Sapori Ristorante

“I'm not sure how I feel about this place. I had high hopes because of the reviews. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. To be fair, this was a Valentine's Day dinner, so we didn't get to try the regular menu. However, I do think the restaurant should inform guests when booking reservations that only a Valentine's Day menu will be served. That wasn't communicated to us. The portions were generous, and you definitely get a lot of food, but flavor-wise, it was just average. I've had much better Italian cuisine. Starting with the appetizers, the octopus was a strong opener--nicely charred and a very large portion. The baked oysters and clams, however, were a hard pass for me. They were overly oily and heavily breaded, which completely masked the natural flavors of the shellfish. For the main courses, we ordered scallops with squid ink spaghetti, a ribeye, and a surf and turf. It was a busy night, so perhaps the kitchen was rushed but that shouldn't be an excuse because it was about $80 per person. The spaghetti was just okay, but the scallops were cooked perfectly--tender, not rubbery, and done just right. The ribeye was my mistake; I should have known better than to order steak at an Italian restaurant. I asked for medium rare, but it came out closer to medium. The steak lacked flavor, not juicy and wasn't particularly impressive, though that's partly on me for the choice. The surf and turf wasn't much better. The lobster was overcooked and rubbery, and the steak was well done even though we requested medium. Again, two strikes on the steak potions. Unfortunately, the highlight of the evening was dessert. It was by far the best part of the meal, and I truly enjoyed it. It's just disappointing that the rest of the dinner didn't meet the same standard, especially for the price we paid. Again it isn't the money and it wasn't that bad, it could be a lot better knowing there are many Italian spot to dine out in but a friend wanted to try it. That said, the service was excellent and the atmosphere was just right. Perhaps it was simply an off night. I would consider giving it another try if I'm in Staten Island again--just not on Valentine's Day.”

“I was a little bit skeptical when I seen 370 reviews with a 4.9 rating until I actually went there. It is completely legit. The menu is small, but that's because everything is done to perfection. The service was impeccable. Sammy was on top of everything like white on rice. There's a true passionate chef in that kitchen. The attention to detail was incredible. I will most definitely be returning.”

“Visited this restaurant for a special occasion. You have to make reservations but it didn't appear to be super busy at the time we arrived. The food was good but it could of had more flavor. The pasta was made fresh but it stuck together and was a bit pasty. The staff was super friendly. It's a very romantic place.”