Saba

Conveniently walked distance from Emory. Nice homey feel to the restaurant. I ordered the gnocchi pasta and my wife ordered the mushroom ravioli. My dish consisted of a pesto sauce which was a little on the creamier side which I don’t think is a good pair with gnocchi. Little too thick and have to consume a lot of water while eating. My wife’s dish had very flavorful mushrooms and she was happy with her selection.

We have been long-​time fans of this great restaurant, even from the Burrito Art days!
Fresh, creative entrees, friendly atmosphere, wonderful people and a solid wine and beer menu selection.
Very concerned, though, to learn of the restaurant’s support of an Emory Village proposal to increase shopper traffic to the Village by building a multi-​use trail down Lullwater Road. Trail would destroy more than 70 trees and damage green space. Why? We already have good walking and cycling access to Emory Village. Would hate to no longer patronize our beloved Saba if this is true!

The name of this place is what caught our attention. Regretfully, we were very disappointed with the quality of our food. Short story is 40 bucks down the drain. We didn’t eat our food it was so bland and we couldn’t understand where the previous reviews came from. When we walked in we were greeted by the smell of an old dish rag. The lighting was lacking that my 2 year old even said he didn’t like being in that place. Save yourself a trip.

I’ve been here at least 30 times and Saba has never disappointed me. Their clan linguini in tomato sauce is delicious. I also recommend their chili shrimp sandwich although it’s not on the menu. Their medium rare grill salmon is also fabulous. So nice!

Disclaimer: One of my best friends is the proprietor of this fine establishment and even though I still owe him $ 50 from 1995 I wouldn’t lie. Having said that, I would just leave this place off my list if he was running this place into the ground. Nope. Saba is a gem, somewhere between full service deli and Italian bistro where fresh is in every dish. Freshy fresh. Pasta and breads are made daily by local artisans and let’s not even talk about the pasta sauce and meatballs. You have to experience this to get it. One more must try: Jimmy’s homemade chocolate chip cookies. Worth the trip to either location.

I really like this place. Last time I was here I had the Lamb Ragu, and immediately fell in love with it. I was sorely tempted to have it again today, but I wanted to have something different.
Saba is comfortable. Very low-​key. Down to Earth. The menu is approachable. With a variety of pastas and tasty sauces to choose from. My friends really like the Thai Chicken and the Pumpkin Ravioli. Along with some subs (one of which I’m having today), salads, and what looks like a delicious fish stew/​soup. (Which I may try next time.).
Today, the plan is to have the Chicken Parmesan sub with a side of mixed vegetables. It is served on ciabatta bread. I really enjoyed the sandwich, though I think it needed more sauce and more cheese. But then, I tend to say that about everything.
I think the owner is on staff. At the very least, one of the folks behind the counter is also the person who bakes the cookies. (Try the butterscotch bacon cookie. You’re welcome.)
I’ll happily look forward to my next trip to Saba. Holler if you’re coming with.

I love the Burrito Art salad but sadly I will not go to Saba anymore. I called to place an order for pickup a few hours ago and could not get an answer. I drove to the restuarant and walked into chaos. There was one server who was struggling to deal with a almost full restuarant and a line of people waiting to order. There was one cook as well. Thanks goodness the owner arrived to help these two very busy people. I asked him what was going on that these guys were alone. He was curt and defensive with me. He did not apologize but made excuses. The server’s first language was not English and was trying his best. When I remarked that he was having a hard time, the owner flippantly said «oh he is ok». This let me know that there would be no extra compensation for the server or cook. I judge a restaurant by the food and how the staff is treated. I would give this owner an F. Shame on him

It’s got a cool ambiance, but for a «pasta joint,» I was underwhelmed by the spaghetti and meat balls. Definitely mediocre, but not terrible.
There were also a lot of families with kids.
If I wanted pasta really bad, I would go back, but it’s not somewhere I would go on a regular basis.

Yum! Brunch was delicious! Great service, love the bloody mary bar, not a bite left on any plate. Definitely will be back!

Such a quaint little place. Yummy food, great atmosphere. Came for dinner, returned the next day for lunch. Great find!

Don’t think too hard about eating at Saba. As far as the Emory Village goes, this is about as good as it gets. It’s worth eating here once every month or so. The pasta can be quite nice, but I’m personally not a big fan of the sandwiches. Try a soup and salad for lunch or pasta for dinner. Definitely worth getting an early afternoon meal here when you don’t feel like straying too far from Emory.

I visit ATL once or twice a year and never fail to dine at Saba. The ambiance is laid back and the food is wonderful. They have a decent wine list and I often go downstairs to visit another wine bar for a second glass before heading back to my hotel. I highly recommend Saba!!!

I used to adore Saba as a student at Emory. Their wild mushroom ravioli was a perfect quick dinner before choir concerts. Yesterday I went with some friends while visiting Atlanta and the Emory area and of course opted for my usual. It made me throw up the way I do when I’ve eaten tree nuts. There was no allergy warning anywhere and I’ve never had an issue with the ravioli. I’d have given it 4 stars before, but now it’s getting one for having hidden ingredients that could be dangerous or for cross contamination with allergens. this is the saddest one star review I’ll ever give

One of my all time favorite spots to eat in Atlanta. I am pretty set on the phở portion of the menu, but decided to change it up recently. I decided to order the filet meal. The food was outstanding. The atmosphere of the restaurant is small but intimate. There is always some good music playing in the background. Definitely not a chain restaurant but a fresh take on a great place to eat.

Sometimes you need a good place where you can meet your friends and have lunch in a laid back atmosphere. This spot met all of my needs. The décor was rustic and inviting and it felt relaxing (maybe because I identify with the atmosphere). The menu was given to you and specials chalked up in front. Charming how you go to the front counter to order your food. There is a self serve coffee area which is nice– no need to flag the waiter down. I tried the mushroom ravioli with garlic cream sauce. A beautiful plate and was packed full of flavor. There greens are really fresh and they have an eclectic selection of sandwhiches to choose from. The addition of arugula in the sandwhich on a whole wheat ciabatta bun was noteworthy. Despite what you might think, it wasn’t too expensive either. A go to lunch/​brunch place for sure.

I had never visited this restaurant until the other night. My boyfriend has brought their zuppa di pesce home many times from this restaurant and it is amazing. It is pure comfort food.
Orders are placed at the counter and servers deliver the food to the table. I ordered the wild mushroom ravioli. Two others in our party ordered the lamb ragu. Two others ordered the special, which was a sausage pasta dish. One other ordered the pumpkin ravioli We also had a fried artichoke appetizer.
Everyone really enjoyed their food. I liked my ravioli, but I didn’t love it. I should stick with the zuppa di pesce. I also wasn’t crazy about the artichokes. The combination of fried artichokes with three different sauces really overpowered the subtle beautiful taste and texture of the artichokes.
The restrooms were nasty. The womens’ toilet was clogged with nastiness. It appeared that someone had a stomach problem and had used a roll of toilet paper to clean up. What is wrong with people? Just flush the damned toilet every now and then. I reported the problem to the restaurant and they closed the restroom. The mens’ room toilet wasn’t clogged, but the room was disgusting.
Service isn’t fast, but the food is freshly prepared and very good.

A charming little spot and possibly the best place to eat in Emory Village. From pasta to salads and sandwiches, have not left a single crumb or lick of sauce behind.

I’m not a huge fan of pasta generally, but nevertheless, I sometimes enjoy Saba. This place is very hit-​or-​miss with me, even if I order the same entrée both times.
I’ve tried their ravioli and found it too oily, but I usually really like the fettuccine alfredo. My friends usually enjoy their entrees though, so I would say Saba is a good choice if you go to Emory or live nearby and want some Italian food. It’s better than the high-​end Italian restaurant up at Emory Point in my opinion, and comes at a cheaper price.
This restaurant is very cozy and has a homey feeling, so I would recommend it as a place to catch up with friends or go for a casual date. The staff is also friendly, although they don’t so much hovering so you may have to be more straightforward if you want water refills or the like.

Kids portions are too small. Meatballs tasted funky. We like the cool tables and self-​serve drinks.

I was pleasantly surprised with this establishment that had attentive servers and delicious flavors and nicely balanced dishes.
I got the wild mushroom ravioli with the spicy tomato sauce and to my surprise the dish had great flavor and great presentation. Not that bland pasta dish that you’d find at some places. The Saba salad that I had before my entrée was a nice balance of greens, tomatoes, apples, cranberries, and goat cheese. Yum.
We were too late for this but I saw on their menu that they had a ravioli happy hour where you can get a cheap deal on their array of raviolis early in the evening. I want to go back and try that!
Two thumbs up to this place. It even had tofu options and the veggies were nice and fresh.

Seriously delicious pasta! The grilled chicken with pesto sauce and the spaghetti & meatballs were my favorite! Not overly fond of the Caesar dressing but that’s a small detail and would definitely not prevent me from returning!

We found this place purely by chance today after a wrong turn, but it appears fate wanted us to have lunch here. I was completely blown away with the linguini with clam and tomato sauce. The clams were perfect and more than plentiful, the pasta al dente, and the sauce was deliciously flavorful. It was so good, we plan to go back for dinner!

Im sorry, Saba… but I am removing two stars. I have been loyal all these years, and still go all the time, but my meals here are just not as awesome as I remember them being. I still love the space, the laid back vibe and the work ethic of the owner– he’s always around, making sure service is spot on (and it always is). But some food items are not what they used to be.
The sandwiches are still ginormous, and the bf still swears by them. I personally wish that better sides were offered– sweet potato or regular fries or broiled/​fried brussel sprouts, for instance.
The pumpkin raviolis are good, but the pasta seems thicker now, and the butter sauce heavy handed.
The gnocchi with pesto, which is a huge portion for an appetizer (order it for an entrée and you’ll be fine), is delicious, but the generous pour of olive oil tends to give me a little heartburn later in the day.
The caprese salad is generous and delicious, but I dont like it as much when it comes with cherry tomatoes (bigger tomato slices work best to pair with large mozzarella slices).
I once had a fish sandwich, offered as a special, that was undercooked and under seasoned. Pretty disappointing.
Brunch can be hit or miss– the biscuits are good, but a miss for me was the french toast, made with long slices of ciabatta. It was just soggy and not very flavorful.
I will keep returning due to dog friendliness and customer loyalty, but to go back to the 5 star rating would require better execution of the food items… maybe talk to your line chefs?

This place is tiny, but if you live near Emory (or are a student trapped in the Emory bubble due to lack of transportation), this serves as a decent Italian option.
Saba is a little tucked back from the main drag that runs down the middle of Emory Village, so it often gets forgotten or overlooked, but it’s pretty good.
Oftentimes, if a car-​less college student wants to take a date on a somewhat nicer dinner than say Dave’s Cosmic Subs or Panera, Saba fits the bill. It’s smaller, more intimate and removed from the main rush of traffic around the Village’s roundabouts and it has pretty good pasta and salads (if that’s what you’re hankering for).
I’ve been a couple of different times and the menu seems to vary slightly by the season and what’s available, but here are some things I remember having. I’ve had the wild mushroom ravioli, the penne greco pasta, the Saba salad and the insalata caprese appetizer, on different occasions.
All were good dishes, but none blew my mind or were so memorable I had to repeat them immediately. And this isn’t a complaint exactly but there’s a good deal of vegetarian options and I’m really more of a meat-​loving girl. Pasta’s just not the first dish I lean towards when given the choice.
Anyway, Saba’s good for intimate dinners of pasta or salad if you’re in the neighborhood, and the staff’s very friendly and accommodating if not the fastest around. They’re a-​ok.