Osteria Amici — Restaurant in Elkhart

My husband and I went out for a much needed date night. Immediately upon walking in to Osteria Amici I was happy with our date night choice. Having a toddler we don't often have time to enjoy a nice meal together let alone go out for one.

When you first walk in you are met with a beautiful scene. The atmosphere and vibe are that of modern elegance meets old world charm. The interior design of the space is on the masculine side with black and gold Edison Bulb lighting, dark wood, and neutral fabrics. The high ceilings and large windows bring an airiness to the space, allowing natural light to filter in from outside. The music is mellow and pleasant, not overbearing or distracting. The staff are, in a word, extraordinary. We were lucky to be able to grab a table quickly. Our server was well versed on the menu and made excellent recommendations. We never went without, the staff anticipated our every need.

We ordered the warm marinated olives for our antipasti. It was lovely. We especially liked the orange zest which brought a lightness to the palette. My husband had a glass of Edmund Fitzgerald (a porter) and I enjoyed a glass of Cabernet. For our main course we did a bit of a tasting of their pasta dishes. They make their pasta fresh in house daily. We ordered the Pappardelle alla Ragu followed by the Truffle Fettuccine and had the kitchen split each portion so we could enjoy both without swapping plates. We both especially enjoyed the pappardelle alla ragu, I mean you cannot go wrong with braised short ribs. The truffle fettuccine was also delicious and well balanced. For our dessert course we ordered the tiramisu a scoop of gelato and a double espresso. We left feeling satisfied, not stuffed to the point of discomfort, not hungry, that perfect content sweet spot.

I cannot think of a better dinning experience and wish we were going to be in the area longer to enjoy dinning with Amici. 15/10 HIGHLY recommend.

While I am sure anyone at Amici is capable of taking excellent care of you, our server Charles was phenomenal, and you should ask for him if possible!

Honorable mentions: well stocked bar, curated wine list, bulk fermented pizza dough for their...

Gleefully fulfilled with my choice of Branzino (seabass) and vast choices on wine menu. The Arancini (breaded risotto croquettes, mozzarella, house pomodoro, pesto) offered a nice, light starch to start the meal. My family enjoyed different pasta choices, all al dente, which the family liked (not my thing). The tiramisu was balanced nicely with coffee undertones and mascarpone. The choices of bourbon and scotch should make most seasoned enthusiasts happy. The vast wine choices should satisfy most, but I'm no level 4 Master Sommelier either. I would encourage some bourbon/scotch choices greater than 15 years old, but at this point I'm asking to cater to my whimsical desires. You would think the indoor seating would be the most desired, but on this June evening, we found the absence of noise with the outside seating area to be more peaceful. Outdoor seating was conducive to conversation and laughter. I will have difficulty going to sleep tonight reminiscing about tonight's experience. The food sat well and made me feel great the whole night. I will likely be suggesting this spot with every dinner conversation. Thank you for such...

This was our 4th trip to Amici. On the first 2 tries, I was less than impressed, mostly due to disappointing menu choices. The food was prepared well, I just didn't like the selection. The pizzas were very chic-chic but not the type of savory and tangy type that I prefer. The 3rd visit was much better, with many menu choices that appealed to my palate. This 4th experience was exceptional.

We started with appetizers of meatballs and calamari both of which were flavorful and cooked perfectly. My partner ordered a pesto mortadella pizza and I had shrimp scampi. The owner/chef, Paul Cataldo, is a pizza maker of world reknown - really, not an exaggeration. This pizza was perfection on a platter - the dough, ingredients and finished crust were sooo very good.

Our server, Allysia, was knowledgable about the menu and the wine and she paid just the right amount of attention to us. She knew just when to interrupt without becoming annoying.

The atmosphere is wonderful. Busy with a limited view of the kitchen and the noise level enabled us to carry on a conversation. The large square bar in the rear of the space is well planned...