Zio Peppe

Name: Zio Peppe
Address: 6502 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson, AZ, United States, 85715-3811
Telephone: (520) 888-4242
Price range: $30 and under
Rating: 4.7

4.7

208 Reviews

$30 and under

Italian

Top Tags:

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.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 25, 2024

11:30 PM

Booked 7 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Elegant
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Italian, Pizzeria, Contemporary Mexican
Hours of operation
Daily 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
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
Neighborhood
East Tucson
Cross street
Kolb
Parking details
Private Lot
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

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

Salads

Caesar$12.00
romaine, Parmigiano, garlic croutons
Mesclun$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 Linguine$21.00
durum semolina and wolfberry pasta, shrimp, garlic butter, cilantro & basil pesto
Fettuccine Alfredo$15.00
make it Alfredorado (Alfredo sauce + red chile purée) +$2 [not vegetarian]
Rigatoni & Chiltepin Arrabiata$15.00
ridged tubes with spicy tomato and chile sauce
Green Chile Rigatoni Bolognese$21.00
New Mexico green chile rigatoni, braised beef short rib, bolognese sauce, salsa verde, Pecorino Romano
Lasagne Sonorense$18.00
chorizo, red chile sauce, chile con queso, ricotta, spinach
Rotini alla Tequila$18.00
spiral pasta, tequila tomato cream, fennel sausage, ricotta

Specialty Pizzas

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

Et Cetera

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

Desserts

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

What 208 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.7Service
4.2Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Tucson
Best Overall
Tucson
Best Food
Tucson
Innovative
Tucson
Healthy
Tucson
Neighborhood gem
Tucson
Great for fine wines
Tucson
Italian
Tucson
Best Overall
Tucson
Best Food
Tucson
Innovative
Tucson
Good for groups
Tucson
Healthy
Tucson
Neighborhood gem
Tucson
Great for fine wines
Tucson
Italian

208 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Boise
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is a great little place. Outstanding food and nice staff. Went to a wine pairing event here which was fun and a bit different from the norm.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Tucson
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The La Spinetta Wine Dinner was fantastic - great wines, incredible food, just enough information about both without going too long … definitely looking forward to the next one.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Antonio
1 review
vip
5.0
1 review
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Delicious and wonderful wine dinner event! Perfectly paired dishes with the different wines from La Spinetta. Just a wonderful and friendly dinner experience.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Phoenix
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This experience was our first at Zio Peppe. The food was excellent and the service even better. A little on the expensive side for pasta, but we enjoyed every single bite. The cocktails were also very good. The restaurant has a “comfort” feel to it . We will definitely return and highly recommend to others.
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J
Jane
Tucson
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Really enjoy going to Zio Peppe. Food is very good, not just your traditional Italian food that you can get at almost any Italian restaurant. Their dishes are innovative and interesting. Always enjoy having dinner there, and I love the addition of the tablecloths. It makes it feel just a little more special
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H
Henry
Phoenix
13 reviews
vip
4.0
13 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
We have enjoyed a number of excellent meals in this restaurant. This past visit, we found the tables to be too close and not very intimate at all. It was uncomfortable with table conversations on both sides.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Tucson
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on May 13, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
Had family of 8 to dinner on Mother’s Day. Restaurant easily accommodated large party. Service was excellent but food delivery was slow. Some entrees like salmon were hard to visualize from the description. Restaurant was packed and obviously has a loyal following.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Alabama
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on May 12, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great ambience! The food was amazing. We shared the Elote Arancini and Tamale Polenta. Love the Italian with Southwest fusion. So clever. Shrimp and wolf linguini was so delicious. Special for Mothers Day was Bread pudding. Best ever. Drinks were great. Highly recommend
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OT
OpenTable Diner
St. Louis
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on May 12, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The food and service is outstanding! The menu provides a nice variety, plenty of options to satisfy the whole family of varying ages. We will definitely return.
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T
Teehouse
Phoenix
27 reviews
vip
5.0
27 reviews
Dined on May 5, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We enjoyed our time at Zio Peppe very much. The bread was so good with pesto dip! I had the mesclun salad and my husband had the Caesar salad, both of which were excellent but too large as a pre-dinner salad. I had the salmon which was cooked so well and accompanied by some sore of pea puree which made an artistic presentation! My husband had the short ribs which were also excellent. I wish we could have had dessert but the meal was too substantial, so we will get dessert next time. There were so many servers that things moved along smoothly. Highly recommend this place!
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AF
AnnFann
Alabama
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on May 2, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Best Pizza ever—not to mention the Taconnoli dessert. Love this place.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Phoenix
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on April 29, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Love Zio Peppe. Delicious food and drinks!! Favorite dish is the birria pizza and the green chili bolognese!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on April 27, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The food and service are great. Much better than you’d expect from a hole-in-the wall place. We were very pleased.
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KR
KatherineR
Phoenix
5 reviews
vip
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on April 25, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 3
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 2
There was an odd sewage smell when we arrived and seemed to be coming from the cooler in the front but I also have a sensitive nose. They were quick to seat us and take our order. The food came out in a reasonable time frame. One dish was a little spicier than we anticipated but all in all the food was good. We’ve had better experiences here in the past but will come back again.
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F
Foodie84
Tucson
98 reviews
vip
5.0
98 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Can't get enough of the wolf pasta and caesar salad. Order same every time because it is sooooo good. I have to break down and try other things on the menu!
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JJ
JennieJ
Tucson
19 reviews
vip
5.0
19 reviews
Dined on April 15, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The ziggy stardust & elite arancini are amazingly yummy. Nice wine list too. And the service was great.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Phoenix
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 13, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Zio Peppe was wonderful! I had booked a table for a bunch of my teachers before we went to supervise prom. They were so fast and efficient with our service knowing we were in a little hurry! Will be back for sure.
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K
Kelly
Tucson
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on April 11, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We love Zio Peppe’s cuisine. It’s always delicious and inspired this time we brought a long time friend who was wowed.
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W
Winodoc
Phoenix
29 reviews
vip
5.0
29 reviews
Dined on April 10, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Quite a surprise. Excellent innovative dishes prepared to perfection. Excellent cocktails and wines. Unique restaurant for the Foothills location...It's more like a downtown type establishment. We will be returning.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Tucson
2 reviews
4.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 7, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
For and service was excellent. I had fettuccine Alfredo with grilled shrimp, and my friend had the short ribs. Not much on ambiance as the place is loud and the tables are close together. But that won't keep us from going back. Must have reservations on Saturday night. The place was packed from 5 pm on.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Austin
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on April 6, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was delicious!!!! Second time eating here and it doesn’t disappoint. Got the figgy stardust pizza and the pasta with the sausage. SO good
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J
Justus
Tucson
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on April 5, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 3
The food was excellent and prepared well. The service also was fine; friendly and he answered all of our questions. We shall return!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Tucson
5 reviews
vip
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on March 31, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Our service was top notch! Everything was amazing
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Diego
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on March 31, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Just… amazing. The food was unique and wonderful, the service and ambiance were spectacular. It’s just the place to go in Tucson. Thank you, Chef!
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S
Sperson18
Denver
53 reviews
5.0
53 reviews
Dined on March 23, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Everything was wonderful! It was our first time.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
San Francisco
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on March 23, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great first time visit. Loved the menu and the Birria pizza
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B
Bp72
Denver
14 reviews
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on March 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
My husband and I had the wood fired bread, the Mesclun Salad and the Pizza Bîanchi plus beer and an Italian Rose to drink. Everything was very tasty and the staff was very friendly. The tables are a bit close together, but I understand that they are quite busy and trying to accommodate more diners. There is a patio with heaters as well that looks nice. I have been here once before with my mom, and the pasta was tasty and the chocotacannoli was out of this world. Definitely recommend.
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G
Gbird
Tucson
48 reviews
vip
5.0
48 reviews
Dined on March 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great food with a twist and interesting drinks! Highly recommend!
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V
Veggiemel
New York City
22 reviews
5.0
22 reviews
Dined on March 8, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The restaurant smelled amazing from the second we entered and it did not disappoint! The food was exceptional. It tasted absolutely amazing and the presentation was fantastic. Being gluten free, I appreciated the gluten free options.
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S
Suro
Richmond
13 reviews
5.0
13 reviews
Dined on March 2, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food, professional service, fun atmosphere. I can’t believe I’ve never tried Zio Peppe before now!
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FH
FrankieH
Tucson
13 reviews
4.0
13 reviews
Dined on February 29, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
This was a surprisingly busy night - middle of the week, and on a rainy night, no less! Service was a little slow, which I attribute to how busy it was, but the server was friendly, knowledgeable, and honestly doing their best to ensure we were taken care of. The food was amazing, such an interesting fusion of traditional Italian but with a southwest flair! Love that the wine list shows a nice selection of Arizona wines included. Will definitely be coming back, as I think I would like to eat my way through the entire menu! 😁
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JT
JTMcC
Tucson
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on February 25, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
This was a first visit to Zio Peppe and we had a wonderful experience. Great food and a very Welcoming atmosphere.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Phoenix
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 25, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This is a wonderful place we have discovered since moving to Tucson. Small place but family vibe.
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NB
NancyB
Tucson
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on February 25, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
This little restaurant, though hard to find heading east on Tanque Verde, is worth spending time with your GPS to locate. The food was fantastic! The service was excellent, friendly and just the right amount of attentive. The outside dining is right on both the driveway and the street, so it's fairly noisy, but the driveway is visually blocked by sun shades mounted vertically. The waitstaff and the hostess were VERY accommodating, and gave great menu advice. The value for your money is outstanding! I had the best white pizza I think I've ever had, and my husband's Bolognese pasta was similarly amazing. Make your reservation NOW.
Is this helpful?
OT
OpenTable Diner
Tucson
1 review
4.0
1 review
Dined on February 23, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Food was good! It was really slow to come out, and I had a very hard time flagging down our server, so that’s reflected in the rating. Great quality food - my husbands dinner was a weird combo of flavors, but it’s clear they’ve out a lot of thought into the menu. Looking forward to going back.
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AB
AnnB
Tucson
18 reviews
4.0
18 reviews
Dined on February 22, 2024
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Nice menu, great service, great taste to the items we ordered. My only challenge was finding the restaurant as the name is not visible when approaching it going east. I had to circle the block a couple times before I spotted it when heading back west on Tranque Verde.
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R
Ruby
Phoenix
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 18, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Service was amazing! Food was in big portions and so so delicious, with a Mexican twist on some food which I thought was spectacular. Anything on the menu was to die for and the pasta and wine even better. My boyfriend tried his first ever wood fired pizza and was also in love! We had a reservation at 8:30 the closed at 9 but let us stay to enjoy our food without rush. Became one of our fav spots in Tucson to go to :) We will be back for sure!
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LL
LynL
New York City
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on February 18, 2024
1. Overall 3
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 1
The meal was fine, but, on a Saturday night, the restaurant was jammed, tables were pushed closely together, and the high noise level required our group of four to yell at each other in an attempt to converse. If we return, it will be only on a weeknight.
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PM
PatrickM
Phoenix
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on February 15, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellent Valentine’s Day experience, highly recommend!
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MT
MarieT
San Francisco
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined on February 15, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The Valentine’s Day Dinner is always special. The pre fixe menu is outstanding! The combination of foods and flavors is amazing.
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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 4.7 stars by 208 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

May 25, 2024

11:30 PM

Booked 7 times today

Order delivery or takeout

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

Dining areas

Additional information

Cross street
Kolb
Neighborhood
East Tucson
Hours of operation
Daily 11:00 am–9:00 pm
Price
$30 and under
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
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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 reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information

Salmon

Caesar

Mesclun

Starters / Shares

Tamale Polenta$9.00

Roasted Broccoli$9.00

Whiskey del Bac Fundido$12.00

Calamarrones$14.00

Elote Arancini$10.00

Bread & Spread$8.00

Salads

Caesar$12.00

Mesclun$13.00

Pastas

Wolf and Shrimp Linguine$21.00

Fettuccine Alfredo$15.00

Rigatoni & Chiltepin Arrabiata$15.00

Green Chile Rigatoni Bolognese$21.00

Lasagne Sonorense$18.00

Rotini alla Tequila$18.00

Specialty Pizzas

Margherita$16.00

Bianca$18.00

Figgy Stardust$18.00

Umami Tsunami$17.00

El Rustico Birria$20.00

Et Cetera

Shrimp Culichi Risotto$24.00

Mushroom Risotto$18.00

Salmon$24.00

Seasonal Gnocchi with Braised Short Rib$24.00

Desserts

Chocoflan$9.00

Taconnoli$9.00

Chocotaconnoli$10.00

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

Does Zio Peppe offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Zio Peppe restaurant rated?

Is Zio Peppe currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Dining areas

Additional information