Oh, Little Italy. The restaurants are just too expensive. No way we can eat there. But wait. Just when it looks like there's nowhere affordable to eat in Little Italy, fear not, for Amicci's has what no other place in the collection of Italian restaurants has - good food at a reasonable price.
When you first walk into Amicci's, you are immediately struck by the casual atmosphere. The walls are painted bright yellow and dark blue, and the front dining area is a bit on the small side. It all represents what Amicci's preaches to be - a casual Italian eatery.
But we're in Little Italy, so this place isn't just a shack. The walls are adorned with various Godfather posters among other decorations and there is a larger dining room in the back for larger parties. Oh, and the food isn't bad either.
Amicci's serves all of the Italian favorites: Chicken Parmigiana, Spaghetti, Lasagna and pastas in cream sauces. Amicci's also serves the "Pasta of the Day." You can get the pasta of the day with a variety of different sauces. The only drawback is that the pasta of the day tends to be linguini; other pastas are usually unworthy of the Pasta of the Day honor.
The Chicken Parmigiana is quite good. I had tortellini stuffed with cheese, served in a cream sauce with peas and ham. That was a delicious dish, though it was overwhelmingly filling. The lasagna was only fair, but you can expect most dishes at Amicci's to be satisfying. For the most part, they do the standard Italian dishes justice.
Many appetizers are also offered, though none of them are out of this world. But they are good enough to satisfy your hunger until your entre arrives.
Bread is served before your meal - good soft Italian bread, the kind you can eat all day long and never get tired of. You also have the option of ordering salad before your meal.
The best part about Amicci's is the price. Many of the restaurant's entrees are priced under $11, making Amicci's one of the most affordable Italian dining experiences in town. Pricier entrees may range up to $18, but the bulk of the Italian favorites can be eaten for a cheap fare.
If you feel like getting a little bit fancy, Amicci's has you covered in the wine department. Well, if you're not too picky. There are only a few wines to choose from - four reds and three whites. Reds include a chianti and merlot. Whites include a chardonnay and white zinfadel. Plus, this is probably the only place in Little Italy where you can walk in wearing t-shirts and sandals with a good conscience. Being the very casual eatery that they are, Amicci's doesn't care about your attire.
Service at Amicci's is quite good. Servers are quick to grant "more bread" requests and refill drinks frequently. And if you're worried about a wait, don't. Entrees come out of the kitchen like lightening, perhaps no longer than 15 minutes after they're ordered.
On the subject of waiting, though, you might actually have to wait to get in to this hidden gem of a bistro. There are no reservations. Therefore, sizeable crowds often gather in the restaurant's small vestibule to put their name on the waiting list. Amicci's is pretty popular, so chances are you could have to wait anywhere from 15 minutes to half an hour before you are seated. But the wait is worth it. Nowhere else in Little Italy will you find food of this quality for such little cost.
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