I tried this place on a spur of the moment solo date and I am so glad I did. Their food is incredible. Absolutely the best carbonara I've had in a VERY long time. The garlic bread was better than I anticipated (pic was taken after I'd already ate 2 pieces by the way so it comes with a lot!!) Service was A1... forgot my waitresses name but she had the most beautiful pink eyeshadow look. Very kind and attentive. I also noticed what I am assuming is the owner walking around the dining room, stopping at each table to ask how the food is and to chit chatting with a few tables. He takes a lot of pride in this restaurant and it SHOWS... through not only him personally interacting with guests, but also his service staff and most importantly... the incredible food!! read more

Sabatino’s Ristorante - Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Wake Forest, North Carolina

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Great food we got -fried cheese -fettuccine Alfredo with breaded chicken (so creamy and delicious-the tables favorite) - chicken parm (solid choice, as expected) -lobster ravioli (I'm guessing made in house, the most lobster I've ever seen in a ravioli, was yummy) Service was very friendly & welcoming got our order correct. A lil slow with getting bill at end but still learning stage of opening. We will be back read more

Sabatino's Ristorante is located in the Crenshaw Corners Shopping Center in Wake Forest; it serves Northern Italian food and pizza. The restaurant space inside was much larger than I expected, and I was told upon entering that I could seat myself. I was initially the only customer in the entire restaurant, but as new customers arrived, the waitress seated them near me instead of providing space between customers. The layout features an outside covered patio, two distinct inside dining sections, and a bar area. I chose to sit in the room with the painted wall mural because it featured a television playing relaxing images. Unfortunately, that screen timed out right around the time my food arrived and was never fixed while I was there. The background music also cut out a few times, though staff eventually turned it back on. The health score was just a 92, so lower than places I'd normally dine. For lunch, I was given both the lunch and wine menus, but my waitress let me know I could also order from the main dinner menu. I decided to order the Prosciutto & Fig Pizza, which took longer than expected to get to my table. My waitress was friendly, but she wasn't the most attentive. She appeared to be the only server working all the tables and seemed a little overwhelmed; it would have helped if she had multitasked a little. While my iced tea was refilled once, it took far too long to get a simple to-go box at the end of the meal. When she finally brought it out, she told me she'd be right back with the check; however, since they use handheld digital payment devices, she could have easily taken care of the transaction when she dropped off the box. Things definitely could have run much smoother, and I was disappointed that I was never even asked if I wanted to order dessert. On a positive note, I thoroughly enjoyed the actual pizza. It featured great flavors with a sweet fig base, mozzarella, prosciutto, fresh arugula, and a balsamic glaze drizzled on top. My only critique is that the prosciutto pieces should have been cut much smaller so they stayed securely on the slice, or the meat needed to be cooked slightly into the cheese to melt it in place. The flavors themselves were very good, even if the service and atmosphere left a lot of room for improvement. read more

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Tried this new spot in Wake Forest on a recent Tuesday nite. The building has taken over a space previously occupied by another Italian restaurant. Interior is essentially the same - modern, well lit. There are 2 rooms separates by a low divider, plus an outside patio. Tables are spaced well and even though every table was full conversation is comfortable without shouting. The menu is filled with Italian standards, everything from pasta to pizza. Prices are moderate for a sit down meal - we spent $75 for 3 entrees. Definitely family friendly. Our server was friendly and engaging. Service is on the slow side - it took 20 minutes from order to service. Because it was a packed house I'm sure the kitchen was slammed. Warm bread and dipping oil served after orders taken. Delicious spice blend in the oil! We tried eggplant parmesan, papardelle bolognese and rigatoni with vodka sauce. Portions are enormous, took home half of each. Bolognese was good. Very meaty, with some cream added to the red sauce. Perhaps a little too much for the plate - it seemed like equal amounts if sauce and pasta. Papardelle was slightly overcooked which made it a little chewy. Still, a delicious entree. Eggplant also good. Thinly sliced eggplant, breaded and fried then layered and baked topped with sweet red sauce and melted mozzarella. Big winner is rigatoni. This pasta perfectly al dente. Vodka sauce light and creamy. Just enough sauce to complement the pasta rather than swimming in it. Overall this is a solid spot for Italian food. Nothing unique or fancy but good food, well prepared, served piping hot. read more

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Love a new local restaurant and Italian. We have visited twice and both times the food has been excellent. The Manager Pasquale (sp?) has been very nice and attentive. They will have pizza but not until they have the right people in place. read more

We celebrated a birthday here on a weeknight. Kind staff, yummy food! Big portions and had plenty to bring home for the next days lunch. read more

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Great food and service. I had the Veal Parma and my wife had the Lasagna. Both were awesome. Did lunch and wasn't packed

Every thing was great. Chicken Parm and Eggplant Rollotini . Wonderful! We are so happy to have it in our town! read more

The service was excellent. My chicken parm was nice and cheesey and the place was crowded but not overbearingly so. The prices were quite decent and the linguine with clam sauce was very good. read more

Excellent! Food, service, and atmosphere were all great! We had a wonderful experience and look forward to returning.

Food is good, service is friendly, but not good. They were very busy on a Friday night. Our order was taken and after a long wait, our appetizer and entrees came out at the same time. We were starving, so didn't send the entrees back. Food wise, meatball appetizer was very tasty. Soft meatballs with a big chunk of ricotta and a rich tomato sauce. Branzino was perfectly fileted, cooked and seasoned. Risotto underneath was bland--seemed like it was just buttered rice. Asparagus on the plate was very good, nicely cooked and seasoned. Eggplant rollatini was one of the best we've had, crispy, tasty, lots of nice cheese in the middle. Spaghetti on the side was also very good. I think we'll be back--I hope they can improve the service. read more

This place is delicious!! The service is wonderful and always top notch. We love the atmosphere. Make a reservation because it is often very busy!! The owner goes out of his way to ensure meals are accurate and the service is great. Highly recommend!! read more

Will have to come back. Stopped in for Lunch and looked at the lunch menu that was outside and they had some really nice sandwiches on there. Unfortunately when we sat down we're told they don't do lunch on Saturdays. This was after we had ordered our beer so we finished those and left without eating because it was early and could not eat a big dinner menu item. Will have to come back for dinner or Lunch on a weekday since they don't participate in lunch during the weekends. read more

A friend and I went to Sabatino's for the first time a couple of weeks ago. The atmosphere was nice, and busy on a Friday night. The bartender gave us suggestions on what to order and the food was delicious. The wine complimented the dinner perfectly. Spoke with the owner and he was so nice to talk to about the restaurant! I can't wait to go back! read more

I really try to give grace to local restaurants in Wake Forest because we honestly don't have that many great options. I want places here to succeed, but unfortunately this visit was pretty disappointing. After being seated, we waited about 10 minutes before our waiter came to the table. Instead of asking about drinks, he immediately asked for our food order. We had to offer our drink order ourselves and also placed appetizers at the same time. It then took another 10 minutes just to get a glass of wine. Our appetizers finally arrived. The mozzarella sticks were hit or miss -- two people at the table liked them, but I thought they were bland and actually cold in the middle. Not terrible, but definitely not great. The garlic cheese bread, however, was hot, cheesy, and probably the best thing we had all night. Then the real problems started. My son's entrée came out first. Ten minutes later my wife's showed up. Another 25 minutes later the final two entrées arrived. That's nearly a 35-minute spread for a table of four. Entrées should always come out together -- this felt incredibly unprofessional. To make matters worse, one of the last dishes was completely wrong. My 17-year-old son ordered spaghetti and meatballs and received a different spaghetti dish altogether. Here's the rundown on the food: - My wife's chicken Caesar salad: 5/10 - My older son's linguine fettuccine: he said Olive Garden is better (ouch) - My youngest son's spaghetti: bland and dry - My penne all'arrabbiata: the pasta itself was good, but I added chicken and it was dry, bland, and flavorless. Has the kitchen heard of seasoning or brining? In the end we had four glasses of wine, a couple of average appetizers, and very mediocre entrées -- and the bill was $218 for four people. With the slow service, the food issues, and the completely staggered entrées, it was disappointing that no manager ever came by or offered something as simple as a complimentary dessert. I truly want local restaurants in Wake Forest to do well, but based on this experience we probably won't be back. read more

The Best Italian Food Around, and Pasquale Makes It Even Better For years, finding a truly outstanding Italian restaurant in the Wake Forest area has been a challenge. We were regulars at a fantastic Italian restaurant in a Wake Forest strip mall that unfortunately went downhill quickly after it was sold. We also frequented a higher-end Italian restaurant known for its old-world charm, but after many of our favorite menu items disappeared, we stopped going altogether and haven't been back in over two years. Thankfully, our search is over. From the moment you walk into Sabatino's, you're greeted by a warm, welcoming atmosphere that immediately makes you feel at home. The restaurant strikes the perfect balance between casual comfort and authentic Italian charm, creating an experience that keeps us coming back. The food is simply exceptional and rivals some of the best Italian dishes we've had anywhere in the area. The Gamberi Oreganati is a fantastic appetizer and the perfect way to start your meal. Every entrée comes with fresh, authentic Italian bread that is absolutely delicious and a refreshing change from the ordinary bread baskets served elsewhere. Two standout entrées that we highly recommend are the Veal Marsala and the Branzino. Both are expertly prepared, beautifully presented, and packed with flavor. These dishes alone are worth the visit and demonstrate the quality and attention to detail that set Sabatino's apart. What truly elevates the experience, however, is Pasquale. In an era when genuine hospitality seems increasingly rare, Pasquale is a breath of fresh air. He is always welcoming, friendly, attentive, and focused on ensuring that every guest has a memorable dining experience. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a regular, he makes you feel genuinely appreciated and cared for. Between the outstanding food, inviting atmosphere, authentic hospitality, and consistently excellent service, Sabatino's has become our clear favorite Italian restaurant. For residents of Wake Forest, Youngsville, and North Raleigh, this is the Italian restaurant you've been looking for. Sabatino's is now our go-to Italian restaurant, and we couldn't recommend it more highly. read more

Heard nothing but great things about this newcomer. The service is a little uneven - we sat for 10-15 before the server came - after that she was fine - We were 4 adults and a 15 year old The pizza was good - We ordered 3 apps : meatballs , rice balls , mussels and clams 3 pastas -pappardelle bolognese ; gnocchi , & linguine vongole Chicken Marsala - The food is better than most. Portions are above avg, nothing crazy - The check was $220 we had a little left over. A decent addition to the area - read more

Sabatino's is a fantastic addition to Wake Forest. Delicious food at reasonable prices along with a nice bar area and a solid wine list. The servers also do a great job taking care of guests. It's telling that every time I have visited, Pasquale Sabatino has been working the dining room to personally check on his guests. This is a local restaurant making great food with an owner who cares about customer service. One visit will turn you into a regular! read more

NO PIZZA at a pizza place??? Why open? Extremely sloooow service Waitress assumed we only wanted water. Impossible to get a soft drink refill. Did I mention no pizza??? I mean it's on the sign. It's on the menu. But it's not in the kitchen. So I ordered the garlic cheese bread. Not worth the effort. Might come back when they decide to have pizza but that's a maybe. read more

Awesome experience! First time there and Pasquale at the bar made sure we had a fantastic time! Food was amazing. Can't wait to go back!

Service was hours late for our party of 6 this evening. Drinks were an hour late. I asked the server to bring the 2 non alcoholic drinks before taking the entre order. He declined. The wine server said he never opened a bottle of wine before this job. The bartender said he had trouble training his staff. How is that my problem? I told him we were all from NY. He said he was from Italy. So What! The food was okay. Not great. The bill was approximately $350. Tip was auto included for a party of 6. No accommodation was made. I'll stick with Il baccio. Seating was comfortable. read more

Another great meal at this relatively new restaurant in Wake Forest! After 3 consecutive positive experiences, I'm booking my monthly dinner club event here to share the joy! The owner, Pasquale, has done this right with friendly service, authentic quality food, and neighborhood friendly prices that make this an exceptional value! read more

Hello everyone ! I'm here sharing my experience at Sabatinos. Firstly I will say that my and my coworkers meals were a 10/10 the fettuccine Alfredo was good and the drinks were great as well. The deciding factor that makes this a 1 star review was our server Nathan. He was rude, laughably inattentive, and he truly was just not friendly or professional at all. Dare I say he acted ugly. After suffering through Nathan's sub-par service we will not be returning. It's obvious that the managerial staff don't care who they hire as long as they have a pulse. I want to add that with a better server I would have given 5/5 but poor servers like Nathan are indicative of a bigger issue and I would never want my family around an establishment that hires from the bottom of the barrel. Save your money and go to one of the other fine Italian spots where they treat you like family. read more

Excellent chicken franchise! Awesome pollo E prosciutto All'aglio pizza!!! I ordered to go and was yummy when I got home. Prices were reasonable and portion was huge!! read more

We decided to try this new Italian Restaurant in Wake Forest. The food was excellent the service was friendly and efficient. I think they will do well. The restaurant has limited seating and I can see them filling up quickly. For this location their pricing is a bit high. I hope they can survive the local competition. read more

Went there last night (Thursday) and very glad we had made a reservation. The place was packed, as well as it should be. The food and service were terrific and the prices reasonable. HOWEVER...... the noise level was pretty high, I think because there were no sound baffling / deadening or absorbing surfaces to help muffle "people talk" from nearby tables. Also, we had to ask for replacement silverware and glassware. Silverware still had food stuff on it and the glassware had lipstick from the previous person who had the glass. A little QC on table and glassware would truly elevate the experience to 5 stars. read more

Food was delicious. We had penne vodka, fettuccine Alfredo, and the Gnocchi. Gnocchi was a little too mushy for me, but good. Sauces on all dishes were amazing. The bread was half toasted, half cold. Food came out super fast; however, we are eating at 5:30pm on Thursday. Service sucked. We waited 10 mins for him to show up. He served water, did not ask for our drink orders - ever. Asked for parm cheese, he said ok....never brought it. Showed up 10 mins after we finished and asked if we wanted dessert. We asked for boxes, disappeared for another 5 mins. Walked by with another tables drinks and said I will be back. Finally...After a few more minutes....we got our boxes. Took an extra 10 Mins to pay the bill. It's not that busy and there are a couple of servers....jeeze. Also, this place is a little overpriced, but it's totally worth it. read more

Thankful to have another pizza option. Crust is great! They don't skimp on cheese or toppings. Will be back. Hope they can remain consistent. read more

Sabatino's Italian Restaurant has such a warm and inviting atmosphere, and the food is absolutely delicious. I had the eggplant parmigiana, and it was cooked to perfection. The eggplant was sliced thin with the perfect crispy texture and incredible flavor. The portions were enormous -- I'll probably be eating leftovers for the next three days! The service was just okay, but the food and overall experience definitely made it worth the wait. Sit back, relax with a glass of wine or your favorite drink, and enjoy every dish this restaurant has to offer. Definitely a place worth visiting! I will be returning with my family for sure. read more

The dinners were excellent!! Highly recommend. The only feedback I have would be to serve a better Italian bread.

Everything..... great food, great atmosphere, wonderful service, you'll love it!!!! Feels like you are in Italy!!

This was our first experience at Sabatino's. The food is amazing and the restaurant was fairly full tonight and everyone appeared to be pleased with their entire experience. They are still searching for additional experienced staff. read more

Got two 12 inch pizzas Decent flavor, take out so the crust was not crispy by the time i got it home-15 minutes, Super greasy, had to use a paper towel to absorb the grease, lots of cheese, maybe a bit too much. All in all, it was ok, not great read more

We had a large crowd (12) for a Mother's Day lunch. We had a reservation and were led to our table almost immediately. The ambiance was upscale but comfortable. Impeccable service! We ordered appetizers and they came shockingly fast. Everyone was very impressed with the taste and temperature of their dishes. Excellent Italian fare. We will definitely be back. Highly recommended! read more

Everything was great! Great service, wonderful glass of wine, great food. Pizza was really good, shrimp appetizer was perfect, bread and dipping sauce was fantastic! read more

The food was good and they have a good selection of dishes. They do not have enough servers and the poor girls were running crazy . It's a good idea to make a reservation. read more

Italian & seafood dishes were excellent! Can't wait until they can serve pizza. Wait was a little long for our food but all in all great experience. read more

Watched my friend pull a long hair out of his meatball. Lost my appetite. Lots of apologies from staff, they comped his meal, but the imagrey is there so not going back. read more

Fresh delicious bread with amazing crust a d olive oil dip. Chicken parm, pizza, eggplant and cavatini were all outstanding. Great service. Tasty drinks and delicious wine. We live close by and will be regulars. Reasonable prices read more

Food, service, and Ambiance were excellent! Looking forward to returning. Thank you!