Il Peperoncino

Great back room with easy English introduction to the menu. The owner and his wife are incredibly gracious, even teaching us the proper way to order and eat. I got the gnocchi with truffle sauce and it was amazing!

I’ve been in Europe for little under a month. I can say with 100% confidence that this little restaurant served up the best Gnocchi I’ve ever eaten. It was on the special board outside the small restaurant, and as the owner described how they made each dish, I knew it would be magical — and it was! From the service, to the pasta (my sister had the spaghetti, also delicious) to the owner’s true compassion and care for his customers happiness. He makes it a point to ensure everyone is happy and satisfied throughout the meal. I cannot rave about this place more. It’s surrounded by tourist-​trap restaurants, that charge you for everything you do or eat. Here — it felt like we were eating in an Italian home. Short walk from Pisa, and a beautiful outdoor space!

This is the place to go if you want Pasta or Pizza in Pisa. We stayed 3 nights in Pisa and ended up here for each night. Everyday during lunch we tried other places, but nothing can even come close. The service was extremely friendly and personal. I could not recommend this place enough.

Highly recommend! Speak English very well. Specials were exceptional. One of the best pastas I’ve had. Also provided directions/​advice to get around!

The other reviews giving this 5 stars are spot on. The food, prices and service in this true family run business were incredible. While here on business we looked this up on Unilocal and figured we would try it because it was only steps from the leaning tower that we also wanted to see that evening. My colleagues and I liked it so much we came back the next day and all ordered different things to try with the same result. Cannot recommend strongly enough.

Super friendly host and excellent food. Had antipasti and pizza but wish we had gone for more of the delicious stuff we saw on other tables.

If you’re hungry in Pisa, you should really give Il Peperoncino a try.
Based on the excellent Unilocal reviews, our group made our way to this family-​run spot after taking our tourist photos at the Leaning Tower.
For my lunch, I chose their meat lasagna. I wanted something light yet filling, and this was the perfect dish for that! While some parts of the dish were hotter than others, it was still a high-​quality and obviously fresh meal.
We all split the tiramisu for dessert, which was also a great decision. By far, this was the best tiramisu I tried during my 10 days in Italy!
Our server and the owner (her dad!) were both great. I can’t recommend this place enough.

Best meal in Italy. Small family owned and run restaurant. Everything we had was delicioso. Mussels, spinach ravioli, margarita pizza and pasta carbonara all great flavors. Service was good as well and the prices were really great. Highly recommend.

The place is sooo good I’d buy it! The owners are soooo cool, I’d buy them too.
Don’t think about it. Don’t look at anything else. Just come and eat. go now!
You still here?
Hurry go now!

Né vous fiez pas à l’entrée pas spécialement avenante, l’accueil y était charmant et le personnel polyglotte et aux petits soins. Nous avons pris les pâtes aux champignons sauce au noix et les pâtes tomates/​bacon/​piment, un vrai délice ! On a discuté avec le gérant, tous les produits sont frais et faits home made dans ce petit restaurant familial. Nous avons fini par un petit tiramisu divin! Le tout pour un prix très démocratique!
Évitez donc les attrapes touristes du coin et privilégiez ce bon restaurant typique, vous né le regretterez pas !

Just finished a great meal, we had four pizzas, fried zucchini, and some house wine. Fast, courteous, the owner was a blast, teaching us Italian and speaking English and Spanish and of course, Italian. We would come back, as the price was super affordable only a few blocks from the sights!

I know the owner and his wife check these — so I had to update my review to let you know that months later, I still dream of this food, and tell EVERYONE I know about this amazing restaurant in Pisa I went to!

What a great place! We had an awesome adventure here, he is the best host we could have asked for and he was so good with our kids, constantly engaging them. His wife is a great chef and everything was cooked to perfection. The value was uncommon for the location, normally a place this close to the tower would gouge you but they are very affordable.
Every time I am in Pisa I will return to eat here.
The food: my 5 year old loves calamari and his was perfect. Very tender (not chewy at all) breaded just right and the perfect amount of salt. Also a very delicious sauce. My daughter had a salmon and pasta dish which she loved and barely gave me any. I got a spaghetti with seafood cooked to perfection, pasta al dente, and seafood was not over cooked. My wife had risotto with chianti and Brie.
For desert we tried four things and they were gone in no time. Liter of house wine, apps, café and an after dinner drink similar to limoncello, all for € 75, can’t beat it. We will be back!

Chose this place after seeing so many nice reviews here on Unilocal.They’re all absolutely right. The owner and his family made me and my girlfriend feel very welcome and special. They speak perfect English. Very close to Leaning Tower, yet didn’t feel at all ‘touristy’. Drink the Pinot Grigio and eat all the delicious food!

The food is great, try their t bone steak. Perfectly done! Desert is also a precise. It’s not far away from the Pisa leaning tower, easy to find. Reasonable price for what you paid for. Boss likes to get your reviews after serving the food.

Probably the best Italian meal I had in our entire trip. I had the gnocchi with ricotta, seafood spaghetti, red wine and penacotta for dessert (a little much but hey! I’m on vacation) the service was surprisingly excellent and the prices are also affordable. Cheaper than most restaurants I’ve been to. Also, the Parma pizza looked very good. I would recommend anything off their menu!

Fantastico! Simply amazing!
We went to see the leaning tower of Pisa then read about this restaurant on Unilocal.We were not disappointed, we were absolutely delighted– and stuffed! We had a group of 10, were seated in a back room– outside seating is also available– there just wasn’t a spot open for all of us.
The owner Donato totally took care of us. We decided we didn’t want to order off of the menu– to just eat whatever he wanted us to try. We shared everything family style. It was unbelievable! Loved everything! We started out with bruschetta, some with grilled veggies on top, olives, prosciutto, a dish with boiled wheat and tomatoes, peas, squash, and herbs, some yummy fried bread, Italian bread, mussels. Ok that was just our appetizers!
Oh and we had the house wine in carafes and one friend had peroni beer.
So– our main courses-​amazing gnocchi– my husband didn’t even like gnocchi but he loved theirs! A pasta dish with meat, mushrooms, and red sauce, a seafood pasta– delicious, then we had this incredible risotto cooked with garlic, onions, Chianti wine, and Brie. I think the risotto was my husband’s favorite! It’s pictured and looks purple.
Then of course we had to sample desserts-​panacotta with berries, crème brûlée, and tiramisu. My favorite was the tiramisu but they were all incredible. I had coffee, some had espresso to finish our amazing meal.
Donato’s wife was the chef– we were so impressed! His daughter was our server. We feel like we got to know them– made new friends!

Muy bueno y bien de precio. Pedimos lasagna y calzone muy buenos. Camarero simpático y habla español

After being stuck on a cruise for a week I am glad we found this wonderful family owned shop, best lasagna i have had In a long time! Owner is extremely friendly and even photo bombed with us!

The best pasta I’ve had in Italy. Our group of 6 ordered different dishes and they were all absolutely amazing! The restaurant is small in the front so easy to miss and easier to get distracted with other restaurants nearby but you’ll miss out if you don’t try it. We all loved our experiences at this restaurant. 2 people in our group even ordered seconds because it was just that amazing.

With full affirmation from the heart, I can say that this is one of the most heartfelt and special meals I have had on my now-​35 day tour of Europe.
How can it be that located smack dab in tourist central that there is an incredible little restaurant that is incredulously affordable? I don’t know, but I’m glad.
Eat a fast meal and rush out, or enjoy the experience if you have the time to slow down. Donato looks after the front of the house while his wonderful wife works magic in the kitchen. As other Unilocalers note, he charms all with his genuineness and kindness, and his wife charms equally from the kitchen with the passion and love in her cooking. They have something good going on here.
The food is not complicated. It’s fresh, simple, and done so well.
Tips:
— This place is on the right hand side when walking south from the Tower of Pisa.
— There is wifi! Ask for the password.
— Credit cards accepted
Food:
— Panzanella– ⁵⁄₅ Not on the menu, but Donato suggested it. THIS is what I imagine a great panzanella to be. Wonderfully seasoned day-​old bread revived harmoniously with mozzarella, cucumber, tomato, and basil. Still has a nice crisp to its texture to make for a quality textural experience.
— Homemade pasta with seafood (daily special) — ⁵⁄₅ Cooked to a perfect al dente chew with every piece of seafood cooked to perfection. I’ve eaten shrimp a number of times on this trip, and it’s normally overcooked and unappetizing. Nothing about the mussels, clams, squid, or shrimp were rubbery.
A spicy, thick homemade sauce to coat the noodles for near perfection. I’d have to say that if anything could be improved upon, it was slightly too salty, but that could be rectified with a slice of bread with your meal.
— Pizza– ³⁄₅ to be a realist, I would recommend trying something besides pizza. It’s incredibly affordable but not their best items. My friend enjoyed it, and it tastes just fine… But nothing that gives this place that special charm.
— Panna cotta– ⁵⁄₅ out of this world. Beautifully balanced and keeps you coming back for another spoonful until you are sad that it’s gone.
— Homemade Italian cake– ³⁄₅ I’m not a fan of Italian pastry since I feel it is on the dry side compared to what I like. Beautiful presentation and nice taste when paired with a cappuccino, but you should get the panna cotta!
Three lemon sodas, a cappuccino, a pizza, bread, seafood spaghetti, panzanella, and two desserts later, our bill was $ 43 Euros.
Donato, I hope you read my review one day and know that you and your wife together have created a long lasting memory of a wonderful meal in Italy, even if– strangely enough– it’s in a tourist area. Thank you for making me feel like I belonged!

There are not enough words to explain how great a dinner we had at this restaurant. The owner/​waiter was so so so nice and hospitable, the restaurant decoration was so cozy and stylish, and oh the food? It was incredible!
Amazing flavors in all of our meals and the desserts. Speaking of the desserts, order the panna cotta and tiramisu. The best desserts we’d had.
Overall, COME HERE, his restaurant is fairly small and easy to pass but don’t give up until you find him. :)