Amici — Restaurant in Pickering

I recently dined at Amici, located in the heart of Pickering, and had the opportunity to try three of their offerings: the Old Fashioned cocktail, the calamari appetizer, and the blackened salmon entrée. While the restaurant had many positives, there were a few areas for improvement.

Starting with the Old Fashioned cocktail, I appreciated the classic presentation with a fresh orange wedge and cherry garnish. The balance of bourbon, bitters, and sugar was decent, but the flavor lacked complexity. A richer infusion of bitters or a slightly more distinct smoky essence would have elevated the drink to perfection. Nonetheless, it was a refreshing way to start the meal.

The calamari appetizer was beautifully presented and came with a generous portion of creamy dill sauce. The calamari rings were perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, which speaks well to the frying technique. However, the seasoning fell flat. A bit more salt or a dash of bold spices could have brought the flavors alive. The dipping sauce helped, but relying solely on it for flavor was a bit disappointing. Nevertheless, it was a satisfying dish for seafood lovers looking for a crunchy snack.

The blackened salmon entrée was perhaps the most visually stunning of the three items. Served atop a vibrant bed of vegetables and paired with a lemon wedge, the dish looked promising. The salmon had a beautiful crust and was cooked to perfection—crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. However, much like the calamari, it lacked a punch of flavor. A more robust blend of blackening spices could have made this dish exceptional. The accompanying vegetables were fresh and colorful but needed a touch more seasoning to make them stand out. The creamy sauce on the side was delightful, providing a much-needed flavor boost to the dish.

Despite these flavor shortcomings, the dining experience was enjoyable. The atmosphere at Amici was lively and bustling, making it clear that it's a popular spot in Pickering. While the energy was infectious, it did come at the cost of a slightly noisy environment. If you're looking for a quiet, intimate meal, this may not be the ideal setting.

One of the standout aspects of the evening was the customer service. The staff was attentive, friendly, and quick to address any needs. They were knowledgeable about the menu and made excellent recommendations. Even with the busy environment, they ensured we felt taken care of, which speaks volumes about the team's dedication to providing a great dining experience.

In conclusion, Amici has a lot of potential. The food presentation was impeccable, and the service was top-notch. However, the flavors need to be bolder and more memorable to elevate the dining experience to match the vibrant atmosphere. If you're in Pickering and looking for a lively spot with great customer service, it's worth giving Amici a try. I look forward to visiting again and seeing if they can bring more flavor to their dishes...

On May 25th we celebrated my parents 50th Anniversary. The rules for the day were to keep it small, simple, classy, and relaxed, and your team was a massive reason as to why this lunch party was well-received by all in attendance, especially the guests of honour. I want to take the time to acknowledge the people who provided us with a party that will be remembered by our family and friends for many years.

Aida was an absolute dream to work with in planning the event, she provided all of our many options well in advance so that we could make our decisions for the big day. The menu options Aida presented were excellently crafted and provided our guests with a good variety of choices. She was professional, organized, and a clear communicator. Aida is a true asset and she ensured that all of the event staff had the information they needed to execute our vision to perfection.

Stacy and Kelly were the front of house superstars. The first thing we noticed was how nicely they were dressed, their outfits looked carefully curated, and they presented themselves really well. We all were so amazed at the stellar service that these two wonderful people brought to us. Everyone always had a drink in hand, everyone in the room was approached for their drink order while we all milled around the room before we sat down to dine, all orders were written down correctly, the meals were delivered quickly for just having two servers, it really seemed flawless, and all this was done with pleasant and genuinely sweet demeanours. The quality of service and hospitality shown to our family and friends by Stacy and Kelly was noticed by each and every one of our guests. I want to also send a special thank you to Stacy for continuing to keep me apprised of the schedule as the party progressed so that we had a beautiful flow to the lunch.

Enzo, Carmen, Mark F, and Yaw deserve a standing ovation for the delicious meals that came out of that busy kitchen. Everything was cooked to utter perfection, and every guest who ordered a steak received it cooked to their exact preference which I know is a difficult thing to do when you are serving a large group all at once. I don’t know who made the soup, but everyone who ordered it as a starter raved about it, me included. This group of chefs should be proud of themselves as their skills are top notch.

Thank you for being our favourite restaurant in Pickering, we have been coming to you since you opened and we will continue to do so, especially after such a perfectly executed event that made both you and us look really great. Treat your staff well as they are the epitome of excellence and true hospitality, they deserve kudos often.

Thanks Ida, Tony, and Imzan for a fantastic...

amici: I've eaten Amici food 3x now (once was takeaway). Overall I find this restaurant to be quite good...with the usual some dishes being better than others. Service has been great both times I've dined in (and on the phone when ordering takeaway as well). The complimentary bread served (hot) at the table is very good...too good in fact, haha.

Here's my take on the menu items I've tried to date: Caeser salad - ample portion for two; good crisp romaine with decent dressing flavour. Would be vastly improved with some real bacon added

Beet salad - ample portion for two; beets and pears are plentiful and perfectly cooked; candied walnuts are crisp and tasty. I wasn't much of a fan of the lemon honey vinaigrette served with it (too sweet) and found it better the 2nd time with the white balsamic house dressing. Both times there was a bit too much dressing for my taste, but not enough to 'drown' the salad

Lasagna - very nice portion size; excellent overall. Worth visiting just for this!

Fusilli con Salsiccia - great combination of ingredients, esp the large sized 'artisanal' fusilli.

Fettuccine Salmone - this I found rather bland. The sauce needed salt and the salmon pieces didn't taste/feel fresh (and their uniform size makes me think they may have been from frozen). This dish has the 'bones' to be good, but needs some attention.

Pizza Salsiccia - very generous portion size; good mix of ingredients and the dough was tasty and had good mouthfeel. But, something seemed missing as the flavour just didn't match the presentation. Maybe the sauce needs some zip. Will try another pizza option next time.

Tiramisu - this we took home and shared. It was cold so held up fine on the 25min ride home. Probably best to just eat at the restaurant to make sure it's at peak form. But it was an excellent representation of this famous dessert.

Drinks from the bar are nice and they also serve some wines by the glass. More beer options would be an improvement.

Overall this is a nice, authentic Italian restaurant that has become a staple for us when on that side of town. Oh, the bar is very nice too...three large TVs to stream...