Amalfi Restaurant — Restaurant in England

I visited twice with friends in June and August 2023. On the first occasion it was delightful with good food, excellent service and a welcoming ambiance. Second time round, it was underwhelming and I felt embarrassed that I had recommended this location. When reserving, I asked for a specific table for six and was informed a note would be made. Upon arrival the table was vacant, but we were told the restaurant offered a "first come first served" policy, it was taken and the hostess was in the toilet. Said hostess never emerged during our entire time at the restaurant. Perhaps there was a compelling reason for that table to remain vacant for 2 hours. Perhaps the hostess had had a bad reaction to a previous meal and could not return. Either way, it would have been nice to have got an honest answer. Turning to the food, the prawn starter was bland and although my Frutti de Mare Risotto was tasty enough, four of the eight Mussels were tightly shut. The waiting staff didn't seem to understand the significance of that in terms of a potential health risk at one extreme or the risk to my wallet of paying for 8 Mussels and finding that 4 were inedible decorative objects. Moreover, there were clam shells but no evidence of clams. Other Risotto variants were described as tasteless by my guests. Therefore, rather like the mysterious disappearing clams, we cut our losses and abandoned dessert and coffee. Instead, we bought a delicious Cheesecake from the nearby Tesco Metro, which probably has the best views (Poole Harbour) of any Tesco in Britain. I think perhaps the chef was having an off night or maybe a stand-in is in need of some training. With these factors in mind, I would go for an afternoon tea to enjoy the fabulous seascape but I wouldn't risk anything more...

Food extremely average..in fact whole experience including setting and service very disappointing. As a group of 4 we shared two charcuterie boards to start.. tiny portions..very overpriced and totally underwhelming. With the very slow, slightly chaotic, disorganized service I was getting worried. To be honest with good reason.. we then heard the next table of 6 complain and leave their food and drinks. The staff are all very young and although I hate to say it, as they were polite, they all seemed a bit lost and needing guidance. The clientele were mixed..loads of young kids.. very noisy, not the sort of place to visit if you are a couple or adult group wanting a relaxed evening. It seemed a bit like a McDonald's atmosphere than an actual restaurant. Then our main meal arrived.. two of our meals.. risotto were totally inedible. No taste whatsoever and more like bland porridge than risotto. Even after adding salt, pepper and parmesan to try and give it some flavour, after two mouthfuls, I left mine and asked for refund. The other three ate their meals, but did not enjoy, but they were hungry so carried on. The carbonara was greasy and needed seasoning. I would expect an Italian restaurant to be able to make good risotto and pasta without an issue. I would say that at the least the risotto was not made on site and came from a packet. The drinks are also extremely overpriced £7 for a beer, £10 plus for glass of wine and £13,00 for double spirit. Far better places to go in Bournemouth in every aspect. I would definitely not go back here and certainly would not recommend it!! Very very...

I recently had an extraordinary dining experience at the restaurant Amalfi in the Sandbanks Hotel, highlighted by exceptional food and top-notch service. Kitty, who served our food, was incredibly friendly and made us feel like treasured guests. Luke, the bartender, was absolutely lovely, crafting drinks with a personal touch that elevated our evening. Rachel, also behind the bar, was very friendly and chatty, adding a delightful warmth to the atmosphere. This restaurant truly excels in both its cuisine and its hospitality. Highly recommend for an...