Sansonina Ristorante Italiano — Restaurant in Renton

Food: Delicious. Waiter: Fantastic. Staff attentiveness beyond the waiter: extremely aggressive with a focused mission to get you in and out, asap. This is NOT the place to meet old friends you havent seen for many moons on a weekend. You must eat and leave. This restaurant is overbooked like an airplane. Crowds waiting at the door. Constant pressure. I have not experienced this in a restaurant in 40 years. Eat the delicious food and get the heck out. Catch up with family and friends somewhere else. $$$$

We made a 5:30pm reservation as that's what was available. We had an Appetizer, 2 beverages each, and dinner. We spent a solid chunk of change, but no leisurely dining experience. It did not allow us catch up time. We were visited by the water filler so often we asked if the table had a time limit. We were told no. ..But a literal Indy 500 level pit crew of staff came to box up our leftovers as soon as we said we were finished. We couldn't see or talk to each other during this time due to the fast and furious team boxing/bagging. Next, an overexuberant dessert tray person who may be a brilliant strategy to push folks out. We declined dessert. They left. We did, however, want a 3rd round of beverages to close the evening. We are nicely dressed, well behaved, adult customers. No shenanigans. No more staff visits. Check on the table before you wanted it. Dinner is over, get moving. I asked a passing staff member for beverages, who headed to the back. Our waiter (again, a great waiter) then intervened and had to ask us if we could move to another table?! We were 3 at a 4 top. I felt bad for him. He offered to comp the last round but we chose to leave instead. He apologized profusely. We told him it was fine, it wasn't HIS fault.

Whomever owns and runs this fine establishment: Dinner is a social occasion. Paying, eating and drinking customers should be allowed a table they can eat, drink and speak to each other at. Otherwise, it becomes very expensive "fast food". We didn't have time to enjoy the food or each other in-between the frequent staff interruptions. Because we were rushed, it overshadowed the food, and the entire experience. Now it's not worth a second visit. Please don't make your waiters be the ones to ask customers to move tables. Don't overbook. For some diners it may impact the waiter's tip, and they probably arent making enough as it is.

Suggestion: Let reservations know UP FRONT there IS a time limit at the table, and they come prepared to eat and leave. Communicate to your clientele proactively and all will be forgiven. This restaurant is in Renton, your clientele is a wide demographic, trusting you for a relaxing dinner. Spending their hard earned money. If you strive to become a Canlis or Met Grill, treat clientele...

Made a reservation for my birthday 2 weeks in advance. I requested to bring a few balloons, a cake (just for pictures and sing happy birthday) and a requested a white booth. He confirmed they have tons of white booths, shouldn’t be a problem. All of my requests were approved. Day before my birthday I called to confirm and perhaps he was really busy, started the conversation really really rude and rushed talking really fast. He denies my request for the booth, denies my request to bring the cake and then after reminding him that I called two weeks ago, and told him respectfully, if I can’t do the white booth I’ll probably cancel the reservation because that was important for me for pictures. He changed his mind says he will try to do the booth and I can bring the cake but then lectures me about if I bring it, I can’t cut it (which I already knew). At this point I am so stunned at how mean he is being that all I can say is .. oh okay, we definitely won’t cut the cake .. and then he repeats himself again about the cake and says if we cut it it will be a serious problem and that he doesn’t care to lose my service those are the rules. I think I tell him again okay I wont cut it , but at that point I feel like I’m defending myself and I didn’t even do anything wrong yet lol it was so off putting. And then he says , okay goodbye like he was done with the conversation so I just hung up and called back later to cancel my reservation because that was freaking crazy and I found a different restaurant who had absolutely no problem with my requests and let me cut the cake too! Even lit me candles, and provided plates. Lol. All in all, I know I was being a little high maintenance with my requests but I called two weeks prior to confirm everything and it wouldn’t have been a problem anyway if he couldn’t accommodate, I would have just found another restaurant , but it was his rude tone and the way he spoke to me that was unacceptable. Sharing my experience so others can avoid this restaurant if they care about...

If you're looking for an authentic intimate Italian dining experience with exceptional service, look no further than Sansonina in Renton. This family-owned gem offers a perfect blend of warm hospitality and mouthwatering food that feels like you're enjoying a meal at a loved one's home.

From the moment you walk in, the welcoming staff makes you feel like part of the family. They go above and beyond to ensure your dining experience is top-notch, always with a smile and personalized attention.

My guy Fernando and his team accommodated my sister’s 40th birthday party celebration, and hosted 40 of us! He worked exclusively with me to tailor the plans to close out 2/3rds of the venue and focused on us! He even allowed for a party of our size to have separate checks!

The food is absolutely divine. Every dish is crafted with love and the finest ingredients, transporting you straight to Italy with every bite. Whether it’s the homemade pasta, the fresh seafood, or their signature sauces, everything is bursting with flavor. The bread and appetizers are full of fresh vibrant ingredients that truly showcase the care and passion that goes into every dish. My favs are the lobster ravioli-which he costumed prepared 10 for of us, and the Spaghetti Bolognese con Salsiccia!!!

The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, making it the perfect place for a romantic dinner, family gathering, or a night out with friends. You’ll not only leave with a full stomach but with a warm heart, knowing you've supported a family-run restaurant that truly cares about its customers.

If you're in the area, don’t miss out on this incredible spot. It’s a little taste of Italy right here at home, and I can’t recommend it enough!

Thanks Fernando! Appreciate you my brother and my family and I will be back...