Amici is a new Italian restaurant on 189 Old Greenville Highway, right behind Riggs Field. I had the chance to go and try the place out with some friends and review a few of their dishes. Amici described itself as an Italian restaurant with a casual atmosphere, so I was expecting something like a dressed-down Olive Garden. Instead, the scene I arrived at was literally a sports bar that served Italian food. Somehow, it was working for them.
The atmosphere was friendly and relaxed, and it wasn’t crowded despite being a Friday night. Don’t be too discouraged, though; the food was not bad. We were seated quickly and the food arrived in under 30 minutes.
The best food item that you can get here actually comes with every menu choice: the bread. It consisted of flatbread covered in cheese, garlic and oregano. It was actually to die for. The flatbread meals
and the pizza also came on this same bread, but it was just as good by itself.
Overall, I would say the experience was pleasant and I would return.
Food Ratings
1. Homemade Alfredo
“Classic fettucine noodles in alfredo sauce with light pepper on top.”
The sauce was creamy and delicious, but the serving size felt a little too small.
3.5/5 stars
2. Georgia Cobb Salad
“Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, mozzarella, BBQ roasted corn, bacon, grilled chicken and flash-fried onion rings. Served with BBQ ranch.”
This dish was flavorful and had a wide variety of components, but it felt like it wasn’t well balanced. The abundance of bacon on top tended to overpower the other ingredients.
3.5/5 stars
3. Tortellini with Marinara Sauce
“Ricotta-stuffed tortellini with Amici marinara cream sauce.”
The pasta was a good size, just right for one bite, and the ricotta inside was soft and warm. The marinara sauce was rich and creamy, yet also tart, leaving a slightly tangy, rather pleasing aftertaste. The serving size was a tad small, and the sauce was slightly cold upon arriving.
4/5 stars
4. Seared Ahi Tuna
“Sundried tomatoes, Kalamata olives and red onions on a bed of greens with house vinaigrette and Lemon Aioli.”
This dish overall was not pleasing. The tuna was supposed to be seared, but instead it appeared to be cooked all the way through. The olives were way too strong and ended up overpowering the entire entrée.
1.5/5 stars
5. Daily combo: Ahi tuna pizza and sweet chili wings
“One slice of pizza and choice of any small salad, wings or soup. Available with one, two or gourmet toppings.”
The combination of the pizza and wings was a good choice. The pizza was decent, with the cheese being the most enjoyable part. The wings had satisfying crunch to them and were covered in a mostly sweet, but slightly spicy sauce.
3.5/5 stars