Restaurante Tio Pepe — Restaurant in Baltimore

Wow, the best part of the evening was the quaint entrance with the red awning and steps down into a larger-than-meets-the-eye restaurant. Then, it all went downhill. After being seated, we waited 15 minutes before a server asked if we had been seen yet. It took another 15 minutes to get our table’s bottle of wine. At this point we’re 30 minutes into our dinner, haven’t ordered drinks, haven’t ordered food, and there’s no silverware on the table. At last, a server came to take our orders and it appeared as though he were in a rush the whole time. Without waiting for our choices off the Restaurant Week menu, he started barking the choices at us and demanding the menus back the second we finished ordering. It was…strange, to say the least. We chalked it up to the restaurant being busy and the time being later in the evening. We continue to sip our wine and wait, and wait and wait and wait. It took nearly an hour for our appetizers to be served and another 30 minutes before our entrees were brought out. When we asked about the status of our entrees we were met with “Soon, soon” and nothing more. Oh, and a few minutes before our apps arrived, we received a basket of bread (cold) and pads of butter—but there was still no silverware at the table so we couldn’t butter the bread. (When the food finally came, the server removed the loaf of bread & butter which we still hadn't touched.) When we asked for silverware, the staff seemed confused as to what we were asking for; it’s not like the food we ordered was finger food. The night was no longer young when we were again disappointed by the quality of the food. The steak was ordered medium-rare and somehow the singular steak was cooked well-done on one end and was rare on the other. The scallops and shrimp lacked scallop and shrimp flavor and the overwhelming flavor on the plate was egg and butter. The crab cake was fine, but nothing special, especially given this is a Maryland restaurant. All entrees were served with rice and green beans, both of which lacked seasoning and therefore were not tasty in the least. As we had other places to be we had to ask for our desserts to go and we’re glad we didn’t stay to eat them at the restaurant. The creme brûlée was lackluster with a nonexistent caramelized topping that ensured the dessert was more reminiscent of polenta rather than creme brûlée and the chocolate roll tasted like it came from any grocery store, in fact it might have been better if they just served us grocery store chocolate cake.

A long evening made longer by the slow service and disappointing food, we will not be returning. Oh, and when we spoke to the manager she condoned the slow service and focused on making sure the food was good...

If you are reading this review because you have never been to Tio's just GO! It is one of the best experiences you will have. A few things to know before you go. If you go on a weekend, it will be busy. This isn't a quick dining experience. There will be a wait even if you make a reservation you will wait. So just enjoy the atmosphere and grab a drink at the bar. The Sangria is amazing. White or red. If you check your coats, Carmen will take great care of you. She is an amazing person so be nice to her! This is usually a place for special occasions for groups but smaller parties can also be accommodated. Once you sit down. You have to get snails, garlic shrimp, oysters with champagne sauce or mussels Verde for an app. Every single thing on the menu is delicious. Some of my favorites are Grouper with Black butter caper sauce, the Duck( best duck you will EVER TASTE!), scallops, and of course the Paella. The Paella is a serving for 2 according to the menu but we usually order it as an app and feed 6 people with it. Its amazing as well, and huge! Plan on at least a 2 hour dining experience. If you decide to stay for dessert, the pine nut roll is to die for and of course the Spanish coffee! Spanish coffee is a show! The whisky is set on fire at your table side and the sugar rim on the coffee cup is caramelized by the flame. Its always so fun. I do recommend sharing the coffee as its very strong. Tios does NOT do weak drinks. Also be prepared for a lot of laughing crazy happy people around you. This isnt a quiet restaurant. Its a party. You usually end up making friends with your tables next to you. If you are grumpy, impatient, or annoyed by loud tables having fun don't go here and bring down the vibe. Go somewhere else, PLEASE. My husband proposed to me at Tios 10 years ago and the whole restaurant cheered( loudly) , a random person sent us a bottle of champagne and Chef Don Emiliano came out to congratulate us. It was AMAZING! Hope this review helps you. I also 100% recommend getting dressed up as well. It used to be a jacket only restaurant for men up untill early 2000's. Everyone is decked out, especially around the holidays. This is a wonderful family tradition of ours. My family has been going for over 40 years and we will keep going. Its absolutely magical here. Our Uncle Richard Poremski has become friends with almost everyone there and even brings them Polish Paczki's ( sort of a dough-nut filled with cream or jam) as a thank you for taking such great care of us over the years. So go, with a group of you can, drink, eat and be Merry! You will...

This one absolutely kills me to write, because 'Tio's' has been our go-to spot for celebration dinners for 20 years. My wife and I had our FIRST Valentine's day together at Tio's. It is very expensive, and that is why it was always a "once in a while" joint for our special occasions.

But...

It simply is NOT what it used to be. Of the last 4 times we were there, only 1 was amazing. 2 were "meh" and last night, the third time, was really just bad.

Service: slow and unattentive. Hostess: downright unfriendly at best, and rude at worst. I'll go with unfriendly. White Sangria: This is one of the things I look forward to the most, and it was NASTY. There was no sweetness to it at all and the wine in it tasted rancid. We told the waiter it wasn't good and he argued with us before taking the unused 2/3rd full pitcher away (1/3 was enough to give us each one pour). He then went and tasted it and came back and said, "I think its right, but its a little too sweet." Look, different strokes for different folks and all, but this was just plain wrong. Mediterranean Seafood Cocktail appetizer: This is the case of the "INCREDIBLE SHRINKING APPETIZER." First, it is about half the size it used to be. Second, it had NO ripe, plump, sweet fruit in it. Third, two of the pieces - I assume scallop portions, but not sure - were dry as dirt and hard to choke down. Then the bottom was completely overloaded with dressing so that was all you could taste. Shrimp and Garlic Sauce appetizer - this is my wife's favorite app. She usually licks the bowl clean. Last night she left sauce behind. IT was so overloaded with Old Bay that it really was not what we're used to, and not in a good way. Entrees were fine. NOt great, but fine. But... Side Dish Spanish Rice: something just plain off about the taste. Coffee: Almost completely devoid of the depth and luxury taste it usually has. Tasted like watered down Maxwell House. Almond Cake: Again, the "INCREDIBLE SHRINKING DESSERT." This is now literally less than half of what you used to get for the same price they charged.

Others with whom I've spoken have confirmed it. Tio's has lost their touch. I truly hope they get it back. We'll try again, but if it stinks again I'm done. IT is too much money for such a...