AMARI Italian Kitchen & Wine Shop — Restaurant in Spring Valley

EDIT: UH OH. We went back tonight excited for an excellent dinner in our neighborhood. Everything was very good. My chicken parm was left in the salamander too long and burnt, but they gave me another cutlet so I looked over that. With that being said, they are not operating honestly, and that is a nonstarter for me. I ordered a bottle of wine and the server said the price was not reflected correctly in her computer but she assured me (she looked at the price herself in the menu and confirmed) her manager would fix it. When the bill came, the price was not fixed. It was 10 dollars, less than a big deal, but I was not paying, so I wanted to make sure what I ordered was correct. I asked them kindly to fix it as they already promised to, and she left to do just that. She returned with a different menu and tried to tell me that we all saw the price incorrectly and it was actually priced at what her computer showed initially. It was insulting. The description of the wine was different. The text was different. They thought I was stupid. Unfortunately for them, I am not. I called them on it and the price was ultimately fixed, but damn the poor sucker that doesn't check all of the work these liars and cheats do. It was 10 dollars and so insignificant, but I refuse to be gaslit and lied to. I will never return and encourage you to never patronize this chop shop.

DISREGARD EVERYTHING LEFT IN OUR INITIAL REVIEW BELOW

This place is wonderful. Las Vegas is lousy with wonderful Italian restaurants, but for the longest time that did not include the Southwest. Amari has fulfilled that dire need. Parking is free for the first 2 hours and there is a garage directly across the street. We had the bread with 4 dips. They are all wonderful but the chile honey and pesto were the stars. We also had the steak tartare which was wonderful. For entrees, we had the bone-in chicken parm and the shrimp mafaldine. Both incredible. Our 2 year old had a margherita pizza (they also have a kids menu) and we were sat directly by the window where they make the pizzas. The pizza chef was very friendly with her and she loved watching him work. We had the pumpkin olive oil cake and it was divine. Cocktails were superb. We are lucky to have this place....

So, I didn't even get to eat there but those of you who may be interested, please let me explain what happened. About 3 weeks ago I made a reservation for this Monday, for a 75th. Birthday. Just today I called to confirm. The girl who answered said she looked high and low and couldn't find my reservation. I asked her multiple times to please check again because I know I have a reservation. She told me I don't but she can make one for me for Sat, Sun, or this Monday (Presidents Day). I told her I would call right back. When I called back I got another girl who told me I have a reservation and the other girl might not of seen it since she was looking for Alfred and it was under Al with the same last name. I told this girl that your website says your closed this Monday even though you have a reservation for me on Monday and the first girl also told me you are open on Monday. So the girl then asked if I would like to speak with a supervisor. Then Angelina (manager) gets on the phone and I explained what happened. She immediately started to give me excuses for the girls who first couldn't find my reservation, and secondly told me they were opened on a day they were close and that I have a reservation for (President's Day). Angelina told me that they recently decided to close on President's Day but had no intention to reach out to those who already had been given reservation for that day. Angelina said that she will have to bring this to her managers attention (with no apology nor understanding the dilemma). She cut me off mid sentence when I was telling her that either of these girls should be answering the reservation line. Please understand if I went to the restaurant with my family for the 75th. Birthday diner, the restaurant would have been closed and I would not have had any reservation anywhere else for this special occasion. I hope those who take the time to read through all of this and try to understand it will make a decision to make a reservation somewhere else. If they don't value my time, reservation, or my money, they don't care about yours either. You have a choice to spend your hard earned money with someplace that will value your decision. Thank You for your time! This restaurant has lost my...

The atmosphere at Amari is inviting, with the open kitchen creating a lively and enticing ambiance. Our waitress was very friendly, which added to the overall positive experience.

For starters, I highly recommend the herb focaccia served with four dipping sauces. At $20, it’s a bit on the expensive side, but the quality makes it worthwhile. The sourdough, made from a 28-year-old starter, is freshly baked and truly exceptional. The sauces, particularly the pesto and whipped ricotta, are standout options, while the hot honey and marinara also complement the bread nicely.

I also tried the meatballs from the appetizers menu. While they were tasty, we felt they didn't quite reach the level of the best meatballs we've had. The tomato sauce could use a bit more flavor. At $17, they might not be a must-try unless you’re specifically interested in meatballs.

Moving on to the main courses, I ordered the “pizza oven specialty pizza” with braised beef. The crust was crispy and flavorful, thanks to that same wonderful sourdough starter. However, the pizza was rather heavy with cheese, making it more suitable for sharing. Overall, I’m glad I had the chance to try it.

The margherita pizza, made with the same crust, was quite good as well. It effectively lived up to its reputation as a classic. The pecorino tomato sauce was pleasantly sweet, perfectly balanced by the freshness of basil and cheese. Excellent job on this dish!

The pizza crusts also paired well with the dipping sauces from the herb focaccia, enhancing the overall dining experience.

My friends ordered the rigatoni and clam spaghetti, and they thoroughly enjoyed their selections, expressing satisfaction with both dishes.

In summary, Amari provided a wonderful dining experience, and I would recommend it for a nice night out. The service for our party of six was commendable, and I can envision returning for both intimate dinners and larger gatherings. I'm looking forward to my next visit and would certainly encourage others to give...