Sustanza — Restaurant in Naples

Sustanza was one of the best dining experiences I’ve ever had. Food, drinks, service, atmosphere, presentation blew us away. Both the restaurant and the downstairs bar are stunning, and we could not believe there weren’t more people here or that there are relatively few reviews.

Sustanza feels like a michelin star restaurant, every detail is attended to. You have an option of tasting menu and a la carte, but the tasting menu is inspired, filled with unique, interesting, and delicious little bites and amuse-bouches. We ordered two cocktails, a san genarro which is inspired by the festival of san gennaro, the drink arrived inside a delicate orb of ice that we tapped apart with a small hammer. My girlfriend asked for something bespoke and was given a cocktail adorned with a thin handmade fruit leather. There was fermented butter topped with the ash of burned onion (delicious), a tomato dish made with dozens of different varieties if tomato, an oyster placed in a nest, and homemade tobacco-inspired gummies for desert. The 5 plate tasting menu was plenty for us, and wound up being a bit more with amuses bouches. The tasting menu seems to be customizable according to dietary restrictions.

The staff was kind, attentive, and very well informed. Our waiter invited us to look around and gave us a brief history of the building. Downstairs at the bar the towering ceilings seem to be original, and give an ancient feel. There are antique pieces, vanities, bookshelves, globes, placed around, but the light washed walls give the bar a modern, not stuffy feel. Upstairs the walls are covered in vintage restored silk wallpapers of vibrant colors.

Sustanza was an amazing highlight of our quick stopover in Naples and has my highest possible...

Somewhat disappointed with our dinner at Sustanza. the meal started very well and in fact my boyfriend and I initially agreed that it was the best fine dining restaurant we had tried purely based off the amuse bouche and fermentation courses. We have eaten at many top quality restaurants so we were definitely excited with what was too come.

Unfortunately after the first few courses, we felt both the quality of dishes and enthusiasm from staff began to decline. The staff were friendly but for a fine dining restaurant the service was not up to standard. No stool for my handbag was provided (despite other guests being offered), water was never poured by the wait staff, table crumbs were not cleaned From the table, glasses were sent back for being dirty (…), napkins were not folded nicely when we left the table to go to bathroom. I think these are all crucial points of service which shouldn’t be comprised throughout a meal.

There were memorable aspects of the evening, particularly the desserts and pastry chefs apparence. He really saved the dinner for us after a disappointing few dishes. The overall experience was fun and interesting to try a new and more experimental approach to cooking but personally feel some corners were cut in...

I was recommended by the owner of my BnB to try Scotto Jonno for cocktails. I loved the ambience and beautiful interiors so much I straightaway booked dinner at Sustanza. Chef Marco Ambrosino is an innovative alchemist and culinary artist in fermentation. He introduced unique and refreshing ways to treat his fresh ingredients, often using fermented barley water and Tabasco or fermented pasta water with unique herbs to elevate the flavors of his seafood and meats. It is definitely a homage to the traditional cooking of Romans in ancient times with his clever revival and use of garum, a fermented fish sauce. For me as an Asian familiar with the punchy tangy taste of fish sauce, this secret ingredient definitely gives his food such a special unique yet at the same time, familiar Umami flavors. This is truly the best fine dining experience I have had in the...