Pepe's Taverna
Pepe's Taverna
Pepe's Taverna
96 Dalry Road
Edinburgh
(0131) 3379774
Italian restaurants come in all shapes, sizes and styles these days. There are the big chains such as Pizza Hut and Pizza Express, some very chic ones, such as Glasgow’s Parmigiano and Vesuvio’s, and those unique independent one-offs you find tucked away in the most obscure places. And finding a good one in this, the rarest category, is like finding a gold nugget.
Pepe’s, in Dalry Road, Edinburgh, is one such place. Off the beaten track but only around five minutes’ stroll from the city’s Haymarket Station, this cosy, friendly eaterie radiates exactly the kind of atmosphere you’d find in Italy itself simply because it’s family-owned and run.
There are no airs and graces here – the infectious humour of the staff rubs off on everyone. On a busy weekend evening, Pepes is reminiscent of a family party. A table of diners near me burst into a rendition of Renee and Renato’s "Save Your Love" encouraged by one of the waiters.
And one couple, attempting to have a romantic dinner for two, could not help but be swept into the revelry as another waiter pretended to kidnap the lady.
The food is equally satisfying. Excellent Italian starters such as minestrone soup, garlic pizza bread and mozzarella and olive salad (�2.00 - �3.50) set you up for some fantastic main courses from the traditional pastas like spaghetti, lasagne and cannelloni to the full range of pizzas and Italian salads (from �5.00 to �8.00).
And then there are the desserts, coffees and, best of all, wines (from �10.00 upwards) that make Italian cuisine as popular as it is. I could easily sit in Pepes all night.
Pepe’s off-centre locale, which caters for a mainly suburban clientele, helps keeps prices down to a reasonable figure, but even if you do push the boat out, it’s the unique one-off feel of the place that makes dining here a such a happy experience.
"Well, you have to enjoy your work!" said my waiter as I left.
See you in there next time!
- Peter Murphy
