Santi’s Southern Italian Bar & Kitchen — Restaurant in England

We discovered this place a year ago when taking a bus from Hull to Beverley, there is a 'stop' literally outside Santi's. It looked good and 'talked a good story' on it's website. It has taken us long enough, but eventually we've been there. To begin let's explain our 3-Star review for 'Atmosphere' ... it was a windy, dull Friday afternoon and just 9 other customers came in during our visit. There is nothing the restaurant could have done, but we believe getting a 3-Star Atmosphere review from us under such circumstances would be highly unlikely in most other restaurants. The background music was all Italian played at a very good level to allow lsitening, talking, eating,in comfort. They played Eros Rammazotti and Laura Pausini to name just two. The decor is unreal, you could be in Italy. Typical tiles ... everywhere even as the table tops. We've never seen an open kitchen like this. It's more or less the equivalent of a Kitchen/Dining space in a large house. Every move made by and word spoken by the chef and assistants could be seen and heard (if you wanted to listen). Transparency in the extreme. It's right there, in your face as you enter, they cannot hide, they have no where to go if they get it wrong ... and that is probably why they don't! Our welcome was warm and friendly. Sit where you like, we're not busy ... can we sit at that table for 4 (we're 2) for the space? No problem. The appetiser of Olives and bread is anything but plain Oloives and Bread ... they've gone to the trouble of seasoning olives ... THIS is going to be a good place we realised! Don't believe us .. have them ... go on try them. You may not want a starter afterwards, you may order more ... Olives and Bread! The service was quiet, efficient, attentive, friendly, all the things you'd expect in a family run restaurant when the 'family' really care about their food and their customers. Truly it's excellent. Nothing is too much trouble and everything can be done. The food, we don't have enough time to write you the right description. It's simple, authentic Italian food. You simply have to go there. Choose something and enjoy it. Then choose something else and enjoy ... the difficulty you will have is being able to stop ordering more. The wine list is typically Italian, has something for everyone in terms of taste and budget. We asked for our wine to be decanted ... it was and no one hesitated to meet our request. Could go on ... and on .... and on. But there really is no point. This is undoubtedly a world class restaurant that's down to earth, family run, in a family environment, with family in mind. But, beyond this, it's amongst the very best Italian restaurants we have been to anywhere including Italy (if you read our reviews you'll see we've been to a LOT all over the world). There's a photo of some quite beautiful, but empty plates .. couldn't stop eating to take a photo for you lot! :-) Perhaps the most pleasurable aspect of this restaurant is that it is 'affordable'. It's THAT good and yet it remains affordable. Now why can't other restauranteurs achieve that? (Our bill may not suggest this is so, but we treated ourselves to a particular wine for a celebration and it was approx 45% of our total bill.) That's it folks! You have to go there, if you don't live in the area and are unlikely to travel here under normal circumstances but you love food, and Italian food ... put it on your Bucket List ......

A Splendid Celebration at Santi's Anlaby!

For a recent 70th birthday celebration, our group of 15 descended upon Santi's Southern Italian Bar & Kitchen in Anlaby, and what a delightful experience it was! From the moment we arrived, the staff, particularly Amelia, made us feel incredibly welcome and accommodated.

Amelia's service was truly excellent. She was attentive without being intrusive, ensuring everyone's needs were met with a smile and a friendly demeanor. Her helpful suggestions and knowledge of the menu were invaluable, especially for those unfamiliar with Southern Italian cuisine.

But the star of the show, without a doubt, was the food! Divine is the perfect word to describe it. Every dish, from appetizers to mains and desserts, was bursting with flavor and cooked to perfection. It was clear that the freshest ingredients were used, and the portions were generous enough to satisfy even the heartiest appetites.

The open kitchen allowed us to witness the culinary magic firsthand, and the aroma wafting through the air only heightened our anticipation. Those who opted for pizzas raved about the thin crust and perfectly balanced toppings, while the pasta dishes were declared "just like Nonna used to make." Special mentions go to the (mention a specific dish that impressed you), which was absolutely divine!

The warm and inviting atmosphere of Santi's was perfect for our celebratory gathering. The restaurant itself is unique, and the ability to observe the chefs work their magic added to the overall experience.

Overall, our experience at Santi's Anlaby was nothing short of exceptional. The delicious food, attentive service (especially from Amelia!), and wonderful ambiance made it the perfect setting for a memorable 70th birthday celebration. We highly recommend Santi's to anyone looking for a taste of authentic Southern Italian cuisine in a welcoming and friendly...

Terrible experience with Santis in Anlaby. Food is fine, but certainly, it is not worth the hassle, or the risk of being victim to a money making scam. Go anywhere else but here! Booked for a birthday celebration. Didn’t notice on arrival a sign in their Car park. It’s high up, above eye level. Small text. Waiter was stood directly in front of the tablet for entering your reg when we walked in so and there is no sign inside. Importantly they do not tell you. We were all blissfully unaware of the need to enter your registration numbers. They just do not mention it. If you are dining, you will definitely need to enter your reg. But it’s a scam way of them getting a lot more money out of each party… literally £100’s of pounds more per group! Not one person from our group picked up on it either. This resulted in us all receiving very expensive parking fines! For parking in a restaurant car park where we were already spending a lot of money. This was a big treat we’d saved up for, for a special birthday and the whole experience has been tarnished. We immediately lodged appeals, whilst a member of our group went in to speak to the restaurant, taking all the details in. They apologised and assured us they would be cancelled. Absolute rubbish. The appeals were denied, no cancellation and I have just had to pay additional money because I lost the £20 discount by appealing! Each ticket is up to £170 each - just unbelievable! And considering the birthday meal costs means this restaurant has had over £300 out of my wages (and that’s just me, other members of our party paid too) and the letter is really threatening. It’s just a money making ploy/scam as in looking into them, the firm they use for this is contracted by the restaurant to do so! Awful. Do. Not. Go. In looking at the reviews others have also had similar experiences too. I wish I’d read them...