Sambuca Morpeth: Honest Italian Food at Great Prices
Food & Drink

Sambuca Morpeth: Honest Italian Food at Great Prices

The North East's favourite Italian chain returns to Morpeth with generous portions, a legendary lunch deal, and steaks that punch well above their price.

Morpeth.net·

When Sambuca opened — or rather, returned — to Morpeth in November 2024, it filled a gap the town had been missing. Occupying the former Primo Piano premises on New Market, this is the latest outpost of the North East's most popular Italian restaurant chain, and it has quickly settled into the Morpeth dining scene.

The story

Sambuca was founded in 2001 on the Fish Quay in North Shields, and has since grown into one of the region's most recognised restaurant brands with locations across Newcastle, Sunderland, Blyth, South Shields, and beyond. The Morpeth branch marks a return to the town after a previous incarnation, and locals have welcomed it back with enthusiasm.

The food

Sambuca has never tried to be fine dining, and that is exactly the point. This is honest, generous Italian cooking at prices that are increasingly hard to find. The menu covers all the classics — pasta dishes, stone-baked pizzas, chicken and veal escalopes, and a selection of steaks.

The steaks are a particular draw. A fillet or sirloin comes in at around twenty-three pounds — remarkable value for a proper sit-down meal. The pasta portions are generous, the pizzas are crisp, and the house wine is perfectly drinkable without requiring a second mortgage.

The lunch deal

The headline number is the three-course lunch deal at six pounds ninety-five. Yes, you read that correctly. A starter, main, and dessert for under seven pounds. It is not available every day, so check with the restaurant, but as a midweek treat after a morning at the market it takes some beating.

Practical details

Sambuca Morpeth is at 7 New Market, Morpeth, NE61 1PS. Opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday noon to 9pm, Friday and Saturday noon to 10pm, and Sunday noon to 8pm. The restaurant is closed on Mondays.

Booking is recommended for Friday and Saturday evenings. You can call on 01670 641232 or book through the Sambuca website.

Best for: Generous Italian food at remarkable prices. The three-course lunch deal is one of the best bargains in Morpeth.


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