Instagram: @saporehalifax
Sapore Website: bookings are available via www.sapore.co.uk
Telephone: 01422 320434
Sapore Opening Hours: Tuesday-Thursday 17:00 – 21:00 Friday 17:00 – 22:00 Saturday 16:00 – 22:00
A Family favourite for Over a Decade – From Napoli Shirts to Neapolitan flavours in Halifax
For well over a decade, Sapore has been my go-to Italian restaurant in Halifax. What started as occasional visits with my brother and dad to their very first Sapore has grown into something much more personal.
My brother first met Lino when he worked at Little Italy once of Halifax, where his passion for Napoli football quickly won him favour. The deal was simple “Tell him If he comes in wearing his Napoli top, he eats for free!” A genuine friendship was born from that moment.
Since then, Sapore on Central Street has become a regular haunt for our whole family. Whether it’s the warm, home like welcome, the fresh bread, or the authentic Neapolitan flavours that transport you straight to Italy, it’s a place that consistently delivers.
It was a pleasure to sit down with cousins Lino and Antonio to hear their story from humble beginnings and big risks to the challenges they’ve faced and the pride they still carry for their Italian roots in the heart of Yorkshire.
Welcome & Atmosphere
What can diners expect to see, feel, and experience when they step into Sapore? What kind of memory do you hope they leave with?
Lino: At Sapore, we aim for a nice, relaxed, happy atmosphere where customers feel truly welcome, like they’re walking into a friend or family member’s home.
We treat them the way we do back in Italy. We don’t charge for fresh bread and butter, and offer grappa on the house because We love seeing them enjoy it.
We want every guest to leave feeling like they’ve spent a couple of hours in Napoli or my village back home, warm, genuine, and cared for, just like neighbours popping in for coffee back home.
Your Journey & Family Story
You’re cousins who’ve built Sapore together as a family business. How did your paths and Italian roots lead you to open and grow it in Halifax?
Lino: I first came to England in 2006 at 17 for a two-week holiday after Italy won the World Cup. I ended up staying a year and a half, working in my uncle’s restaurant.
I returned to Italy, but in 2009 I came back for good. I worked at Little Italy on Georges Square. That’s how I first got to know the town.
When the opportunity arose to take over a small café in Halifax, I called my cousin Antonio. We decided to give it a go together. After a couple of years in two smaller sites, we moved into this spot on Central Street nine years ago and here we are.
Naples Inspiration
That big Naples canvas with Vesuvius as guests enter, how has your upbringing in Naples shaped the food, atmosphere, and soul of Sapore?
Antonio: I did my military service in Florence, working for 11 months as a chef in the military kitchen, so cooking has always been part of my life.
That big Naples canvas with Vesuvius as you walk in is a strong reminder of home. It ties into what we want for Sapore to make people feel relaxed, welcome, and at home, just like in Italy. We love speaking with customers and seeing them enjoy that genuine, warm atmosphere.
Growth & Progress
You’ve grown the restaurant over nine years and moved to this spot on Central Street. What are you most proud of in that journey?
Antonio: This location had been opened and shut down several times by big companies before we took it on, it was a big risk. When we started nine years ago, we had no skeleton staff, me in the kitchen, Lino in the dining room with my dad helping out.
We began slowly with just two or three tables and gradually built it up. Then Covid hit, but we managed to survive and even invested more instead of cutting back. Since reopening, it’s been steadily uphill.
Menu & Favourites
My current favourites are the Penne all’Arrabbiata and Torta della Nonna. What are your personal favourites right now, and what specials should customers look out for?
Antonio: My personal favourites start with the homemade arancini, followed by the spare ribs with our famous Franco sauce, the chicken porcini which is probably our best signature dish right now and the fillet Rossini.
Lino: Favourite dishes for me I would have to say is the fritto misto followed by the linguine mare.
For desserts, the Torta della Nonna is excellent, but the current standout is the torta di mele, our homemade Italian apple pie. It’s been getting fantastic feedback every time it goes out to the table.
Standing Out in Halifax
Halifax has a strong restaurant scene. What do you think sets Sapore apart, and is there a supportive community among local restaurant owners?
Antonio & Lino: Halifax has a strong restaurant scene, but we’re all on good terms. We know most of the owners around here many of us even play football together, including with the team from La Luna.
It’s not a battle. If we’re fully booked and someone comes in, we happily recommend other places they might like, whether it’s Julio’s or somewhere else.
Our motto has always been simple: focus on your own restaurant, do it well, and do it your way.
Roadworks Challenge
The recent roadworks have been described as a “nightmare,” costing around £60,000 in lost takings, with issues like blocked access and flooding. How has this really affected the business day-to-day, and how have you coped?
Antonio & Lino: The prolonged roadworks have been a nightmare for us. We’ve been one of a few businesses properly boxed in, with fences blocking the entrance, fire exit, and windows for months on end. It started at the end of May last year and dragged on through Christmas, with repeated blockages and even flooding in the kitchen.
We’ve lost over £60,000 in revenue, roughly £1,000 a week during our busiest periods while still paying full staff wages, bills, and rent. Despite promises, Calderdale Council offered no real compensation or support. Mistakes kept happening, and no one from the council even came in to apologise or explain.
It’s been incredibly stressful. We’re not taking any wage ourselves, and it’s affected us personally, especially with a young family and future plans. We’re staying positive and focused on our lovely customers, but the disruption has been devastating for a small independent restaurant like ours
Support & Business Rates
With energy costs high and business rates nearly doubling amid the disruption, have you received any meaningful help from Calderdale Council? What support would actually make a difference for independent restaurants like yours?
They’re quick to comment on our social media posts saying they’re in contact and helping us, and one councillor even emailed claiming our business rates bill had been revised. However, up until now we’ve received no official letter confirming any reduction. The only relief we’ve actually seen is a modest £1000 knocked off our £6,000 bill which isn’t enough.
Antonio: We’ve seen very little meaningful relief from Calderdale Council.
We’ve been putting money back into the business instead of taking wages, and we feel the only way forward is proper compensation for the financial losses caused by the roadworks.
Italian Pride & Authenticity
How proud are you of your Italian heritage, and does that pride show in the way you run Sapore and create the dishes?
Antonio & Lino: We’re both very proud of our Italian heritage, we’re always in Italy, and I’m constantly looking at new dishes and recipes to bring back.
We try to bring as much authentic Italian flavour as possible, while keeping everything cooked fresh to order. If a customer wants mushrooms in their carbonara, we’ll happily add them because it’s their meal and they’re paying for it.
That same pride shows in our pizzas.
Resilience & Future
You’ve weathered the pandemic and now these challenges but say you’re far from giving up. What keeps you motivated, and what are your hopes for Sapore’s future in Halifax?
Antonio & Lino: Despite everything, what makes us most proud is our loyal customers both the regulars and the new ones who keep supporting us. Their messages and kindness mean the world and are what keep us going after nine years.
We’re not afraid to speak out about the unfair treatment we’ve faced with the roadworks. We’ve lost over £60,000, been boxed in with blocked entrances and fire exits, and received almost no real support or apology from the council. We’ve documented everything not just for ourselves, but to help protect other businesses too.
At the end of the day, we’re still here doing what we’ve always done, serving fresh, authentic Italian food with passion and a smile. We love what we do, and we’re grateful to be part of the Halifax community
Finally
Finally, what makes you proud to be running a genuine Italian restaurant here in Yorkshire? what do you love most about calling this part of the world home?
Our customers feel like family. They treat us like friends, ask for Naples dish recommendations, and can never get enough of our fresh bread, some nights we simply can’t bake enough.
I’ve been in the kitchen since I was a boy, watching my dad work. That same joy hits when customers walk in smiling.
We’re proud to run a genuine Italian restaurant here in Yorkshire. Halifax has welcomed us with open arms, and calling this place home makes everything worthwhile.
In the end, Lino and Antonio’s story is a powerful reminder of why supporting independent local businesses matters so much in Halifax.
Despite the tough roadworks, significant losses, and lack of meaningful help, they continue to serve fresh, authentic Italian food with genuine warmth and pride.
Sapore isn’t just a restaurant, it’s a family labour of love that has become part of our community.
Next time you’re craving proper Italian, come and support them. Eat local, eat well, and help keep places like Sapore thriving in Yorkshire.
