Pepe Nero Restaurant — Restaurant in City of Edinburgh

We had the pleasure of dining at Pepe Nero a year ago, and we were so smitten with the people and the food that we returned two nights in a row.

When we came back to Edinburgh this year to celebrate my birthday, there was no question about where we would go for dinner. We had yet another excellent meal, and we were treated so well by Daniella and Chris that we felt welcomed and valued. The hearty rendition of Happy Birthday made me laugh out loud. It truly felt like a celebration, and they helped to make it special indeed. We returned the next night as well and met Francesca, and we were charmed by her as well.

The restaurant experience is about food, of course, and the quality of food at Pepe Nero is very high indeed. However, it is also true that the people make the place, and the people who make Pepe Nero run like clockwork are personable, charming, professional, and just plain lovely.

We give the place four thumbs up - two apiece, and we would gladly give them more than five stars if only that...

Overpriced cold pasta with unseasoned meat, and the saltiest salad I've ever eaten. Pizza was OK but mostly disappointing. We were fobbed off with the "specials" going in and foolishly took them. The first bite made it clear that they were getting rid of some old ingredients, or (I suspect) serving us food that had sat prepared since before we entered the restaurant.

Part of the issue may have been that we went in around 8:30pm, which is quite close to the 9pm closing time of the kitchen. Although, we didn't know that going in and if you're going to sit us at that time it's not really an excuse.

Staff were friendly enough and the bottle of wine was reasonable, and accounts for about half of the price per person. As we ate the staff were busy clearing up and preparing to close, which is fair enough and I wouldn't expect them to work overtime on our account, but it's really quite hard to enjoy a meal of cold tagliatelle and salted lettuce when you're being ushered out the door. I wouldn't...

The place was reassuringly busy, which is always an indication of quality. My starter, haggis croquettes, was delicious, and of just the right size to whet my appetite for the main course, succulent ravioli. The combination of the food, the company, and the warm evening made the whole dining experience charming. There were two of us present, so here is the complement of this two-part review:

The salad was excellent; abundant, individual items served in just the right quantity relative to each other. Presentation-wise, it was wonderfully creative and aesthetically perfect. There was just the right amount of oil to moisten but not drown and just enough balsamic vinegar to flavour...