PEPES CANTINA I DRIVE
PEPES CANTINA I DRIVE is a quiet keeper — an A kitchen, 92/100, no fuss, last checked May 14, 2026.
On health score it's safer than 68% of Lake County restaurants we grade. Diners rate it 4.7 from 4,993 reviews. Cuisine: Mexican. Menus here flag options for vegan, vegetarian, and healthy diners.
Get directions Call (352) 989-4921
Restaurant details
- Health grade
- A (92/100)
- Violations
- 3 total — 1 intermediate, 2 basic
- Address
- 794 W MINNEOLA AVE, Clermont, FL
- Cuisine
- Mexican
- Categories
- Mexican restaurant
- Price
- $20–30
- Rating
- 4.7 stars (4993 reviews)
- Seats
- 150
- Phone
- (352) 989-4921
- Website
- Official website
Community Rating
Reviews via GoogleWhat diners say — our read
Service dominates the conversation here — it comes up in 58% of the 24 reviews. Where service comes up, the rating that follows averages 4.6, so it reads as a strength.
Of the 24 rated reviews, 23 sit at four stars or better and 1 at two or below. If you had to pick one number to represent this corpus it would be 5, the most frequently given rating (21 reviews). One subject never comes up here: how long an order takes.
On the inspection side the picture is cleaner: DBPR graded this kitchen an A (92/100), with 1 intermediate and 2 basic violations. Whatever the reviews argue about, sanitation is not the weak point. DBPR last walked in on May 14, 2026. Across its inspection history the kitchen is declining, which argues for reading the older reviews with caution. On health score it sits safer than 68% of the Lake County restaurants we grade. The citations behind that grade include other conditions of sanitary & safe operation.
With both signals pointing the same way, there is little to argue about on this listing. The individual reviews are below, newest first, if you want the raw material.
Our own analysis of 24 reviews for this restaurant, set against its Florida DBPR inspection record. How we calculate grades →
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Excelente servicio
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Servicio excelente, rapido, buena comida y mesera muy agradable.
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Excelente servicio y la mesera muy agradable
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Came to Pepe’s Cantina to celebrate my brothers birthday and Vanessa, our server was incredible! She made sure my brother and the rest of my family were taken care of during this experience. We will definitely be back!
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Vanessa was amazing! we came in for a birthday without a reservation and they got us seated timely. She was very attentive and made a memorable experience definitely will be back thank you!!
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Daniela was amazing, made our experience wonderful for lunch
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Daniella was great. We'll be back again. Yummy food
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Epic food and service!
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Ashley was our host and she was very friendly and always checking to make sure our meal was good and replenishing our drinks.
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Always a great experience. Good food and good service.
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Good experience with Maria
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Food is amazing. Especially the chips & dip & bowls.
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Beautiful vibes, food is amazing, and the coco live was ❤️
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My sister and I both have a gluten allergy and our server was very helpful in telling us what we could eat. Food was delicious.
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Food was great as usual. We had a new server but she did great. The atmosphere is a bit loud but we knew that going in. Will be back.
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The music, food, and customer service are top tier
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Really great food. Good service. Great atmosphere. Thankful to have this place close by.
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Enjoyed our time at Pepe’s. The food was great and the food even better. Ron was amazing, he definitely made the experience top tier.
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The food is ok for what you're paying, but the staff isn't very nice. I went today and had to flag down someone 3 different times. It wasnt even that busy.
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Our waiter Tonny was great! We came for Father’s Day and it was busy but we were impressed at how the entire team worked well together to create a great experience.
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Excelente servicio
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Shae was an amazing waitress. She was friendly and courteous. I loved the vibe of Pepe's Cantina. Will definitely come back soon
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Shae was wonderful!! great customer service and yummy food and drinks
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Cute (authentic) Mexican restaurant/bar with tasty tacos, tapas and other entrees that are delicious. Sangria and margueritas. Efficient and friendly service. Great experience.
Overall Score
71 / 100
Composite score from health grade, dietary options, ratings, and inspection record — distinct from the state-derived health grade.
Opening hours
- Monday
- 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Tuesday
- 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Wednesday
- 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Thursday
- 11:30 AM to 9 PM
- Friday
- 11:30 AM to 10 PM
- Saturday
- 11:30 AM to 10 PM
- Sunday
- 11:30 AM to 9 PM
Inspection history
The following records are from Florida DBPR public inspection records, most recent first.
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May 14, 2026 · Routine - Food
Call Back - Extension given, pending
0 high-priority · 1 intermediate · 2 basic
- 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained (×2)
- 51 — Other conditions of sanitary & safe operation
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May 13, 2026 · Routine - Food
Administrative complaint recommended
7 high-priority · 3 intermediate · 17 basic
- 03 — Temperature control of foods (cold/hot holding, cooking, cooling, reheating) (×3)
- 08 — Cross-contamination: raw foods separated; food protected during prep/storage (×5)
- 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
- 13 — Clean clothes; hair restraints; jewelry; fingernails
- 14 — Food-contact & nonfood-contact surfaces properly designed/maintained (×4)
- 21 — Wiping cloths; clean & soiled linens; laundry (×2)
- 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
- 25 — Single-service and single-use items
- 31 — Handwash sinks accessible; handwashing supplies & sign provided
- 35 — Insects/rodents/pests; outer openings protected against pests (×3)
- 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×2)
- 41 — Chemicals / toxic substances properly stored & used
- 42 — Cleaning and maintenance equipment
- 51 — Other conditions of sanitary & safe operation
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December 11, 2025 · Routine - Food
Inspection Completed - No Further Action
2 high-priority · 4 intermediate · 8 basic
- 02 — Consumer advisory, date-marking & labeling of ready-to-eat foods
- 06 — Potentially hazardous foods properly thawed
- 08 — Cross-contamination: raw foods separated; food protected during prep/storage (×2)
- 11 — Employee health knowledge; no ill/symptomatic employee present
- 12 — Handwashing; employee eating/drinking/smoking practices
- 22 — Food-contact surfaces clean and sanitized
- 23 — Nonfood-contact surfaces clean
- 31 — Handwash sinks accessible; handwashing supplies & sign provided
- 35 — Insects/rodents/pests; outer openings protected against pests
- 36 — Floors, walls, ceilings clean & maintained; proper ventilation (×2)
- 41 — Chemicals / toxic substances properly stored & used
- 51 — Other conditions of sanitary & safe operation
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August 5, 2025 · Routine - Food
Call Back - Complied
0 high-priority · 0 intermediate · 1 basic
- 16 — Dishwashing facilities; sanitizer test kits; gauges
This grade is calculated by us from Florida DBPR public inspection records — Florida does not issue official grades. How we calculate it →
Data last updated: May 14, 2026