Amici Pizza and Bistro

My last review was deleted for god knows what?
It just didnt fit the neighborhood and the prices were too steep.

I’d never heard of this restaurant before, but luckily we were pleasantly surprised. My boyfriend and I came here for dinner Friday and were seated right away, which was good because we were near death. (Ok, perhaps a few steps away) We ordered house wine and a Caesar salad; I got a pizza and he ordered rigatoni for dinner. Everything was good, but if I must be nitpicky, some of the lettuce on the salad was a little old. Prices were reasonable and OMG the crème brûlée. Yum. Good service, nice cozy atmosphere. We learned this is a small family operation, and I hope it sticks around for a while! I would definitely return.

We stood at a crossroads. I mean, a little more specifically, we stood at the intersection of 29^th and Johnson. Eat at Amici’s or Hazel’s. I’ve been meaning to eat at Hazel’s for awhile, but Jesse turned up her nose. She had had one too many disappointments, so we ventured into Amici’s.
The atmosphere is pleasant. Black and white movies play silently on a couple of television screens hanging from a wall. They seem a little out of place, but the service is pleasant and they’ll bring another basket of warm bread if you ask.
Black barley risotto. Don’t look at another menu item. It’s $ 14 and everything else is around that price too so you don’t need to consider anything else. Just order it. Sweet and savory and a perfect portion. And a half glass of wine. It’s almost full and cheaper.
One day I’ll try Hazel’s and it will probably be the day Amici’s takes the risotto off the menu.

I have been here 4 times and the last two times have not been a good experience in terms of service. The food is amazing though, I have to say. The Italian food is truly authentic since my fiancée and I have been to Italy. The daily seafood dish in this place is very fresh and tasty– a must try. If you don’t mind being served by a grumpy, stressed-​out looking owner of the restaurant, go check out this place. I usually prefer a service with a smile. We went there on a Tuesday night on my birthday. Did not serve us our bread until we asked for a basket. When we asked the owner if we could get a little free treat for my special day, he did not even offer even a tiny little scoop of Izzy’s ice-​cream. Even after we told him that we live 2 blocks down the street, service was still lack-​lustre. I guess he doesn’t care if we return. Oh well… I still think a smile will make us feel much more welcoming.

Just went with wife… good vibe, very warm and comfortable atmosphere (crying baby not their fault, really, right?).
We will definitely go back here. I know the Hollywood is their signature pizza but it was just «ehh» really compared to the one we built. Excellent service, which means a lot to my wife and I as we typically end up near the bathroom/​bus station/​kitchen/​door (in Feb) with slow service. It’s just our luck. So we’re stuck on this place now — check it out, and enjoy.

I agree with Mon P, why isn’t this place more busy for brunch? Went here on a Sunday around 11:30, and there were only 4 tables with people at them.
Yes, the menu is small, I was more than happy with the choices. Do you really need a giant menu on a Sunday morning? My brain normally still angry at me for abuse I gave my body the night before, therefore a small menu makes decisions easy.
I had the braised beef and my girlfriend had the eggs benedict. The beef is really good, great with the poached eggs and polenta. The eggs benedict is also really good, I liked the red pepper hollandaise. We both agreed though that the beef was the better dish.
$ 6 bottomless mimosas also help start the day.
We’ll be back, probably to try dinner next.

Why isnt this place packed for brunch? Brunch is amazing here!!!
We came here for brunch this morning, and OMG it was so good. The food was a whole lot better than the supposed-​to-​be-​really-​good brunch place next door. The brunch menu here is quite limited but the food didnt taste at all limited.
I ordered the signature braised beef with eggs, which was their signature braised beef and cheesy polenta topped with poached eggs, arugula and shaved parm. The braised beef was seriously good. I could totally eat that braised beef for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It would be good with just a side salad or with some plain white rice. Well, what more can I say, except it was good!
My bf ordered the breakfast flatbread, which was scrambled eggs, capicola ham, bell peppers, mozzarella and tomato jam. It didnt really look like a flatbread that we expected, but more like a wrap. The combination in the wrap (or flatbread), however, was great. It was full of flavor.
I want some more braised beef now that Im thinking about it.

I stopped by Amici on Saturday night for dinner with the ladies, and this place was great! It has a nice cozy atmosphere and the food is really great.
The menu is fairly small, but they had lots of options that sounded delicious. They have about 4 appetizers, 4 pastas, 4 entrees and 4 pizzas (plus-​build-​your-​own pizzas). I tried the caprese salad, which was a special for the night, and it was great, really light and fresh. For my entrée, I ordered the orcheitte, which is a special of the house. This was such a delicous and unique dish. It had roasted cauliflower, sundried tomatoes and pistachios in a light, creamy sauce. It was so flavorful! I would definitely order this dish again, even though I don’t normally like pastas with cream sauces.
I didn’t order dessert, but two people at our table ordered the flourless chocolate cake and cleaned their plates. It looked delicious.
If you are looking for a quaint Italian restaurant in Northeast Minneapolis, this is your place!

I was delightfully surprised with the brunch we had at Amici this past weekend. Obviously I was hoping it would be good, but that’s not an unreasonable dream to have. What I got in practice was a wonderfully cozy meal with friends.
Our group was a bit of a train wreck, but among us, we ordered a wide range from the brunch menu: bacon and egg pizza, beef and eggs, and caramel apple french toast. We also had their soup of the day, a warm beet salad, and some bruschetta. Friendly as we are, most of us tried each other’s meals, and there wasn’t a single unhappy face at the table. As we were wrapping up, we were all talking about what we would try next time.
The service was okay. Nothing mind-​blowing or notable, occasionally slow, but so long as I was kept caffeinated, I really couldn’t complain.
I’m sure Amici could survive on the spillover from Hazel’s alone, but considering our brunch and the reviews of others about their dinner menu, it’s looking like Amici is a proper destination in its own right.

Whoa. I had Sunday brunch hear. The bottomless mimosa is a great deal. I had 3 and my family drank them out of champagne! Sorry if they discontinue this deal, because it’ll be my families fault. It was actually a really good thing they ran out because I needed a nap as opposed to needing to pass out if I would’ve been able to continue with more then 3 mimosas before noon.
The real reason I needed to review this place again is because once again they have reached my palate with flavors that I must put down in words. They did this with their braised beef (signature breakfast dish). I had the Braised beef, poached eggs, and parmesan polenta dish for breakfast and it was the most amazing thing I’ve ever had for breakfast. You crack the yolk into the polenta and it becomes the most decadent polenta you’ve ever had. I ordered toast on the side to dunk and I’m glad I did. The braised beef is so fantastic how they prepare it that I hope they always have it on the menu! This is so creamy, savory, and succulent!
B– had the Fritatta and she said is was fabulous although the potatoes came on the side and not in the Fritatta. The potatoes were delicious though.
D– had the Bacon and Egg pizza and it was extremely flavorful and well executed and I’d have a hard time not ordering that next time… if the beef isn’t on the menu.
M — had the farmers breakfast and she didn’t eat a ton of it because the bacon was under cooked for her liking (and it was really smoky flavored). She seemed to like the eggs though. She really enjoyed the mimosas though!

It seems like I give everything 4 stars, but I guess I mostly review things I like. Or hate. I did give 1 star to a couple places.
Anyway, went for lunch today. It was very quiet — which was nice. It made for easy conversation. I had a tough time choosing — as so many things looked good. I had a cup of the soup of the day — a seafood chowder, which was quite tasty — and the warm beet salad, which was also tasty.
I’m glad I got the soup to go with it — as together they made a good sized lunch! I am looking forward to a return visit to try some of the other things. From the pics on here, the pizza looks delicious!

Good food; great service.
Saturday night date at Amici with the lady. Seated in a booth close to the window, but surprised to find it was comfortable. The gentlemen who served us acted like the owner, and did not disappoint.
We started with the featured red wine. A smooth dinner accompaniment for $ 28. Next, on to the starters! She had the wonderfully fresh house salad: delightful greens tossed in a light vinaigrette. I had the rose seafood chowder. Described to me as a cross between New England an Manhattan chowder. I loved it. Creamy, flavorful seafood, with an unexpected spiciness.
For dinner we each ordered the menu’s signature dishes. She had the cauliflower pasta. «Rich, but a little bland,» she says. «Pasta wasn’t quite right; would have been better with risotto.» I had the braised beef with vegetables. Wonderful. The beets and assorted root vegetables were delicious. I would definitely order this again.
For dessert, we took the suggestion of another Unilocaler and ordered the blueberry tiramisu. A very nice finish to the evening.
Our total for the evening was around $ 80 before tip. A little on the high side, but the service made it worth it. I will definitely be back. Great date spot. Looking forward to seeing the spring and summer menu options.

Great for Brunch! Started and Hazel’s and then found a new favorite next door! Florence is awesome! Make sure to try the Braised Beef and order a side of toast to soak up the good stuff! Save room for Blueberry-​Limoncello Tiramisu!

After a little shopping venture @ Rewind, it was lunch time and I was in need for a pick me up. An employee told us to check out Amici for a bite to eat, and we decided to go down the street and check it out. What a pleasant surprise! This quaint Italian family owned restaurant just opened in February, and has been getting tons of traffic lately due to their recent Groupon deal that sold out (2,000 sold!), so be sure to make a reservation if you plan on going here for dinner. They also use tons of local products and ingredients, which is a awesome plus too.
The owner is a doll, and the service was wonderful. Our waitress chatted with us about their business ventures, the previous ice cream shop that had the space, and was so sweet, continuously checking in with us. I was instantly drawn to the pastas, as Buccatini is one of my favorite kinds! My mother had the Apple salad, which was a nice blend of mixed greens, roasted apples, walnuts, gorgonzola, and a delicious apple cider vinaigrette. Each was delectable, especially the apple salad, as it also included a toasted baguette topped with apple chutney.
They offer gluten free options as well with their pizzas and offer half off bottles of wine on Wednesday nights! They also deliver (woohoo!) and there is a coupon on their website for $ 3 off (
). Bön Appetit!

Went with a friend who had a Groupon last Saturday night. The beet bruschetta was our starter and it was really interesting and tasty. I had the Cavatappi pasta which was really good (it had bacon in it!) and my friend had the gnocchi with brussel sprouts — couldn’t really make out the sprouts in there as they were sliced up into ribbons but it was tasty and comforting on our first snowy day of the year. We wrapped up with the flour-​less chocolate cake with salted caramel ice cream and that was a great finish! My only complaint was that our server wasn’t great. He wasn’t really able to answer menu questions that well and after we got our dessert we had to wait a while for him to bring spoons to eat it with.
I will go back because it’s a local establishment (not a chain) and they are making great food in a very nice environment.

As the previous reviewer mentioned, I also picked up a $ 40 Groupon for here about a week ago. Took my wife out for date night, and it ended up being a very good experience.
I called ahead a few hours to make a reservation just in case. It was not a problem, but I was glad when we showed up at 6:45 to see a full house, and our single table just waiting for us.
We showed up on half price bottle of wine Wednesdays, which our server quickly pointed out is not valid with the Groupon. I didn’t see that noted on the Groupon itself (which did have some fine print), but I didn’t explore too far on the website looking for this either. I did feel as though it was kind of a run around treatment, because most Groupons let you use the «coupon» as well as any current sales or deals.
We ordered a bottle of wine off of the somewhat small wine list at full price, and started off with the tomato bruschetta ($ 5). It was an interesting version, with a huge glob of smooth ricotta on top of a large slice of thick cut toasted bread. A total of two slices of bread were provided, but they were very large. It was a good start to the meal.
We decided to split the Hollywood pizza (+Sausage) 14″, and a pasta entrée. Both were very good. The 14″ pizza was larger then I had imagined, and it would have easily been enough for both of us. But it was nice to bring some home for lunch the next day. The pasta was very thick, I have not had anything quite like it. I’m not sure of the correct term, but it was a very thick version of spaghetti.
The service was top notch. A very polite and quick server came at just the right times and gave us exactly the romantic dinner we were looking for.
Décor was good standard Italian, they had an LCD tv, that was not on. They have one odd table that is basically situated between the hostess stand/​the bar/​and a wall of wine. The rest of the tables are situated either as booths along the walls, or at small tables between the booths.
The neighborhood is kind of iffy, I’m not that familiar, but I wouldn’t seek out a location like that normally.
Overall — Very good American Ish Italian (more on the Italian side. Great service, fair prices, good for a romantic evening.

It was a brisk Minnesota Saturday and my wife and I had a groupon for $ 40 worth of stuff from Amici.
I started off with some steamed mussels. Oh my God! They were amazing! There were about 15 mussels with a perfect tomato with garlic topping on it. I was in heaven. The broth left over in the bowl was almost the most perfect soup I have ever tasted. Although it wasn’t a soup. it was some of the best stuff I have ever tasted. Even if it was about 15 spoon fulls
My wife got a pizza with chicken, basil, and spinach and it came out perfectly. She ordered it without cheese and it was still perfect. The crust was solid but smooth at the same time. The chicken was apportioned like a construction worker laying as much gravel as possible. It was crazy. It was in the middle of a regular pizza and a thin crust pizza. Seriously, it was fantastic looking.
I ordered the braised beef sandwich and it was like ambrosia in sandwich form. The Caesar salad was awesome, except the croutons seemed a little stale (The salad comes on the side) The sandwich had vegetables that were grilled perfectly and the sauce they put on it was tangy and flavorful. The sweetness of the vegetables and the sauce exploded in my mouth with every bite.
The service was about the best I have witnessed in the Twin Cities and they refilled our Diet Pepsi about 6 times.
It seems like it is a nice, family owned joint and without an appetizer, a large pizza for about $ 16 bucks, a couple could eat there easily.
Having a $ 40 coupon though, the mussels were frickin’ amazing!

I am sad to say that I didn’t have more than 30 minutes to spend at Amici tonight. We stopped in for a quick bite on our way to class, and they were all over us the moment we mentioned that we were trying to be in and out in half an hour. After looking at the menu I realized that this really wasn’t the appropriate venue to try to do the quick dining routine, but they went above and beyond accommodating us. We ordered food, paid our bill, and each had a drink within the 30 minutes that we got there. The server was really laid back when we explained the rush, and directed us to exactly which menu items would be the quickest.
We ordered fried green tomatoes as an appetizer, and the cavatappi pasta with squash and kale as our appetizer. Both are specials right now so I suggest you try to get in there while they still have them! They were fantastic, the pasta dish in particular was rich but not so much that you couldn’t devour the entire plate yourself, and very flavorful. My boyfriend and I each tried some and wondered to one another why we couldn’t make something like it at home. I snagged a takeout menu on the way out, I see that they deliver…

While we had an enjoyable experience at Amici the Sunday night we visited, there was nothing particularly memorable about the food. My buddy and I shared a pizza that we both agreed was «pretty good». It reminded me of pizza from Punch.
The décor is inviting, the service is friendly, but even though I only live about 10 blocks away, I won’t be jumping at the chance to go there again.

I’m not sure what it is that causes Minnesotans to go crazy for competent, well-​meaning, but unspectacular Italian food — maybe lack of exposure to other places? But that’s how we found Amici: very nice people, beautiful space, reasonable prices, and good-​not-​great food, comparable to Punch and such. I enjoyed the Caesar salad but the dressing could have been a little zippier. The pizza crust is very, very nice. Our pies were a little bland, though. My wife found her gnocchi disappointing.
We’re from the east coast so I guess our standards are a little higher for Italian. Anyway, it is a nice neighborhood place, but needs a little something more.