Sassella

Name: Sassella
Address: 225 Johnson St, Santa Fe, NM, United States, 87501
Telephone: (505) 982-6734
Price range: $31 to $50
Rating: 4.7

4.7

1824 Reviews

$31 to $50

Italian

Top Tags:

The name “Sassella” comes from a hamlet of 60 residents known for its vineyards near where Chef Cristian Pontiggia grew up.

In addition to working at two Michelin Star restaurants in Europe, Lombardy native Chef Cristian Pontiggia has received several awards from La Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international gastronomic society. The Italian government recognizes him as a Master Chef, and he holds a culinary degree that certifies him as a Doctor of Enogastronomy.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 27, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 32 times today

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Cuisines
Italian
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon, Fri–Sun 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 4:30 pm–8:15 pm
Phone number
(505) 982-6734
Website
https://sassellasantafe.com/home
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Chef Cristian Pontiggia
Catering
Please Contact: Izabella Conforti - General Manager bella@sassellasantafe.com
Private party facilities
Please Contact: Izabella Conforti - General Manager bella@sassellasantafe.com

Location
225 Johnson St, Santa Fe, NM 87501
Neighborhood
Santa Fe
Cross street
North Guadalupe Street
Parking details
Lot behind Sassella (marked spots ONLY) | Metered Parking on Griffin St, E Palace Ave, W San Francisco St | Parking Garage 216 W San Francisco | Sandoval St. Parking at Sassella is very limited. We encourage you to carpool or use rideshares.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Popular dishes

Eggplant Parmigiana$26.00
Eggplant in pastella, Italian bread crumbs, marinara, parmesan, mozzarella, walnut basil pesto
Composizione di Pere$27.00
Sliced Singo golden pear, Meredith Farms sheep and goat cheese, artichoke, amaretto cookie crumble, encapsulated fruit, mint, pistachios, aged balsamic
Le Tre Polpette$29.00
Berkshire pork, veal and wagyu beef meatballs prepared three ways, spicy and sweet marinara
Prosciutto e Melone$32.00
Prosciutto crudo, candied walnuts, mozzarella ciliegine, melon, extra virgin olive oil pearls, fig balsamic reduction, grissini
Affettati Misti$25.00
Chef's board of prosciutto, speck, coppa, salame Toscano, salame Calabrese, prosciutto cotto, parmesan, fontina, and provolone
- Small$25.00
- Large$38.00

Insalate

Ceasar a Modo Mio$20.00
Romaine, parmesan crisp, focaccia crostini, white anchovies, capers, tonnato dressing
Panzanella Salumeria Salad$24.00
Italian salumi, couscous, croutons, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers, onions, capers, basil, champagne vinaigrette. Available vegetarian by request
Burrata Caprese$24.00
Housemade burrata, local heirloom tomatoes, caper berries, walnut basil pesto, Hawaiian basil, tangerine Calabrian chili oil, dehydrated garlic, volcanic black salt, balsamic pearls

Primi

Limone e Gamberi$32.00
Squid ink pasta, shrimp, mussels, white wine, lemon juice, lemon zest, mint, pistachio, green olives, Sassella EVOO
Mushroom Carbonara$32.00
Spaghetti, guanciale, mushrooms, truffle essence, foamed, crispy, and shaved parmesan, 63 degree sous-vide egg, black pepper
Ravioli alla Cime di Rapa$32.00
Portobello and ricotta ravioli, broccoli rabe, Italian sausage, white wine, caramel chili sauce, parmesan
Lobster Risotto$39.00
Carnaroli rice, Maine lobster, asparagus, pistachio arugula pesto, fontina, parmesan

Secondi

Cinghiale$48.00
Sous-vide wild boar stuffed with asparagus, black truffle demi-glace, crispy green beans
White Seabass Mediterraneo$50.00
Seabass, sun-dried tomato and preserved lemon Mediterranean relish, gnocchetti alla Chiavennasca, Calabrian chili
Bombette$53.00
Lamb loin wrapped around pancetta & scamorza cheese, white wine rosemary sauce, tri-color potato medley, roasted onion
Rossini$65.00
Black angus beef tenderloin, foie gras, smashed arancini, marsala demi-glace, cremini mushrooms

What 1,824 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7

4.7 based on recent ratings

4.7Food
4.6Service
4.7Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

New Mexico
Great for fine wines
New Mexico
Italian
Santa Fe / Mountains
Great for fine wines
Santa Fe / Mountains
Romantic
Santa Fe / Mountains
Good for special occasions

1,824 Reviews

OT
OpenTable Diner
Washington DC
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent food and wine, lovely atmosphere, and great service. A hidden gem off the beaten track by a mere block. Loved it!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New Mexico
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
This is an amazing lunch spot. The service was excellent from the wine recommendations to the server’s food suggestions. We enjoyed the caprese, carbonara, and the burger. Thank you for a great lunch Sassella. We will be back
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KE
KonradE
New Mexico
4 reviews
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
We have dined at Sassella several times and every meal has been exceptional. The atmosphere is elegant in the dining room, cozy in the bar, and lovely on the patio. Service is always top notch with great attention to detail. Lastly Cristian is one of the most gifted chefs I have ever encountered. A lovely varied menu that has been a little more interesting with every visit. My wife had Mushroom Carbonara, beautifully deconstructed with a sou vide egg and frothed parmesan cream to stir together at table. I had the "Bombette" butter tender lamb loin wrapped around pancetta and scamorza with a white wine rosemary sauce. Molten Amaretto cake for dessert. Very nice Tuscan red from a well crafted wine list. A must visit for any lover of Italian food.
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SA
SarahA
Phoenix
3 reviews
vip
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Had a delicious dinner at a 2-top in the bar, which has a great atmosphere. Brandon was our server and did a great job.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New Mexico
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our anniversary was so special thanks to the wonderful experience we had here at Sassella! Our Waiter was attentive, kind and very helpful when it came to suggesting a wine! Paired perfectly with our mushroom carbonara and lobster risotto! We will be back! Highly recommend!
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J
James
New Mexico
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 5 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful experience at Sassella. Attentive & helpful service along with the outstanding dishes made our night out one to remember. This was our first time dining here- but it definitely won't be the last. Thank you sassella staff for a beautiful evening!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
1 review
5.0
1 review
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
This restaurant is nothing short of exquisite. The impeccable service started as soon as we were seated and the menu is a culinary masterpiece. Bravo!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New Mexico
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall5food5service5ambience5
What a fantastic restaurant! Everything was amazing. Fantastic food, incredible wine selection, beautifully crafted cocktails and such a wonderful staff.
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SS
ScottinSantaFe
Dallas
17 reviews
vip
3.0
17 reviews
Dined 6 days ago
overall3food5service1ambience2
Our initial visit to Sassella left much to be desired. As part-time residents of Santa Fe, we were eager to explore this restaurant for the first time. The shining star of our evening was undoubtedly the food, which was consistently excellent and will undoubtedly draw us back. While the indoor ambiance was somewhat lacking, the outdoor patio appeared to be the preferred choice for a delightful dining atmosphere. However, our main source of disappointment stemmed from the service. Throughout the course of the evening, we encountered several issues, including incorrect drink orders and an entree mix-up. Regrettably, our server was not readily available to help resolve these matters, and I had to personally get up and seek assistance on two occasions - once for additional drinks and again to correct our bill, which inaccurately included items we hadn't ordered. Moreover, the overall demeanor of the staff fell short of our expectations for a restaurant of this caliber. Despite these service hiccups, we do plan to give Sassella another chance in the future, in the hope of a more satisfying experience. It's worth reiterating that the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly the exceptional quality of the food – the sea bass, in particular, was an absolute standout and the best I've ever had!
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TP
ToddP
San Francisco
7 reviews
vip
3.0
7 reviews
Dined 7 days ago
overall3food5service1ambience4
Food was great. Service made no sense for such an expensive restaurant. They were absent for long stretches and generally didn’t seem to know what they were doing. Wine advisor was rude when we asked for recommendations under $100
1 person found this helpful
CC
CarolineC
Atlanta Metro
2 reviews
vip
1.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 19, 2023
overall1food2service3ambience1
This is the biggest disappointment I had in many years. It was our first time at Sassella and we were seated in the main room along with a group of 24 people. We could not hear each other. Management was totally unapologetic and not even trying to make our experience better. We demanded to move to the bar and the “manager” said it was beyond his control. Our waitress did her best to compensate. Another table decided to leave. While the appetizers were decent, the boar entree was served with tasteless peas and carrots that were barely seasoned (and I frequently prepare and eat fresh peas and carrots). The four of us had a really suboptimal experience and clearly, nobody cared. We will not return as there are much better alternatives in Santa Fe at this price point. It seems like this restaurant is more focused on “one offs” than cultivating a clientele. This is my first and hopefully last bad review as I am generally quite forgiving and understand mistakes happen - providing they are acknowledged.
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A
Angus
New Mexico
5 reviews
3.0
5 reviews
Dined on September 19, 2023
overall3food5service3ambience2
We usually have an amazing experience but last night was the exception. Although the food was delicious, the noise level was shocking. The restaurant wasn’t even full! We actually had to shout to speak to one another at times. One table near us even walked out after sitting down briefly. Will probably book a table in the bar in future as it’s hard to believe it could be as noisy as it was in the main restaurant. Oh, and we were told the person who took our sea bass to box it up to take home, dropped it. A bizarre end to a very disappointing evening.
1 person found this helpful
OT
OpenTable Diner
Los Angeles
1 review
1.0
1 review
Dined on September 19, 2023
overall1food1service4ambience1
Of all the restaurants in Santa Fe, this is the last restaurant you should go to. The noise level is deafening. The Asst Manager had no managerial skills at all. He allowed a large party of 20+ to sit in the main dining room. This made having any conversation with your dining partner impossible. This should have been in the bar or outside. We contemplated leaving but thought the Asst Manager might ask them to kindly stop acting like frat boys. Food was marginal and the “Chefs Special Pasta” inedible.
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T
Taylor
San Diego
72 reviews
vip
5.0
72 reviews
Dined on September 17, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Another delightful meal at Sassella. It has become a MUST every time we come to Santa Fe. We ate there the very first time right after they opened and have been eating there ever since!
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A
Alleycat
Phoenix
49 reviews
5.0
49 reviews
Dined on September 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautiful birthday dinner. So delicious. Husband had sous vide boar, son in law had angus tender loin and I had l lamb. Wonderful presentation and flavor. Asked for wine recommendations and it was spot on. Desserts are works of art and amazing. Thank you for a fitting end to a great birthday !!! Also salads are incredible
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YS
YvonneS
New Mexico
10 reviews
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on September 16, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Caesar salad was among the best I’ve had, and a beautiful presentation. Both pastas—bolognese and carbonara—were excellent. Our server was Jayden; she was attentive, helpful, and fun. Overall, a lovely Saturday afternoon.
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Atlanta Metro
8 reviews
vip
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on September 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Impeccable service!!! Nessa was wonderful as was the bar manager … I don’t know her name. The food was delicious from start to finish… loved the desserts and the Expression Martini!!! Highly recommend Sassella!
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P
Paul
Denver
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on September 15, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Excellent dinner experience with excellent service, food and wine. Great place for an evening off in Santa Fe while on vacation. Thank you very much.
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JP
JoelP
Vancouver
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on September 15, 2023
overall5food4service5ambience4
I wold have given it a 5 except for the disappointing Carpaccio. The small amount of beef was overwhelmed by balsamic and arugula. We have walked by the restaurant a hundred times, but because of the scripted logo, we had been unable to spell the name. The menus displayed street side so not have the restaurants name. I’m glad we finally googled the street address and found a jewel.
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GM
GaryM
St. Louis
67 reviews
vip
4.0
67 reviews
Dined on September 14, 2023
overall4food4service5ambience4
Overall the food was very good. The service was excellent. Unfortunately the special branzino was dry and tasteless
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Y
Yolie
New Mexico
335 reviews
vip
5.0
335 reviews
Dined on September 12, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
Always love this place. Food was fantastic as usual. Lobster risotto was top notch. The sea bass was terrific. Lamb was just good. The amaretto cake was a nice finish. Our out of state visitors loved it too. Service was a bit off. Never got a coffee refill or more bread when we asked. But we enjoyed the dinner!
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C
Colodave2014
Denver
14 reviews
vip
5.0
14 reviews
Dined on September 10, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
If you're in Santa Fe for the food, put Sassella on your list. The food, ambiance, and quality of service all come together for a great dining experience. We dined on the patio in the evening and it was wonderful. The chef's board and burrata salad were a good start for the evening for the four of us. Two of us had the pasta special, one had the lamb dish and the light eater had a salad. We all enjoyed our entrees. Two of us had desserts which were delicious and artfully presented.
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j
joand
Phoenix
58 reviews
vip
5.0
58 reviews
Dined on September 9, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We love sassella. The pear composition first course is almost too pretty to eat but a fascinating combination of flavors. The two pastas, black Ink with mussels and the mushroom spaghetti were rich and delicious. It was a birthday so we shared the tartufo chocolate and zabaglione creation. A good Sangiovese paired well. This may be our new fav restaurant in Santa Fe!
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s
sylviav
Phoenix
37 reviews
vip
5.0
37 reviews
Dined on September 8, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience4
We had the sea bass with Calabrian Chile and gnocchetti. I have to say this is one of the best seafood dishes I have ever had! Think Sassella is one of the best Italian restaurants in the Southwest.
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ML
MarvinL
Phoenix
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on September 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The experience and food was fabulous as always The presentation and meal never disappoints!!
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JS
JohnS
Denver
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on September 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
My wife and I chose to celebrate our 34th anniverary (in conjunction with her ascension to sainthood) at Sasella last night, and we had a superb meal. I had the Lobster Risotto, and the flavors were intense and fantastic. The Risotto alone was very interesting, but adding a bite of the lobster to it took it to a new dimension. After dinner, we asked for the check, electing to forego dessert, but the waiter told us that the restaurant was providing a wild cherry panna cotta (see photo) as their gift to us for our anniversary. Adding this to the great food and service was just perfect. We'll be back.
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C
Calvin
New Orleans
10 reviews
vip
5.0
10 reviews
Dined on September 8, 2023
overall5food5service4ambience5
The chef personally came out to create a customized dish for our guest with a food allergy. The Italian cocktails were very refreshing. The only thing missing was an opera singer.
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GK
GregK
Boise
33 reviews
vip
4.0
33 reviews
Dined on September 8, 2023
overall4food4service4ambience4
The food was excellent. The waiter was okay but new. We always like the patio seating.
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LG
LeslieG
New Mexico
6 reviews
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on September 8, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
We had a delightful dinner! Everything was great! I highly recommend enjoying a meal at Sassella!
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NO
kidNOTORIOUS
New Mexico
4 reviews
vip
5.0
4 reviews
Dined on September 7, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
If you're celebrating an anniversary or a birthday this is the place to be. The quiet and romantic ambience adds to the charm of the restaurant. Grab a bottle of wine and enjoy the night.
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LG
LindaG
Tucson
17 reviews
vip
5.0
17 reviews
Dined on September 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Everything was delicious, from the clever appetizers to the main courses and dessert. Expensive, but worth every penny, and we will go back. Outstanding service, with genuinely nice servers and the restaurant is on a quiet street with a generous patio.
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BL
BillL
Washington DC
6 reviews
3.0
6 reviews
Dined on September 5, 2023
overall3food5service3ambience5
Food was excellent but Service was slow. This was my second visit. Compared with other restaurants in the city, the food is over-priced. For example, $29 for the soup of the day.
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JH
JulieH
Dallas
11 reviews
vip
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on September 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious dinner and great service! Outside dining was perfect! Lovely evening! Would highly recommend this amazing restaurant!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
New York Area
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined on September 5, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Wonderful experience, incredible flavor profiles, professional and kind service. We are visiting from NYC and DC and wish you were on the east coast too.
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K
Kirtlye
Tucson
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on September 3, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
The patio is devine. The food, the service were exceptional. Great place to have dinner in Santa Fe.
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KI
KIRomano
1 review
3.0
1 review
Dined on September 2, 2023
overall3food2service4ambience4
I am second generation Italian from a very large Italian family with wineries and roots in Italy. You say you are Italian. I expect Italian food. I ordered Mediteranian fish. I expected food flavored delicately. I asked before I order if the food was mildly seasoned. I was assured it was. The very first bite nearly burned the roof of my mouth off. You did not offer Italian food. You served Mexican hot sauce, of the hottest. I spit the food out. I asked my wife to taste it. She would not eat it, either. We have traveled the world; we have no limitations as to where we eat. I am retired. I attended culinary schools in Italy, over the past 50 years and operated 6 family restaurants worldwide. Either you entrusted staff to prepare for you, without supervision; or the recipe was flawed. I sincerely regret having to be this critical. I recommend returning to your roots. Prepare real northern Italian food of the finest. Following the southwestern hot sauce parade will get you nowhere. Let me also say, your servers were exceptional. They received gratuities deserving of there efforts.
SassellaResponded on September 2, 2023
I am a first generation Italian from Lombardy, and this is an Italian restaurant that includes ingredients from all regions of Italy. We use Calabrian chili on the seabass, which is grown in Calabria, Italy and is imported directly from Calabria to our restaurant. It is not Mexican hot sauce. The Calabrian chili is mentioned on the menu description. Many dishes of South Italian cooking can have spicy ingredients but we are more than happy to accommodate your needs in the future. If you had mentioned this while dining with us, we could have had made your seabass without the Calabrian chili. Good manners and less presumption always bring good results. Best regards, Chef Cristian Pontiggia
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Las Vegas
6 reviews
vip
5.0
6 reviews
Dined on September 1, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Beautiful outdoor patio fully shaded makes this a wonderful place to have a leisurely meal. Excellent menu and service
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4
40somethingfoodie
Baltimore
23 reviews
vip
5.0
23 reviews
Dined on August 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Delicious iItalian food- had excellent sea bass and ravioli. The ravioli were flavorful and delicate. There is a lovely outdoor area on a quiet street. Highly recommend!
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OT
OpenTable Diner
Phoenix
3 reviews
5.0
3 reviews
Dined on August 29, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Super kind service. Everybody was warm and addressed my needs. Food was AMAZING
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AC
AlanC
New Mexico
2 reviews
5.0
2 reviews
Dined on August 27, 2023
overall5food5service5ambience5
Our table of four enjoyed the excellent service and amazing diversity of the dinner menu. The sea bass was perfect and everything we ordered was well prepared and beautifully served. The chocolate - pear dessert was especially memorable. Sassella has more types of gin than any other restaurant I have ever experienced.
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FAQs

Sassella offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (505) 982-6734.

Sassella is rated 4.7 stars by 1824 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

Party Size

2 people

DateTime

Sep 27, 2023

7:00 PM

Booked 32 times today

Order delivery or takeout

225 Johnson St, Santa Fe, NM 87501

Additional information

Cross street
North Guadalupe Street
Neighborhood
Santa Fe
Hours of operation
Lunch Mon, Fri–Sun 11:30 am–2:00 pm Dinner Mon–Sat 4:30 pm–8:15 pm
Cuisines
Italian
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
Lot behind Sassella (marked spots ONLY) | Metered Parking on Griffin St, E Palace Ave, W San Francisco St | Parking Garage 216 W San Francisco | Sandoval St. Parking at Sassella is very limited. We encourage you to carpool or use rideshares.
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Chef Cristian Pontiggia
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
https://sassellasantafe.com/home
Phone number
(505) 982-6734
Catering
Please Contact: Izabella Conforti - General Manager bella@sassellasantafe.com
Private party facilities
Please Contact: Izabella Conforti - General Manager bella@sassellasantafe.com

Sassella

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

Popular dishes

Lobster Risotto

Caprese

Meatball Lollipop

Menu

Antipasti

Eggplant Parmigiana$26.00

Composizione di Pere$27.00

Le Tre Polpette$29.00

Prosciutto e Melone$32.00

Affettati Misti$25.00

Insalate

Ceasar a Modo Mio$20.00

Panzanella Salumeria Salad$24.00

Burrata Caprese$24.00

Primi

Limone e Gamberi$32.00

Mushroom Carbonara$32.00

Ravioli alla Cime di Rapa$32.00

Lobster Risotto$39.00

Secondi

Cinghiale$48.00

White Seabass Mediterraneo$50.00

Bombette$53.00

Rossini$65.00

What 1,824 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

FAQs

Does Sassella offer delivery through OpenTable or takeout?

How is Sassella restaurant rated?

Is Sassella currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information