Sabatino's in the Lido Shipyard

[DriverPhil]

We were staying in Newport and needed a place for good food without the hype that a lot of places around the Newport area seem to have. Our hotel suggested Sabatino's - we are so glad they did. Good honest food withouit paying for fru-fru.

The next morning we returned and purchased four pounds of their house-made sausage.

You need a reservation on weekends! A bit tricky to find but TomTom led us there.
251 Shipyard Way Newport Beach, Phone [phone]

[alslady]

Love this place for sausage, an amazing stuffed pepper and their tiramisu (which is out of this world). Their cheesecake is also dynamite. Don't bother with the fish (why some people do at a sausage place is beyond me). Service can be hit or miss, but the quality of their sausage dishes and a few desserts is always on par.

[New Trial]

iThey also have a fantastic garlic bread and good linguini vongole.

[Ciao Bob]

YUMMMMMMY!!!!!
I love Sabatino's like a family member.

[kevin]

if you're not getting their sausage, is there anything else on the menu to order that's really good there? thanks. or is this joint just a one-hit wonder for it's sausage.

[Ciao Bob]

I am also fairly passionate about the on-table olive-pepper relish -- when smeared on bread it is addicting. The rest of their standard-issue Italian-American food is passable for the genre -- over-cooked pasta doused in watery tomatoe-y sauces/over-laden creamy-cheesy sauces; big, super dense On-Top-of-Old -Smokey Meatballs, all covered in cheese; Veal and Chix Parms; Over cooked shrimp Scampis or Sorrentos.
About once every three years I can shut the trap of the Italian snob in my brain and actually crave this stuff.

But it's mostly about the sausage.

[50sGuy]

Their sausage is stuffed with cheese, which gives it a distinct and not unpleasant flavor. But sometimes I'd just like to have a plain old unstuffed Italian sausage.

[kevin]

so would you say the meatballs are good? meaning compared to olive garden it's the holy grail.

that is weird i've never heard anyone mention cheese in their sausages.

[Das Ubergeek]

There's definitely cheese in there -- it's on their website, and the cooking directions they give are meant to keep the cheese from leaving the sausage.

It's a bit like eating an Italian cheddarwurst, except it's not cheddar and it tastes way better than a cheddarwurst.

[Ciao Bob]

Provolone, I believe...divine!

[JAB]

From their web site: "This sausage is blended with a special goat milk cheese from Sicily."

[tmarr1]

I agree that the sausage is why you go there and yes, there is cheese in it. As far as other options, they make and incredible stuffed bell pepper. It too has sausage as well as beef and veal in it but I even go there and get one to go. The gravy is good too, not too thick but very good.

[kc girl]

Their clam chowder, served only on Friday, is some of the best in town.

[DriverPhil]

adding a link to this wonderful place

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Sabatino's
251 Shipyard Way, Newport Beach, CA 92663

[Das Ubergeek]

They have the best Italian sausage in all Socalistan.

[RSMBob]

You found one of the truly great gems in OC...and a place where a GPS device really helps!

The sausage is pricey but it is the best I've ever had...wow, it's been almost 20 years since I first discovered it. Just a great place for a date, a business lunch, or dinner, or a nice family meal. And getting some sausage to go is the icing on the cake.