Zio Peppe

Italian restaurant · Tucson

Zio Peppe

Italian restaurant · Tucson

2

6502 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ 85715, USA

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Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null
Zio Peppe by null

Highlights

Italian-Mexican fusion with amazing pizza, pasta, and cocktails  

Featured in Conde Nast Traveler
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6502 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ 85715, USA Get directions

ziopeppeaz.com

$$ · Menu

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6502 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ 85715, USA Get directions

+1 520 888 4242
ziopeppeaz.com

$$ · Menu

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dine in
delivery
reservations

Last updated

Aug 21, 2025

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@cntraveler

In Tucson, the Food Reflects the City's Distinct Culture and Local Pride

"A Sonoran Italian restaurant known for its vodka sauce made with tequila."

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/in-tuscon-arizona-the-food-reflects-the-citys-distinct-culture-and-local-pride
View Postcard for Zio Peppe
@postcardnews

Chefs Devon Sanner and Mat Cable mash up Italian-American comfort with Sonoran ingredients—think elote arancini and birria-topped pies. Featured by Condé Nast Traveler and celebrated locally, it’s playful, smart, and deliciously Tucson.

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/in-tuscon-arizona-the-food-reflects-the-citys-distinct-culture-and-local-pride
Best Restaurants in Tucson (2025)
View Postcard for Zio Peppe

Rachel Fisher

SerpAPI
It was great. We had the Birria pizza (one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had) and shrimp pasta. Did the fundido app and flan for dessert. Everything was super on point besides the flan was dry. Can’t wait to go back and try more of their menu. They got really busy on a Friday night, service was pretty good, not great. Food was best we’ve had in a loooooong time.

Mike Deal

SerpAPI
I have been wanting to eat at Zio Peppe for some time and finally we made it! We started off with Whiskey Del Bac Fundido – $12 A fun twist to enhance nachos . I ordered the Green Chile Rigatoni Bolognese – $21. I enjoy spicy and this dish had a nice amount of heat to give it some Character. Also, we ordered Lasagne Sonorense – $18, El Rustico Birria – $20, Margherita – $16, everything was a hit. For dessert we ordered Chocoflan – $9 and Taconnoli – $9, both were amazing. When you arrive, you will be seated as any type of sit down restaurant however, you place your orders with cashier and pay. The system seems to work well. Supporting locally owned restaurants. Thanks for a great meal, we will be back.

Trinity H

SerpAPI
Amazing!!! Found on a whim by googling places that served pasta. We were in for a real treat! Very small, quaint inside with a cute patio area outside. It's one of those restaurants where you order first, but they have menus for you to sit and look at, then you can go to the register to order. It's a scratch kitchen so they make everything by hand. The bread was absolutely amazing! It comes with oil and you can order a side of this goat cheese honey and chamomile spread. I would buy it in a container if I could! Best goat cheese I've ever had. We got the fancy wolfberry pasta and it was so tasty. Normally I expect to add salt and pepper to my meals, but this pasta was so incredibly flavorful and the shrimp was perfectly cooked. My only regret is that I filled up on the bread and cheese! Would absolutely come here again.

Charleen Martin

SerpAPI
Our dinners were scrumptious. The Calamari was excellent. We both had pasta dishes which were very good. Our one complaint was its a 'go to the counter and order' place. Seemed totally wrong for the type/quality of food. They bring you your first glass of water, and then in the middle of your meal you have to make your way over to the soda/water machine to refill your own glass . 🙄 And. At any given time, there were at least 2 wait staff standing around doing nothing. At least walk around and see if someone needs another glass of water. (Or wine). Yes, I would go back and eat there again because the food was good. The service, so-so.

Joshua Hartung

SerpAPI
Phenomenal experience from beginning to end. The quality of food was awesome, and we had our food within 10 minutes of ordering. The prices were reasonable and even seemed like a bargain for the quality of food and service we received. Great for date night!

Jennie Fay

SerpAPI
Food was amazing!! But may I make a suggestion? On Mother's Day maybe go the extra mile and wish EVERY mother a Happy Mother's Day with a flower or something special? We were there for 2 hours not one of your staff members wished me a Happy Mother's Day nor did any mom receive anything special. It's the little things! 😉

Catalina Diaz (TheSucculentLady)

SerpAPI
We did the Natural Wine Company Event and we had a wonderful experience 😊 special menu inspired by the wide selection. Such a neat experience ✨️

Baron Clement

SerpAPI
The Birria Pizza is out of this WORLD!! Get it!! Everything else was great too but the Birria Pizza!!!!!!!!!! Delicious and possibly the best Birria I have ever had.
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Gale M.

Yelp
I am so fortunate and grateful to my friends for celebrating my birthday with lunches at my favorite places. Last week a friend who shares my birthday week and I had a joint celebration at Zio Peppe, absolutely one of my favs. We began with lemon swizzle cocktails. They are tart and sweet, the glass rimmed in green sugar, and so good. Our starter was the tamale polenta, with smoked cheddar, roasted chiles, red pepper relish, and kernels of corn; definitely my polenta of choice. For our main course we both wanted the Caesar salad, and because it was our main, we added shrimp. The shrimp were expertly cooked: tender with that perfect slight resistance when biting into them. I have reviewed Zio's Caesar before, with the perfectly tangy dressing, lots of parm, and the giant garlicky buttery croutons that taste like the best garlic bread you've ever eaten. That was last week. This week, I was treated by a dear friend and we just had to repeat the lemon cocktail I had the week before. We enjoyed it as much as I had previously. We split a Caesar salad, because that's another must-have. We settled on two entrees to share: the Green Chile Garganelli Bolognese and the Ravioli Sonorense. The bolognese is described as New Mexico green chile garganelli, braised beef short rib, bolognese sauce, salsa verde, Pecorino Romano. The short rib was luscious and fork tender, and the sauce for it and the ravioli were so tasty that we had to order bread to mop up the sauce and not waste a bit of that deliciousness. The menu describes the ravioli as Chile Ricotta Stuffed Egg Pasta, Marinara, Poblano Chile Con Queso, Beef Chorizo, Pecorino. I describe it as amazing. The bread deserves its own commentary. It was served hot and chewy from the oven, perfect for dipping. We were stuffed, and our personable and helpful waiter (who I suspect is one of the owners) was packing up our leftovers. But my friend said we have to have a birthday dessert. We decided to share the flourless chocolate cake. Funny how you can be so full and yet make room for a fudgy extravaganza, described as decadent chocolate bourbon cake, chocolate mirror glaze, espresso buttercream. It was so good! There were no cake leftovers. And, lucky me, I have two more b-day lunches to look forward to. I feel like the middle schoolers I taught for so long, celebrating a birthday month, not just a day.
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Miller A.

Yelp
Don't delay, run don't walk. Beyond yummy food. Get the salmon, you'll love it! Great service, yummy drinks too. :)
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Frank P.

Yelp
What a unique dining experience! Visiting from California and this will definitely be on our list of places to go when back in Tucson. Never experienced anything like it. They call it Italian/Sonoran fusion - we just call it "mmm, good!" From the fresh baked bread starter, the Elote Arancini, to the taco inspired cannoli dessert every course was mouth watering. The service was attentive, friendly, and prompt. Warm and cozy atmosphere. The wine pairings were also spot on, and the prices very reasonable. We will definitely be back to try more dishes, and until then be dreaming about their poblano chile con queso!
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Chelsea J.

Yelp
Dined here for lunch, and like my previous review mentions, we were the only customers...again! The service was very attentive but not overbearing. I thought the tablecloth dining was a little overkill for lunch. We shared the Mesclun salad which was light and refreshing on this hot day. For my entree I got the salmon which was pretty good. The salmon was cooked perfectly, but for the price point I expected better from the tamale cake and sauce. The presentation was beautiful. We ordered the chocotaconnoli and then the server came back and said they were all out of the cannoli desserts. Womp womp.
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Trevor C.

Yelp
Another amazing dinner! Brought a group of friends here tonight and most hadn't eaten there before and they did not disappoint. Bread and spreads were hot and fresh, pepperoni, birria, and figgy stardust pizzas were delicious, as well as the desserts, and the flourless chocolate cake were all spot on!
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Genevieve M.

Yelp
If you are expecting an Italian restaurant- you will be confused. To note this is fusion of Italian + Southwest . The Elote Arancini (appetizer) was a little too over flavored if that is a thing... I felt there were too many flavors competing and it tasted more on the sour- salty side. The bread and spread is essentially bread and olive oil. Nothing fancy except the bread.. omg so delicious. We got the green chile garganelli bolognese and the ravioli sonorese. The ravioli was our favorite. Service was super attentive. The restaurant is a mix of cozy and trendy at the same time... intimate date or dinner with girlfriends. Good selection and reasonably priced cocktails and wine. Will definitely return.
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Katie E.

Yelp
We are visiting AZ for our cousin's wedding and found this place through Yelp. And I highly recommend this place. Definitely make a reservation as it was packed on a Friday. Highly recommend their Birria pizza and the calamari chicharrones. My husband liked the elote, but I liked the calamari more and their salad. The combination of the fruits really went well with the dressing. And the service was amazing. Our waitress was very attentive and provided us with great service. We will definitely come back again when we are in Tucson!
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JP P.

Yelp
Came here with a friend , not one item in the menu was vegan ... ehhh knocking 1 star for that guys ...but my friend said her Caesar salad and giant croutons were delish as well as her fig pizza . Unfortunately without 1 vegan entree in the menu I can't make this a regular spot but I'd recommend making a reservation . Indoor and outdoor seating available .
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Cindy N.

Yelp
Wow! 5/5 indeed! We finally tried Zio Peppe after many years in Tucson to use our Tucson Foodie Insider subscription. The food is phenomenal. The Calimarrones appetizer is excellent. The delicious calamari with chicharrones, blood orange, and a salsa macha sauce. The perfect combination of crispy and flavor. The pasta dishes are also made to order and fantastic as well. The garlic butter shrimp pasta and new chile bolognese were both unique and you can taste the freshness of the pasta. The balance of flavors used in each dish is noticeable. I like the mild spicyness from the chile bolognese and tangy flavor from the garlic shrimp pasta.
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Alex K.

Yelp
Came here for NYE dinner without a reservation and the restaurant was able to accommodate us at the bar. They do their take of Sonoran and Italian fusion and it brings some great flavors. We ordered the elote arancini for an appetizer and it was delicious. It wasn't too crunchy and it wasn't too chewy either. Just the right amount of crunch. The tangy and the sweet was the right amount. Definitely recommend this appetizer. We ordered the birria pizza which had deliciously seasoned birria on a thin crust with cheese and a cup of consommé and lime wedges. Definitely squeeze a drop of the line on the area of the pizza you dip into the consommé as it really brings out the flavor. We did not get any dessert but I'm sure it's amazing. Also, they make their own drinks and let they age in little wooden barrels on the bar. I'll have to try them next time as the old fashions looked delicious. Our waitress/bartender, Sophia, did an excellent job and answered some questions we had too. Very friendly and courteous too! The restaurant isn't huge so I recommend making a reservation. Also the parking is a little tight, so have patience when backing out.
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Lorena G.

Yelp
What in the world?! What a great combination of cuisines!!! Italian and Mexican! And Chef makes it all work beautifully! We got there right as they opened and we had all the attention! We sat at the bar and ordered cocktails and an app! We started with the chicharron and calamari! It had this pepper paste delicious goodness spread at the bottom that works perfectly with the chicharron and calamari! ! Their wines were a little limited on the day we visited but nonetheless we had a good couple of glasses of both red and white wines! Onto our mains, hubs had the Birria stuffed ravioli and I had the salad. What flavors! By the time we left a few more people had arrived. Nice quiet place to have really good food and awesome conversation with your significant other.
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Iris D.

Yelp
I've been dreaming about eating at Zio Peppe's again for the past year. And today, that dream came true. *Swoon* This place is Italian-Mexican fusion which may seem strange to some, but my tastebuds absolutely love it. And I've been telling people who come up to Phoenix from Tucson to go eat here for me. I'm in love with the fettuccine alfredorado. They purée red chiles and add it to the fettuccine sauce. It's got a slight kick that's subtle so if you don't like spicy food, don't feel intimidated. You'll be fine. I also ordered the tamale polenta with my meal. My husband kept trying to steal bites from it. The polenta came in a mini cast iron pan. It was rich and filling. It was definitely a meal in itself. We also ordered the broccoli which was came generously sprinkled with Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper, coated with EVOO. My husband had the Green Chile Garganelli Bolognese which he seemed to enjoy. Our friends split the Ravioli Sonorense which I had a bite of; the ravioli was chewy which was a nice contrast to the cheesy goodness of the ravioli. Dessert was the star of the show! The flourless chocolate cake was dense. If it was a human, he'd be named Forrest Gump. It was delectable. I'm wishing that I'd ordered one to take home to Phoenix. We also got the Jamaica cheese cake that looked like someone's acid trip from the 70's. It was tart because they add key lime curd which made it feel light. I couldn't get enough of it.
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Jordan L.

Yelp
This is one of my favorite restaurants. Some of the menu items are creative but I keep coming back to the short ribs. So good.
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Beverly S.

Yelp
Amazing!!! If you want a fusion of Italian and Mexican cuisine that is locally sourced this is the place! Parking is somewhat limited even on a Wednesday night so keep that mind. Ambiance as you walk in is modern and sophisticated but still welcoming. Our server was very attentive she shared what is popular in the menu and made sure everyone was catered to (we're a table of 6). I had their birria pizza which I highly recommend, be warned the serving is not a personalized size so either share or ask for a to go box.

John S.

Yelp
This place is an amazing experience! The food was fabulous and presented in a grandiose artistic manor. My waiter "Joe" was a willing conversationalist with world experience. I urge you to give it a try!
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Johnny T.

Yelp
This place is busy on the weekend, so a reservation is a good idea if you don't want to wait for a table. The ambiance is nice for a family gathering and perfect for a date. Zio Peppe attempts to create fusion dishes of classic Italian and Sonoran. Elote Arancini [2/5] Though this is a popular appetizer, it is not to my taste . The seasoning is bland and the dish is not warm. The sauce is sour with a hint of spiciness which I thought makes up the lack of flavors. Calamarrones [4/5] A unique calamari dish combined with chicharrones. Underneath the calamari and chicharrones is a spicy base made of chili. The only components missing are acid and heat. The dish came out barely warm and it could be elevated with lemon/lime. I love the sprinkle of candied orange pieces! Rotini Alla Tequila [3.8/5] Love the high quality sausages! The bowl came out warm and has adequate amount of sauce, pasta and cheese. If I return, I would definitely try the Birria Pizza. Service was amazing!

David W.

Yelp
Our Favorite spot in Tucson. Reserve a table. Tip them well. Elote balls. Every drink.
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Russell B.

Yelp
As you will read from many reviews, this place has some unique and interesting menu items. Really cool place with a relaxing ambiance. We started with the bread and spread, which was amazing. Definitely get that! My wife had the El Rustico Birria Pizza that comes with a Consommé dip. That was also really good! I had a new menu item, they were trying out - Bucatini Arrabbiata and Meatballs. I thought the meatballs and pasta were very dry, and given the price for it, that was a little disappointing. We finished up with the tres leches tiramisu which was good. They have so many unique menu items that we will definitely be back to try more.
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Robert B.

Yelp
Good, interesting food, almost crave-worthy. Pastas, pizzas. ++++ Only thing; things can be saucey.
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Bijana K.

Yelp
So happy that my spouse and I checked out this place. It was wonderful! It's cozy inside but also has some outside seating, reservations recommended. We were lucky they were able to accommodate us, on a holiday evening no less. We didn't have drinks, but it looked like they make amazing options. They do some pre-mixing and aging so not sure if they can easily accommodate non-alcoholic options but the bartender seemed talented, so I'm sure she could mix up something delicious. While everything on the menu may be inspired by the fusion of Sonoran and Italian flavors, we had to go with a couple classics - elote arancini and birria pizza. Plenty of food for two with light appetites and delicious flavors. We had no room for dessert, but I think we will have to return just for dessert and maybe a mocktail another time. Service was top notch. Can't wait to return.
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Dina C.

Yelp
We've always wanted to try Zio Peppe but have just never made it in. We were driving by and it was lunch time so we made a quick turn and went in. The place is small but really cute. We started with calamarrones. We love calamari but are pretty picky as we prefer strips vs rings as the rings we've had always seem tough. This calamari was so tender and delicious! Loved the seasoning and aioli. We then ventured to the El Rustico Birria pizza. Oh My! This was absolutely delicious! The crust was a perfect crispness and the Birria was full of flavor. We finished off with the bucatini Arrabbiata and meatballs. We were pretty full so we split a meatball and a little bit of pasta, the rest we brought home to enjoy later. The meatball was delicious. The homemade pasta was a bit too heavy for our liking. Our server was wonderful. The menu is small but there are many more things we'd love to go back and try.
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Guillermina C.

Yelp
Amazing food, cocktails, and service! Quaint and charming! Loved the Green chili pasta infused plate...great flavor a small kick of spice that was just right! Our children loved their pizza and pasta...definitely a must!
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Mandy T.

Yelp
We came back here for dinner this Monday night and it was the opposite as last time. Service was extremely slow and they forgot about us at one point. We ordered the salmon again and the salmon was fishy and the tamale cake tasted bitter. I wasn't sure if some ingredient in it had gone bad. I wasn't a fan of the birria pizza. The beef tasted bland and the whole pizza was really greasy. He got the Tart n' Flannel cocktail which he thought was ok but I thought was too bitter. I loved the Sangria Rossa. One of the best sangrias I've ever had.
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Jen B.

Yelp
The margherita pizza we started the meal with was very good. I was so excited to eat my meal after having it. Unfortunately, the special I had wasn't seasoned enough. It had potential to be so great with the truffle and the special pasta from Italy, but it was mediocre. We also got the broccoli and it was tasty. The ravioli was a tad spicy but had great flavor.
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Mike G.

Yelp
This is one of the finest Italian restaurants in Tucson, in my opinion. I have been here several time's. I have never been disappointed with a meal. The ambiance is elegant. There is limited outdoor seating. I however enjoy inside because of the Italian feel. Our seating host Esteban was fabulous. He is a great conversationalist and is very welcoming and inviting. Server was exceptional, unfortunately I didn' get her name her name. Started with the bread and spread which is a great starter. Main course, I had the wolf and shrimp linguini which was exceptional. I normally get the Rotini Ala Tequila which is always delicious. I will continue to go here again and again.
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Traci G.

Yelp
Steve was our attentive, wonderful waiter ! Knowledgeable about food specials and wines. We had the bread and olive oil with fresh garlic! So good! Every single dish was unique and delicious, made with fresh ingredients! I had salmon with butterfly pea sauce...a work of art! Lively ambiance that reminded you of Italy or my grandma's house !
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Desiree B.

Yelp
I went to a Tucson Foodie R&D Dinner here and it was fabulous. If you are not a Tucson Foodie Insider you should look into it, that is the only way to get into the R&D Dinners. We had 5 courses of amazing food and wine. The chefs here are amazing and love Tucson culture and community. Check out the tasting menu a few of these will be making an appearance on their future menu. I have to say that the cheesecake which is not a dessert I would ever order was amazing and I ate it all, it was tart without being overly sweet, beautiful!!!
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Caitlin S.

Yelp
I finally made it to Zio Peppe and was extra excited to try it out during this year's Sonoran Restaurant Week. We started with the coctel de camaron and elote arancini, which were both delicious. I love everything elote, but these were extra tasty. For our entree, we had the el rustica birria pizza, which I've tried once before, but was better this time around. The only disappointing part of this meal was dessert. The prix fixe selection was supposed to be a tres leches tiramisu, but they were out, so we were brought the taconolli instead. I don't like pistachio, so I was not a fan of this dish. I wish we'd been given a choice, since they have several items on their dessert menu that I would have much rather tried.

Marie R.

Yelp
Today was a dessert day for me and the girls. The desserts were very rich and tasty. I'm excited to come back again to try their food. The customer service was great and very attentive. The ambiance was tranquil.
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Pira K.

Yelp
Came here for a date night with my boyfriend and was finally able to try out Zio Peppe! For the appetizer, we got the Elote Arancini which was so crispy, creamy and delicious! This was one of my favorites and I loved the corn bits and the tangy sauce that was drizzled on top! We had to order the Birria pizza and it did not disappoint! I think it was a wood fire pizza which made it crispy and slightly chewy! It doesn't look much, but every bit had a piece of meat and it was sooo good. We also ordered a pasta (I don't remember what it was called) but had a tomato sauce base with fennel sausage. We got it in a focaccia bowl just to make it fun. My boyfriend and I weren't impressed by the pasta, it was fine but wasn't amazing. The focaccia bread bowl though? It was fluffy, soft and soaked up the sauce really well! We kind of regret ordering the pasta and wished we ordered another pizza instead!
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Michelle R.

Yelp
Get the birria pizza! It's so amazing. I went with a friend for Sonoran Restaurant week and I'm so glad I finally got to try this place. All of the food was amazing. The service was fast and friendly. The restaurant is small, but decorated simply and elegantly.
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Megan C.

Yelp
Went here with Lizzie after work and we had a great time! I enjoyed the atmosphere and the food was DELICIOUS! I accidentally left my credit card here and when I realized they kept it safe for me! Great place for dinner or lunch!
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Melissa C.

Yelp
My partner and I had a Tucson Foodie passport coupon for Zio Peppe and decided to give it a go. We made a reservation, which meant that we had an indoor table on a Saturday night. We were greeted upon arrival and told to sit at any open table. Our server brought us water to drink and then disappeared for a bit (they seemed short-handed). We saw another table get Elote Arancini and decided to get that and a Caesar Salad to start our meal. The Arancini ended up being the star of the meal. We get that again and use that lime crema as a salad dressing! The Caesar had good flavor, though the croutons were huge. For our entrees, we ordered the Wolf & Shrimp linguine and the oft-mentioned Figgy Stardust. Diners can substitute a gluten-free pasta in pasta dishes, if desired. The shrimp was cooked correctly, and the pesto gave the dish a nice fresh flavor. We thought the pizza was just ok...maybe our expectations were too high based on the hype. The exterior and interior of Zio Peppe is no frills. It's clean and well-lit. We noticed that many dining the night we were there seem to be regulars. So, they're definitely doing something (those arancini!) right.
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Greg W.

Yelp
When my parents first described Zio Peppe to me, I can honestly say my reaction was "that sounds... interesting" as Italian fused with a southwestern influence. I mean, not a lot of people associate Italian with the bold and spicy flavors of the southwest. That being said, bring your skepticism much like I did and prepare for one of the more unique experiences I have had in quite some time. Zio looks like any ordinary place when you walk in, despite the small parking lot and being tucked away on Tanque Verde in Northern Tucson. I had written the place off from the outside and being fully sure that my initial assessment of "Italian and Mexican fusion is something I don't need in my life or mouth" after hearing of it. However, my mother insisted so I obliged her to stop a potential 12 days (duration of my visit) of nagging or prodding to try it. The tables are wooden with metal chairs, the interior is dark but supremely clean and neat, and the smells from the kitchen were the best combination of Italian and Mexican eateries. The service was superb, and the server was friendly and attentive. I would normally write that off since we were 1 of 2 tables occupied, but she engaged both my mother's questions and then became immediately interested in my opinions and preferences once she heard I was visiting from Boston. Regardless, this is the kind of hospitality that all servers and front of house should strive for... as simply "being there" has taken grip of the majority of workers in these positions. Let's address the food and menu now. It is a small(er) menu, with about 4-8 items in each of the categories (starters, pastas, pizzas, entrees, and desserts). I will say this is a deviation from most restaurants in Tucson, where many places have a small binder they hand you and call it a menu. I subscribe to the less you have on your menu... the better you can be at doing those dishes at an elevated level. There were the typical dishes you would find at an Italian restaurant: bolognese, shrimp linguine, white and red pizzas, etc. THAT is where familiarity (at least for me) ended. I chose the bolognese that had garganelli pasta (made with semolina and green chiles), braised short rib, and topped with salsa verde and pecorino romana... PLEASE tell me how you would imagine that dish tasted... I'll wait... Whatever you imagined that dish tastes like, you are sorely wrong. I don't know how to describe it, but it just... works. The intensity of the spicy from the chiles in the pasta fused with the acid from the salsa verde wrapped and swathed with the richness of the bolognese assaults your taste buds (in a good way) constantly until you choose to put your fork down. I have not had such a complex dish with so many different tastes and metamorphases at this price point for quite some time (my dish was under $20). My mother got the wolfberry infused linguine with shrimp, which had strong notes of acid, lemon, and subtlely peppery finishes. Like I said, this is NOT your average menu... but I challenge you to find something that doesn't work on the menu (at least in your mouth, not in your mind). The experience left me in utter shock... I don't think I have ever been so wrong about an establishment based on the menu and view from the parking lot since I have begun "Yelping" on here. I challenge you to the same thing my mother did to me: bring your skepticism and preconceived judgments, but prepare to be direly wrong. It may not make Italian with a Southwestern twist a mainstream, but as long as THEY can do it THIS well I'm all for it! It is truly something that must be experienced to be believed, because Zio Peppe cannot be done justice merely on paper or viewing their menu on the internet.
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Dillon G.

Yelp
This restaurant is tucked away and has an unassuming curbside appeal but the food is innovative and fresh. The service was slow on a busy Friday night but friendly when they came around. The Figgy Stardust was a creative compilation with figs and goat cheese! It was delicious and fresh. Great date spot!
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Miriam S.

Yelp
I went back for NYE dinner and everything was delicious! Our waiter was extremely nice and helpful with our orders. We had the honor to have Chef Sanner serve us. The restaurant is beautiful and great ambiance.
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Claudia S.

Yelp
Brilliant menu. I very much enjoyed the fusion between Mexican staples and Italian classics, with a lovely Arizona twist. The green and red chile sauces and the birria pizza were all so good. The server was super nice and making a reservation was easy. We could not stop talking about how good the red chile Alfredo was even after a couple days and would definitely return if we're in the area again.
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Caitlin G.

Yelp
My partner and I have found ourselves coming back again and again to Zio Peppe. Not only are we huge fans of their pizzas but their service is always lovely and the vibes are always exceptional!
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Jenny O.

Yelp
Best pizza in Tucson!!! Doing a road trip from L.A. and looking for dinner. Saw it on Google and decided to give it a try. I'm so glad we did because it's the best pizza I've had in a long time. This place might even bring us back next year.
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Andrea T.

Yelp
I needed time to think about my gut-wrenching review for Zio Peppe. The first time we went here, the place was closed (had to ask nearby Cow Pony Bar about it). This time we came in on a Tuesday before noon... the place was dark and we were the second clients to come in. To make a long story short, food was great. Service was mediocre. There were some issues in cleanliness and timeliness. My honest review: 3.45 stars. Thank you for the experience. Here are some photos of what we ordered.
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Elizabeth E P.

Yelp
Definitely a twist to your traditional Italian cuisine! The place was cute and there was a parking lot in the front. The service was great. We went for lunch - started with the Elote Arancini which was excellent! The lime crema added a nice tangy flavor. For our meals we got the Green Chile Garganelli Bolognese, Steak Salad, and Mushroom Risotto. All were very fresh and flavorful. Be prepared if you get the Bolognese, that it has some heat!! We finished with the Chocoflan - very nice presentation; chocolate cake on the bottom and a nice flan/mouse on top.

Posh

Yelp
5 star service from the moment you walk in. The ambiance was calm but had that Sonoran touch which was beautiful for the location. The food matched the theme as well. I ordered the Mushroom Risotto and it was a flavor bomb! So much umami and the risotto was cooked to perfection. Only issue is I didn't have enough room to order everything on the menu I guess I will have to come back and try the rest of their menu!

Nunya B.

Yelp
The food at this place is just OK. The price point suggests something higher. We got the birria pizza, spaghetti with meatballs, and risotto balls. He had a beer. The bill was 80 bucks, and it really just wasn't all that great.
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Shannon B.

Yelp
Pros: Service was friendly, food was great. I could eat 70 lbs of those elote balls, they were so tasty. I can't wait to come back and try all the other things. Cons: The short rib polenta dish was super salty, the and rib was too fatty (like almost half fat). This was the least favorite dish of our visit. We overheard the table next to us complain about the same thing with their same dish as well.
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Garry B.

Yelp
Food was amazing. Fresh made pasta was al dente and perfect, homemade sauces and homemade sausage were great. The bread & spread with recommended honey chamomile goat cheese...OMG. I would have never picked that option for spread but after having it I would order it again. The ambience was great, lighting, black linen table cloths, professional and pretty well oiled machine. The service was great until close to the end where they just got a little slammed. Even boxed up our leftovers for us. I would give them 6 stars if I could. Keep doing what you're doing and don't stop.
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Gary B.

Yelp
Just walking in the front door you are immediately greeted by the chief twirling a pizza. Food was beyond delicious it was amazing. Salad and pizza were very tasteful and light. The dessert was unexpectedly delicious. This meal was split by two people. Yes, we are coming back. Definitely a bucket list item

Kelly P.

Yelp
Amazing Tucson dining experience! Service was good but cocktails and food were fabulous!! Loved the Bread &Spread, limoncello margarita, and chocotaconnoli! Ravioli entree was delicious as well! Small restaurant so recommend making reservations.
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Betty Garcia H.

Yelp
Wonderful staff, great food and best pizza in town! Make reservations they are busy from Thursday through weekend.
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Madelynn F.

Yelp
Second time here. Today I saw a post about the birria pizza, so I came to give that a try. The inside is small, so I made sure to make a reservation and I was seated up on arrival. Staff was friendly and nice. I had a pizza and a sangria. Both were good. A lot of Raw onions on the pizza and it came with a side of birra sauce for dipping. If you are a Birria fan, you will enjoy This entrée. I do wish the pizza was hotter/warmer when it was served