I was craving gourmet Italian on a day trip to Cincy and Pepp & Dolores was the first restaurant to pop up on Yelp....I'm so glad I visited! Without a reservation, I was able to be seated immediately by their window seats. Our waitress Samantha thoroughly explained their menu and which items were meant to be shared portion-wise. For starters, we ordered the highly recommended housemate ricotta and sourdough. When I tell you this is a MUST...I mean it! The ricotta was so fresh and topped with olive oil and the sourdough paired perfectly. I feel like you could even save a portion of the ricotta as an entree flair...I was going to, but I honestly couldn't help myself and ate it with the sourdough. My entree was the funghi pasta and a side of eggplant involtini. Oh my goodness. The funghi pasta is so rich and the Sherry comes through so well in the sauce. All of their pasta is house-made and the texture was perfectly al dente. I'm usually not one to order tomato-based sauces, but Samantha recommended the eggplant involtini to contrast a cream-based entree. I'm also one to not usually go for eggplant, but I felt adventurous. The eggplant involtini was delicious! The tomato sauce tasted bright and wasn't overly garlicky or salty like a lot of premade tomato sauces. I also tried bites of my boyfriend's pesto - if you want something on the fresher, more lighter side then order the pesto! Btw- the server who brought out our entrees allowed us to add fresh parmeseano reggiano on the spot with a grater, which added such a nice touch! The next time I'm in the area I would love to try a new pasta dish - I'm eyeing the limone or lobster/squid ink pasta. read more

Food was amazing! Service was amazing! We got the carpaccio, the dunk, the chicken scarpariello, the pomodoro and the gricia! Everything was so delicious! I also tried their Sicilian sunset cocktail which was dreamy! read more

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Went to Pepp & Delores to celebrate a birthday. We went in a Sunday night and it was very crowded. We were sat in a surprisingly quiet room with only a few tables which was nice. We each ordered a different dish so that we could sample a few of them. Everything was amazing. read more

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We had a fabulous time here! Started with the lemon cello service, which was delicious. So smooth and probably the best lemon cello I've ever had. Our server was extremely friendly and knowledgeable. We then had the artichoke appetizer along with the cucumber appetizer and the grilled shrimp. Everything was very tasty. After that we had three different pasta dishes, the butternut squash, ravioli, the lemon pasta, and the Pomodoro. One thing to note they DO NOT have a dessert menu here. That was a surprise. They do give little complimentary amaretto cookies. read more

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I love and visit this place every time I visit Cincinnati. It's always one of my top recommendations. You should always book a reservation! The basement is a really cool place to sit, and in the summer the outside patio is open. I love their spicy vodka sauce, ricotta, and the marinated cucumbers. I am not a big fan of mushrooms in general but my mom never skips theirs and she swears by them. Always exceptional service! read more

Pepp & Dolores - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

10/10 order the bread! You'd be shooting yourself in the foot if you don't. I wish it came with the food but it's definitely worth it. Veal cutlets 9.5/10 Spicy rigatoni 9.0/10 Sunday sauce 9.7/10 Meatball app 8.0/10 Ricotta 9.0/10 I did not order the drinks but the presentation looked good. My party knew I am part of the Yelp Elite Club and invited me to take the pictures of their drinks. The ambiance had a vintage energy which I liked. Our server was attentive and the eating experience was heavenly. 10/10 highly recommend if you're in the mood for some fresh made pasta. read more

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10/10. Pepp and Dolores left us speechless. The food was absolutely phenomenal. My dining partner and I shared The Dunk and each ordered the Limone. The quality of the olive oil was unquestionable. I could write novels about how wonderful the pasta was. The restaurant is a bit cramped but the ambiance is nice. Make reservations in advance, because seating is limited. read more

Pepp & Dolores - The Dunk - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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The Food was very good and gluten free for me! The ambiance was very romantic/ business causal. They were very attentive to us , so I would give an A for service. Overall my friend and I enjoyed our delicious meals. No complaints! read more

Pepp & Dolores - My friend dish that she liked and my Gluten Free pasta that was great. I had no reaction so they earned a trustworthy star in my book. - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Literally the best -- the lemon pasta is to KILL FOR and all the staff was so nice!! Got free drinks for my boyf's graduation from med school! read more

Food, ambiance, and service Would recommend it to anyone in Cincy. Pro tip: Make a reservation or go early to try to snag a spot at the bar read more

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Our server Emily was AMAZING. We ate on the patio and it was such a lovely day and her service just made everything a million times better. We got the chicken, arancini, cucumbers, sourdough, and a Bibb salad. The food was out of this world and there is nothing I would change. Emily was patient with us and gave us the perfect amount of attention and care. This is the first review I have ever left because I have never had a more memorable experience than when I dined at Pepp and Dolores! You can tell Emily is so incredible at her job and if you ever dine here I recommend sitting with her at the bar or requesting her as your server. 10/10 will be coming be coming back! read more

This has to be one of my favorite places to take anyone from out of town. I discovered Pepp & Dolores the week it opened and it reminded me of being in Italy. Their homemade pastas are the best and you must start out with their homemade ricotta appetizer. The servers are always friendly and have a lot of knowlege in the food and drink they serve you. My favorite dish is the pasta limone! Extra tip: If you are going for a special date night or anniversary ask if you can be seated downstairs. The cozy vibe really makes your experience even better! read more

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Was in town for work and this was recommended by a local friend. It was to die for! They recommend splitting two apps & getting your own pasta in group setting. Apparently lemon sauce is most popular, but I went for Sunday sauce. The dunk will only get you three pieces of bread and the fried artichoke is a must. Could have passed on meatballs as sauce comes with 2. The Limoncello was the best ever! Wine list and expanse and predominantly Italian. Beer list is limited. read more

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Went here with my company this week, and it is overall fantastic. We had...well, basically everything when it comes to appetizers, then I personally added their spicy vodka pasta and house white wine. I wasn't particularly a fan of their pulled pork meatballs, but everything else was absolutely delicious. Service was hands down perfect and top notch. Kudos to Patrick! Atmosphere was great, a bit crowded, but that could have been partially due to a reservation mishap on our part. Finally, for the quality, the price was surprisingly affordable... basically meals and drinks for 10 people for just under $700. read more

Wonderful restaurant downtown Cincy and we can't wait for the one to open in Deerfield Commons. Great food, ambiance and service. Vodka pasta was awesome. High end experience for a reasonable price. No wonder it makes some of the top rated lists in Ohio and nationally! read more

What a great place for lunch before our book club play. Our party of 6 ladies had a fabulous meal with great service. The bread service with ricotta was so good but don't overlook the Funghi too. I had the Lobster pasta dish and shared some charred broccolini. Also tried the Limone pasta. Everything was delicious. We were seated in a back room and absolutely loved the decor. Definitely recommend. read more

Pepp & Dolores - Lobster Pasta. The pasta is made with squid ink and shaped to look like tentacles. Very fun and tasty too!! - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We went to Pepp & Dolores for a late lunch after leaving the Cincinnati Museum. The restaurant was very busy but we were able to get the lady two seats at the bar. Our server and bartender was Isaac, he was friendly and knowledgeable. We started with a drink. My husband had a Downeast cider and he really enjoyed it. I had the Molto Margarita, it was delicious. I really enjoyed the hint of Amaretto in this, not overly sweet margarita. We ordered "The Dunk" which is a baguette accompanied by a bowl with olive oil, herbs and vinegar in it. We'd ordered the charred broccolini along with our entrees. I ordered "The Sunday Sauce" but changed it up to include two meatballs instead of a meatball and a piece of pork shoulder. My husband ordered the Spicy Vodka. Both dishes were excellent, the pasta is cooked perfectly. It's al dente and that's a huge plus to me because the texture of mushy pasta is a dealbreaker. The sauce is flavorful without any one ingredient overpowering it. The next time I might order the dish exactly as they normally make it because the woman next to me ordered the same dish (sans changes) and the pork shoulder looked fantastic. The Sunday Sauce is served with spaghetti and the meatballs in my dish were tender, and delicious. My husband's enjoyed his Spicy Vodka dish again. It was very rich and flavorful. They didn't bring our broccolini dish but they also didn't charge us for it so it wasn't an issue. We were full and wouldn't have been able to finish it if it arrived anyway. I'd recommend this restaurant. The area has lots of fun shops and as well as restaurants and bars. read more

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Amazing how many people are saying how good this place is. I can only imagine if they tell the truth. Here goes, the honest truth, this is a diamond in the rough as far as having the best meal possible. Outside dinning is great. read more

The restaurant is on a cute street with other restaurants and bars. The restaurant was super busy for a Sunday night but service did not suffer as a result. Definitely a sexy vibe for dinner with friends, partner or any celebration. I had the squid ink pasta with lobster. It was very flavorful and you can taste that the pasta was made in house. Everything tasted so fresh. The bartenders were super nice and knowledgeable of the menu and restaurant. read more

Pepp & Dolores - Squid ink pasta - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Good pasta I got the limone pasta. The only thing they're missing is some protein options for their pastas that would make them a 10 out of 10. read more

The food was some of the best we've eaten and the service was wonderful. Great place for a date night and fantastic food.

Pepp Dolores in Cincinnati is a perfect spot for an early appetizer and cocktail business meeting. The restaurant portion was buzzing but the bar was pretty quiet. When we arrived shortly after opening, we were the only people at the bar for about an hour, making it an ideal setting for a biz meeting. The charcuterie board was solid and had an array of meats and cheeses, but the standout for me were the cucumbers, which were sweet and refreshingly crispy. The ambiance is cozy with light wood accents and a stunning bar. The bar tender was attentive and very friendly. I'll have to go back for dinner. read more

Pepp & Dolores - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We had an unforgettable experience at Pepp & Dolores last night. It's rare that a restaurant manages to combine incredible food with such genuine, heartfelt hospitality. My husband and I went to dinner for our 10 year anniversary after a very difficult week for our family, and we were honestly too emotionally drained to make decisions. Our server, Jasmine, kindly took the reins and chose our meal for us -- which turned out to be the best decision we could have made. Every single dish she brought out was phenomenal. We started with the artichokes, arancini, and whipped ricotta -- each one better than the last. Then came the lemon pasta, spicy vodka pasta, shrimp, spaghetti and meatballs, and veal scallopini. Everything was absolutely delicious and clearly made with so much care. By the end we were so full we couldn't even attempt dessert. What made the evening truly special, though, was the kindness of the team. Levi, the GM, went so far out of his way to make us feel cared for and welcomed during a moment when we really needed it. The warmth and compassion we experienced there meant more than I can adequately put into words. Restaurants often talk about hospitality, but the team at Pepp & Dolores truly embodies it. Thanks for an evening we will never forget. read more

Food is absolutely fabulous. The decor is super-I love the wallpaper. The one thing I wish was a bit different was the level of sound. We were seated in the bottom floor and it was sooo hard to hear the people at my table due to the sound level down there. Maybe upstairs is better because the ceiling is higher. Great dinner. read more

Pepp & Dolores - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Another delicious meal at Pepp & Deloris...I made reservation on-line several weeks in advance and misunderstood the "bar seating". Thought it meant seating in the bar...not at the bar...but after a brief discussion with the hostess, the manager was able to find us a table. Started with the Ricotta spread/bread which is always a favorite. Then on to crab/ravioli dish and Lobster pasta dish. Finished the meal with gelato...all excellent choices. read more

We came for a family dinner last night. The food was fabulous!! Great atmosphere. We had our 2 grandsons with us and everyone was so nice. Gina took care of us, she was amazing! She was super friendly and offered some great suggestions. We will definitely be back. Thank you for a great evening! read more

The service and atmosphere are superb. Appetizers were delicious. There were 5 of us and all had different entrees. I am a sticker for good red sauce. The tomatoes in the Sunday sauce were a bit tart, but the meatball was very good. I finished the meal with gelato topped with olive oil and sea salt. The EVOO was a bit harsh, perhaps a too strong picual varietal. I give a 5 rating because this restaurant does so much right. I'd repeat when in Cincinnati. read more

Definitely get a reservation since it can be crowded on weekends! Don't be afraid to call the restaurant if you have any questions, the ladies up front and the serving staff are all very friendly and helpful. With that being said, everything was absolutely delicious. If you have a party larger than 5, I'd definitely recommend getting two appetizers for the table. The pasta was delicious. Absolutely delicious and worth the money (although I'd say it was more than reasonably priced). The Limone pasta is not spicy despite the red pepper flakes and is nice and creamy. The pesto pasta is nice and light and not covered heavily in the pesto. My only qualm is that the music was pretty loud so that nearly every table was having to raise their voices and the playlist they were using was all over the place. I still had a wonderful time nonetheless :) read more

Pepp & Dolores - Limone Pasta - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Pepp & Delores is always consistent and very appreciated. We love their food!! Their marinated cucumbers are so good! You cannot go wrong, ordering any of their pastas, however, the spicy vodka has got to be an all-time favorite. We also had the Pomodoro, which was so delicious. Always a wonderful meal with great prices and excellent service! read more

Pepp & Dolores - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Made reservations for Pepp and Dolores a week in advance. Was super excited to try out a fancy Italian restaurant! They provided the experience forsure. Walking in greeted by friendly host, I ask if a "more romantic" area was available and she recommended the downstairs lounge. Would definitely choose to dine down their again. The host walked us down a huge flight of stairs, leading into a dimly lit lounge. Was a really romantic and mysterious setting. We sat at a table near the bathroom hallway, it was seclusive but not out of the way, out server came around after a little and was super chill. This was a special night for us, so we went all out. Started with a glass of wine each, and it was super tasty! Had us feeling fantastic. Service was a tad on the slower side but nothing great company can't make up for. I went with the ricotta, and it was delicious. Creamy, dessert like, honestly first time trying that and I think about it still. Pasta was what we were really looking forward too and they did not disappoint. Staff member came out with a big block of parmesan and grated it for us freshly. We both enjoyed the flavor, she liked mine a little more. Not too pricey for the experience, would come again! read more

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My favorite Italian restaurant ever, the food is fresh and tasty! I have been coming to Pepp and Dolores since they opened. I no longer live in Cincinnati but every time I visit I go to Pepp and Dolores. This restaurant is beautiful and the service is phenomenal. There are many great servers at Pepp and Dolores and they all do a great job. I always get the limone but I love it all! read more

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Mark was our server today and he was great! I mentioned not caring for fennel but wanting to try the Bibb salad so he brought us a Gem salad as well just in case we didn't like it. He was very accommodating and helpful read more

Pepp & Dolores - Limone and broccolini - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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My husband and I were visiting downtown Cincinnati and looking for somewhere new to dine. That's when we discovered Pepp & Dolores on Yelp. They were crazy busy, and it's easy to understand why. First, it's located on Vine Street, near several fun and unique shops. I also loved that they offered both indoor and outdoor seating. And the staff was really friendly. For starters, we shared the Housemade Ricotta, then each ordered a salad. My husband ordered the Wedge, and I ordered the Gem. Both were so good!! For our entrees, I ordered the Pesto pasta, and my husband ordered The Sunday Sauce. The pasta itself is handmade, as well as the sauces on each dish. The dish sizes were perfect, not too small and not crazy large. Both pastas were excellent and quite flavorful. At the end of the meal, we received a couple of biscotti cookies, which was a nice surprise. Our service was quick and delivered with a smile. My only minor complaint is that the carafe of water they bring to the table was warm. It would have been nice if the water had ice in it. I highly recommend that you give Pepp & Dolores a try the next time you're downtown. It's also a good idea to go onto their website first and make a reservation. read more

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What a great dining experience. We were in the area on a Saturday afternoon and stop in to see if we could grab a seat. From the moment we entered to the time we left the staff were amazing at efficiency and friendliness. The Nocino old fashioned were great. The food was super and the pricing very fair. Love the interior also, which is calming and updated. read more

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I really need to go back and give another try. My friend chose here for her birthday dinner treat. The food was ok, but I wasn't very impressed. After hearing all of the people that love it, I'm wondering if I went on an off night? The food was beautiful and the service was great. read more

Pepp & Dolores - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

I got to experience Pepp & Dolores on a Monday evening! Everything was great including the crowd. We a group of four were seated in an appropriate amount of time and received plenty of attention. Drinks, appetizers and main courses were all excellent and timed well in delivery. I can highly recommend the appetizers called "The Dunk" & "Housemade Ricotta " as well as the entree called "The Sunday Sauce". Looking forward to attending again! read more

Mark greeted us upstairs, love the friendliness and hospitality knew we were in for a great meal. Titus was our man, utmost best service and terrific guy all around. We ordered 6 of the pastas all al dente and nice chewiness perfect. Apps and bread on the money. House red devine for the value. Will definitely be back! read more

Pepp & Dolores - The spread - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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I have to admit, I'm a little conflicted over my first experience at this establishment. Everything was great: the server, the ambiance, the variety of dishes on the menu...except for the alcoholic beverage "misunderstanding." There's a $6 limoncello service that is priced by the bottle...unless two people (or more) at your table order the service, then it's less alcohol for everyone. There's a small-pour bottle of housemade limoncello that would normally serve one person...so each person at my table ordered the service. Rather than bring out three bottles (since we paid for 3 services) we were brought 2 bottles and made to share because well, I still don't really understand. We were all so confused that we even asked the manager to come explain why three people couldn't get three separate mini-bottles if they were priced at $6 per person. He gave an ultimately nonsensical answer that left us a bottle short (pun intended). It still doesn't make sense to me. If it's a $6 POUR, then call it that. Listing it as a service based on a $6 mini-bottle, then expecting two patrons paying $6 each to split what you'd give one person for $6 makes no sense. Outside of that unfortunate start, the meal ended beautifully. My lobster squid ink pasta is easily the best meal on the menu. Al dente, homemade noodles in that delightfully creamy sauce? Perfect umami, perfect portion size, perfect amount of lobster (I hate when restaurants skimp!). I would be remiss in my food review duties if I didn't mention the appetizers. Wow-we! The fried artichokes were a sight to behold, and a delight to consume. That sauce they make to accompany the artichoke is clearly made of crack, so be careful. Get "The Dunk" for the table...hell, get two. I'm definitely coming back to this spot for what is now my new favorite pasta dish, but I'll likely just stick to a G&T from the bar. If I pay for one of those I don't have to share, no matter how many other people at my table order one. ‍ read more

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After a recent visit, it seemed time to confirm that Pepp and Delores is still a five star restaurant in my book. We came a few weeks before Christmas with my book club. The six of us were seated at a cozy table in the basement. Our waiter asked if we wanted a rundown of the menu and make sure to bring us drinks promptly. We decided to split the ricotta, appetizer and meatballs among the table. These are a great addition to our meal. I had the lobster pasta as my entrée. The squid ink in the pasta makes for a truly unique experience. The after dinner cookies are the perfect way to top off the meal! read more

Pepp & Dolores - Lobster pasta - Italian Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

We had a great meal here during a short stay in Cincinnati. The pasta was as expected from an Italian restaurant that makes scratch pasta. It's getting harder to find good pasta, and I appreciate when pasta is done well. The appetizers were all tasty (especially the bread and butter) and the cocktails were well thought out and reasonably priced. If you're looking for real Italian, I would consider giving this place a shot! read more