Went here for dinner before a performance at the church across the street. Dinner reservations were made ahead of time for 2 hours before showtime. We were seated promptly but it took 30 minutes before our drink orders were taken. The ambiance was nice as it is an intimate setting and this particular night it wasn't crowded. By the time our first server came for our drink order we knew what we wanted to eat but our food order wasn't taken at that time.I ordered the sangria and man did it pack a punch. It was the strongest sangria I have ever tasted and switched to a beer afterwards. We then had another server come to take our food order. We ordered the paella for two. When we finally got the paella the rice was properly cooked but all of the proteins were dry. While we were eating I ordered a beer and it came out at room temperature. We then had a third server come to the table. I asked if I could get a cold beer and when he took the warm one, he never came back. All in, the dinner took 1:45 for two of us to have paella and two drinks. Thankfully the show we were going to see was across the street. I went here on a recommendation but I won't be going back. Service and food were subpar.

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OMG what has happened to this Iconic Baltimore Top restaurant! I remember how famous it was throughout college and while working at the hospital. I was lucky enough to have eaten there when our lab would treat us to lunch there. The food was exceptional and service was second to none. Over the years I remember when you could only make reservations as much as a month in advance. Last 2 school years, my daughter's Spanish class had their class field trip at Tio Pepe's and I chaperoned. Last year the food was okay, nothing spectacular. The paella was just okay. I've had better paella at other places. The Flan was Meh, and the salad was just salad soaked in plain vinegar with no flavor. This year it was just horrible. The shrimp, mussels and clams were way over cooked and dried up. The chicken cubes were like chicken jerky cubes. If I wanted to eat Jerky, I would have just gone to Cabela's and bought a bag of Jerky and it would have tasted better. I am no Chef, but, I suspect that the used leftover seafood and chicken from previous days, dried up in the refrigerator, added new yellow rice and served it. The rice was moist and fresh, so there's no way the seafood and chicken were over cooked and dried up if they were cooked at the same time as the rice. The servers were obviously not happy. Probably because they are usually not open for lunch? And we're asked to come into work to serve kids. One of the kids who dressed up in a suit for this field trip enthusiastically asked one of the veteran servers as he walked by - " excuse me sir, how many Michelin Star is this restaurant? The server turn his head angrily to the kid and snapped - "be patient, you wait your turn!!!" I was sitting diagonally at the same table and I could not believe what just happened. I wanted to get up and say something but I decided not to cause a scene because the teacher worked so hard to put this fies trip together for the kids. Needless to say, I will suggest to the teacher to find another Spanish restaurant for next year! The ambience - the restaurant smells like mold. I guess it has been there for so many decades, it definitely needs a good cleaning or even a remodel. Imagine going out, dressed up to a gourmet dinner and enjoying the smell of mold while you eat? Goodbye, Tio Pepe, it's been nice knowing you over the years but it is obvious that it's time to go!

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So we were excited and got a reservation this week. To my delight, the menu offered Spanish selections, Andalusian, Valencian, Sevillian. Of course, my first thought was Paella, this is definitely the Dish that a Spanish restaurant has to get right, or it should be one of its signature dishes. I decided to try a few other items and return for the Paella. I ordered Sopa de mariscos (seafood soup, my wife has the Seafood Bisque). The Sopa was overwhelmingly salted and may have been sitting for some time. I could not really taste the clams or mussels and the scallops were bland. My wife said her bisque was cold, but I did taste it and it was flavorful but cold. For my entree, I ordered the Pato a la Naranja (Orange Duck) with Saffron rice. My wife ordered Tournedos Tio Pepe (Medallios Steaks in Sherry Sauce with mushrooms) My my entree was well plated however, the Duck was overcooked, dry and bland. The resulting sauce was oily. I tried to mix the sauce with the Saffron rice, but the oil was overpowering. After two or three bites I was done. My wife's entree was cooked properly and tender but she was underwhelmed. I tasted it and it was not bad, just ok. I noticed they the Paella was a plate of seafood that was combined tableside by the servers with a plate of saffron flavored rice. Not a traditional paella in a Paellera, or Paella Pan. So it had no sticky soccarat on the bottom. It did not look appealing. I may return in a few months and give it another try, and update this review. Who knows, maybe the Chef or kitchen had a bad day?

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It was not the Tio's I am used to! Very unusual for restaurant to be half empty on a weekend. The service was off. Waiter actually walked away without everyone's order. Sangria was different tasting. Not as sweet. An appetizer order was messed up. Soups were cold and sent back. Filet was overcooked for one person. House wine was rancid. Don't think we will be back anytime soon!

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It was just a little too crowded for a Thursday night

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Been coming here for many years and this is the first time I have been disappointed. They were out of potato puffs - how can you be out of potatoes. They were also out of lobster - really? The mushroom on toast appetizer was very disappointing. Toast was sort of like cardboard. Portions were significantly smaller. For 20 years, this was my Favorite Restaurant! Now I don't even know if I will go back. VERY upset - is this the end or just a bad night. Do I want to spend big money to go back and be disappointed again?

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A very fun and authentic restaurant for a special night out.

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I sent this to the restaurant previously asking for a response but as I did not receive one I am posting to help other customers. As a long time patron of Tio Pepe's my partner and I looked forward to our first Valentines's Day out to eat since the pandemic. Tio Pepe's had helped use celebrate every anniversary and special day for 2 decades with a special meal. We made our reservations for 5:30 and were warmly greeted when we arrived. We were sat immediately and when our friendly waiter came and poured our sangria I told him I was excited to order the paella. I told him I was pescatarian and asked for the delicious seafood paella which I ordered every time I was there. He took the order, told us it would take 30 min for the paella and we said that was fine. We enjoyed our sangria and enjoyed our appetizers. 15 min later the waiter returned to tell us he was very sorry but they couldn't make seafood paella. This negatively affected my partner and I because we were both going to eat the paella. I couldn't eat meat so therefore neither of us could eat what we had come for. I was understandably disappointed but gracious and asked if I could have the rockfish please. He said yes. While it lowered my standard of satisfaction to have to eat something I didn't want I tried to enjoy the evening. Then things took a turn for the worse. When we finished our meal, the paella still appeared on the check along with both entrees we ordered. I called the waiter over and asked him to please check the bill. He changed it after a few minutes. Then, on my way out I was surprised to see a family member getting her coat. She had been sitting with a Baltimore celebrity table in the other room. I saw she had the signature tin foil wrapped bird for carry out and she said it was seafood Paella. I asked her how she had ordered this when I was told they weren't making it. She shared that she "bribed the cook with candy" I could feel the anger and hurt rise in my body. My relative and I were both kind individuals who had dietary restrictions on what we could eat, but what? because I wasn't sitting with a group of celebrities or wasn't willing to bribe someone I wasn't allowed to eat one of the few things I enjoy most and was denied that but had to argue for it to be removed from the receipt? Simply stated, that is discriminatory and poor customer treatment. I felt hurt and offended. I won't bribe someone for something I should be able to rightfully receive. Either the seafood paella should be offered to everyone or no one. Special cases which exclude some from others is not acceptable and is offensive and discriminatory. I have been upset about this ever since our night out and can't understand why this happened.

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Waited an hour and 45 minutes to get our food. Two of us ordered the Mediterranean salad and the shrimp was raw. Sent it back, but it wasn't better. The manager told me he comped 2 desserts, and I responded that wasn't helpful. He said "you will be fine" meaning had I eaten the shrimp. So they charged us for the inedible salad and sent over the $10 dessert.

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I have been going there since 1970. I have never had a bad meal. My mom is from Venezuela she was friends with the original owner. The Paella is as good if not better than my mom's. The sauce they use on their fish is awesome if you put it over cardboard it would taste amazing. Everything there is off the hooks. Highly recommend this place. Mel ,Miguel, Oscar, and the staff are totally awesome.

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I've been coming here for special occasions since I was a kid. I even got engaged here. The ambiance is still great, but the food is just not the same as it used to be. Not sure if there is a new chef or new owners, but we weren't impressed with our experience a few nights ago. They were also out of 4 of the dishes we planned to order and the waiter was pushing us to order on the spot after telling us they didn't have what we wanted. It would have been nice to have a heads up as to what they were out of before deciding what to order. Our dinner also felt rushed which was unusual for here. Dinners were coming out as appetizers were being cleared. With the exception of two of our 6 meals and appetizers the food was just ok. The pine nut cake is still amazing! The chocolate cake was inedible and stale. My mother said the last time she was in the food didn't taste the same as it used to. I checked in with my brother and sister, who also come here when they're in Baltimore and both said the last few times they've been disappointed as well. Sadly, I don't think we'll be back.

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4 of us went saturday night and had the worst meal I had in a long time.First of all we were crammed into our table with no room to move. The waiter was horrible rushing us with the order and non attentive. We ordered mussels and they were out of them then we ordered potatoe puffs and out again. The garlic shrimp was luke warm and then out came the $55 dover sole which was horrible. when we we ordered coffee and hot tea they both were luke warm. when we left the manager asked how was our meal in which we told him and his response was oh so sorry. We will never go back, too many good restaurants in baltimore, Steve

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The best food I have ever had (aside from my own cooking lol). The staff all works so well together to supply a wonderful experience for the patrons. It does get busy in there, and there's a very good reason for that: EVERYTHING!!! The atmosphere is like Old City, the food is real, tasty, exquisite and is made from fresh-tasting ingredients not from here (definitely must be imported from Spain), so fresh and so accommodating. I loved the different colored uniforms of the wait staff and thanks for Melba for switching our seats with ease. I had the silver salmon appetizer, the fillet mignon for entree, and the creme brulee with espresso de brandy for desert. And I can not forget the sangria rojo. I will be going again. But make sure you make reservations

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Always glad to eat there. Long time Baltimore favorite

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One of my all-time favorite restaurants -- anywhere! Food is always great -- can't wait to go back soon!

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