The art of the Italian aperitivo
Antipasti in Aubagne: Italian starters to share
Plates in the middle of the table, everyone helping themselves, conversation flowing: the antipasto is the ritual that opens a true Italian meal. In Aubagne, Pépé Zino makes it in-house, with products from Italy and the hand of Italian chefs.
What exactly are antipasti?
Antipasti literally means “before the meal”: the starters that open the Italian table, meant not to fill you up but to set the tone. Placed in the centre, served and shared, the antipasto is a collective gesture that puts the whole table at ease from the first minutes.
Tradition sets nothing in stone: depending on the region, the antipasto brings together a creamy burrata, fine cured meats, vegetables marinated in olive oil, a bruschetta or a cheese board. That very variety is what makes it a moment of conviviality, where everyone builds their own plate.
Here, this opening is no afterthought: it extends everything that makes the soul of our trattoria in Aubagne, a family-run place open 7 days a week.
Authentic antipasti: products from Italy, made in-house
An antipasto is only as good as what you put on it. That is why a large majority of our products are imported directly from Italy: olive oil from Puglia, San Marzano DOP tomatoes from Campania, Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, Pecorino Romano and artisanal cured meats. These fundamentals bring textures and flavours a local substitute cannot reproduce.
The rest is in the gesture. Our chefs are Italian and work on site: marinated vegetables, bruschetta assembled to order, mozzarella and burrata plated fresh. Nothing arrives ready-made or reheated. That daily standard, the same one behind our cooking, is felt from the very first bite of an antipasto.
The great classics of the antipasto
There is no single antipasto, but a family of starters that echo one another. Here are the essentials, the ones that return to fine Italian tables and that we serve, made in-house, in Aubagne.
Burrata and cheeses
The creamy heart of a burrata, shavings of parmesan, melting mozzarella: cheeses often lead the way. Served simply, with a drizzle of olive oil and a few herbs, they let the product speak. This is the gentle starter par excellence, the one that pleases the widest range of palates.
Italian cured meats
Mortadella, ham, salumi: the charcuterie board is the convivial antipasto by nature. You place it in the centre and pass it around. Our carefully selected artisanal cured meats bring that clean flavour and fine slicing that set a real Italian starter apart from a simple assembly.
Vegetables and bruschetta
Vegetables marinated in olive oil, grilled peppers, bruschetta topped with tomato and basil: the vegetable side of the antipasto brings freshness and colour. Assembled to order, the bruschetta keeps its crunch; it is also the ideal option for a lighter starter before the pasta or pizza.
The antipasto is only the opening: for the rest of the meal, discover our menu, from fresh pasta to Neapolitan pizzas.
Enjoying your antipasti well
The antipasto is savoured as much as it is composed. Three ways to approach it, depending on the moment and the table's mood.
As an aperitivo
An Aperol Spritz, a few bites to share, and the evening begins gently. The antipasto suits the aperitivo perfectly, with no protocol, to wait in good company before sitting down.
As a shared starter
Placed in the centre, antipasti launch the meal and create connection. Everyone helps themselves, tastes the next, builds their own plate. It is the ideal format when tastes differ: no one is forced, everyone finds something.
With the right pairing
A glass of Italian wine, good bread, a drizzle of olive oil: the antipasto needs nothing complicated. The rightness of a simple pairing showcases the product better than a pile of ingredients.
Antipasti to share, as a couple or a large group
Because it is shared, the antipasto suits any table. For two, it opens an intimate dinner; with family or friends, it becomes the centre of gravity of the table. With 120 seats including a bright veranda, our dining room welcomes small gatherings and large parties alike.
For a birthday, a family meal or an outing with friends, antipasti instantly set the festive tone: you settle in, you share, you take your time. Just mention your visit when booking, and the team adapts seating and pace to your group.
Planning a celebration? Discover our events page to arrange your group meal with ease.
Where to enjoy antipasti in Aubagne
Pépé Zino is at 100 Impasse des Martinets, 13400 Aubagne, with free parking right next door and easy access from the A50 motorway, as well as from Marseille, La Ciotat, Cassis and the wider region. We are open 7 days a week, lunch and dinner.
Our antipasti are enjoyed exclusively on site, at the table, in the spirit of the Italian trattoria. To open your meal with a fine selection of starters, book your table by phone at 09 60 37 25 97 or online.
Frequently asked questions
What are antipasti in an Italian restaurant?
Can I eat antipasti in Aubagne at Pépé Zino?
Which antipasti do you serve?
Are the antipasti homemade?
Can antipasti be shared in a group?
Do I need to book to come and enjoy antipasti?
Book your table in Aubagne
Want to open your meal with a fine selection of antipasti? Book and let us prepare your table.
You can also book online.