Peperoncino

As always, finding a truly Italian restaurant with homemade tomato sauce, a cozy atmosphere, and open on Sundays for lunch is a real challenge. This time, it was a gem: hidden in Doctor Philips, Peperontino, led by Calabrian chef Bárbara Alfano. The service is warm and welcoming, the atmosphere is filled with Italian music, and the food is simply wonderful. An authentic and charming experience. We will definitely be back many more times. Congratulations to the chef and the team!

The food is pretty authentically Italian and superior to many of the other “Italian” establishments. The pizza was delicious and the pasta dishes were on point. We will definitely be going back again!

Come see Raul L the manager & Sommelier for a great experience. Bar seating is recommended. Fantastic food and service! Anthony C

Some coworkers and I went here on a Wednesday night for dinner. The atmosphere is amazing and the host is out of this world. We are made to feel at home and like we are part of the family. The menu is extensive and has anything you could possibly want for an Italian dish. I can’t be certain, but I’m pretty sure someone’s Nonna is in the back making this food. We are hot a little bit of everything including appetizer. I had the gnocchi and steak. That gnocchi tasted like cheesy pillows from fell from heaven and entered my mouth. I will say that that dish was an experience not just a meal. When you’re done, go around the building or at the back door to hang out at the beautiful fountain in the courtyard.

This restaurant is legitimately, *Chef's Kiss* ! My husband was having a rough day and knew that having dinner here was just what he needed and we weren't wrong! Daniel was a fantastic server! He presented the specials in such a way that we ended up getting the apps and entrees that he recommended and they were all amazing! The quality of the food here is top notch! The chef is incredibly talented and we always leave feeling like we're on cloud 9! We're looking forward to our next visit soon! Gracias Daniel!

My absolute favorite restaurant in Orlando. You feel like you're sitting at Raul and Barbara's personal kitchen. Their hospitality is incredible and Chef Barbara's dishes are simply exquisite. It's an Italy experience....cozy atmosphere, music, wine, friends, laughter and the most creative, flavorful dishes! 10 stars. To the entire staff - thank you for making our date nights so memorable.

Fantastic Italian family restaurant. We happen to come during Happy Hour and prices were very reasonable. Clams were delicious. Bread dipped in butter sauce was to die for. Peasant soup was delicious. Old Fashioned was perfectly executed. Overall a wonderful experience and highly recommended

We look forward to coming here when we’re in Orlando. We love it so much that we went two nights in a row during our recent vacation. If we didn’t live outside of Philly this would be our favorite spot. The food, service, and drinks are all so good. When you walk in you are welcomed by Chef Barbara. You automatically feel comfortable. The servers are extremely knowledgeable and really great at explaining the menu. Some of the things we got were- * Arancini Vari * Meatballs * Clams * Margarita pizza * Linguine ai Frutti di Mare * Gnocchi di Ricotta alla Sorrentina Everything was amazing. This is a hidden gem and we can not wait to go back!

I'm so thrilled we finally got to visit Peperoncino! The food was incredible, the service warm and friendly. This will definitely be a go-to for special occasions or if we've got visitors in town! The Food ‍ I know this is what you're all here for, first and foremost! And this place didn't disappoint. We started with an Arrancini ($8) as our appetizer. It delicious and flavorful, and we 100% dunked our bread in it once we were done-- the sauce was incredible! For our mains, we opted for 3 dishes-- the Bucatini Amatriciana, classic spaghetti and polpette (meatballs) and they were kind enough to make my favorite simple dish, spaghetti aglio olio e Peperoncino! This restaurant offers half-size dishes, which is what we got, which allowed us to try more flavors! These were around $13-$16 each. All three dishes were great! The polpette were melt in your mouth and reminiscent of what my Grandma Rose used to make. The pasta is perfectly cooked, which can be hard to come by in Orlando and the sauces were so clearly house made. For drinks, our server made really strong recommendations based on what I said I loved as far as wine goes, so I loved that! If you're a vino, be sure to stop by! Service The staff was so friendly-- introducing everyone working by name. Daniel was our main server, but everyone made us feel so comfortable. The place was clearly filled with repeat locals and we didn't feel like the odd people out, even though it was our first time! They also really allow you to take your time, which I appreciated. Ambiance and Inside the Restaurant This restaurant is such a hidden gem. It's got a long, galley shape, with the kitchen and bar along one wall, and seating along the other. The kitchen was really visible, which gave me a feeling like a relative was cooking for us! It's cozy and decorated with pictures, funny wine art, and just feels so natural. The door is off of the parking lot, and toward the Dellagio center with the fountain, they've got a little patio with string lights and hedges to give it a cozy feel, too! Parking Peperoncino is located in Dellagio, where there's parking available in a small lot on the upper level (sometimes valet on busier days), parallel on the streets or down in a lower garage. Visiting after 7 p.m. has helped us avoid any parking headaches so that's my tip!

I live in Arizona and every time I visit my in-laws in Orlando I have to visit Peperoncino. Barbara is a magician in the kitchen and her food never disappoints. The food is always to die for. Raul our server always makes things fun. If you love Italian food then do yourself a favor and come here!

Waiter was very nice and informative, you have a question they stay and answer in great detail. Our waiter addressed us as "hello friends". The inside is small but the ambiance is nice. They also have a small outdoor seating area. Now the important part. All the food was great. Mine was the gnocchi, I got the smaller portion because I usually don't eat much. But it is a very small portion. The shrimp and pasta is normal portion size. My husband enjoyed it. For dessert was a tiramisu but deconstructed. They said it was good just use to the normal way. The food is pretty pricey so go prepared. We have gone two times now with family. We will go back I am sure.

I found this lovely Italian restaurant on a whim and had to check it out. It's located in a large shopping center with some other high end restaurants. The inside and outside patio are rather small however these are always the best Italian restaurants in my opinion, they don't have that huge chain feel. It's a family environment, where everyone is family. The outside was beautiful with a view of the courtyard fountain from the end table and greenery wall to provide privacy to guest. Our server was literally one of the most polite servers I have seen in a long time! He gave recommendations, answered our questions, continuously checked in on us. He had perfect manners. The food was perfect! We started with the house bread and created our dipping for the bread. We got Prosecco and aperol spritz to drink and the bruschetta was the best. Our main entrees were spaghetti and Cacio e Pepe! Everything was chefs kiss! Definitely go check out this cute Italian restaurant on Restaurant Row, I know I'll be back for more! Cheers

Absolutely fantastic! Locally owned and a place the locals clearly eat at. Nobody is a stranger! Excellent service and suggestions. The food is 5-star. Quaint and cozy. A welcoming atmosphere. I will be back.

Let me start off by saying the food and ambiance were very pleasant! Exactly the caliber I would expect from a genuine Italian restaurant. Unfortunately, the place falls short when it comes to the service department. Our first server was nice and informative but had to leave early due to their shift being over. Afterwards, we weren't really sure who our server was but it seemed like different staff members were filling in to help afterwards. The service took very long to bring us bread, water refills, and our bill took ages to get cashed out. I would understand if it was busy but we were one of two larger tables and maybe a couple of other small tables. We could see staff mingling at the bar and by the kitchen so there seemed to be downtime. I did enjoy the food and it was a cute, small place but all in all would probably not recommend.

One of the best Italian restaurants in all of Orlando. Chef and owner, Barbara, along with Raul, the general Manager, make dining a treat. The food was outstanding. Freshly baked Italian bread daily makes for a great start. Happy hour prices are a deal. Would highly recommend.

Awesome Continental Italiano cuisine. Must do hideaway. Great atmosphere!. ALWAYS FRESH. Great wines. Espresso. Desserts.

Came for apps, a glass of wine and some fun the other night... we stayed for the happy hour clams, and ordered so much more. The pasta, the salad, the octopus. I can't. Why is it SO GOOD?! I'll never love another spot like Peperoncino! Thank you Raul and Barb for a delicious and beautiful experience! We will be back.

This place was way better than my expectations! We got greeted and sat very promptly and welcomed by all the staff. It was our first time and the son of the owner truly went above and beyond! He treated us like family and wanted us to feel welcomed and give us exactly what we wanted. The food was so fresh and delicious and I can't wait to go back and try more! The whole restaurant was very homie and truly reminds me of a little restaurant in Italy!

An awesome dinner with out of town friends. We have been there several times and were very excited to bring our friends! They/we so enjoyed the food and the service! 5 stars always!

Amazing, best Italian food we have had since going to Tuscany. Everything was fresh, and immensely flavorful. No where in Orlando can compare.

This was our first time here but it won't be our last! The service was fantastic. Daniel was kind, welcoming and really knew the menu. We opted to sit at the bar and enjoyed the happy hour wine and beer. It is a small intimate restaurant that has a very authentic cozy feel. Our steamed clam appetizer came with plenty of clams in a delicious broth. We asked for it to be mild and it was perfect. My husband enjoyed the spaghetti cacio e Pepe and I had the pasta primavera. The portions were a nice size. Everything was delicious. Our only regret was not saving room for dessert. Next time!

Always friendly, personal service. Real Italian food, with a classic and creative menu! Not a commercial chain. Excellent quality.

This was one of the best Italian meals we've ever had, and that's saying a lot! We were greeted warmly when we entered the restaurant and quickly seated. The waiter was extremely friendly! He brought us water and warm bread and a carousel of seasonings to make our preferred dipping plate. We ordered a bottle of Chianti Classico after speaking with the sommelier who was extremely knowledgeable and informative! We talked about 3 recommendations and we chose a delicious wine that was a middle of the road price wise! We ordered the Bruschetta Classico Al Pomodoro with fresh mozzarella! Crazy good! My wife ordered the Risotto Al Nero which was squid ink risotto with Calamari and Octopus and she loved it! I ordered the Risotto Maremonti which was risotto with wild mushrooms and shrimp! So Good! We could barely breathe but were able to sample a shared tiramisu which was delicious! We were given complimentary sambuca and amaretto while we got the check. The service was top notch! We highly recommend this small, intimate place!

This restaurant is legitimately, *Chef's Kiss* ! My husband was having a rough day and knew that having dinner here was just what he needed and we weren't wrong! Daniel was a fantastic server! He presented the specials in such a way that we ended up getting the apps and entrees that he recommended and they were all amazing! The quality of the food here is top notch! The chef is incredibly talented and we always leave feeling like we're on cloud 9! We're looking forward to our next visit soon! Gracias Daniel!

The service was perfect. The owner read us the specials with such passion for his dishes. The bread was house baked with fragrant olive oil and pecorino cheese. . We had the Sunday sauce with fresh pasta , fettuccine puttanesca, and small purses of pasta stuffed with ricotta and pears in a cacio e Pepe sauce. The chef makes everything right in front of you. The menu was interesting and inventive. We will return and soon. The food was as good as any restaurant in Italy . Cheers to the chef.

My dad researched highly rated Italian restaurants in the Dr. Phillips area and this one came up with very good reviews. You need to make reservations - this is because the location is small and can accommodate a select number of groups at a time. It is located in the plaza with Norman's and MYLounge - if you arrive before 6 PM, you can park anywhere without dealing with the valet. (The valet is complimentary with tip, but they do block off a lot of the spots if you come after 6 PM.) We went on Saturday with a reservation and arrived a little early. The staff greeted us and seated us early, which was great. The waiter was very attentive and polite throughout the meal. I ordered the cacio e pepe and my parents ordered various dishes. Everything came out in a timely manner after some fresh bread and olive oil and balsamic. Pasta was fresh and well-balanced in terms of flavor profiles. It tasted like the pasta I enjoyed during some travels in Italy years ago. We ended the night with different desserts and all of us thought they were fantastic. Mom enjoyed her cannoli which only had the chocolate chips on the ends (often some places mix a lot of chocolate chips in the filling, which she's not a big fan of). I liked my tartufo which tasted exactly like one I had in Italy. Food is not cheap here, but this is a great place for special occasions or if you want an authentic, slightly more formal Italian meal.

The waiter was over bearing, and pushy, the pasta unfortunately was very dense and badly needed some stock or half and half. If wasn't enjoyable enough to finish. I took it and fixed it for another meal. It felt like we didn't order enough appetizers and other items seemed unappreciated for what we just had. The lady Chef assistant was fantastic and cleaning the kitchen area prior to closing. Had to serve a bit more friendly and approachable I would have recommended a makeover was some stock or dairy. We have been there before and the food is always been excellent hopefully it was just an off night but unfortunately bringing a customer and bragging about how good it was left much to be desired.

This is our go to spot for Italian in Orlando. The food is amazing. The atmosphere is awesome. The staff goes above and beyond every time we are there. Chef Barbara does her profession and honor as she creates dishes. You cannot go wrong here.

Delicious food I love coming here and always kind servers. It's a little out of my way but it's worth the drive in my opinion

Found this place on a whim while driving around the shopping center and decided to give it a try. First off, it is VERY small. The inside is incredibly tight and there are very few tables. We ended up sitting outside where there were about three more tables. It would have been a lovely atmosphere except there is either a cigar lounge or a smoking area very nearby and You can smell the stench very strongly while trying to enjoy your meal. The bread starter that is brought to the table is absolutely lovely! So delicious and a wonderful way to start your meal. The star for us was the appetizer we ordered, thick crunchy bread topped with diced tomatoes and a lovely blend of olive oil and Italian spices with some fresh mozzarella and prosciutto. it came on a bed of arugula and basil. We added a little bit of balsamic vinegar and it was absolutely wonderful. The flavors complemented each other so well, everything just felt like it created such a depth of flavor and nothing was competing with the other. For our main dish we decided to share a pizza. La Picantissima. Our waiter was very kind and did let us know that any of the dishes with a little chili pepper on them are more on the spicy side. We should have listened to their word of caution, and the name of this dish, because the heat/spice level was so overpowering that it really diminished the taste of the dish itself. We love spice, but the heat level on this was to the point that you couldn't taste any of the rest of the ingredients. The cheese on the pizza was a lovely texture and consistency, but the heat level destroyed any flavor profile. There was even some type of chili baked into the dough of the pizza. So there was not any single moment where you were getting anything else other than heat. It was very disappointing because the presentation of the pizza was beautiful, it looked delicious! But in terms of the actual flavor Of the dish, there wasn't any. It was all heat. Clearly this is a matter of preference, so if you are someone who really really loves heat, maybe give this one a try. But just keep in mind that it really does blow out your pallet for anything else that you're trying to taste. The biggest highlight was the service. Our waiter was absolutely lovely and very attentive. For two people we spent $71 before tip. That included the appetizer (added Prosciutto for a surcharge), pizza, and One glass of wine. If we had been able to enjoy the pizza, I wouldn't think it was too expensive. But since The pizza was pretty inedible, that was a big disappointment and made the price tag feel like it was too much.

LOVED everything about this place. Small restaurant located in the midst of Dr. Phillips. This is an Italian-Venezuelan own whole in the wall. Food is hands down the best italian food in Orlando, servers are very knowledgeable and if needed they always consult with the Chef who has great recommendations. I have been here a few times this year and everything I have ordered has been delicious including dessert. Will def highly recommend this place to anyone that enjoys good food/ambience and service

We stopped by for a drink and ended up staying for food. It is small and cozy just like Italy. It is great to see the chef (owner) cooking in an open kitchen. Staff is so friendly and recommended great options. I am coming from Clermont and will make this place a regular.

Pepperoncino is the unassuming, hidden local restaurant that smacks you up the side of the face for not discovering it sooner. In fact, we didn't even mean to eat here, as we were going to try a sushi place a few doors down. But, when that place was insanely busy we backtracked and tried this. I think we ended up better off here. Everything is house made! All the noodles are made from scratch and wow can you taste it, it's a level up from your typical pasta dishes. I got the squid ink pasta and it tasted so good I wanted to keep eating way beyond being full because it was so delicious (that's a huge compliment from me). Beyond this, our waiter Carlos was quite the character. He was a picturesque waiter who had seriously great answers to any of our questions and described dishes and flavor profiles to the nines. And he was super attentive, I was beyond impressed. The overall experience really blew me away here. This is one you mark down and don't let pass by because you will severely miss out!

Enjoyed authentic delicious Italian dishes with friends. Service was great as well as the wine selection and dinner.

It's that time again, dinner. The vollies start between us. Where do you want to go? Repeat, repeat, you know the drill.... So we decide to try a new place Peperoncino. To say it's small is an understatement. We got lucky and there were seats at the bar. We asked for the wine list and met Raul, their Som. What a delightful gentleman. His knowledge, stories, wine selections were all great. Then there's the cuisine. Everything was authentic and exceptional. I hesitated posting this because they're so small and we'd like to be able to get a table. We hope you enjoy it.

As authentic as it gets, from the staff to every dish. Came highly recommended and lived up to their claims of the highest regards. Only thing that caught us off guard was we had one of the appetizer specials (off menu) that was a bit of sticker shock upon getting the bill. I mean 2x more than the highest entrees, not cool. Other than that this may be my new go to for legit Italian dining.

Stopped in on a date night where we wanted to go to a few places to get an app and a drink. Service was thoughtful, friendly and knowledgeable. Great wine suggestions! Only ordered the bruschetta pomodoro with fresh mozzarella and it was divine! Like we were back in Italy. Kicked ourselves today for not bringing food back home with us but we'll be returning soon to try more!

While in Orlando on Christmas Eve, my family couldn't find many options for food. We were hungry, and then when we found this restaurant we were starving. The pictures of the food were amazing, and I'm from NJ where there's plenty of great Italian food! It smells like an Italian kitchen as soon as you walk in, and take out only took 10 minutes. Everything was super well packed, and we got extra bread to mop up all our sauces. We got 4 pastas to share between 4 people, and we had enough for a second dinner. Everything was fresh and delicious - certainly not what we're expecting in Orlando on Christmas Eve! I would highly recommend this restaurant for authentic Italian food. It's absolutely delicious!

The ambiance is very cozy feels like a small town in Italy tucked away from the town. The food; pasta under cooked to my liking of pasta-- to al dente The sauce on both pastas fell flat on flavor. Condiments: 4/10 -- oil, balsamic vinegar & bread Over priced bc of the location -- dishes all recommend so was expecting a wonderful meal. I heard another waiter tell guest they been in business for 15 years and small family ruin restaurant. I guess it's a local spot for friends to grab drinks -- the food wasn't authentic. -- again paying for location & ambiance.

OMG what a delight! Loved the food, loved the atmosphere. Had a mini wine tasting with the sommelier on the patio out back. Will definitely go back again.

The Chef, food, wine list and servers are second to none. Give Peperoncino's your go to restaurant if you want freshly prepared meal. "It's Italian"!

This going to be my favorite Italian place. We ordered Arancini, Fiocchi, Margherita Pizza.The sauce is fresh made to order you can tell the way it tasted. I wanted to keep eating way beyond being full, because its was so delicious. The bread was good too. The Staff was so helpful and knowledgeable about the menu. Plenty of options including dessert. Awesome recommendations as well. Thank you for the awesome food and service.

I was really looking forward to trying this restaurant, but sadly, I was so disappointed. I ordered the carbonara pasta, and it tasted like plain pasta with burnt pancetta, literally burnt. We paid over $100 for two main courses. They are very expensive for what they serve. The service and ambiance were good.

Summed up in a word, INCREDIBLE. I can be a terribly critical person. I can be fussy and hard to please. But this? This checks ALL the boxes. Their bartender, when asked for an aperol spritz, recommended his own handcrafted cocktail. I accepted and was glad I did. It was delightful. The food is other worldly. The owner is from Calabria. As a Sicilian I have sought food made in the old world tradition since moving to the Orlando area. People have literally recommended Olive Garden. . I literally stumbled on this gem looking for lunch after leaving the spa. They won't be able to keep me away. 10 stars, not 5. The food is so good and the staff so well mannered I could cry. Thank you. You made my day!

A real treat. Small bit quaint interior. The main chef was gone but left the Restaraunt in capable hands. Food very authentic and delicious. Large portions. Would definitely eat here again. Great server

Rudi was taking care of the whole restaurant by himself and he was so accommodating and sweet and he didn't miss a thing! He took amazing care of us! Can't wait to come back and see him and bring my whole family. The food is extremely authentic and delicious! Everything here was incredible and the menu is so vast! This place is amazing! There are drinks and dishes here from Italy that you can't really find anywhere else! You have to stop by to try the wonderful genuine Italian drink selection and all of these dishes! Thank you Rudi! You're the best!

I made a reservation here for my mom's birthday and came here with my family. We got multiple dishes such as the truffle gnocchi, the carbonara, the calzone pizza , the bruschetta, and a specialty seafood pasta. The star of the night was definitely the truffle gnocchi. The sauce was very rich and creamy and the dish was delicious. The pasta is made in house I believe and it all tasted very fresh and flavorful. However, a slight critique I have is that protein is an additional charge, about $10 per dish. However, even after paying for protein only a few small pieces were added. If an additional charge is being added for protein, more should be added per plate. the portions were quite filling but still pricey to not even include meat. The service was alright, but it did take a long time to place an order and then to receive the food. It was a Thursday, so The restaurant wasn't even very busy. Overall the menu did have many options that give me an incentive to come back.

Fabulous! Made from scratch Italian, reminded me of my Italy. Beautiful location and very friendly service. Delish!

overall our restaurant experience was made especially special by raul! not only was he very knowledgeable about the food, but he made sure we were content with all of our meals, especially with that yummy shot on the house for our graduation :) I ordered the squid ink pasta which was the perfect portion with an amazing amount of bacon and squid. I highly recommend coming here for the family ambiance and food!

This is some of the best Italian food I've ever had. I have been a regular customer for more than 10 years. I DREAM about their Fiocchi, which is pasta filled with pear. The quality of the food is always amazing and delicious. Highly, highly recommend these place.

This restaurant is my favorite Italian restaurant ever. My boyfriend and I have gotten almost the whole menu and everything was always of the highest quality and taste. Currently we are unable to go to the restaurant since we moved out of Florida. But they remain one of our favorites. Please do yourself the favor to go as they are the best in Orlando! Very much love to Peperoncino staff from NYC miss you guys a lot !

Let me tell my history. This is the second time that I went to this restaurant. First time, was basically one year ago, we tried both sangria (red and white), ate the ossobuco, arancini and gnocchi. I remembered that the arancini with meat was delicious, the other flavor not so much. The gnocchi was good and the ossobuco and risoto really good (except with that acidity taste at the end), but the sangrias were amazing, with some taste of basil, totally new. So, we decided to returned there today, since they have a new menu. I ordered a house wine and my husband the sangria. We thought the sangria that it came, was something of the house (that costs $6), because were boring and had nothing with the last one, but at the end, was the "special sangria", that costs $12 with a flavor of $5. The bread was really good, I got excited and waiting for the main dishes. Artichoke was a joke, just something fried with pieces of Gorgonzola (or blue cheese) on top! The bruschetta came, the ideia is really nice, but the execution horrible. Their bread are really good, but was too big, with a huge amount of Gorgonzola (no paste or sauce, just stack on top) walnut and honey,disappointed again. The fnocchi, a pasta filled with 4 cheeses (as you can see in the menu, photo there) was nice, cold inside, and as my husband said about the sauce: "just cornstarch with water and bacon". Anyway. A "steak" of almost 4 inches, and smaller than 3/4 inch high, over a pasta, for $27, another joke. And to finish the dinner, we ordered the duck, $31, for a really nice mushroom risotto (the flavor was good, for real), with 5 pieces of duck (that doesn't taste good), with 2 cherries. I will tell you, the cherries, combined with the duck and the risotto is perfect, BUT, you only have 2 cherries for 5 pieces of duck, it doesn't work! And we didn't orders dessert, because the tartufo that we ordered in the first time, it was only a boring ice cream. It was just something that I needed to share. Not a place that I will come back again.

Came back for another fantastic meal! Best meal of the week! Grazie Mille! Regards, Saverio and Emily Cataldo

Best Italian food in Florida PERIOD.... Amatricana is best ever!! If you want Wooster Street Italian, stop and eat at Peperoncino !

Was craving for Italian food and some nice delicious pizza and decided to check out this authentic Italian restaurant. This is my second time coming and the food is very good. the only thing I got to say is the restaurant layout is a bit weird people are not as spread out but we still felt very comfortable. it seems like they were quite short staffed when we got there so there was a bit of a wait but overall the pizza was delicious so if you are in the mood for Italian definitely worth coming to check it out!

Three times I have tried to order for pick up and have failed each time. I'm over this place. They have the worst customer service and do not work w the Covid times. You have to either eat there in house (which is small making Covid worse) or just skip this place. What a joke. This is my last time attempting this place.

This is the best Italian restaurant in Central Florida, also by far the most authentic! Love this place - it is the best!