Love the food here! Also the staff very friendly, and when i couldn't go into vendettas to get a slice of pizza for lunch I came here with my family and we sat down right away and had the best experience! Oh and the food.. is so yummy!
(4)
Robert W.
At this writing, the average rating for Pepi's was about 3 stars. That's about what it deserves and very fair. I liked the euro atmosphere and it really put me in the mood for some German food (they have other than just German food if that's not your thing). Sat outside on the deck with my youngest daughter. Got a Paulaner beer and the brats. Daughter got some mac n cheese and they brought some fruit along at my request. Brats were about average when compared to experience in Germany. Cabbage and spaetzle were edible and I would even say good in a cafeteria kind of way. Relaxing on the deck in the sun for lunch was probably the best part. Friendly, fast service, too.
Sheika must have gotten rid of rod powell..... a huge mistake. Everyone we know is not going to return to pepis because rods GONE. We will not be back either! BYE!
(1)
Dave K.
Quiet night, October 1st snow, perfect night for German comfort food! Started with a Paulaner Bier, and Chard for wife. I had Goulash dinner, excellent, I think they add a cream to the broth! Wife had the Allgäuer Käsespätzle, Cheese was wonderful! Topped dinner off with strudel, which was almost too pretty to eat, and tasty to boot!
(4)
M A.
Nice, clean edifice reminiscent of the ones around the Bavarian alps enticed us to dine at Pepi's for lunch. We miss German food, and so we went in without hesitation. It is unfortunate that the service was non-existent. Seems like we are one of the few who have experienced horrible service :( it all started when I asked for water with no ice, and I was given ice water. I let that go; no big deal. We were then served the ubiquitous bread with butter almost immediately, but the rolls were cold, so we knew they weren't that fresh. With the rolls, we were brought three small plates for five diners--not sure how they figured that. We all enjoyed our meals, except for my son who ordered kid's spaghetti--it was a bit on the watery side. I ordered Jägerschnitzel, and it was tasty; however, I found the meat (which isn't breaded) and the spätzle a bit oily. The mushroom cream sauce and the red cabbage were the best part. We found the portions to be on the small side for the price, but we figured we were in Vail, and everything in touristy areas tend to be on the more expensive side. Not once did our server come back to ask if we needed anything--not one time. Our water glasses were refilled just before we were about to leave--while waiting on our server to realize we were done and waiting for our check. When our check came, we were surprised that 18% gratuity was already included. I understand that gratuity is, at times, automatically added for party of six or more. Well on our receipt, it shows there are six guests on our table; so it seems they have included our infant child in the guest list to make six. I guess someone knew he wasn't getting 18% from us, otherwise. For the bare minimum service we were given, it was appalling that a good tip was expected. Really?! ...in short: food was decent, place was clean, but service was bare minimum, and added gratuity for bad service leaves a really bad taste. If in the area again, we will not return.
(2)
Yvonne F.
Stopped in for late lunch after skiing. Want busy but took a while to get served. The rolls they brought out were ice cold, asked to warm them up which they did... In the microwave making them to soft. Ordered the Jaeger Schnitzel. I'm German and know my schnitzels... The schnitzel was good but the mushroom sauce tasted like cream of mushroom soup, nothing like the dark hunter sauce with fresh mushrooms I'm accustomed to. The red cabbage was way too sweet to eat. The spaetzle was a bit tough but edible. Surprised by the lack of quality food for the reputation and prices. Great for those unfamiliar with true good German food. Have eaten there before for dinner and lunch always a bit disappointed with quality. Expect more for such a highly regarded restaurant in exclusive Vail, as well as for the high prices they charge for such simple dishes.
(2)
Danielle E.
Worst restaurant we have eaten at in Vail. Food is flavorless and over priced. The mashed potatoes were even nastier than cafeteria potatoes. Service was not horrible but definitely the worst we have had in Vail.
(1)
Mike G.
Wonderful, cozy but a bit loud and compact. Food and service is great; only drawback is that we were first to arrive for a 5:30pm reservation and got the worst table location in restaurant - next to door and high traffic area which created multiple distractions.
(4)
Jim V.
awful..... service.... awful service, awful.. service!!!!! (with french fried potatoes!!!).
(1)
Mike C.
Wednesday 2/25/15. Excellent food and very attentive service. Prices were reasonable considering it's Vail. ($29 main entree) We arrived early for a 5:30 reservation so had a glass of wine in the bar area. It was crowded and fun, due to the live music and classic après ski atmosphere. Got the last open table and enjoyed a glass of wine and some good tunes. Promptly at 5:30 we were seated in the dining area. We like German/Austrian cuisine so we went for some classics. The Jägerschnitzel with spaetzle, red cabbage and veggies was authentic and delicious. The pork shoulder with spaetzle, red cabbage and veggies was perfectly cooked and almost fell off the bone. We were full by dessert but had to try the apple strudel with ice cream. It was worth it! Service was excellent and friendly. Went out through the bar and the live music had started up again (7-9pm). We were tempted to stay but we're too full to eat or drink anything else! We'll be going back this week for happy hour:-)
(5)
Ah H.
The worst service and food. Over priced and not tasty. The bread they serve is cold and old. The waiter was very arrogant and did not take time to listen to our request even though it was a slow day with very few other customers. Guess that should have told us the quality of the place was poor. When we ask for something he would make gestures to the other waiters as if he was dismissing us. At the end he got nada zero tip from us and def not going back!
(1)
Emily J.
I went here during Oktoberfest this weekend and was underwhelmed. Heavy German food, servers in dirndls and pigtails with a surly attitude. I had the vegetable strudel and was not impressed. The server was not very friendly and the service was really slow. Won't be back as there are much better restaurants in Vail.
(2)
Cristina B.
I never thought it would be possible to mess up a tuna melt! I ordered the French Onion soup and Tuna Melt for lunch and the soup was pretty good. Not out of this world but no complaints. Unfortunately the tune melt arrived completely cold. Even the "melted" cheese on top was cold. I asked the waiter to please have it warmed up and got it back a few mins later after it had been zapped in the microwave for about 30 seconds. The cheese was now warm but the tuna was still completely cold. The waiter never came by to check on us until the end of the meal. He asked how everything was and I told him that the tuna was still horrible and I was not able to eat it - the entire sandwich was still on my plate aside from the two small bites I took to discover the melt was cold both times. He did not apologize or ask if there was anything else he could bring us. Just dropped off the check and left. We ended up going somewhere else for food. Extremely disappointing that the food was bad and the service even worse!
5 star location, right in the heart of the Village, sunny patio = people watching. 3 star food, okay quality and reasonably priced for Vail. It styles itself as a German-Austrian restaurant and pub, but the menu tries to appeal to as a wide audience in this popular resort as possible, so it ends up looking like an amalgam of Bavarian, Colorado mountain food, mixed in with some Maryland (crab cakes) and tuna sushi. We tried the Bavarian part of the menu...Bratwurst was bursting with flavour, literally. Wiener Schnitzel tasted a-okay, breading was a little soggy, the accompanying sauerkraut and beet were obviously homemade and tasty. 3 star service, our waitress was quite efficient. It's a good place to stop for a casual meal in Vail.
(3)
Jessica I.
We only had a drink here. The sangria was good, and the beer was a generous portion. The staff was indifferent, bordering on rude. Will not be back for dinner.
(2)
Rich L.
We had been to Pepi's several years ago, had a decent experience and wanted to return. I guess expectations were too high or memories too faded. They do have a wonderful location in the middle of Vail and a great deck to dine and people watch. Sadly, that's about the best I can say. Three of us had lunch. I had the two-brat special with dollops of mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. It was so bland I wasn't sure which of the three I was eating. The other two meals were uninspiring. We had one beer, a glass of wine, (and a lemonade) and with tip lunch was $80. For that I expect much more. Definitely not a good value. No plans to return
(2)
Lydia L.
Had a very nice meal here in the antler room. Very cosy and romantic atmosphere. Went through the Bar which had live music. Decor was nice. The meal was fantasTic. Scallops for appetizer were cooked perfectly and highly recommend the caribou and elk. The boar was a bit chewy . Had the lingonberry pie for dessert such a great end to the rich meal. The owner and his wife happened to be sitting directly next to us with some family enjoying dinner as well!
(5)
Ellen L.
We had plate sample of the elk, mushroom gravy sauce, cranberry spiced cabbage, and side of potatoes.
(5)
Lauren M.
My boyfriend and I had our "nice dinner" of our vacation in the Antlers room at Pepis. First off, the whole restaurant/bar has a great environment. The bar had live music and looked like a ton of fun. The Antlers room we dined in was super romantic and cozy. The service was great, free coat check, quick seating, quick service. Now, as for food expect to pay a pretty penny if you're eating the antlers menu. Most of the entrees cost $30+...but for good reason. Many of the dishes they will cook at your table which is pretty fun. We had the sea scallops as an appetizer, delicious. I had the willdibieb platter (could be wrong on the name, most of the dishes are German) which consisted of braised quail, wild boar, and elk. The boar and elk were AMAZING. The quail...was cooked well, but I wasn't crazy about the sauce. My boyfriend had the fallow deer t-bone and he really loved it. It's a BIG steak. Truly a great date spot, we went as a belated birthday dinner for me. So many other things on the menu looked delicious. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the sound travelling like it did, such a romantic atmosphere in our room would occasionally be interrupted by noises from the other rooms.
(4)
Erick F.
Service was terrible. Terrible. Maybe she was having a bad day but that's not or problem. Ordered the burgers with a puzzle bun. I'm for the ones they cooked. Leaned toward medium rare and didn't ask. The problem really was I've was rare. Sent back, requesting medium well, came bank medium rare. Wtf. The rest were medium to medium rare. Acceptable, but the lack of consistency leads me to believe they have no idea how cooked it is. Won't go back.
(1)
Nebi O.
Have been coming here for years & never disappointed. Better spaetzle & schnitzel than I've had in Graz & Munich. Friendly, down-to-earth service in addition to delicious food. It was fun & tasty as a single guy getting festive in Vail & remains great for a settled-down family guy. Worth a drive from Denver - which we do sometimes! Sehrschön!
Meal was good service below par. The bartender was our server and a bartender overcharged us by three times what the bill should've been. Was not that good
(1)
Qooking T.
canadian caribou cutlet = excellent colorado rack of lamb = excellent escargot "bourgignone" = good graubündner teller = good roasted half duckling = average
(4)
Gino T.
Having sprained my knee skiing for the first time in over 25 years, I had the good luck to have lunch on the deck at Pepi's one warm day. I chose the veal bratwurst plate (opting for only one brat), served with mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and red cabbage. The brat was served with a brown gravy, which I would have preferred eliminated in favor of a good mustard, but it's a matter of taste. Food and service were both excellent, and the brat was as good as I've eaten outside the Germany/Austria region.
(4)
Nicholas M.
Blah food This is definitely a $$$ restaurant. Dinner entrees range from $26-38. Add a drink and you will definitely be within the $$$. (*Prices for food quality is probably the worst I have ever experienced in my 37 years of life.) Blah service Gestapo rules: states on the menu: no cell phones, no spitting checks. Decor is out of the 80s. (Pink table clothes.) Never in my life will I go back to this restaurant. It's just not worth it. NOTHING was enjoyable about this meal.
(1)
james a.
Location. Great. Patio. Great. Music. Great. Food. Solid, but unremarkable. Service. Really? 16 patrons on the deck, no one in the dining room. 6 visible staffers. :12 minutes waiting on a tab, passed by the server 8x in an hour with no check in? Wow. The deck musician was more attentive. Says a lot. He got the tip. They'd be well served by losing our server.
(3)
Steve N.
We stopped by Pepi's for a drink after a long day of snowboarding. It was packed. We didn't try the food cause we wanted something unforgettable like the alcohol menu. The drinks were fairly price and you could get a pitcher size beer for $10. The waitress was really and on top of things even though there were people pulling her in multiple directions. They had someone performing live music and it was a pretty lively spot to go after tearing up the mountain. Wait...did I say tearing up? I might murder the mountain cause that's what we do. We came, we F sh*t up then we leave. We go hard. We go super Saiyan on that b*tch. We switch into Beast Mode then it's night night, son! Overall, it's a chill spot to stop by for a few drinks while you wait for your friends to finish their runs. It's neither amazing or terrible but perfect for a quick drink.
(3)
Casey V.
This was my first time visiting Vail and we stopped into Pepi's for lunch (and to get out of the rain). Food was excellent. I had the steak tartare, and the 3 of us in our party were all served our meals very quickly after ordering, Service - Bonnie was delightful! We loved her immediately and she was just great. Everything we ordered came the way we wanted, and Bonnie made us feel really welcome. Definitely would return.
(4)
Samantha L.
We had a lovely after hiking lunch here outside on a nice autumn day. The salads were delicious and the service was friendly and attentive. I loved the people watching and the authentic Vail Alps feel. We really couldn't have asked for much more!
(4)
Olga S.
So I can only write this review based on the drinks, me and a couple of friends just hung out at the bar here on a Tuesday night and listened to live music. It was a great chill atmosphere, we ordered a round of 16 oz Hefeweizen drafts and enjoyed the live music. The service was great and attentive and the place is just really quaint! I would definitely come back here.
(4)
Brian T.
Stopped by Pepi's on a Saturday afternoon after a warm day on the slopes. They had open seating on their covered patio and a sign that said seat yourself. Great. We had a group of 8. There's a common theme across the less than glowing reviews for Pepi's, it's poor service, and it's probably only 1 or 2 wait staff that are responsible for it. Our server came up to our table huffing and puffing, no smile, and asked us if we were ready to order. I asked for a 22 oz beer but was quite rudely cut off while our server launched into a diatribe about it not being possible, I can't order that, and don't order it. Through the verbal vomit I caught a few lines. It seems you can't order 22 oz beers because people break the glasses and they're VERY EXPENSIVE, people steal the glasses, and there's just no way to order one. Got it lady. What's odd about their draft beer pricing is that it's $6 for a pint (16 oz), and then $7 for the 22 oz glass. So your incremental dollar gets you 6 more ounces. Sounds great until you get berated for trying to order something on the menu. Also worth noting is that the largest beer glass is actually more expensive per ounce than the pint. Weird. I was considering asking if I could just get my pint and then 6 more ounces on the side for $7. That probably would've just confused things sadly. Anyways, I ceded my loss and ordered a pint. A friend who had been at the restroom during all this gets back and decides on a beer. I proceed to witness the exact same conversation, look of bewilderment, and then eventual surrender. If you can't order 22 oz beers, just take them off the menu. Anyways aside from that I also ordered a baked pretzel go to with my beer. The pretzel was mediocre but what got me was the "cheese" sauce that's served with it. There's no cheese in it. Don't let them lie to you. It's a neon yellow and tastes only like butter and some sort of thickener. Cheez whiz has more real cheese in it. I have no idea why they're doing this. Don't offer cheese sauce if you have no cheese to put in it. I had every one at the table try it just to make sure I wasn't crazy. Surprise was had by all. They get to keep that second star mainly because I enjoyed the beer.
(2)
Marcia S.
Great place with an interesting history. Outside dining is wonderful, Food isn't interesting but it is very tasty. A good spot!
(4)
Kevin W.
Great Bav food & drinks! Can get busy at high times be prepared. A little pricey but its Vail everything is...so just relax and enjoy! Food is excellent and music too- check the sched. or call. One of our mountain favs autographed pics of stars and heroes all over the walls in the large bar area.
(5)
Sabina F.
Love this place, they have awesome German (or Austrian?) food. The Kaesespaetzle is amazing, the Schnitzels are always perfectly crispy and non oily and the veal bratwurst is amazing! I've seen Swiss friends snicker at the title of a dish, saying "As if they can do that here in America", only to pause and be awed at the authentic taste when said dish would arrive. Reading some of these other reviews, I need to say our service is always great, never rude or lacking. Last time we were there, our hostess, a German girl named Tanja, was great and friendly and found us a table on a busy afternoon and our server was efficient, even though she was obviously very busy, too.
(5)
Jason P.
If you're skiing or snowboarding at Vail for several days, one can get sick of the lodge food. A good alternative is to stop at Vail Village and try out one of the many restaurants. Pepi's serves up German food but also has food that caters to all with such offerings as burgers, salads, sandwiches, seafood, and pasta. But who doesn't love beer and brats? The establishment is fairly large with an indoor seating area and bar, an outdoor area where diners can enjoy the passers-by, or an enclosed outdoor area if the weather's a bit chilly. To start, they provide you with complimentary rolls and butter. For my entree, although German food is one of my favorites, I just couldn't pass up the Cheeseburger ($14.00) that was on an unsalted pretzel roll. It's a plump juicy burger garnished with Bermuda onions, red leaf lettuce, tomatoes, a quartered pickle, and served with a small side of french fries. For my choice of cheese (American, Cheddar, Swiss, or Blue Cheese), I opted for their Swiss which had a fairly noticeable nutty and sweet flavor to it; exactly what I was hoping for as much too many times, restaurants tend to serve burgers with a very mild swiss cheese. The fries were perfectly seasoned and I found myself eating every single one. The Wiener Schnitzel ($18.50), a 4 oz. breaded veal cutlet, was also very tasty. The breading was crisp and not greasy at all, and the veal was hammered thinly and was tender. It did not remind me of my heyday's of awesome German food in Austria, but it was close enough to satisfy my wiener schnitzel urge. Included n the side was a small serving of French fries, two lemon wedges, and steamed vegetables consisting of broccoli, carrots, potatoes, and snow pea pods. Overall, prices are slightly expensive but considering you will spend just as much on lodge food which is only half as good, I would definitely recommend grabbing a bite at Pepi's. Just keep in mind that sit-down dining with waitstaff usually takes longer than cafeteria style food at the lodge. If time is a constraint or if you're looking to optimize your time on the mountain, I'd probably advise possibly coming for dinner instead. Most of the clientele also appeared to have normal clothes on, and we were the only one's who had gear on, but it was casual enough that no one minded.
(3)
Nicole S.
Stopped here for a drink and appetizer before dinner bc we were starving. Service was terrible. Wine pours were even worse. Their pretzels and chips/salsa were surprisingly good though. Odd place/vibe: it was pretty bright in there and the guy with the guitar singing was not very good nor was he entertaining.
(2)
R S.
Was excited to eat red cabbage and schnitzel and pork cutlet - disappointed. Friendly staff and very authentic once inside but the food was soaked in butter and red cabbage was just so so. Frankly I've had better out of a jar from big lots. We had 30% off dinner entree but still felt it was overpriced and underwhelming. I may be biased - I'm from a polish area in Chicago. B
(3)
Lani C.
Just had lunch here. Food was good, service excellent. Prices were great by Vail standards.
(4)
Jonathan P.
This establishment is by far the best food I have had since I have been here, and I have tried many different places. I had the pork bratwurst and it was spot on I cleaned my plate of the red cabbage, and sauerkraut, I wish I could have consumed more but I had to save room for the amazing dessert. Around the table we tried them all and none of them let us down. I would say if you are in Vail or Breckenridge this is a must try place.
(5)
Kelly M.
We ate dinner in the restaurant on New Years Day and had such terrible service. I've been here before and the service was sub par, but this time our waitress was downright rude. It's really frustrating when you are spending $30 a person on the entree alone, order multiple glasses of wine and beers, and even spring for dessert and are treated poorly. We did the bar part of Peppi's as a last resort after most other places were too busy for our large après ski group on the 2nd. The waitress inside of the bar was even terrible! She was downright rude! And then had the absolute nerve to ask why her tip wasn't higher because she thought that she gave good service. (Definitely lucky to get the 12% that we gave her, with some of the comments that she made, we were embarrassed for her.) I would absolutely not recommend either the restaurant or the bar after these two experiences 2 weeks ago. The only thing decent is the large beers and the good was good in the bar, as well as the restaurant. When we went to Ti Amo's on the 3rd, we told our waiter about our poor experience here and he couldn't have been less surprised. Apparently this is the norm at this place. Pathetic. Especially with how much money we spent with them.
(1)
Amanda S.
The worst service I've ever had. The waitress in the bar area was the rudest waitress I've ever had. Never placed my order and was incredibly rude. I came to Vail four years ago and loved it but I will never come back. I also had a party of five that would have spent money but no more.
(1)
Nathaly S.
If u want to listen to grat live music and dance and drink and have fun: thats the place to be in vail. it gets relly packed arround 7 coz everyone loves this place so make sure to come early to get a table! enjoy ppl, pls check it out!
(5)
Fallon M.
Really don't understand the negative reviews, we had a lovely dinner here tonight with our daughter after driving up from Boulder. It is our first visit to Vail, and so we spent about an hour walking around and looking at different possibilities before deciding on Pepi's and so glad we did ! Great service, from the hostess who pushed two small tables together so we could have a window seat(killer view) to our waiter. Delicious food- 2 had the sauerbraten, and another the German boiled beef dinner. Beet salad and chicken soup to start. Apple strudel for dessert see photo- Really charming dining room. And did I mention the Fall specials-30% off 6 of the entrees? Very nice !
(4)
Erica F.
It's known as a Vail institution, so there is a steady stream of customers. The place is huge.... tons of seating indoors and out. It's nice to sit under the umbrellas during a summertime visit. Staff is friendly and fairly prompt (though we had to wait forever for our check at the end, I hate that!) but the food is not anything to write home about. The sandwiches were WIMPY... hardly any meat on them, mostly vegetables. And it is insanely expensive for what you get; for a turkey panini with swiss it was almost $15! Not worth it.
(3)
Peggy H.
Today was our first time at Pepi's. The covered and heated porch was a nice feature since it was raining. We had lunch and Jen was our waitress. She was helpful, efficient and professional. We shared the warm lamb loin greek salad, pork and buffalo venison brats with sides and kuchen for dessert. Everything was excellent and the portions were reasonable. We'll return.
(5)
Abby G.
Our server was extremely pleasant and checked in on us frequently. We had a couple beers and dinner. The food was ok, nothing special, but great patio seating and service! I am not always in the mood for this kind of food, but would probably go back!
(4)
Karin M.
I had the most miserable new year of my life here. The staff were rude. Everyone there was not having a good time. After a $50 cover charge the live music was awful ... at midnight the band leader was introducing the members in the band (cause management so cheap could barely afford them to make it to midnight) and then the set ended. In between set breaks they had no music at all. Drinks were $22 each. Awful, cheap, greedy, poorly managed - stay away Pepi's Restaurant & Bar Vail negative review Pepi's Restaurant and Bar Vail bad review Pepi's Restaurant and Bar Vail negative sucks Pepi's Restaurant & Bar Vail negative sucks
(1)
Megan A.
The food is phenomenal. The service is ok, at best. I had a bite of my child's macaroni and cheese, which is very clearly a homemade recipe. It's by far and away the best macaroni and cheese I've ever had. We've eaten here many times and I love the Wiener Schnitzel. I love spaetzle, and I'd say this spaetzle is good, but the portions are small, and even though the plates were hot, my spaetzle was luke warm last time. I do like that we are able to substitute sides and not have to get the ones that are listed with each entree on the menu. We will still return because the food is so tasty. But if you're like me and you like your sodapop or tea to be refilled, you need to ask the server for a refill before you're even 1/3 into your drink or else you'll never get a refill.
(4)
Melissa M.
Not what we expected at all. We felt like an assembly line, being corralled in and fed. Service was sub par at best. Probably will never return again and we visit vail at least once every couple of months.
(2)
Anne J.
Had dinner with my brother's family that I hadn't seen in a couple of years. Long wait and it was difficult to have conversations. The food was good, and watching the waiter prepare some of the food at the table was amazing!
(4)
Neeters B.
Service blows chunks here. The waiters pretend like they don't see you. We stood waiting for 20 mins before we even got an acknowledgement. Hello is it that hard to make eye contact or just say I'll be with you in a moment. The waiter was such a douche and clearly hates life and his job. My husband ordered a beer, he acted like he never heard of it until he pointed it out then called it a heffweisen when it wasn't. No biggie but then he took my husband's menu before he even had a chance to look at it to order wtf? So my husband and I shared a menu. He's a salty unhappy dude. Then he hands out clearly recycled stale rock hard bread
(2)
Ashley T.
This is a longtime family favorite in vail. We hadn't been back to the mountain in over five years but Pepi's did not disappoint! For the best dinner menu and environment make a reservation in the antler room. We ordered the steak Tatar and Caesar salad both prepared table side by our waiter. They were fresh and delicious but large portions. Four of us shared the portion for two. I had the elk loin, which was the best piece of red meat I have had in quite awhile. Our server was friendly, attentive, and kept refilling our wine appropriately! They also have German classics like Wiener schnitzel and apple strudel. A fun, delicious meal in vail!
(5)
Tiffany G.
The best thing I had here was the starter bread. The portabello mushroom sandwich I ordered wasn't very good, and the gnocchi was just ok.
(2)
Jamie W.
Pepi's is by far the best Bavarian restaurant in the US. They have an excellent menu that stays true to the theme, along with the matching Bavarian beers. The veal goulash was exceptional for the US. Don't forget to get the apple strudel to finish the meal! I've been here a half dozen times and still can't wait to go back.
(5)
Ben S.
Food was great! Service was amazing as well with live entertainment. Dessert was also great!
(5)
Patrick D.
Had no idea what to expect w/ Pepi's...I'm not very familiar with German/Bavarian food, but I was extremely happy with my meal! I got the jäger schnitzel & my wife got the chicken Mediterranean & both were so delicious. We will be back!
(5)
J F.
Went for dinner with my daughter. We both had wiener Schnitzel and appetizer of goulash soup. Soup was very average. schnitzel was light and had tender veal. Red cabbage was average and potatoes were like chips. Not good. Service was excellent and we were asked 3 or so times if we were happy. This place is barely German but it was ok. Our bill with no drinks and tip was $70. Should have been $25. Too many good restaurants in Vail to recommend this place. Did I tell you our waitress was very good. Blond gal in German garb.
(3)
Stephen L.
Goulash was delicious as well as the farmer's plate.
(4)
Bonnie n.
It wasn't bad not great though. Really didn't know what to expect we just wandered in after a day on the slopes Hungarian goulash- small cup instead of the "bowl" that was described on the menu the meat was a bit stringy, the soup was a little too salty and the potatoes slightly undercooked Pepi's house salad- run of the mill salad but it hit the spot for me. Candied walnuts, small pieces of cheese, mandarin oranges, field greens, avocado slices, cherry tomatoes Wiener schnitzel- it was fine, a little dry like it needed a sauce so we got some of the mushroom cream sauce to go with it (that tasted like cream of mushroom soup) came with potatoes and cabbage The waitress was really nice, service was good. Won't be back though
(2)
Cary S.
They advertised "25% entire dinner bill" and then afterwards said it applied only to entrees and no desserts, drinks, etc.! Every place else in Vail was more honest in their advertising.
(2)
I B.
Went there with my mom to have a nice dinner together -and was not disappointed. The place has a cool vibe to it - both the bar and the restaurant. For appetizers we had: Escargot - I am not a fan in general, but it was actually really good! Steak Tartar - was good Then for main dish we had Lamb and Salmon. Both were perfectly done and really good.
(4)
Rick F.
Very nice day to sit on the patio and enjoy a great meal. The meal was delivered fairly quickly, and tasted amazing. I had a German Schnitzel and red cabbage that tasted as good as one right from the kitchen in Berlin. The wait staff is very happy to serve guests and will help with a fantastic smile!
(5)
Brian H.
Made a late night trip with group of three friends. Had the Hungarian ghoulish (was good and hearty, slightly salty). We had the elk for two and the caribou for two. Elk was not gamey ad was very similar to a lean steak. The caribou was on the rack and very tender. All in all a decent restaurant, but prolly a one timer. But if German/Austrian cuisine is ur cup of tea, come here! The staff is very nice and from Austria
(3)
Greg E.
Went here during the film festival buy whilst skiing. The place is good to look at and inside has a homely European feel. The menu is split depending on where you sit as a way to appeal to different customers. I recommend going for the "antler menu" as this extends beyond the normal menu with some fantastic wild game options. Wild boar, elk, quail etc... I had the sea scallops as a starter and the lamb as a main (it was billed as a leg of lamb but I was told it would be a rack instead, which I preferred). Great food, great setting, and as way to try food you can't get in most places at a prices which I thought were very reasonable I would recommend going here.
(4)
Melissa K.
Came back a second time for the amazing kasespatzle! Service is just fine...ordered escargot and pretzel crusted crab cakes as well to share all with the hubs. I can make crab cakes the sane or better, but the fresh remoulade was wonderful with them. The escargot were tender and delicious, the spatzle is always a winner. Chocolate mousse for dessert was Yummy. But. HUGE. Definitely stop in!
(5)
Greg D.
On closing day of the ski season, my wife and I sat out on Pepe's marvelous deck...and that was the last good thing about our experience. Already carpenters were converting the covered part of the deck for summer use--- with hammers and drills, right in the middle of the lunch hour. Bad form! There was one overworked server, with a good 20 of us depending on her. As a result, we waited forever even for one glass of wine, let alone the soups we had ordered, and when those came they were lukewarm and my wife's wasn't even full. More bad form. Rolls and butter were dropped off at the table but by the time we realized we need knives to spread the butter, let alone napkins, the overworked server was gone and we just consumed our lukewarm soup. We have never before had a bad experience or a bad meal at Pepe's, but this one didn't rate a single star. We didn't even get what we wanted first from the menu because, as the server told us, it was the last day of the season and they were out of it. Bad form again. They let themselves run out of food, they let themselves come up short on staff, even though closing day is a big day and people ought to have a superior experience, not a bad one. If we were first-time customers, we would never go back. Hopefully since we have always liked Pepe's in the past, we shall give it another try, and hopefully things will be back to normal and we'll just chalk yesterday up to a bad day. But the bad day wasn't an accident; it was obviously the result of decisions to proceed with the seasonal renovation of the deck, to order a paucity of food, and to save money on staff without knowing how many they'd need. I hope someone at Pepe's reads this and learns a lesson for next time.
(1)
Shane A.
Once you get past the rude service, the food was decent the first time around. I ended up very sick the entire next day, making multiple trips to the restroom. It will take me a while before I can attempt to eat there again.
(1)
Rachel N.
Pepi's is a solid 3 star restaurant--after coming here for all of my life, I felt that it was time to give Pepi's a go. It must have been adult frat boy night and no one gave us the memo, b/c we were surrounded by 102983 men--which isn't totally a-typical for Vail, but during the high winter season it was surprising that our party of 4 women were a rarity. The ambiance is what you would expect from an Austrian restaurant--waitresses in leiderhosen (?spelling)--with large, sturdy tables and "warm" (read, dark) lighting. It was beasty hot in there, but I'm freezng when it's below 85 out, so I was happy as a clam. For the food: I'm not a game eater, so perhaps I couldn't really appreciate all that Pepi's has to offer--I had the hearts of palm salad and the salmon. Both were fine, nothing to write home about, and my "side" of veggies was 1 floret of cauli, broccoli, and 3 baby carrots. Filling. My nay saying aside, my friend had the elk and said that it was fantastiche, so I think that your enjoyment of the place probably depends on how much you indulge your inner Austrian. The menu is trying to draw in a new crowd, so they also offer dishes like Talapia "Costa Rica", fettuccine alfredo, and Tuna "sashim" (misspell intentional on my part). They do have vegetarian pastas, so it is possible to feed most people here. Would I return? Probably not, but I do feel like I have gotten the Vail experience now.
(3)
Vicky N.
After a morning of skiing/snowboarding, my friends and I decided to stop here for some food. I ordered a Hungarian Goulash soup. The first taste was good so I offered it to a friend. He tried it, and he pulled out a hair from the soup. (better him than me - haha), but I didn't want the soup back! I told the server, and he was really apologetically. He took back the soup and asked me for a new order. I wasn't sure if they were going to throw around the pot of Hungarian Goulash soup so I got a chicken noodle soup instead. The soup was good but it was a little bland. I didn't have to pay for the Goulash soup or the chicken noodle soup. The service was decent, and the restaurant is in a very convenient location. Also, I can drink legally in the states for a few years, and the server gave me a kid's menu. I'm pretty sure I don't look like I'm younger than 12, but I guess they don't have frequent Asian diners...
(2)
Bill E.
If you enjoy German plates and beer, with some live music mixed in, this is a good option. There is a limited beer selection, but the major kinds of german beer are covered. Service is fine, and on par with what you should expect with a busy bar.
(3)
John B.
Pepi's is located in the center of Vail Village up the road from the covered bridge. I had read mixed reviews on the restaurant but decided to give it a shot. Using the suggestion of my waiter I tried the Jager Schnitzel which was on special for $15. A little on the heavier/greasier side for me, but I enjoyed finishing my plate. I didn't really see the negativity of the staff that others mentioned.They were friendly, but not proactively so like at other establishments. The restaurant theme is nice, but there wasn't really any follow though with the dining experience. Overall, it wasn't bad. I'd go again if someone wanted to eat there, but probably not again on my own.
(3)
Michelle P.
With few options in Vail you're likely to end up at Pepi's. Unfortunately, you're also going to end up with mediocre food. The service was pleasant, and it was lovely sitting out on the open balcony and taking in the cool breeze (we were there in the "off" season), but the food is lackluster. I skipped a starter while The Brit had the Hungarian Goulash and said it was good. For our main meal I ordered a vegetarian pastry dish (name escapes me now 8 months later) and The Brit went for a traditional weinersnitchel. He stared longingly at my plate the entire time he trudged through his tasteless fried pork. It didn't look appetizing either. The side salads were good and fresh, but I'd have rather had it served on a different plate so my pastry wasn't made soft by all the dressing. I'm not big on German food, so I doubt I'd have enjoyed the food here much anyway. If you know your stuff, maybe it's better than I'm leading on. We did hear live music the night before, but during the day it was all soft rock over the speakers... the kind I don't like, until they did play "Silly Love Songs" by Paul McCartney and in that moment I loved Pepi's.
(2)
Stephanie P.
While the food is what I'd consider good but not great, I have to give extra stars for the quality of the gorgeous patio here. Our service was good - when a latecomer joined our party halfway through the meal, she managed to get our new dining companion's food out incredibly quickly so we weren't all sitting around waiting at the end of the meal. Prices were a bit higher than one would have paid outside of Vail, but not outlandish. I enjoyed my lunchtime meal, a german version of of macaroni and cheese (spaetzle, swiss cheese, french-fried onions,) and the others at my table seemed to enjoy what they had as well (goulash, weiner schnitzel, vegetable strudel, etc.) A great choice for people-watching with a beer in Vail!
Better than I expected based on the kitschy outfits on the waitresses. The food is overpriced, like everything in Vail, but quite tasty. Seems like more of a bar atmosphere than a restaurant.
(3)
Kevin D.
Come for the schnitzel - it's fantastic.
(4)
Richard J.
I enjoyed a late dinner here and had a wonderful meal. The sauerbraten was juicy, yet very tasty and the spaetzle noodles were the best I have ever had. The apple streusel was the perfect dessert ending.
(5)
Britney R.
I am surprised by the other reviews of Pepi's, as my experience was a pretty fabulous one... My friend, boyfriend, and I stumbled upon Pepi's menu display at around 9pm after being told the wait was 30 minutes at a nearby restaurant. We were drawn in by the variety of game and unique menu items on the Antler Room menu. As we entered, we were 'forced' to check our coats (restaurant policy). We walked through the bar and entered the small 'host room'. This room was very cramped, and we were told we had to wait for them to set up a table (even though the restaurant was nearly empty at this point. Still, they had us seated in five minutes. We ordered a round of cocktails and picked two appetizers- Dungeness Crab Florentine and Escargot Bourguignonne. Even though the Escargot dish was unpronouncable, it was delectable. My boyfriend and I both love escargot, and it was my friend's first experience. It was served in a traditional french style, in the shell, and with garlic butter. It was perfectly tender, and the snails were HUGE. The dungeness crab was also very tasty, the toast points they were on were almost unnoticeable, while the spinach and crab dominated the dish. Next, we ordered a bottle of 2005 Luigi Righetti Amarone. I've never been disappointed by an Amarone, and this one followed suit. Our server did a good wine presentation. We ordered soups next, lobster bisque for me and my friend, and the Hungarian goulash soup for my boyfriend. The $8 bowls of soup were decidedly minescule. They were smaller than most cups. Regardless, they were extremely tasty. The bisque wasn't overly sweetened, and was packed with rich lobster flavor. The goulash was meaty and satisfying. Deciding on entrees was the most difficult part. Ultimately, my boyfriend and I each ordered the roasted Alaskan Elk (carved tableside, only available for two or more people), and my friend picked the Venison "Diana". We all substituted out our red cabbage side (ew, who likes red cabbage?) for either polenta or spinach, and all of our dishes also came with spatzle. The food came out looking succulent and juicy. Our server carved the Elk medallions beautifully, and split them evenly on the plate (although my boyfriend SWORE he had gotten the smaller portion). We were salivating. The moment we each took our first bite, we were in heaven. The elk had a perfectly gamey flavor, but was cooked tender, and almost melted right in your mouth. The venison was a bit more chewy, and the wild mushroom sauce was SO rich and creamy. The spatzle tasted awesome, although I admit, it was my first experience with this food. My boyfriend, who has worked at a German restaurant, was somewhat unimpressed with it. The polenta was incredible. It tasted so very richly of corn, not a lot of fillers, and with a really nice grit-like texture. None of us could quite finish our plates, the portions were huge! We probably should have skipped the soup course. Still, that didn't stop us from sharing a creme brulee, which we devoured voraciously. Overall, the food was the highlight of this restaurant. Our server and his assistant were very good, but the host kept looking at us haggardly, as I'm sure we were hindering the restaurant's closing. Since we had spent over $300 at this point, we didn't feel bad about staying a bit late. They closed at 10, and we were gone by 10:20. Our server didn't seem to mind one bit, and even thanked us again after realizing we had left a healthy tip. The fifth star is lost here due to ambiance... The pink tablecloths and floral wallpaper don't seem to match the dozens of Antler horns displayed along the walls. I think that Pepi's imagines it's a much nicer restaurant than it actually is. The decor is at least two decades outdated. The men dressed professionally with collared shirts and (I believe) vests, but the females' uniforms were ridiculous and looked like a cheap Disney attempt at 'German Barmaid'. I would definitely go back to Pepi's for a special dinner, only if I knew I had an entire day after to lay around comatose- we left STUFFED.
(4)
Kyle M.
I'll keep this fairly brief, but I can honestly say that here, you're probably going to annoy the staff, and they don't hide that fact. If you want to dine in their dining room, you're forced to check your coat. I can understand that in a ski town, people's bulky jackets can be a slight nuisance, but seriously? This is not the Four Seasons. It's a kitschy German/Austrian-themed, tourist-driven restaurant. From that point on, I knew what we were in for... The service, like nearly everywhere else in Vail, is snarky and somewhat hostile. If you ask to see a beer list, you merely get the names of the beers barked at you. We had no idea what size beer we'd be getting, or how much they would cost. *sigh* It was clear that we weren't allowed to ask. The dinner menu is in the $20-$35+ range, which is to be expected in Vail. I was in desperate need of carbs, so I got a sausage dish served with pasta and a spicier red sauce. It was good, and larger than some of the other dishes my dining companions ordered. However, for $26...like I said, it's Vail. One person in our group wasn't that hungry, and so he ordered something he thought was going to be soup. He received something in a bowl-esque like plate, and it was covered in a soupy sort of sauce. He shrugged and assumed that was what he ordered. When the bill came, he realized that what he was served was $29. Confused, he called our server over, who proceeded to tell my friend that HE (my friend) was confused when he was ordering, and that the restaurant could have done something about it "if you hadn't eaten it all up before saying something." Those were his literal words. Are you kidding me? What a load of BS. I am a former server, and good servers who really want to take care of their customers should verify all orders if there seems to be any kind of confusion on either party's side. We all couldn't help but come to the conclusion that this particular server saw an opportunity to overcharge a "tourist" in light of his obvious confusion. In sum, nobody particularly enjoyed their meal, and we couldn't help but feel that the staff at this restaurant viewed us as an annoyance from beginning to end and couldn't wait for us to leave (our server literally hovered over our table as we readied our payment at the end). We weren't being difficult at all, and our bill was well over $400. What a letdown.
(2)
Taylor L.
I've spent every 4th of July here for as long as I can remember. Our pictures always turn out a nice yellow color from the patio awning, but it's a great place to sit in the summer. Pepi's is definitely a very chilled out restaurant, but if you're looking for a great burger and fries this is the place to go. They have an awesome bloody mary's but tend to be on the spicy side, so if you like them mild, ask for it. This year I tried the ahi tuna salad which was a new addition to the menu - great tuna, which i was a bit surprised about. And don't forget the strudel! It's pretty darn good. If you're stopping through Vail after a hard day on the slopes, or an afternoon of shopping the village, and you're looking for a place to get a bite, try Pepi's! It's not the best restaurant you'll find in Vail, but it's central and decent.
(3)
Demetrius A.
During opening weekend and taking some photos in Vail Village, I came across this little spot. The day was gorgeous and we were able to sit on the patio. The service was awesome!!! I had the chance to indulge in the buffalo chili and a few hot toddies. The chili is just AWESOMENESS and I will definitely be having that again after coming off the slopes...
(4)
Lina D.
The food was good but the service was terrible. The busgirl cleared my husband's and my daughter's plates while I was still eating my dinner. Completely aggravating and inappropriate dining etiquette. She hovered over our table grabbing things like a nervous bird. The waitress and hostess were nice - but nonetheless the bus staff was so untrained it ruined my meal.
(2)
Andrew L.
Quite the menu. A fine mix of hearty euro cuisine. Plenty of German foods and a good number of warming foods for a cold day on the slopes.
(4)
Drew D.
Ok I don't know why anyone could hate pepi's, I know it's kinda cheesy and way set up for tourists but I couldn't love it more. I will always get their onion soup to start with, given to you in this pot and covered in cheese it's amazing. Then I'll get the wienerschnitzel so good every bite will melt in your mouth. If you've never had it get it since to me it's amazing, even if you don't love it it's hard not to like just a little bit at least. Every time I come to pepis it's a good to so I'd recommend it highly.
(5)
Kate W.
We ate lunch at Pepi's our first night here, and it was better than these reviews say. I won't say it's the best German food I've ever had, but it was pretty good. We both got the bratwurst (one pork and one veal), and were happy with them. The sauerkraut and red cabbage were slightly overcooked, but not enough to not eat it. Next time I go, I want to try the schnitzel... it looked yummy. Oh - and the waitress outfits were in full effect. Very sad.
(3)
Steve M.
I'm a fan of Austrian food. I spent a summer in Salzburg, consuming my weight in Stiegl and sausages daily. Every time I have the option for Austro-German, I take it. Unfortunately, I wish I hadn't stuck by my guns and convinced the Missus to go to Pepi's. Service was average, but the food was just not good. The goulash was little more than paprika mixed with a LOT of salt and the schnitzel could have come from a Sysco. Just not good. Pass.
(2)
Kim R.
Lots of fun live music has a great vibe, nice to see the older people looking kewl and having fun...
(4)
Shirley T.
Disappointing. Stale rolls and a very overpriced ($12) Ceasar salad that was super light on dressing and came with what looked like (and tasted like) Pepperidge Farm croutons. Go elsewhere - there are lots of better restaurants in Vail.
(2)
Nick B.
Pepi's is a fairly good American style restaurant, harking back to the days of Bennegins if you will. They do have a good brunch on the weekends, and I'd recommend the apple blanches which were very good.
(3)
Lindsay W.
I was here just last Tuesday, and must admit the other reviews surprised me. I came with a friend for dinner, and although they were swamped when we arrived at 7:40 and weren't seated until 8pm (with a 7:30 reservation), once we actually began dining the experience was wunderbar! We ate in the Antler Room, and were pleasantly surrounded by animal skulls with beautiful antlers. If that doesn't make you want to eat Caribou, I don't know what would? We started with the Graubundner Teller, which was just ok. If I wanted cured meat and rye bread, I'd go to the deli down the street from me. For dinner, I had the Wiener schnitzel and my pal had the veal 'Siciliana.' Both of us thoroughly enjoyed our baby cows, and the portions were large enough that with apps we could not finish (although we're fairly small girls, so keep that in mind). For dessert we tried the Apple Strudel which was very satisfying. It came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some sort of cream/fruit swirled sauce. I think the beer maids must only be cocktail waitresses, because I didn't see anyone in the restaurant with the St. Pauly getup. Our waiter was the real deal, speaking with the natives at the table next to us. The food came out promptly, but not too quickly, and everything was at the right temperature. Overall, I would recommend. However, since there are so many restaurants in Vail I'd probably try something new before making this a must-return-to destination.
(4)
Andreas L.
Serviceable faux-Austrian restaurant (in faux-Austrian Vail). The food is good but not great: the goulasch sauce was too creamy, the red cabbage overcooked, etc. The room is nice; fairly spartan but in keeping with an Austrian ski hut. The prices and service were both excellent. The wine list was completely workable, with selections ranging from the highly affordable to the special occasion bottle, but nothing priced at any obnoxious level. I'll definitely go back, but it is what it is: a fairly standard place that's grown to semi-institutional status as a result of having been in Vail Village since the mid 60s.
(3)
Shiho F.
If you like snacking on Chex Mix with a cold beverage and waitresses dressed up in beermaid outfits then this is your place. Oops I forgot to mention none of them were very cute and if they were their outfits were not flattering. I mean their dresses are long, corsets not tight enough and they didn't have enough on their upperbodies to fill out the bodice.
(3)
Yan M.
Pepi's offers an Austrian flare with several selections such as WienerSchnitzel, Jaegerschnitzel, Paprika Goulash and Sauerbraten alongside some American cuisine. Was there for lunch last year and thought it was a marvellous meal however, this time round over the weekend, some of the dishes did not meet expectations esp when I brought along a group of Austrian guests. It was less than thrilled or horrendous experience when the waiter rushed us through our meal and started collecting plates and utensils when my friends were finising their food! The hostessasked us to leave as the next group of patrons were waiting outside the restaurant. We had a 7:30pm reservation and was asked to leave by 9pm! The hostess literally told us that she needs the table!!! How rude!
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Garage Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Music : Live Good For Dancing : No Alcohol : Full Bar Happy Hour : Yes Best Nights : Mon, Wed, Sat Coat Check : Yes Smoking : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Cassie N.
Love the food here! Also the staff very friendly, and when i couldn't go into vendettas to get a slice of pizza for lunch I came here with my family and we sat down right away and had the best experience! Oh and the food.. is so yummy!
(4)Robert W.
At this writing, the average rating for Pepi's was about 3 stars. That's about what it deserves and very fair. I liked the euro atmosphere and it really put me in the mood for some German food (they have other than just German food if that's not your thing). Sat outside on the deck with my youngest daughter. Got a Paulaner beer and the brats. Daughter got some mac n cheese and they brought some fruit along at my request. Brats were about average when compared to experience in Germany. Cabbage and spaetzle were edible and I would even say good in a cafeteria kind of way. Relaxing on the deck in the sun for lunch was probably the best part. Friendly, fast service, too.
(3)Rick C.
August 2013: We had a delicious lunch @ Pepi's European Restaurant in the Village of Vail, Colorado: We both had a cup Hungarian Goulash soup and shared a plate of Jaeger Schnitzel (sautéed pork medallions topped with wild mushroom sauce and served with homemade spaetzel & red cabbage). My Wife had a pint of Paulaner Weissbier and I had a pint of Paulaner Oktoberfest Bier... delicious authentic food. Ate on their deck and enjoyed watching everyone walk by.
(4)Robert E.
Sheika must have gotten rid of rod powell..... a huge mistake. Everyone we know is not going to return to pepis because rods GONE. We will not be back either! BYE!
(1)Dave K.
Quiet night, October 1st snow, perfect night for German comfort food! Started with a Paulaner Bier, and Chard for wife. I had Goulash dinner, excellent, I think they add a cream to the broth! Wife had the Allgäuer Käsespätzle, Cheese was wonderful! Topped dinner off with strudel, which was almost too pretty to eat, and tasty to boot!
(4)M A.
Nice, clean edifice reminiscent of the ones around the Bavarian alps enticed us to dine at Pepi's for lunch. We miss German food, and so we went in without hesitation. It is unfortunate that the service was non-existent. Seems like we are one of the few who have experienced horrible service :( it all started when I asked for water with no ice, and I was given ice water. I let that go; no big deal. We were then served the ubiquitous bread with butter almost immediately, but the rolls were cold, so we knew they weren't that fresh. With the rolls, we were brought three small plates for five diners--not sure how they figured that. We all enjoyed our meals, except for my son who ordered kid's spaghetti--it was a bit on the watery side. I ordered Jägerschnitzel, and it was tasty; however, I found the meat (which isn't breaded) and the spätzle a bit oily. The mushroom cream sauce and the red cabbage were the best part. We found the portions to be on the small side for the price, but we figured we were in Vail, and everything in touristy areas tend to be on the more expensive side. Not once did our server come back to ask if we needed anything--not one time. Our water glasses were refilled just before we were about to leave--while waiting on our server to realize we were done and waiting for our check. When our check came, we were surprised that 18% gratuity was already included. I understand that gratuity is, at times, automatically added for party of six or more. Well on our receipt, it shows there are six guests on our table; so it seems they have included our infant child in the guest list to make six. I guess someone knew he wasn't getting 18% from us, otherwise. For the bare minimum service we were given, it was appalling that a good tip was expected. Really?! ...in short: food was decent, place was clean, but service was bare minimum, and added gratuity for bad service leaves a really bad taste. If in the area again, we will not return.
(2)Yvonne F.
Stopped in for late lunch after skiing. Want busy but took a while to get served. The rolls they brought out were ice cold, asked to warm them up which they did... In the microwave making them to soft. Ordered the Jaeger Schnitzel. I'm German and know my schnitzels... The schnitzel was good but the mushroom sauce tasted like cream of mushroom soup, nothing like the dark hunter sauce with fresh mushrooms I'm accustomed to. The red cabbage was way too sweet to eat. The spaetzle was a bit tough but edible. Surprised by the lack of quality food for the reputation and prices. Great for those unfamiliar with true good German food. Have eaten there before for dinner and lunch always a bit disappointed with quality. Expect more for such a highly regarded restaurant in exclusive Vail, as well as for the high prices they charge for such simple dishes.
(2)Danielle E.
Worst restaurant we have eaten at in Vail. Food is flavorless and over priced. The mashed potatoes were even nastier than cafeteria potatoes. Service was not horrible but definitely the worst we have had in Vail.
(1)Mike G.
Wonderful, cozy but a bit loud and compact. Food and service is great; only drawback is that we were first to arrive for a 5:30pm reservation and got the worst table location in restaurant - next to door and high traffic area which created multiple distractions.
(4)Jim V.
awful..... service.... awful service, awful.. service!!!!! (with french fried potatoes!!!).
(1)Mike C.
Wednesday 2/25/15. Excellent food and very attentive service. Prices were reasonable considering it's Vail. ($29 main entree) We arrived early for a 5:30 reservation so had a glass of wine in the bar area. It was crowded and fun, due to the live music and classic après ski atmosphere. Got the last open table and enjoyed a glass of wine and some good tunes. Promptly at 5:30 we were seated in the dining area. We like German/Austrian cuisine so we went for some classics. The Jägerschnitzel with spaetzle, red cabbage and veggies was authentic and delicious. The pork shoulder with spaetzle, red cabbage and veggies was perfectly cooked and almost fell off the bone. We were full by dessert but had to try the apple strudel with ice cream. It was worth it! Service was excellent and friendly. Went out through the bar and the live music had started up again (7-9pm). We were tempted to stay but we're too full to eat or drink anything else! We'll be going back this week for happy hour:-)
(5)Ah H.
The worst service and food. Over priced and not tasty. The bread they serve is cold and old. The waiter was very arrogant and did not take time to listen to our request even though it was a slow day with very few other customers. Guess that should have told us the quality of the place was poor. When we ask for something he would make gestures to the other waiters as if he was dismissing us. At the end he got nada zero tip from us and def not going back!
(1)Emily J.
I went here during Oktoberfest this weekend and was underwhelmed. Heavy German food, servers in dirndls and pigtails with a surly attitude. I had the vegetable strudel and was not impressed. The server was not very friendly and the service was really slow. Won't be back as there are much better restaurants in Vail.
(2)Cristina B.
I never thought it would be possible to mess up a tuna melt! I ordered the French Onion soup and Tuna Melt for lunch and the soup was pretty good. Not out of this world but no complaints. Unfortunately the tune melt arrived completely cold. Even the "melted" cheese on top was cold. I asked the waiter to please have it warmed up and got it back a few mins later after it had been zapped in the microwave for about 30 seconds. The cheese was now warm but the tuna was still completely cold. The waiter never came by to check on us until the end of the meal. He asked how everything was and I told him that the tuna was still horrible and I was not able to eat it - the entire sandwich was still on my plate aside from the two small bites I took to discover the melt was cold both times. He did not apologize or ask if there was anything else he could bring us. Just dropped off the check and left. We ended up going somewhere else for food. Extremely disappointing that the food was bad and the service even worse!
(1)Maria P.
Right in the heart of Vail Village you can find Pepi's, an authentic German restaurant with great food. I went here for a business lunch and was so thankful for the experience. We sat outside and I ordered the Jagerschnitzel which is pork medallions sautéed in a wild mushroom sauce, served with spätzle and red cabbage, delicious! My co-workers ordered equally scrumptious food too. If you are visiting Vail and like German food I would definitely suggest Pepi's. I'd say on average the meal came to $20 a person and completely worth it!
(4)Wendy C.
5 star location, right in the heart of the Village, sunny patio = people watching. 3 star food, okay quality and reasonably priced for Vail. It styles itself as a German-Austrian restaurant and pub, but the menu tries to appeal to as a wide audience in this popular resort as possible, so it ends up looking like an amalgam of Bavarian, Colorado mountain food, mixed in with some Maryland (crab cakes) and tuna sushi. We tried the Bavarian part of the menu...Bratwurst was bursting with flavour, literally. Wiener Schnitzel tasted a-okay, breading was a little soggy, the accompanying sauerkraut and beet were obviously homemade and tasty. 3 star service, our waitress was quite efficient. It's a good place to stop for a casual meal in Vail.
(3)Jessica I.
We only had a drink here. The sangria was good, and the beer was a generous portion. The staff was indifferent, bordering on rude. Will not be back for dinner.
(2)Rich L.
We had been to Pepi's several years ago, had a decent experience and wanted to return. I guess expectations were too high or memories too faded. They do have a wonderful location in the middle of Vail and a great deck to dine and people watch. Sadly, that's about the best I can say. Three of us had lunch. I had the two-brat special with dollops of mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. It was so bland I wasn't sure which of the three I was eating. The other two meals were uninspiring. We had one beer, a glass of wine, (and a lemonade) and with tip lunch was $80. For that I expect much more. Definitely not a good value. No plans to return
(2)Lydia L.
Had a very nice meal here in the antler room. Very cosy and romantic atmosphere. Went through the Bar which had live music. Decor was nice. The meal was fantasTic. Scallops for appetizer were cooked perfectly and highly recommend the caribou and elk. The boar was a bit chewy . Had the lingonberry pie for dessert such a great end to the rich meal. The owner and his wife happened to be sitting directly next to us with some family enjoying dinner as well!
(5)Ellen L.
We had plate sample of the elk, mushroom gravy sauce, cranberry spiced cabbage, and side of potatoes.
(5)Lauren M.
My boyfriend and I had our "nice dinner" of our vacation in the Antlers room at Pepis. First off, the whole restaurant/bar has a great environment. The bar had live music and looked like a ton of fun. The Antlers room we dined in was super romantic and cozy. The service was great, free coat check, quick seating, quick service. Now, as for food expect to pay a pretty penny if you're eating the antlers menu. Most of the entrees cost $30+...but for good reason. Many of the dishes they will cook at your table which is pretty fun. We had the sea scallops as an appetizer, delicious. I had the willdibieb platter (could be wrong on the name, most of the dishes are German) which consisted of braised quail, wild boar, and elk. The boar and elk were AMAZING. The quail...was cooked well, but I wasn't crazy about the sauce. My boyfriend had the fallow deer t-bone and he really loved it. It's a BIG steak. Truly a great date spot, we went as a belated birthday dinner for me. So many other things on the menu looked delicious. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the sound travelling like it did, such a romantic atmosphere in our room would occasionally be interrupted by noises from the other rooms.
(4)Erick F.
Service was terrible. Terrible. Maybe she was having a bad day but that's not or problem. Ordered the burgers with a puzzle bun. I'm for the ones they cooked. Leaned toward medium rare and didn't ask. The problem really was I've was rare. Sent back, requesting medium well, came bank medium rare. Wtf. The rest were medium to medium rare. Acceptable, but the lack of consistency leads me to believe they have no idea how cooked it is. Won't go back.
(1)Nebi O.
Have been coming here for years & never disappointed. Better spaetzle & schnitzel than I've had in Graz & Munich. Friendly, down-to-earth service in addition to delicious food. It was fun & tasty as a single guy getting festive in Vail & remains great for a settled-down family guy. Worth a drive from Denver - which we do sometimes! Sehrschön!
(5)Lee S.
Stumbled upon Pepi's as we wandered around Vail during the off season. My wife lived in Germany for three years and was delighted to find a German restaurant during our brief stay in Vail. Their off-season $13 entrée specials made it a no brainer to try it out. I ordered the double Pork Bratwurst, my wife had the Hungarian Veal Goulash and my daughter ordered the Wiener Schnitzel. We all shared our meals and concurred that all the selections were very tasty. The Bratwurst was exceptional and we all thought they were cooked perfectly and were delicious. The large, airy, covered patio overlooking the main promenade was bright, cheerful and such a wonderful place to enjoy an afternoon lunch - German style.
(5)Patrick C.
On our second night in Vail, I chose Pepi's as I had not been back here in practically twenty years! Unfortunately, the food didn't match the memory. I have spoken highly of Pepi's French Onion Soup for years, as being one of the very best I've ever had. Well, they definitely have changed the recipe, very possibly making it lighter and healthier but in doing so removing that deep rich flavor that I longed to taste again. While it wasn't bad, it simply wasn't the same. My Steak Tartare was also more bland than I would have liked and while the Pepper Steak entrée I had was, again, not bad; I was expecting better. While I know meals in Vail are generally pricey, Pepi's doesn't match up in my mind from a standpoint of quality. Our Server (this was on a holiday) was excellent in spite of having been on for more than 10 hours (she didn't tell us this, we simply overheard her discussion with another server). At that point, she could have easily relaxed a little, but she kept up the quality for the entire meal.
(3)Charles Peter D.
Meal was good service below par. The bartender was our server and a bartender overcharged us by three times what the bill should've been. Was not that good
(1)Qooking T.
canadian caribou cutlet = excellent colorado rack of lamb = excellent escargot "bourgignone" = good graubündner teller = good roasted half duckling = average
(4)Gino T.
Having sprained my knee skiing for the first time in over 25 years, I had the good luck to have lunch on the deck at Pepi's one warm day. I chose the veal bratwurst plate (opting for only one brat), served with mashed potatoes, sauerkraut and red cabbage. The brat was served with a brown gravy, which I would have preferred eliminated in favor of a good mustard, but it's a matter of taste. Food and service were both excellent, and the brat was as good as I've eaten outside the Germany/Austria region.
(4)Nicholas M.
Blah food This is definitely a $$$ restaurant. Dinner entrees range from $26-38. Add a drink and you will definitely be within the $$$. (*Prices for food quality is probably the worst I have ever experienced in my 37 years of life.) Blah service Gestapo rules: states on the menu: no cell phones, no spitting checks. Decor is out of the 80s. (Pink table clothes.) Never in my life will I go back to this restaurant. It's just not worth it. NOTHING was enjoyable about this meal.
(1)james a.
Location. Great. Patio. Great. Music. Great. Food. Solid, but unremarkable. Service. Really? 16 patrons on the deck, no one in the dining room. 6 visible staffers. :12 minutes waiting on a tab, passed by the server 8x in an hour with no check in? Wow. The deck musician was more attentive. Says a lot. He got the tip. They'd be well served by losing our server.
(3)Steve N.
We stopped by Pepi's for a drink after a long day of snowboarding. It was packed. We didn't try the food cause we wanted something unforgettable like the alcohol menu. The drinks were fairly price and you could get a pitcher size beer for $10. The waitress was really and on top of things even though there were people pulling her in multiple directions. They had someone performing live music and it was a pretty lively spot to go after tearing up the mountain. Wait...did I say tearing up? I might murder the mountain cause that's what we do. We came, we F sh*t up then we leave. We go hard. We go super Saiyan on that b*tch. We switch into Beast Mode then it's night night, son! Overall, it's a chill spot to stop by for a few drinks while you wait for your friends to finish their runs. It's neither amazing or terrible but perfect for a quick drink.
(3)Casey V.
This was my first time visiting Vail and we stopped into Pepi's for lunch (and to get out of the rain). Food was excellent. I had the steak tartare, and the 3 of us in our party were all served our meals very quickly after ordering, Service - Bonnie was delightful! We loved her immediately and she was just great. Everything we ordered came the way we wanted, and Bonnie made us feel really welcome. Definitely would return.
(4)Samantha L.
We had a lovely after hiking lunch here outside on a nice autumn day. The salads were delicious and the service was friendly and attentive. I loved the people watching and the authentic Vail Alps feel. We really couldn't have asked for much more!
(4)Olga S.
So I can only write this review based on the drinks, me and a couple of friends just hung out at the bar here on a Tuesday night and listened to live music. It was a great chill atmosphere, we ordered a round of 16 oz Hefeweizen drafts and enjoyed the live music. The service was great and attentive and the place is just really quaint! I would definitely come back here.
(4)Brian T.
Stopped by Pepi's on a Saturday afternoon after a warm day on the slopes. They had open seating on their covered patio and a sign that said seat yourself. Great. We had a group of 8. There's a common theme across the less than glowing reviews for Pepi's, it's poor service, and it's probably only 1 or 2 wait staff that are responsible for it. Our server came up to our table huffing and puffing, no smile, and asked us if we were ready to order. I asked for a 22 oz beer but was quite rudely cut off while our server launched into a diatribe about it not being possible, I can't order that, and don't order it. Through the verbal vomit I caught a few lines. It seems you can't order 22 oz beers because people break the glasses and they're VERY EXPENSIVE, people steal the glasses, and there's just no way to order one. Got it lady. What's odd about their draft beer pricing is that it's $6 for a pint (16 oz), and then $7 for the 22 oz glass. So your incremental dollar gets you 6 more ounces. Sounds great until you get berated for trying to order something on the menu. Also worth noting is that the largest beer glass is actually more expensive per ounce than the pint. Weird. I was considering asking if I could just get my pint and then 6 more ounces on the side for $7. That probably would've just confused things sadly. Anyways, I ceded my loss and ordered a pint. A friend who had been at the restroom during all this gets back and decides on a beer. I proceed to witness the exact same conversation, look of bewilderment, and then eventual surrender. If you can't order 22 oz beers, just take them off the menu. Anyways aside from that I also ordered a baked pretzel go to with my beer. The pretzel was mediocre but what got me was the "cheese" sauce that's served with it. There's no cheese in it. Don't let them lie to you. It's a neon yellow and tastes only like butter and some sort of thickener. Cheez whiz has more real cheese in it. I have no idea why they're doing this. Don't offer cheese sauce if you have no cheese to put in it. I had every one at the table try it just to make sure I wasn't crazy. Surprise was had by all. They get to keep that second star mainly because I enjoyed the beer.
(2)Marcia S.
Great place with an interesting history. Outside dining is wonderful, Food isn't interesting but it is very tasty. A good spot!
(4)Kevin W.
Great Bav food & drinks! Can get busy at high times be prepared. A little pricey but its Vail everything is...so just relax and enjoy! Food is excellent and music too- check the sched. or call. One of our mountain favs autographed pics of stars and heroes all over the walls in the large bar area.
(5)Sabina F.
Love this place, they have awesome German (or Austrian?) food. The Kaesespaetzle is amazing, the Schnitzels are always perfectly crispy and non oily and the veal bratwurst is amazing! I've seen Swiss friends snicker at the title of a dish, saying "As if they can do that here in America", only to pause and be awed at the authentic taste when said dish would arrive. Reading some of these other reviews, I need to say our service is always great, never rude or lacking. Last time we were there, our hostess, a German girl named Tanja, was great and friendly and found us a table on a busy afternoon and our server was efficient, even though she was obviously very busy, too.
(5)Jason P.
If you're skiing or snowboarding at Vail for several days, one can get sick of the lodge food. A good alternative is to stop at Vail Village and try out one of the many restaurants. Pepi's serves up German food but also has food that caters to all with such offerings as burgers, salads, sandwiches, seafood, and pasta. But who doesn't love beer and brats? The establishment is fairly large with an indoor seating area and bar, an outdoor area where diners can enjoy the passers-by, or an enclosed outdoor area if the weather's a bit chilly. To start, they provide you with complimentary rolls and butter. For my entree, although German food is one of my favorites, I just couldn't pass up the Cheeseburger ($14.00) that was on an unsalted pretzel roll. It's a plump juicy burger garnished with Bermuda onions, red leaf lettuce, tomatoes, a quartered pickle, and served with a small side of french fries. For my choice of cheese (American, Cheddar, Swiss, or Blue Cheese), I opted for their Swiss which had a fairly noticeable nutty and sweet flavor to it; exactly what I was hoping for as much too many times, restaurants tend to serve burgers with a very mild swiss cheese. The fries were perfectly seasoned and I found myself eating every single one. The Wiener Schnitzel ($18.50), a 4 oz. breaded veal cutlet, was also very tasty. The breading was crisp and not greasy at all, and the veal was hammered thinly and was tender. It did not remind me of my heyday's of awesome German food in Austria, but it was close enough to satisfy my wiener schnitzel urge. Included n the side was a small serving of French fries, two lemon wedges, and steamed vegetables consisting of broccoli, carrots, potatoes, and snow pea pods. Overall, prices are slightly expensive but considering you will spend just as much on lodge food which is only half as good, I would definitely recommend grabbing a bite at Pepi's. Just keep in mind that sit-down dining with waitstaff usually takes longer than cafeteria style food at the lodge. If time is a constraint or if you're looking to optimize your time on the mountain, I'd probably advise possibly coming for dinner instead. Most of the clientele also appeared to have normal clothes on, and we were the only one's who had gear on, but it was casual enough that no one minded.
(3)Nicole S.
Stopped here for a drink and appetizer before dinner bc we were starving. Service was terrible. Wine pours were even worse. Their pretzels and chips/salsa were surprisingly good though. Odd place/vibe: it was pretty bright in there and the guy with the guitar singing was not very good nor was he entertaining.
(2)R S.
Was excited to eat red cabbage and schnitzel and pork cutlet - disappointed. Friendly staff and very authentic once inside but the food was soaked in butter and red cabbage was just so so. Frankly I've had better out of a jar from big lots. We had 30% off dinner entree but still felt it was overpriced and underwhelming. I may be biased - I'm from a polish area in Chicago. B
(3)Lani C.
Just had lunch here. Food was good, service excellent. Prices were great by Vail standards.
(4)Jonathan P.
This establishment is by far the best food I have had since I have been here, and I have tried many different places. I had the pork bratwurst and it was spot on I cleaned my plate of the red cabbage, and sauerkraut, I wish I could have consumed more but I had to save room for the amazing dessert. Around the table we tried them all and none of them let us down. I would say if you are in Vail or Breckenridge this is a must try place.
(5)Kelly M.
We ate dinner in the restaurant on New Years Day and had such terrible service. I've been here before and the service was sub par, but this time our waitress was downright rude. It's really frustrating when you are spending $30 a person on the entree alone, order multiple glasses of wine and beers, and even spring for dessert and are treated poorly. We did the bar part of Peppi's as a last resort after most other places were too busy for our large après ski group on the 2nd. The waitress inside of the bar was even terrible! She was downright rude! And then had the absolute nerve to ask why her tip wasn't higher because she thought that she gave good service. (Definitely lucky to get the 12% that we gave her, with some of the comments that she made, we were embarrassed for her.) I would absolutely not recommend either the restaurant or the bar after these two experiences 2 weeks ago. The only thing decent is the large beers and the good was good in the bar, as well as the restaurant. When we went to Ti Amo's on the 3rd, we told our waiter about our poor experience here and he couldn't have been less surprised. Apparently this is the norm at this place. Pathetic. Especially with how much money we spent with them.
(1)Amanda S.
The worst service I've ever had. The waitress in the bar area was the rudest waitress I've ever had. Never placed my order and was incredibly rude. I came to Vail four years ago and loved it but I will never come back. I also had a party of five that would have spent money but no more.
(1)Nathaly S.
If u want to listen to grat live music and dance and drink and have fun: thats the place to be in vail. it gets relly packed arround 7 coz everyone loves this place so make sure to come early to get a table! enjoy ppl, pls check it out!
(5)Fallon M.
Really don't understand the negative reviews, we had a lovely dinner here tonight with our daughter after driving up from Boulder. It is our first visit to Vail, and so we spent about an hour walking around and looking at different possibilities before deciding on Pepi's and so glad we did ! Great service, from the hostess who pushed two small tables together so we could have a window seat(killer view) to our waiter. Delicious food- 2 had the sauerbraten, and another the German boiled beef dinner. Beet salad and chicken soup to start. Apple strudel for dessert see photo- Really charming dining room. And did I mention the Fall specials-30% off 6 of the entrees? Very nice !
(4)Erica F.
It's known as a Vail institution, so there is a steady stream of customers. The place is huge.... tons of seating indoors and out. It's nice to sit under the umbrellas during a summertime visit. Staff is friendly and fairly prompt (though we had to wait forever for our check at the end, I hate that!) but the food is not anything to write home about. The sandwiches were WIMPY... hardly any meat on them, mostly vegetables. And it is insanely expensive for what you get; for a turkey panini with swiss it was almost $15! Not worth it.
(3)Peggy H.
Today was our first time at Pepi's. The covered and heated porch was a nice feature since it was raining. We had lunch and Jen was our waitress. She was helpful, efficient and professional. We shared the warm lamb loin greek salad, pork and buffalo venison brats with sides and kuchen for dessert. Everything was excellent and the portions were reasonable. We'll return.
(5)Abby G.
Our server was extremely pleasant and checked in on us frequently. We had a couple beers and dinner. The food was ok, nothing special, but great patio seating and service! I am not always in the mood for this kind of food, but would probably go back!
(4)Karin M.
I had the most miserable new year of my life here. The staff were rude. Everyone there was not having a good time. After a $50 cover charge the live music was awful ... at midnight the band leader was introducing the members in the band (cause management so cheap could barely afford them to make it to midnight) and then the set ended. In between set breaks they had no music at all. Drinks were $22 each. Awful, cheap, greedy, poorly managed - stay away Pepi's Restaurant & Bar Vail negative review Pepi's Restaurant and Bar Vail bad review Pepi's Restaurant and Bar Vail negative sucks Pepi's Restaurant & Bar Vail negative sucks
(1)Megan A.
The food is phenomenal. The service is ok, at best. I had a bite of my child's macaroni and cheese, which is very clearly a homemade recipe. It's by far and away the best macaroni and cheese I've ever had. We've eaten here many times and I love the Wiener Schnitzel. I love spaetzle, and I'd say this spaetzle is good, but the portions are small, and even though the plates were hot, my spaetzle was luke warm last time. I do like that we are able to substitute sides and not have to get the ones that are listed with each entree on the menu. We will still return because the food is so tasty. But if you're like me and you like your sodapop or tea to be refilled, you need to ask the server for a refill before you're even 1/3 into your drink or else you'll never get a refill.
(4)Melissa M.
Not what we expected at all. We felt like an assembly line, being corralled in and fed. Service was sub par at best. Probably will never return again and we visit vail at least once every couple of months.
(2)Anne J.
Had dinner with my brother's family that I hadn't seen in a couple of years. Long wait and it was difficult to have conversations. The food was good, and watching the waiter prepare some of the food at the table was amazing!
(4)Neeters B.
Service blows chunks here. The waiters pretend like they don't see you. We stood waiting for 20 mins before we even got an acknowledgement. Hello is it that hard to make eye contact or just say I'll be with you in a moment. The waiter was such a douche and clearly hates life and his job. My husband ordered a beer, he acted like he never heard of it until he pointed it out then called it a heffweisen when it wasn't. No biggie but then he took my husband's menu before he even had a chance to look at it to order wtf? So my husband and I shared a menu. He's a salty unhappy dude. Then he hands out clearly recycled stale rock hard bread
(2)Ashley T.
This is a longtime family favorite in vail. We hadn't been back to the mountain in over five years but Pepi's did not disappoint! For the best dinner menu and environment make a reservation in the antler room. We ordered the steak Tatar and Caesar salad both prepared table side by our waiter. They were fresh and delicious but large portions. Four of us shared the portion for two. I had the elk loin, which was the best piece of red meat I have had in quite awhile. Our server was friendly, attentive, and kept refilling our wine appropriately! They also have German classics like Wiener schnitzel and apple strudel. A fun, delicious meal in vail!
(5)Tiffany G.
The best thing I had here was the starter bread. The portabello mushroom sandwich I ordered wasn't very good, and the gnocchi was just ok.
(2)Jamie W.
Pepi's is by far the best Bavarian restaurant in the US. They have an excellent menu that stays true to the theme, along with the matching Bavarian beers. The veal goulash was exceptional for the US. Don't forget to get the apple strudel to finish the meal! I've been here a half dozen times and still can't wait to go back.
(5)Ben S.
Food was great! Service was amazing as well with live entertainment. Dessert was also great!
(5)Patrick D.
Had no idea what to expect w/ Pepi's...I'm not very familiar with German/Bavarian food, but I was extremely happy with my meal! I got the jäger schnitzel & my wife got the chicken Mediterranean & both were so delicious. We will be back!
(5)J F.
Went for dinner with my daughter. We both had wiener Schnitzel and appetizer of goulash soup. Soup was very average. schnitzel was light and had tender veal. Red cabbage was average and potatoes were like chips. Not good. Service was excellent and we were asked 3 or so times if we were happy. This place is barely German but it was ok. Our bill with no drinks and tip was $70. Should have been $25. Too many good restaurants in Vail to recommend this place. Did I tell you our waitress was very good. Blond gal in German garb.
(3)Stephen L.
Goulash was delicious as well as the farmer's plate.
(4)Bonnie n.
It wasn't bad not great though. Really didn't know what to expect we just wandered in after a day on the slopes Hungarian goulash- small cup instead of the "bowl" that was described on the menu the meat was a bit stringy, the soup was a little too salty and the potatoes slightly undercooked Pepi's house salad- run of the mill salad but it hit the spot for me. Candied walnuts, small pieces of cheese, mandarin oranges, field greens, avocado slices, cherry tomatoes Wiener schnitzel- it was fine, a little dry like it needed a sauce so we got some of the mushroom cream sauce to go with it (that tasted like cream of mushroom soup) came with potatoes and cabbage The waitress was really nice, service was good. Won't be back though
(2)Cary S.
They advertised "25% entire dinner bill" and then afterwards said it applied only to entrees and no desserts, drinks, etc.! Every place else in Vail was more honest in their advertising.
(2)I B.
Went there with my mom to have a nice dinner together -and was not disappointed. The place has a cool vibe to it - both the bar and the restaurant. For appetizers we had: Escargot - I am not a fan in general, but it was actually really good! Steak Tartar - was good Then for main dish we had Lamb and Salmon. Both were perfectly done and really good.
(4)Rick F.
Very nice day to sit on the patio and enjoy a great meal. The meal was delivered fairly quickly, and tasted amazing. I had a German Schnitzel and red cabbage that tasted as good as one right from the kitchen in Berlin. The wait staff is very happy to serve guests and will help with a fantastic smile!
(5)Brian H.
Made a late night trip with group of three friends. Had the Hungarian ghoulish (was good and hearty, slightly salty). We had the elk for two and the caribou for two. Elk was not gamey ad was very similar to a lean steak. The caribou was on the rack and very tender. All in all a decent restaurant, but prolly a one timer. But if German/Austrian cuisine is ur cup of tea, come here! The staff is very nice and from Austria
(3)Greg E.
Went here during the film festival buy whilst skiing. The place is good to look at and inside has a homely European feel. The menu is split depending on where you sit as a way to appeal to different customers. I recommend going for the "antler menu" as this extends beyond the normal menu with some fantastic wild game options. Wild boar, elk, quail etc... I had the sea scallops as a starter and the lamb as a main (it was billed as a leg of lamb but I was told it would be a rack instead, which I preferred). Great food, great setting, and as way to try food you can't get in most places at a prices which I thought were very reasonable I would recommend going here.
(4)Melissa K.
Came back a second time for the amazing kasespatzle! Service is just fine...ordered escargot and pretzel crusted crab cakes as well to share all with the hubs. I can make crab cakes the sane or better, but the fresh remoulade was wonderful with them. The escargot were tender and delicious, the spatzle is always a winner. Chocolate mousse for dessert was Yummy. But. HUGE. Definitely stop in!
(5)Greg D.
On closing day of the ski season, my wife and I sat out on Pepe's marvelous deck...and that was the last good thing about our experience. Already carpenters were converting the covered part of the deck for summer use--- with hammers and drills, right in the middle of the lunch hour. Bad form! There was one overworked server, with a good 20 of us depending on her. As a result, we waited forever even for one glass of wine, let alone the soups we had ordered, and when those came they were lukewarm and my wife's wasn't even full. More bad form. Rolls and butter were dropped off at the table but by the time we realized we need knives to spread the butter, let alone napkins, the overworked server was gone and we just consumed our lukewarm soup. We have never before had a bad experience or a bad meal at Pepe's, but this one didn't rate a single star. We didn't even get what we wanted first from the menu because, as the server told us, it was the last day of the season and they were out of it. Bad form again. They let themselves run out of food, they let themselves come up short on staff, even though closing day is a big day and people ought to have a superior experience, not a bad one. If we were first-time customers, we would never go back. Hopefully since we have always liked Pepe's in the past, we shall give it another try, and hopefully things will be back to normal and we'll just chalk yesterday up to a bad day. But the bad day wasn't an accident; it was obviously the result of decisions to proceed with the seasonal renovation of the deck, to order a paucity of food, and to save money on staff without knowing how many they'd need. I hope someone at Pepe's reads this and learns a lesson for next time.
(1)Shane A.
Once you get past the rude service, the food was decent the first time around. I ended up very sick the entire next day, making multiple trips to the restroom. It will take me a while before I can attempt to eat there again.
(1)Rachel N.
Pepi's is a solid 3 star restaurant--after coming here for all of my life, I felt that it was time to give Pepi's a go. It must have been adult frat boy night and no one gave us the memo, b/c we were surrounded by 102983 men--which isn't totally a-typical for Vail, but during the high winter season it was surprising that our party of 4 women were a rarity. The ambiance is what you would expect from an Austrian restaurant--waitresses in leiderhosen (?spelling)--with large, sturdy tables and "warm" (read, dark) lighting. It was beasty hot in there, but I'm freezng when it's below 85 out, so I was happy as a clam. For the food: I'm not a game eater, so perhaps I couldn't really appreciate all that Pepi's has to offer--I had the hearts of palm salad and the salmon. Both were fine, nothing to write home about, and my "side" of veggies was 1 floret of cauli, broccoli, and 3 baby carrots. Filling. My nay saying aside, my friend had the elk and said that it was fantastiche, so I think that your enjoyment of the place probably depends on how much you indulge your inner Austrian. The menu is trying to draw in a new crowd, so they also offer dishes like Talapia "Costa Rica", fettuccine alfredo, and Tuna "sashim" (misspell intentional on my part). They do have vegetarian pastas, so it is possible to feed most people here. Would I return? Probably not, but I do feel like I have gotten the Vail experience now.
(3)Vicky N.
After a morning of skiing/snowboarding, my friends and I decided to stop here for some food. I ordered a Hungarian Goulash soup. The first taste was good so I offered it to a friend. He tried it, and he pulled out a hair from the soup. (better him than me - haha), but I didn't want the soup back! I told the server, and he was really apologetically. He took back the soup and asked me for a new order. I wasn't sure if they were going to throw around the pot of Hungarian Goulash soup so I got a chicken noodle soup instead. The soup was good but it was a little bland. I didn't have to pay for the Goulash soup or the chicken noodle soup. The service was decent, and the restaurant is in a very convenient location. Also, I can drink legally in the states for a few years, and the server gave me a kid's menu. I'm pretty sure I don't look like I'm younger than 12, but I guess they don't have frequent Asian diners...
(2)Bill E.
If you enjoy German plates and beer, with some live music mixed in, this is a good option. There is a limited beer selection, but the major kinds of german beer are covered. Service is fine, and on par with what you should expect with a busy bar.
(3)John B.
Pepi's is located in the center of Vail Village up the road from the covered bridge. I had read mixed reviews on the restaurant but decided to give it a shot. Using the suggestion of my waiter I tried the Jager Schnitzel which was on special for $15. A little on the heavier/greasier side for me, but I enjoyed finishing my plate. I didn't really see the negativity of the staff that others mentioned.They were friendly, but not proactively so like at other establishments. The restaurant theme is nice, but there wasn't really any follow though with the dining experience. Overall, it wasn't bad. I'd go again if someone wanted to eat there, but probably not again on my own.
(3)Michelle P.
With few options in Vail you're likely to end up at Pepi's. Unfortunately, you're also going to end up with mediocre food. The service was pleasant, and it was lovely sitting out on the open balcony and taking in the cool breeze (we were there in the "off" season), but the food is lackluster. I skipped a starter while The Brit had the Hungarian Goulash and said it was good. For our main meal I ordered a vegetarian pastry dish (name escapes me now 8 months later) and The Brit went for a traditional weinersnitchel. He stared longingly at my plate the entire time he trudged through his tasteless fried pork. It didn't look appetizing either. The side salads were good and fresh, but I'd have rather had it served on a different plate so my pastry wasn't made soft by all the dressing. I'm not big on German food, so I doubt I'd have enjoyed the food here much anyway. If you know your stuff, maybe it's better than I'm leading on. We did hear live music the night before, but during the day it was all soft rock over the speakers... the kind I don't like, until they did play "Silly Love Songs" by Paul McCartney and in that moment I loved Pepi's.
(2)Stephanie P.
While the food is what I'd consider good but not great, I have to give extra stars for the quality of the gorgeous patio here. Our service was good - when a latecomer joined our party halfway through the meal, she managed to get our new dining companion's food out incredibly quickly so we weren't all sitting around waiting at the end of the meal. Prices were a bit higher than one would have paid outside of Vail, but not outlandish. I enjoyed my lunchtime meal, a german version of of macaroni and cheese (spaetzle, swiss cheese, french-fried onions,) and the others at my table seemed to enjoy what they had as well (goulash, weiner schnitzel, vegetable strudel, etc.) A great choice for people-watching with a beer in Vail!
(4)Marilyn T.
We came in for lunch right before we left for the airport. It's nice to enjoy the village during the day without all your ski gear. There's a huge patio with both a covered and uncovered area, perfect for lunch on a sunny day. We started with a pilsner, which was only $5 for 16 oz. The bread was crust on the outside, soft inside, perfect for dipping in soups. The split pea was very smooth without any grittiness, and it had the nice smoky flavor of the sausage. The French onion was flavorful but not too salty, and the cheese was perfectly melted and slightly chewy. For only 50 cents more, you can upgrade from a cup to a bowl. The salads are pretty decently sized, and all the ingredients were fresh. There are also lots of vegetarian options available, including a mushroom dumpling, which was more like a pancake with a mushroom gravy. They had a lot of creative non-meat options, which is a nice change from pasta or a veggie burger. The lunch special of the day was 2 beer brats, sauerkraut, red cabbage, and mashed potatoes for $12. They even let us substitute the mashed potatoes for their crisped, seasoned fries. The fries were double battered and so flavorful and crisp, and they were even better when dipped in the gravy with the brats. A little grey poupon on the side enhanced the flavors even more. The sausages themselves were pretty large, and they had a nice beer flavor infused. They were moist but not too fatty. The sauerkraut and cabbage were a nice sweet and slightly tart accompaniment to the savory meat. Service is quick enough that you can stop in for a nice lunch break during your day of skiing, but you never feel rushed. Try to get a seat on the patio if it's warm enough; if not, the décor inside is nice and reminds me of Germany/Austria, as well. There's a lot of attention to detail with the molding and the stitched pillows on the seats. It's a hearty and flavorful, down to earth meal that warms you up well.
(4)David B.
Better than I expected based on the kitschy outfits on the waitresses. The food is overpriced, like everything in Vail, but quite tasty. Seems like more of a bar atmosphere than a restaurant.
(3)Kevin D.
Come for the schnitzel - it's fantastic.
(4)Richard J.
I enjoyed a late dinner here and had a wonderful meal. The sauerbraten was juicy, yet very tasty and the spaetzle noodles were the best I have ever had. The apple streusel was the perfect dessert ending.
(5)Britney R.
I am surprised by the other reviews of Pepi's, as my experience was a pretty fabulous one... My friend, boyfriend, and I stumbled upon Pepi's menu display at around 9pm after being told the wait was 30 minutes at a nearby restaurant. We were drawn in by the variety of game and unique menu items on the Antler Room menu. As we entered, we were 'forced' to check our coats (restaurant policy). We walked through the bar and entered the small 'host room'. This room was very cramped, and we were told we had to wait for them to set up a table (even though the restaurant was nearly empty at this point. Still, they had us seated in five minutes. We ordered a round of cocktails and picked two appetizers- Dungeness Crab Florentine and Escargot Bourguignonne. Even though the Escargot dish was unpronouncable, it was delectable. My boyfriend and I both love escargot, and it was my friend's first experience. It was served in a traditional french style, in the shell, and with garlic butter. It was perfectly tender, and the snails were HUGE. The dungeness crab was also very tasty, the toast points they were on were almost unnoticeable, while the spinach and crab dominated the dish. Next, we ordered a bottle of 2005 Luigi Righetti Amarone. I've never been disappointed by an Amarone, and this one followed suit. Our server did a good wine presentation. We ordered soups next, lobster bisque for me and my friend, and the Hungarian goulash soup for my boyfriend. The $8 bowls of soup were decidedly minescule. They were smaller than most cups. Regardless, they were extremely tasty. The bisque wasn't overly sweetened, and was packed with rich lobster flavor. The goulash was meaty and satisfying. Deciding on entrees was the most difficult part. Ultimately, my boyfriend and I each ordered the roasted Alaskan Elk (carved tableside, only available for two or more people), and my friend picked the Venison "Diana". We all substituted out our red cabbage side (ew, who likes red cabbage?) for either polenta or spinach, and all of our dishes also came with spatzle. The food came out looking succulent and juicy. Our server carved the Elk medallions beautifully, and split them evenly on the plate (although my boyfriend SWORE he had gotten the smaller portion). We were salivating. The moment we each took our first bite, we were in heaven. The elk had a perfectly gamey flavor, but was cooked tender, and almost melted right in your mouth. The venison was a bit more chewy, and the wild mushroom sauce was SO rich and creamy. The spatzle tasted awesome, although I admit, it was my first experience with this food. My boyfriend, who has worked at a German restaurant, was somewhat unimpressed with it. The polenta was incredible. It tasted so very richly of corn, not a lot of fillers, and with a really nice grit-like texture. None of us could quite finish our plates, the portions were huge! We probably should have skipped the soup course. Still, that didn't stop us from sharing a creme brulee, which we devoured voraciously. Overall, the food was the highlight of this restaurant. Our server and his assistant were very good, but the host kept looking at us haggardly, as I'm sure we were hindering the restaurant's closing. Since we had spent over $300 at this point, we didn't feel bad about staying a bit late. They closed at 10, and we were gone by 10:20. Our server didn't seem to mind one bit, and even thanked us again after realizing we had left a healthy tip. The fifth star is lost here due to ambiance... The pink tablecloths and floral wallpaper don't seem to match the dozens of Antler horns displayed along the walls. I think that Pepi's imagines it's a much nicer restaurant than it actually is. The decor is at least two decades outdated. The men dressed professionally with collared shirts and (I believe) vests, but the females' uniforms were ridiculous and looked like a cheap Disney attempt at 'German Barmaid'. I would definitely go back to Pepi's for a special dinner, only if I knew I had an entire day after to lay around comatose- we left STUFFED.
(4)Kyle M.
I'll keep this fairly brief, but I can honestly say that here, you're probably going to annoy the staff, and they don't hide that fact. If you want to dine in their dining room, you're forced to check your coat. I can understand that in a ski town, people's bulky jackets can be a slight nuisance, but seriously? This is not the Four Seasons. It's a kitschy German/Austrian-themed, tourist-driven restaurant. From that point on, I knew what we were in for... The service, like nearly everywhere else in Vail, is snarky and somewhat hostile. If you ask to see a beer list, you merely get the names of the beers barked at you. We had no idea what size beer we'd be getting, or how much they would cost. *sigh* It was clear that we weren't allowed to ask. The dinner menu is in the $20-$35+ range, which is to be expected in Vail. I was in desperate need of carbs, so I got a sausage dish served with pasta and a spicier red sauce. It was good, and larger than some of the other dishes my dining companions ordered. However, for $26...like I said, it's Vail. One person in our group wasn't that hungry, and so he ordered something he thought was going to be soup. He received something in a bowl-esque like plate, and it was covered in a soupy sort of sauce. He shrugged and assumed that was what he ordered. When the bill came, he realized that what he was served was $29. Confused, he called our server over, who proceeded to tell my friend that HE (my friend) was confused when he was ordering, and that the restaurant could have done something about it "if you hadn't eaten it all up before saying something." Those were his literal words. Are you kidding me? What a load of BS. I am a former server, and good servers who really want to take care of their customers should verify all orders if there seems to be any kind of confusion on either party's side. We all couldn't help but come to the conclusion that this particular server saw an opportunity to overcharge a "tourist" in light of his obvious confusion. In sum, nobody particularly enjoyed their meal, and we couldn't help but feel that the staff at this restaurant viewed us as an annoyance from beginning to end and couldn't wait for us to leave (our server literally hovered over our table as we readied our payment at the end). We weren't being difficult at all, and our bill was well over $400. What a letdown.
(2)Taylor L.
I've spent every 4th of July here for as long as I can remember. Our pictures always turn out a nice yellow color from the patio awning, but it's a great place to sit in the summer. Pepi's is definitely a very chilled out restaurant, but if you're looking for a great burger and fries this is the place to go. They have an awesome bloody mary's but tend to be on the spicy side, so if you like them mild, ask for it. This year I tried the ahi tuna salad which was a new addition to the menu - great tuna, which i was a bit surprised about. And don't forget the strudel! It's pretty darn good. If you're stopping through Vail after a hard day on the slopes, or an afternoon of shopping the village, and you're looking for a place to get a bite, try Pepi's! It's not the best restaurant you'll find in Vail, but it's central and decent.
(3)Demetrius A.
During opening weekend and taking some photos in Vail Village, I came across this little spot. The day was gorgeous and we were able to sit on the patio. The service was awesome!!! I had the chance to indulge in the buffalo chili and a few hot toddies. The chili is just AWESOMENESS and I will definitely be having that again after coming off the slopes...
(4)Lina D.
The food was good but the service was terrible. The busgirl cleared my husband's and my daughter's plates while I was still eating my dinner. Completely aggravating and inappropriate dining etiquette. She hovered over our table grabbing things like a nervous bird. The waitress and hostess were nice - but nonetheless the bus staff was so untrained it ruined my meal.
(2)Andrew L.
Quite the menu. A fine mix of hearty euro cuisine. Plenty of German foods and a good number of warming foods for a cold day on the slopes.
(4)Drew D.
Ok I don't know why anyone could hate pepi's, I know it's kinda cheesy and way set up for tourists but I couldn't love it more. I will always get their onion soup to start with, given to you in this pot and covered in cheese it's amazing. Then I'll get the wienerschnitzel so good every bite will melt in your mouth. If you've never had it get it since to me it's amazing, even if you don't love it it's hard not to like just a little bit at least. Every time I come to pepis it's a good to so I'd recommend it highly.
(5)Kate W.
We ate lunch at Pepi's our first night here, and it was better than these reviews say. I won't say it's the best German food I've ever had, but it was pretty good. We both got the bratwurst (one pork and one veal), and were happy with them. The sauerkraut and red cabbage were slightly overcooked, but not enough to not eat it. Next time I go, I want to try the schnitzel... it looked yummy. Oh - and the waitress outfits were in full effect. Very sad.
(3)Steve M.
I'm a fan of Austrian food. I spent a summer in Salzburg, consuming my weight in Stiegl and sausages daily. Every time I have the option for Austro-German, I take it. Unfortunately, I wish I hadn't stuck by my guns and convinced the Missus to go to Pepi's. Service was average, but the food was just not good. The goulash was little more than paprika mixed with a LOT of salt and the schnitzel could have come from a Sysco. Just not good. Pass.
(2)Kim R.
Lots of fun live music has a great vibe, nice to see the older people looking kewl and having fun...
(4)Shirley T.
Disappointing. Stale rolls and a very overpriced ($12) Ceasar salad that was super light on dressing and came with what looked like (and tasted like) Pepperidge Farm croutons. Go elsewhere - there are lots of better restaurants in Vail.
(2)Nick B.
Pepi's is a fairly good American style restaurant, harking back to the days of Bennegins if you will. They do have a good brunch on the weekends, and I'd recommend the apple blanches which were very good.
(3)Lindsay W.
I was here just last Tuesday, and must admit the other reviews surprised me. I came with a friend for dinner, and although they were swamped when we arrived at 7:40 and weren't seated until 8pm (with a 7:30 reservation), once we actually began dining the experience was wunderbar! We ate in the Antler Room, and were pleasantly surrounded by animal skulls with beautiful antlers. If that doesn't make you want to eat Caribou, I don't know what would? We started with the Graubundner Teller, which was just ok. If I wanted cured meat and rye bread, I'd go to the deli down the street from me. For dinner, I had the Wiener schnitzel and my pal had the veal 'Siciliana.' Both of us thoroughly enjoyed our baby cows, and the portions were large enough that with apps we could not finish (although we're fairly small girls, so keep that in mind). For dessert we tried the Apple Strudel which was very satisfying. It came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some sort of cream/fruit swirled sauce. I think the beer maids must only be cocktail waitresses, because I didn't see anyone in the restaurant with the St. Pauly getup. Our waiter was the real deal, speaking with the natives at the table next to us. The food came out promptly, but not too quickly, and everything was at the right temperature. Overall, I would recommend. However, since there are so many restaurants in Vail I'd probably try something new before making this a must-return-to destination.
(4)Andreas L.
Serviceable faux-Austrian restaurant (in faux-Austrian Vail). The food is good but not great: the goulasch sauce was too creamy, the red cabbage overcooked, etc. The room is nice; fairly spartan but in keeping with an Austrian ski hut. The prices and service were both excellent. The wine list was completely workable, with selections ranging from the highly affordable to the special occasion bottle, but nothing priced at any obnoxious level. I'll definitely go back, but it is what it is: a fairly standard place that's grown to semi-institutional status as a result of having been in Vail Village since the mid 60s.
(3)Shiho F.
If you like snacking on Chex Mix with a cold beverage and waitresses dressed up in beermaid outfits then this is your place. Oops I forgot to mention none of them were very cute and if they were their outfits were not flattering. I mean their dresses are long, corsets not tight enough and they didn't have enough on their upperbodies to fill out the bodice.
(3)Yan M.
Pepi's offers an Austrian flare with several selections such as WienerSchnitzel, Jaegerschnitzel, Paprika Goulash and Sauerbraten alongside some American cuisine. Was there for lunch last year and thought it was a marvellous meal however, this time round over the weekend, some of the dishes did not meet expectations esp when I brought along a group of Austrian guests. It was less than thrilled or horrendous experience when the waiter rushed us through our meal and started collecting plates and utensils when my friends were finising their food! The hostessasked us to leave as the next group of patrons were waiting outside the restaurant. We had a 7:30pm reservation and was asked to leave by 9pm! The hostess literally told us that she needs the table!!! How rude!
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