Deep down in the middle of the Mediterranean, the people of Sardinia still enjoy the traditional home-cooked food that their grandmothers used to make. Here at Pepe Sale, in the heart of Reading, owner Toni Sale, who was brought up on this idyllic island aims to bring you some of those delicious, authentic flavours of Sardinia.
The menu features some Sardinian specialities that many of our customers had never tried before they came here - like our wonderful Sardinian bread - Pane Carasatu, various home made pastas, wild boar, fish dishes and of course, our house speciality - slowly roasted Suckling Piglet. Together with the stylish, minimalist decor you will find that eating at Pepe Sale is an authentic Sardinian dining experience - and all at an affordable price.
The menu features some Sardinian specialities that many of our customers had never tried before they came here - like our wonderful Sardinian bread - Pane Carasatu, various home made pastas, wild boar, fish dishes and of course, our house speciality - slowly roasted Suckling Piglet. Together with the stylish, minimalist decor you will find that eating at Pepe Sale is an authentic Sardinian dining experience - and all at an affordable price.
Services
As in all regions of Italy, pasta is one of our staple dishes, and owner and head chef Toni Sale prepares fresh pasta by hand every morning. Why not try our Sardinian pasta specialities - Malloreddos, Spaghetti Bottarga or Gulungiones, a type of Sardinian Ravioli.
Customers who wish to have bread with their meal can order some Pane Carasatu - typical Sardinian thin, crispy bread served simply with extra virgin olive oil and a little fresh rosemary.You can also sample this as a starter - Pane frattau - with fresh tomato sauce and Pecorino cheese, with an optional - but authentic - poached egg.
Customers who wish to have bread with their meal can order some Pane Carasatu - typical Sardinian thin, crispy bread served simply with extra virgin olive oil and a little fresh rosemary.You can also sample this as a starter - Pane frattau - with fresh tomato sauce and Pecorino cheese, with an optional - but authentic - poached egg.
The majority of the wines on our list are specially selected from individual Sardinian vineyards. These include a combination of crisp Sardinian whites and the more full-bodied reds. You probably will not have heard of most of them, but don't worry - our staff are here to help you choose the best wine to complement your meal.
Staff at Pepe Sale pride themselves on giving all our customers an opportunity to sample real Italian hospitality. We look forward to your visit! Food was fresh and tasty, chicken with salmon stuffing worked remarkably well. Service was friendly and efficient. Wines were served just right. The only minor issue is that the ceilings are a bit low and with alot of people in can get noisy.
We can be found down the side of the Broad Street Mall in the centre of Reading, opposite the Hexagon Theatre (ideal for pre or post theatre drinks and dinner - special set pre-theatre menu available) and the Penta (Renaissance) Hotel, and just 5 minutes from the Market Square and the Railway Station.
You can make a reservation for Pepe Sale using our Online Reservations Booking System: Should you wish to make a reservation for more than 6 guests, please contact us on our reservations number or email address. Staff at Pepe Sale pride themselves on giving all our customers an opportunity to sample real Italian hospitality.
Reviews (27)
Richard Porter
Jan 02, 2022
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Richard Newman
Dec 30, 2021
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Sadly gone downhill.
This was my first time back at Pepe Sale since it changed ownership. The staff seemed unaware of their menu, having to be prompted that they could indeed make a negroni (an order previously guaranteed to raise a smile from Toni, the owner), and out of Sardinian Mirto and their flatbread. The food was fine — still better than a chain Italian restaurant, sure — but the service was atrocious: we were almost immediately forgotten, sitting with empty glasses and no water for most of the night. We eventually had to walk to the front of the restaurant and help them tap our order
This was my first time back at Pepe Sale since it changed ownership. The staff seemed unaware of their menu, having to be prompted that they could indeed make a negroni (an order previously guaranteed to raise a smile from Toni, the owner), and out of Sardinian Mirto and their flatbread. The food was fine — still better than a chain Italian restaurant, sure — but the service was atrocious: we were almost immediately forgotten, sitting with empty glasses and no water for most of the night. We eventually had to walk to the front of the restaurant and help them tap our order
Barry Glanville
Dec 12, 2021
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Jay Reilly
Nov 26, 2021
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Jerome From Reading
Nov 25, 2021
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Very tasty and unique dishes, yummy sauce, and generous portion. So much better than your average Italian. I was looking forward to my next visit already. So why the 1-star? We were having an 11-people party last Friday. We were given some bread and olive oil, and also some vegetables (we did not ask for them) to compliment our mains. When the bill came, we found out that we got charged £1.80 per person for the bread, and £4.00 per person for vegetables. Again, we did not request any of it. I consider this shocking and dishonest. A sensible thing to do to earn customer loyalty would have been
Kiera
Nov 11, 2021
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Steven Bosworth
Oct 25, 2021
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Melina Antoniou
Aug 15, 2021
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Visited with my partner on a Friday night after reading the nice reviews. Unfortunately we lacked the experience everyone talked about. We were one of the first tables to arrive and one of the last to receive our mains. Service was friendly but lacked precision and training which was evident by multiple mistakes resulting to delays. We ordered pasta. Food was not great and the menu was a hit or miss with some plates being tasteful and substantial while other ones that had the same price where plain and provided a very small portion. My partner's was a hit mine was a miss. Unfortunately bad service
Marie G.
Jul 11, 2021
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One of the best restaurants in Reading if you love good and real Italian food. I've been multiple times and can't wait to go again, their menu and selection is amazing, their portions are fairly generous but you never want your dish to end.
Their duck with sultanas and honey and wine sauce is one of the best dishes I've ever had (considering I dont like sultanas or honey, this is how good they are at what they do), their salmon and safran pasta is magnificent, their tiramisu will make you want to eat 3 more, I've never been disappointed by any dish there. The service and prices are great too,
Their duck with sultanas and honey and wine sauce is one of the best dishes I've ever had (considering I dont like sultanas or honey, this is how good they are at what they do), their salmon and safran pasta is magnificent, their tiramisu will make you want to eat 3 more, I've never been disappointed by any dish there. The service and prices are great too,
Vaclav Pavlik
Jun 22, 2020
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N. D.
Aug 31, 2019
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Lola M.
Aug 16, 2018
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We had a great meal tonight. The service was excellent with the head waiter in charge of the orders and the conversation and a whole team backing him up. (Typical Italian fashion) The food was good too. I had the fish cooked in salt and filleted at the table. It was fresh and light just like the one I ate in Sardinia last year. The pasta was terrific as well. Will def be back.
Samantha Wasilewski
Jun 18, 2018
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Doug M.
Apr 16, 2018
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Carine Geay
Mar 08, 2018
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Ivy Raymundo-Wood
Feb 02, 2018
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Anwar Masih
Oct 26, 2017
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Marco C.
Jun 14, 2013
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A good restaurant in a hard-to-find spot. The food is good, with a chef making fresh pasta up front. The owner is friendly and makes the rounds talking to the patrons. It's not too expensive, not too loud, and generally just what I was looking for after a day of meetings and travel.
Definitely try the seadas for dessert. I guess you can't go wrong with a fried pastry covered in honey, but still, it's pretty good.
Definitely try the seadas for dessert. I guess you can't go wrong with a fried pastry covered in honey, but still, it's pretty good.
Qype User Dave
Jun 03, 2013
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Lovely little place, worth a visit! Food is fresh and good healthy portions. Bit hidden and not on any regular walk ways so if you don't know it's there it wouldn't be a place to look. Having said that it says something about their reputation that's its hard to find but still gets busy. For a nice romantic meal put it on your list.
Gerry L.
Apr 12, 2013
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You would probably not eat at Pepe Sale if you just visited Reading. It is a block down from the High Street, and too far from that magnet of conformity, the Oracle. It is nestled down the back of the execrable Broad Street Mall, but at least within a few steps from the Hexagon. And it still has what must be the original colour scheme from whenever it first opened, long, long ago. But it is by far the best Italian (sorry, Sardinian!) restaurant you will find in the region - easily the top in the Thames Valley, and one that will shame much more expensive London-based restaurants (an observation
Jeff R.
Dec 07, 2012
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Its been a few years since I was here but I'll never forget it. I was travelling on business and this place was right next to our hotel. It was also the only place we could find in the area that we thought was good. Loved all the dishes we ate over the few days we were there. They even let us behind the bar to show them how to make a Long Island iced tea.
If I'm ever back in the UK I'll be sure to go again. It was a pleasure.
If I'm ever back in the UK I'll be sure to go again. It was a pleasure.
Bruce K.
Aug 08, 2011
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A little on the spendy side, but well worth it if you want a great Italian meal. I've walked past this place dozens of times, but it wasn't until I had a craving for it that I decided to give it a try. They probably don't get a whole lot of walk-in traffic because it's down a long alleyway between Oxford Road and the Hexagon Theatre.
Welcomed warmly by the (manager? owner?), I was brought to a table with a lovely view of the restaurant and the massive wine racks. But wine wasn't what I wanted today and I went with a pint of Italian Peroni beer. When it was delivered, the
Welcomed warmly by the (manager? owner?), I was brought to a table with a lovely view of the restaurant and the massive wine racks. But wine wasn't what I wanted today and I went with a pint of Italian Peroni beer. When it was delivered, the
Qype User Ladybu
Mar 02, 2011
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Josh T.
Mar 04, 2010
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My experience at Pepe Sale was great. It seems that everything from the menu is freshly made from the kitchen. I had the chicken stuffed with salmon which was very tasty. I also had the anti pasta dish as a starter which was tasty. They bring bread for the table but there is a charge per person.
We went with a party of 4 without reservations and were quickly seated by the friendly staff. It seems like a family owned business so you don't have a set waiter/waitress for the dinner; more of whomever is available. Service was great as was the food.
The tiramisu was great, almost ate
We went with a party of 4 without reservations and were quickly seated by the friendly staff. It seems like a family owned business so you don't have a set waiter/waitress for the dinner; more of whomever is available. Service was great as was the food.
The tiramisu was great, almost ate
Qype User Pennyc
Apr 26, 2009
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Excellent restaurant, the Sardinian menu is a refreshing change from the usual familiar Italian fare. The staff are lovely, friendly without being too intrusive. It isn't cheap-we paid £120 for three of us for 3 courses including wine and a couple of coffees (and a lovely liqueur after!) but the food was really good and there is a fixed price menu too.Ideal for a special occasion.
I'd recommend it and have been back a couple of times (usually after pay day!)
I'd recommend it and have been back a couple of times (usually after pay day!)
Qype User Mrs.
Jan 21, 2009
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Qype User Smudge
Sep 19, 2008
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