Sambuca Reviews Summary

Food Quality

Pros:

• "Good food although I prefer the Sambuca in the fish quay."
• "I had a dish of their blackboard special which was a seafood dish with sea bass wrapped in Parma ham and that was divine."
• "Food is absolutely amazing here. Good portion sizes."
• "The carbonara is to die for."
• "Brilliant food. Staff were nice and friendly too and the guy who welcomes us was chatty and funny."
• "The menu is beyond good. The special board is just as good."
• "The food had been excellent every time we've been, and the Sunday carvery has to be the best around."
• "Absolutely spot on to be honest can't complain at all."

Cons:

• "Food was good but not enough to return."
• "Food could have been hotter."
• "Soggy base pizza not much flavour had a lot better."
• "I can only assume the 5 star reviews this place gets is from friends and family of the staff."
• "Very bland food."
• "While we were eating. Couldn't take another bite put me right off my food and ruined the evening for me."
• "Food was average at very best but the service was the worst I think I've ever received."
• "Just got back from eating here as part of a family of 5 we ordered 4 starters to share which were quite nice."

Service and Staff

Pros:

• "Great staff and fantastic atmosphere!"
• "I went to this place for a daughters birthday, wow what can I say the experience was outstanding and will definitely recommend and return."
• "We had a family gathering prior to my niece and family returning to New Zealand. The service from all staff was exceptional."
• "Always go there. Never had any issues, get on with most of the staff there."
• "Customer service was very very good. The food is not too expensive and is very nice."
• "Service was outstanding, food was brought out quickly and is definitely the best Italian food I've tasted in a long time."
• "I've heard mixed opinions and visited for the 1st time today with the wife and my youngest. The staff are all lovely and I get the impression nothing is a bother, super friendly and accommodating."
• "Fabulous food, fabulous staff, fabulous time with fabulous family. Staff were so attentive and so family friendly."

Cons:

• "Waited 20 mins for the desert menu! Overall terrible."
• "My little sister is a coeliac, and so can't eat products containing gluten without causing health issues for herself. 'Too busy to make any gluten free meals' was the excuse we were provided."
• "Very ignorant serving staff. I appreciate that it was busy, but it wouldn't be too far to go to inform the person stood at the bar for 20mins, with his bank card in his hand, that he needed to go to the top bar."
• "Booked table for 18 people for our daughters birthday celebrations, Found staff very rude & pushy, to many staff at your table which is confusing them with the bills etc, they didn’t no what they were doing, card machine not working had to pay cash never received any change."
• "Never felt so uncomfortable in my life being in that place, the customer service was absolutely terrible and the waiters had a stinking attitude as soon as we walked Upto the door aswell as slamming the plates on the table."
• "Had a nice meal after a lovely day at the cinema. Disappointed that the girl serving us decided to ask as she picked up our money 'WILL YOU BE WANTING YOUR CHANGE'? Not good and won’t go back."
• "Spent 30 minutes waiting for a waiter to respond, nobody answered. When I got the attention of a waiter 10 minutes afterwards I asked for a water, took 32 minutes to receive my beverage."
• "Dreadful service last night. Seemed understaffed with no coordination of staff by manager (in fact I couldn't identify anyone in charge)."

Ambiance and Atmosphere

Pros:

• "Great atmosphere, loved every minute!!"
• "They had live music on sometimes or just had music on in the background. There is plenty of seating."
• "I've heard mixed opinions and visited for the 1st time today with the wife and my youngest. Nice layout and tables arent rammed together so plenty of space. Rest rooms clean, tidy and free from smells."
• "The atmosphere is amazing, and the staff never fail to make your night a brilliant one."
• "Great atmosphere with upbeat music playing in background."
• "Lovely atmosphere friendly staff good service there was a singer (ed Sheeran) who was really good this place gives you a buzz when you in your holidays abroad ☀️ definitely recommend for couples or families.x"
• "We had a fantastic meal for 9 here this evening. This Sambuca's has an amazing atmosphere great music, its a stunning establishment, lovely and spacious (very clean) with the same friendly and attentive staff you come to expect with all Sambucas."
• "Great atmosphere here. Good food and lovely set up. It does get busy so would recommend booking a table if you have set time of date or special occasion your going for. They have live music on on a Saturday"

Cons:

• "Very loud, obnoxious atmosphere, could barely hear each other over the music let alone the servers randomly cheering or clapping their hands?"
• "Food was really lovely, fairly priced, and came out very fast. However, the restaurant was poorly lit and the music was so loud we couldn't easily hear each other across the table."
• "Absolutely awful night here. Couldn't wait to leave. The food was nice as you expect from this chain, but the atmosphere inside just wasn't for me."
• "First time here and quite enjoyed it. Just 2 of us for lunchtime. Lighting was quite dark, couldn't see well what you were eating. Could do with being bit more lighter, especially on afternoon."
• "I really don't know where to start with this place. It has no redeeming features unless you like your ear drums and taste buds assaulted."
• "Food lovely staff very helpful and friendly and surroundings nice and airey. But it was way to noisy for me. Lots of children having birthday parties screaming etc."
• "When I walked in it was more like a nightclub than a restaurant!"
• "Quite a pleasant surprise much better experience from the last visit to the N/Shields restaurant great choice and not hurried like shields was staff very attentive food really tasty and not at all expensive would defo recommend"

Price and Value

Pros:

• "Good price, quality and delicious food, great atmosphere. Loved every minute!!"
• "Went for the cheap and cheerful before 5pm special, which for the money (£7.95) is pretty good."
• "Decent enough food, and with the lunchtime special, certainly cheap enough."
• "Another lovely night at sambucas I took out my mam for dinner and what a gem❤️ food was perfect as usual and the service second to none we had a lovely waitress."
• "We visited here because Wetherspoons pizza kiln was broken. We were so glad as the pizza was outstanding!!!!!"
• "We come here regularly and always spend over £100 by the time starters, main, deserts and drinks are factored in but its well worth it."
• "Customer service was very very good. The food is not too expensive and is very nice."
• "Service was outstanding, food was brought out quickly and is definitely the best Italian food I've tasted in a long time. Definitely be back, couldn't ask for a better experience as it was worth every penny and more."

Cons:

• "Would give no stars if it was possible. Booked a table for 4 for Sunday lunch for 3pm. Was told on arrival that there was no mash potatoes left, ordered our drinks then asked for 4 Sunday lunches. Was then told Sunday lunches were now finished ???"
• "Absolutely shocking place party of 13 people table booked for over 3 weeks with a wheelchair got there no table for us took another 25 mins to find our table and then all the waiter was bothered about was that our kid in a wheelchair didn’t damage the carpet as it was expensive absolutely shocking service filthy looks from the minute we sat down"
• "It was a pleasant enough place but the lighting was very poor (dark) where we were sat and to be honest two pounds 50p for a glass of soda water is just a price gouge. Most places provide soda water either for free or a nominal charge."
• "Booked table for 18 people for our daughters birthday celebrations, Found staff very rude & pushy, to many staff at your table which is confusing them with the bills etc, they didn’t no what they were doing, card machine not working had to pay cash never received any change."
• "Had a nice meal after a lovely day at the cinema. Disappointed that the girl serving us decided to ask as she picked up our money 'WILL YOU BE WANTING YOUR CHANGE'? Not good and won’t go back."
• "Food is good, no points taken away for that but points are taken away because of staff hovering around your table rushing you to finish food and at one point my partner was still eating and they they still took plates away despite saying no were not finished."
• "The ‘coke’ and ‘diet coke’ are £2.50 a glass and are clearly from Lidl, absolutely vile."
• "Cramlington sambuca. Seated and left, finely approached by staff for drinks when main meal arrived my meal was half hot, wife's sauce very bland. Main meal taken off bill then charge full price for potato skins £3.85 for each portion £7.90 afternoon special having a laugh won't be back."