Pepp & Dolores brings an elevated Italian dining experience to Cincinnati, offering a warm, stylish destination where family-style meals, handcrafted pasta, and freshly baked bread come together in a way that feels both special and welcoming.
Located at 1501 Vine St, this upmarket restaurant is designed for guests who appreciate thoughtful cooking, generous portions meant for sharing, and the kind of atmosphere that turns an ordinary meal into a memorable occasion.
Whether you are planning lunch, dinner, brunch, or a solo meal, Pepp & Dolores delivers a polished yet comfortable setting that makes every visit feel well worth it.
What sets this restaurant apart is the balance of quality, comfort, and hospitality. Guests can enjoy dine-in service, takeaway, delivery, on-site service, and outdoor seating, making it easy to experience the restaurant in the way that best suits the moment.
The menu offers a strong mix of Italian favorites and crowd-pleasing options, including comfort food, small plates, cocktails, beer, spirits, coffee, and a great selection of wine.
With a reputation for fast service, great cocktails, a great wine list, and a focus on local specialty dishes, Pepp & Dolores creates a dining experience that feels both refined and inviting. It is also well suited for private dining and catering, making it a dependable choice for celebrations, gatherings, and business occasions.
Pepp & Dolores is equally thoughtful about accessibility and guest comfort, with a wheelchair-accessible entrance, wheelchair-accessible seating, and a wheelchair-accessible toilet. The restaurant also includes a bar on site and restrooms, helping ensure convenience for a wide range of guests.
Its cozy, lively, romantic, trendy, and upmarket atmosphere makes it a strong choice for date nights, group dinners, and special outings alike. With reservations accepted—and recommended for brunch, lunch, and dinner—guests can plan ahead with confidence, even during busy times when a wait is common.
Backed by an impressive 4.70-star rating from 2,358 reviews, Pepp & Dolores has built a strong reputation for quality and consistency, and it accepts credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments for added ease.
For those seeking a standout Italian restaurant in Cincinnati that combines flavor, atmosphere, and dependable service, Pepp & Dolores offers a dining experience that feels both memorable and worth returning to.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at Pepp & Dolores
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Allez Bakery epi baguette, olive oil, vinegar, herbs, seasoning
grilled Allez Bakery sourdough, olive oil, sea salt
Allez Bakery focaccia, oyster mushroom, cremini mushroom purée, parmigiano-reggiano, chive
shiitake crusted beef carpaccio, truffle vinaigrette, arugula, walnut
ricotta, basil, cucumber vinaigrette
fried artichokes, lemon vinaigrette
speck alto adige, finocchiona, mortadella, provolone piccante, parmigiano-reggiano, ubriaco rosso, marinated Olives, Pizza Fritta
iceberg, roasted heirloom tomatoes, jowl bacon, gorgonzola dolce dressing, red onion, cracked pepper, chive
gem lettuce, radicchio, provolone piccante, artichoke, tomato, green olive, cannellini beans, red wine-oregano vinaigrette (GF)
gem lettuce, walnut, ubriaco rosso cheese, crouton, citrus caesar dressing, parmigiano-reggiano
3 veal & pork meatballs, nonna's red sauce
nonna's red sauce, parmigiano-reggiano
salsa verde, extra virgin olive oil, parsley(GF)
italian dressing, garlic breadcrumb
seasoned ricotta, house tomato sauce, parmigiano-reggiano, garlic breadcrumb
wilted escarole, cannellini beans, house tomato sauce, parmigiano-reggiano
spaghetti, nonna's red sauce, veal & pork meatball, braised pork shoulder, parmigiano-reggiano
herb campanelle pasta, basil pesto, parmigiano-reggiano
spaghetti, meyer lemon, chili flake, parmigiano-reggiano, garlic breadcrumb, ricotta
mezze pasta, calabrian chili, vodka sauce, parmigiano-reggiano
filled agnolotti pasta, brown butter, squash puree, sage, pepita, parmigiano-reggiano
mezze pasta, smoked bacon, sautéed onion, house tomato sauce, pecorino romano
mezze pasta, calabrian chili, vodka sauce, parmigiano-reggiano
fusilli pasta, house tomato sauce, stracciatella, basil, parmigiano-reggiano
squid ink creste di gallo pasta, saffron cream, caramelized fennel
maccheroni alla chitarra, wild mushrooms, sherry, cream, parmigiano-reggiano
Hear from our valued guests
It was a fantastic experience from service, food, atmosphere. Mark was an exceptional staff. He was very informative, engaging and helpful. I have recommended this place to my friends. The pasta limone, the cucumber and the artichoke were top notch!
I have visited Pepp and Dolores a couple of times, and each experience has been exceptional. The staff is knowledgeable about the menu and makes great recommendations if you are uncertain about what to try. The pasta is fresh, and the flavors really stand out. It is one of my favorite spots in downtown Cincinnati for authentic Italian cuisine. I highly recommend it.
Husband and I went for birthday dinner and had an amazing time. Our server, Mallory, was amazing and made the experience very enjoyable. The atmosphere in the downstairs section was great and the food was absolutely amazing. We highly recommend the ricotta all and meatballs!
I have come to Pepp and Dolores multiple times and I will keep coming back. The service, food and drinks are amazing. My favorites are the Aperol Spritz, the ricotta and sourdough and the Limone. We went today to celebrate belated birthdays and Mark our server was amazing! He made sure to tell us we were not rushed and gave multiple recommendations. He also was just enjoyable to talk to and he was so upbeat and energetic. To the owners of Pepp and Dolores he needs a raise!
First time here and loved it! Will definitely go back! We were at the bar downstairs and the bartender was extremely helpful. Her name is Aysha and we ordered pretty much everything she recommended. It was helpful that she not only knew the popular items but offered her own recommendations from experience and was able to describe the food - from the texture to the taste. This probably has been the best restaurant customer experience I've had in a LONG time. The good itself did not disappoint. Very delicious and tasteful. Will definitely go back!
Delicious - first time visit. Our server was Gina excellent server and pleasant, very knowledgeable, and accommodating.
This was such a scrumptious experience. The atmosphere was super fun and classy, the service was attentive and the pacing of the appetizers and drinks and entrees and desserts were perfect. We ordered the sourdough with ricotta to start and were immediately blown away by the creamy flavorful ricotta and perfectly toasted and crunchy bread. Then on to the limone pasta and broccolini?!!!! the broccolini tasted like a fire grilled steak it was seasoned so beautifully. The spicy vodka and Nonna’s sunday sauce with meatballs were next, each one flavorful with gorgeous al dente handmade noodles. The freshly grated parmesan cheese on each was divine. Then we finished off our meal with the gelato—I recommend the swirl! Delicious, and we can’t wait to come back.
came here celebrating friends in town and had an unforgettable experience! We made a reservation downstairs and it was the perfect intimate venue. The food far exceeded all of our expectations. The meatballs as an app were amazing. The wines and cocktails were tasty (try the lemoncello!). The star of the show was the lemone pasta, amazing!! Creamy and bright. Close second was the Angelo, incredibly rich and flavorful. The veal cutlets are also a can’t miss!!
This was our first time here and it did not disappoint. The service and food was phenomenal. Our waitress Tia was so nice and explained everything to us and what may be too much to order for two people. We were also new to the area and she gave us some great recommendations and awareness for the surrounding neighborhood. If you love fresh homemade pasta with a great atmosphere, this is the spot!
Common questions about Pepp & Dolores
Pepp & Dolores is located at 1501 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45202, United States, Cincinnati, OH 45202, United States.
You can reach Pepp & Dolores by calling +1 513-419-1820.
Pepp & Dolores has a rating of 4.7 out of 5 based on 2358 customer reviews.
Pepp & Dolores features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
Pepp & Dolores features the following service options: Outdoor seating, Delivery, On-site services, Takeaway, Dine-in.
Pepp & Dolores features the following highlights: Fast service, Great cocktails, Great wine list, Serves local specialty.
Pepp & Dolores features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
Pepp & Dolores features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Coffee, Comfort food, Private dining room, Small plates, Spirits, Vegetarian options, Wine.
Pepp & Dolores features the following dining options: Lunch, Dinner, Catering, Seating, Table service.
Pepp & Dolores features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
Pepp & Dolores features the following atmosphere: Cozy, Lively, Romantic, Trendy, Upmarket.
Pepp & Dolores features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, LGBTQ+ friendly, Tourists, Transgender safe space.
Pepp & Dolores features the following planning: Brunch reservations recommended, Lunch reservations recommended, Dinner reservations recommended, Accepts reservations, Usually a wait.
Pepp & Dolores features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
Pepp & Dolores features the following children: High chairs, Kids' menu.
Pepp & Dolores features the following parking: Paid parking garage, Paid parking lot, Paid street parking.
Pepp & Dolores features the following pets: Dogs allowed inside, Dogs allowed outside.
Business Features
We look forward to welcoming you. Make a reservation or stop by - walk-ins welcome!
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