Sale e Pepe in Kensington and Chelsea

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 certainly didn’t disappoint. Standout dishes for us: ⭐️ Lobster linguine – absolutely worth the hype ⭐️ Avocado salad with crab meat - wonderfully fresh and light ⭕️ Cacio e Pepe - simple yet divine ⭐️ 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 reasonable for the location and quality of food. 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.

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 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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Lovely little restaurant with amazing service and even better food.

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.

Comida, ambiente y servicio buenísimo. Altamente recomendable

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

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

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

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!

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

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

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!

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.

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.

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!

We went for dinner yesterday and really loved this place after its renovation. The interior, the menu and the service are exceptional. I highly recommend the Paccheri alla Vodka and the Tiramisu.

My partner and I went for a date night, and had the most incredible time. Beautiful service, we were well taken care of and the staff was very attentive. We ordered quite a bit of food, more than enough for 2 people and ate almost every single bite. Left very happy, very full, and will definitely be returning. Thank you to Bryan and Suyapa, and Akiko for taking care of us ! x

No evening! We have been to this lovely Italian restaurant in London at least 2 other times and have remained very satisfied. Last night, however, everything went wrong: We arrive promptly at 7.30pm We had a reservation Restaurant • Table for 3 on Sunday, 29 September 2024 at 19:30 Confirmation #: 6774595 At first the young lady couldn't find it and said there was no room, then when I showed her the email and the screenshot she gave us a table near the bar, where every time the front door was opened a gust of cold arrived. They bring us bread. After 15 minutes more bread and water. We had ordered almost immediately. 45 minutes after we entered I asked a really smart and kind lady where we were... luckily our dishes arrived after 5 minutes A tartare and 2 first courses. The 2 first courses are overcooked... never mind... we're hungry. Still a long time and they bring us dessert menu.... We prefer to leave and not ruin our evening again... Let's take a taxi and go get a good ice cream somewhere else!! Sin Serena wasted! A magical moment thrown to the wind I don't think I'll go back! Yet the other times we had a really great time: excellent food, everything right and perfect... What will have changed?? Management? Staff?? Maybe ...

Our visit to Sale e Pepe was truly outstanding. From the moment we arrived, the entire staff made us feel incredibly welcome, attending to our every need with care and warmth. We began our evening with cocktails— I enjoyed a deliciously refreshing coffee shakerato. For the meal, we followed the traditional Italian structure. We began with Antipasti: a creamy burrata and a Gamberi in a delightful lemon sauce. For 'primi,' we had perfectly cooked Cacio e Pepe and Pomodoro ravioli, both of which were outstanding. For 'secondi,' we enjoyed a tender Milanese. Each dish was beautifully executed, and the quality of the ingredients was evident from the first bite. Even though we were full, we couldn’t resist finishing with the tiramisu—it was that good! The service was impeccable throughout the evening. Bryan recommended a fantastic bottle of Sicilian white wine, which elevated the meal even further. His expertise, combined with Suyapa’s attentive and warm demeanour, made the experience all the more memorable. The atmosphere at Sale e Pepe is cozy and welcoming, yet lively enough to create a buzzing energy. It’s no surprise this place is a beloved London institution. We’ll definitely be back!

They didn’t find our reservation despite I showed my Opentable confirmation email. The frontdesk person’s attitude was just unpleasant. Very uncomfortable table and the general service has been very poor. I was a repeater, but after this experience I won’t book again.

The food was good, but unfortunately, the service is no longer what it once was a few years ago. Although the restaurant was busy, it seems like the attention to guests has completely disappeared, which is disappointing. It's especially sad because I've been a regular here for over 10 years. It feels like this might be the end for me.

The flavours in each dish were perfectly balanced, and the ingredients tasted incredibly fresh. The seafood pasta was cooked to perfection! The service was impeccable. Our glasses were never empty, and the food arrived promptly. Amazing wine list, we had Soave wine!

Delicious food and excellent service. Had salt encrusted branzino and couldn’t have asked for better. Also had delicious apps and wonderful cocktails.

Outstanding food, service, and environment! We all are eager to come back

Really disappointed and outrageous Bolognese pasta, not even Autogrill makes pasta this disgusting, the spaghetti were cut in pieces, which italian would do that, it was swimming in a fake bolognese sauce, too humid and not a real tomato beef sauce. The kind of bolognese you can find a cheap french restaurants who don’t know how to cook italian pasta. I thought it was a real italian chef. Huge disappointment for a simple dish like that.

Had an amazing dinner at Sale e Pepe, what an amazing re-vamp of a much loved classic! Great food, great service, great atmosphere, everything felt polished and up-to-date. Had a wonderful time, amazing!

Our server/manager Elisa was incredible!! She recommended the perfect wine to match our desired flavor profile. The service was impeccable not only from Elisa but also from the other members of the staff. The food was absolutely delicious. The lamb cooked to perfection, the outstanding combination of squash, pea puree and homemade tortellini, yum. The desert (warm brownie, fresh baked chocolate chip cookie and vanilla ice cream) was a dream. Elisa's conversation and attention personalized our whole experience. We are from the states but if we lived in London this would be our favorite restaurant.

The restaurant has recently been redecorated and it looks amazing! Ambience, food and service fantastic as ever. We had a wonderful evening!

A gem nestled in the heart of Knightsbridge, this restaurant offers an exceptional dining experience. The staff are warm, attentive, and highly professional, ensuring every detail is taken care of to create unforgettable memories. The food is simply outstanding, with a remarkable wine selection to match. I highly recommend trying the Lobster Linguine. it’s truly divine!

We were served by Elisa, super kind and helpful. Excellent quality throughout, highly recommend!

We were REALLY DISAPPOINTED! The food was average-calamari was great but the caco di Pepe, tortellini, salmon, and risotto verde were average. The service was TERRIBLE- we had to ask for more water after working to flag down a server and the same thing happened when we wanted another round or some bread. Definitely felt ignored for mostly average food and high price.

Delightful! Your tastebuds are in for a treat. Super delicious food. The service was excellent they made you feel so special, and the atmosphere was cosy and friendly with sexy lighting A wonderful time was had! My new favourite restaurant.

The most wonderful evening, the lobster spaghetti was divine and the staff were super attentive and friendly. Relaxed, intimate atmosphere, the perfect evening was had by all. I can’t wait to go back!

Great experience. Food was wonderful. Chef came out and walked us through the strategy.

We were a group of girls on a special birthday outing. This was the perfect place - the staff were exceptional and made sure I had everything I needed... and everything I tasted was wonderful.

Absolutely fabulous night celebrating my friends 40th birthday. Fantastic wine, amazing food and great service and atmosphere! Will defo visit again soon YUM !

Amazing hidden gem in one of the best London neighborhood! The food is the perfect combination of sophistication and traditional italian trattoria!

Delicious dishes, very nice service. They offer a gluten-free option.

The cola bottle served open and half empty, after complaining they brought a new one but not cold. Moreover, the waiting time between finishing the starters and serving the main course was more than 20 minutes!! All that for one dish of pasta!!! The food was amazing, but I can’t understand why they don’t care about the whole experience.

Outstanding !!! Fantastic as always. Can’t wait to go back

I had been coming to this restaurant for the better part of 20 years my last time in 2017 and then a hiatus due to COVID-19. The food was good though not as good as I remember it, could be nostalgia “the good old days”. Though some of the menu changes throughout the years were better this last iteration not so much. I imagine you have to fit with the bougie restaurants around, what a pity. The food was good just seems to have lost a bit of what I think made it a very good restaurant with honest Italian food with a flair. Nothing lasts forever. The service was outstanding very attentive staff the floor manager was on top of the restaurant and very engaged with all of her guests. Just wow on service. This was way way better than my last visit. The value was subpar in fact quite expensive. I’ve had meals as good or better for far less, during this visit to London. This was perhaps the worst part of the experience. It’s like rooting for your team when they did themselves in. My thoughts is go back to your roots forget about the bougie surroundings. Come back to earth and serve good honest Italian food.

Love the new look at Sale e Pepe. Exceptional service as always with a variety of classic Italian dishes to chose from. Bellissimo!!

This is our favorite restaurant in London. The food is incredible. We really enjoy the pasta dishes and the sole meunière. Staff are very welcoming. This is a small restaurant, a reservation is recommended. You cannot go wrong here. I been coming here for decades and always look forward to visiting the restaurant.

Very happy with the food and experience.

Was a special occasion but we didn’t feel very special. Had to ask waitress for drinks & to take our food order. Given price of food had expected an overall better experience. No obvious person in charge & no one asked if our meal was ok & no one said goodbye & thank you when we left