Sapore Italiano, Cape May, NJ:
A Restaurant Review
Sapore Italiano
416 S. Broadway
West Cape May, NJ
Sapore Italiano: Restaurant Highlights
Fare: Traditional Italian
Price: Moderate - Expensive
Food Quality: Very Good Serves a well-executed traditional Italian menu prepared with fresh, farm to table, local ingredients.
Service: Attentive, friendly
Ambiance/Decor: Cozy, "Old World" tables set with linen. One of the dining rooms has a fireplace with an attractive mantle.
Overall Rating: 2 1/2 Stars
Note: Four star Rating System from 1/2 Star = Poor to Four stars = Best in Class
Noise Level: Moderate
Dress: Upscale casual
Recommended For: Diners who enjoy traditional southern Italian food in an "Old World" setting with dishes prepared with fresh, farm to table, local ingredients
Not Recommended For: Budget conscious diners who prefer simpler food, lower prices, and a casual menu with more comfort food, or for diners who enjoy non-traditional Italian food served in a casual. trendy, less formal setting.
Recommended dishes: When available, The Lasagna Bolognese, with layers of Italian pasta stuffed with Bolognese meat sauce ; The homemade gnocchi in a gorgonzola and mascarpone sauce; and The Rack of Lamb with sautéed shitake mushroom, roasted red pepper and asparagus in a cognac demi-glace sauce.
Liquor: BYOB
Sapore Italiano is a fine dining, white-tablecloth restaurant offering traditional Italian cuisine in a beautifully restored Victorian home. With its charming "Old World" ambiance, the setting creates a warm and elegant dining experience.
The restaurant is co-owned by Chef Ivan Bustos and Executive Chef Perpavinu Bici—affectionately known as Chef Rimi—a native of Albania. Guests are welcomed with warmth and grace by Chef Rimi’s wife, Majlinda, who serves as the restaurant’s gracious hostess.
Before founding Sapore Italiano, Chef Rimi honed his skills at Philadelphia’s renowned La Fontana Della Citta. Prior to that, he worked at La Fontana Del Mare in Strathmere, NJ.
The menu features classic, homemade Italian dishes crafted with fresh, farm-to-table ingredients sourced from local farms. Many of the pastas are made in-house and offer gluten-free options.
The building’s exterior showcases timeless Victorian architecture, complete with red shutters and awnings. Inside, the restaurant spans two floors and offers seven intimate dining rooms, including one with a cozy fireplace and elegant mantle. Tables are set with crisp white linens over carpeted floors, enhancing the refined atmosphere.
During warmer months, guests can enjoy limited outdoor dining on the patio.
Sapore Italiano is open year-round with seasonal hours—open seven days a week for dinner during the summer, and also open on Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve.
On-site parking is available for guests’ convenience.
(Updated: April 2025)
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