BW). People like to say it doesn't matter, but I put on my best customer service voice and dressed fine (as if I don't do already). My first experience, especially since I'm single and new to Baltimore, I was ignored 90% of the night and talked to like I am dumb. I was asked 8 times that night was I stood up as if I didn't say I just moved here and took myself out. I went tonight to sit at the bar and order food (and honestly take it to go). The girl employee brought me water and walked away without saying anything. I am not drunk! I didn't even drink tonight yet. I'm naturally nervous and talkative because I'm freaking autistic. I am overly polite and tone myself down because I know how I would be perceived anyway (I already know because I tried already with them). To ignore my food and drink requests, throw me water, and walk away without saying anything is outrageous. I hate to say it, but they don't want us there. Save your time and money if you're a BW. I live across the street; I can definitely afford to eat there. As a foodie who just moved to Baltimore, this place isn't worth it in either department. It is overpriced and not good, and I have videos to prove my point.

Over all I would say that the food was okay, the chicken is slimy but the chocolate roll and salad were immaculate. Service was very good, make sure if you come you know Spanish. The atmosphere was okay a bit dark but it could make due.

We had an amazing family dinner at Tio Pepe's with a group of about 10. The experience was perfect for a large gathering, especially since we were seated in one of the private cove areas. We enjoyed both red and white sangria, a fresh salad, and an incredible paella with both seafood and meat options. The almond brazo de gitano, their famous dessert, was a highlight, and we wrapped up the night with delicious Spanish coffee. As someone whose family has roots in Spain, my mom said the paella was very authentic and flavorful. The service was exceptional; the staff took great care of us throughout the evening. I absolutely loved the almond cake--so delicious I couldn't get enough! I highly recommend Tio Pepe's and can't wait to return with my group.

This is my second time coming to Tio Pepe, and both times was because I had a gift certificate to use. I have heard great things, but I don't think I would return without the gift certificate. The red sangria pitcher is solid but strong for sure. It's worth it but not very sweet. We ordered the warm artichoke, gambas ajillo (shrimp), and oyster special for appetizers. The artichoke didn't look appetizing and was very bland. The shrimp was good but nothing special. The oysters didn't taste fresh and had a fishy taste - it was honestly disappointing because Baltimore otherwise has amazing seafood. For entrees, we got the seafood paella, Chilean sea bass special, and pollo a la riojana. The seafood paella was honestly awful. Not flavorful at all, the seafood was dry and had a fishy smell. The sea bass and chicken dishes were fine but nothing special - also very bland. For dessert we got the flan and the creme brulee. Creme brulee was tasty but the texture was too dense. The flan was too firm as well. We tried this espresso flambé drink that was cool to watch them make and a little sweet, but very strong. Service was absolutely awful and inattentive today. We spent over 2 hours dining (group of 5 of us) and it took forever for them to take the order and bring out our food. The waitstaff didn't look happy to be there and were not very nice. The ambiance is nice and interesting, as it feels like you are in a wine cellar or something. Overall, I think this restaurant maybe used to be better, but it's not worth it anymore. I have eaten at better Spanish and seafood restaurants in the Baltimore area. You know you didn't enjoy the food when you don't were want to take home the appetizers.

Went here for dinner before a performance at the church across the street. Dinner reservations were made ahead of time for 2 hours before showtime. We were seated promptly but it took 30 minutes before our drink orders were taken. The ambiance was nice as it is an intimate setting and this particular night it wasn't crowded. By the time our first server came for our drink order we knew what we wanted to eat but our food order wasn't taken at that time.I ordered the sangria and man did it pack a punch. It was the strongest sangria I have ever tasted and switched to a beer afterwards. We then had another server come to take our food order. We ordered the paella for two. When we finally got the paella the rice was properly cooked but all of the proteins were dry. While we were eating I ordered a beer and it came out at room temperature. We then had a third server come to the table. I asked if I could get a cold beer and when he took the warm one, he never came back. All in, the dinner took 1:45 for two of us to have paella and two drinks. Thankfully the show we were going to see was across the street. I went here on a recommendation but I won't be going back. Service and food were subpar.

I've always heard of this restaurant and finally gave it a try. The sangria was great. Everything else was just okay. The service was just okay and if anything a bit slow. We tried various items from the menu and nothing really stood out to me. I'd come back just to have some sangria.

Despite living super close for five years, I could only recently try Tio Pepe. It is definitely a unique restaurant with an old-fashioned feeling (in a good way). The interior is absolutely beautiful, and you can tell that everyone, from the host to the servers, are taking their job very seriously. We arrived on time for our reservation and were seated immediately. Considering the atmosphere and the attitude of the staff, I was ready to be impressed; however, the food was just mediocre-almost disappointing. I've tried the shrimp marinated in garlic sauce as my appetizer and salmon as the entree. Both dishes were ok-no major issues but nothing impressive. We also tried the flan and creme brulee for desserts but did not really like them, so I would skip the dessert. If the food is your priority (like me!) I can't recommend Tio Pepe, but it's worth a shot if you want to enjoy the unique atmosphere and good service the restaurant offers.

OMG what has happened to this Iconic Baltimore Top restaurant! I remember how famous it was throughout college and while working at the hospital. I was lucky enough to have eaten there when our lab would treat us to lunch there. The food was exceptional and service was second to none. Over the years I remember when you could only make reservations as much as a month in advance. Last 2 school years, my daughter's Spanish class had their class field trip at Tio Pepe's and I chaperoned. Last year the food was okay, nothing spectacular. The paella was just okay. I've had better paella at other places. The Flan was Meh, and the salad was just salad soaked in plain vinegar with no flavor. This year it was just horrible. The shrimp, mussels and clams were way over cooked and dried up. The chicken cubes were like chicken jerky cubes. If I wanted to eat Jerky, I would have just gone to Cabela's and bought a bag of Jerky and it would have tasted better. I am no Chef, but, I suspect that the used leftover seafood and chicken from previous days, dried up in the refrigerator, added new yellow rice and served it. The rice was moist and fresh, so there's no way the seafood and chicken were over cooked and dried up if they were cooked at the same time as the rice. The servers were obviously not happy. Probably because they are usually not open for lunch? And we're asked to come into work to serve kids. One of the kids who dressed up in a suit for this field trip enthusiastically asked one of the veteran servers as he walked by - " excuse me sir, how many Michelin Star is this restaurant? The server turn his head angrily to the kid and snapped - "be patient, you wait your turn!!!" I was sitting diagonally at the same table and I could not believe what just happened. I wanted to get up and say something but I decided not to cause a scene because the teacher worked so hard to put this fies trip together for the kids. Needless to say, I will suggest to the teacher to find another Spanish restaurant for next year! The ambience - the restaurant smells like mold. I guess it has been there for so many decades, it definitely needs a good cleaning or even a remodel. Imagine going out, dressed up to a gourmet dinner and enjoying the smell of mold while you eat? Goodbye, Tio Pepe, it's been nice knowing you over the years but it is obvious that it's time to go!

This restaurant is so iconic in the Baltimore community where I grew up that giving it a Yelp review almost feels odd. I grew up celebrating events here.....this is the place where I introduced my Parents and my husband. To say it's a five star review is a massive understatement. It's part of my life story. You might think this is a bias that can't be overcome with an honest review, but the fact is that it remains so vital because it's maintained the same tone and feel and quality and experience for generations. In a basement, there are no windows. It's all white painted walls. The menu is extensive, but most people pick a favorite dish or two and one of them every visit. They give each table loaves of bread and butter to start, and we always order sangria, which arrives in a Tio Pepe personalized pitcher, a souvenir you might find in many a Baltimore home. My favorite dish is the torenados, 2 or 3 pieces of meat in a mushroom sauce. I don't like mushrooms but I love this dish. Each meal comes with 2 sides, which are Spanish rice and usually green beans. Sometimes I get the chicken with red peppers, or what we call the "banana fish". It's a surprisingly tasty white fish dish cooked with banana. The paella is a common choice, and the New York Strip is the order my nephews choose each time. For dessert, don't miss the Pinoli cake. It's a rolled cake with pine nuts (pinoli) all around. This cake must be pictured in other reviews, because it's the main attraction. The fact is, this is locals I grew up with celebrate the big things in their lives. It's full of people with their families singing birthday songs and laughing together. You'll park across the street. You won't find a tourist. It's not a place we go for the crab cake. It's special and it's wonderful. Just book your reservation early!

I came here during restaurant week and ordered from there pre-fixe menu ($45/person + $12 flight of 3 wines). I ordered the Gambas Al Ajillo (shrimp in a garlic sauce) for the appetizer. Sadly, it was only about 4 shrimp in a small bowl of garlic sauce. For the entrees, we got Vieras y Gambas Al Cava, which is their scallops and shrimp in a champagne sauce. The champagne sauce was very buttery with some cheese. Luckily, I was able to request more bread so I could dip it in the sauce. The complimentary bread itself was very warm, which I appreciate, however the butter that accompanied it was refrigerator cold. This dish also came with yellow rice and green beans. The yellow rice was a little cold, but had a subtle taste of saffron to it. The green beans were a disappointment. Some of them still had the stem on, and they tasted bland. We also got the Cochinillo Asado Al Estilo Segoviano, which is a suckling pig with stewed black beans and apple sauce. The pork was succulent and moist. The skin on top was almost inedible though. The skin was too dry and tough to eat. The black beans, in my opinion, was on the saltier side and the apple sauce, while a great accompaniment to the pork, seemed store-bought. For dessert, I had the creme brûlée was was delicious. The caramelized sugar was perfectly crispy and the custard was creamy and just the right about of sweetness. The chocolate roll with whipped cream filling was nothing that blew my mind away. Honestly, it tasted like the ones you get at the store so nothing special. The wine flights did not seem worth it. The pours were incredibly small and the wine was cheap. In fact, the first glass I was given, was not poured in front of me and I suspect was open for a while due to its heavily oxidized taste. In terms of the ambience, Tio Pepe is located downstairs in a rustic-like dining area. The restaurant gives off wine cellar vibes. Our server was very friendly and attentive to our table. Parking out front is not bad unless it's during rush hour (4-6 pm), when you can't park at all.

This is like a gem in the heart of Bmore, I came to celebrate a friend's birthday. This a special type of restaurant, perfect for a romantic dinner too. Where you get all dolled up or suited up. Delicious Spanish cuisine, definitely try the paella, and start off, with the Sangria. The Sangria was on point, it can definitely hit you if your a light weight. My lobster meal was amazing, but it's better if you eat it there, then if you were to reheat it at home. Service is definitely on point, our server Walter. He definitely made my friends birthday extra special.

Celebrated my son's 30th birthday at Tio Pepe. The service was amazing, but the food was better. The very best crabcakes I've ever had in my life. The Seabass was phenomenal. The oyster is amazing. Highly recommend.

Restaurante Tio Pepe is considered a Baltimore institution with good reason. From the moment you arrive you're enveloped in ambiance from decades past. Carpeted floors and low ceilings create a cozy vibe while waiters in colorful blazer jackets gracefully move about the restaurant tending to patrons. The space has been preserved/frozen in time yet feels warm, welcoming and intimate. I read other reviews complaining about the prices but remember, you're paying for an experience as well as deliciously prepared meal (with large portions). We enjoyed a carafe of the red sangria, the snails and the paella valenciana for two. Everything was delightful. The sangria was quite strong, not for lightweights. There were about 8 snails in the appetizer and the bread for the table was perfect for dipping in the leftover garlicky butter. The paella was generous with lobster, shrimp, clams, mussels, chicken and sausage. I think the dish could realistically serve four, we had so much to bring home. I am looking forward to returning to try other dishes on the menu.

This restaurant was highly recommended by a friend. So we were excited and got a reservation this week. To my delight, the menu offered Spanish selections, Andalusian, Valencian, Sevillian. Of course, my first thought was Paella, this is definitely the Dish that a Spanish restaurant has to get right, or it should be one of its signature dishes. I decided to try a few other items and return for the Paella. I ordered Sopa de mariscos (seafood soup, my wife has the Seafood Bisque). The Sopa was overwhelmingly salted and may have been sitting for some time. I could not really taste the clams or mussels and the scallops were bland. My wife said her bisque was cold, but I did taste it and it was flavorful but cold. For my entree, I ordered the Pato a la Naranja (Orange Duck) with Saffron rice. My wife ordered Tournedos Tio Pepe (Medallios Steaks in Sherry Sauce with mushrooms) My my entree was well plated however, the Duck was overcooked, dry and bland. The resulting sauce was oily. I tried to mix the sauce with the Saffron rice, but the oil was overpowering. After two or three bites I was done. My wife's entree was cooked properly and tender but she was underwhelmed. I tasted it and it was not bad, just ok. I noticed they the Paella was a plate of seafood that was combined tableside by the servers with a plate of saffron flavored rice. Not a traditional paella in a Paellera, or Paella Pan. So it had no sticky soccarat on the bottom. It did not look appealing. I may return in a few months and give it another try, and update this review. Who knows, maybe the Chef or kitchen had a bad day?

I've been at Tio Pepe before. This place is a Baltimore icon. I've enjoyed coming to Tio Pepes when I was younger. As a young girl, I thought it was a fancy place. It's still fancy as an adult. We usually come here for special occasions like anniversaries or birthdays and I have been to Tio Pepe for restaurant week lunch with my colleagues. The service has always been impeccable and the food good. The ambiance is cozy and hasn't changed in all of these years. This visit I ordered the halibut and was delicious. I tried the gazpacho and garlic shrimp. The gazpacho was flavorful and garlic shrimp wasn't as salty as the other reviewers had written. I really enjoyed the dessert which was the pine nut roll which I devoured. I need to give the red sangria a thumbs up. It was a strong sangria that made me a bit tipsy and sangria is usually like juice for me. If you haven't tried Tio Pepe come there and sit at the bar and grab a sangria and pine nut roll! I would come back for the pine nut roll for sure!

Hands down, my absolute favorite restaurant in Baltimore! I cannot recommend Tio Pepe enough. My go-to special occasion restaurant and place I recommend most. The Potato Puffs are heavenly, the perfect start to a meal! I DREAM about the Paella, prepared table-side and absolutely delicious every single time! The Pine Nut cake is my personal favorite dessert, although we have tried almost all of them and none disappoint! If you ever feel like dressing up a bit and heading downtown, give Tio Pepe a try - you'll be so glad you did!

Never coming back. I've been to Tio Pepe a few times and overall it has been a big disappointment. The first time I came and the food was pretty good but the service wasn't great and we had to wait 45 minutes for our meal. But the waiters were nice and the portions were large. The second time I came it was a complete disaster - orders were messed up, the food was generally bad (we had the paella which was the worst I've ever had) we wait over an hour for our meals, and there was a hair in my dessert. And on top of all that, we were charged for items they never brought. I just went a third time and the experience was in between the first two. The service was polite but we waited 45 minutes for our entrees, one entree was Ok (but tasted like it was simply reheated) and the other entree (medallions of tenderloin) was undercooked (the beef was actually raw/"blue" in the center and we ordered it "medium"). For the price this place just isn't worth the risk. Too bad, as it has so much potential. They need to replace the carpets (which smell moldy), and probably replace some of the staff and get some management that will whip this place into shape.

A classic restaurant for a classic Spanish meal. This is one of the pricier restaurants in Baltimore, and t's the perfect spot for a celebratory or romantic dinner. The service is amazing, the ambience is great, and the food is incredible. You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but my favorite at Tío Pepe is the seafood paella. I don't think you're bound to get a dish in Baltimore that transports you to Valencia, Spain like the seafood paella here.

It's a Baltimore staple and we usually visit it whenever we come back. The staff is the same as the past 20+ years. Friendly is probably the last word I would use to describe them. Food was alright, depends on what you order. The duck, lamb and suckling pig were good. The others are less so. Expect the food to be heavy. The ambiance is cozy. It can get loud when there are multiple parties in the same dining room as you.

The food is really good!! The service is also satisfactory. It was just a little too crowded for a Thursday night

Terrible experience. Waited an hour and 45 minutes to get our food. Two of us ordered the Mediterranean salad and the shrimp was raw. Sent it back, but it wasn't better. The manager told me he comped 2 desserts, and I responded that wasn't helpful. He said "you will be fine" meaning had I eaten the shrimp. So they charged us for the inedible salad and sent over the $10 dessert.

We came here during the holidays. It was busy even during the week. Our service was excellent. Atmosphere was so unique and cozy! We got a garden salad, scallops and shrimp entree with champagne sauce, and the mushroom toast. The wine options are abundant! The staff suggested a delicious bottle for us that was going to go with our meal. Just an overall lovely experience. I am happy to see this Baltimore staple is thriving!

Amazing food with brilliant staff. A very fun and authentic restaurant for a special night out.

Tio Pepe is a classic restaurant experience with a Maitre d' and male waiters. Housed in the basement of a block of row homes, the atmosphere is unique and charming. The servers are incredibly knowledgeable and attentive. The white sangria was delicious and our table of four ordered the large pitcher. The garlic shrimp is a favorite at our table, the garlic sauce is thick with great flavor but I felt the shrimp was slightly over cooked. The halibut with rice and green beans was very good. The fish was well done with an almond sauce + almond slivers adding a nice crunch. I do not recommend their dessert. The pine nut roll wasn't bad but the chocolate roll was terrible. I do recommend the Spanish coffee! They crystallize sugar around the rim using a flame which is prepared in front of your table. They have regular and decaf. While we aren't rushing back, it's a neat dining experience and would be fun to hold a celebratory dinner at Tio Pepe's.

We were really excited to experience this restaurant based on the reviews we'd received from our peers but it was incredibly overpriced for the quality of the food and service. We were the first customers of the day, but once they took our orders, no one checked on us. We expected more attention and quality service with no other customers present at the time. We had paella, mussels, and pollo y langosta. The food is not seasoned well, the paella did not meet expectations. Would not return.

This was my first experience at Tio Pepe after hearing so many good things about this restaurant. It's been around for years and while it definitely had the old school charm, personally, it was slightly a disappointing experience. I went with a larger group of friends so we got several appetizers to try and the sangria. Where I thought it lost some stars was the cost of the food. For what you paid, I didn't think you got what you paid for. The food was on the bland side. On one hand, the service was good so I can't complain about that. The servers were prompt and checked in frequently. I am not writing this place off, maybe I need to give it a second shot and try some other things to get a better impression of the place.

Tio Pepe is always a stop when visiting Baltimore! All of their dishes are excellent and the Sangria is a must! I even bought a Sangria pitcher on my last trip to take home

A true classic. Always great! We have been going there for a long time, very consistent.

Positives: the ambiance was very cool with a very interesting decor and layout. The staff and servers were friendly. Further, the dessert was great, really knocked it out of the park. Negatives: quite overpriced unfortunately, and the entrees were really mediocre quality food. On top of this, the service was very slow. Tio Pepe has been on my list of places to try since I first heard of it, but I will not be returning.

Great placed to celebrate special occasions or have a intimate dining experience. Awesome staff.

Entertained a large group of family and friends to celebrate a milestone wedding anniversary. A favorite for more than 40 years, it's our go to for special occasions. The food was excellent but what defines Tio Pepe is the level of service and attention . Tremendous! I am concerned with generational decline in appreciation of SERVICE. Times have changed. Many avoid Baltimore city for obvious reasons . Let's support Tio Pepe!

4 of us went saturday night and had the worst meal I had in a long time.First of all we were crammed into our table with no room to move. The waiter was horrible rushing us with the order and non attentive. We ordered mussels and they were out of them then we ordered potatoe puffs and out again. The garlic shrimp was luke warm and then out came the $55 dover sole which was horrible. when we we ordered coffee and hot tea they both were luke warm. when we left the manager asked how was our meal in which we told him and his response was oh so sorry. We will never go back, too many good restaurants in baltimore, Steve

Can't believe I've never reviewed this place, as it has been a special night go to for decades (birthdays especially). It has a dark intimate feel, and great for any occasion. I've never really gone wrong with anything I've tried, but my newest fav main dish is the rockfish with jumbo lump crab meat in champagne sauce. The flavor is impeccable, and seafood is done to perfection. Please start with the shrimp in garlic sauce, and save the bread to dip in the sauce. The paella is ginarmous, and is very tasty. The pine nut roll is a fav for dessert. I'm not a wine drinker, but everyone raves about the sangria.

Tio Pepe saved the day! We were making last minute Valentine's Day dinner plans and wanted to try something new and exciting, and called several places -- only Tio Pepe was still amenable to taking our take-out order. Jamon with melon -- strange at first, almost feels rubbery with a plastic-taste and I certainly was not used to eating ham with melon. However, if you slowly chew each bite, you get more and more flavor and realize that it goes well together! By the end, my boyfriend was in LOVE with this appetizer. Paella - huge portions for two people!! So packed with goodies like sausage, chicken, various shell-based seafood, shrimp (so much shrimp!), green beans. I was hoping for a bit more of a kick/flavor in the rice but my boyfriend seemed to think it was perfect. We couldn't finish it all and now have left overs. :) Flan - at first I was sad that it was so small (smaller then the size of my palm) but it was SO rich (with a cinnamon and alcohol flavor) and thick that now I understand why. This flan was unlike any I've had elsewhere and it was the standout of the night for me. Logistics-wise, I was a bit disappointed that they did not call us to tell us when our food was ready for pick-up like they said they would. We sat at home waiting for a bit and just decided to go to the restaurant to check and the food was already done but no one had called. The food was well packaged for pick-up though, however there were no utensils provided. The bread also had no butter, which would have been nice.

It was not the Tio's I am used to! Very unusual for restaurant to be half empty on a weekend. The service was off. Waiter actually walked away without everyone's order. Sangria was different tasting. Not as sweet. An appetizer order was messed up. Soups were cold and sent back. Filet was overcooked for one person. House wine was rancid. Don't think we will be back anytime soon!

The food is so over cooked, dry and chewy. I'm not sure how people actually consider this fine dining

Ordered the paella. Lobster and chicken were very dry. Huge portion but poor preparation. Hostess was not personable at all. The snails were okay but far from a delicious app. Artichoke hearts were tasty. Bread was hohum. Chocolate mousse was liquidy and my friend couldn't finish it. Only part of the meal that was pretty good was my sangria. Disappointing.

Tio Pepe is a Baltimore staple, and we love coming for special occasions. I think we keep going back because we love the atmosphere, sangria, and pine nut cake. The food is always a bit lackluster, which is a shame because it's pretty pricey. The side plate of rice and green beans is minimal when you're paying $35+ per meal. The last time we went, the rice was so underdone that none of us could eat it. The curry shrimp is good, and the filet was cooked nicely. However, the two people who got veal were a bit disappointed. But as always, sangria and pine nut cake were bomb, so we will always go back for more.

Top notch in every respect! Amazing, sophisticated yet old-school cuisine, delicious every time. Service professional, welcoming, and on point. Ambiance charming - you feel like your the basement of a castle, in good way! Lots of exposed brick, dark wood, medieval type paintings. Drinks - watch out, their sangria packs a punch!! Overall Baltimore classic for good reasons

Been coming here for many years and this is the first time I have been disappointed. They were out of potato puffs - how can you be out of potatoes. They were also out of lobster - really? The mushroom on toast appetizer was very disappointing. Toast was sort of like cardboard. Portions were significantly smaller. For 20 years, this was my Favorite Restaurant! Now I don't even know if I will go back. VERY upset - is this the end or just a bad night. Do I want to spend big money to go back and be disappointed again?

Awesome service, great food , sangria is on point! What more can you ask for? Literally you can tell it's homemade!

This is a great spot from the time we walked in until we left. The hosts were friendly, they seated us took our orders plus the food came in a timely manner and omg when I tell you it was good! I had the seafood combination very good meal crab, lobster, jumbo shrimp with rice and string beans! Super tasty! Also had a very nice glass of wine. Would definitely Recommend and I would come here again.

Atmosphere excellent food. Service was very slow! Not very responsive. Interesting menu. Very expensive.

This is the best restaurant on the east coast. I have been going there since 1970. I have never had a bad meal. My mom is from Venezuela she was friends with the original owner. The Paella is as good if not better than my mom's. The sauce they use on their fish is awesome if you put it over cardboard it would taste amazing. Everything there is off the hooks. Highly recommend this place. Mel ,Miguel, Oscar, and the staff are totally awesome.

The best food I have ever had (aside from my own cooking lol). The staff all works so well together to supply a wonderful experience for the patrons. It does get busy in there, and there's a very good reason for that: EVERYTHING!!! The atmosphere is like Old City, the food is real, tasty, exquisite and is made from fresh-tasting ingredients not from here (definitely must be imported from Spain), so fresh and so accommodating. I loved the different colored uniforms of the wait staff and thanks for Melba for switching our seats with ease. I had the silver salmon appetizer, the fillet mignon for entree, and the creme brulee with espresso de brandy for desert. And I can not forget the sangria rojo. I will be going again. But make sure you make reservations

Great food, atmosphere and service. Always glad to eat there. Long time Baltimore favorite

A MUST go to in Baltimore!! If Michelin rated charm city this would be a top 3 restaurant no doubt! Each time I come here I have amazing service - waiters have been working here for more than 20 years. Plus the second you walk in and go down the stairs you smell 50 years plus of food aroma that cannot be duplicated. Ask for the off item Chorizo in red wine as an app, and your welcome hah! I always get the chicken and lobster over yellow rice with their homemade white sauce:)

Tio Pepe's is my new, FAVORITE restaurant!!! I finally tried it for the first time this year, 2022, and I am so glad I did! Although it is pricey, you are paying for quality food and excellent service! It's only April and I've already returned back to Tio Pepe's about three times. Parking can be a pain in Baltimore city. If you're lucky, you'll find street parking right in front of the restaurant. There's also garages close by. What I ordered: First off, you get free bread and butter, and their bread was soft and good. I'm a sucker for bread! The garlic shrimp appetizer is really good. The seafood/lobster bisque was good, but I wouldn't get that again. If there was lobster in it, I would order it again. The potato puffs were airy and tasted like a lighter version of regular French fries. Their sangria is amazing and kind of strong! My favorite go-to dish is the lobster claw, crab, and shrimp entree under "specialities of Chef Emiliano". I've also tried a dish that was on the secret menu called "fish in a bag". You can choose between a rockfish or grouper for that dish. It was tasty and lighter than the lobster, crab, and shrimp dish which was served in a thick, creamy sauce like Alfredo (but not Alfredo). Their desserts are amazing, especially the pine nut roll and crème brûlée. The pine nut cake is a must-order when you come here! The cappuccino was good. I am so looking forward to returning to Tio Pepe's. I was just there a few days ago haha!

I don't know what happened, but the past few times (3 in total) I've gone to tio in the last year, the seafood paella's been absolutely flavorless with the seafood sorta thrown on top. A shame since I used to come to this place nearly monthly for the past 5 or so years for the paella

Looks dingy when u walk into it but inside it's really pretty and there r paintings on the walls and lots of stuff to look at. The food was really good but it's kinda dark so the pictures look kinda fuzzy lol.

Tio Pepe's has always been our very special go to restaurant. Today we ordered take out and were extremely pleased. Our 4 meals were packaged with care. The various sauces were put in separate containers, as were the vegetables and starches. This was great because the entree's needed to be heated in the oven because we live a good ride away. For our appetizers, I removed the shrimp from the garlic sauce, heated the delicious sauce and added the shrimp back in. We all had empty bowls after eating! I highly recommend getting take out meals from Tio Pepe's.