Osteria Amore — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

This place was within walking distance from the university and I really like the food and the vibe of the place. I lived also really close to the place, so I went there and had a really good time usually. The food is really good and to be very honest I like most of the items I tried there. But I don't know for what reason I always felt that the staff was relatively not as friendly to me. At first, I couldn't pinpoint why this problem arises, but in time I clearly could identify that it was due to ethnicity. Whenever I came to this place with my colleagues and friends of Caucasian origins, it was pretty normal but whenever I or with people belonging the different ethnicities would come the staff had a weird, not welcoming attitude. The meet and greet did not include any smiles, the service for us was slower and to be very honest the attitude of everyone around us made us feel that we were kind of at the wrong place. They were constantly looking at us with a weird look which I cannot explain easily but it was only directed toward us. The final straw for me when I decided not to come back was when my roommate and I decided to dine at the restaurant and just walked there from our home and asked can we get a table for two. The hostess just literally looked us up and down with a very similar look as mentioned above said we are booked for the night and there is no opening. Initially, I thought since the place is actually very busy looking as of right now it might be booked but I could see seatings available on the patio and the inside of the restaurant but I just brushed it off thinking they might be coming soon. We just decided to go to the next restaurant to get some food, we ate there and as we were heading back, I met a couple who lived very close to us sitting on the patio side and I started chatting with them. It turned out they literally came in some time ago and didn't have a reservation. They also just tried the walk-in literally 10 minutes after we tried and got a table for two. According to them, even the next group after them also tried walking and got a table for a larger party.

I don't know what's happening and I really don't want to point out such small things but this has been my experience with the establishment and I'm just kind of confused as to why would a business do that. I have heard similar experiences from other people who belong to ethnically diverse groups. I really liked this place but the sheer amount of bad experiences made me...

Putting in a rare plug for the best Italian restaurateur in Utah. I have known Eduardo for years, bumped into him in my current work role and managed him until he decided to abandon ship and make marinara sauce. I don't blame him. I recall interviewing him and we set about fleshing out our dreams in life that make us feel alive. Food is life, food is love.

Ed is passionate about his food and raises it to an art form. He brought all the secrets from Bologna where he was raised and worked in restaurants prior to coming to the states.

I'm not saying this to blow smoke because I know him.

Ed's restaurant is the best in Utah. I've tried them all, I promise. My love for basil, tomatoes, cheese and pasta is everlasting.

The food is far superior to anything here locally. It is authentic and fresh. I have done professional restaurant reviews since 2004, not only here but in Seattle area as well. I'm super picky about marinaras and cheeses. Whether it is crispy octopus or zucchini cream, Ed's is all good. I thought I had gone to heaven when I tried his signature dish to discover pistachio added to the cream sauce, and a burrata cheese dolloped over the top. Each time I go I try another dish so I can experience the diversity of dishes. There is quite the variety in the pizzas, for instance.

I recently got take-out due to COVID and grabbed one of his cannoli kits so I could make them fresh at home. An absolute positive take-out experience.

Better yet, when you walk into Ed's restaurant you feel like home. He is the best host. Not to mention he indulges my sweet tooth without me having to ask, and loads me up with all the gelatos to my heart's content.

And he is a wine pairing expert.

Did I mention best Italian cuisine in Utah?

So I hope you will visit Osteria Amore if you haven't already. Pandemic forced a cancellation of my trip to Italy last year so I am still waiting for that authentic Italian air and dining experience. Until then, Osteria is the next best thing.

Ecco per inseguire i...

We’ve been to Osteria Amore many times and have always had great experiences in the past, but our last visit was really disappointing from start to finish.

We arrived a little early for our reservation and called to see if we could possibly be seated sooner. The young man who answered the phone was short with me and said flatly that our table wouldn’t be ready early, it was definitely not the warmest start. At the same time I called the restaurant, my husband stepped inside to use the restroom, while he was there, he asked if our table would be ready early and the young man at the door said, “yes he could see us right away.” I found this extremely confusing.

When we got inside, the restaurant was packed and extremely loud. My husband is hard of hearing, so we asked if we could sit at a quieter table in the corner. The host told us that table was being made into a six-top and couldn’t seat us there. A few minutes later, we watched as another group of four was seated at that same table. That was frustrating and felt a bit dismissive.

My husband and I decided to split a Caesar salad to start. Our server kindly offered to have it split in the kitchen, which we appreciated—until we noticed a $4 “split charge” added to our bill later. When the salad came out, someone from the kitchen just dropped the plates off without saying anything. I had to wait about ten minutes to get someone’s attention for extra dressing and cracked pepper.

For my main course, I ordered the ribeye steak, which came out pre-sliced. Unfortunately, the steak was full of fat and gristle—so much that most of it was inedible. It honestly felt like it had been pre-cut to hide the poor quality of the meat.

Between the inattentive service, the extra charges, and the disappointing food, this visit really missed the mark. We’ve always loved Osteria Amore in the past, but it feels like both the quality and service have gone downhill lately. I truly hope this was just an off night, because it used to be one of our favorite places in...