Cafe Amici Downtown
1371 Main St, Sarasota, FL, 34236
Cafe Amici Downtown Menu
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Address :
1371 Main St
Sarasota, FL, 34236 - Phone (941) 951-6896
- Website https://www.cafeamicisrq.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Garage, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Intimate
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Italian Cuisine
The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.
Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.
If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.
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R G.
Really quite the ripoff. Will never go back. Service was fine, but aside from the food being mediocre, in principle, the idea of paying for a couple of very paltry shrimp with a couple of small vegetable for their 'highly recommended $26 buck special was a complete rip off, as was the very weak pasta dishes we had. Typical downtown restaurant this assumes great location is license to rip people off Complained to management which we never do and he simply ignored us. Felt bad for waitress who winked and agreed with us, but her hands were tied. Their loss. Will tell friends and family to avoid this restaurant. A dozen better Italian options within a few miles. Penny-wise and pound foolish will catch up to them.
(1)William C.
Had dinner there last night. Was out in front on sidewalk looking at menu when waitress came out and convinced us we should try it out. My wife wanted chicken parmesan which was not on the menu, but the chef made it especially for her! Food was excellent as was the service (waitress, Maria). Would definitely go back. There is no reason that I didn't give it 5 stars, but nothing is perfect!
(4)Randy K.
Food was OK, nothing special. Service was pleasant, but we had to wait to get a table even though we had a reservation and tables were vacant. Portions were small, especially for the price charged. Went there because we had a $10 off coupon, but probably will not go back. There are better Italian restaurants in the Sarasota/Bradenton area.
(3)C And C S.
Horrible horrible service. We booked on open table to Valentine's Day for 8pm. We arrived around 7:45 and was told to come back at 8pm. So we did, waited to be seated, the manager (owner? ) seemed irritated not only in how we booked but that we were even there. We were finally seated and he came over and practically assumed we wouldn't want any wine, he went to take the menu but my husband was reading it so we asked for a moment and try a specific one. We never had a waiter/waitress the entire time. I finally pulled the same guy back over and asked him if he even wanted us there. (My husband and I are 27/30, look younger and prob look like we are cheap, and that's how he made me feel he interpreted us). He asked me why I would ask him that, so I explained our experience thus far. He told us we didn't need a waiter/waitress and asked if we could just order. *other tables seated after us had bread, some appetizers. ..it had been 25 minutes by now. My husband and I left. We were stopped by another gentleman who we had joked with when we first came to the table who seemed apologetic and insisted we stay- but the manager (owner? ) didn't want him to worry about us, and even said "adios" to us. We recently moved our boat here and are checking out places to make our "regular" stops on the weekend...we will go elsewhere, to much competition out there! Saved $$$ and had an amazing experience at another restaurant down the road!
(1)Angela W.
The owner is marvelous - he sent over lemon cello for our girls night out/trip to Sarasota. It was a birthday celebration and he made my night with a gift upon leaving. Our dinners were very good.
(4)Helen L.
My boyfriend and I dined here on a Saturday night. The restaurant was busy but we didn't have to wait for a table. Our server was very friendly and attentive. We ordered the Mozzarella and Prosciutto to share. That night they were serving a higher quality mozzarella than what's on their normal menu. The cheese was very creamy and melted in your mouth. For our entrées we ordered the Scaloppina Di Vitello Amici and Bombette Al Rosmarino. The veal was cooked beautifully and both dishes tasted great. We will definitely go back to try other items on their menu.
(5)Michael S.
Being generous with the 3 stars, would really rate it at a 2.5. We had a large party and the wait staff was nice, but it took way too long to get bread served at our table. The place was small but there weren't many patrons there so I didn't feel crowded. The food was mixed. I had the penne pasta with mushrooms and a pink sauce which was good, however I also had the veal scaloppini and it was below average in taste and size. Very dissapointing.
(3)Carol D.
Do not go here unless you enjoy being treated like a second class citizen. The manager / owner treated us like crap because we had a discount card and would not honor the 1/2 price apps like stated on the website. He wanted us to take it up with the card issuer and didn't even know what his responsibility way. But yet he has the gall to sit there and get in our face.
(1)Jen S.
Oh what a relief! I finally found the Italians in Florida! And of course the food was amazing. My husband and I arrived early, about 5:00. We were the first ones there but we got the best table. Our waitress was friendly and promptly brought over some bread that I swear was a gift from the heavens. They have an impressive wine list. We both had a salad and the beef rollatini, a special from the area where the owners lived. The pasta was perfect. So fresh. I've had so much bad pasta that when I took a bite I was transported back to my grandma's kitchen. The beef was tender and flavorful. We had a coupon for $10 off $40 and we had no problems with them accepting it. We will definitely be back. I would say the prices are slightly higher than a normal casual dinner night for us but this place is worth it! We will definitely be back.
(5)Robin T.
We try to dine here when we visit Sarasota. It is a comfortable cafe with an old-style Italian spirit. The food is created on the premises (pasta, mozzarella, sausage, etc.) and is consistently good.
(4)Erik R.
Not a "mom and pop" Italian place... Cafe Amici takes the time for home made pastas. Home made everything, in fact. We had the Mozzarella and Prosciutto appetizer. House made mozzarella slices layered with fresh tomato, fresh basil and thin prosciutto. Perfect! Each of us had a fettuccine dish as well. The sauces were nothing short of perfect and the fresh, homemade, oversized noodles were delightful. Too bad we were too full for dessert. I guess we simply must come back.
(5)Todd B.
It might deserve better based on the food, but I have to tell you that a business that does not honor the deals it creates doesn't really deserve your business. Girlfriend and I came on Saturday night. As is usually the case, the place was not busy. My girlfriend and I frequently commented whenever we were downtown how we never seemed to see anyone in here. So what am I talking about in my first sentence? Girlfriend and I both checked in, and when you check in on yelp, you're supposed to get a free glass of chianti. When we showed it to the server, she stumbled over an explanation as to why she couldn't give it to us. She said that the owner didn't know about it, and then implied it wasn't what he agreed to, and the owner was working on changing the deal or canceling it or something as of Tuesday when the business offices of yelp reopened (it was labor day weekend). Can I call bullsh*t? Are we to believe that yelp just fashioned this check in deal out of no where without confirming it with the business? And if that were even true, the second you found out about it, wouldn't you put a notice on your door or something to let people know before they sat down? And if you were changing it or canceling it, shouldn't you honor the deal until then, lest you lose customers? The only reason I think we stayed was because we had a groupon (hey, tell me that you couldn't accept both deals - the groupon and the check-in - together, and I would have believed that). I don't recall what my girlfriend got, but I got Gnocchi Con Gamberi E Granchio (Dumpling potato, sautéed shrimp with crab meat in wine, oil, garlic, and chopped tomatoes). It was good. As I said, I probably would have given this at least 3 stars if not for the BS runaround on the check-in deal. The service was otherwise good, so all in all, this is probably a 3 star restaurant. That yelp thing though really rubbed us the wrong way.
(2)Hueneme R.
We personally know the owners and have yet to have a bad experience. They offer great food at a great price. Their wine list is large and excellent. You need to know, if your in a hurry, this isn't the place to go. The owners are from Italy and if you know anything about Italy and their culture, you can expect the food to come out slower than most. The food is well worth the wait!
(5)Laura S.
Really friendly, knowledgeable staff, and great "comfort" Italian food with a fancy twist. I ordered the Osso Buco, which was very tasty, and my dinner-mates ordered pasta bolognese (pretty good, but a little too tomato-y for my taste), and the pasta braciole, which was very delicious- I almost wished I had ordered that instead. The portions are definitely generous, and the staff was very accommodating and kind.
(4)Kristen T.
A really amazing little slice of Italy tucked away on Main Street. We had never been before, and had a fantastic time. The staff were very attentive and friendly, and felt very authentic. The food was even better. I had the ravioli with mushrooms and my boyfriend got fettuccine with veal, and both were to die for. It was just a warm and welcoming little place with a lot of flavor. The pasta was all handmade as well. Had a great time, can't wait to go again.
(4)Michael Z.
This place was surprisingly delicious. I had never heard of it before, and thought I knew all of the great Italian restaurants in town already since I'm Italian myself, but this place was delicious. Also good bang for your buck, but I used a groupon so my view is a little skewed. One trick though. When they tell you the specials, they don't tell you the price. I made the mistake of getting the most delicious sounding special, and ended up getting a $30 dish. My own fault really, but still. Just ask for prices when they tell you about the specials.
(4)Simo N.
I was there the other night and the Ossobuco was amazing. The flavors were outstanding. The service was very quick. We had gotten the drinks in a blink of an eye. We had penne Alessandro and it was cooked to perfection. It was absolutely the best Italian resteraunt in town. The atmosphere made me feel like I was back in Italy.
(5)javaone n.
food was excellent right at the busy sarasota town. My wife doesn't like fish but she love her salmon.
(4)Pam G.
Wow, what a great little restaurant. It's a small restaurant with a good amount of tables, and an extra room they would open for large parties or events. The service was fantastic. There are a couple waitresses/waiters on, and our waitress, Chrissy, stopped over several times to see how things were going, or refill a wine glass. She was helpful, and let us take our time making a menu decision, and offered suggestions or input on some of the dishes. The red wine was served slightly chilled which makes it much more enjoyable in the summertime (or near summertime in FLA). One of the owners stopped by our table to ask about whether we enjoyed our meal, and I noticed he stopped by all other tables as well. I had a veal dish which was fantastic. Veal was tender, and the dish was very tasty. Veal is my favorite meal, and am a tough judge of it; I would definitely eat here again. I would reluctantly try another dish as every one at our table was happy with his or her meal - however, it will be difficult to not have that veal dish again. And, I will ask to sit in Chrissy's section if she is working that day. I recommend, if you like and appreciate italian food, you stop in one day or evening.
(4)Tim V.
So far the best Italian I have found in Sarasota. Pasta is all homemade, same for sauces and the menu offers plenty of well prepared, classic dishes. Try the beef Carpaccio, Lasagna and Osso Bucco. Wine list is small with attention paid to the better known regions, but fairly well selected and priced. Service is a bit abrupt but attentive and very knowledgeable of the dishes
(4)Alberto Z.
They served us focaccia, which was cold and dry, not fresh. The portions were generous, however the flavors were unremarkable. We had the lasagna ($15) and the oso buco ($33.50!!). I would have been OK paying $33.50 if the veal shank had been amazing, but unfortunately it wasn't. For dessert we had a tiramisu. It had an acidic taste, not sure if it was rancid or not; one of the worst we have ever had. I must add that my friend is a tiramisu connoisseur, we order one everywhere we go. Overall very disappointing. I will not be back. P.S. my friend did not get sick, which we wondered about the possibility because of the tiramisu, so I guess it wasn't rancid after all, just bad.
(2)maria t.
What a great find!!!!! Awsome food , service and selection of wines.. A must do if you are in the area. Warm and friendly , felt like we were back in Italy..
(5)Rob V.
Meh...Average food - small portions - bad service = 2 stars. There are far better places in Sarasota for the money.
(2)Trisha A.
Fun, intimate atmosphere. Food is outstanding, and the owner's hospitality is refreshing.This place has great, classic italian food. The red sauce is fantastic, but the Scaloppina DiVitello Amici is the best! Living here for 20 years, I've had a wide sampling of what this town has to offer and Cafe Amici has fast become my new favorite restaurant in Sarasota. Simply put, enjoy a bottle of wine from their excellent wine list and the best, classic, unencumbered Italian food you will ever taste! The service is so personal you will like family.
(5)Gary E.
Lunch. Lasagna was too salty. Linguini with pesto - 3 small slices of over cooked chicken. Lousy, I mean rally lousy coffee. Excellent cannoli. Would not eat here again. Very, very disappointed. And way too expensive - $56 with tip and no alcohol for two entries, a salad, a dessert and two coffees.
(2)Charlie B.
We expected great service based on other comments, and were very disappointed. Although we had a reservation, we were given the "loser" table by the entrance to the kitchen, and then we were completely ignored for over ten minutes. It's not that the waiters weren't working hard; the overworked staff were literally running through the restaurant throwing food onto tables. We ordered only entrees. From the time we sat down until our food arrived was 54 minutes, and we were worried about missing the show we had tickets for. Our waitress was friendly and attentive when she had time for us, but kept promising that our food was coming "soon" without result. When the food did arrive we asked for a check right away and she provided it. Then, and only then, the owner/maitre'd type person showed up at our table and gave me a lot of attitude about "what's your hurry?" This place is just around the corner from the Sarasota Opera, and it's clear that they take on more than they can handle in the pre-theater time period. It may be a completely different experience at off-peak times. I can appreciate leisurely dining, but I expect to be offered a drink when I'm seated, or at least some acknowledgement that I exist. So why three stars instead of two? The food was really quite good, although we were hard pressed to enjoy it because of the time pressure that the restaurant created by their slow service. My wife had a salmon and artichoke dish, which she enjoyed, and I had eggplant parm, my standard "test dish" for any new Italian place. Everyone serves it, and it's very easy to do wrong. Amici's version was delicious, and served on a bed of perfectly done angel hair pasta. Recommendation: If you do want to try this place, look for a time when the kitchen and waitstaff have time to treat you well. In other words, avoid opera season.
(3)FoodMaven X.
Delightful lunches. Cocktails poured with a long hand. Lovely Salads! Dinner can be inconsistent. Fish, shrimp Veal & chicken, of which there are several delicious choices, fair best. Prime rib, why art thou marinated? Eggplant & pasta options for lacto-ovo vegetarians. Bolognese reliable. Spinach sauté has a little spinach with your garlic. Ossobuco - leathery microwaved texture. Haven't ventured the duck yet. Dinner at the bar usually superior to table due to fact owner is a fixture at the bar. Crusty bread served with floral herbaceous olive oil. *** at Dinner.
(4)Tony H.
Its a rather small and intimate restaurant - seems to be run by 2 brothers and they had a good crowd in there for a Wed. night. The prices were competitive (ie. lower) compared to the nearby restaurants and the menu was attractive. We had a great dinner - everything was well prepared: Calamari on Angel Hair Pasta - were tender and not rubbery like you usually get in other places I have been. The Braciole was excellent. There are several deserts prepared in house - we went for the Tiramisu - one of the best I have had - melt in your mouth fresh. Great Chianti by the glass. We would go back. We ate outside - only 4 tables, but it was less noisy than inside.
(4)Tara S.
I have lived in Sarasota for 8 years and have never know anyone to eat at Cafe Amici. After visiting there tonight I think that I know why. The service was terrible. We went for dinner at 6pm to make it out of there for the 7:30 performance of the opera. I explained to the waiter that we had the commitment so that he was aware. Unfortunately, our server spent the majority of his time catering to a table of older men. I am assuming that they were regulars. I can't think of another reason that the other tables were neglected. in such a manner. (FOlks at other tables had to flag the server down several times.) The server wandered off after reciting the specials and didn't return promptly to take our order. He came over mid entree to ask if we wanted more bread when we never had any to being with. He then proceeded to blame this on the bus girl. The bus girl was actually very attentive and was right on the spot to refill glasses of water and remove soiled plates. The server also forgot my order of a second glass of wine. About 15 minutes after our entrees were served he wandered over with a bowl of grated parm, but when he saw that we were almost through our entrees he just turned around and left without an explanation. Just a mess really. The food was very good but not worth the spotty service at all. There are just too many excellent places to eat on Main St to bother with a half ass effort at a dining experience.
(2)Rochelle C.
The best homemade pasta and meatballs in town.
(5)Raymond W.
Came here with a bunch of clients and co-workers during a little business trip. The restaurant was a little small for our group, but at the same time it was warm and inviting. The service was very upbeat and attentive keeping a steady pace throughout the meal with water and wine refills, bread, apps, entrees, and dessert. For appetizers we got bruschetta and calamari which were both decent, but not mind blowing by any means. For my entree I got the beef rollotini with Orecchiette and a red tomato sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly and the beef rollotini was shredded beef rather than ground which was a nice surprise. Dessert was a little disappointing with an ok tiramisu and a dry lava cake. How one manages to make a dry lava cake when there is still lava in it mystifies me.
(3)Tom M.
Very nice calimari appetizer. Main dish, linguini with seafood, a bit bland, small, and pricey. Bread not quite warm. In brief, a place that seems unexcited about itself and its customers.
(3)Eldita B.
My husband and I were strolling along Main Street in Sarasota after a performance at the FST when we came upon Cafe Amici. Menu looked decent as did the prices so we decided to go for it. Service was very good; as was the wine and food. One of the best arugula salads I have ever had. Gnocci was tasty and delicate.
(3)