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Special-occasion landmark serving Spanish-Continental fare & sangria in cozy, underground environs.
Address and Contact Information
Address: 10 E Franklin St, Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 539-4675
Menu Photos
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Related Web Results
Fine Spanish and Mediterranean Cuisine | Tio Pepe Restaurante …
As the only restaurant in Baltimore, MD, that offers authentic, homemade Spanish and Mediterranean food, Restaurante Tio Pepe is a one-of-a-kind experience.
Restaurante Tio Pepe | Baltimore MD – Facebook
To place your order, contact Restaurante Tio Pepe at 410-539-4675 and mention ‘Stevenson Neighborhood’ ○ All orders must be received by 8:00pm on Friday, …
Restaurante Tio Pepe | Visit Baltimore
Restaurante Tio Pepe … Heralded as one of Baltimore’s most popular restaurants, we are dedicated to offering authentic Spanish cuisine such as paella, fillet of …
Reviews
Kei P
This place is legendary. Im now 48 and my mom said she came here while pregnant with me. Food is very tasty, service and smiles excellent! I really enjoyed the garlic shrimp appetizer and stuffed rockfish. I can definitely see why local folks keep coming back. I believe I’d feel a bit more comfortable if the restaurant was in a location unburdened by underground moisture smell and those elements that go along with an older establishment. Overall, very nice experience celebrating my mom’s 73rd bday.
… moreLatiasha Broadway
I went to Tio Pepe for lunch with my coworkers on December 16, 2025, and as someone who has lived in Baltimore my entire life, I was surprised to realize I had never heard of this restaurant before.
Let’s start with the pros, because there were many. The ambiance is absolutely lovely. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted warmly and professionally. They take your coats (checked at the front), seat you immediately, and the dim lighting creates a cozy, elegant, family-style atmosphere. It felt welcoming and classic, and I truly loved everything about the environment.
The service was also excellent. Our servers were attentive, kind, and efficient. We didn’t wait long for our food, and the staff overall was very pleasant and professional.
The menu had an impressive variety of options, all of which looked amazing. One of my coworkers and I both ordered the Pollo y Langosta Catalina — chicken and lobster tail sautéed in a sherry-infused seafood sauce. Flavor-wise, it was outstanding. The sauce was creamy, rich, and absolutely delicious, truly the highlight of the meal.
Unfortunately, this is where the experience took a disappointing turn.
When the entrées arrived, the other plates were placed directly on the table. However, the server removed both my plate and one of my coworker’s plates from the table to prepare our dish on a table directly behind us. I did not turn around to observe whether the entrée was divided or exactly what was done; however, after a few minutes, both plates were returned with food on them. By the time the dish was served, the portions we received were extremely small. Each plate contained only a small scoop of rice and very minimal amounts of chicken and lobster in sauce. I am unsure whether this is standard practice, but the portion size was disappointing given the price. The rice itself also lacked flavor.
For a $50 entrée, there is absolutely no reason it should be split between two plates unless it is clearly intended to be shared (which seems to be what may have happened). Everyone else at the table received generous, appropriate servings, which made the discrepancy very noticeable. This was both surprising and disappointing.
While the food itself tasted wonderful, the portion issue significantly impacted the experience. Sadly, because of this, I don’t think I’ll be returning. It’s unfortunate, because Tio Pepe has so much going for it, ambiance, service, and flavor, but portion value matters, especially at that price point.
… moreLet’s start with the pros, because there were many. The ambiance is absolutely lovely. From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted warmly and professionally. They take your coats (checked at the front), seat you immediately, and the dim lighting creates a cozy, elegant, family-style atmosphere. It felt welcoming and classic, and I truly loved everything about the environment.
The service was also excellent. Our servers were attentive, kind, and efficient. We didn’t wait long for our food, and the staff overall was very pleasant and professional.
The menu had an impressive variety of options, all of which looked amazing. One of my coworkers and I both ordered the Pollo y Langosta Catalina — chicken and lobster tail sautéed in a sherry-infused seafood sauce. Flavor-wise, it was outstanding. The sauce was creamy, rich, and absolutely delicious, truly the highlight of the meal.
Unfortunately, this is where the experience took a disappointing turn.
When the entrées arrived, the other plates were placed directly on the table. However, the server removed both my plate and one of my coworker’s plates from the table to prepare our dish on a table directly behind us. I did not turn around to observe whether the entrée was divided or exactly what was done; however, after a few minutes, both plates were returned with food on them. By the time the dish was served, the portions we received were extremely small. Each plate contained only a small scoop of rice and very minimal amounts of chicken and lobster in sauce. I am unsure whether this is standard practice, but the portion size was disappointing given the price. The rice itself also lacked flavor.
For a $50 entrée, there is absolutely no reason it should be split between two plates unless it is clearly intended to be shared (which seems to be what may have happened). Everyone else at the table received generous, appropriate servings, which made the discrepancy very noticeable. This was both surprising and disappointing.
While the food itself tasted wonderful, the portion issue significantly impacted the experience. Sadly, because of this, I don’t think I’ll be returning. It’s unfortunate, because Tio Pepe has so much going for it, ambiance, service, and flavor, but portion value matters, especially at that price point.
Justin Mendoza
Came here for a birthday celebration. The atmosphere was lively. Lots of families and large groups were there on a Saturday night. The sangria which most tables seemed to have was great. Standouts were the garlic shrimp, paella, mushroom toast, and Tio Pepe beef. Our waiter Oscar was awesome. It was my first time at the restaurant and I can see why it’s been a local favorite for many years.
… moreJessica Silverman
Visited for the 1st time in 10 years. Gambas al ajillo recipe was changed. It was OK, but nothing special.
Empty on the Thursday before valentines day. Sea bass special was bone dry and only a drop of burnt sauce. No seasoning on rice or greenbeans. Sangria was still great. Staff were uninterested….did not have the same charm.
… moreEmpty on the Thursday before valentines day. Sea bass special was bone dry and only a drop of burnt sauce. No seasoning on rice or greenbeans. Sangria was still great. Staff were uninterested….did not have the same charm.
Mr. T
Having traveled to over 50 countries and sampled cuisines worldwide, I can say without reservation that Tio Pepe in Baltimore is in my top three favorite restaurant experiences ever. The food was authentic and amazing, with generous portions that arrived perfectly hot and seasoned—no extra salt or pepper required!
Beyond the incredible meal, the “Spanish grotto” ambiance and the exceptional staff put this experience over the top. From the bartender to the servers, I was treated with genuine dignity and respect. The staff made us feel so comfortable that they practically became family at our table, sharing stories and jokes that had us all in laughter. I cannot imagine a better place for a special date night or a family looking for a unique restaurant that will expand their children’s palates and imaginations. I highly recommend Tio Pepe without hesitation!
… moreBeyond the incredible meal, the “Spanish grotto” ambiance and the exceptional staff put this experience over the top. From the bartender to the servers, I was treated with genuine dignity and respect. The staff made us feel so comfortable that they practically became family at our table, sharing stories and jokes that had us all in laughter. I cannot imagine a better place for a special date night or a family looking for a unique restaurant that will expand their children’s palates and imaginations. I highly recommend Tio Pepe without hesitation!
Caroline Oneill
Just went back for the first time in a few years and it was absolutely fantastic. We ordered drinks at the bar, had table sangria, ordered appetizers (must try the garlic shrimp) and ordered paella as our main entree. I need to come back here more. No notes at all!
… moreAshley Tillery
Where do I even start? My husband made a reservation for 3 people on 12/27 to celebrate my birthday. After a little bit of a wait we were seated at a table in the corner while another staff member rushed to put plates and napkins down. About 5-10 minutes later someone, not a server, came and dropped off ONE glass of water… for 3 people. We joked that we would share it but for the next 10 minutes we actually did have to share it because no one came back. Finally a server came and took our drink order. My husband ordered a CLUB SODA and I said I was fine with just water. Since it took so long for a server to even come to us we decided to put some appetizers in also. We ordered 3 appetizers. After about another 10 minutes his drink was dropped off, but it wasn’t club soda. It was a vodka soda. Imagine if he was an alcoholic who no longer drank, imagine if our 8 year old daughter who regularly drinks club soda had grabbed it and took a drink. After confirming it was vodka soda, we got the servers attention and let him know. He seemed very confused as to what we were saying even after repeatedly saying “No vodka. Just club soda. Soda water. No alcohol.” A bit later someone dropped off bread and butter, but we had no silverware so unless we wanted to grab the butter with our bare hands, we weren’t eating that. Finally a server comes back and asks if we are ready to order. Of course the one thing my husband wanted to eat, veal, was not available. Okay, no problem. I ordered the crab cakes that were on the specials menu. After that the server asks if we wanted to order any appetizers. Umm, what? We put those in already, no? I let him know we already ordered those and again, pure confusion and he just started looking around the room. We were over it. Our reservation was at 7. It was now 8pm. We said we were leaving, got up, grabbed our things and headed out. We let the woman behind the bar know we had terrible service. She was very apologetic but it was getting late and we had our two daughters with us so we needed to find food and be done with it. We ended up going to a restaurant in Little Italy, where we had great service. Wouldn’t recommend. Won’t be trying again.
… moreSandra O
I would like to make it clear this review does not come from a rude or hateful perspective. I am a diner of 20+ years and have eaten at restaurants at each price range. I also have a degree in the fine culinary arts, in which I specialized in seafood preparation. This is easily the worst restaurant I have ever been to and it was an absolutely terrible dining experience.
Tonight I went to Restaurante Tio Pepe, which I had chosen to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my fiancée. We ordered the escargot and artichoke, each was fine. Nothing special.
The problem was when our entrees arrived, I had ordered the Buttered Langostinos— which when served to me, they were simply shrimp. Langostino is a specific breed of prawn which have much larger tails and resemble a lobster— I suggest you google and compare the two. Besides the fact that it was falsely advertised, it was disgusting. It was bland, tasted of rotting seafood, and made me want to throw up. I wish I took a photo because it looked like cafeteria food. My fiancée ordered the duck, which smelled rancid, was exceedingly dry. It also made his stomach ache and nausea form through the night.
When I addressed this with the floor manager— he laughed at me and my fiancée, and tried to say “all langostino in Spain are shrimp” which is simply untrue. I continued to stand up for myself, and he didn’t listen to a word I said. He did offer a different meal, but my partner and I were so disgusted and disappointed in our experience that we just wanted to go home. He did not charge for our entrees as we didn’t eat them, which I do appreciate. The waiter was kind, and said he would communicate with the kitchen.
I ended up crying at the table because I was really sad and disappointed in my experience. As a chef myself, this was disappointing and disgraceful. People work hard to earn money, and the food wasn’t worth my hard earned money. Restaurants have a responsibility to cook good food, and when the customer has an issue you should address it more appropriately.
I wouldn’t reccomend anyone to dine here. I thought it was a Baltimore legend, but it was a sham.
… moreTonight I went to Restaurante Tio Pepe, which I had chosen to celebrate Valentine’s Day with my fiancée. We ordered the escargot and artichoke, each was fine. Nothing special.
The problem was when our entrees arrived, I had ordered the Buttered Langostinos— which when served to me, they were simply shrimp. Langostino is a specific breed of prawn which have much larger tails and resemble a lobster— I suggest you google and compare the two. Besides the fact that it was falsely advertised, it was disgusting. It was bland, tasted of rotting seafood, and made me want to throw up. I wish I took a photo because it looked like cafeteria food. My fiancée ordered the duck, which smelled rancid, was exceedingly dry. It also made his stomach ache and nausea form through the night.
When I addressed this with the floor manager— he laughed at me and my fiancée, and tried to say “all langostino in Spain are shrimp” which is simply untrue. I continued to stand up for myself, and he didn’t listen to a word I said. He did offer a different meal, but my partner and I were so disgusted and disappointed in our experience that we just wanted to go home. He did not charge for our entrees as we didn’t eat them, which I do appreciate. The waiter was kind, and said he would communicate with the kitchen.
I ended up crying at the table because I was really sad and disappointed in my experience. As a chef myself, this was disappointing and disgraceful. People work hard to earn money, and the food wasn’t worth my hard earned money. Restaurants have a responsibility to cook good food, and when the customer has an issue you should address it more appropriately.
I wouldn’t reccomend anyone to dine here. I thought it was a Baltimore legend, but it was a sham.
Ron Rygelski
We celebrated my son Matthew’s graduation from Peabody Conservatory Masters program with supper at this iconic Baltimore establishment. The food, service, and atmosphere were all excellent and exceeded my already high expectations. Extra kudos to our primarily Spanish speaking waiter, he was outstanding in every respect. We indulged in sumptuous oysters Rockefeller as well as Tio Pepe’s special version, oysters topped with crab and smothered in champagne sauce. We sampled the puffed potatoes (sort of a three dimensional homemade potato chip that is addictively delicious), and incredibly savory mushroom toast, highly recommended. From rack of lamb to paella for two, our entree’s were cooked to perfection and served with military precision, exactly what one would expect from a first class Spanish Restaurant. Refreshing ice cold red Sangria flowed freely from a seemingly bottomless porcelain pitcher. In an era where glorified sandwich shops and Tapas bars substitute for what once was fine dining, Tio Pepe is a refreshing trip to times gone by. Thank you, thank you for never changing. We will return soon.
… moreElida Soriano
I was there a week ago. Honestly, the food was super delicious, but the waiters weren’t friendly at all. I think they saw us as Latinos the moment we walked in. The girl at customer service gave us a really unfriendly look, and the waiter didn’t even come over to offer us anything else to drink. He just served us the food and left us there as if our money wasn’t worth the same as in other places. We felt unwelcome, and to top it all off, the glass they served my water in had red lipstick on it.
… more