Pepenero — Restaurant in London

My wife and I were in the area for business and we decided to give Pepenero a try. Am I ever glad we did. We were fortunate enough to be served by Madalina who when I joked about needing a bigger menu (because their menu is extensive) brought me a BIGGER menu which really started off the experience well having someone with a sense of humor. Madalina was so sweet to talk to and helpful with the menu, not pushy or suggesting the most expensive thing on the menu but actually listening to what we were in the mood for and providing feedback accordingly. Attentive without being intrusive, kind without being fake. Quite a lovely lady. She really is an all-star server.

Once we ordered our dishes off Madalina went and suddenly appeared Vladimir. Vlad....That guy. You want to talk about someone who has passion for their job, look no further. Vlad is the bartender/Wine connoisseur/Whiskey expert/great guy. He comes to the table and has a relaxing presence and is a wealth of knowledge. Asks what you ordered, what your interested in and makes suggestions based off that. Much like with Madalina, it felt like Vlad really cared about trying to give us the best experience possible (which they both more than exceeded at). With Vlad I had the same feeling of him not trying to upsell everything but pair dishes to what he thought was best. He knew so much about the drinks he was serving that he felt like an encyclopedia and not like a boring know it all but like someone who cares so much about what he is doing and wants you to feel the same passion for what he is explaining as he does.

The combination of Madalina and Vlad and spectacular food make this place one that I will be returning to. I made sure to tell the manager about my experience and how not just Vlad and Madalina were great but the entire crew we had the pleasure of interacting with were also, I just don't know all the names to list them. The manager did made sure to visit us again before we left, he was very on top of everything and proud of his team, he let us know how much he appreciated the feedback and to make sure we had anything else we could have needed.

We made sure to come back before we had to leave the area. It felt like going home. We had Madalina serving again and it all just felt like we were a part of a family. They remembered us and were just as good the second time as the first. If I didn't live on the other side of the pond I would be making sure to make this place a regular location.

I know I didn't talk much of the food which I probably should add how good it was. The food was timely and well prepared, I don't exactly remember everything we had since this was about a month ago but I do know we left full and happy with the decisions that we were guided to. My suggestion is to go with an open mind and let the experts help you. They will take care of you, they do care and if you do this, you will leave happy.

I do apologize for it taking me a month to write this but I couldn't not. This place is an experience and one I will remember fondly until I am able to visit again....

The ExCel area doesn't offer much restaurant to eat (if you don't want to spend £10 to go to the O2 Centre) so me and my boyfriend, along with my working group, were so lucky to find Pepenero, an Italian restaurant! It was only 10min walk from where we were staying. The restaurant is very nice and elegant, we were a bit embarassed to enter with our after-work tired face. The atmosphere is very cosy and nice, we got a table in a corner with a very fancy sofa. Service is excellent: I forgot the last time a waiter opened and served me water in the glass, even in Italy you cannot find this level of courtesy (only in very fancy restaurant, I guess). While waiting for our plates to come, they offered us some bread along with a sauce of olive oil and origan, along with some spiced olives. Everything was delicious. The food was excellent! I ordered a light Caprese (mozzarella cheese and tomatoes), it isn't easy to make such a simple plate because you need the right quality of ingredients, and you can bet they do! My boyfriend got a Margherita and it was HUGE! But also so good! It was thin as pizza should be and very delighful. "Probably the best pizza in my life, and I'm eating it in London" he said. (NOTE: He is Italian!) My co-workers got Tagliatelle ai funghi, a plate of pasta with mushrooms. Also their plate was huge! And looked so yummy. I was quite envious, but I regret nothing since my Caprese was also perfect. We were so so so satisfied of our dinner! I 100% recommend this place if you want to eat proper Italian food in London. Also, a waiter is (or at least speaks very well) Italian and the manager is very friendly. If I'll ever come back to London and drop by ExCel, I'll go to this restaurant...

We stopped in at Pepernero Italian in Canning Town during MCM weekend for a quick evening meal and catch-up with friends, and it turned out to be just what we needed. The atmosphere was relaxed but lively, with a friendly buzz that made it easy to unwind after a busy day. It’s the kind of place that feels comfortable right away — casual enough for a quick bite but with enough character to make it feel like a proper treat.

The staff were welcoming and attentive without being overbearing, which really added to the experience. Everything came out promptly, even though it was a busy evening. I went for the calzone, which was excellent — crisp on the outside, soft inside, and packed with flavour. You could tell the ingredients were fresh, and it had that perfect balance of cheese, tomato, and seasoning that makes you pause after the first bite. Everyone at the table seemed happy with their choices too, with plenty of appreciative comments and empty plates by the end.

We rounded things off with a coffee, which was surprisingly good — rich and full-bodied, exactly how an Italian coffee should be. It was a nice way to slow down and end the evening, just chatting and laughing after a long day at the convention.

All in all, Pepernero hit the mark: simple, well-prepared food, good service, and a friendly setting that doesn’t try too hard. It’s easy to see why it’s popular with both locals and visitors passing through. If you’re around the Canning Town area and looking for somewhere comfortable to eat — whether you’re heading to or from an event like MCM — it’s definitely worth stopping by. A great little spot that delivers on flavour and...