Given the location and the surrounding restaurants, I assumed my experience at Peperoncino would of been a solid 4-star. Oh BOY was I wrong!!! I discovered Peperoncino through Yelp when I was, like always, completely lost for a place to dine. As we entered the empty restaurant, my party and I were immediately greeted and seated by a gentleman that looked like a host/manager, but was actually our server. Initially we started off good, with the drinks being delivered in a timely manner and ordering our food shortly thereafter. My party and I ordered: The Polpette (mild; spaghetti with meatballs), The Vongole (linguine with clams in a white wine sauce), The Aglio e Olio-- which was modified with no anchovies and adding chicken (spicy; spaghetti in a olive oil and garlic sauce), The Alla Emiliana (panini with prosciutto, mozzarella, tomato, and basil), and The Insalata Eoliana (tuna fish served over an arugula salad). Personally, none of the dishes really wowed me. However, if i were to choose the best tasting one it would be The Vongole. Being a waitress myself, I have a high tolerance for the slow servers or the less-attentive servers. But after receiving all of our food, we began to feel neglected. Water and soda refills were constantly overlooked (and the place was empty). As I looked around for our server, I saw him sitting at the bar eating a sandwich... great right? It gets better! As our meal was coming to an end, we asked for the checks and a box. He came back with an iPad (which had our electronic checks) and we proceeded to pay. After 2 or 3 times of sliding my credit card and the rest of my party's credit cards, he said he needed to speak with his manager and walked away. Expecting him to come back with an explanation and hopefully our cashed-out checks, we waited a total of 15 minutes. He never came back... It was only when my party and I began to make our way to him did he decide to fill us in as to what was going on with the iPad system. We ended up speaking with a woman who seemed to be the manager/owner that filled us in. Regardless, her attitude was no better. At least someone enjoyed their lunch that day. Needless to say, I will not be returning. read more

Peperoncino - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Mixed review. The setting is wonderful. We sat outside and had a view of the fountain. The food was excellent, and not an over large portion but enough. However, some training of the staff is required. First I want to say, I am not mad about it. Shocked but not angry. So 3 adults walk into the place for lunch. We get seated where we wanted. The waiter hands me a menu, hands another one to my husband, but doesn't hand a menu to our adult son. Huh? I mentioned that our didn't get a menu in front of the waiter. I asked my son if he wants mine. Then when it is time for my son to order, the waiter looks at my husband and asks him what our son wants. Didn't even give our son a chance to tell the waiter what he wanted to eat. I told the waiter to ask him (referring to our son). The waiter continues to look at my husband during the order and asks my husband about our son's order. I repeatedly state "ask him" (our son). Yes our son is special needs, but he is full size, walking, talking adult. He has always ordered his own food since he was small. I am marking you down from 5 star to three star for this reason. Special needs people are people and should be treated with the same respect and dignity as any other customer. It appeared this waiter had zero experience with disabled people, and this is why I am not mad. There was no malicious intent, however this is an opportunity to educate your staff. Don't assume someone is less capable because they are different. Communicate with adults as adults. read more

Peperoncino - Fiocchi - Pasta pockets with pear and four cheese in bacon creamy sauce - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

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Oh lord i can still taste the food from this amazing place. After a long day at work on a Sunday evening the last thing you wanna do is go home and worry about what to make for dinner am i right??? Well nothing to worry about, u got a place to go now "Peperoncino" thats the place, its small yet comfortable and fancy, rare to find that all in place. The enviroment is amazing, staff awesome u will get rustic bread with olive oil and parmesan cheese (on the house of course) for Antipasto (appetizer) we had Arancini vari omg awesome a most, and for entree i had lasanga and my friend had Fiocchi (pasta pockets filled with pear and four cheese in a prosciutto and cream sauce) sounds crazy right dont be afraid it is amazing all the flavors bursting in your mouth omg i loved it. Menu changes daily but if u go on a Sunday you will deff. find this menu items.......oh did i mention the 2 for $7 Sangrias and Bellinis (my fav.) Just saying lol Well i hope you guys enjoy it as much as i did Trust me you have to try it read more

Peperoncino - Bellini - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Carlos was amazing!! We had a wonderful dinner and he was so attentive. He knew the specials by heart and answered all our questions. The food was incredible and the wine exquisite. We cannot say enough good things about Carlos. Such a lovely young man, we cannot wait to come back! read more

I've eaten here now a handful of times and each time been less happy. Our first experience was rave worthy, this last experience was less than stellar. The restaurant is a small gang-style, with an open kitchen, so cool to watch the Chef cook. Servers are all well informed and very helpful. I'm going to pin down the failures to the menu... I think it's too large, with too many regular items and then too many specials. Not enough attention on any of them. Our last meal, my tuna had definitely overstayed it's welcome and should have never been cooked, and never been served. Although another dish of swordfish and veggies was made for me, it was served well after my dining companions were done with their dinner. Because I've had successes in the past, I'll try again, but I'm looking for consistancy in my dining... especially at the prices that are charged here! read more

S...L...O...W. We came at about 1pm for lunch, a little over half full, and by 2:30pm our dishes finally arrived. We ordered two pizzas and a pasta dish. Not sure what they were doing in the kitchen. Our waiter was also "crazy for Cocoa Puffs;" not sure he knew what he was doing, but he thought highly of himself. His waiter skills were strange; disappearing for long stretches of time, not informing us of the kitchen's progress, forgetting simple touches like Parmesan cheese, etc. Instead of having one area to work, he seemed to be working both sides of this strangely laid-out floor plan. At on point, I was concerned that he had left for the day. The owners (young couple; one a chef and one hostessing) obviously saw us sitting there for a long time, didn't even come over and apologize or buy us an appetizer or glass of wine. If a customer waits 90 minutes, you should really comp at least the drinks or something. They did nothing for us; a bit disappointing. The food was darn good, though, so I'm a bit torn. Pizza was freshly made, with great toppings and cheese, a selecta sauce, and a flavorful dough. The free garlic bread was perfectly made, with Parmesan sprinkled right into the oil-soaked bread. The Bolognese sauce on spaghetti was top notch, with a meaty sweetness that means it's the real thing. The pasta was a bit overcooked and not al dente; also disappointing for an Italian restaurant. Other dishes were equally above average and tasty. Still, there were enough foibles and mistakes - and a two hour lunch - that three stars is the best I can rate this restaurant. read more

Went here with a party of 14 for my birthday. Worst experience ever. Terrible service and bad attitudes. None of my party of 14 will ever be back. The owner contacted me via messenger and said that my review had no details. I thought I was doing her a favor by just generally stating that it was an awful experience but guess not. Here's the details: The manager was given the chance to fix things many times but said he didn't understand bc his English wasn't good. The food was not bad but the service was awful. We were refilling our own drinks, there was no A/c and we were all sweating. People's food did not come out together. There were olives put on 2 pizzas when the people who ordered them didn't like or want olives. Dirty plates were never removed. Drink refills were never offered. Dessert was never offered and was just brought out to the people who got Bite 30 with no choice given. The amount on the checks we were given was not the amount that we were charged. When our cards were run they were run for more than what the bill said. No one could fix or explain it. When we said we didn't want to tip the 20% that was included on the checks we were told they didn't know how to remove it. read more

Favorite Italian Restaurant in Central Florida. And coming from a big Italian family, that means something! This is a tiny "bowling alley" shaped restaurant. That means you will be sitting next to your neighbor (and perhaps eyeing their dinner with envy). The service is exceptional - nice, nice people, very helpful and well-versed in the menu and wine options, and really excited to talk to you about Italy and Italian food! Tons of vegetarian options (many not on the menu). The menu does change often (for instance, this week's vegetarian arancini may be replaced by a seafood arancini next week, so look out!). The arancini here was actually even better than what I have had in Naples, Capri and other Italian cities! Get the arancini- really. And if they have the fried olives, get those too!!!! On occasion, you will find a "surprise." My friend ordered gnocchi, and what came was one BIG GIANT gnocchi! But once he got over the strangeness of the size, he said it was really, really good. We have never been disappointed! So go, enjoy, mangia! read more

I went to this restaurant 12/11/2013 at around 2:30pm for lunch with my son. The lunch crowd of course was gone and the place was empty. The location is great, however this place is basically a converted long hallway with the kitchen and bar on one side and a single row of tables on the other side. A little claustrophobic. I ordered the weekly special and my son ordered the linguini with clams. I got a small bowl of soup, that was fine with me. The house salad was OK but the portion was stingy. Finally I got the spaghetti aiglo olio. The portion was small. We ordered a dessert and coffee. The server told us what they had and we ordered a slice of limoncello cake. It was a small slice. Finally I got my check and the slice of cake was $10. I asked the server why so expensive. He shrugged and said the owner sets the price. The service was indifferent. All in all a disappointing and pricey outing. read more

Sorry to say, we did not have a great experience at this restaurant tonight. Service was extremely slow for our party of 6, tho the waitress was pleasant. Five of us ordered chicken parmesan. Two didn't want it with eggplant, and two asked for a different type of cheese. Three of the five orders were incorrect. My meal didn't come out until everyone else had finished, which made me think she forgot to place it, and the order was wrong. I'm just not sure the waitress understood our requests. My meal was comped after I requested that it be, so that was a positive. Given the other positive reviews, we were really disappointed with our experience, and hope they were just having an off night. read more

This is Brian's wife. I don't do social media or reviews but tonight I've made an exception. Do not miss out on this amazing place. It's an intimate location with amazing food. You can watch the chef at work from anywhere in the restaurant. The menu has adventurous options and some standards. Even the standards are anything but ordinary. Our family had 4 dishes and all were home runs! Don't overthink this decision...just come here. God I wish this place was in Raleigh, NC. read more

This is hands down the best and most authentic Italian restaurant experience in Orlando

Cheese and figs amazing. Kids salmon was good, and my fish in a bag was REALLY good. However, the service was lousy.

Great first experience here. Our waitress was well versed in the menu half being maintained year round and the other half seasonal. The sangria was good along with the starting bread. We enjoyed the risotto balls and roasted peppers with cheese appetizers. I ordered the pork gnocchi which was good but my friends lasagna was way better. So flavorful and perfectly cooked.... Yum!! read more

Peperoncino - Pork gnocchi was very good and spicy!! - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

It breaks my heart to give'm 3.5 stars. Tonight was not their best. We've being here before, by before I mean close to a dozen. Tonight the Chef was not working. Other people were on the kitchen. The food was blend. My biyfriend had Polpo e Bacon pasta and me the duck breast with spicy rissotto. First dish; the sauce was blend, lacking of seasoning, garlic, consistance... plenty of parmesan and hunger made it possible. Second dish; the duck breat was cook to perfection, however the risotto was again lackin of flavor, blend not rven the parmesan save it. When we explained to the waitter our experience, suggestion to make our dish again to go was made. When refused a dessert was proposed; tiramisu came to us, must say was not bad but different. The mascarpone tasted like buttermilk with white chocolate, really tasty but not classic. With all this being said, I love this restaurant. First time things are not on point. That is why the 3.5 stars rating. Seariously, tonight they rank on the 2 start. But when owner is on the line this is my favorite Italian Restaurant in Orlando. 5 stars Restaurant. read more

Peperoncino - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

This is not for big groups. Intimate gatherings are perfect. The service was impeccable. The food exquisite. I appreciate tasting the food for its true taste not slathered in a bunch of taste altering stuff...the chef knows her stuff. The Ossobuco di maiale melts in your mouth and the risotto beneath was a perfect compliment. The cheese and olive tray for an app was perfect and the table bread was irresistable. We found it by mistake and am so happy to have found our new favorite Italian restaurant!! read more

Peperoncino - Ossobuco di maiale I added the pepercino cheese as recommended by server - does not disappoint!!! - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

Friday night, tried three places on international drive and found 1hr waits minimum while oozing thru traffic. My wife said 'get us away from here' and we ended up at Peperoncino. Had no reservation but they found a table for us immediately. I could go on about how good the food and service was but I'll just say we had tables on either side of us speaking Italian - that should give you an idea of how authentic and thoughtful this place is. Quaint setting in a quietish area, a bit off of Intl Drive and just what the doctor ordered. You won't be disappointed. read more

Best Italian food outside my grandma's and mom's kitchen. Fresh ingredients and a changing menu based on the chefs choice that day. The decor reminds me of the Italian cafes when I traveled through Italy. The open kitchen is very inviting to view the chef at her craft. The fresh hot bread served with oil and freshly grated cheese can get pretty addicting. read more

Loved it, perfect portions! Tried the lunch special and couldn't fit in desert else I would have! I can't wait to go back! read more

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The most authentic and delicious Italian food I've had in a very long time. The service was perfect, the ambiance is ideal, and the food is incredible. Would definitely recommend! read more

The BEST Italian restaurant in orlando We visited there last week. Even though there was a party,they accommodated us at the bar. The service was superb as well as the food. I have traveled to Italy often and this food was equal to the Italian bistros in Europe. The osso bucco and sausage with peppers was perfect. The simple Gelato dessert topped off a perfect meal. Will try to return often! read more

We were told this was the best Italian in town but we were disappointed. Food was average and over priced and portions were small. However, our server was great. The kitchen is in the dining area which is nice but it was very hot and stuffy. They have fans but it did not help. Turn up the AC please!! read more

One of the coolest things about Peperoncino is that it is a locally owned restaurant surrounded by many big name spots on Sand Lake Row. That is what draws me back to this amazing Italian restaurant, the open kitchen fills the restaurant with delicious smells. This place is located in the Dellagio complex and there is complimentary valet parking available. If you choose to not do valet, there are tons of parking spots in the underneath garage. I've dined here a couple of times now and every single time the food is on point (I've never even ordered the same thing twice). Service was a bit slow during my last visit but overall it has always been a pleasant dinner experience. They recently changed the menu which I was kind of bummed about at first because I was really looking forward to the chicken cotoletta, but I ended up ordering the Four Cheese and Pear Pasta with cream and bacon sauce which was AMAZING! I liked it even more than anything I've ever had there. My dad had the Spaghetti Bolognese and he said it was one of the best dishes he's ever had. We all tried one of the soups on the menu (it was super hearty and had a wine taste to it) and we all loved it. For dessert they were unfortunately all out of Cannoli but the Stracciatella Gelato and the Tartufo were amazing. Highly recommend this if you're looking for a more local restaurant. read more

I fully recommend Peperoncino. I have been there several times, and have never been disappointed. The osso bucco is the very best that I have ever had, and I have had a lot more expensive than this one. It is huge, and I have only been able to finish it once because of its size! The freshly-made appetizers change daily, and some of the combinations are unique to Peperoncino. The chef/owner is always available for comment and brief conversation despite how busy this small gem is. I feel that this is the very best meal that I can get in Orlando, and I will return again and again for great food and service. read more

I gave it three stars just because they were understaffed.. We came here for a private party, the restaurant is small max capacity is 50 not including outside.. We were a group of 38 including 3 kids The service in the beginning was slow as I believe they were overwhelmed It was an open kitchen and a tiny bar area where they prepared the espresso drinks also. It was good seeing them cook the food as well as the amazing smells. The owner is also the executive chef, we had three options a veggie dish bolognese or chicken parm. I opted for the chicken parm which was good but wished I had gotten the veggie dish as it looked amazing and smelled amazing as well. The chicken parm was served in wax paper as the spaghetti was cooked first then baked with the chicken in the wax paper and served piping hot. I def want to go back to try the bolognese as people at the party were raving about it. The restaurant itself it small so even for our group it was a tight squeeze. The did have outdoor table and chairs to sit, on a cool day it would be nice to sit and eat and enjoy the fountain view.. I will def be back read more

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This is the cutest little Italian place. Everyone here cares so much about the restaurant and their customers. The place is small, but it allows you to see their awesome chef cooking your food! Everything here from the bread to the tiramisu is SO fresh and tasty. My group got the bolognese, spaghetti pomodoro and the frutti de marre and everyone gave their meals 5/5 stars. The service was excellent and they really make you feel like family here. This place is so underrated and just a little hole in the wall but it's a MUST TRY!!!! read more

Came here having read the mixed reviews. After leaving, I can say that I agree with some and not at all with others. The ambiance was decent but a little bright for my taste. It was a Sunday night and the place was packed. They took down the wrong reservation so we had to wait a moment for a table to come available. Like the reservation, the service was mediocre at best. There was no evidence of passion in the staff. The owner was clearly not there. In my opinion the food was impressive. They were out of a few things (lasagna & greens) but that did not in any way ruin our experience as it was late on a Sunday evening. Our table (including a couple from Chicago) shared the bread (excellent) and and muscles and each of us had an entree: chicken parm over pasta(not on menu), carbonara pasta, ravioli & a filet. Each of had a great experience. We all left thoroughly impressed. I would 100% recommend this as one of the elite Italian non-chain, charming restaurants in Orlando. I just wish something like this was closer to downtown. read more

I've been searching for an authentic Italian restaurant on the south side of town and my search is over! The meal was phenomenal. Fresh pasta with unbelievable sauces which were to die for. I can't wait to return. read more

The place was legit. Really authentic, the octopus was so tender and the arancini was delicious. Pomadoro sauce was flavorful and a nice accomplishment to the ginormous rice balls. Service was very attentive and friendly. Highly recommend- read more

I really wanted to love this place. It started off strangely - there are two sides to the restaurant (like they rented two bays in the strip mall), and we were seated in the side with No One there. That felt uncomfortable and dead, especially when we could hear lots of laughter on the other side of the wall. Service was attentive and great, and by checking in on Yelp, I got a free glass of wine, and the house white was very nice. The bread they brought was fantastic!! Crunchy crust, soft inside, drizzled in olive oil and sprinkled with Parmesan. The house salad was just okay. Spinach, arugula, tomatoes, red onions and some olives with a balsamic vinaigrette. Basic. Boring. But very fresh. I had the duck over mushroom risotto. I haven't had duck in years, so thought I'd try something new. My fault that I didn't really care for it. The risotto it was served on though was WAY too salty, and that's on the chef. Also, there were no veggies on the plate and it needed some. Husband had the pasta with frutti de mare, which he said was great. But I tasted it and the spaghetti was overcooked and the shrimp way too salty. read more

Absolutely amazing dinner! Our family came to WDW and decided we would really enjoy an evening out. Peperoncino was an excellent choice!!! Our meal, service and experience was so much more than we expected! The food here is so far the most magical part of our trip!!! read more

I have been to Orlando almost monthly for the past 4 years and my biggest regret is only just now getting around to visiting Peperoncino. The venue is somewhat eclectic: one part bar, a second part Italian pantry, and a third part cozy, open-kitchen dining room. The waitstaff is pleasant and attentive, and the menu options leave little to be desired. The warm and generously Parmesan-dusted focaccia cubes set the tone for a wonderful culinary experience. The fresh burrata appetizer was delicious, and though the tomato was somewhat unfamiliarly cut into wedges (as opposed to the typical slices), the flavors and textures were what we ordered it for, and it certainly delivered. The negroni cocktail I ordered was served in a nicely weighted and garnished glass, which brought me back to the cocktails I enjoyed in Italy. For my main course, I went with the Spaghetti con polpette in salsa bianca, accurately described on the menu as signature meatballs slowly simmered in pomodoro sauce served with spaghetti in creamy sauce. It was the best of both worlds, providing a way to taste the homemade pasta in a relatively light, cream sauce, alongside the homemade meatballs in the pomodoro red sauce. This was truly a delightful dish, and the portion sizes were just right, both things my party unanimously agreed upon. On one hand, the venue does not do the cuisine justice, but on the other hand, the small, space-maximizing, intimate atmosphere perhaps also adds to the authentic Italian dining experience. Regardless, Peperoncino has made my short list of go-to restaurants in Orlando, and I'm already looking forward to my next trip back! read more

Peperoncino - Negroni accompanying my spaghetti con polpette in salsa bianca. Delizioso! - Italian Near Me - Orlando, Florida

I absolutely love this place... If you like Italian food and love a friendly cozy environment this is the best place to be... !!! I live close by and I'm constantly going to talk to my friends, have a glass of wine and eat, we always have a great time!!! Every dish is amazing and the wine selection is exquisite!!! Absolutely recommend this place!!!! read more

A wonderful little find! We stumbled on the place after finding The Pharmacy closed. My wife and I split the Arancini. It was extremely well done and accompanied with a very fresh sauce! My wife enjoyed the Bolognese sauce that was spiced superbly while I enjoyed the Cotoletta di pollo with Pomodoro Pasta. The Pomodoro was bright and well balanced! I loved the open kitchen knowing there was nothing to hide! We truly enjoyed our meal and the staff was friendly and professional! WELL DONE! read more

Very bad experience. Ordered bolognese and the daily special, blackened salmon with linguini in spinach cream sauce. Salmon came out uncooked - pink flesh visible as soon as I cut it. When I told the waitress, she actually said "I think its supposed to be like that." Had to speak to another waiter to get it fixed. Bolognese was bleh. I've tasted much better bolognese at much cheaper prices before. Only good thing I recommend was the free bread served. It was better than other places, but you can't go for the free bread. read more

It has been the best Italian food that my family and I have eaten, Ricardo Juan and Raul, their service was incredible, everything we tried was delicious. read more

Ok so the mixed fish appetizer was fantastic. Tender. And tasteful. Fried but no fried heavy taste. Then had the Calzone with tomatoes, mushrooms and ham and cheese. It was cooked perfect and seasoned exceptionally. Finished with the Nutella cheese cake. Don't forget the Pino Grazia. It's not bad either. read more

Very cute little place with an open kitchen which I love. The food was great! You get a good size meal so the value is there as well. I would of rated it 5 starts but the service was a bit slow and took us some time to get seated even though the restaurant at that time was pretty slow. If once seated things where slow. Our waiter was great once he got on his game. Great wine list! read more

Fantastic Italian restaurant Perhaps the best in Orlando Every day a surprise from the chef - I check the facebook every day to see the dish of the day read more

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This used to be a go to favorite of ours, but after last night, not anymore. I took a couple of business associates here for dinner. The calamari was greasy and rubbery, the lasagna did not taste fresh. It was one step above frozen lasagna from a store. To make matters worse, when I went to pay using a restaurant.com coupon my wife had given me, they would not take it even though it states on the coupon: Does not expire. Our server said they stopped taking them 2 weeks ago. I used to refer friends and family who live in the area because this is family owned, not sure if it still is, or if there is new management. Disappointing to say the least. read more