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Sardella's Italian Restaurant
Rating Details »
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
12 reviews for Sardella's Italian Restaurant
I just recently went to Sardella's for the tame part of a friend's bachelorette party. Gotta start off classy right? There were about a dozen of us and we were able to sit down right away and got to enjoy a nice summer night dining outside. They have a great wine list...we must have ordered 10 bottles and no one was disappointed. Apps for the table were good...we got calamari and eggplant fries. The bread was good too. Portion size for dinner was decent, not too big, not too small. Eggplant parm was pretty good and the price on it was decent. This place definitely seems more of a place to take a date, but we were satisfied as a group.
It's also an easy walk from the main drag in Newport.
I had been to Sardella's a few times in the past, but recently reacquainted myself with it since my sister had her (very small) wedding reception there. She had reserved a pseudo-outdoor portion of the restaurant - while it had a roof covering, the walls were made of stone and parts of the room were open air. The room was really cool. It was private and had a lot of greenery and candles, making it have a lovely European vibe.
The room wasn't ready for us when we arrived, so we had to wait in the bar for a bit while they prepped everything. When we got in there, the servers started arriving with the appetizers. The first one was a really tasty skewer of sun-dried tomato, fresh mozzarella, kalamata olive, and artichoke, with a balsamic drizzle. We then got a couple different types of bruschetta (one cooked, one not), and both of those were good as well. There were some meat apps that we didn't try, but everyone enjoyed them too.
The dinners arrived on these massive three-tiered platters. The first level had chicken marsala, the second had beef tenderloin, and the third had vegetable lasagna. Bread, pasta, and vegetable risotto also arrived on the side. The risotto looked awesome, but unfortunately wasn't vegetarian (chicken stock) so I didn't get to try it. The pasta was really good, especially considering that it was just plain penne with sauce, and the bread basket had a nice variety of breads. The vegetable lasagna was really really good.
Service was fine overall, and the location made everything that much better. A nice spot for dinner in Newport.
Meh... I know a lot of locals that LOVE this place. I gotta say though, I wasnt very blown away. I started with the Escargo which came in a gorgonzola creme sauce, and I am convinced that there was something wrong with it. Maybe bad creme? I followed that with the Rissoto which was ooookay. It seems that it had way too much liquid in it. I dunno, The staff was really nice and obviously this place does well cause it was packed (with lots of screaming kids as well).
Ill give it another shot maybe during the week and not on a weekend night.
Nice Location, very cozy inside, and the employees were all very friendly.
It only gets 3 stars though because the food wasn't really anything to write home about. This is Rhode Island! There are like over 9000 Italian restaurant, and at least half have better food then this place.
It's a bit pricey, you'll get plenty of pasta, but not much meat, compared to similarly priced places. The gravy/sauce is a bit bland.
I wouldn't go out of my way to go here, but as someone else said, it's probably an excellent place to take a date.
-Since the sauce is bland, you don't really have to worry about garlic breath.
-Since the servings aren't that large, you don't need to worry about getting too full to enjoy the rest of the date ;)
- There is a Mon, Tues, Weds dinner for 2 special
- The waitstaff is friendly and the chef willing to switch things around which will accommodate even the fussiest of eaters.
- It's pricey enough to impress your date, but not so pricey that you'll have to go without food for a week to afford it.
- There's a nice wine list and a full bar.
- The atmosphere is nice, and there's a fireplace *cue the romance*
So great for a date but keep in mind the food is mediocre.
i thought the pricey menu was worth it! I ordered something good, but can't remember the name! (it was in italian, how difficult!) the memorable thing on my plate was the delicious cheese sauce, it was rich and smooth and i couldn't stop eating it. I just wish they gave me a lot more than what i paid for.
I think the hostess lost part of her dress while working her shift the night i was there cause she seemed a little too "revealing". people were staring at her breast!! believe me, it was noticeable. a little coverage please or at least a dress code for the hostess. everyone else around there is wearing a tie and long sleeve shirt (the servers).
Sardella's seems a bit confused. The menu is torn between, "Red Sauce" Italian and inspired Northern Italian cuisine. In that context I favor the Northern Italian dishes as these remind me of the food in Emilia Romagna. We did a walk-in on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm in August. We waited 5 minutes in line and we were seated on the back patio in under a minute, proving that indeed "Audentes fortuna iuvat.". This is a tough table to get without a reservation and my two sons and I were attired in slightly upscaled beachwear. We had long sleeve light sweaters, because it was actually chilly, shorts and flip-flop sandals shod. Most of the other patrons were dressed slightly more formal.
I started with escargot prepared with a rich creamy garlicky gorgonzola sauce. The boys munched on focaccia that was too doughy and wonderful white bread that reminded me of some I'd had Reggio Emilia. The escargot were served "free" not re-shelled with olive oil toasts I devoured these perfectly cooked lovelies in short order. My ceasar salad was crisp and fresh but not a standout.
My younger son had the children's cheese ravioli in butter sauce. Again these were tasty and he finished them but nothing special. The older son had the "Linguini alla Bolognese", a fair execution, more meat and a tad dryer sauce would have made it better. My personal preference is Spaghetti not Linguine with this sauce.
I had the Vitello al Saltimbocca which was prepared with a Northern flare that was light and delicious. The dish was served with garlic mashed russets a perfect accompaniment.
The boys had Tiramisu and Creme Brulee, I sampled both and preferred the Tiramisu, although it was too "wet". I'm a Creme Brulee fiend, this one was 3.5 on the 5 scale. The only hitch was that I tried to order Armagnac, which was on the menu, once the waitress came back empty handed I pointed to the menu, again, upon return she had brought port. I sent that back and instead got a Remy VSOP for my double espresso.
* My first visit in over 10 years, Sardella's has still "got it".
* It was cold and the manager brought out a space heater to the patio which made everything toasty.
* You really should think about reservations here.
People thought this was:
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Although its a little on the pricey side for pasta, this is our favorite place to eat when we come to Newport. The atmosphere is nice and warm and sort of romantic with little candle lights on each table.
To start, we had the calamari, one of my favorites. I had the Melanzane alla Parmigiana (eggplant), which was EXCELLENT, all layered almost like a lasagna. And even with a big appetite, can never finish it. My boyfriend had the Puttanesca which he also loved. They've got a good selection of desserts as well.
The couple of times we've been, weve never deen disappointed by the food. But we've felt a bit underdressed, so make sure to take off your hats before entering! I don't give it a 5 because although the waitresses were decent enough, I felt that the hostesses weren't always the most friendly or welcoming.
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Sardella's is just what I expected. A nice facade. Great patio area on either side of the entrance with tents and heaters for winter. Quaint entry with a little fireplace and a nice looking bar. We were seated almost immediately, impressive for a Friday night...I attribute that to the fact that it's January...no doubt it's packed when it's not 30 degrees outside. I would classify the dress as casual. Everything from men in blazers and ties to sweatshirts. They welcome all. The service was very good. The house cabernet was very good. The bread could use some improvement, but that's a good thing because it left me hungry for my outstanding risotto with shrimp and chicken. The best risotto I've ever had. It was enough for two people no question. And I didn't mind paying $24.95 for it. On Wednesday nights they have a dinner for two special that includes a bottle of wine and two entrees for $24.95. You can't beat it.
Bottom line: Visit Sardella's. Take a date.
Sardellas....oh, how I want to love ya. But.....not a great experience there. The wait staff was snooty (and slow), which is a decidely bad combination. The meal - pretty tasty and it was certainly a very affordable menu. But geesh.....not worth the pain of interacting with the staff.
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Great specials on certain nights. Can accomodate a crowd. Outdoor dining in the summers. Live Music sometimes on the weekends. The details like bread and salad are what I come back for. The entrees are just "good food". I enjoy their veal marsalla with mashed potatoes or over linguini. And sometimes I get clams or mussels. If it is a night you can order off the specials menu I will opt for that affordable option as it is always good. And nights that they have these specials make the place hopping. On these nights you are sure to run into someone you know. It is a convenient place to meet your friends when you are all in Newport because there is always parking in the back. I always have a blast. And I find the staff welcoming and friendly. There is a lot of interaction and sense of family here. A lot of loyal locals keep coming back. And I will try to make it there soon. Try to get a seat in the front instead of the back. I always have a better time in the front.
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We really enjoyed our dinner at Sardella's. Cute, cozy inside. Liked the northern Italian fare, when you want something different than the traditional "italian" (ie: heavy on the red sauces) this place has great variety. Everything was good, from the bottle of wine, salad, entree, to the dessert (chocolate decadance, yum!)
Very good food, friendly staff, and they made every effort to be accomodating (although they did not have a cucumber for my Hendrick's martini, I was assured it would be there next time).
