Sapori Gateshead — Restaurant in Gateshead

The waitress makes this place unbearable! I was very excited about trying this place. Gateshead lacks in good food venues so when I’ve learned about this opening, I knew I need to try asap! We went today around 5:30pm. Walked in, there was totally no customers. Approached waitress (skinny, long dark hair with tattoos on her arm) and asked if it’s possible to get a table for 2. Her facial expressions were clearly showing she was not happy to be there nor she was happy we were bothering her. She turned around and without a word she started walking towards the table. At this point I turned around to my partner and we both said: what is this attitude about? We sat down and the table, she dropped the menus on the table without a word and left. Another waitress (blond lady) took our drink orders - she was very polite and pleasant. As we were sitting down (no other customers at that point) some elderly couple walked in and asked for a table. The rude waitress told them to sit at the table for two but lady was dissatisfied with the table and so she sat at another table for 4. The waitress then approached them and said in a very rude and abrupt manner ‘there was a reason why I told you to sit a the other table’ the lady said: ‘excuse me’ clearly shocked at her attitude. The waitress just left. The elderly couple was clearly shocked by her behaviour so they left immediately. I was shocked watching this! As they’ve left the waitress was standing behind the serving area winging about those customers. Before the couple came in, the same waitress was also having a very heated argument with someone who appeared to be an owner perhaps? The whole vibe in this place was totally off. We should have walked out straight after this attitude she gave us as soon as we walked in! We’ve ordered anti pasti plate. I’ve asked if it would be possible for them to put meat on one side of the plate and cheese and veggies on the other as my partner is vege. They’ve said it wasn’t a problem. The platter came out all mixed up. When I’ve asked for replacement, the platter came out still mixed up but a little less. We’ve ordered pizzas as well - I’m not going to spend too much time talking about it as it’s a matter of preference but the pizza was average and that would be a bit of a stretch. But I can get over it, but the attitude of the waitress towards customers and the whole atmosphere in this place put me off so bad! I wouldn’t go back sadly if that’s what customers are being treated like. The saddest thing is - I know the owner must have put their hard earned money in it, only for staff to ruin it. Because clearly she absolutely didn’t care and didn’t want...

Updated 3.6.24: 3rd visit and still great food and beautiful wine. We had pizzas this time and they were great but can’t wait to get the amazing specials next time, especially during the warm weather. I have to say Fabiana is amazing! As a host she has the perfect balance of friendliness with one of the best customer service I’ve ever seen. She I knows exactly what she is doing - a real credit to the restaurant. Bring on our next visit with their amazing specials.

Updated 26.5.24: We returned to Sapori and the food again blew us away! Possibly some of the tastiest and well presented food I’ve ever had. Fantastic wine and beautiful fresh seafood and pasta! Fantastic service too!

18.5.24: Amazing food and amazing customer service. We met and chatted with the friendly staff who served the tastiest and really well presented food and the wine was great so we can’t wait to go back. Perfect place to go before or after going to the cinema or theatre too.

It has just opened so hopefully as they continue to grow the business they include more plants inside and out to really make this an even greater stand out experience. It really deserves...

First time visiting and we were sorely disappointed. There were four of us. It took ages to just order drinks and even then, they brought the wrong beer and didn’t bring ice for ages for my spritzer (which I was left to make myself at my table).

We were there almost an hour before anyone took our order for mains. They came after about 90 minutes. The pasta was nicely al dente, however, the portions were small and pretty bland. Hardly any garlic on the pollo Kiev and the Italian sausage pasta was devoid of sausage.

We were never offered drinks refills, my husband ended up drinking the expensive sparking water left over that I was forced to buy to make a spritzer myself.

When they took our plates they asked if we wanted desserts. We said yes, we’d already decided. He said he’d come back. We watched him take the plates to the kitchen and then, despite there only being a couple of occupied tables, he wandered off to chat with another member of staff. Milling around with nothing to do.

So we asked for the bill and left....