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Sannio Italian Restaurant & Bar

4.2
(192 reviews)
Opens in 2 days

Address

61 Elmbank St, Glasgow G2 4PQ, UK

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Opening Hours

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 – 8:00 PM
  • Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 – 8:00 PM
  • Thursday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 – 8:00 PM
  • Friday: 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM, 4:00 – 8:30 PM
  • Saturday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

Overview

Sannio Italian Restaurant & Bar on Elmbank Street – where authentic Italian cuisine meets Glasgow city centre, just a stone's throw from the King's Theatre and definitely not another boring chain restaurant. With a strong 4.2 rating, they're doing Italian right, with some funky twists to keep you on your toes. This is an independent, family-run basement restaurant (yes, basement – but they've got handrails for mobility and they're totally upfront about the fact their 'B' listed building doesn't have a lift for wheelchair access because transparency matters). Located between Bath Street and Sauchiehall Street, this is prime city centre real estate. They've got the whole Italian experience sorted: authentic Italian cuisine, pre-theatre menus (perfect for before a show at the King's Theatre – they're literally 30 seconds walk away, door to door), all-day set menus, and an a la carte that runs throughout the day. They're offering a Premium Steak Date Night deal at £58 for two people (£29 each) with steaks, fries, sauces and drinks – available after 7pm daily. And they specialise in large parties from 5 to 52 people for lunch, pre-theatre, dinner, and private hire without expensive group menu upcharges. Located at 61A Elmbank Street, they're the perfect spot for special gatherings, theatre dinners, birthdays, office parties, Christmas parties, or just a proper Italian feed in the heart of Glasgow. Because sometimes you need authentic Italian that isn't trying to be too fancy – just real food done really well.

What People Are Saying

Sannio Italian Restaurant & Bar is a charming Italian restaurant that has received mixed reviews, with praise for delicious food and friendly service when quality standards are met, but concerns raised about food quality consistency and space constraints. The restaurant has been described as charming wee Italian restaurant and ideal for pre or post theatre dinner when operating well, though quality consistency issues have been raised by some reviewers.

The food at Sannio receives positive feedback when quality standards are met, with dishes consistently described as very tasty, delicious, beautiful, divine, and lovely meal. The restaurant offers Italian cuisine, and specific dishes receive particular acclaim. The minestrone is described as beautiful, the bread is described as divine, the spaghetti carbonara and tagliatelle bolognese are both described as very tasty, and the affogato and tiramisu are described as delicious. The tiramisu receives particular praise, described as rich and satisfying and the only real highlight. The food quality is such that reviewers note the food was delicious, and they had a lovely meal. However, there have been quality concerns raised, with food described as pretty average overall, nothing particularly memorable, not high quality Italian, bland and forgettable, and lacked depth of flavour. Specific issues include chili garlic prawns described as overly salty, pastas described as lacked depth of flavour and bland and forgettable, and chicken Milanese described as overcooked and slightly burnt. The food quality concerns are such that reviewers note there wasn't much that would bring them back.

Service at Sannio is consistently praised as extremely efficient, friendly, really friendly, so friendly and attentive, friendly and welcoming, and seated quickly. The staff receive positive feedback, and the service contributes significantly to positive experiences. Reviewers note the staff were extremely efficient and friendly, and they are masters of the quick turnaround if you are having a pre theatre meal.

The restaurant's decor receives positive feedback, with reviewers describing it as delightful, and the venue is described as small and located underground, with more of a cozy bar-like vibe.

The restaurant's space receives mixed feedback, with reviewers describing it as pretty snug, tables pretty close together, and cramped space (really need to remove a table or 2 to give guests enough space). However, another reviewer noted the booth was comfortable and even busy, the place didn't feel cramped, suggesting experiences may vary.

The restaurant's location receives positive feedback, described as literally across the road from the King's Theatre, ideal for pre or post theatre dinner, and super easy to get to (within only a few minutes walking distance from Charing Cross), adding to convenience and appeal.

Value is consistently praised, with reviewers describing prices as very reasonably priced, creating good value for the quality offered.

The restaurant can get quite full, with reviewers noting it was packed when they arrived and packed when they left, and they definitely suggest booking.

For visitors to Glasgow, Sannio offers Italian food that can be delicious and lovely meal when quality standards are met. The restaurant's ability to deliver delicious food, friendly service, ideal location for theatre-goers, and very reasonable prices has earned it positive recommendations from many reviewers. However, there have been concerns raised about food quality consistency (including bland, forgettable, and overcooked items), and space constraints (including cramped conditions). The combination of generally good food when quality is consistent, but quality consistency concerns, makes it a mixed experience, and the restaurant would benefit from addressing food quality consistency, ensuring proper preparation standards, and considering space improvements to ensure all guests have positive experiences.

Reviews

5.0Jo Jolly

This is a charming wee Italian restaurant downstairs. It was packed when we arrived and packed when we left. They are the masters of the quick turnaround if you are having a pre theatre meal. We had minestrone to start with, the bread was divine. Then we had spaghetti carbonara and tagliatelle bolognese. Both very tasty. Affogato and tiramisu for puds which were also delicious. The decor of the place was delightful as well. Staff were extremely efficient and friendly. It is pretty snug tho, tables are pretty close together but I wouldn't let that put you off. Literally across the road from the King's Theatre, so ideal for pre or post theatre dinner. Very reasonably priced as well.

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4.0Savi Nanda

About 6/7 out of 10 for food, not high quality Italian but still a lovely meal. What didn’t do it for me is how cramped the space is, really need to remove a table or 2 to give guests enough space! Really friendly staff though!

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3.0Amaria Ali

We visited this Italian restaurant recently and found it pretty average overall—nothing particularly memorable. The venue itself is small and located underground, with more of a cozy bar-like vibe. We shared a few appetizers and three pasta dishes. The chili garlic prawns were overly salty, and the pastas lacked depth of flavor—bland and forgettable. The chicken Milanese was overcooked and slightly burnt, which was a letdown. The only real highlight was the tiramisu, which was rich and satisfying. Unfortunately, beyond that, there wasn’t much that would bring us back.

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5.0Michelle Cains

We ended up here by chance after previous dinner plans fell through. Super easy to get to as within only a few minutes walking distance from Charring Cross, and across the road from The King's Theatre. The staff were friendly and welcoming and we were seated quickly (we didn't have a booking although we were early enough to skip the rush that came later as we were leaving, I'd definitely suggest booking!). The food was delicious. Lots of choice on the menu, and the Minestrone Soup was beautiful. If I was asked to critique something, and this is really just being pernickety and didn't pose much of an issue - the tables are a little bit of a squeeze for space if you're having a pizza. But that's being really nitpicky, as otherwise the booth was comfortable and even busy, the place didn't feel cramped.

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5.0Scottish Traveller

Lovely meal here before going to the theatre. Food was delicious and staff were so friendly and attentive! Would highly recommend.

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