Sambuca in Southend-on-Sea

This was our favourite restaurant food is excellent, used to visit at least once a month and was really friendly however last night birthday meal only young waitress was helpful and polite others not wanting to talk, shame very petty and ruined our night out seems carmine has done his best to alienate me and staff

Nothing is too much trouble a lovely family run business

My family and I have been to this restaurant many times and it never disappoints. The food is great and very reasonably priced. Staff are welcoming and friendly. I'm sure we'll be back again soon! Would definitely recommend!

Visited this cosy family run Italian restaurant last night and wow where do I start, the welcome and friendliness of the staff was above and beyond. I ordered the carbonara which is my favourite dish and by far this is the best I've tasted, good sized portion and let's just say if I could have licked the plate I would have! I will definitely be going back soon and on a regular basis. A+++++ Not many family run places left nowadays so get booking and support amazing businesses like this one. 😘

Lovely little family run place. They catered to our larger group really well. Great prices and big portion sizes

Had a pre theatre meal here. This restaurant is a real gem. It's like stepping into your grandma's front parlour for dinner. Very quaint, such friendly service,very Italian family hospitality and SO reasonable. It won,t be to everyone's liking but I love it!!

Nice friendly place excellent food great service & good value

Had a lovely meal this evening at Sambuca. Very friendly and food was so tasty and total value for money. I would highly recommend a visit.

What a great little restaurant, great vibes family run lovely food service was 1st class there is nothing i can say was negative about this quaint little place

We came here twice in two weeks and both times exceptional. We came with a group of friends after we had recommended Sambuca. They loved it! Second time was with family who enjoyed their first visit so much, wanted to come back. What more can we say?

REAL Italian restaurant and cuisine, run by an Italian family from Campania so the cuisine is excellent, in short if you are looking for a bit of Italy in England this place is right for you.

So nice in there so polite ,food came quick even though it was busy , potions were massive absolutely loved it!!!!

We visited the restaurant for the first time and was very impressed with the homely feel and warm welcome. It felt like we had been transported back to ltaly. The food was fantastic lots of choice and great service can't fault it and the prices are amazing we can't wait to go back actually we will be going back for my birthday meal highly recommended .

Visited this restaurant On a Saturday in July on the recommendation of a very good friend. If you are looking for new modern cutting edge this is not for you, but, if you want to experience a feel of homely and a bit of a seventies vibe it’s great. The prices are unbelievable. We had steak which was amazing and carbonara which was excellent . Smoked salmon to start and a prawn cocktail (had to really !) desserts coffees brandies . A bill so low I haven’t seen in many years . Great little venue pre theatre would be good too . Long May this restaurant continue.

Excellent food and a very friendly atmosphere, really enjoyed the food. Would recommend to others .

Lovely food, we enjoyed the couple meal deal and the service was lovely too

We popped in here as we needed somewhere to eat quickly before going to the theatre. They couldn’t have been lovelier. We were quickly given two large plates of lasagna which was delicious. We were only sorry we couldn’t stay longer. Great price & fantastic value & super tasty.

Really lovely people in a marvellous value restaurant. The portions are big so be prepared! Leave a generous tip they deserve it.

A lovely homely restaurant with a real family feel. The waitress was welcoming and the place was quite full and bustly so obviously quite popular. We were struck by how inexpensive the dishes and wine were but unfortunately we didn't enjoy our lasagne and sea bass. The portions were generous but the lasagne was mostly tomato and little meat and the sea bass, though huge, was covered in a sea food sauce that didn't appeal to me. Maybe we were just unlucky with our choices as other diners seemed happy. All that being said, we enjoyed our evening.

Brilliant family run restaurant

I am going back several years it was run by an elderly couple And the food tasted terrible , I just hope it’s changed for the better

Thank you for another delicious, value for money meal. We love it here. Came with our family and they will now tell their friends the same. Excellent. Will be back!

Lovely food, very friendly and helpful staff. Felt it was a great night out without being ripped off

Lovely family run restaurant food was delicious and a very reasonable priced definitely go back again lovely atmosphere

Very friendly place with good service and food.

Can't recommend this place enough! Friendly, cosy atmosphere and fantastic food.

Found this little resturant. and what a gem it is food is amazing people that own it are the most caring genuine couldn't have been more helpful in recommending menu as I'm a fussy eater. Will definitely be returning if I could give 10 ⭐ I would

Lovely home cooked family restaurant.

Very nice food 😋 lovely people 😊 very good value for money 💰

Poor quality food, very bland, avoid.

Booked on recommendation from a family member. Didn't book, just walked in. There was only 1 table being used. Very dated, inside and out. Ordered starters of garlic bread and a few mushroom dishes, which were slow to come out, but we're tasty and hot (good start) The mains again took a while to come out, my wife had veal which she enjoyed. My son had lasagne, which unfortunately had no flavour, my wife tasted it and confirmed. I had Diane steak, the steak was meant to be sirloin. I have no idea what it was, as it was all fat and gristle and had no flavour. The sauce also had no flavour. Whether this explains the lack of online presence, I don't know. But we won't be returning, and I wouldn't recommend to anyone. Even the chain Italian restaurants are a lot better than here.

This place is awful, the addition of fairylights should have been a warning, but we went in. To say this place is dated would be an understatement (stuck in the 80s) and was very, very cosy. We were told to take a seat which we eventually did once we had found one that wasn't dirty or ripped. Our drink order was taken promptly but took about 10 minutes to arrive. I had a diet coke that was flat and my wife an apple juice (which was ok). We ordered and had to wait 20 minutes for 2 plates of mushrooms. I had garlic and chilli ones and my wife had deep fried ones with spinach. Mine was ok (but I make better ones at home) and my wife's were was microwaved. For mains, we both chose veal only to be told that they had run out. What type of Italian restaurant runs out of veal? As risotto wasn't listed (another shock) we went for rhe steak. I ordered a sirloin and my wife a fillet. When mine arrived, I immediately though 'that's not a sirloin'. It was massive and smothered in sauce that hid a whole host of nasties. The steak hadn't been trimmed, had gristle and tendons still attached (I'm a former butcher). I managed to eat half of it but the rest I had to leave as it was inedible. My wife said hers was OK, but nothing special. The dessert menu was tiny and had no tiramisu. Paid £48 for the privilege and started to feel unwell on the bus ride home. Good points...steak cooked well and the fact that we left. Bad points...flat coke, dirty cutlery and plates, lack of traditional dishes, below average food. Not going back.

Thanks very much it was a great night out for family and friends food great good time was had by all will be back soon

This is a gem in the heart of Southend which serves authentic Italian food. The portions are beyond generous and the staff is extremely polite. I would definitely recommend this to anyone in the area!

Such a lovely restaurant. We love it there been every month since Xmas. Lovely fresh food cooked from fresh lovely staff.

Not only is the food here delicious, but the atmosphere is unmatched. The owners and their family make you feel so welcomed, it's always a wonderful time when me and my family come here!

A very nice small friendly place, family run & serving tasty traditional Italian food. Highly recommended

Old School Real Italian food , excellent service

Just a hidden gem food fabulous made to feel so welcome nothing to much trouble. Can't fault it been back loads 🙂🙂🙂

Lovely meal......super atmosphere...... extremely good value for money...... we've visited twice within the week as we were so impressed on our first visit 😋

This was a lovely experience very nice friendly place excellent food sirloin steak was perfectly cooked medium rare whole meal with drinks for two was 33.00👍🏻🥂great value would definitely recommend a visit!

We stumbled upon this place by accident looking for somewhere nice to eat... The food was amazing! 😍👌 Best steak we've both ever had cooked to perfection and great service and atmosphere... Family run and make u feel welcome 👍😊

Amazing steak. never had a better steak, and certainly not at this price. lovely meal the best Tiramisu i have ever had. also my liquor coffee was amazing.

A lovely homely Italian restaurant. The food is delicious and very reasonably priced. The service is excellent. Yes it might look a bit dated but it has character and feels like an authentic Italian restaurant. Highly recommended!

The food at Sambuca is exceptional! We have been coming here, off and on, for 20 years. The look of the place had barely changed. And neither had the superior quality of the Italian cuisine that is served here. Where else can you get a fillet steak, cooked to perfection, for under £15? Or a meal deal for £38 - which includes a bottle of House Red! Yes we also like trendy restaurants. But sometimes modern isn’t the best way to go - especially as you’re paying 50% more for the same food ‘cos you’re actually paying for the decor! Delicious food. Dean Martin through the speakers. Retro and very comfortable. Southend’s best kept secret!

Love going here they are very friendly and the food is cooked to order, lovely fresh and hot.

Visited Sambuca for a double Birthday celebration on a friend's recommendation, and it certainly lived up to expectations. The food is unbelievably exceptional for the price, and we could not fault anything. We will be going back soon to try the Canneloni!

Excellent food xx been here many times and always wonderful service xx thank you

Great food always freshly cooked value for money

Haven’t been here for years I’d say a good 15. Still very good authentic Italian food, good menu and portions. Pasta dishes are amazing, the carbonara was spot on as was the chicken dish. Service is friendly and homely as it’s family run and they greet you well. Just needs a major revamp very dated especially outside. It’s not one to rake your eye.

En una breve estancia en Westcliff hemos cenado en dos ocasiones aquí, lo cual indica lo a gusto que hemos estado. Si volvemos por esta zona sin duda repetiremos.

My mum and I stumbled upon this place in a bit of a rush ( we had 50 minutes before going to the theatre ) We managed to park a few paces down the road and popped in to see if they could fit us in. The little lady was only too pleased to help, and warned the kitchen that we were in a bit of a rush. We managed to squeeze in 2 courses and we were very happy. The food is very reasonable and to be knowledge home cooked, fresh and tasty. I am really pleased to have accidentally found a nice little Italian to go to before the theatre and we will definitely be going there again.

Always cracking food love it in there.. You know wot I'm editing my review as I love it ! I normally pop in with a friend or my girly.. Can I recommend a sirloin steak with sorte potatoes..mixed veg with cauliflower cheese.. I normally have a home made garlic bread with cheese to start..with a couple of poroni's while I'm waiting... I take my hat off to these guys as I always feel so so welcome! Great Value as well. Best Regards CLIVE LOVELY

Totally fantastic in every way, simply the best food I've ever eaten 5 stars isn't enough and so very friendly, perfection x

Food and service outstanding, as always, a family ran Italian restaurant, family friendly food cooked fresh and continental style dining where if you cut you can spend the whole evening enjoying your meal as they are happy for you to drink chat and take as long as you wish between courses.

Very poor excuse for Italian restaurant. No pizza really shoddy pastas that looked microwaced Not worth the visit

Been coming here since I was a baby and never had a bad meal. Fantastic selection, fabulous staff, a cosy atmosphere and reasonably priced.

We have been visiting this restaurant every few weeks for the last five years and decided it is time to sing it's praises. We have been to many restaurants in the Southend area but this is our favourite . It definitely offers the best value of all we have been to.The food is just like home cooking and is delicious. Gerardo and Annelina , who have been here for over 30 years , and daughters Elena and Maria along with the grandchildren provide a very friendly homely atmosphere which is difficult to find these days. Tom and Jean

Lovely meal great service highly recommended

I know from the outside, this long established family run restaurant, doesn't necessarily inspire but the welcome inside is warm and real.There is a good menu with all your favourite Italian dishes prepared fresh in the Kitchen. The owner is so passionate about creating the quintessential Italian family atmosphere he explained he was quite happy to provide whatever the customer wanted from beans on toast to tournedos rossini! I would recommend a visit to Sambuca so you can experience the warmth for yourself.

An unpretentious well established, family run Italian restaurant in Westcliff. They serve the best steaks at reasonable prices in the Southend area.The food is always good and their wines as well. Well worth a visit.

I like to support family run independent places but sorry to say never again.The place was cold.Side Plates All Stained and looked like been there all year.Knife and folks with dried food stuck to them.Glasses dirty with we assume mint leaves dried on the inside bottom of the glass.Had prawn and melon started, prawns nuked...Scampi main basic and was ill the next day...Sorry just no confidence in the food....

Not very good. Chips not cooked properly. No champagne available to celebrate double bithday

We were recommended to eat here but I was not that impressed.There were very few people when we arrived but did get quite busy.Starter was lovely but it was something I do at home out of a packet and Microwaved. The mains for me was ok but my friends had raw chips and frozen prawns.

Don't walk pass this place when looking for somewhere to eat good food and great value. All this and coupled with great and friendly service. Lovely family run restaurant and I can never understand why it is not always busy. Maybe people are put off by the exterior and first look at the interior. But as they say do not judge a book by it's cover. The fillet steak is superb and it can be served with different sauces if required. Vegetables always cooked to order lovely and hot and fresh. I intend try the pasta on my next visit but no doubt will order the steak.

Fab food , good atmosphere, friendly staff

Finally i have been forced to write a review on this restaurant after 4 years of eating here by my wife. I still wanted to keep it a secret so we can get in anytime (probably have to book from now on). The Italian owner Gerard and his wife and daughter have owned this place for over 30 years and are lovely lovely people...Now the food, we normally have fillet steak with whatever types of potato and vegetables we fancy and I would 100% say no other restaurant in the area can better the taste size and value and we eat at different places every week. It is probably the best value restaurant as well, that we have been to. Nothing is too much trouble for these lovely people to make sure your meal is superb. Please do not judge this place by the outside or partially dated interior, the food out ways this and the portions are large ( not nouveau cuisine, pay a fortune and get nothing) We cannot praise the restaurant or its owners enough, please try it for yourself. Probably not the place for teenagers, let them pay a fortune at a chain restaurant and leave this lovely place to people who appreciate good food ...(The Private Taste Testers.)

First of all, please don't be put off by the exterior of this place (which looks like a dentist's surgery to me!), nor by the slightly dated decor inside- this is a proper restaurant serving home-made food, not a flashy chain restaurant.

I visit Sambuca everytime I come to Southend..beautiful quality food in a family run restaurant that welcome you lovingly like a long lost cousin!!will definitely vist again!

Estaba un poco preocupado cuando entramos en este lugar, ya que parecía un poco cutre y anticuado. Sin embargo, la comida es deliciosa. Las porciones abundantes y los precios muy razonables. Esta fue mi primera visita, pero sin duda no será la última. Una muy buena antigua italiana con un servicio muy amable.

El menú en la ventana parecía limitado, pero el menú completo es mucho más grande. Pequeño restaurante familiar con comida deliciosa pasta italiana (hay un montón de otras opciones pero también). Generosas porciones. Servicio de comida rápida pero no es preparado a pedido, nadie apresura. Gran relación calidad-precio.

Great atmosphere great service excellent food

Me and my family have been coming here for years. Ever since my wife and I were dating. Our son is now 3 and we take him with us too. They are fantastic with him. The food is superb and the staff are polite and friendly . By far our favorite restaurant.

Amazing food , very nice inveroment

Great food and atmosphere Perfectly placed near the theatre

Mamma mia! What a restaurant. I go to Italy a fair amount and it's like being back there at this restaurant! FYI we found best value nearby parking at Victoria Avenue, SS2 6AL!

Fantastic evening and food, food and drink great value for money and children welcome, highly recommend

Been there many times and have loved it everytime!

Si viviese en la zona de SOUTHEND, este sería un preferido mío. Aparentemente, no tiene Sambuca cambiado en treinta y ocho años! Bueno! Saben que sus clientes quieren. Tener la esperanza de pistas de sonido restaurante de gritar divas sonar como ellos tenían sobresale Mantovani, fue apagados.! Era como visitar a nuestros parientes italianos en casa. Muebles antiguos, alfombras y cortinas antiguo antiguo, pero todo estaba limpio. Viejos amigos y clientes llamando como un club. Un viejo Momma que lo atendieron y supo suministro en estilos pizzieola suculentos filetes y rossini con Papas lyonnais. No puedo recordar cuándo cenamos tan relajados y tranquilos. Termine con un Tiramisú y café y se mostró reacio a dejar. Todo era sólo alrededor de 25 libras. Baratos! Puede que no cambie nunca y me hubiera gustado que Momma ininterrumpida de treinta y ocho años otra!

Estuve allí en 2011, por primera vez. Estaba allí para cenar con la familia y amigos. Como la cálida hospitalidad del dueño del restaurante, un negocio familiar. No puedo recordar qué otros alimentos que pedimos, pero hasta hoy, todavía recuerdo la sopa de cebolla francesa fue celestial. Este año, voy a volver de nuevo y he solicitado a mi familia para que me lleven allí. Nos vemos pronto!!! :D

Great family run business. Very polite and friendly staff. Great food. Especially the veggie lasagne. Can't get enough of it 😄😃

Small family run restaurant very friendly excellent service. Food was very nice and plentiful. Very good value.

This is a fab restaurant. OK, so the whole place is a bit !!!!! dated, but the food is exceptional value for money, really yummy and well cooked. It is a family run business, and when it's not busy, the elderly, but lovely chef is seated front of house. drinking red wine or coffee, but as the diners come in, he goes out to the kitchen. His wife, bless her, is a diomond, very attentive and cannot do enough to please her customers. Well worth a visit.

I have walked/driven past this restaurant for well over 35 years and never entered through the doors until a couple of weeks ago. Friendly staff and plenty of choice as to where to sit as the place wasn't too busy. The decor is a bit dated but that shouldn't affect the quality/taste of the food. The portions are large - so big that my other half had hers put into a doggy bag to take home - the veg especially so. The only complaint I have is concerning the quality of meat - my steak was very gristly and I noticed other diners also creating a pile of non edible bits on the side of their plates.All in all - we had the £12/head menu (for 2 courses but I paid extra for a sweet!!) 2 bottles of wine and the bill came to £47 - this is great value but I wouldn't mind paying a couple of pounds extra and getting some decent meat!

Good quality Italian home cooking in relaxed style. Just like being in someones front room. Service can be a little slow but that's because the owner/chef cooks it all himself with so short cuts. Typically £38 per couple for three courses including wine. You can't go wrong!

Sunday night and the restaurant was very quiet but that was to our advantage because the service was good and very friendly. Both the starters and main courses were excellent and the portions were such that I couldn`t finish the steak which was cooked to perfection. My husband had the sea bass, two fillets,so a good sized portion.This is such a lovely cosy Italian restaurant and I`m sure it would be continually busy if the parking was not such a hassle.

I've taken friends, family and partner here. It's such a cosy little place like going into an Italians house and getting your dinner cooked for you. All the food is freshly cooked and staff are so warm and welcoming. The place has real character, a place you can totally relax and chill out. Staff do not pester you constantly. The prices of the food is so reasonable. A lovely family run business. Will always be a firm favourite for me.

My friend and I visited Sambuca recently on a Friday night. I hadn't been to this Italian restaurant in years - and what a lovely place. Very homely and it was obvious that a lot of the other diners were regulars. The Menu was very extensive with a good selection of Specials but above all, it was incredibly reasonable. We had Stuffed Mushrooms With Pate and King Prawns With Garlic Butter to start, followed by Fillet Steak Diane and Sea Bass. A bottle of Pinot Grigio and Tiramisu with an extra glass of House White Wine and all of this came to less than £50 (excluding any tip / service charge). Our young Waitress was lovely, attentive and bubbly :) The restaurant itself is homely and perhaps could do with updating but I bet that is how it can offer such good food at really reasonable prices!!!!!! Lots of people might pass by this place as the outside is very ordinary but please do try it. If you are looking for good Italian food at really great prices then head here...

Lovely and unpretentious food, generous portions, good quality house wine. Whether eating from the set menus or going a-la-carte, you can come away having enjoyed a bottle of wine each, with friendly service and spent under £25 per head including service.

The sambuca is a gorgeous little italian ,staff are excellent n friendly and the food is out of thiscworld .have been there several times before n the food just gets better .well done anella n geraldo

I went to this lovely little Italian at the weekend. This was the first time although I have driven past it several times on my way to work, so what can I say. Well the food was absolutely delicious, tasty and above all big portions. The steak that I had was to die for, the chicken valdostana my husband had was so tasty that I couldn't resist pinching some. We definitely did not come away from there hungry! The staff were very welcoming and attentive. The atmosphere is of a typical little Italian restaurant in Italy. We will definitely be going back and becoming one of their regulars. Thank you Sambuca for a lovely fulfilling meal.

A few years ago now my wife, myself, my friend and his wife wanted to go somewhere for a night out somewhere different and walking down London road came up to Sambuca restaurant. Unfortunately the outside look wasn't very inviting and didn't look that good so ended up walking on and found a restaurant literally a few doors down, which we loved and continued to go for a good 2 or 3 years. How gutting and disappointed I feel for initially passing Sambuca.Valentines day 2015 the meal at the restaurant a few doors down was appalling and ended up walking out 2 hours later after still not being served and walked back up the road toward Sambuca. As we got to the restaurant a couple were walking out so we asked them what this place was like and they couldn't praise it high enough, especially the steak.So, in we went. We were greeted immediately in what was a great friendly atmosphere and were shown to our table and given either the choice of a set menu or their normal menu.For the starters I had the stuffed mushrooms with Pate and by god they were fantastic. Now I am not usually a steak person but remembering what the couple said at the door I thought I would go for it, so I went for the Steak Diane medium-rare. I have to honestly say this has to be the best piece of steak that I have tasted in my life (I'm 46!!) it was succulent, juicy and was, just simply, PERFECT!.The sides that we ordered were plentiful and great value for money considering the amount you got. In the end we had a great night and the food was just outstanding.Although the outside doesn't look great and the inside looks a little dated I think it just adds a little charm and Italian flavour to the place but the moral of this story is..... ....Do not judge a book by it's coverIf only we had gone in there them few years ago! We definitely would of been super regular loyal customers, but in saying that we will be from now on.Writing this review my mouth is watering just thinking of the place and can't wait to get back there again!Thank You sambuca for a great night and especially for the great, no, fantastic food!

Went here on a Friday night with my partner after remembering that when j went years ago I loved it. Really nice atmosphere and staff are very welcoming. We have a 3 course meal each and 2 bottles of wine and it came to under £60! This was including mains of steak and veal, all the food was lovely and you get such big portions. Would highly recommend

Lovely family run restaurant. Food so good everyone must go. ☺ Lovely atmosphere and drinks are great too

We went there last nite an its nicely decorated but the staff could be dressed smarter no Italian music on either. Starters were not good plain garlic bread too needscmore flavor. Main course was good an so was dessert but could have more of a dessert menu. U get wat u pay for overall would go back for mains but nothing else

We have eaten at Sambuca several times now and never been anything but very happy. The food is great and very plentiful, the service is attentive and very friendly and the prices are very reasonable. Recently 10 of us went for my wife's birthday and they were fantastic even amusing Oscar (aged 18 months and into everything). Cannot understand why they are not queuing round the block to get in. The decor is a little dated but this adds to the "old school Italian family run" feel of the place. Go there.

I came into Sambucca's with a friend over from Italy and he is quite particular when it comes to Italian food and I must say we both thoroughly enjoyed our meals. There was also plenty of it, none of that fancy decorative food which leaves you just as hungry after you've finished it. The food was also very well priced. We would both go back.

I had dinner here with a friend a couple of weeks ago. We were a bit apprehensive at first as the restaurant is quite homely and small. The food was very good , my friend had a steak which was apparently one of the best he has ever had! . There isn't loads to choose from on the menu but as our meals were so well cooked that isn't really a drawback to me and i would definitely go again. The restaurant is very reasonably priced and personally i prefer it to other italians in the same area. If you like good food and value for money and are not too worried if you aren't in a 'fancy restaurant' ! give this a try ....

Just had a beautiful meal at Sambuca with my boyfriend, we went in search of an Italian last minute on a Friday evening and the food was delicious we both had fillet steaks which were beautifully cooked we will definitely be returning! I've eaten in a lot of Michelin starred restaurants in London and I have to say in my view it's up there with some of the best and even beats those acclaimed to be the best!

If you want a good atmos and great hosts then try sambuca we always have the steak and it's always delicious!