Sale e Pepe in Kensington and Chelsea

Fantastic, authentic, delectable Italian food, served by a passionate, knowledgeable, and talkative Italian server.

I initially thought it was a tourist trap, but I have to say it turned out to be a great restaurant. The prices are slightly high, but well worth it for the food provided and the overall atmosphere. I would definitely go back.

Such a nice ambience and vibe at their little Italian tucked away in Knightsbridge. I took my fiancée for a Valentine’s Day dinner and was not disappointed. Very considerate staff and service was perfection.

Always an amazing experience, I love coming back every time!!

Not eaten here for 15 years . Refurb good .. lighting outstanding .. music good Service superb … Typically good Italian cuisine .

Our first visit post the refurbishment and we were not disappointed. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Food, service and ambience were very good

Unfortunately, nowhere near the experience we’ve had previous times at Sale e Pepe. When we made the booking, we weren’t aware it had changed hands. It’s sadly lost all its charm.

After the renovation, it lost its old warm environment. In previous years, especially the waiters created a very enjoyable environment.

Elisa was gorgeous (we had had a very stressful day) and she made us very relaxed. James and Alex

From the time we walked in until the time we walked out Sale e Pepe made us feel welcome, special and like family! Our server, our meal and our surroundings were spot on. Next time we visit London we will definitely return!

It’s a cozy restaurant with very nice waitresses but the food was not good and very overpriced. Be aware of ordering outside the menu and always ask for the price because you might be charged between 40-50 pounds depending on the order. Would not recommend.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Sale e Pepe for lunch. We were in search of a place that serves Paste Vongole and we were very pleasantly surprised by our experience. We were served our meal with warm smiles and excellent service from Suyapa and Shampa. They went above and beyond to make us feel welcome, were incredibly attentive throughout the evening, and always had a friendly and cheerful demeanour. The spaghetti vongole was absolutely divine, perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Every bite was a treat, and the pasta portion was generous and cooked al dente - perfect! Overall, a fantastic experience with top-notch service and delicious food. I’ll definitely be coming back soon!

Super essen super Lage super Service einfach toll zwar teuer aber jeden Cent wert

An Italian gem in the heart of Knightsbridge! This small and cozy spot is perfect for catch ups or a romantic date. The atmosphere feels intimate yet lively, and the food didn’t disappoint. Standout dishes for us: ⭐️ Lobster linguine – worth the hype ⭐️ Avocado salad with crab meat - wonderfully fresh and light ⭐️ Mushroom risotto - beautifully rich with generous shavings of truffle ⭐️ Tiramisu - one of the best in London, easily in the top three The staff were attentive and offered great recommendations on wine to pair with our meal, adding to the overall experience. While it’s a bit on the pricier side, it’s understandable for the location. The space is best suited for small groups of up to four, making it ideal if you’re after somewhere special for an evening out.

One of the best ‘rice with mushrooms and truffles’ in my life, with an excellent white Italian wine of course! The entire staff is super but (ok I am Italian and maybe biased) Elisa is very kind and professional, I really recommend to ask for her!!

We took cacio e pepe, the lamb chops et vongole and it was very good. However, we’re very surprised because the Caesar salad (serving 2) is served without any chicken (you have to add a supplement) and, even though the maitre d’ makes the salad in front of you, it’s mainly lettuce and anchovies … for £30 !! The rest is very good but my advice is don’t take this one

The only drawbacks to the restaurant are somewhat cramped quarters and a high noise level. But the food is so good. Highly recommend

We had an absolutely amazing evening at Sale e Pepe! From the moment we walked in, the service was outstanding. Elisa, our host, was simply the best – her professionalism and warmth made our dinner truly special. She went above and beyond to ensure we had a wonderful experience, seamlessly blending friendliness with exceptional attention to detail. The ambiance was charming, and every dish was cooked to perfection, making the night unforgettable. If you're looking for a place where excellent food meets impeccable service, look no further than Sale e Pepe. Thank you, Elisa, for making our evening so memorable – we can't wait to come back!

Amazing attentive service and exceptional food. Lovely decor too.

We had the pleasure of being served by a girl with an extraordinary personality during our visit to the Sale e Pepe restaurant. Her friendliness and professionalism made the experience even more enjoyable. With a great personality, she managed to make every moment of our meal memorable, always ready to advise with taste and make us feel welcome. Her ability to combine efficiency and a genuine smile certainly contributed to creating a welcoming and familiar atmosphere. A real strength for the restaurant, which added a special touch to our evening. I highly recommend visiting Sale e Pepe not only for the quality of the food, but also for the exceptional service that this girl can offer. We can't wait to come back! Fam. Longarini, Terracina

A traditional Italian place tucked away in the streets of knightsbridge the food is absolutely delicious and the ambience is just perfect .. staff are lovely and welcoming

Never again will I come here. Had been a customer for never 40 years and it's just an ordinary, expensive restaurant where the food is a million miles from being Italian. Saw the prices , got up and walked out.

As always perfect. After all these years it is still one of the best places in London.

I was very disappointed because I really like the food and my mother was visiting me and I took her to see the restaurant for the first time. We arrived and it was a mess. The table wasn't ready, the receptionists were grumpy. There wasn't even room to store the coats anymore

Restaurant is small with extremely close tables giving a cramped feeling. Server was aloof and unwelcoming. Starters (antipasti) were very good, pasta dishes were of average quality for a specialty Italian restaurant, desserts were predictable and uninspired. Wine list is very good. After 2 hours at the table (our party was 6) and our bill was over $1000, the server came to the table and told us we had to leave immediately as we had overstayed our table time limit. We were not aware of a time limit. The manager stood by this treatment saying we were wrong to have stayed that long. We will not return.

VERY DISAPPOINTED! Everything was going great until I received my main dish. Ordered Lobster Risotto for about £50 and there was no lobster. The entire dish was just the rice, tomatoes and asparagus. Very disappointed I just paid the bill and left.

The Food was Amazing, the service is excellent. try the Veal Milanese

Great all around for a date night! Fantastic staff

I recall this restaurant changing hands quite recently and although it was a replica in the early days post transition, it has now transformed into something entirely different. I have no real issue with the new decor but the menu is narrower and missing some of the great old favourites. It is also eye wateringly expensive. A real shame, the food and service remain good but the prices are just too much. 3 starters, including 15% service, costing over £100. Sorry, but that is ridiculous. The new owners are clearly trying to cash in on the prime location. Won’t be going back, which is a shame.

Restaurant que ofrece mucho más de lo que da, somos una pareja italiana y esperábamos otra cosa. La comida de calidad media, el local muy bullicioso. El servicio hubiera sido un desastre sino hubiera intervenido Elisa Intili que nos atendió maravillosamente y salvó la noche. Resumiendo, costoso para lo que da.

We had a really nice experience for Christmas dinner! Food was amazing and delicious, service was very pleasant and family oriented. Would definitely recommend to visit! Feels like a family Italian restaurant

We have been coming to Sal e Pepe for 37 years so it was a natural choice for our Christmas Eve dinner in London. Julia, our server, was fabulous and the food was excellent. Sadly we listened to a musical play list that included several modern hit songs. So sad. Asked the manager if we could have some holiday music.. Nope. She coldly said that she had no control over the play list. We call BS on that. We will probably return but this was so dissaointixng.

It was nice Christmas dinner. We enjoyed it very much.

Amazing experience & very friendly service , totally recommend

So I start with the fact that I’m biased….Been coming to Sal e Pepe for 40 years and I didn’t know it had changed hands. It’s still amazing food and great service and staff were fantastic but it’s not the old place and although it’s never been cheap it has a nouveau price tag to match its surroundings. With most things I suppose we have to move on, but not for me….end of an era, thanks so much for all the great times, and so long x

Really love this place. Food good and people great.

Sal y Pepe has always been one of my favourites, BUT Christmas week and there were only a few tables occupied at lunch. This speaks volumes. The refurb is subtle the food delicious and the staff lovely, but beware the prices!

Disappointing to say the least. Tables crammed in. We sat almost shoulder to shoulder with the two tables either side of us. The prices are ridiculous for food that is distinctly average. Service was passable. Not worth a second visit.

My family and I have eaten at the old Sale Pepes for over 40 years. However due to family circumstances have not been in since the refurbishment and change of ownership of which we were not aware until this evening 14th December 2024 when we arrived for a family reunion. What has happened and what a change. Like night and day from the old days. It’s shocking now. The decor does look great but the service delivery and value for money is way below its previous owners standards. The atmosphere has totally changed for the worst. One starter meal of prawns arrived cold when they should have been hot and the rest arrived at different times. The mains were not great either. The prices have increased significantly and do not reflect what they are offering. We had a mediocre, average meal no bottles of wine and was then presented with a bill for 5 adults and 2 children for £920.00 We were all very disappointed. This was communicated to the staff. Not happy. We will not be returning and will certainly be letting our circle of friends and family know. All I can say is check the menu and do your intelligence first. There is other well known and excellent Italian restaurants not too far away. Which offer great value for money and service to go with it.

Eaten at sale Pepes for many years and how it has changed. It has been taken over and the original owners are no longer there. Extremely expensive now and service delivery very bad and certainly not value for money. What a great shame it was a go to restaurant in the past. Unfortunately this is what happens when a traditional family business for years sells out. We will not be returning.

Tables crammed together uncomfortably close. Food very average for the ridiculous prices, I would expect much better at that level. Service ok. Not worth a repeat visit.

Very great food and service. Wine lost quite nice as well. Loud place.

Have been eating here several times before but this time it was simply not according to expectations. Poor service, did not like the location of the table, poor service and very not attentive. There was a larger party who had booked two larger tables from Germany/Austria and they got all the attention and we felt we were in their way. Will not recommend this to others.

Food was excellent, not the cheapest but worth a visit for a special occasion.

Always a warm welcome and a great atmosphere even at a 6.30pm early sitting. Delicious food - the lobster tagliatelle never disappoints and service is efficient and very friendly. A favourite in Knightsbridge away from the crowds

Lovely little restaurant with amazing service and even better food.

Comida, ambiente y servicio buenísimo. Altamente recomendable

Expensive for what it is - service could be better considering the price and the service of other restaurants within the location.

Very busy which is a good sign. One of our party was unable to make it down to London because of the storm and to be honest I’m not sure we would have squeezed 4 in around our table as we all had big coats and bags (is there a cloakroom?) and we were next to a larger, louder group. That said, the atmosphere was very convivial, the food was excellent and we had a lovely evening. Will definitely add it to the list of fab Italians to eat at for fantastic food.

Another amazing visit! Our favorite restaurant in London. Came for lunch and shared the Caesar salad (which was made table side by their manager, Elisa) and shared the rigatoni vodka sauce. Both were delicious and a perfect lunch combo! The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente. Again, we love the vibe and energy as well as the hospitality. Always meet locals that go there often so it's not your typical tourist spot. Thank you again to Elisa for always making us feel so welcome.

Went twice this week and both nights were amazing! Elisa, the manager was so welcoming and hospitable which made our experience even more incredible! Highly recommend!

Lovely food, not so lovely atmosphere :( This restaurant is sadly mis-marketed, which may explain their unfortunate rating. It should be rated 4.8-5 star, by *their own demographic of guests*. This is a charming family restaurant; relatively casual, very loud, homey. Unfortunately, they market as fine dining, insinuating a very exclusive environment with photos depicting a very fine atmosphere. As such, I dressed for a fine dining restaurant, only to spend the evening highly uncomfortable, surrounded by people wearing jeans (!), unable to even hear myself, let alone my husband. Not the refined experience we were expecting. It’s sad for the restaurant, whose food is wonderful, and also sad for guests who attend expecting refinement. If they marketed themselves as a comfortable family restaurant with proper photos of how the atmosphere actually looks, they would no doubt achieve higher rating and more happy & return guests. While the food was lovely, I had planned an elegant evening for us, which we sadly missed out on. Disappointed.

A very enjoyable experience Have visited many times and the high standard always maintained

Shambolic service with staff stress communicating to diners Not a place for a relaxing experience Food is fine but overpriced. No better than neighbourhood Italian Many better options in the area

È ancora un buon ristorante. Ci piace il cambiamento del arredamento. Ma purtroppo ha perso l’ambiente di italiano vero. Quasi nessuno parla italiano. Non è come prima quando il sentimento era di entrare un ristorante a Roma. Sicuramente ritorneremo ma manchiamo il sentimento italiano.

Nice, cozy restaurant. Enjoy your meal. We liked it.

Ambiance nice, though quite noisy. I had the porcini risotto. It was very overcooked although the flavours were there. Also didn’t like the rice they used. Tasted like normal rice.

Fantastic restaurant. Staff, good, ambiance - all excellent. Must visit in London.

Very lively restaurant! Octopus starter was delicious. The Cacio et Pepe pasta could have been better - it was oily/buttery and not as creamy. The lamb for two was delicious - perfect portion and cooked really well.

I had a very nice dinner at Sale e Pepe. I can’t wait to go back really

Had the lobster linguine and the clam spaghetti. Extremely over priced for very bland pasta, very little lobster. Basically tasted like a standard passata sauce with empty lobster shell on top. The clam spaghetti tasted of absolutely nothing. Zero seasoning/butter/garlic/herb. Will not be going back.

Sal y Pepe never disappoints, from a friendly greeting to the last drop of limoncello. Lovely food, good service, and a happy ambiance.

Dinner was so nice! The brownie cookie was incredible 😍 so coming back

Wonderful setting. We had prosciutto for starters which was amazing. For mains we had the salmon and asparagus and the black squid risotto. This meal was paired with a stunning Italian wine

Excelente customer service and cosy atmosphere! Every single staff is pleasant and helpful! Highly recommend it! ⭐️✨

I had high expectations. Food was only mediocre

Tasteful and discreet with staff who understand service. Dietaries were handled with no fuss and the food was delicious!

The ownership/management of the restaurant has changed and with that, the service offered by the new staff is very bad. With the exception of the three long term staff, all of the new ones are rude, not attentive at all, ignore requests and just not nice at all. The food is still very good but with such miserable staff and and surrounded by angry customers, I don't think we will go back there again.

Great ambience but the food was bland and overpriced. I think most people are there for the location. Wouldn’t go again.

The whole experience was perfect, I would highly recommend this place when in the area, wish we could have stayed longer.

Been going for over 20 years and have previously written very favourable review on Trip Advisor. Wasn't aware that it had changed and boy has it changed. The service was as poor as the food, definately not up to the standard of the previous owners. Little or no atmosphere. Unfortunately and after all the years of great food, attentive service and an atmosphere that was second to none we will not be returning

This used to so good but it’s gone downhill. We had a dinner with a couple of friends last night. It was not even ordinary. It was so awful. Such a shame I ordered a pasta with caviar for almost £60 It was only noodles with butter. Hardly anything on it. Not even salt!! Absolutely disgusting. I always order that pasta when I see it on the menu and usually it’s great. Will never go back

We’ve been dining here whenever we are in London for the last 16-17 years. It never disappoints and is always on top of its game! Enjoy!

Always a wonderful experience dining here. Service and food are incredible. Ambience is very cozy and romantic. Would definitely recommend.

Food and service were outstanding. Not delighted by the 15% service charge. Decor has changed with new management but was looked very impressive.

We have dined here numerous times. Today was the poorest by far . They are having a celebration tonight of 50 yrs of Sale e Pepe so maybe their attention was elsewhere . The starters were exceptional , the pasta was very poor and the desserts were terrific A bit disappointed.

Had the beef carpaccio, veal milanese, burrata, melanzane, the cacio e pepe, bolognese today for lunch with others. At first it seemed very endearing, fancy and well renovated, and truthfully the food was very delicious. However I left the restausrant feeling severely nauseous and weak. Once I arrived home, I continued to feel very weak and feverish. After two hours I began vomiting all of it. Horrible food poisoning. It might be fancy, well put together, and tasteful but indeed it was a regrettable experience following the horrors that is food poisoning. The vomiting has not stopped.

Great vibes and service. The lobster pasta for 2 was very filling and a good choice. Zucchini fritters recommended by the staff were also the highlight, and I’m not a fan of zucchinis in general. Squid ink risotto was a miss for me though, it felt a little too watery/soft than what I’m used to. The new decor is beautiful but may get a little cramped for some.

Last time we eat here was about 10 years ago. Then it was always packed out, very busy, tables jammed together and reasonable priced. Now, refurbished and more plush, it looked better, more formal. Food was good, service was and staff as well. Obviously the prices had changed, but we felt that they were too expensive for an Italian restaurant. Especially the wines. Total bill came to just over £270 for two, which I think was excessive even for a SW1 restaurant. There are lots of competitors with good food near by and a lot cheaper.

Service is great! Food was perfect, and the dessert was spot on. Yulia was the most wonderful hostess, professional, and welcoming. Highly recommended!

Incredible Italian food with amazing service. Super expensive, but worth it.

One of the more incredible dining experiences I’ve ever had. If you have the opportunity don’t even think…just go!!

Great restaurant, fantastic service and great food. All the staff were delightful. We had a great evening thank you

Great business lunch. All the dishes were well prepared and very tasty. Would recommend the baked sea bass in salt crust. Perfect service, always there when needed but never intrusive.

Amazing in all respects. A little tucked away from the high street but worth the find.

The service by the staff is terrific! Everyone is very enthusiastic and attentive. The 'background' music was just a 'thumping' base which is simply annoying though the waiter did try to change it- unsuccessfully as it is a preselected playlist. The veal was breaded and dry but the caesar salad had the BEST dressing we have ever tasted. A nice chardonnay from California but all of this for 254 GBP does not add up to a very good value - next time we will just have the salad and wine and bring earplugs!

One of the best Italian restaurant in London.

Atmosphere was great but the food had a very ambiguous flavor. We got the two most basic items a cheese pizza and spaghetti but I forgot my purse and the waitress ran ,75 miles to give it to me. So for that I will reconsider and appreciate her efficiency. Additionally the live music was incredibly loud I could barely hear myself think about how bad the food was. But it served its purpose I guess I would recommmed bringing your seasoning cabinet from home.

I am deeply disappointed by my recent experience at Sale e Pepe, a restaurant I’ve frequented for years. On Friday, October 11th, I made a same-day reservation for 4:15 PM, with all time slots available. Due to traffic, I attempted to modify my reservation to 5 PM, but no one answered the phone, and I encountered errors online. We arrived at 5 PM, understanding that our reservation might be canceled due to being late, and we apologized for the delay. However, the restaurant was extremely empty, with only 3-4 tables occupied, and the receptionist, Anna (with a black ponytail), was shockingly rude and unwelcoming. She refused to seat us, even though most tables were available. She even claimed that the bar was unavailable for food service because the restaurant was “fully booked,” which was clearly untrue given how empty the place was. To make matters worse, I saw her seat a walk-in customer immediately after turning us away. After we left, I checked online reservations again (attaching a picture), and all time slots were still available, which contradicted Anna’s claim that the restaurant was fully booked. I returned a few minutes later, and another staff member immediately offered us a table, confirming there was availability. When I confronted Anna, she panicked and suddenly tried to offer us a table by the door. However, at that point, I told her we wouldn’t sit there because of her rude attitude. It felt like we were begging to sit in an almost-empty restaurant. I truly don’t understand why it’s up to an uneducated and impolite receptionist to decide whether we can have a table at available times. I don't like to say this, but her behavior was incredibly rude and unprofessional, especially in a fine dining establishment. The experience was truly frustrating and disappointing.

After the new revamp , decided to try it . Food was very nice . Service very slow and very little atmosphere . Not like the old sale Pepe . Wouldn’t rush back.

Lovely place and the staff were amazing. Food was a little disappointing for the money and nothing special

Everything on point, I’ve enjoyed a lot the salmon tartare 🤗

This is a poor shade of its former self since the change in ownership and management last year. Its signature linguine with lobster is a poor cousin and not worth the price of £85 for a servicing of 2 pax. I won’t revisit this place breaking a yearly tradition for past years. Sad!

Food was excellent. Ate here 2 nights in a row. Service was great. Friendly staff.

The food was amazing and the owners were there and involved in all aspects of the operation. The staff was attentive and worked well as a team. On our next visit to London we will be back.

Waitress was forgetful and uninformed when it came to the menu. Seating was very close to other table which made it extremely loud and difficult to have a conversation.

Good atmosphere - food good - very Convenient location

Waitress was way too hectic and pushy and certainly without any charm

Absolutely amazing experience at Sale e Pepe! I had the Wagyu tartare and veal chop, both of which were cooked to perfection. You might expect a place in Knightsbridge to feel stuffy, but the atmosphere here is anything but. The staff were incredibly friendly, and the decor is chic without being pretentious. Perfect spot for a special night out or a girls lunch . Can’t wait to return!

Had a wonderful lunch with brilliant service! The steak tartare was delicious and the Paccheri all vodka was an indulgent and very generous portion of perfectly al dente pasta. Love the refurb, feels intimate and elegant, can't wait to return!