Sale E Pepe Restaurant

The story

Crafted with passion, served with love

Where the Gulf of Mexico Sets the Table

Perched above the white sand crescent beach of Marco Island, Sale e Pepe brings authentic fine Italian cuisine to one of Florida's most striking coastal settings. Located within Marco Beach Ocean Resort on South Collier Boulevard, the restaurant offers two distinct ways to dine: alfresco on The Terrace as the Gulf sun drops toward the horizon, or inside an intimate dining room dressed with marble floors and hand-painted frescoes. The setting is relaxed and sophisticated in equal measure — the kind of place that works just as well for a quiet Tuesday dinner as it does for a milestone celebration.

The Chef Behind the Kitchen

Executive Chef Andrea Cirino grew up in Naples, Italy, where an early childhood spent in his grandfather's pastry shop gave him a feel for food that no classroom could replicate. After living and working across Europe and training in Michelin-starred and highly regarded London restaurants, Chef Andrea brought that depth of experience to Marco Island. At Sale e Pepe, his cooking draws on the culinary traditions of Southern Italy, rendered in a style that is both elegant and modern — from the care taken in preparation to the precision of each plate's presentation.

The Menu and the Cellar

The culinary team composes the Italian menu fresh each day, working entirely from scratch. A few dishes give a sense of the kitchen's range: Ravioli al Basilico, filled with buffalo ricotta, wild pepper and basil, finished with green beans and pine nuts; Branzino — grilled Mediterranean bass with chive blossoms, Taggiasca olives, saffron potatoes and a lemon emulsion; and for dessert, Lingotto al Cioccolato, a Valrhona Grand Cru dark chocolate ganache set on a hazelnut crust with sea salt caramel and gold leaf.

The wine program matches that ambition. Sale e Pepe holds the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence — a distinction earned by fewer than 1,800 restaurants worldwide — recognizing a list of 350 or more selections with significant vintage depth and superior breadth across major wine regions. The restaurant has held that recognition continuously since 2006, a consistency that speaks for itself.

Events and Private Dining

For weddings and private gatherings, the team works closely with groups of all sizes to shape evenings that suit the occasion. The beachfront location, experienced staff, and the full resources of an Italian kitchen make Sale e Pepe a considered choice for events that call for something more than a standard banquet room.