Sapori Montclair — Restaurant in Montclair

At 7pm, I accidentally made a reservation for 7 people via open table for 7:30pm. The open table website says to call the restaurant directly. I immediately called the restaurant to explain and request a cancellation as this was an honest mistake. I was told by the hostess that I would be charged $25 per person ($175) if I cancelled the reservation. While I do understand that last minute cancellations are inconvenient, I called within minutes of making the reservation.

I spoke to the manager, who told me I would be charged $175 for cancelling the reservation or change it to a different day. I was put on the spot and changed to a different day. This is a very poor business practice and the timing should have been taken into consideration. Another restaurant would have likely laughed at the mistake and not put me in this position.

I was able to get to the restaurant about an hour later. I did not go in, but I took pictures of the restaurant. I wanted to see the inconvenience I caused to the staff. Not a single person inside or outside.

I would understand if I did this 24 hours before or even at lunchtime today… but I realized the mistake within minutes and contacted the restaurant. I’m very disappointed in the response by management today. I escalated the issue to open table, in hopes of being released of the reservation without being charged $175.

However, I feel that others should be aware of the situation as it is very troubling and unique in my experience with businesses in Montclair. Montclair is a great town full of wonderful small business owners… Sapori’s response baffled me. I picked this location for a celebration and it turned into a headache.

UPDATE: after posting this to google reviews, yelp, open table and facebook, the owner Zach has released my reservation. However, Zach did feel the need to bully me, call me a liar, argue with me and tell me I was wrong. He is correct, I did not try the food, but I did not claim I did. Zach should have apologized, which he did not do even once. And I have the texts to prove it when he has a hissy fit like he does on all the other negative reviews. I had to block him because he was NOT open to listening.

He also insinuated that he works harder than everyone else, which really does not sit right with me. I am now a nurse and I would never insinuate I work harder than someone else. Especially if I didn't know them. Zach wanted to prove that he was right and wants the review taken down. That was his goal. Not to do the right thing or understand better... he needed to be right. If you look at the owner's response to other negative reviews, the behavior is similar to my experience. He does not want to learn from experience, he wants others to admit their experience was wrong.

Zach goal was to get this review taken down. Absolutely not happening after the way he acted. A phone number on a reservation is not an open invitation to harass a customer. It is clear from his behavior, his response to negative online reviews and his employee’s behavior that this is the norm. As an Italian women, I’m ashamed to have someone like this representing our wonderful cuisine

End game: not going to this restaurant after such horrible customer service and do not let Zach get his hands on your phone number

UPDATE: owner found the need to respond to everyone of my friends and family on facebook. He assures them that I did not get charged, which I haven’t claimed anywhere. The problem is the poor management of not canceling a reservation. He’s refusing to acknowledge that. I’m going to upload the way he is harassing me, my family and friends on facebook, going insane because he DID NOT READ MY REVIEW. Not once did I say I was charged. Owner found it necessary to comment this to every person. This behavior is...

Visited Sapori on Mother's Day. Overall decent experience, but not 4-5 star worthy. The food was decent, not bad, but didn't justify the price point ($85 per person plus tax and tip). Definitely overpriced for the way in which the food was prepared. It was nothing out of the ordinary or incredibly good, just decent. That alone I would have overlooked, but what left a bad taste in my mouth was the check. Gratuity was added to the bill for a party of 3. This is not standard in the industry. Typically gratuity is added for parties of 6-8 or more. This was very off putting. What's more, a full 20% was added, not even a more gentle 15%. To be clear, I would have tipped 20% regardless, but to add mandatory gratuity to a check for a party of 3 people, and then to make it 20%, was indeed overkill. Gratuity is at the discretion of the patron, not the establishment, especially for a party of 3. Very off putting. Waitstaff was kind and courteous, but did not even refill our water, nor was my copy of my receipt brought to me after asking (I just left after waiting 15 minutes). It was certainly not "mandatory 20% gratuity for a 3 top" level service. Lastly, they added a credit card fee of 3%. This is becoming more and more common in recent years, but usually at establishments that operate on thinner margins, with lower price points, like pizzerias and nail salons. Never have i seen this at a more upscale dining establishment. This was a first.

Overall, had it not been for the items I took issue with on our check, I would have returned to give Sapori a second try. However, between the mandatory gratuity and credit card fee, Sapori left a negative first impression and I likely...

Walking into Sapori Montclair feels like you're stepping into a warm, inviting embrace, where every detail is designed to make you feel right at home. The atmosphere is a perfect blend of cozy and elegant, setting the stage for a truly unforgettable meal. As you settle in, you can feel the genuine passion that goes into everything they do, from the careful arrangement of the tables to the welcoming smiles from the staff. It's more than just a restaurant; it’s a place where you can relax, connect, and enjoy the simple pleasure of good food and great company. But the real magic of the evening was watching the cacio e pepe come to life. It was a beautiful performance, with the chef transforming a few simple ingredients into something spectacular right before your eyes. The way the cheese melted into a velvety, luscious sauce, perfectly coating each strand of pasta, was a sight to behold. It wasn't just a dish; it was a work of art, and the anticipation of that first bite was almost as wonderful as the flavor itself. The simplicity and elegance of the preparation spoke volumes about the skill and care of the culinary team. To top it all off, the experience was elevated by the exceptional service, especially from Julian. His sweet and attentive nature made the entire evening feel special. He didn't just serve a meal; he made you feel cared for, anticipating your needs with a genuine kindness that was both rare and refreshing. His presence was a bright spot that truly made the day, proving that sometimes, the most memorable part of a meal isn't just the food, but the people who share it...