Sambuca Quayside Reviews Summary

Food Quality

Pros:

• "The food was delicious piping hot, everything was all homemade."
• "The risotto has got a great Mexican flavour with assorted spices and was simply yummy."
• "Food was amazing especially the carbonara."
• "The food was great as always."
• "The steak was grilled just right. Very juicy inside and got crispy charcoaled texture outside."
• "The food was done to perfection and was of reasonable portion size and left us well fed."
• "The bruschetta was incredible, so juicy and tangy."

Cons:

• "The food was tasteless except for the extreme levels of salt."
• "I don't know if the excitement of reopening has got to these guys but the food has gone seriously down hill."
• "The food was average and some of our party couldn't eat theirs due to the pizzas being burnt."
• "Food was as dry as a bone, it was dreadful."
• "The food arrived and it was poor quality, stale bread was given with a mediocre and tasteless soup."
• "Food was not good at all. Tried Sambuca pasta. Firstly, it wasn't cooked properly and secondly, had no taste at all."
• "Oh and the food was dreadful!!! Do not go here for the Sunday carvery."

Service

Pros:

• "Very good attention and very friendly waiters."
• "Very friendly staff, lovely food, good price."
• "The rest of the staff were adorable and helpful with an amazing attitude."
• "Staff were friendly and attentive."
• "Absolutely amazing as always at the quayside sambuca, even during covid they have amazing standards for the food."
• "The staff were very friendly."
• "The service was quick and the staff were polite at all times."

Cons:

• "Customer service was horrendous."
• "Waiter was rude and impatient. Made us feel very uncomfortable for the entire meal."
• "They really did not take allergies very serious at all."
• "Staff were rude. I visited with a Youth group, the staff refused to take an order with the staff and asked the young people who weren't confident to speak their menu."
• "Waiter seemed affronted we turned up on time, they seemed annoyed when we asked for a drinks menu."
• "The service was so slow and rude that we felt uncomfortable."
• "Staff are not very friendly."

Value

Pros:

• "The three course set menu at under £20 was great value."
• "Unbeatable value and great quality."
• "Good value for money."
• "Lovely food, great prices super quick service."
• "The £6 3 course special is unbeatable value and the food is beautiful."
• "If you go at a time where there is a deal on like starter, pizza and coffee then the price is absolutely worth it."
• "Had the lunch special. Excellent value for money. Three courses for £7.95 and they weren't little portions and were very tasty."

Cons:

• "While some of the food can be over priced for what it is, such as £12 for a pizza on its own."
• "I can definitely say it's not cheap at all! For the same price you can find better options in the city centre!"
• "Our bill had doubled from 1st night."
• "This is 5 times I have had to ask for the bill to be changed... always adding extra drinks on!!"
• "If we hadn't double checked the amount on the card reader we would have paid £20 extra."
• "Service was beyond slow, after arriving at 6pm starters arrived cold at 7.20."
• "You really can't fault this place for the price you pay before 5pm. It wouldn't be worth it after 5pm when you pay full price because there's other places to eat that would be better for the same price."

Ambiance

Pros:

• "Beautiful views sat in the window here."
• "Very cosy restaurant with nice ambience, definitely be back."
• "Our table faced onto the quayside market, which was an added bonus."
• "This restaurant is right by the river, in the very centre of Newcastle."
• "Lovely hidden gem, tucked away beside the swing bridge. Prime location on the quay near bars and shops."
• "Nice restaurant over looking The Tyne, good lively atmosphere for a Saturday early evening."
• "Beautiful location though."

Cons:

• "However, we waited by lovely big empty booths and tables to the rear of the restaurant but were eventually seated at a very cramped table squeezed in a too small gap right by the door/ walkway."
• "Table wasn't ready, moved 3 times, 7 people squashed round a table for 4."
• "Venue was crowded, with more and more people coming in."
• "I didn't like the atmosphere!"
• "The restaurant was extremely busy, with Christmas parties and pre England match groups. That's why I only gave 3 stars for atmosphere because it was so noisy and busy."
• "The mic was turned up far too loud for such a small restaurant and we couldn't talk between ourselves without shouting."
• "Place I found rather grimy...service was just ok...wouldn't go back...sorry."

Entertainment

Pros:

• "Thanks to Ish for such a good window seat, and Tomas, for keeping the Italian wine waiter banter going."
• "Thomas th waiter came nd provided such brilliant entertainment for us."
• "Also, the most amazing guy with his joyful attitude Thomas, he sang to my little daughter Baby shark with his tiny guitar, he was lovely and funny and make our experience of this restaurant to be really magnificent by making us laugh and sang together."
• "Also there's a guy who plays the guitar and sings who is a great bit of entertainment."
• "Best part was singing along with Thomas!"
• "Entertainment was provided by Thomas and his guitar for my sister in laws birthday, which we all enjoyed."
• "The service was amazing and the food was delicious. We even had our very own acoustic version of some ABBA classics played by Thomas."

Cons:

• "Staff struggled with social distancing guidelines, but fun was had by all."
• "We sang and laughed and it was just the best end to the evening."
• "We had some brilliant entertainment by Tomas. He really made our evening special as he sang some of our favourite songs including Yesterday by the Beatles."
• "Adding to this we had some music at the end by Thomas. This was great and so fun."
• "We had a terrific party on Sunday afternoon starting with an amazing carvery etc etc but or day was made really special by the friendliness of the staff and great entertainment from Thomasx fun was had by all x."
• "Thomas you made our day x Great fun had by all, we will be back."
• "Wasn't a fan. Very busy, very noisy."