Sapore Trattoria San José — Restaurant in Catedral

THE RATING IS BASED ON 2 MAIN DISHES AND A SALAD ONLY. We picked what we thought was the best Italian restaurant based on reviews. The place is very nice. Service impeccable. The caeser salad starter was excellent. They know how to make a dressing. Unfortunately the 2 mains we ate were sub-par. The pasta Bolognese, which they pride themaleves on simmering for 8 hours was tasteless and watery. All the important flavour profiles inherent in a Bolognese were missing. If you have a discerning palette and understand the composition of the sauce (ie: you've spent hours yourself making it and understand the complexities) then this is not for you. Next was the chicken cannelloni with mushrooms and bechemal. Again, a flavourless dish. I decomposed it and found huge chunks of white meat chicken inside. I feel that they boil and shred the chicken and just stuff the noodle. There is zero flavour to the chicken. Ground chicken seasoned well would be a much better stuffing. The.bechemal sauce was ok but not enough so the dish was extremely dry. In hindsight I should have gone with their signature dish Spaghetti a la Carbonara which is flambed in a cheese wheel however it can only be ordered for 2 and I never eat the same dish as my wife since I always have to finish hers and like the variety. This all said, next time I go back to San Jose I would go back and give it a...

Located near Museo Nacional de Costa Rica in downtown San José, Sapore Trattoria offers authentic Italian cuisine, a welcoming atmosphere, and friendly service. The dishes we tried were excellent, especially the pasta and thin-crust pizza. Notably, the restaurant has a pizza oven at the front, and the pasta is homemade, which is a significant plus. They also feature a private room at the back for larger parties and boast an extensive wine list.

Some recommended dishes we enjoyed: Insalata Cesare: Their take on Caesar salad with lettuce and chicken, served in a crispy Parmesan basket—fresh, crunchy, and tasty. Spaghetti Neri con Gamberi: Homemade black squid ink spaghetti with jumbo shrimp, cherry tomatoes, and lemon zest. The portion is small, but the flavors are excellent and satisfying. Lasagna Bolognese: A small but flavorful serving with layers of ground beef and pork in Bolognese sauce topped with cheese. Capricciosa Pizza: Thin-crust pizza topped with artichokes, mushrooms, cooked ham, and black olives—an excellent choice, offering a flavorful and satisfying...

A fantastic Italian restaurant in San Jose CR. I saw the wood burning oven from the street and wanted to try the pizza. It did not disappoint. Had the burrata cheese, prosciutto. Incredible thin crust, crisp. Has to be my favorite pizza that I've ever had. I think it would be an 8.0+ if the king, Dave Portnoy tried it out. Zero Flop! They use wood from a coffee tree if that interests you. They had a small table with a large wheel of Parmesan cheese. Just had to try the carbonara pasta. Enjoyable to watch them prepare the dish. It's not a show like benihana. Top quality. Amazing Plus they have in-house baked bread to dip with the olive oil and picante oil. And what rounds it out is the service that you receive when inside. I wish I could remember the names of the gentleman I dealt with. Very knowledgeable and proud of their food and history. I'm in that city two or three times a year and it will now be a must to visit this...