For over 25 years, Fabrizio Saba and his family have shone rays of Sardinian sunshine on Newcastle's Quayside at longstanding Italian favourite Sabatini - recently reopened post-lockdown as Sabas.
Continuing the tradition of homespun Italian cooking, Sabatini has merged with its sister venue, Signor Prosecco, to give rise to Sabas. Offering Italian tapas ‘cichetti’ dishes against a livelier backdrop, a perfect place for a post-lockdown feelgood Summer. Alongside the new name, there’s a new menu and even an all-new outdoor seating area perfect for al fresco dining. With our interests certainly piqued, I rounded up the Grahamslaw clan for a Sunday afternoon taste of la dolce vita. One thing which remains unchanged is the team’s unswerving commitment to exceptional customer service as we were warmly welcomed by manager, Mark Bernardelli and Fabrizio’s son, Cristian Saba. With throngs of happy diners soaking up the sun outside, we would have to settle for an indoor table however this was by no means less stylish with parquet flooring, chic floor to ceiling mirrors and Sardinian art murals. One criticism of the old Sabatini was that the food was so good you only got to try two dishes of it! However, this is no longer the case as Cristian talked us through a tantalising tapas offering, encouraging us to order a medley of dishes to get the full experience. Comprising seafood, meat dishes, pizza, pasta, fried street food and Italian breads and cheeses, the menu showcases flavours strong and simple and really captures the essence of rustic Sardinia and its authentic homemade cooking. Kicking off, we ordered a parade of small plates catering to each of our different tastes. My wife Lisa and I shared the Bruschetta Sarda – toasted and topped with soft pecorino cheese – whilst my daughter Holly gorged on the deep fried Calamari Fritti with garlic mayo. My son Jack enjoyed his favourite, mussels in tomato broth whilst we also shared the Talleri Sardu – a plank of Sardinian cured meats and cheeses, marinated olives and artichokes, grilled vegetables, house breads and focaccia. After a brief digestive interlude and the recharging of our glasses with an excellent silenzi biancho, we ordered another round of dishes. This time we veered towards more traditional Sardinian fayre, ordering a pizza and pasta between us in addition to a number of winning small plates. The pizza tricolore with Sardinian cured meat, grilled courgettes and sun dried tomatoes proved a real table-pleaser whilst a lovely Penne Romana proved this restaurant still gets the basics right. We also enjoyed strips of bistro rump with rocket and parmesan salad, pan friend seabass with mussels and cherry tomatoes and skewers of grilled tiger prawns and mixed peppers with fresh lemon and extra virgin olive oil. One hallmark of the Sabas experience is homemade Italian desserts and a spoonful each of the Chocolate Hazelnut Zeppole provided a memorable finale. Whilst Sabas can’t promise the weather, they deliver big on Mediterranean flavour everytime and remain one of the best authentic Italian restaurants in the city. This iconic King Street setting has a fresh lease of life.
