Sapore Ristorante
1500 Monument Blvd,Ste A1, Concord, CA, 94520
Sapore Ristorante Menu
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Address :
1500 Monument Blvd,Ste A1
Concord, CA, 94520 - Phone (925) 826-5688
- Website https://saporeristorante.net/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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Elly G.
Saw this restaurant at Eat24. We ordered beef taco, mariscada and chicken quesadilla . All were tasty and yummy. The Birria Chivo did not look the same as presented in the picture but it was still good so we are fine with it. Service is fast and friendly. Food was still warm when it arrived.
(4)Jessica D.
Was looking for comfy warm food on a rainy evening. Came across the reviews and photos and decided to try Sapore. Miguel was extremely wonderful by delivering food quickly. We ordered the calamari and garlic bread which was amazing!!! We even requested extra red sauce and Alfredo sauce as an addition bonus with appetizers. The homemade red sauce is excellent. For the main dishes, we ordered chicken risotto, chicken primavera and the raviolis. You can tell the veggies used in these dishes are fresh which makes a big deal. The risotto was light which I love about risotto. The primavera was good but don't think I will order as a favorite. It was good but not my normal choice. The raviolis were the best. The sauce is excellent!!! All and all, the food and service was great and I will be ordering from here again.
(4)Sarah S.
I'm scared because this place has really solid, good food. The Fruite de Mare is REALLY good! But their prices are so low and I never see anyone in there. PLEASE start going to this place, I want my cheap Italian food fix every couple of weeks and I'd HATE to see this place go under. The owner is so super nice. The food is really good, and damn near FANTASTIC when you factor in the price! Yeah, it's informal and almost looks like a cheap little diner, which is why the quality of the food is so shocking. First time we went we got the calamari to share, I got the Fruite de Mare (I'm french, so I forget how they spell that in Italian, but it was really nice, just enough spice to give it a kick), the husband got the meatball sandwich with salad, and we got a few glasses or merlot (which was chilled, but I found that kind of adorable/endearing, and it was quite good, I have no idea what brand it was - brands weren't given, but it was a little sweet and rather full bodied). Our bill was something like $50... yeah, for an appetizer, 2 HUGE entrees including a big salad, 3 or 4 generous glasses of wine (can't remember, but I think we each got 2 glasses), plus bread with a nice tomato dipping sauce; and we ended up taking about half of my entree home because we were so stuffed, and we went HUNGRY. That's why I'm scared for this place! That should not have been that cheap. We got take out a couple of nights ago and it was like $21!! That's less than 2 shitty burgers from Chili's, ya know!? So, I'll keep getting food from here. I hope other people start doing the same because this place deserves the business. And just think, even if you happen to catch it on a bad night, you still barely paid anything for your meal, so don't be afraid to come on back. No matter what, you always get more than your money's worth. Oh, and their menu doesn't quite know what it wants to be, either. But everything we've tried we liked. Though it is funny/quirky to see all the Italian dishes mixed in with tacos and burgers. :)
(5)Josephine C.
Great service. The owner is super nice and extremely personable. I got food to go, but he talked to me about the dishes while I was waiting. I got the frutti di mare, the pollo marsala and the tiramisu. Pasta was al dente and the marsala was EXACTLY how I hoped it would be! The flavors were fantastic and the portions were generous. I also got two generous loaves of warm tasty bread. I also posted a picture of the menu for that weird woman who gave one star after never having tried the place and only because they didn't have an online menu.
(5)Jennifer C.
I was looking forward to liking this place because I want to support small business/restaurant owners but... The decor, or lack there of, was disappointing. It was awfully bright and the white walls didn't help. I felt like I walked into a bakery or deli. I believe our server was Miguel, who is very friendly but didn't seem to remember the promotion deal their own website ($35 for 2 salads, 2 entrees, 1 tiramisu and 1 glass of chianti). We had to remind him that the promo came with wine and dessert. But overall, the service was still good. We started with blueberry dressing salad which was decent. I just wish they would mix the dressing with romaine lettuce instead of just pouring the dressing on top. For entrees, we had pesto gnocchi and frutti di mare. The gnocchi was way too mushy. The texture was almost like baby food, mash potato. Frutti di mare was decent, plenty of seafood but the flavoring of the tomato sauce is lacking. I felt like I was eating tomato puree. Now, the dessert...tiramisu. The whipped cream was clumpy and way too much liquid was oozing out of the ladyfingers. At the end of the meal, Miguel noticed the gnocchi was barely touched so he asked why and when we told him, he offered to switch it out which we politely declined. That's good service! I probably won't be back to try their food until they improve on their food and softing the dining lights but I do hope to see them succeed.
(2)Vicky L.
Good Food and definitely, good service. I ordered the Shrimp fettuccine alfredo and it was pretty delish. I didn't have to wait long for the order to come out because there were no other customers there. The portion was pretty generous, too. Originally, the dish costed $13.99 but I had a Groupon deal so it was $8. I would definitely order the Shrimp fettuccine alfredo again for $13.99. My meal also came with bread and a delicious tomato vegetable dip. I would like to try their Tiramisu, but they didn't have it when I went. So, I'm definitely coming back here again. Please check this place out! This place definitely needs more business!
(5)Melissa M.
MIGUELS STILL THERE! Dont let the new management sign fool you. He remodled the inside so the atmosphere is much warmer! And of course the food is still amazing, I always seem to order one of the alfredos or primaveras and I have a hard time but finish them most of the time. Very friendly new waitress didnt catch her name. Definetly will be back soon now that I know my favorite chefs still in town!
(5)Danielle M.
Was doing laundry next door and was starving. Decided to take some pasta to eat outside while my clothes dried. The owner was very nice and made conversation with me about how the place was doing. The food was very tasty ! I saw they had check in deals and groupon deals in the past so I know the location is probably taking a toll on how the business is doing. What a bummer I hope he doesn't have to close :( im all for the success of small business owners and i like the fact hes bringing something new, italian, to the Predominantly Latino influenced neighborhood. he seems very passionate about it. The menu has a lot of good dishes. I will come back and try more.
(4)Alex G.
Under new ownership and terrible! Read the recent reviews before going please! The GF and I tried to go to Luna Ristorante and it was closed (Sunday) so we checked yelp and found this place with 4 stars and some glowing reviews so we went. We were the only customers in the restaurant from 6-7pm on a Sunday. Everything in this place from the wine to the bread to the microwaved food was awful. Literally nothing about the experience was in the range of acceptable for a restaurant. Wine: Wine is only offered by the glass. She got a glass of Chianti, I got a glass of Cabernet. Hers smelled off like maybe it had been opened a week ago and was sitting out. Mine just tasted bad. Bread: Thinly sliced white loaf served with a really strange balsamic sauce. Mayonnaise in the sauce maybe? Something not right there anyways. Salad: We got a Caesar salad to split. The lettuce was chopped really tiny but otherwise it was fine. Dressing obviously from a jar. Entrees: These came less than 10 minutes after ordering them so I would guess there wasn't much prep work going on in the kitchen. I got the lasagna which was served incredibly hot on the inside on a room temperature plate. It obviously came out of the microwave. No cheese on top, sauce was definitely not homemade, unseasoned ground beef inside. I don't cook much but I make better lasagna at home. She got fettucine alfredo which consisted of pasta that was visibly clumpy and overcooked covered in alfredo sauce from a jar and nothing else. It seems like a family has purchased this restaurant from the previous owners and decided to keep the same menu but cut every corner imaginable with the food. One of the worst meals I've ever been served in a restaurant. Seriously!
(1)James M.
My wife and I made another visit tonight, we have been craving this place since our first visit. This time I had the Gnocchi with Pesto sauce and my wife had the Linguine Alla Sapore. My Gnocchi were pretty good and the Linguine was superb. We talked with Miguel the owner, he is very friendly and is doing his best in trying to make this place successful. The location is not the best, especially for an Italian place, but he is smart, knowing the population in the area is largely Hispanic he has several Mexican dishes on the menu. We will be back and encourage everyone to give this place a try.
(5)Paul F.
I saw the reviews and it sounded good. It is a pretty good looking place. It had a sign under new management. I was concerned. The food has almost no flavor. Not sure if the oil on the table was olive oil. It didn't smell, look, or taste like olive oil. The bread dip was some sort of balsamic gravy that was average at best. Chicken parm wasn't breaded like the menu stated. The sauce had no flavor and was watery. A bottle of Ragu would be a huge improvement. My wife got some chicken pesto something. Chicken was really dry and pesto wasn't as good as any you can get at Safeway. Some girl was doing homework at the bar; which is odd and isn't professional. The past reviews can't be for this place, or they are from friends and family. The service wasn't very good. No need for me to return.
(1)Sean H.
I found a coupon for this place online, and it is close to where my Girlfriend and I live so I figured we'd give it a try! We got kind of lost looking for it, but thats what happens when you try to navigate on an empty belly! We get there at about 8:30 and we felt kind of bad for coming in really close to closing, but the owner gave us a warm welcome. It seemed to be a slow night, but we didn't complain, we were looking forward to some awesome food! First we were brought out some of the most amazing salad (blueberry and apple?), bread and the most amazing dipping sauce ever. I almost picked it up and drank it all it was so good. While we were enjoying the appetizers you could hear the owner in the kitchen preparing our dishes, and boy did it smell wonderful! The food comes out, and we spend the next 20-30 minutes in silence devouring our food, all the while the owner checking in occasionally to make sure we were doing ok and filling up our water. By the time we finish eating our food (HUGE portions), we were full to the brim. It was the GOOD kind of full, where you don't feel disgusting, but you feel like you just ate an awesome home cooked meal that only your parents or grandparents could provide. My only suggestion to make this a six star place, would be some softer lighting, and maybe some music! I highly suggest dining at this wonderful place, I know we will be coming back , and SOON!
(5)Wendy K.
It is really hard for me NOT to give this place more stars, as some of the food was excellent. The owner appeared to also be the the server and the cook. He asked us on many occasions to please be patient- as he was trying to do it all. He also mentioned several times that busniess was slow, so he cannot afford additional staff at this time. This was both endearing, but also made me feel sorry for him to the point that I just wanted to leave as soon as I could (due to overkill). Now on to the details: Do NOT go there for the atmosphere. This place is more like an old strip-mall store front that is trying to pass as a restaurant. There are few tables - all VERY close to each other, horrible acoustics - we felt that we could not talk because anyone else in the place would definately be able to hear our conversation. There was a deli-style cold counter which was an absolute mess - bottles and cans of soda rolling around along with one sad pan of tiramisu and a few bottles of wine (none of it was meant for display). There was also several "Re-Nuzit" style air fesheners visible around the counter, which really makes one think. Now - on to the food. I ordered the pesto gnocchi, which was dreadful. After about 2 minutes these little "dumplings" just melted into mush. Mixed in with an incredibly oily pesto sauce, the entire plate turned into one gooey mess. My wife ordered the Chicken Parmesan, which was pretty good. By the time the owner/cook/waiter came out to check on us, she was about half way finished through her dish when I was finally able to tell him I could not eat that gnocchi. He was very apologetic and promptly offerred to cook me something else. Which he did - mushroom ravioli which were actually very delicious. BUT - he wound up charging me for both the gnocchi and the 'relpacement' dish of ravioli. By this time, we had already been there an hour & a half and I really did not feel like bringing up any more problems and left. And just one final note - if you have a Yelp deal, groupon, or restaraunt.com voucher make sure you tell him up front. Apparently, it is too difficult to "deduct from a bill once it's rung up in the register".
(2)Casey C.
The five stars are for the food. It's pretty good Italian food, and not overly priced. The owner/chef is a pretty good cook, my favorite so far was the shrimp scampi, the sauce is really good, I would love to have it over some pasta. The raviolis also were very good. Wasn't a huge fan of the baby clams pasta but I never am. Trust me don't judge this place by the area it's in or the fact that it's really small restaurant. Try the food, or order take out.. Also where else can you Italian and Mexican food and the same place.. There's a coupon on their website.
(5)Armin S.
This place is pretty awesome. We tried the calamari and ordered 4 pasts dishes. They were are fresh, flavorful land very reasonably priced. The sea food was very fresh and the marinara sauce was not heavy. It was a pleasant surprise and we will definitely go back.
(4)Jimmy H.
So I was challenged to try this restaurant via Twitter. I had just raved about my experience at 54 mint and I guess they said that their food was better. Ok, I was willing to give it a shot. They wanted a food #throwdown. *Shrug* I walked in and I was greeted by Miguel (the owner) he was very friendly and asked if it was my first time there. I said yes but that's where the conversation ended he didn't recommend anything. The place looked fairly clean, very well lit but the place was empty at 12:15pm. This is usually a very bad sign for a restaurant. I asked for a menu so I could get something to go. (I already knew what I wanted but wanted to look). They had a very simple menu but it was a bit confused. Tacos and Quesadillas at an italian restaurant? O_o As i was waiting for my food, I looked around the place a bit. They had sugar caddies that were full of only splenda, no sugar or sweet n low or equal. It shows a lack of attention to detail that's needed for a restaurant. So here's my review of the food (since I only got it to go). The gnocchi was soft and what i expected out of a gnocchi. (although it needed a little extra flavor) The pesto sauce not so good. So even before I tasted the pesto and gnocchi, I had a chat with the owner about it. He shot himself in the foot way before I even ate it. He told me that people thought the pesto was "greasy" and explained it was olive oil and that people though the gnocchi was "mushy". I wanted to tell him let people form their own opinion. The pesto was cooked down with some cream and cheese. Pesto usually adds a little zip to an otherwise boring potato dumpling. They cooked it down and I was left with gooey sauce with puddles of olive oil. When I think of pesto I think of aggressive flavors. the fresh basil, the fresh garlic and olive oil. Now, I love olive oil, but I can see people seeing puddles of it being turned off. All in all, a little salt, probably could have saved the sauce. I see that twitter being successful in bringing me to try the food, but the food needs to be outstanding if you're going to compete with a place like 54 mint and issue a #throwdown as they put it. When I told the owner it was social media that brought me there, he offered a discount next time I went. I'm not sure there'll be a next time. We'll see. Short version: Owner is nice, the place is confused, the sauce was disappointing.
(2)Matthew S.
Delicious home style Italian cooking, cheap, fast, and convenient. It looks like a diminutive taqueria, but eats like an authentic bistro in the North End of Boston. (+) The Fruite de Mare was about as good as it gets. The seafood was fresh, and each clam, mussel, scallop, and prawn was cooked perfectly. This timing-intensive task is task is a rare feat. The sauce was light, spicy, and full of flavor. (+) The meatball sandwich was the best one I've had since moving here from Boston. The sauce was rich, sweet, and flavorful. The meatballs tasted freshly made, well-seasoned, and pan-fried. The bread was soft, but grilled on the insides: The perfect meatball sandwich vessel. (+) The fried calamari appetizer was quite nice as well. The little wacky wall walkers were fresh and fried perfectly, with a light, crispy, and buttery coating. The accompanying dipping sauce was spicy in a nice way. (+) If you eat-in and order the house Chianti, expect a generous pour of decent wine. (-) When I ordered take-out, the food was a bit more inconsistent. The Fruite de Mare was on-point, but the Meatball Sandwich didn't taste as fresh or well executed as when I dined-in. THE BOTTOM LINE: (+) This is the best Italian food in Pleasant Hill or Concord, at about half the price of most restaurants.
(5)Ron W.
My wife and I paid another visit to see how the restaurant has been doing. In my humble opinion the food is actually improved. Miguel is still there and with the addition of a lovely server named Edith the experience is all that much better. Miguel has also address the problem of serving wine that has gone past its time. If you wish to purchase a glass of wine he will allow you to taste it first just to be sure. We had the shrimp scampi to start delicious. My wife had the chicken piccata and I had the chicken marsala. Again I could not have asked for it to have been any more flavorful or well prepared. Good job Miguel we will definitely be back.
(5)Natalie J.
This review is based on walking in the doors...not eating the food. Okay, so I made a reservation through Open Table for last night because I heard they had awesome food. Unfortunately, upon walking in, the air conditioning ceased to exist, leaving the place sweltering at a whopping 90 plus degress. The owner (seeing that I'm 7 months pregnant) asked us not to dine because the air was too hot, and that I might be uncomfortable. I happily skipped back to my air conditioned car while my husband stayed and talked to the owner and and looked over the menu. Oh well! Maybe one day we will return...IN WINTER!!!
(2)Becca M.
The owner is very friendly, and the food is really good. We Had chicken marsala and chicken fettucini, liked both. The food didn't really agree with me, but I am not sure if it was something else or from here so I will probably go back.
(4)Mark S.
Got a Groupon for this place. The owner was the only one in there at 12:30 lunch time. When he found out I had a Groupon he went on a tirade about how signing up with them has been a disaster. No worries. I ordered a Caesar salad and shrimp risotto. The Caesar was mediocre at best...not worth 7 bucks. The risotto was very sticky and lacked flavor. Only had four shrimp. I finished with the tiramisu. Again mediocre. All in all a bland food experience. In addition, while I waited for my food other customers came in speaking only Spanish and ordered Mexican food. It's smelled better than what I was having. Maybe he needs to stick to Mexican. Just a suggestion.
(2)Ayana K.
I got a pasta dish that I justbut saw a picture of on yelp. It was pasta, sausage, chicken, shrimp, vegetables in a creamy red sauce.. It was very good just needed alittle salt
(4)Jessica M.
This place only gets a star for the lady who served us, she was really nice. The restaurant was plain, just meh just like the food. I get way more tasty food at Genova (the best Italian hands down) and bigger portion size as well. I'm so disappointed with my trip :( I was actually really looking forward to eating here because of the 4 stars on yelp, and because I had a groupon deal ($10 off $15) but when it came to pay it was $18 one main dish with appetizer of garlic bread and the owner refused my coupon. It specifically says that the coupon doesn't expire yet the owner still refused it. FALSE ADVERTISEMENT!! Isn't there a law for that. Point blank $18 for a meal that tastes like it was something from the frozen aisle, way over priced. And I'm kinda pissed I didn't get to use my deal on that crappy food. I would never recommend this place to anyone else. Someone even had little kids on the ground behind the register. Not professional. So in my conclusion avoid this place!
(1)Brian L.
Tasty food and definitely good, good service. We ordered the fruitti de mare, pollo marsala, ravioli, and pollo picata. The complementary bread and tomato vegetable dip was also very delish. Portions were fairly large and delivered quickly. There weren't any other patrons in the restaurant, so the owner gave us a lot of attention...almost too much. We had a Groupon, so the price seemed very, very reasonable . Now for the bad part. I get sick every time I eat here. I thought it may have been a fluke the first time -- I really wanted to like this place -- but this makes trip #3. So unless you have a GI tract of steel, I unfortunately can't recommend this place.
(3)Kamoa D.
Super clean place, great food and friendly service.The owner/chef truly takes pride in what he does. I would recommend this place to everyone
(5)Paul D.
Excellent meal. We'll go back and I'll try to be more descriptive
(4)m c.
I am combining reviews of three different occasions over a month - 2 deliveries and 1 takeaway. Okay, it's not situated in the coziest of locations (fast food heaven) and for Mexican food there is a lot of competition in Concord. But even for deliveries, owner/chef Miguel executes everything with a sure hand and his own loving touch to the dishes. Even the simple but delicious tacos are a bit different than the usual (lightly breaded shrimp) and the salsa has so much more flavour and complexity than what you can find in the area, often quickly (and sloppily) made for the masses. I had the camarones al mojo de ajo two different times. Miguel's artistry is on display here. The first time it was more of a "white" sauce, heavy with sweet, toasted garlic. Never mind that the shrimps were fat and juicy! No skimping here. The second time the sauce was a bit different, sweeter as it was tomato-based but still wonderful. No assembly line cooking at this place! The rice was soft, fragrant and savoury both times. The super quesadilla was also out of the ordinary, much better than anything you'd find .. oh, let's say in a chain further down the road. I don't even usually order quesadilla it as I find it bland but once again the personal touches are clear - seasoned shrimp filling with a drizzling of chipotle sauce on top. Bravo! I had an excellent Italian dish once, linguine ai frutti di mare. I normally live in England, with regular trips to Italy, and this meal was not typically American-Italian (overly sweet and salty, heavy on the tomatoes, garlic and onions, with no depth). It was much more delicate and complex than anything you can find around here, especially at the Old Spaghetti Factory. I don't know how he can charge so little with the amount of seafood in the dish. They were not tiny pieces, either. If you want great Italian food - NOT your average American-Italian cuisine hastily assembled for patrons who don't know any better - come to Sapore! Yet another example of the effort that he puts into everything: my horchata had a slice of strawberry in it! If you want something simple but healthy to drink there are a range of juices; I was not disappointed with my beetroot juice. Last but not least, another reason to dine here is the warm, wonderful service that you receive, in person or on the phone, also from his equally hard-working and charming son. You can tell Miguel is a great father in addition to an excellent cook.
(5)Christopher G.
TL;DR: Good portion sizes, friendly/accomodating owner, meal I had was a little disappointing. Was hankering for some Chicken Parm last night (one of my favorite comfort foods), so I got some take-out. I've also been on a diet lately, but decided to indulge, so I started hunting around for some Italian. I'd noticed this place on Monument about a gazillion times, walked up the entrance and browsed the menu, but never ordered to date. I checked the reviews, and decided to give it a try. Ordered the basic chicken parm, and asked for a sub on the veggies for a salad. The man politely agreed to the sub, even though most of their salads are listed at like 7 dollars or more. This pleased me. 20 minutes later, as promised food was ready. I went to pick it up, and I must say they didn't really follow the three L's of a restaurant. They are situated right next to a Laundry mat, in the shopping center on monument. Nothing particularly wrong about that, but I don't think "Good Italian" when I pass by. Anyway, I walk in, what I assume was the owner's small son took my payment quickly and efficiently (Despite being only like 10 or so). The interior is quiet, clean, and decently decorated, almost making you forget where you are. I take it home, open it up, and pretty much immediately know that I am not going to be impressed. The cheese was not as thick as I would have liked, and the breading already looked immensely soggy. The sauce had very little flavor to speak of, and didn't really bring much to the plate. The chicken was cooked well though, done through but not dry. It was placed on top of a decent portion of linguine, and came with some warm crusty bread. The side salad was iceberg with some under ripe tomatoes, cucumber, and some other veggie accouterments. This place has some things going for it, but ultimately its about the food. I may give them another chance at some point, but I doubt I'll find myself rushing back.
(3)Allan M.
The restaurant still looks like it's owned by the same owner/chef. But it is no longer an Italian restaurant. It has become a Mexican taqueria that still serves some Italian dishes.
(2)Mark R.
Menudo was great and the buffet deal is very good especially for the price! The italian food was just ok, but the mexican food was excellent. Owner is a nice guy and hard-working. I will be eating here again.
(4)Rosie V.
The whole experience was average at best. Wanted to grab Italian food with my sister before class, saw this place had good reviews and that I could get a free appetizer from the website. When I got there, atmosphere completely like a Mexican restaurant (they do both) and Mexican food looking much more appealing than the Italian, but the latter is what I promised my sister so that's what we did. There was no one else in the restaurant the entire time we were there. The man behind the desk had a very difficult time with the idea of the free appetizer - finally acquiesced and we ordered. Five minutes later a small child came out and told us that we could only have a certain appetizer. Fine. The food came out, and it was ok. Not super great- really heavy and creamy. On the plus side, portions were really big- the three of us couldn't finish 2 plates and the appetizer. I'd consider coming back as the Mexican food looked good, but there are so many better places on Monument for that. If you do end up here, I'd avoid the Italian and def go for the Mexican!
(3)N. R.
Sent my Middle Schooler to pick up takeout. The owner sat down with him and had a very kind, genuine and meaningful conversation about business, about the neighborhood and how he's trying to improve the restaurant menu. You can tell a lot about a person who can treat a young man the same way he would treat anyone else, with respect and value for their opinion regardless of age; that alone was worth a star. I deleted my previous review because I felt that this business is trying very hard to please its customers and stay alive. Our neighborhood does not get the same amount of foot traffic as our neighboring cities Pleasant Hill and Walnut Creek so it's difficult for businesses to survive here in Concord. The ones that do are those who interact with their community and strive to serve quality food. The fact that this child has not said a word since digging into his Philly means that he approves. I ordered the Cheese ravioli and the sauce was creamy and flavorful. Our takeout was not soggy and the portions were bigger than expected. If you have a family, this is a good place to go because you're guaranteed to have leftovers. He even threw in extra bread ;) Their food has improved in taste and portion since our last visit and my last review. The owner is truly invested in his customers and community. I hope to see them make it.
(4)Christian G.
Hands down one of the best burrito I've ever had. If you plan to eat there I strongly recommend the ( burrito banado) or wet burrito in english.
(5)Shelly P.
Today I ordered a huge delivery from Sapore through eat24 and I couldn't be happier. I was hosting a business lunch for doctors in walnut creek and it was crucial for the food to arrive on time and be delicious. All my expectations were exceeded. The food was a huge hit with everyone! The shrimp plate was a favorite as well as the asada plate! Friendly service and good food is what you'll get here! And for delivery, that's saying a lot! Thank you!!
(5)Uriel G.
Thanks! We had an amiazing dinner i would recomment this place friendly and good service We will come back again!
(5)Amy P.
We celebrated our one year anniversary on Sapore's two year anniversary. I had seen groupon deals for here before but I stopped in to check it out and was kind of turned off at first glance. I think it was the plastic table cloth covers. For whatever reason, this is what I decided I wanted for our anniversary dinner. I picked up a bottle of champagne and called ahead to ask what the corkage fee was. I was told they didn't have one. I liked the place already. I stopped at home and grabbed two candles and the top of our wedding cake, which we'd kept frozen all year. We met at the restaurant and there was only one other table dining so we had our choice of seats. Miguel was our server and we learned he's the owner. Very friendly. He suggested the bruschetta as an appetizer. It was very good and we liked the unique balsamic dressing on top. We didn't get our bread and tomato dip having order the bruschetta - so we'll have to go back because that sounds great. Husband had an alfredo/sausage dish. It comes with veggies but he requested they all be removed. The sausage was really good in his dish and the sauce wasn't bad. Pasta was cooked perfectly. My seafood dish with penne (frutti di mare) was $13 and had a surprisingly large amount of seafood. Calamari, clams, white fish, scallops and large shrimp (de-tailed - I don't usually see this - I liked it). The sauce was a red sauce with cheese in it. I would probably put a little more garlic salt in it but it was pretty good as is. However, I'm an over-salter (bad habit), but perhaps some hot sauce would go nicely in it too. Mmmm, hot sauce. Our dinner was lovely. Our champagne was bubbly. And our dessert.... you ask? The one year old cake stored wonderfully! It was amazing! Everything about our evening was enjoyable. We didn't use the Yelp check-in offer saving us 10% off our meal because Miguel said the business is struggling. He feels it's the location. I agree; I think of Monument and taquerias come to mind over Italian. But he has tacos too!! I told him I'd pass along what I thought of the meal, and there it is. Give a local business some love and check this place out. Italian pasta not your thing? Try their $1.50 tacos - then tell me how they are!
(5)karen g.
This time I came for the soft tacos- And ...oh my God! So so good. I go to Mexico often and think they were as good or better. I had one pork and one head. The salsa counter was Rica! When you're craving really really really good Mexican sabor and you want it for cheap, you will not be sorry! trust me. I also had another one of those tasty juices it was consistent and as good as last time! Who would have thought that a little hole in the wall would be so good? I rate this place as DELICIOUS, and worth going out of your way for.
(5)David H.
quality food, nice and accommodating owner, open late nights (2am Saturday), great prices, and quality taste! you can't beat this -- my order would've cost at least $30 in SF! but instead i paid half that. will definitely be back
(5)Ninette B.
I am giving this place 2 stars instead of 1 because the owner is soooo nice and you just want this place to succeed for his benefit. The problem is that the food is just ehhhhh. He really recommended a Blueberry Salad, so we ordered one to share.. And when he brought it out, he apologized for not having the apples that usually go on top. So we got chopped lettuce with some almonds sprinkled on top and a blueberry dressing. I posted a photo on the review page... I was sad. I ordered the Pollo Piccata, which was ok. I liked it enough. And my husband ordered the pesto gnocchi, which was really mushy. All in all though the owner was really nice and sweet, we won't be back.
(2)Niall M.
The restaurant's website has a coupon for dinner for two including any two entrees, two salads and tirimisu to share for $25. Do not miss it. The four stars are for the food and the host. I should probably deduct for a choice between red wine and white wine (in an Italian restaurant, yet) and an indifferent, at best, premises. Judit raved about her chicken marsala and my frutti di mare was also excellent. Despite the fact that the chef was also the server service was not slow. Sapore's location is very strange, in a mall devoted to a ton of small, mainly Hispanic, businesses. There have to be ten Hispanic restaurants in it. The location is hardly where you would expect to find an Italian restaurant. Put this restaurant in a better location and it would be a sensation.
(4)Flor R.
Absolutely delicious food, prepared by expertly trained chefs. Treat yourselves to a great dinner.
(5)Dom S.
Been here many time I love this place. The prices are good the good is good. The owner is really down to earth friendly and most of all it clean. Smoothies are really good fresh when order. Would come here ever day if I could
(5)J L.
5 Stars? YES! Look, I'm not going to bore you with a lengthy review because you just gotta go check this place out. Food: *Very fresh *Tasty *Attractive presentation *Wayyy underpriced. Like, seriously. Try: -The Chicken Alfredo Sandwich. It tastes incredibly better than it may sound actually, with a unique blend of fixings to accompany the hot, juicy, crispy chicken breast. -The Chicken Breast entree' with lemon sauce and capers -All the salads...huge, fresh, many fruits and vegetables, fresh housemade dressing. Did I mention FRESH? The owner and chef, Miguel, is such a sweetheart and will cook or substitute what you ask for AND it will be delish. Location: -Don't come here if you're looking for Il Fornaio pretense. It's on Monument Blvd. strip mall, but who cares! You won't even notice and he keeps a clean little restaurant. It's all about the food here.
(5)Vanessa M.
I was having a horrible day and a horrible headache so instead of going home to start cooking, my husband and I decided to find somewhere to eat. There are soooo many Mexican restaurants and taquerias in that area and this was the only one that stood out to us. I love Italian and he loves Mexican! Perfect! We walked in and it looked like they were getting ready to leave so I asked what time they close. The guy said its ok come in! He was really nice. He took our order brought us some warm bread and went back to cook our meal. My husband ordered carne asada tacos and I ordered steak with pasta. Im picky about my food so I was glad he wasn't bothered at all by my special requests. He was the only one in the place so I thought it was going to take forever, but it didn't. As soon as we finished the bread he brought our food out. Right away my husband said he LOVED the tacos, which is rare because he usually just eats fast and doesn't take time to appreciate it. He said it was like the meat was cooked on a real grill, not just on a greasy pan like most taquerias. My steak was really good, cooked perfectly with mushrooms and a creamy sauce on top. I don't usually like any cream or sauce on my steak but it was GOOD! The pasta was even better! It tasted like a real home cooked meal. And the owner treated us like guests in his house. My plate was really big so my husband ate all of his tacos and half of mine. He loved my steak and pasta as much as I did. When we were leaving I asked what time they normally close. He said 9pm on weekdays! So he had actually let us come in 15 minutes after they were already closed! We didn't even feel rushed at all like you normally do at restaurants that are about to close. But I felt a little bad about keeping him there so late. Good thing he didn't seem to mind at all. We will definitely be back to try the chicken Marsala and I also want to try the tacos that husband didn't share! :) Oh and I read some of the bad reviews after we ate there. I think those ppl are just being ridiculous! I understand you're entitled to your own opinion but seriously!? If you're some kind of food critic looking for a high end gourmet Italian place with a fancy decor and fancy waiters serving you expensive wine in then you probably shouldn't be eating out on MONUMENT Blvd! Lol
(5)Dougaldo C.
What a find! Not only is the food excellent, but the owner is a super nice guy who really cares and has his heart in it 100%. The owner has three brothers who are chefs at the top local Italian restaurants. So he really knows how to prepare his food. That said, I nearly decided to move on when I pulled up. The door says Burritos and tacos so I thought I was at the wrong place. It also says Italian food too, but it gives you pause at first. But don't let that scare you off though. This guy can really prepare some excellent Italian food. I had the Fruitti di Mare and it was as good as I have had in Italy. You couldn't do better anywhere. My wife had the Ravioli, which I also tried and it was excellent as well. We finished with the Tiramisu which is home made. I can't say I have ever had better. Really an amazing find. The quality of the food way exceeds the price he charges too. I imagine that some day he will be discovered and that will change. But for now ...get it while the getting's good!
(5)Frederick K.
One of the worst experiences that I've ever had. The service was super slow as the owner was pretty much doing everything by himself. The quality of the food is not that great and pretty bland. The owner apologizes for the slow service and offered us free tiramisu cake at the end. I accepted the free dessert and then presented him with our Groupon coupon at the end. The owner was not too happy about it and told us that we should have told him about it earlier. Afterward, he decided to charge us with the dessert that I was supposed to receive for free. I'm not impressed with the service at all. Definitely will not come back.
(1)Ellie Y.
My general review is like everyone else's to this point, saw the sign up for many months, got the Groupnow deal, loved it. Very small and informal, and most of the menu is under $10. Meals come with complimentary warm bread with a tasty tomato cream dipping sauce. The gnocchi with pesto cream is awesome, but nap inspiring. I just saw that they have the application for an alcohol license posted on the front of the building. That should help make this more a dining destination than take out. They also apparently also serve some Mexican food, but do not have a menu. I just gained this information through my powers of ease-dropping in Spanish, which I can definitely do when it pertains to food but probably not many other topics. Another table ordered fish tacos and tortas.
(5)thomas m.
This place is a gem in this area! Quality food, honest and amazing taste. Friendly and quick service. This is our new place for Italian.
(5)Misty C.
This place is fantastic! Was a bit skeptical at first due to the location next to a laundromat in a nondescript strip mall but looks were deceiving. As soon as we walked in, the owner Miguel introduced himself and was extremely pleasant and engaging. The food was delicious..... fresh salad dressing, tasty shrimps, original style ravioli, and fresh wonderful pasta. Probably some of the best italian food I have had. Will definately be back. Combination of great food and customer service hard to beat.
(5)Candy C.
4 stars?? Seriously?? I figured.. so what if the place is deserted, right? It wouldn't be the first time I've been to a restaurant on a slow night. Can't be that bad..and after all, it is my mom's birthday, let's make the best of it.. What we had: * Fried Calamari Appetizer: I could still taste the flour. It was served with a semi cold marinara sauce - tasted like spaghetti sauce from a jar. * Bruschette: Basil, tomato, olives, balsamic vinegar.Sounds good, but, didn't anyone tell the cook/owner that you're supposed to toast the bread?? wtf? * Frutti di mare: my mom had the marinara - SURPRISE! It was the same gross sauce that came with the calamari! Foreseeing this issue, I asked them to change mine to some sort of garlic or white sauce. Mine was not as bad as hers. Still bad, but not AS bad. * My brother had the steak. He said it was OK. But I saw the smirk on his face.. **I don't usually rip on a place this hard, but this would be BY FAR, the worst meal I've had in the last 5 years. It was compounded by the fact the owner kept coming up to our table, desperately complaining again and again about how one if his cooks didn't show up on time, and that HE would have to cook our entire meal by himself (It was just us and another table for more than an hour - If you can't cook, then why not close for the night?) The only positive thing about this experience is, although the man can't cook, and couldn't describe what wines he had, and did a lot of complaining during our meal, he did seem genuinely nice. Unfortunately, it's quite obvious that he's in over his head. I can already hear the clock ticking..
(1)Kai N.
I read all the awesome reviews & saw the humorous video, so of course I had to try Sapore because I couldn't believe there was such an Italian restaurant on Monument Blvd! I mean REALLY?! I was hopeful and optimistic... I feel bad about giving him (the owner) 1 star, but he was just having the worst luck on that Friday the 13th. This review is obviously based on that particular night. I really wish I didn't show up on that night because I would hope to think that my review would have been different on a different night. I started writing this review on my phone while we were waiting: Walked in at 7pm, the cook greeted us in Spanish while he was on the phone. Luckily for me, I understood Spanish & could respond accordingly. It was obvious by the phone conversation and the facial expressions of the cook, that the owner was not around & that he was on his way back to the restaurant. The cook smiled and gave us some water, after we had to seat ourselves. Another party of 4 walked in after us. The owner came in 8 minutes after we sat and greeted the party of four and gave them menus before us. He did apologize. He explained that he was short staffed. We told him that we came because of the Yelp reviews. He proceeded to talk about the bad review he got the other night from some "crazy ladies". I asked him what happened and he told me that they complained about greasy pesto and soggy gnocchi. He said the pesto is made with olive oil and the gnocchi is made with potato! I just smiled and felt bad for him immediately. It's obvious he's not a Chef. Okay, so he was totally unprofessional and didn't realize he was being that way. Poor guy I thought, because he doesn't know better. It's obvious to me that he is still learning the business. I'm writing this review at the table on my phone because I'm bored...we've been here now for 50 minutes and no meals. I don't remember the last time I waited this long for a meal! We did receive hot bread with a nice tomato cream sauce...The printed menu itself has several typos that need correction. There are food stains on the wall next to the table that we are sitting at. Sorry but I'm soooo bored that I'm noticing all these details! All the lights are off so we're sitting in the dark but there's nice light coming through the front windows. The back dining areas is in disarray. The restaurant is a complete "hole in the wall", so it's not a place to bring anyone that you want to impress. OMG, somebody just flicked on ALL the lights! Ugh, it's so bright now! All the tables are laughing and staring at each other! Yes, it's true that the owner is nice, but he's doing too much! I think he's cooking the food too! He just apologized to the party of 4. Gosh, did they not get their order taken after 45 minutes? There was another party of 3 that sat last, and they just got served FIRST! WTF?! Now another party of 2 just came in, and the owner tells his little son (9yrs old) to give them menus & water. Ok, we've been sitting for 1 hour now and still no food. The little boy asked us if we would like anything else. I laughed and said "uh, just our food!" The owner told us that our meals are coming up shortly. I hope the food is outstanding, bc at this point it's pretty hard to recover. Now everybody in the dining room is looking at each other and wondering what's going on. I feel sorry for the owner bc I know he's not feeling good about what's going on.... Food is finally here! My lasagna is warm, not hot. Interesting looking shape lasagna...like a oval mound. Flavorful, but slightly salty. My wife's Frutti Di Mare is steaming hot but not very flavorful nor plentiful on the seafood. I would give 2 stars for the food, but honestly, it's nothing to write home about. Not a value either. We ask for a Tiramisu to go and the check and the owner presents the check and accidently spills my wifes water. I really feel bad for him now. The two pens he leaves with the credit card slip doesn't work. OMG! I want out now! I totally assume that he's comped the tiramisu. Totally disappointed that he didn't! You don't make your guests wait for over an hour for food and not comp a $5 dessert. That is poor customer service! It didn't matter how many times he apologized. This was a sinking ship the minute we walked in. The alcohol flavor in the Tiramisu was overpowering. It would have been great if he told us the situation in the beginning and informed us that the meal with take a LONG LONG time, then we could have made a decision to stay or leave. Everything about this restaurant screams HELP! At this rate, he better learn quick if he wants to be successful. My best tip to him: Dine at 51 Mint on Treat Blvd and Oak Grove and learn from the professionals. Paint the ceiling! Get rid of that silly espresso cart with awning and deli case. Get somebody to help you with decor. Sorry senor....good luck! We hope things get better for you.
(1)V A.
eh okay food. Got a yelp deal and got togo here one night..it works when you're in a bind to eat quickly.
(2)Todd G.
This place is delicious! Owner is very nice Man who personally cooked for us. Had the penne pasta special with garlic bread. Came out very hot and fresh. Free soup and salad with meals. It was amuZing how they sold jarritos and horchata... Lacks decor but food makes up for it. Will be back!
(5)Eliza B.
The food was ok, it wasnt the best and it wasnt the worst. my biggest issue with this place was the service. we spent almost three hours in the restaurant because we were waiting most of the time. also the restaurant is way smaller than it was percieved online, i thought there were booths and fancy decor but its very tiny. your better off ordering to-go. portions are really small there as well.
(2)Anastasia B.
Amazing! Delicious, fresh ingredients! Lots of amazing flavors - definitely the BEST Italian food I've ever had - and really inexpensive! I will definitely never go to a different Italian restaurant ever again. And yes, the owner is not Italian, but he's had many years of experience and knows what he's doing! He served and cooked for us and it was amazing! It totally breaks my heart that more people don't give this place a shot - check out this place!
(5)Coopdawg C.
Just discovered this place the other day. We will be returning, and I feel compelled to give a comprehensive and honest review. Food: 8 out of 10, based on one visit Service: 6 out of 10, but assume it would usually be more like 7 or 8. Pricing: 7 out of 10. Not outstanding, but we don't go for upscale-priced places either. Ambiance: 6 out of 10. Clean but not cozy or warm . Friendliness: 8 out of 10. I feel strongly that the owner has very good quality food and tries really hard to give you what you want without a lot of fuss and pretense. We were there on a Sunday night, which is usually pretty relaxed at most restaurants. There were 6 other diners, and we could tell when we walked in that it was an off night. We weren't in a hurry so figured it would be ok. After seating ourselves, we perused the menu. Not a large one, and chock-full of spelling and other errors, and not well-printed. But that's ok, since we never see Chinese menus without a lot of similar problems. Not a lot of vegetarian stuff, but I assume they can customize or invent just about any dish to your liking for the asking. It was slow, but we realized the owner got stood up by a worker and it threw a wrench in the works. Being an employer, I see this all the time and frankly don't see how a lot of businesses can function.. We sympathized with the owner and appreciated his honesty. The salad, bread, dipping sauce and 2 pasta dishes were excellent and plentiful. The forks are not comfortable to hold with sharp edges. That's about all I have to say about this.
(3)Jenni S.
My sister gave me a groupon to here for Christmas and I'm so glad she did. When we went in the owner gave us a tour, then sat down and talked to us about the changing menu. The overall experience was so friendly and wonderful. I had a family dinner that night, so what I did was order to go and shared with my whole family. I'm not sure what I got, because the owner recommended something that wasn't on the menu. It was a tomato cream sauce with chicken and pasta. It was absolutely delicious! My whole family loved it! I will definitely be back and would recommend Sapore to anyone!
(5)Amy M.
This place is amazing!! Owner is very nice! Food is top notch! Highly recommend!
(5)Micah B.
Excellent! You must go to this amazing find.
(5)MG N.
My daughter, granddaughter and I had heard about this little Italian restaurant in Concord on Monument Blvd (faces Monument across from Wendy's in a little mall. Wow were we impressed. Sparkling clean, management delightful and most importantly, absolutely delicious. The bread comes out hot and there is lovely cream sauce to dip the bread in. My daughter had chicken Marsala which she said was the best she's ever had. And she is a foodie. I loved my ravioli as well. They have only been open 1 year and the location is a place where you would not expect to find this kind of cuisine which for us made it all the more fun. Submitted by MaryGail Nelson of Walnut Creek.
(5)John G.
Wow!!!! Love the food. Miguel is awesome and foods are really good!
(5)margaret l.
First time and take out, you can get a hit or a miss. Super nice owner, good food. I ordered the spaghetti and meatballs, and the meatballs are real meat. I am so used to get more filler then meat so it was a pleasant surprise. Ordered the garlic bread which was good but I think next time I am going to order extra marinara then they will be killer. If you love garlic the bread is for you. I will be back and it is my go to place, since it is friendly, affordable and close.
(4)Kristie T.
I have not eaten here. I really wish they had a menu so that I could order something to go. The owner was unable to describe the dishes I thought I might like over the phone for me and has no idea when he will post a menu online. I even tried to see if he could text me a picture of the menu so I could look at it on my phone but he seems technologically challenged. Too bad, from the food reviews this seems like a place I would like to try.
(1)M K.
Excellent food! Very fresh! Very nice owner! I love supporting small business. Highly recommended! I'm very food conscious. Travel 16 miles to eat here.
(5)Roylen S.
My friends and I just had the most wonderful dinning experience at this place, The food was fabulous with the favorite being the lasagna. The prices are excellent and Miguel the owner/waiter/chef could not have been more gracious and friendly. I recommend if you are in the Concord area to give this little place a try. You will not be dissappointed.
(5)Eric C.
We have been driving by here for over 6 months and it's finally open. They serve you bread with a heated vegetable cream dipping sauce before you order. Soup or salad is free with every meal I had the salad and chicken Parmigiana. it was very good. My wife had mushroom Ravioli and Minestrone soup and it was good too. We also had the garlic bread appetizer. It has real chunks of garlic on it, very garlicky and good. The menu is not very big and they don't have alcohol yet. Miguel the owner is very friendly and the inside is small but nice. Its right next to a laundromat. The price was not too bad, about $9-$10 per entree. Portions were decent and we left full.
(4)Ez E.
Great food. Small location and sales are great, used my groupon and was more than enough food. Enjoy
(4)C J.
I thought this place was charming (although I may add some music and ceiling fans). There were table cloths on the tables and the place was very clean, which is very important to me. The owner is super friendly and eager to please. My husband had chicken marsala which he loved. I had the gnocchi with pesto. Very good as well. Brought home leftovers and our adult daughter thought they were great reheated the next day. We went on a Monday night, it was slow so service was excellent as was the tiramasu for dessert. Yummy! We will return. One of the other patrons ordered a seafood queasadilla and I can't wait to try it.
(4)Kristin P.
I really liked this place! Good Italian food, the owner/operator is very friendly. The atmosphere is not anything special so you feel ok wearing jeans out to dinner but the food was fantastic and probably the most affordable Italian meal in town. We will be back.
(4)Richard H.
The food was reasonable, tasty, and generous. We liked it.
(3)Debbie S.
Please make the effort to go to this restaurant. The food is SO good, the portion sizes are excellent and the prices are great. Start off with a yummy dipping sauce for your bread, followed by calamari and wonderful chicken or pasta dishes. You can also choose from a variety of Mexican dishes, lunch or dinner. Miguel, the owner is kind, attentive, and a terrific chef. His home made dessert was moist and tasty. It's amazing that such fine food is found in this modest restaurant. It's a little hard to find, but it's between La Cabana and Donut Time, right across from Wendy's on Monument.
(4)Vala M.
Found the place through Groupon. Met the owner Miguel, a very nice man. Great fried calamari. Also had the fish, chicken, and shrimp tacos. Very very good. . Just the right amount of kick. Tasty and fresh. The bread and soup dip were delicious as well. We left very full and satisfied. Come help this business get going!!!
(5)Iris S.
A friend and I ate at Sapore and were delighted with the food and the owner. I had pollo parmigiana and my friend had lasagna. The ingredients were forest and so tasty. We also shared a Caesar salad and tiramisu. We both said we will return.
(5)KD S.
Was encouraged by some coworkers to try this place out. Had to ask twice about the cuisine because I had no idea there was Italian food available on Monument Blvd! Took a friend and dined on a Tuesday night. The decor was clean but sparse and the place was completely empty, which could be good (since Yelpers complained about the slow service) or bad (why was nobody eating here?!?). We were promptly and enthusiastically greeted by Miguel, the owner, who sat us and handed us the menus. I was totally surprised by the meager menu. My friend laughed as I kept turning it over to look for additional items. I had a few questions and Miguel was eager to respond. I settled on the fettuccine Alfredo with chicken and when I made a joke about the "heart attack on a plate", Miguel offered to add vegetables! This was great! My friend chose the Frutti Di Mare. We split a Cesar salad and were glad we did, there was plenty. Miguel also brought out warm bread (which was delicious!) and a small bowl of their special tomato dipping sauce. We were in heaven and joked about getting our entrees to go! Our meals arrived and the aroma was out of this world but for us, the true test was going to be the pasta... we wanted al dente and fully expected it since our conversation with Miguel revealed his passion and experience with cooking Italian food. We were not disappointed. Pasta cooked to perfection! The Alfredo was not your typical, thick creamy sauce but a lighter blend that was the perfect compliment to the chicken and vegetables. The Frutti Di Mare was an abundant mix of shellfish, scallops and calamari in a light tomato sauce. We ate and ate... the portions were generous. We were completely stuffed but still managed to take home a good sized portion for lunch the next day. Miguel offered dessert and we declined but he went on the explain that the tiramisu was homemade so we had to try it. Our plan was to taste it and then box it up to take home.... big mistake! We DEVOURED it!! Again, the portion size was generous and it was the perfect blend of cream, coffee, rum and delicate lady fingers. It was like eating a cloud... so much lighter than expected. We showed no shame as we licked the plate! Miguel is personable and passionate about his food. I truly hope the word spreads and this incredible culinary delight thrives!
(5)Aleta K.
I can't believe after the many dissatisfied customer reviews that you think your food is good. Try actually reading the reviews instead of just replying with the same comment "I'm sorry for your slow service and yes I'm the waiter as well." GET A CLUE. Your location stinks. Sub-par food that is prepared elsewhere. No one person can successfully prepare,(you see I don't say cook) serve and continue to wait any of the other 5 tables in your establishment in a timely matter. You truly need to give this up. You been at it I see for about a year now and the reviews are still the same problems. I requested a refund on my groupons because I did not want to return there. There were no problems getting my refund they must of been approached before about your place.
(1)Jennifer J.
Don't be afraid to try this place based on the interesting location (located in a strip mall on Monument Blvd. directly across from Wendy's). Some of my friends had initially been there with their folks (who had a coupon from the CC Times) and they've been back several times since. I finally had the opportunity to go (pulled over on our way to Costco!) The pollo marsala was to die for. I literally mopped up all the remaining sauce with my bread. As others have said, the owner was truly delightful. We took business cards to give to friends - the place is THAT good. I look forward to returning for dinner sometime.
(5)Linda M.
Friendly staff, good sevice, terrific food, reasonable prices.
(5)Ru L.
My family and I went there on my birthday. I ordered Frutti Di Mare. It was really delicious. My kids had ravioli and they loved it too. We also had Tiramisu which was gone within a min. We definitely will go back again.
(5)Lily C.
My husband and I were there with the Groupon deal $12 for $25. The food was awesome, with home cooking flavor. It is very generou portion size for the price, we could not finish and took home a lot. The owner was warm and nice, offered us freeTiramisu to try, taste great. We will very likely come back, even though Italian food is not our favourite.
(5)Liona F.
Very good food for much less $ and an excellent personal service. We had the house salads, pollo Marsala, the stuffed fish dish, with mixed vegetables. Everything was really good, except my veggies were a bit too hot spicy for my delicate taste. I mentioned that to Miguel, and he immediately offered to replace it for no spicy or for pasta. Within less than 5 minutes, he brought out a fresh serving of non spicy, and really tasty mixed veggie dish, which was much more to my liking. After dinner, Miguel treated us to a free serving of Tiramisu, which I thought was the best ever ... and I believe I know my Tiramisus. The tasty salad he served us was also free. We did have an Entertainment coupon, which we ended up not taking advantage of due to all the free treats. Miguel is really trying hard to make this place a success, and we like some other reviewers would like to support him. We really enjoy having an Italian Ristorante, so reasonably priced in this area.
(5)A. C.
This place just recently opened. I head about it through Groupon. Seating is limited and the space lacks Italian atmosphere, but the food and service were good. The menu is standard Italian fare with lots of shrimp thrown in the mix. I had the chicken basil gnocchi. It was delicious, and the portion was just right. The meal was served with bread, and it came out nice and warm with some tomato basil dipping sauce. YUM! I could have eaten that all day, but I wanted to make sure I had room for my meal. Unfortunately, there was no tres leches cake, which is on the menu, b/c the demand was not great enough. I know - tres leches cake is not Italian, but I love it anyway. The owner told me to call ahead so that his wife could make it for when I visited. Technically the grand opening is set for Sunday, 10/23, but there is no reason to wait! I'll definitely be going back to check out the other dishes.
(4)myla s.
Food was very delicious. The owner was really friendly. Ravioli and the chicken marsala was very good. He gave us free tacos. I would recommend that you try the fish tacos. Will definetely come back again.
(4)Jennifer F.
So good! Bought the groupon and so glad I did. The owner is so nice and personable, the bread served before the meal was very good with the dipping sauce, and my dinner was spectacular. I had the gnocchi with pesto sauce- so good! we also had a chicken taco with a sauce I have never had like it before. Spicy and delicious!!
(5)Kimi U.
What a nice surprise. Came here with the family and was greeted warmly by the owner. Due to various food allergies in the family, we asked which menu items contained certain allergens. He told us that everything was made to order so he could make the ravioli without the almonds, the tacos w/o breading so that it would be gluten free, and the meatballs w/o cheese and was happy to do so. The fish tacos were excellent although the mango salsa/sauce was a little too spicy for our kid, I loved it. The owner came to check on us and realizing it was too much heat for her he made another one without the sauce. I had the Frutti du Mare, and loved it. The pasta was cooked perfectly, the sauce was spicy and so tasty, although if you do not like spicy food, I'd recommend asking for it without the red pepper flakes. For me though, it's just how I like it and the plate was generously filled with mussels, clams, fish, shrimp, calamari and bay scallops. Hubby got the chicken with Marsala and the breast meat was very tender and flavorful, especially with the sauce. My son liked his cheeseburger because he liked the bun which was an Italian bread/roll. Our other child had the spaghetti & meatballs, 2 giant meatballs served over a generous portion of spaghetti. We finished all of our plates and the owner gave us a sample of his Tres Leches cake. It was moist, not too sweet and very good. I think the only thing going against this place is the location, but hopefully the food and good service will draw in more customers. For the portion and quality of the food, the price is much less than what you would expect to pay for. We will most definitely be back.
(5)