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    Sapore Express

    4.5 (225 reviews)
    ModerateItalian, Pasta Shops
    Closed 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 9:00 PM

    Order Sapore Express Takeout or Delivery

    Sapore Express Photos

    Business Info

    SAPORE EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Sapore Express

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    Squid Ink Pasta
    Sheryl T.

    We went here on a Wed night and the restaurant was pretty full. My sister made a reservation for 6 people, so they had the seats all ready for us. My favorite is the radiatora rustica and the complimentary bread and dip. My husband ordered the squid ink pasta. Personally, it's not my thing, but he liked it and it had spicy kick to it. I tried the Chicken Alfredo, but my favorite os still the rustica pasta. The bread is warm, soft, and fresh and the dip is a tomato-oil sauce (it is my favorite!) We were helped by Dina and she was so friendly and answered all of our questions about the food. Fernando helped bring out the food and bread and dip if we asked. All of the food was so fresh and flavorful! The staff is amazing and attentive--We will definitely be back!

    Fettuccini Bolognese
    Jason X.

    Fresh pasta in a casual setting - a great bit of diversity in downtown San Mateo! The staff was jovial and the food came out quick. The free bread was nice but a little plain compared to other Italian spots in the area. We will be back to try more of the menu!

    Scialatelli Alla Amatriciana
    Yip Y.

    This is a great neighborhood gem. Parking is tough in the neighborhood and the few outside tables do not have patio heaters and the inside isn't that big. It was worth the 25 min wait for us. The host was super nice to us and staff was attentive to us. We never had to ask for more bread or more water. It just came. The bread came with EVOO and sun dried tomatos. The meatball antipasti was tender and flavorful. An extra helping of bread was brought out for the sauce. The salmon was cooked perfectly and flaky. The pasta with the salmon had ample garlic like an Italian restaurant should be. The Radiatori Rustica was delicious and held sauce so every bite was flavorful. The Scalatelli Alla Amateiciana was flavorful and came out napalm hot. The pancetta added a lot of depth and flavor to the dish and not surprisngly, was a little on the salty side. We were originally seated on a smaller table because the place was busy. Staff offered and moved us to a larger table for comfort when that became available. This place is a win for the food and a win for the service! We are definitely coming back to eat here again.

    Guazzetto di Cozze (Mussels-Appetizer)
    Christine D.

    I've been here a few times and the food is always fresh and delicious. This place is casual and comfortable. It is located in downtown San Mateo with lots of meter parking. There's indoor and outdoor dining. Service is always great. It's our go to place for Italian food.

    Crystal P.

    Soooooo Goooood!! I will dream about these muscles. They were the most delicious muscles I've ever had. The sauce is amazing!! I can't wait to come back and order these again!

    Scialatelli alla Amatriciana
    Sophie C.

    This used to be just to-go during covid but now there's both indoor and outdoor seating. We got the Scilatelli Alla Amatriciana and Radiatori Rustica. All pastas are homemade. Both pastas were cooked al dente, so if you like your noodles softer, you can tell them to cook it longer. We also found both dishes to be a tad salty so we couldn't eat as much as we'd like to. A solid Italian option in San Mateo though. I'd come back.

    Lasagna
    Christian T.

    This restaurant is fantastic--a solid Italian spot worth visiting. We went on a Saturday around noon and were fortunate that it wasn't busy, so we were seated immediately at a nice window table. The atmosphere was comfortable and not too loud, which made it even better. The host mentioned that all the pastas are homemade (something not even listed on the menu), which was a great surprise. They start you off with fresh bread and a flavorful red sauce, a perfect warm-up for the meal. We ordered the calamari, the Rustica, and the lasagna. Every dish was excellent--sauces rich and creamy, portions generous, and the pasta cooked beautifully. The plates came out hot and quickly, showing how well the kitchen runs. Overall, it was a seamless, delicious experience. Great food, fast service, and a cozy atmosphere--definitely a place I'd come back to.

    Tagliolini alle Vongole
    Jonathan C.

    Ordered delivery from here and pastas were still solid. FYI, they were all a bit more al dente than I'm used to, which is surprising since I would have expected them to be softer due to delivery. In order of preference: Tagliolini aloe Vongole: Great flavors from the pasta and the clams were a hit with the toddlers. Would order again. Lasagna: The bolognese sauce was divine and super flavorful. Would order again. Scialatelli alla amatriciana: The pasta was on the Al dente side and the pancetta flavors and amount was lacking. Good flavors, but wished there was a bit more meat. Fusilli alla pomodoro: The most basic pasta that we had. Flavors weren't too interesting and wouldn't get again.

    Michael L.

    Excellent! Been on an Italian restaurant tour lately in the greater Bay Area and this place ranked quite highly so it made the list of candidates to try. Came by for dinner with a friend and tried the calamari, the radiatore and the frutti di mare pasta. Very flavorful tomato sauce, squid ink pasta was cooked perfectly, they used extra large high quality tiger prawns and mussels = winning dish. Easy 5 stars and priced extremely well compared to other similar restaurants in the nearby area. This is my winner for Italian in San Mateo at the moment! Would love to try their Burlingame location as well at some point!

    Tiramisu
    Cole O.

    Don't try this at home, we arrived at 2:45 PM. I ordered the calamari, Scialatelli alla Amatriciana, Radiatori Rustica, and tiramisu. Everything was delicious! The prices are on the higher end, but it's definitely worth it for the unique and flavorful pasta dishes you get. Even though they were closing at 3 PM, I never felt rushed. The parking situation in downtown San Mateo is typical hit or miss but overall, it was a fantastic dining experience. Highly recommended! I guess you could say the pasta really pasta my expectations!

    Radiatori Rustica
    Grace H.

    Yummy pasta with housemade noodles, and the option for additional fresh parm. Comes with complimentary bread and dip, which was also delicious. quick and friendly service.

    Radiatori Rustica, Fettuccine Alfredo con Pollo, Lasagna
    Pearl R.

    This is such an underrated spot! I always come to eat in downtown San Mateo but never really saw this place until my friend recommended me to come to get dinner with her here. I cannot tell how the bread and the dipping sauce was one of the best I ever had! The bread was so soft and the sauce they had was amazing and different from other places I've been. I also got the lasagna and the Alfredo and it was so flavorful and delicious! The staff here are so sweet and very accommodating. the restaurant itself gives a very rustic vibe but very family friendly. I definitely recommend trying this Italian spot out. It's definitely worth it!!!

    Lucy D.

    Lively and casual Italian restaurant in downtown San Mateo. We came on a Friday evening and the indoor seats were mostly full. Starter bread with tomato sauce - the bread was on the softer side but the tomato sauce was delicious. Sun dried tomatoes, olive oil and a hint of spice Calamari - I love that they include both tentacles and body of squid, they even fried up some peppers and lemon, crispy but would prefer to have a lighter batter Tagliolini alle vongole - buttery garlicky sauce, a bit on the heavier side, tender and plentiful clams Tagliolini Nero di sieppa - shrimp was juicy and scrumptious, mussels on the other hand tasted a bit mushy Both pastas were on the softer side and chewier texture is my preference. Overall, great atmosphere and service

    Spumoni

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    Sapore Express Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sapore Express

    Which of the vegetarian options can be made allium-free (no onion, no garlic)?

    What are the hours?

    All week 11:30am to 9pm ('till 10pm on Friday and Saturday)

    View All 5 Questions

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    The thanksgiving deli sandwich is hella good. Also the to go ravioli are always bomb with the side…read moresauce.

    I recently visited Ravioli House for the first time. I had been wanting to check it out, and since…read moreI was in the area, I decided to stop by and give it a try. For my first visit, I ordered the pulled pork sandwich. It was okay -- not bad, but not something that really stood out to me. To be fair, I honestly think I may have ordered the wrong item. After seeing some of the other dishes coming out, especially the raviolis, I realized that's probably what I should have tried. The ravioli plates looked fresh, well-portioned, and really appetizing. Next time, I'm definitely going that route. One thing I have to say -- the bread was hands down delicious. It tasted very fresh and had great texture. That was actually one of the highlights of the meal for me. You can tell they care about quality ingredients. Beyond the food, the overall experience was very positive. The customer service was great -- friendly, attentive, and welcoming, especially for it being my first time there. The restaurant itself was very clean and well kept. The location is convenient, and parking was easy, which is always a plus in this area. Even though the pulled pork sandwich just wasn't what I was personally feeling that day, I'm not knocking the place at all. Everything else about the experience was solid. I'm definitely willing to give it another shot, and I can easily see how this could be a 4- or 5-star place depending on what you order. For this visit, I'd give it 4 star based on my specific dish, but overall I'm leaving with a positive impression and will be back to try the ravioli next time I'm in the area.

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    The Ravioli House - Mojo | $8 | 4.3/5 | smoked pork shoulder, ham, swiss, pickles, tomato, onions, spicy cuban "Mojo" sauce, on a toasted roll.

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    An absolutely wonderful experience at Del' Oliva last weekend! I was over at my friend's house for…read morelunch and she shared with me a recent purchase of a pear white balsamic vinegar that left me speechless! We ended up going to Burlingame that same day so I could try it out for myself. Metered street parking at and located in downtown Burlingame, Del' Oliva is quaint and offers gourmet olive oils and vinegars. Their products are fresh and their customer service is top tier. Immediately welcomed upon entering by the owners and shared with us a few samples and combinations of extra virgin olive oils and balsamic vinegars on tap. You can taste the fruits in their vinegars. Fantastic variations that would elevate your dishes. I picked up a lime infused olive oil and pear white balsamic vinegar. Overall, would recommend checking out for all foodies and home cooks!

    If you want quality olive oil with a personalized sales experience, Del'Oliva is the place to come…read moreto. The owner took his time to ask about our needs and preferences and gave us a few tastings of things he thought we would like and everything he gave us was spot on. I came in wanting to get one bottle of olive oil but ended up with 3 olive oils and 1 balsamic and I have no regrets. I had my two kids with me as well and he was very kind to them, giving them cookie samples and making them an olive/balsamic blend that tasted just like raspberry chocolate which they loved. Definitely a place to come to for your olive oil needs!

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    4.2(1k reviews)
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