Kendal's Sapore restaurant returns to its Italian roots

After realising that a change in direction for the restaurant last year did not yield the desired results, entrepreneurs Nick Ward and Giuseppe Sepe are returning to their original concept for Sapore, located at 21A Stramongate.

The vision for Sapore - 'taste' in Italian - was initially centred around authentic Italian cuisine.

Opened in October 2021, the restaurant underwent a three-month closure in January 2023 for kitchen refurbishments.

Ravioli ai fungi, one of the dishes at Sapore (Image: Sapore)

Upon reopening, it offered a small-plate, tapas-style Mediterranean menu.

Mr Sepe said: “It was something we had always wanted to try and it suited the expertise and passions of the staff we had at the time."

Unfortunately, this alteration led to a dip in interest from the local customer base.

“I think that local people always think of the premises as an Italian restaurant because of its long previous history as Paula Gianni’s and then Little Italy,” said Mr Ward. “We now realise that the tapas-style offering was not the direction we should have gone in.”

To mark the restaurant's relaunch, customers can enjoy a 'happy hours' deal, this was at the request of customers who enjoyed a similar scheme was Paulo Gianni's operated at the site.

Scoglio, featuring king prawns, calamari, mussels, n’duja, toasted pine nuts, cherry tomato sugo, garlic and chilli oil and langoustine (Image: Sapore)

“We currently open every day from 5pm to 9pm and also on Saturdays from noon to 3pm,” said Mr Sepe. “We are now offering six pizza dishes and six pasta dishes at just £7.50 each at all times apart from Saturday nights, while also serving other dishes at their usual rates.

“We want people to think of us once again as an Italian restaurant like the site has been for so many years in the past, rather than a tapas restaurant.”

A daily 'happy hour' for drinks is in place from 5pm-6pm, with selected cocktails at two for £15 and the Sapore's Lager for £3.50 a pint.

The establishment boasts a roughly 80 covers and a bar area, while the upstairs can be hired out as a function room.

Its offerings range from spaghetti carbonara and ravioli al granchio to giardiniera pizza.

Meat is sourced locally from Cornvale Fine Foods of Melling, while fish comes from Hodgson Fish of Hartlepool. Italian ingredients are sourced from G&O, a specialist food importer.

The culinary duo also manage the Urban Food House in Bowness, and a seafood restaurant, Hooked, in Windermere.

Sapore, which currently employs 12 staff, has vacancies for front of house, chef de parties and a kitchen porter. It is hoped that more vacancies will become available with a successful relaunch.

Interested parties for joining the team at Sapore are encouraged to forward their CV to recruitment@uhconcepts.com.