Sassella is my favorite Italian food in Santa Fe! Every single dish I've tried is fantastic, so duck it in and well thought out. The Chef is something special for sure. I love how he came out to get us all and asked us how we like our dishes. The ambience is chill and beautifully decorated. There's an outside patio area that's perfect for good weather days and nights. Whenever we want to celebrate anything, we come here. I often try to look for more reasons to celebrate, because I love this spot so much! read more

Sassella - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Outstanding food best toasted bread ever and a house salad with every type taste last was the lamb and then the almonds cake Outstanding read more

Very good food. Servers were very nice but service time was little slow. Also it's a nice setting. They have good decorations. Food was amazing. I would definitely go back for food. Street parking. Restrooms were clean read more

Sassella - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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My birthday dinner last night was FABULOUS! We chose to eat in the bar area, which was less fancy than the dining room. SO COZY and welcoming on a cold, snowy night. The staff couldn't have been more attentive and friendly. The food was amazing! They started us off with a small amount of prosecco for my birthday celebration! So nice! We ordered Cesar Salad (a TOWER!?), Lobster Risotto (DELICIOUS; a small portion, but filling) & a flank steak. All cooked PERFECTLY and tasted perfect, as well. For dessert: Birthday surprise from the restaurant was raspberry cheesecake gelato, topped with homemade whipped cream & raspberry sauce We also ordered a creme brulee & it was SO GOOD, as well! We will DEFINITELY be back! read more

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I've dined at Sassella twice now and have loved each visit. They are located right next to the Georgia O'Keefe museum and have a private parking lot behind the restaurant which is so nice for being in downtown Santa Fe. There are sculptures of horses in the front so you won't miss it! Once inside, the restaurant is beautifully decorated with modern decor which is chic and tasteful. The cuisine is fine Italian and by far my favorite Italian restaurant in all of Santa Fe. The ambiance, service, food and overall experience is impeccable. The Mushroom Cappuccino is very rich and delicious with an amazing truffle foam on top. The Burrata Caprese is house made and served with dehydrated garlic and black salt that really elevates the dish like I've never had before. The Lobster Risotto is fantastic and I agree that no one does it better. The rice and lobster were perfectly cooked and there were pieces of asparagus mixed in the rice as well as one of the best pestos I've ever had. For dessert, I had the chef's special which was a hibiscus ice cream in between sweet bread and it was so good and different. Thanks for a wonderful time, Sassella! read more

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Wow What a beautiful birthday dinner I had at this spot. The chef sent us a round of Prosecco and a free dessert purely because it was my birthday with no prior requests. They truly treat their customers with the utmost quality. Although, the wait staff was slightly unprofessional but it was not problematic. The food is super luscious, high quality, fresh, and filling. I completely forgot to take photos of my meal but I got the lobster pasta and tried the meals my friends ordered, which were also super delicious. I think my favorite was the mushroom ravioli, but I indulged in my own dish! The desserts are a must have! They are all very good and not too sweet! My favorite was the pear chocolate dessert that the chef sent to our table with a cute candle. Will definitely be back! read more

Sassella - Pear chocolate dessert - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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We came here for our anniversary and had a great time. Despite being a Italian place we didn't get Italian food-there special was the Surf and Turf that we both got. Delicious! Only wish they had given us more sauce to dip our entree in. Overall, great spot. Parking isn't great but okay. There are a few spots behind the restaurant. read more

Sassella - Pear Carpaccio - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Oh darling, just dive right in and follow my lead... Well, I found a girl, beautiful and sweet... Oh, I never knew you were the someone waiting for me... Sassella Rest. was worth waiting for... We started w. glasses of Sauvignon Blanc... then shared... "Composizione di Pere" of... Sliced golden pears , goat cheese, artichokes, amaretto cookie crumble, encapsulated fruit ("let me out"..:), mint, pistachios & aged balsamic (like us patrons..:). Simply light and delicious... We then moved to a Sassella Grape Red wine "Chiavennasca" very nice & smooth on the palate. then shared... "Spaghetti Bolognese" of... Thin Spaghetti pasta (al dente good) , red wine, tomato sauce, vegetable mirepoix (sau·téed by any other name) garlic, ground buffalo & parmesan. Most earthy and scrumptious. A perfect Father's Day lunch for the "Old Mon"..:) But darling, just kiss me slow, your heart is all I own... And in your eyes, you're holding mine... Baby, I'm dancing in the dark with you between my arms..:) Best, Avram de Sheeran Jr. read more

Sassella - Light and sweet like me..:) - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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We arrived before our 7 pm reservation and we were greeted and asked if we would like to sit at the bar. Well heck yes! We were greeted by Tony who was personable and funny. He kept us entertained the entire we sat at the bar even though he was busy. We ordered a glass of Prosecco and Tony suggested a hotel nacional. Hubs loved it and ordered another when we sat at the table to dine. I love the interior decorations of this place. All of the wall art tells a story. It gives you a very romantic, classy vibe. We sat on the patio and dealt with bugs for a few minutes but they went away fairly quickly. I ordered a glass of Bianco and hubs had another hotel Nacional. We got bread which was fantastic and ordered the special of mushroom ravioli and the Graziosa Salad. The manager stopped to talk to us and our waitress was pretty hood. It took awhile to get refills as she was stretched from the bar to the dining room to the patio. I think they might have been short handed. Great place, great food, great staff. read more

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We went there for a dessert and it was well balanced and tasty. The desert had a little sweet surprise with pop rocks. We also had a delicious glass of champagne. The service was awesome. We were happy to be greeted by the chef himself. read more

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From the greeting until the end it was a wonderful & most satisfying delicious evening. Dining solo but that did not affect the service from my awesome waiter Paul & the rest of the servers!!! They checked on me often - making sure everything was perfect! I indulged in Carpaccios de Tuna - the Caesar Salad and the Wild Boar. Each course was outstanding in flavor & presentation!!! Just wow!!! So happy I chose this treat of a restaurant while visiting Santa Fe!!!! ***** Grateful!!!!! read more

Sassella - Ceasar Salad - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Where to even begin? So, so much to love about this place. So glad we found it on our first visit to Santa Fe. Beautiful outdoor patio and indoor dining room. But for me, best seats are at the bar. Staff were friendly and knowledgeable (thank you, Sarah!!) and the talented chef stopped by to share some of his passion for spirits. Even the other guests were incredibly friendly and happy to point us to their fave places in town. Definitely recommend the gin tasting. We enjoyed 5 tastes- each unique, paired with citrus, tonic, olive, and pickled onion. Sarah provided lots of info and answered all of our new-to-gin-drinking questions. We had to try the negroni flight, too, after hearing about the thought (selecting a different vermouth for each drink to complement the gin flavor profile) and time (aging in oak barrels) that goes into it. On to dinner, the tasting menu was our biggest splurge on this trip, but too good to pass up. Each dish was beautifully presented, delicious. It was a LOT of food, but paced out so that we didn't feel rushed at all. Impossible to pick a fave but highlights include creamy burrata, killer carbonara, perfectly cooked lobster risotto. The amaro at the end- Amaro Tosolini- is one that I've never seen before, fantastic! Highly recommend and will definitely return if I find myself back in Santa Fe. read more

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One of our favorite restaurants to go to when in Santa Fe. Always delicious and a wonderful experience! We have been going there since it opened! read more

Suzi and I had an early 5:30 dinner on the outside patio. Protected from the wind. Dishes selected were exceptionally prepared and filling. Requested bread and were served a small selection of interesting bread and bread pretzels which were very tasty. Service was excellent. Overall, a very satisfying experience. Two entries only with tax and tip $87. read more

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Wow! If you are looking for the best of the best. Look no further. I cannot express the level of service my friends and I experienced. The chief was the most kindest friendly soul we ever met. He made my dearest friend feel so special on her birthday. If you are visiting from other states, this is it! I can not express how each staff treated us. The food was so hot and fresh, we clean the plates. This by far has been rated the number #1 elegant , top notch restaurant I have ever in my life experienced. Thank you chief & team for giving us an amazing service read more

Sassella - Julia - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

We just so happened to make this reservation prior to it being featured on our Wander food tour. Such a great coincidence, and we were happy to make a second stop. We sat in the more casual bar area. Bartender was amazing and had some great wine recommendations. Chef recognized us from our previous interaction and proceeded to pull out all the stops for us. Between the hubby and I, we enjoyed the mussels, mushroom cappuccino, lobster ravioli and sea bass. The standouts without a doubt were the mushroom soup and the lobster ravioli. We felt very taken care of. Not cheap, but you get what you pay for. Would definitely dine there again. read more

My partner and I came here for Thanksgiving dinner so our experience might be different but I can't describe Sasella in any way other than "5/5 fantastic!". When it came to food, everything we tried was delicious! They had a specific menu for the night and one of the main reasons we chose to come here was because of their vegetarian options. Finding any vegetarian options for Thanksgiving is usually near impossible and I get it, it's a meat centric holiday, but a vegetarian girl has to eat too! While we were there, I tried the pumpkin soup, pear carpacio, ravioli, eggplant parmigiana, and the pumpkin pie. I was delighted by every morsel. A little breakdown of each item: - Soup: with the exception of pumpkin pie, I normally hate pumpkin flavored things so I opted for the carpacio while my partner got the soup. I had one bite and immediatley regretted my choice. They somehow made me enjoy pumpkin?! - Carpacio: this was always very good and while I liked the soup more, this was still a crowd pleaser. - Ravioli: another thing I normally dont like but somehow tasted amazing in this case - Eggplant: Perfectly breaded, very crispy, and with the most mouth watering sauce. - Pumpkin pie: Literally the BEST pumpkin pie I've ever had and trust me, I've had a lot. It was so rich and decadent and something about it tasted both new and familiar. It was paired with ice cream which only made the pie better. The service was great as well! My only complaint is that the courses came out pretty slowly and there was some waiting involved. However, this feeling might have been amplified because I was starving when I got there and was ready to shovel food into my mouth. Overall, I love this place and would come back the next time Im in Santa Fe! read more

This is a gastronomic destination that is worth our entire trip to Santa Fe. Chef Christian Pontiggia is master craftsmen who brings real artistry in his culinary genius. A simple pasta dish becomes a novel creation with an innovative flair that we see rarely. His carbonara deconstruction is pure heaven. With a divine inspiration from Nothern Italy in Sassella a small hamlet where chef Christian grew up. The restaurant offers a feutré atmosphere where an entire symphony del Arte is played. As the President of the Harvard Wine & Cuisine Society it is our pleasure to bestow upon Chef Christian the Culinary Crimson of Gold. The Whole Seabass a la Méditerraneo, was out of this world delicious. Chef Christian and his team also made us feel at home with an impeccable service. There is only one thing to conclude this restaurant deserves three Michelin Stars as everything about this restaurant screams perfection and talent! read more

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Had reservations for NYE and greeted by a sign that they are closed. No phone call or email ahead of time and left us in a lurch for a food option at 8:30 pm on a holiday. Not very professional, but not sure they had an option to contact everyone. Maybe this is a one off but I would be cautious making resers here without a backup option. Unfortunately I won't be back. read more

Sassella - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

I came here for lunch recently and let me say first, the food and cocktails were great (dessert was epic) and I would come back for it. But the overall experience was diminished by the strange service. First when we arrived and were standing outside by the hostess podium, the place was virtually empty. There were a few diners in the courtyard area and nobody inside. The hostess was also not there but we waited since there was a sign that asked to wait. The hostess came out in a few minutes and spoke so softly that it was hard to hear, never smiled, and just felt very withdrawn and unwelcoming. When she seated us inside, she asked if we wanted water and we said yes (we'd walked there in the sun and were very thirsty.) She walked away. After 15 minutes or so we still didn't have water and a member of my party had to leave the room and find somebody and ask for water again. She came over and poured us water and while she wasn't rude, there was again this sense of total disinterest. This pattern continued with basically every person working there, with the exception of our waiter who gradually opened up and helped make it a better experience. Now! The food! We got the graziosa salad because it sounded weird and I had to try it. It was fantastic. Totally surprising. I loved every element, and it was a hit with everyone at the table, leaving us all wishing we could have more (we split the salad three ways) For entrées we tried the bolognese, yellowfin tuna, and the seabass. All were very unique in their flavor profile, all were good. The star was definitely the seabass, and the person who ordered it continued to rave about it for days following. I had the bolognese and really appreciated the portion size as it was filling but not too heavy. It had great depth of flavor, but I admit I was jealous of the seabass after taking a taste. For dessert, I had the smoked tartufo, and it was utterly fantastic. I would return just for this dessert. I wanted more of it immediately after finishing it. The texture, flavor, presentation, all details came together flawlessly. If you liked chocolate and smoked flavors, I can't recommend it enough. Cocktails tried included Sophia Loren (I enjoyed it thouroughly), the Regalo di Papà Negroni (best Negroni he's tried) and the Empress which was very bright and easy to drink, delicious if you want something less spirit forward. read more

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What a fantastic experience we had at Sassella! We started out at their little deli around the corner from the main restaurant. Hubby and I were headed to Bandelier National Monument and wanted to take a picnic with us. If you are looking for the best, most delicious, fresh and satisfying sandwiches of all time EVER, you've found your place. We had the muffuletta and the mortadella. They were HUGE and fantastic. Totally with every penny. Aside from that, it is a cute little shop. In addition to the food, they sell fresh breads, snack food, gourmet potato chips, and there is a deli case with cheeses, soups, antipasti. We loved the deli so much, we went back for dinner at the main restaurant that evening. Started with the clams appetizer (le Vongole) - sooo lovely! Clams in a delicious broth with a bit of a spicy kick from the soppressata. Comforting white beans mixed in. Nicely done! Moved on to the Italian Mushroom Soup. This had a bisque like consistency and was very rich. Drizzled with black truffle oil and served with sparkling wine chips. I did a spoonful of soup with a chip on top and it was such a nice contrast! I liked this the more I ate it. For entrees, I went with the Lobster Risotto. Heavenly! Served with a split lobster tail still in the shell, the risotto was perfectly cooked. Super flavorful and decadent. My husband had the Breaded Veal, a ginormous veal on the bone! The Beurre Blanc was tasty. The crust on the breading had lots of flavor. Served with perfectly crispy and seasoned potatoes. An overall excellent dish. Finished up with the Chocolate Torte and the Fantasia espresso, which is one of the best boozy coffees I've ever had. We had such good service at both the deli and the restaurant. Super friendly! If we ever make it back to Santa Fe again, we will 100% dine here again. read more

OUTSTANDING The five of us had an absolutely fabulous dinner here. We were off the a great start with the Ostriche (fresh Oysters) and the Affettati Misti (a charcuterie board). Both the presentation and quality were superb. For dinner, I had the White Seabass served with mini tomatoes, Italian olives, capers, & fregola pasta. Excellent, the best seabass I've had in quite some time. Others had the Duck, the Amatriciana Gamberi (Cannolicchi Pasta with wild Colossal Shrimp) and the Ravioli special stuffed with squash, English peas, & fennel. All were excellent. And for dessert? We couldn't resist sampling the Affogatto, the Espresso Creme Brûlée, and the Grappa. A lovely way to complete a fabulous meal. The service provided by Arturo was impeccable, and all 5 meals arrived simultaneously perfectly prepared. Location: 5 stars Service: 5 stars Food: 5 stars Ambiance/Décor: 5 stars Value: 4 stars read more

This restaurant is an epicurean delight. Expensive, perhaps. So if you're cost conscious another place might appeal to you or cook at home (no offense as I love to cook at home). But if you want your taste buds and olfactory senses to be challenged to identify the subtle nuances of favors and smells, Sassella may be right for your party. We went here to dine, enjoy and learn. We did just that. The presentations were thoughtful and eye appealing. Each individual dish was....individual. One dining room and yet, room noise was intentionally abated. Our server was extremely knowledgeable about each dish and accompanying libations. When dining here, dine piano, piano ( slowly, slowly). read more

First the bad: quite expensive, sub par entrees. The duck was a tiny bony piece without much flavor accompanied by a haphazard pile of flavorless vegetables. We waited about 20 minutes to place an order and get glasses of wine. The good points: apps were great, Caesar salad and mushroom soup. Waitstaff very friendly, elegant presentation. Pretty decor. Interesting wine list, Italian wines. They might need a sommelier to get the wine out faster and talk about the wines. read more

Sassella - Caesar salad. Apps came fast, the wine took forever. - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

1. It took 2hrs to get our food. 2. The manager was not accommodating nor helpful instead of admitting fault she preferred to argue back and forth and defend their lack of attentiveness. 3. In a leadership role you should be receptive to feedback and they were dead wrong. read more

Sassella - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

Food was very very good, however very very slow course progression. Good if you are not hungry, not so great if you are! (Not a busy night either) Portion sizes small but flavorful. Because of the slow course progression we skipped desert. They may want to rethink this...1.30 hours to receive main course...risotto good but appetizer size! Husband had ravioli also good. Employees seem very drole, not too happy. A smile goes a long long way! read more

It's just a slight walk off the downtown square which gives it softer, slower-paced, romantic feel. The name "Sassella" comes from a hamlet of 60 residents known for its vineyards near where Chef Cristian Pontiggia grew up. The ambience is a like a fine wine, boasting elegance and structure in equal measure, it has taut, refined tannins and fresh acidity that will give this decades of drinking pleasure. Might I suggest..... Nebbiolo, Nino Negri Valtellina, 'Quadrio', Lombardy, 2016 Caprese Salad Sliced mozzarella, roma tomatoes, basil, balsamic glaze, black pepper T-Bone 16 oz. grilled T-Bone, mushroom demi-glace, roasted potato medley, crispy green beans Torta Cioccolato e Nocciola Chocolate sponge, chocolate hazelnut crème You will find to to be quite extraordinary! read more

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Food was great .... 2nd time waiter has screwed up credit card. There were four of us we try to split bill 2 ways they couldn't get it done correctly... so they had it done and looked at our bill. It was $400 each instead of $200 each ... they said oh don't worry we've taken care of it we said OK ...got home. checked our credit card billing the next day online $400 each !! We called , very nice took care of it ... but why should just happen ?? read more

Location, location- that's what this restaurant does best. It's right next door to the Georgia O'Keefe museum. Other than that the food is not distinctive. The meatballs in pasta were small like Swedish meatballs. The homemade pasta did not taste any different than regular dried pasta. The dessert was the best part. We ordered the chocolate dessert and it was good. Came with a candle for birthday. read more

We had dinner in the bar and really enjoyed it. Our server was prompt and very knowledgeable of the menu. Their cocktail menu had some fabulous drinks that we tried. We shared the eggplant parmesan appetizer that was different than anything we have had before. Apparently they use a very special flour and the eggplant was so crispy, almost like fried chicken, the presentation and flavor was delightful. My friend had the salmon pasta and I had the pasta with shrimp and sausage- both very decadent. We ate about 1/2 of our entrees because they were so rich and yummy and were able to take the rest home with us to enjoy the next day. Chef took his time to come speak to several tables which was nice to see. Our pasta dishes were portioned perfectly. read more

The food was amazing. The service is some of the best I've had. Multiple people, all working on making your experience. Amazing. And the ambience was top-notch. We definitely will eat here again. Definitely our favorite place to eat in Santa Fe. Worth the stop. highly recommend. read more

Sassella - The duck breast, with beet salad. - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Pictures is the carbonara, eggplant appetizer, bolognese, and lobster risotto. the prices are definitely higher, but for the quality, it totally makes sense. Chef Christan puts love into his dishes, they are a unique twist on traditional Italian food. In my opinion, if you get an appetizer, get the eggplant! The main courses were amazing, as well as all the desserts. This is a great place to treat yourself! read more

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Stellar dinner. Service was on point the entire night and the food was fantastic. My husband had the wild boar scaloppini and the mushroom cappuccino and I had the mushroom carbonara. We shared the butterscotch budino for dessert. So delicious. All of it. A new fave for sure! read more

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Food is out of this world delicious, service is top notch, and the patio is so nice. Great place for a meal anytime and especially after visiting the Georgia O'Keefe Museum. Good read more

Sassella - Patio area - Italian Near Me - Santa Fe, New Mexico

All! If you have not yet had the experience to enjoy a fine meal at Sassella, I encourage you to do so. I was fortunate to walk by this restaurant in my way to the Georgia O'keffe museum, (steps away), how perfect is that?! It was past 1:00p, so the main lunch crowd were beginning to pay their tab; I chose to be seated in the patio area. May I just say, that the staff is awesome, . . . again, . . . AWESOME! Front of the house, to the back of the house, all professional. I just love-it, when the chef/executive chef delivers my meal to me. They present their creation with pride, while greeting their patron/guest. Additional awesomeness was the shrimp crusted sandwich, and truffle flavored fries w/freshly minced herbs. The flavors in the sandwich were surprisingly better with each bite. Perfectly sized bits of chorizo (or other sausage) added (not greasy) the right touch of flavor to compliment the shrimp, fried to perfection doneness; fresh tomato slices, --the bread was fresh and toasted to to add additional flavor. I could go on and on....Big yum from start to finish, as was the freshly squeezed lemonade (pucker perfect). Cheers to this place, and thank you!!! read more

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This is some of the best Italian food I've eaten since Italy! The sea bass was like eating little fillet of heaven. The service was was wonderful, an overall great experience. I went with my best friend for our birthdays and it was the best thing ever read more

We like to sit at the bar at Sassella, have drinks and some great food. Not only are the flavors delicious, but the presentation is always beautiful. The room is lovely and Mike, the bartender is a nice guy and good to chat with. We also usually meet others at the bar and it ends up being fun. We haven't sat in the dining room yet but will at some point. When the place was Georgia and then Maize, we always sat in the bar, so we continue that tradition. The place is pricey, which we are okay with, but others may be put off by that. read more

Saturday night and fairly quiet at restaurant but was optimal for a party of four to talk and enjoy a very nice dinner. I had the generous portion of perfectly cooked sea bass and other half had the Bolanese sauce again very good. Service and timing very good Inside restaurant is very pretty but they are known for their outdoor dining area. read more

Sexy & flawless dining experience to be savored at Sassella. From plate presentation to the luscious superior quality of each dish, Sassella has it all and than some. The decor & ambiance is sophisticated with excellent service. I've dined twice and this is now the only place I will seek for Italian contemporary dining Executive Chef Christian Pontiggia is the man behind this hidden gem in Santa Fe, with many awards and is also recognized as a Master Chef from the Italian government!!! Boom I #travel4sexyfood from East to the West and trust me I know what high quality Italian is....... don't be fooled by reviews with no photos...... don't hate the player hate the game honey SASSELLA is WINNING!! Ciao read more

This restaurant is never a bad meal, the ambience is amazing. The food quality is superb. The presentation unreal service is very much on point. read more