San Marco — Restaurant in Town of Amherst

{Service} 5/5* We went on a Sunday night at 7pm and made a reservation the day before. You definitely have to reserve as it’s always packed. We were seated pretty quickly. Our server was attentive and even made our food spicier to accommodate my south asian mother haha. The owner himself even cleared away our plates. Amazing incredible service! They are so humble and welcoming.

{Food} Risotto del giorno (mushroom truffle) $16 5/5* The most delicious, creamy, umami, salty risotto I’ve ever had. Best hands down. I’ve tried this dish several times in different places, San Marco does it best. I’d drive 2 hrs from Toronto again just for this dish!

Capesante al vesuvio $19 5/5* Scallops with lemon herb butter sauce and pesto risotto. The risotto was divine and I was told the scallops were perfectly cooked and very flavourful.

Penne all’arrabbiata $25 4.5/5* Very spicy and flavourful sauce. Perfectly cooked pasta. A little too spicy so def avoid if you can’t handle spice, we’re south asian and it was quite spicy even for us.

Fusilli alla luciana $25 4/5* Very creamy sauce with some sundried tomatoes and perfectly cooked fusilli pasta. -1 because it was a bit too one note and too rich for me, description said tomato cream sauce so I expected more tomato. Still delicious pasta but I’d opt for a lighter option next time.

Chocolate lava cake with hazelnut ice cream $12 4/5* Hazelnut ice cream was delicious, not too sweet, creamy. Molten cake was okay - I wasn’t a fan of the cake itself but the molten chocolate was good and not overly sweet.

{Ambiance} 5/5* Crowded but not too loud because tables are divided between 2 or 3 rooms I believe. Business casual to formal attire. The prices are decently affordable but feels like fine dining.

Overall: 5/5* Recommend to others?: DEFINITELY, come here, even make the trip from Toronto. Best Italian I’ve...

To start off, Going into the establishment was nice and cozy we were seated right by te door by another couple. With covid going on we polietly asked to move and the waitress let us. However we heared the manager say "Why are they moving they don't like it". I found this very rude. Our witress was quite nice. We order our entree's and they were pretty good. We then ordered our food and it arrived in a timely maner. However my pasta was very over salted and my boyfriends food tasted weird. He asked me to bite into his samon to see if it was just him. It litteraly tasted like dish soap. It was slimy and seemed like they tried to dress it up in flavor. (did not work) We immeadiatly called the manager over and explaind our complaint. He proceeded to get hostile and angry. Saying to my boyfriend "we've been here 30 years and never had a comuster complain. This is fresh and it's not that it's not good you just don't like it" I found this extremly rude and disrespectful. Our food was taken away and he went back behind the counter and proceeded to talk about us for a momen to another waitress. We ordered dessert and asked that we not be charged for the dishes my boyfriend did not eat. We then got our bill and they still charged us $133.76. They did not take off one of the dishes. Overall it was a terrible experience and i will never eat here again. ( My boyfriend was born and raised in italy and is brown and I am an...

Dining at San Marco was a truly memorable experience that felt delightfully old school. You’ll need to plan ahead, as reservations here must be made well in advance, which only adds to the charm of this intimate spot. The atmosphere was cozy and tight-knit, giving the restaurant a warm, personal feel that makes every meal feel special.

I ordered the fusilli alla luciana, and it was so outstanding that I ended up finishing what my companion couldn’t—it was that good! The pasta was perfectly cooked, and the rich, flavorful sauce left me craving more. I also had the banana pepper ravioli as an appetizer, which was absolutely delightful—spicy, creamy, and a great way to start the meal. For my main, I opted for the bolognese, which was delicious and hearty, but in hindsight, I wish I had gone with the fusilli alla luciana instead!

The seating is tight, but that only added to the intimate vibe of the place, making the meal feel personal and cozy. When the bill came, it was on the pricier side, but it worked out to about $70 per person for four people, which I felt was totally reasonable for the high quality of food and the overall experience.

I’ve already recommended San Marco to my friends and family for special occasions—it’s the perfect spot for a memorable, delicious meal. If you’re looking for a truly authentic dining experience, this place should definitely be...