Zio Peppe

4.6

268 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Make a booking

2 people

25 Dec 2024

19:00

Neighbourhood gem
Innovative
Great for creative cocktails

Zio Peppe is where tradition meets innovation, serious collides with playful, and gourmet converges with casual. Zio Peppe means “Uncle Joe’ in Italian, and just like a beloved “funcle” – a fun uncle, Zio Peppe will make sure all are welcome, and everybody is having a good time.

Zio Peppe is a collaboration between Chef Devon Sanner and Chef Mat Cable. Our menu is anchored in Italian-American classics of pizza and pasta, but draws heavy influence from the foods and flavor profiles of Tucson and the Sonoran region.

Sanner joins forces with Cable after having cooked under Tucson culinary legend Janos Wilder for the past 15 years, serving as chef at Janos, JBAR, Downtown + Cocktails, and The Carriage House.

Zio Peppe, which means “Uncle Joe” in Italian, is in part a tribute to Cable’s uncle, Joe Sottosanti, who opened Tucson’s first Sicilian pizza place, Tesseo’s Pizzeria, nearly 50 years ago.

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Pizzeria, Contemporary Mexican
Hours of Operation
Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun 11:00 am–8:00 pm Tue 5:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–9:00 pm
Phone number
(520) 888-4242
Website
https://ziopeppeaz.com/
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Casual Dress
Executive Chef
Devon Sanner + Mat Cable
Catering
Zio Peppe can fulfill your catering needs! Whether it's a casual office lunch, an intimate in-home dinner for close friends and family, a wedding reception, or a black tie gala, Zio Peppe can create custom menus to suit. Zio Peppe caterings are available for pickups, dropoffs, buffet service, or fully staffed plated meals or hors d'oeuvre.
Private party facilities
Zio Peppe is available for buyout events for up to 60 guests. Contact us at events@ziopeppeaz.com to inquire about availability, menus, and pricing.

Location
6502 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ 85715-3811
Area
East Tucson
Cross Street
Kolb
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Vegan

Popular dishes

Tamale PolentaUS$9.00
smoked cheddar, roasted chiles, red pepper relish
Roasted BroccoliUS$9.00
garlic, lemon, Parmigiano
Whiskey del Bac FundidoUS$12.00
Corn or Tillman chips, guajillo & black garlic crema, queso fundido with Whiskey Del Bac and fennel sausage
CalamarronesUS$14.00
Calamari, chicharrones, Alsace macha aioli, sweet & sour citrus, herbs (contains peanuts)
Elote AranciniUS$10.00
street corn + risotto, lime crema, queso fresco
Bread & SpreadUS$8.00
With garlic and oil. Add spreads: Artichoke fonduta, Honey/chamomile goat cheese, Poblano chile con queso, Cilantro & basil pesto

Salads

CaesarUS$12.00
romaine, Parmigiano, garlic croutons
MesclunUS$13.00
mixed greens, pecorino, seasonal fruit, Green Valley pecans, honey lemon citronette

Pastas

Get your pasta served in focaccia bread bowl +$3. All pasta dishes can substitute a gluten free fettuccine or penne except the lasagne

Wolf and Shrimp LinguineUS$21.00
durum semolina and wolfberry pasta, shrimp, garlic butter, cilantro & basil pesto
Fettuccine AlfredoUS$15.00
make it Alfredorado (Alfredo sauce + red chile purée) +$2 [not vegetarian]
Rigatoni & Chiltepin ArrabiataUS$15.00
ridged tubes with spicy tomato and chile sauce
Green Chile Rigatoni BologneseUS$21.00
New Mexico green chile rigatoni, braised beef short rib, bolognese sauce, salsa verde, Pecorino Romano
Lasagne SonorenseUS$18.00
chorizo, red chile sauce, chile con queso, ricotta, spinach
Rotini alla TequilaUS$18.00
spiral pasta, tequila tomato cream, fennel sausage, ricotta

Specialty Pizzas

MargheritaUS$16.00
fresh mozzarella, Stanislaus tomatoes, basil
BiancaUS$18.00
ricotta, fresh mozzarella, fennel sausage, BKW blue oyster mushrooms, pecorino EVOO
Figgy StardustUS$18.00
figs, bacon, fresh mozzarella, honey & chamomile goat cheese, pomegranate drizzle
Umami TsunamiUS$17.00
soy pickled shiitake, black garlic, Bacio, goat horn peppers, shallot cream, Parmigiano
El Rustico BirriaUS$20.00
Chef Juan Almanza's legendary beef birria, mozzarella, onion, cilantro, consommé

Et Cetera

Shrimp Culichi RisottoUS$24.00
poblano cream sauce, lemon crema, pickled red onion
Mushroom RisottoUS$18.00
BKW Farms blue oyster mushrooms, pecorino, portobellos, smoked poblanos, truffle zest, allium
SalmonUS$24.00
Pan-seared salmon, tamale cake, basil and pea coulis, coconut-lime-butterfly pea sauce
Seasonal Gnocchi with Braised Short RibUS$24.00
House adequate gnocchi, ancho and red wine braised beef short rib, brodo, pea tendrils, parmesan espuma

Desserts

ChocoflanUS$9.00
chocolate cake with chile and cinnamon, Marsala wine accented custard, cajeta, candied Green Valley Pecans
TaconnoliUS$9.00
sweet pastry taco shells, pistachio ricotta mascarpone cream, orange zest
ChocotaconnoliUS$10.00
Dark chocolate-dipped pastry taco shells, ricotta mascarpone cream with cocoa nibs, spiced candied pepitas

What 268 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6

4.6 based on recent ratings

4.6Food
4.4Service
4.1Ambience
4.1Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

Tucson
Innovative
Tucson
Italian
Tucson
Innovative
Tucson
Italian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Zio Peppe offers an innovative fusion of Italian and local Sonoran cuisine, delighting diners with "incredible" flavors and "outstanding" service. The pizzas, especially the "figgy stardust," are a highlight, while the desserts and entrées receive praise. The atmosphere is lively, and the staff is attentive, making it a "must-try" destination in Tucson.

268 Reviews

J
Jeff
Phoenix
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Undoubtedly, one of the best Italian restaurants in town. The teramisu is to die for!
Is this helpful?
N
Nancy
VIP
Los Angeles
38 reviews
5.0
38 reviews
Dined on 16 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Low key place for excellent food and great service.
Is this helpful?
M
Mark
Tucson
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on 4 December 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Even though we were familiar with a co-owner and chef we had not tried Zio Peppe until last evening. Our first thought? "Why had we waited so long?" It is a small space tucked back off Tanque Verde Rd. near some other older restaurants and bars. Even though small, they have made efficient use of what they have to accomodate a good number of diners without feeling crowded. The menu is one of the more creative we have seen in town but thankfully not off the deep end on fusion of things of items that just should not be fused! Italian with a southwest flair along with Italian standards. We are former NYC residents who like to think of ourselves as "pizza snobs" and we were not disappointed in the Margherita pie we ordered (we added fennel sausage and mushrooms). First of all, the ingredients were top notch, including a slightly sweet tomato sauce, creamy mozzarella, real italian sausage, a good ratio to all, and most importantly to us, a crust that was light and crispy (good for folding, as any New Yorker knows, slices are supposed to be eaten). We cant wait to go back and try the pastas as well as the very interesting looking desserts. Great little "hidden gem" on Tucson's east side!
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K
Karen
VIP
Phoenix
53 reviews
5.0
53 reviews
Dined on 30 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Great food as always keeps us coming back. Just hate the parking lot.
Is this helpful?
M
Miriam
Tucson
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on 26 November 2024
1. Overall 1
2. Food 2
3. Service 2
4. Ambience 2
As a foodie, was looking forward to this Italian Mexican fusion. Great idea, but not executed well at all. Save your money and go elsewhere.
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K
Krista
Toronto
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on 21 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
All good. Mushroom risotto is fabulous and the birria pizza was interesting, but I still like the Margherita best
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D
David
Tucson
12 reviews
5.0
12 reviews
Dined on 20 November 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
We always get a great meal at ZP. The place was very crowded for a Tuesday evening, and many people showed up without reservations. The staff worked diligently to make sure that everyone was attended to, and we applaud their hard work. In our humble opinion, we feel that ZP always meets the standard for how an excellent restaurant should run - they reward their customers with great food and service.
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D
Dianne
VIP
Phoenix
91 reviews
4.0
91 reviews
Dined on 17 November 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 3
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Some things were extraordinary, like the birria pizza. Some things were average like the green Chile pasta. Some things were over the top like the attention from the chef when we arrived early for our reservation and he read the room like an expert. And, some things were uneven like calamari with fantastic crispy tentacles and grease sponge chicharonnes. Order the pizza and some beer and savor the good stuff!
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C
Connie
VIP
Tampa
73 reviews
2.0
73 reviews
Dined on 11 November 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 1
The short rib pasta was not edible. We left the whole dish and they still charged us for it.
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B
Becky
Tucson
13 reviews
2.0
13 reviews
Dined on 3 November 2024
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 3
Unfortunately our experience was not great. Upon sitting down we ordered drinks and appetizers, after discovering three out of the four of us had old outdated menus. The drinks took almost 40 minutes to arrive. Server kept making excuses as to why it was taking so long. Our meals were just ok. The gluten free pasta was so salty it was not edible. They did offer to remake but it was too late. At that point we were just ready to leave.
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FAQs

Zio Peppe offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (520) 888-4242.

Zio Peppe is rated 4.6 stars by 268 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people

25 Dec 2024

19:00

Order delivery or takeout

6502 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ 85715-3811

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross Street
Kolb
Area
East Tucson
Hours of Operation
Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun 11:00 am–8:00 pm Tue 5:00 pm–8:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–9:00 pm
Price
$31 to $50
Cuisines
Italian, Pizzeria, Contemporary Mexican
Dining style
Casual Elegant
Dress code
Casual Dress
Parking details
Private Lot
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive Chef
Devon Sanner + Mat Cable
Additional
Gluten-free Options, Vegan

Website
https://ziopeppeaz.com/
Phone number
(520) 888-4242
Catering
Zio Peppe can fulfill your catering needs! Whether it's a casual office lunch, an intimate in-home dinner for close friends and family, a wedding reception, or a black tie gala, Zio Peppe can create custom menus to suit. Zio Peppe caterings are available for pickups, dropoffs, buffet service, or fully staffed plated meals or hors d'oeuvre.
Private party facilities
Zio Peppe is available for buyout events for up to 60 guests. Contact us at events@ziopeppeaz.com to inquire about availability, menus, and pricing.

Zio Peppe

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Margherita

Fettuccine Alfredo

Mushroom Risotto

Starters / Shares

Tamale PolentaUS$9.00

Roasted BroccoliUS$9.00

Whiskey del Bac FundidoUS$12.00

CalamarronesUS$14.00

Elote AranciniUS$10.00

Bread & SpreadUS$8.00

Salads

CaesarUS$12.00

MesclunUS$13.00

Pastas

Wolf and Shrimp LinguineUS$21.00

Fettuccine AlfredoUS$15.00

Rigatoni & Chiltepin ArrabiataUS$15.00

Green Chile Rigatoni BologneseUS$21.00

Lasagne SonorenseUS$18.00

Rotini alla TequilaUS$18.00

Specialty Pizzas

MargheritaUS$16.00

BiancaUS$18.00

Figgy StardustUS$18.00

Umami TsunamiUS$17.00

El Rustico BirriaUS$20.00

Et Cetera

Shrimp Culichi RisottoUS$24.00

Mushroom RisottoUS$18.00

SalmonUS$24.00

Seasonal Gnocchi with Braised Short RibUS$24.00

Desserts

ChocoflanUS$9.00

TaconnoliUS$9.00

ChocotaconnoliUS$10.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Diners' Choice Awards

Review summary

FAQs

Does Zio Peppe offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Zio Peppe restaurant rated?

Is Zio Peppe currently accepting bookings?

Make a booking

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information