Saponara

Fantastic Italian food! They have a really nice little display they show you with samples of the pasta selection. The highlight was the blue cheese gnocchi with walnuts. We had to sample the pizza too! Incredible. We went on a Saturday night and it was not too busy. This place should be 5/5 stars. I would have liked to have a beer on tap but from the bottle is also fine sometimes. The staff were knowledgeable and tentative. Tipping is separate to your bill so you can bring cash or tip direct to your waiter on a monzo link.

Saponara in London is a truly special little gem that has the remarkable power to transport you straight to Italy the moment you step inside. From the irresistible aroma of freshly baked pizzas and simmering sauces to the warmth and charm of the people who work there, every detail captures the spirit of authentic Italian dining. The laughter that fills the room mingles with the clinking of glasses and the hum of conversation, creating an atmosphere that feels as joyful and genuine as a family gathering in a small Italian town. Every bite—from the perfectly cooked pasta to the wood-fired pizza—is a celebration of flavour, simplicity, and tradition. Saponara isn’t just a restaurant; it’s an experience, a little piece of Italy nestled in the heart of London, where every visit feels superb, delicious, and deeply enjoyable.

Came here with a group last night and it was incredible. Such a lovely vibe and amazing food. Really reasonably priced. Pasta menu comes in the form of a plate of dried pasta, which was so fun. We had a group of 8 + a baby/pram and they were so helpful and welcoming. 10/10 will be back.

A true hidden Italian gem! Loved how the menu comes with a selection of different pasta types and sauces, the presentations was amazing! Had a mix of starters and mains all were delicious and great portion sizes. My favourite was the tortellini with beef ragu *chefs kiss* We were served by Julia who gave us some great recommendations and was happy to answer our questions. The atmosphere was chilled yet buzzing, tables full and conversations flowing I’d defo recommend to book in advance.

When you walk in, you're greeted with walls of wine and Italian goods. Hanging above you is an Italian flag and a Ferrari flag, and in front of you are tables packing the room with one TV hanging on the back wall of an Italian broadcast. This is essentially an Italian restaurant plucked off the street of any major Italian city and transported to London. And the food? Matches the vibe. The antipasti and pasta dishes are incredible, but make sure you stay for tiramisu - something pretty unique and entirely delicious. Fantastic service, as well.

This is so good. I always enjoy looking into google maps to see any hidden good places and I found this place! I was just expecting here as a normal hidden Italian restaurant but this place is a decent place indeed. Pizza is good and I still cannot forget how amazing their pasta was. Love their cute menu for pasta and tiramisu as well. Definitely will revisit here soon to try different menu!

We had an amazing meal! Staff were so lovely and the food was 10/10. Very busy so would definitely recommend emailing or phoning to make a reservation. Looking forward to visiting again soon!

Everything about this place is brilliant. It is family-run, well-priced, has an incredible atmosphere, the service is great, and above all the food is exceptional. All the pasta is made fresh in-house - I recommend the wild boar tortelloni. Mauro (one of the co-owners) is a real character. I'll be back again very soon.

I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet- we've been so many times! We've gotten delivery and takeaway and have eaten in person. The actual restaurant is small and cozy. Not so great during COVID for them because they have to make the place even smaller to accommodate distance restrictions, but still they let a few people in! The food is great. I always get the truffle pasta, and I know it's expensive, but it's so fresh and flavorful. We also always get a pizza, and they're all good. The tiramisu here is top notch, and so are the starters. We usually get a cheese or meat starter. It's a great little spot with good food and a nice owner. They have a "special customer" aka a cute little cat that sometimes is outdoors near there. He's the nicest cat and doesn't bother anyone. Delivery and takeaway are both great options, and takeaway is a little bit cheaper than delivery if you can pick up in person!

I agree with Joelle, can I give more than 5 stars? I don't usually frequent Italian restaurants as I mostly cook Italian myself so I never bother going out for it. My boyfriend had been telling me about this place that is literally two streets away and I had never been. So we wandered over and immediately became intoxicated by the delicious aromas wafting outside. Now, I'm not one for places that are half shop/half restaurant but this place is incredible. Open 25 years, I can't believe I've never been. They brought out the pasta plate and we agonised over crab tortellini versus the wild boar. Fortunately our friends showed up and we got to share. The wild boar was delicious but dear god, please please order the crab if you go. It swims in a buttery prawn sauce and you'll want to die of food heaven. If it's the last thing you ever eat, it would not be a mistake. We also both ordered the Quattro Stagioni pizza because it's just that good. Normally I am not in favour of people ordering the same thing but I'd happily go back and all get the same because I am not for sharing here! It's mine! So with that in mind, we got two orders of amaretto tiramisu and completely and utterly cemented our love at first sight for the place. I want to go back already!

Great food with simple atmosphere! Loved it !! Can't even begin to explain how amazing the food is. The artichoke pasta , the pizza - work of Art . Best Italian food I ever had !!!

Si si! I would give them more stars if there were more. We popped in here the other night to meet some friends and felt like we'd stumbled upon a gem. We got a bottle of house red and ordered the Quattro Stagioni (4 flavors of pizza on one pie) and the crab tortelloni. (Hang on, I need a moment of silence for the crab tortelloni.) Okay. That pasta was so amazing. We used the pizza to mop up the excess sauce. Couldn't stop wiping the plate. It bordered on déclassé. But we basically ate everything we got our hands on and all of us had a sad when the tortelloni was over (to the point we spoke nostalgically of it on the walk home). We ended the meal with amaretti tiramisu, which was also delicious. The pizza was great, the dessert was great, the house wine was delightful. But the crab tortelloni, man... *looks wistfully into the distance*

The best antipasto I ever had! Very fresh and rich in flavor. Love the way they presented a plate of sample pastas as menu. Friends recommended this place for reunion, and it turned out to be everything but disappointment. And, their house wine is terrific as well.

Found this deli by accident while taking a short-cut to Essex Road. Beautiful dark interior with lots of knick-knacks and books on the walls and counter, but with a small uncluttered dining area. There's outside seating which is ideal in the current time of year. I've only been here a couple of times so far and only for take-away, but I was impressed with the quality of the food and the service. I had the toasted focaccia with ham, mozzarella, sun-dried tomato & olive tapenade on one occasion and the beef, mushroom & smoked buffalo mozzarella lasagne with truffle oil the second time - both were very satisfying.

Great, homey, authentic little Italian deli tucked away just off a quaint little church yard. The pizza is delicious, although just a little bit on the pricey side. The custard tarts are a bargain at £1 each, with crisp shells and smooth filling. The older gentleman is very warm and friendly, and was happy to offer my 8yo daughter a generous slice of prosciutto when he heard how much she likes it. All in all, it's a local hidden gem that I am glad to have right around the corner.

Went here for a late dinner earlier this week and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this little hole in the wall. Really tasty, good service and delicious dessert. Definitely worth a visit.

Why doesn't this lovely little place have a list of great reviews already? Saponara can be found, conveniently for me but not for them, diagonally opposite Islington's Packington estate, where demand for truffle oil and Lingua della Suocera* is likely to be low although, I imagine, other grander residences nearby are well-stocked with the deli's delicacies. I visit every six months, following visits to my dentist in Packington Square (the terrific, painless Maxine O' Grady at Charles Landau's surgery). A few gulps of their great coffee are usually enough to distract me from a numbed maxilliofacial muscle and, if I've not been 'treated', I'll stop for lunch. A fairly typical choice of Italian panini, although their food is more tasty than usual deli fare. Soups are delicious - cream of courgette soup was on offer the day I was there. Fresh pasta is sold at the counter and an interesting selection of tinned and bottled Italian imports, along with a good few shelves of great Italian wines, is on offer. A bowl of soup, at £3.95 - isn't exactly cheap, but it's not really that kind of place - the place is busy lunchtimes with a devoted clientele and Saponara brands itself more as a high-quality, high-end deli that lays on food for its cognoscenti friends. The owner (owners?) are charming, funny, helpful and welcoming. A few square metres of la patria, in Islington. Enjoy. *The astonishing 'Mother-in-law' biscuit. Like langues du chat, but longer, and rougher... http://www.flickr.com/photos/rubber_slippers_in_italy/3886660000/ (thanks to Rubber Slippers in Italy) Their white truffle oil, at £6.95 for 40ml, is pretty good value and, available in three choices of fancy bottle, makes a brilliant gift.

Outstanding!!! This is my favorite Italian in London, simply outstanding. A real hidden gem in London. At first glance, it's more of a Deli rather then a restaurant. Tiny space, with big glass fridge, takeaway food, delicatessens and wine shop. But don't be fooled, reserve a table few days in advance cause it's always packed. They serve exquisite home made pastas; the ones with truffle are showstoppers. Pizza-best in London. Crispy, thin, with lots of aromas and flavors mixing around. Wine selection-they have descent house wine. But u should go for the extensive selection they have for sale, and pay £7 corkage fee to drink it with your Pasta.

So, hidden away deli-type of place: they have a big counter full of cheese and salami and stuff. They also have an outside space, a nearly-inside space (it's the outside space but covered with some canvas/gazebo type of thing), and an inside space. They have a fairly large variety of panine and focaccia, as well as pizzas and pasta dishes. There's also random nice stuff like arancini. In general, the food was good (had pizza and a panini), although expensive (hence the 3 stars). On the other hand, there was no pressure to move and we stayed there a while reading and chatting. Going back to the food, the pizza was nice (think and crispy), and the panini was a bit of a mouthful (dislodge your jaw to make it fit in). The pasta looked gorgeous too. We also had a ricotta cannolli, which was very nice, although verging on the extortionate (5 quid!). It appears that if you choose wisely, you can enjoy a good meal/brunch and still keep it reasonable. It can also prove to be quite expensive too.

I went here for lunch with my coworkers after they guaranteed it was the best pizza in London. I wasn't disappointed! Lovely Italian delicacies, chocolates and cookware fill the deli from floor to ceiling. Being Christmas time, they had a wide selection of Panettones to purchase and amazing gift baskets. The owner is very nice and everyone who works there is genuine Italian! The pizza was amazing, fresh ingredients, thin crispy crust. Amazing!! I booked immediately for dinner the following night to try their handmade pasta. They also do private parties if you're looking for a cozy venue and great food. I'll soon be calling myself a regular.

This review is solely based on the fact that I called at 9pm because both yelp and deliveroo said they were still open until 10 on Wednesday and that they deliver. They sounded open and busy to me when I called asking if they could deliver to me (new customer, ordering for the first time), when they flat out said no, I could pick it up. I'm sure the food is lovely but for customer service like that I want to make sure there overall rating goes down. I can't say I'll be rushing to order from them again soon.

Excellent pizzas. I particularly like the atmoshpere for its taste of The Sopranos.

Good, tasty food and friendly stuff. But insanely tiny portions and very very overpriced for what it is. Italian peasants food. So so so expensive. Also, as a customer, I want my experience to be enhanced by other things; For example i want to be able to customize my order, either sandwich or salad. why do they have asparagus and roasted peppers on the top shelf and other roasted veg on the bottom and yet i can only choose from the bottom self? Mysterious! I want some lemon and sea salt? Put some in, its not a biggy!