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.
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.
Review Source: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.
Review Source: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.
We went here for lunch, wanting warm and delicious German food. For starters, it opened about 15 minutes late and people were waiting outside to get in. We were on a booth on a dark and mostly empty side room. The waitress wasn't particularly friendly and we barely saw her. The potato leek soup was really bland and watery. The wiener schnitzel was mediocre. The veal brat was good, but the sides (mashed potatoes and red cabbage) were barely ok. For the quantity and quality of the food, it was really expensive. Not going back.
Review Source:We had been to Pepi's several years ago, had a decent experience and wanted to return. Â I guess expectations were too high or memories too faded. Â They do have a wonderful location in the middle of Vail and a great deck to dine and people watch. Â Sadly, that's about the best I can say.
Three of us had lunch. Â I had the two-brat special with dollops of mashed potatoes and sauerkraut. Â It was so bland I wasn't sure which of the three I was eating. Â The other two meals were uninspiring. Â We had one beer, a glass of wine, (and a lemonade) and with tip lunch was $80. Â For that I expect much more. Â Definitely not a good value. Â No plans to return
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.
Review Source:Came back a second time for the amazing kasespatzle! Â Service is just fine...ordered escargot and pretzel crusted crab cakes as well to share all with the hubs. Â I can make crab cakes the sane or better, but the fresh remoulade was wonderful with them. Â The escargot were tender and delicious, the spatzle is always a winner. Â Chocolate mousse for dessert was Yummy. But. HUGE. Â Definitely stop in!
Review Source: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.
Review Source: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. Â 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. Â Prices were a bit higher than one would have paid outside of Vail, but not outlandish. Â 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.) Â A great choice for people-watching with a beer in Vail!
Review Source: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!
5 star location, right in the heart of the Village, sunny patio = people watching. Â
3 star food, okay quality and reasonably priced for Vail. Â 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. Â We tried the Bavarian part of the menu...Bratwurst was bursting with flavour, literally. Â Wiener Schnitzel tasted a-okay, breading was a little soggy, the accompanying sauerkraut and beet were obviously homemade and tasty. Â
3 star service, our waitress was quite efficient. Â
It's a good place to stop for a casual meal in Vail.
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.
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
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. Â I can understand that in a ski town, people's bulky jackets can be a slight nuisance, but seriously? Â This is not the Four Seasons. Â It's a kitschy German/Austrian-themed, tourist-driven restaurant. Â From that point on, I knew what we were in for...
The service, like nearly everywhere else in Vail, is snarky and somewhat hostile. Â If you ask to see a beer list, you merely get the names of the beers barked at you. Â We had no idea what size beer we'd be getting, or how much they would cost. Â *sigh* Â 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. Â I was in desperate need of carbs, so I got a sausage dish served with pasta and a spicier red sauce. Â It was good, and larger than some of the other dishes my dining companions ordered. Â 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. Â He received something in a bowl-esque like plate, and it was covered in a soupy sort of sauce. Â He shrugged and assumed that was what he ordered. Â When the bill came, he realized that what he was served was $29. Â 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." Â Those were his literal words. Â Are you kidding me? Â What a load of BS. Â 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. Â 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). Â We weren't being difficult at all, and our bill was well over $400. Â What a letdown.
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! Â The staff is very nice and from Austria
Very nice day to sit on the patio and enjoy a great meal. Â The meal was delivered fairly quickly, and tasted amazing. Â 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!
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.
After a morning of skiing/snowboarding, my friends and I decided to stop here for some food.
I ordered a Hungarian Goulash soup. Â The first taste was good so I offered it to a friend. Â He tried it, and he pulled out a hair from the soup. Â (better him than me - haha), but I didn't want the soup back! I told the server, and he was really apologetically. Â 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. Â 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. Â 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. Â I'm pretty sure I don't look like I'm younger than 12, but I guess they don't have frequent Asian diners...
The worst service EVER.
My husband is a vegetarian who frequently order a reuben sandwich without the meat. Â When he asked for one the server said, "I don't believe you. Â You want THAT?"
She almost never stopped at the table, and kept on walking as she asked us if we needed anything else, barely slowing down to get an answer.
But the worst was hovering at the table. Â She stood about eight feet from the table after she dropped off the check, obviously wanting us to pay and leave. Â She couldn't wait until we left the table - she reached between my daughter and I as we were putting on our jackets to grab the check from the table.
The food was passable, but nothing great.
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. Â They have an awesome bloody mary's but tend to be on the spicy side, so if you like them mild, ask for it. Â 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. Â 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.
We came in for lunch right before we left for the airport. Â It's nice to enjoy the village during the day without all your ski gear. Â 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. Â There are also lots of vegetarian options available, including a mushroom dumpling, which was more like a pancake with a mushroom gravy. Â 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. Â They even let us substitute the mashed potatoes for their crisped, seasoned fries. Â The fries were double battered and so flavorful and crisp, and they were even better when dipped in the gravy with the brats. Â A little grey poupon on the side enhanced the flavors even more. Â The sausages themselves were pretty large, and they had a nice beer flavor infused. Â They were moist but not too fatty. Â 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.
During opening weekend and taking some photos in Vail Village, I came across this little spot. Â 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. Â The chili is just AWESOMENESS and I will definitely be having that again after coming off the slopes...
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. Â 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. Â
The ambiance is what you would expect from an Austrian restaurant--waitresses in leiderhosen (?spelling)--with large, sturdy tables and "warm" (read, dark) lighting. Â It was beasty hot in there, but I'm freezng when it's below 85 out, so I was happy as a clam. Â
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. Â Both were fine, nothing to write home about, and my "side" of veggies was 1 floret of cauli, broccoli, and 3 baby carrots. Â Filling. Â 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). Â They do have vegetarian pastas, so it is possible to feed most people here.
Would I return? Â Probably not, but I do feel like I have gotten the Vail experience now.
I'm a fan of Austrian food. Â I spent a summer in Salzburg, consuming my weight in Stiegl and sausages daily. Â 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. Â Service was average, but the food was just not good. Â The goulash was little more than paprika mixed with a LOT of salt and the schnitzel could have come from a Sysco. Â Just not good.
Pass.
Serviceable faux-Austrian restaurant (in faux-Austrian Vail). Â The food is good but not great: the goulasch sauce was too creamy, the red cabbage overcooked, etc. Â The room is nice; fairly spartan but in keeping with an Austrian ski hut. Â The prices and service were both excellent. Â 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. Â 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.
Review Source: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. Â 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). Â We walked through the bar and entered the small 'host room'. Â 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. Â Still, they had us seated in five minutes.
We ordered a round of cocktails and picked two appetizers- Dungeness Crab Florentine and Escargot Bourguignonne. Â Even though the Escargot dish was unpronouncable, it was delectable. Â My boyfriend and I both love escargot, and it was my friend's first experience. Â It was served in a traditional french style, in the shell, and with garlic butter. Â It was perfectly tender, and the snails were HUGE. Â 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. Â I've never been disappointed by an Amarone, and this one followed suit. Â 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. Â The $8 bowls of soup were decidedly minescule. Â They were smaller than most cups. Â Regardless, they were extremely tasty. Â The bisque wasn't overly sweetened, and was packed with rich lobster flavor. Â The goulash was meaty and satisfying.
Deciding on entrees was the most difficult part. Â 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". Â 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. Â Our server carved the Elk medallions beautifully, and split them evenly on the plate (although my boyfriend SWORE he had gotten the smaller portion). Â We were salivating.
The moment we each took our first bite, we were in heaven. Â The elk had a perfectly gamey flavor, but was cooked tender, and almost melted right in your mouth. Â The venison was a bit more chewy, and the wild mushroom sauce was SO rich and creamy. Â
The spatzle tasted awesome, although I admit, it was my first experience with this food. Â My boyfriend, who has worked at a German restaurant, was somewhat unimpressed with it. Â The polenta was incredible. Â 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! Â We probably should have skipped the soup course. Â Still, that didn't stop us from sharing a creme brulee, which we devoured voraciously.
Overall, the food was the highlight of this restaurant. Â 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. Â Since we had spent over $300 at this point, we didn't feel bad about staying a bit late. Â They closed at 10, and we were gone by 10:20. Â 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. Â I think that Pepi's imagines it's a much nicer restaurant than it actually is. Â The decor is at least two decades outdated. Â 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.
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.
I was here just last Tuesday, and must admit the other reviews surprised me. Â 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! Â
We ate in the Antler Room, and were pleasantly surrounded by animal skulls with beautiful antlers. Â 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. Â If I wanted cured meat and rye bread, I'd go to the deli down the street from me. Â For dinner, I had the Wiener schnitzel and my pal had the veal 'Siciliana.' Â 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. Â It came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and some sort of cream/fruit swirled sauce. Â
I think the beer maids must only be cocktail waitresses, because I didn't see anyone in the restaurant with the St. Pauly getup. Â Our waiter was the real deal, speaking with the natives at the table next to us. Â The food came out promptly, but not too quickly, and everything was at the right temperature.
Overall, I would recommend. Â However, since there are so many restaurants in Vail I'd probably try something new before making this a must-return-to destination.
If you like snacking on Chex Mix with a cold beverage and waitresses dressed up in beermaid outfits then this is your place. Â Oops I forgot to mention none of them were very cute and if they were their outfits were not flattering. Â I mean their dresses are long, corsets not tight enough and they didn't have enough on their upperbodies to fill out the bodice.
Review Source: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!!! Â How rude!
Review Source:
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