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    Santasiero's Restaurant

    3.3 (228 reviews)
    InexpensiveItalian

    Santasiero's Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    SANTASIERO'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Santasiero's Restaurant

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    Empty dining room, yet reservation required
    Dot K.

    We hadn't been here in many years and decided to check it out on a Saturday in the late afternoon. We walked in and waited for someone to speak with, since the restaurant appeared closed to us. We were told that we had to call for a reservation, which we went outside and did. We were told to come in and we were seated and given menus. We were told that the kitchen staff has to wait on tables, and our "server" expressed her unhappiness about this situation. We ordered a beer and a glass of wine, and the glasses were extremely small. We ordered Chicken Parmigian and Spaghetti with a Meatball. We were brought a basket with 2 rolls wrapped in plastic bags. Our meals were decent. Patrons pay at the register and they do accept credit cards. The ambiance here is like taking a step back in time.

    This is the free bread basket. They are cold costanzo rolls.
    Lauren S.

    I genuinely hate giving low review ratings to old mom&pop places as I know how much hard work and passion goes into making a restaurant succeed but I must give this an honest review and they are lucky to get two stars. Let me start off with saying they have some of the best red sauce I've ever had and I love the ridiculous amount of cheese that they put on anything parmesan! Now here comes the list of everything that went wrong: They have no menus. You can only look at the board posted on the wall, and they don't have half the items listed on there, including appetizers. They offer NO appetizers except for garlic bread. Which is ridiculous considering they give you individually wrapped costanzo rolls as your free dinner bread. Oh, and they don't have any soup. Though their wall menu advertises 4 different soups, don't bother trying to order any, they don't have any. They say they have a full bar... But do they? When we asked what they have on tap, they said they don't have drafts, only bottles. When you ask what they have that's a local (craft) beer, we were told "blue light", when we asked for a flavored vodka and water, they only have cheap flavorless vodka... Oh, and if you want wine, they give you a plastic individual bottle of wine, but they don't have wine glasses. Now let me get to the food... The chicken Parm and eggplant Parm were good. I have to give them credit there. But I don't understand why the chicken Parm comes on a bed of spaghetti but the eggplant Parm does not? Weird. The house salad is just a few leaves of iceberg lettuce, 4 grape tomatoes and a massive amount of garbanzo beans smothered in Italian dressing. Don't try to order a different dressing, they won't have it. My father ordered the claim linguini and it was the most unappetizing looking thing I've ever seen. The clam sauce was pure water. It was like they put linguini noodles in soup. The clams were clearly canned and there was a weird spice to the dish that was unexpected. None of their noodles are hand made, they are all barilla boxed pasta. The waitress refused to give us a check. She said we can go up to the front of the house by the register and she will tell us her total then before we pay... What? We had a party of 7 and was looking to figure out what everyone owed before getting to the register. You don't get an itemized receipt until after you pay. Overall, I was extremely embarrassed that we took my parents here for their birthday dinner. The prices were relatively cheap so I would consider getting take out for their eggplant Parm, but I have no idea how this place has stayed open for 100 years. Gordon Ramsay would have a field day.

    Celebrating another tradition for New Years Eve....going with moms fav eggplant parm  in memory of her
    Darlene B.

    This review is based on my experience yesterday evening, of something that sadly is common nowadays during this pandemic. My eggplant parmasen sauce and everything tasted great. The presentation was a little different, then takeout, but none the less flavorful. As I left to go up front, and pay for my meal, I noticed a classic, well known stable was literally ran by 4 people. My waitor was also one of the cooks, who not only cooked, waited on few tables and was doing takeout as well. It's sad that all over, especially the family ran or generational restaurants people just don't want to work. RIP, I believe her name was Phyllis, third generation owner, who passed in September. I haven't been there since Spring, and again went in honor and memory of my mom. We also would go out to eat on New Years Eve, then a movie...still keeping tradition. To all YELPERS out there, and everyone that reads others reviews: At the start of this new year 2022, Let's all show a little patience, kindness toward staff at restaurants and maybe thank them for taking the time to share their love for food, or recipes in whatever their restaurant speciality may be. So with that being said, thank you Nick, my waitor from yesterday New Years Eve 2021, Brian and the two other guys in the kitchen for your hardwork and dedication to the restaurant.

    Bar area
    Russ K.

    Right up front I will say that this is not a fancy place. It has been around for generations (my 80 yr old Dad went as a kid), and the reason why: Good food & nice portions at value prices. Service is wonderfully friendly and the atmosphere is down to earth (see pics). Santasieros is a bit off the beaten path, and we were here off hours on a Tuesday, so place was nearly empty, ...but the food was hot, tasty, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

    Working hard
    Colleen O.

    This restaurant has been around for over 100 years , yet this past Saturday was my first visit, but won't be my last . I ordered small Spaghetti Parmesan (I opted for a fresh mushroom sauce ) and it arrived as a decent portion and piping hot . I opted for a birch beer as my beverage . Entrees came with a soft Costanzo roll with butter . What I liked about the pasta was that it wasn't super greasy and they used fresh mushrooms. It would be nice to see another one of my Italian favorites on the menu (fettuccine Alfredo ) . The owner came over a couple of times to check on us and we settled our bill with him. This is a no frills old school pasta house that has stood the test of time . Hopefully in these rough times, it continues to do so .

    Santasiero's Menu
    Diane H.

    With speedy service and a smile I placed my order.I got the spaghetti it was tasty and the sauce was delicious. There's lots to choose from on the menu including ravioli, lasagna and chicken parmesan. There's plenty of free parking in their lot too.

    Santasoeto's
    Denise H.

    With fast and friendly service I ordered the Ravioli. It was a good size portion, the sauce was tasty and it came with a roll.They offer spaghetti, Lasagna, chicken parmesan and pasta fasoola.They have their own lot for plenty of free parking.

    Eggplant Parmigian

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    Page 3 of 6

    Ask the Community - Santasiero's Restaurant

    Is the red sauce vegan? No animal products? What about the mushroom sauce?

    Do they have any gluten free items?

    Yes, gluten free penne or spaghetti.

    Can large parties be hosted?

    Yes! We walked in with a party of 10 yesterday and it was no problem. They don't take reservations but you can call and see how busy they are.

    View All 4 Questions

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    Wow. Hands down some of the best pizza we've had…read more We ordered the San Felice Pizza -- San Marzano tomatoes, house-made sausage, sweet and spicy peppers, onion, buffalo mozzarella, and fresh basil -- and it was absolute perfection. The flavors don't compete... they melt together into one big, perfect masterpiece. The peppers leaned sweet (no real heat), which made them the ideal companion to the delicious sausage. And that sausage? Made in-house and seasoned beautifully, with the perfect amount of fennel -- enough to give it that classic Italian character without overpowering the pie. Perfection! The buffalo mozzarella added creamy richness, the basil kept everything bright, and the San Marzano tomatoes were clean and balanced. We love pizza in all its forms -- New York style and Napoli alike -- but there is something about the rustic goodness of true Neapolitan pizza that has a special place in my pizza-loving heart. That airy, soft center and char-kissed crust from the wood-fired oven is magic. The use of such fresh ingredients makes Forno Napoli my favorite pizza on NY so far - authentic and intentional. There is a lot of love and pride in everything from the handmade crust to all of the toppings. They also serve a garlic butter and cheese dipping sauce for the crust -- indulgent and completely unnecessary in the BEST possible way. That blistered crust dipped in that sauce? Unreal. The cheese? Yes, they have the most beautiful wheel of pecorino they hand grate from to make this happen. No green shaker bottles here! We met Felix, the owner, and he was incredibly welcoming. He has such great energy -- warm, engaging, and clearly passionate. You can tell he's the heartbeat behind the recipes and the success of the business. It feels personal. He made us want to share just how great our entire experience was and he certainly made us want to return. Our only regret? We were too full to try another pizza. Do not hesitate. This truly is a slice of heaven.

    I've been wanting to try this place for quite some time and finally made it in!…read more There's menus at the counter and you can take your own seat. When you're ready to order, head up to the counter. After ordering, head back to your seat and the will bring you your food when it's ready. My friend had the meatball sandwich (napoletana panini). It looked fantastic. But when I asked his rating, he gave it 6/10 stars. However, I wouldn't trust anyone who doesn't like cheese so take it with a grain of salt I was torn between the Bianca and Quattro pizza so I asked the kind man at the register for his suggestion; he said the Bianca is more popular so I went with that. I enjoyed my pizza, although I wouldn't order this one again. I do want to say that it is pricey but you will get a very big pie of great quality. The dough was excellent! It was actually my favorite part and I've never said that about any pizza! Atmosphere is extremely casual. There's fruit infused waters to have and you go and grab them yourself (back right corner). But you can order bottles of soda, alcohol, etc. Also in the back right corner are small pizza boxes for leftovers you can grab if needed. When you cash out, be sure to enter your phone number for the rewards program!

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    05/16/2026 We went…read moreto Giancarlo's for a combined graduation celebration for my Son, his girlfriend, and both families. While we were waiting for everyone to arrive, I had a very nice "Old Fashioned". We started with two dozen oysters. We received a couple of bad ones and they were promptly replaced with four new ones. I had the NY Strip and asked for "medium rare". The steak arrived and was perfectly cooked and had a very nice char on it. The steak was very flavorful and juicy. Service was impeccable. The restaurant was laid out nicely and there was plenty of space for our large group. Overall, I would say Giancarlo's will be a must visit, for when I'm in Buffalo.

    I was driving by and the smell drew me in. I was alone so I sat up bar and ordered a glass of wine…read more It was Good Friday so it was pretty busy but the service was quick. The bartenders were all friendly, but Tom was particularly helpful. Checking to mate sure that everything was good and offering suggestions. I ordered steak in au gratin potatoes. He brought me cheese bread that was phenomenal. It was served with butter and some sort of sauce that I didn't try. I got a new york strip that was seasoned and cooked to perfection. The au gratin potatoes were shredded potatoes. They were okay but definitely not what I would have expected at a steakehouse. I would not order them again. They had carrot cake available for dessert and it was delicious.

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    The Florence Dining Room is an elegant setting that is perfect for business meetings and intimate reservations.
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    4.1
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    Amazing! Went for a birthday dinner, felt like we ordered one of everything. Everything was great…read morefrom start to finish. Apps: Bread with Garlic Butter - butter was tasty Hot stuffed peppers - not too hot, filling was good Arancini - cheesy Sicilian clams - i don't love clams but the broth was really good Entrees: Arrabbiata with a Chicken Cutlet - cutlet was perfect, thin and crispy. Pasta sauce was good Chicken Francese over Risotto - just lemony enough, risotto was lovely Linguini with clams Dessert: Raspberry lemon cheesecake special - incredible Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse cake - 10/10 Lemon Mascarpone Cake - good but would prefer the raspberry lemon cheesecake Hazelnut Gelato - creamy Espresso Martini w/ Baileys - great Loved it!

    Amici Ristorante in Kenmore, NY is a longtime local favorite that's now even better after its…read morerecent renovation. The updated interior feels fresh and inviting while still keeping the warm, cozy charm that regulars love. The food continues to shine with classic Italian dishes and great service! Whether you're stopping in for a family dinner, date night, or special occasion, Amici's delivers comfort, flavor, and consistency. If you haven't been in lately, now's the perfect time to come on in, enjoy the new look, and savor some great Italian food right in the heart of Kenmore.

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    Cacio e Pepe Halibut * Halibut on top of a bed of pasta tossed in a black pepper and parmesan cream sauce, finished with fried leeks
    Cacio e Pepe Halibut * Halibut on top of a bed of pasta tossed in a black pepper and parmesan cream sauce, finished with fried leeks
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    I went to Tappo this past Tuesday before a Sabres game with my brother and overall it was a really…read moresolid pre-game dinner spot in Downtown Buffalo. While we had a 5pm reservation, in hindsight it probably wasn't necessary as we were seated right away and quickly greeted by our server, Allie G. To start, I ordered the Apple Cider Mule (mocktail) which was festive and delicious while my brother went for the Logan Mule (so Buffalo). Naturally, we wanted bread (what I thought was a given in an Italian restaurant). Sadly, it was $3 for warm bread, which felt a little rude, but of course I ordered it and devoured it, too! I also started with the mushroom bisque that was on special and it was fantastic as it was rich, flavorful, and the kind of soup you want to eat slowly so it lasts longer. For my entree I chose the Crespelle while my brother got his favorite, the Brasciole. The food was truly the highlight of the evening. Everything was prepared well and very, very satisfying. I would say that the service, unfortunately, left a bit to be desired. Not terrible, but not great. I hate having to ask another server to bring a box, the check, etc. because our server was no where to be found. There is free parking somewhere, though we only noticed the sign for it after we had already paid to park. That said, the atmosphere at Tappo is always lovely and the portions were generous for the price. Of course, I'd absolutely return - especially to try one of their fun igloos someday!

    My wife and I ordered spaghetti and meatballs and shrimp risotto on a Friday night…read more There is ample off street parking. The restaurant has a very generic modern bar scene vibe with roll up doors and the bar dominating the space. The staff were friendly and promptly directed me to the bar for my take out order, which was mildly delayed. The spaghetti and meatballs were basic. The sauce left much to be desired and a basic jarred sauce is more enjoyable. The shrimp were properly cooked, but the risotto did not shine. The dish lack cohesion and it was as though they cooked rice and tossed it in a flavorless sauce. The accompanying lobster sauce was desperately needed, but underdeveloped. The dish needed significant seasoning improvements.

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    Tappo Rigatoni with Homemade Tomato Sauce Served with Hand-Made Meatballs
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    Santasiero's Restaurant - italian - Updated July 2026

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