Sale Pepe Barrio

Sale & Pepe Barrio is the old-town branch of Alicante's local Italian group, on Calle Muñoz in El Barrio, and it's a reliable spot for pizza and pasta before or after a night in the old quarter's bars. It's busy, cosy and has a pleasant terrace. Pizza and pasta are what people come for. Reviewers mention the tagliatelle bolognese, seafood tagliatelle, rigatoni with salmon and the calzone, and plenty say the value is good for the centre. Expect somewhere around 30 to 45 euros a head if you have a few courses and a drink. It gets packed at peak times, and the tables are small and close together, so don't expect a lot of elbow room. Service splits opinion: some find it fast and friendly, while a few recent reviews felt one member of staff was off-hand. Book at weekends, ideally through TheFork or by phone.