Don’t worry, if you’ve never heard of it, you’re not out of the loop. I hadn’t either, in fact, I’ve driven by it a million times and didn’t even know it was there. But Pepperoncini was recommended to me by a friend and I was more than willing to give it a try.
Well hidden in the heart of Conshohocken, Pepperoncini occupies the corners of Poplar and Elm Sts. Despite its camouflaged location, this Italian gem does quite well. Those who’ve eaten there tell friends and those who live in the neighborhood already know how special Pepperoncini is. As soon as you walk into the restaurant (the bar area), you are greeted by friendly faces. The hostess, the bartender, and the waitstaff. We were quickly whisked away into a charming, non-smoking dining room (there are two) and given our menus. The menu was not extensive, but it was creative. In less then a minute, our waiter came over to introduce himself as John. I love John. He was happy, knowledgeable, accommodating, and we never had an empty drink. I would go back just for him. His attitude made our experience that much better. With the delivery of our drinks, John brought warm bread with olive oil. As soon as I tasted that bread, I knew we were in for a delicious meal. Yes, I judge a restaurant on the bread they serve. In my experience, if the bread’s not good, the foods going to suck. So then we ordered. steamed clams, filet mignon, and gnocchi Sophia Loren. Our meal included a house salad.
The clams were served first and they went fast. The combination of garlic, butter, and herbs were just right, not too much of one thing. I also liked how the sauce was a bit thick, perfect for dipping the bread in. The salads came next, a spring mix with red onion, tomato, and the best balsamic vinaigrette I’ve ever tasted. It was bitter and sweet.
Within minutes of finishing salads, our meals were in front of us. My filet was an 8-oz center cut with crumbled Gorgonzola, fried shallots, and a port wine-reduction. Loved the filet with the gorgonzola and shallots, mashed potatoes, and seasoned carrots, however, the wine reduction was a tiny, tiny bit too sweet. I also ordered the gnocchi Sofia Loren. That too was flavored with gorgonzola cheese (I’m a really big fan of Gorgonzola), toasted pecans, and baby spinach. The creamy sauce was heaven and the gnocchi’s were homemade. Needless to say, after I had practically licked my plate, there was no room for dessert.
My experience at Pepperoncini was second to none. With flavorful food, a wonderful waitstaff, and a comfortable, intimate atmosphere, there’s no reason not to give it a try.
Pepperoncini
72 Poplar St.
Conshohocken, PA 19428
