Sapori

Went her last night. Very good indeed although I would concur with the copmments about terse but efficient staff. Good bread and oil. My 'Kebab' of chicken and sausages with mushrooms was first class and the rosemary roast spuds were delicious. Good wine and joy of joys.....real knapkins! That sold it for me. I now rate it as some of the best genuine Italian cuisine in town - good value and very close to the Opera House. Service in cluded which makes paying so much tidier -Top stuff.
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Barry Jenkins
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 7 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Wednesday, May 14, 2008

We came across Sapori on a hot Saturday lunchtime and the light airy interior was exactly what we were looking for. It might have been the weather, but the waitress was curt and unfriendly. However, the food was pretty good and the portions large. Combine that with reasonably priced italian wines, the place soon filled up and had a nice buzz. If the waitress had been more friendly, this place might have been added to my list of regular haunts.
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Pete
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 5 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 7
Sunday, May 11, 2008

During our visit to London with our nearly 2-year-old daughter, we were constantly in search of good, affordable and family-friendly dining. Sapori was our favorite of the trip. The wait staff couldn't have been more accommodating (the restaurant we stopped at first, another popular Italian restaurant in Covent Garden, took one look at our toddler and turned us away quicker than you could say "Ciao!" despite a handful of empty tables). They were warm and the service was relatively quick, especially if you're used to dining in Italy. The food was decent, and portions right on (none of the gigantic bowl-o-noodles you'll find in the U.S.). My spaghetti with meatballs was light but tasty, and my husband's ravioli with spinach (a special) was excellent. And they pour a generous glass of house wine. Our daughter enjoyed the lively banter among the staff, and was saying "Ciao" to everyone as we departed. Grazie Sapori!
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Mindy - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 8
Wednesday, April 02, 2008

We found this to be a great place. I had the spaghetti meatballs which were very good and my partner had a pizza which was first class. No airs and graces about the place which suited us fine, just good authentic Italian grub. We'll be back!
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John
Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, February 24, 2008

I visited Sapori last night after reading positive reviews on this website - we went with high expectation....well firstly, if you are used to high quality Italian food, this is certainly not the place to be!

The restaurant itself was relatively inviting and comfortable and the staff were helpful if not all together professional. However, after ordering stuffed mushrooms at almost £7 a piece, we were sorely disappointed by what we received. Terribly presented, 3 small mushrooms with ricotta cheese and spinach encased in what can only be described as burnt, over-cooked stodge with a tastless tomato sauce and a few scrapings of parmesan cheese.

We chose Duck Ragu Risotto and Spaghetti Meat Balls for main course. We had to send the Duck Ragu back after we counted roughly three tiny pieces of duck in the whole dish. The spaghetti was under-cooked and the Meat Balls rock hard and burnt to a crisp.

Throughout our "ordeal"(!), the waitress remained friendly and helpful, but that didn't stop us from skipping the dessert and coffee and going straight for the bill.
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Simon - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 1 | Service 6 | Atmosphere 6 | Value for money 2
Sunday, January 13, 2008

This place is wonderful- I came here with my father and had a pizza... one of the best I have tasted in London! My father had the seafood linguine- he said it was incredible. We came here just before going to the theatre and the service was quick and friendly. I will definitely be returning!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Tuesday, January 01, 2008

This restaurant is a reasonable option for anyone looking for a cheapish meal and isn't too fussed about service.

Initially, I was dismayed to see that a £1.50 cover charge was listed on the menu, as well as the increasingly-common 12.5% service charge. Both are, in my opinion, cheeky. Nevertheless, the four of us determined to make the most of the bread and olives provided for the cover charge, requesting extra when the first portion had run out. Perhaps this practice is a false economy for Sapori, as we decided to forego the starters as we were being charged for the bread anyway.

The food arrived quite promptly and the pizzas were well-received. I have mixed feelings about the seafood linguine in a parcel - although it tasted very good initially, the paper from the parcel was evident in each mouthful of food towards the bottom of the plate, which was really off-putting.

Unlike most restaurants where diners will be served by just one member of staff, there's a more informal system in Sapori, meaning that whichever waitress was closest served us each time. This led to an inconsistent standard of service and meant that we opted not to leave the full 12.5% service charge; I felt that one waitress clearing plates across the table - rather than over our shoulders, which would be far less obtrusive - was poor form, as were her barked instructions at me to pass her various items of cutlery left on the table. In addition, we were not offered black pepper, oil or grated cheese with our meals, although it appears that diners at other tables were.

Covent Garden is horrendously busy on Saturday evenings and most restaurants are full. It was easy to get seated at Sapori - for which we were grateful - but not entirely surprising, given the inelegant experience.
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dawnage - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 7 | Service 3 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 6
Sunday, December 02, 2007

This place is fantastic- the food is amazing and very reasonably priced- we had the seafood linguine baked in a parcel and parma pizza and neither could be faulted in any way- both were so tasty and the portions were very generous. The bread included in the cover charge was plentiful and fresh and the house white wine was perfectly drinkable. As a really nice touch they give you a complimentary plate of clementines to cleanse your palate at the end of the meal.
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dudey1 - View all reviews by this user
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Sunday, November 18, 2007

How strange. Comments all seem to be from a bunch of anti-smoking nothing-else-to-say moaners. First of all, we now have a smoking ban. Secondly, you live in London therefore your lungs are already black. Get over it.

This restaurant is fantastic. A god send in gastronomically impoverished Covent Garden, which has barely any places that come with in an inch of being worth a recommendation. The staff aren't "mad". They're just friendly and italian.

The food is great. Simple, unpretentious food. Extremely fresh seafood. The seafood linguine and seafood stew are a pure delight. The spicy calabrian salami pizza is a delight. Those above can stick to scummy pizza express!!!

Enjoy!
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Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Saturday, October 13, 2007

Forget Pizza Express or Zizzi, why not try somewhere new. Sapori do better food, in bigger portions at the same price. It is not as chilled inside, but it is relaxing and the staff are wonderfully mad!
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Sebastian
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 8
Monday, August 27, 2007