One member of our group wanted to celebrate a special birthday by dining at Amore e Amore in Atlanta. I had never been to this restaurant before. I was looking forward to the experience, as I did not know what to expect. Because today is Friday the 13th of October just before Halloween, I thought that today would be an apropos time to publish this restaurant review.
Amore e Amore in Atlanta. Restaurant Review.
All of the menu items at Amore e Amore highlight seasonal ingredients which are sourced directly from Italy and local farms.
The entrance to the restaurant is through the white door with the glass panes. Backdrops of bookcases and other images were draped over the interior brick walls in time for a spooky Halloween.
The ceilings of the restaurant were covered with colorful lanterns to give more fun to the atmosphere. Music from the mid 1970s through the mid 1980s played in the background — such as Night Fever by The Bee Gees.
This is the table at which our party sat and dined. Our reservation was for 8:30 in the evening.
I was seated in the corner on the left side of the above photograph. Because the restaurant itself is quite small, some patrons may find the experience to be cramped. I actually found it to be rather cozy, as I prefer to sit in a corner.
My cozy corner included two electric candles with the flickering metal “flame”; salt and pepper shakers; and a festive display of illuminated fall leaves.
Members of the staff quickly replaced empty bottles of Acqua Canna natural spring water with full bottles. The two menus at the right side of the above photograph were both for alcoholic beverages.
Bracelets were on the table for each person. Simply bend them and they glow; then they were wrapped around each wrist. Different colors were provided. Colorful plastic hats were also eventually given out to all of the patrons. At one point during the meal, members of the staff used small portable machines to create bubbles, which floated in the air.
We were soon provided with cylindrical napkins…
…which contained a small warm crusty loaf of bread. It was very good.
A scoop of garlic butter was provided in a ramekin to accompany the bread.
Sautéed Calamari Fra Diavolo: $16.95. The aforementioned bread served as a suitable vehicle for sopping up the sauce, which was thick, rich, and flavorful.
Zuppa di Mussels: $15.95. The sauce of garlic and olive oil for this appetizer was also good for the bread.
Organic Mixed Green Salad with Balsamic Dressing: $12.50.
Mozzarella Caprese: $15.00.
This intermezzo of a homemade lemon sorbet cleansed the palate for the main course. Half of these received a fresh splash of vodka, which I avoided as I do not partake in alcoholic beverages. The ones without the liquor were definitely refreshing.
Gnocchi Vodka: $26.95.
World Famous Cioppino Seafood Feast: $49.95, which consisted of calamari, clams, shrimp, mussels, and a lobster tail in a rich broth.
Linguine Amore – Olive Oil, Garlic, Shrimp & Broccoli: $32.95. This dish was good but somewhat bland.
Rigatoni Bolognese: $26.95.
Rigatoni Bolognese with freshly grated parmesan cheese: $26.95.
Toto’s Tiramisu: $12.00.
Tinman Cannoli: $11.50.
The Great & Powerful Flourless Chocolate Cake: $12.00. This dessert was incredibly rich.
The Vampire’s Kiss is comprised of Silver tequila, St.Germain, and Lemon juice: $16.50.
For some reason, the music was suddenly rather loud at approximately 9:30 in the evening. YMCA by the Village People was then followed by Thriller by Michael Jackson. Other songs which were played loud included Get Down On It and Celebrate — both by Kool & the Gang — followed by Hot Stuff by Donna Summer and the long version of Good Times by Chic.
Final Boarding Call
I did enjoy dining at Amore e Amore. The one reason why I am stopping just short of recommending this restaurant as a place to dine is because although the food tasted very good, the portions were somewhat small, and the food overall was not outstanding enough to justify what I considered to be expensive prices. The service was very good, as members of the staff were prompt and attentive.
For example, I expected the pasta to be homemade on the premises. If it was, it did not seem that way. If someone wanted a Wild Filet of Sole Livornese with Pasta Marinara and an Organic Mixed Green Salad with Balsamic Dressing, the cost would be $59.95 — excluding tax and gratuity. One could also have a full prix fixe meal consisting of a cold antipasto, pasta, intermezzo, a choice of entrée, and an assortment of homemade desserts for $90.00 plus alcohol, tax, and gratuity. A minimum of two people must partake in the prix fixe menu.
If you are willing to splurge, however, this restaurant is then definitely worth a visit.
Amore e Amore is located in the northeastern part of the Inman Park neighborhood of Atlanta, which is just northeast of downtown.
Amore e Amore
467 North Highland Avenue Northeast
Atlanta, Georgia 30307
404-600-2176
info@amoreeamore.com
Operating Hours
Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday: 5:00 in the afternoon through 10:00 in the evening
Friday and Saturday: 5:00 in the afternoon through 11:00 in the evening
Monday: Closed
Parking is limited. Parking on the street can be difficult even late in the evening. Free valet parking is available in a parking lot nearby; but a gratuity is expected for the parking attendant.
All photographs ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
