Amante Italian Cuisine
Reviews
Name: Derrick Dimone
Occupation: Product Designer
Lives In: Oakland Park
Restaurant Pick: Amante Italian Cuisine
Reviewed Amante Italian Cuisine: May 13th, 2008
Amante’s restaurant is an Italian restaurant located a half block away from the beach along the Deerfield Beach coastline. The drive there was about 20 minutes for me, and I was glad to see that parking wasn’t an issue. I literally parked right in front of the restaurant. First thing you notice about Amante’s is its unique dining set-up. It has an old-fashioned pizzeria scenario which allows a patron to run in and out in two minutes with a slice and a soda. Divided by a long wall is a fine dining hall with comfortable tables and booths where you can enjoy a full course meal. Then to top it off, they have a patio section where you can sit and enjoy the scenario and the fresh ocean breeze. It was a nice night so I chose to sit outside
There was no wait for seating and the minute I entered someone yelled “Hello, sit wherever you like.” My waitress took no time to get me a drink and give me some appetizer recommendations. I order mussels marinara and fried mozzarella. Let’s talk about the fried mozzarella; its just cheese! How did they make it that good? That was the best mozzarella stick I had had in a long time. It was juicy and tasty; I could have enjoyed them without the marinara sauce. The mussels were ordered almost because I wanted something to criticize. I had been here before and never had them. In my opinion, mussels are difficult to make good. I always thought of them as an extra in a seafood dish, not a solo dish. They were cooked just right and didn’t feel chewy and gummy. I easily shucked them off their shell with my fork and put them away.
Amante’s has the perfect atmosphere for so many different occasions. Whether you are on a first date, out with friends, or taking the family out for dinner, Amante’s has something to offer. Did I mention the live music? Yes, Amante’s has live music even on a Tuesday night. My server was a little distracted and it took me a few minutes after my appetizers to order my entrée.
For dinner I had the Homemade Cheese Ravioli. I have to admit it was a bit pricey for just a cheese pasta dish at $16, but it was good and the pasta was cooked to my expectations. You can tell the difference in the quality from some $8 raviolis you can have at any pizzeria. After dinner, I sat for a while enjoying the atmosphere and listening to music. My server recommended some deserts but I think I had made my choice with the first dessert described on the dessert menu, the Millionaire Cheesecake. It was a brownie-bottom chocolate cheesecake. It certainly lives up to its name. I had a cup of coffee and had a quick chat with my server about the experience before cashing out. With all things considered, my visit was worth the price. Amante’s is definitely at the top of my list. Because of their unique qualities, they are hard to compare.
Name: Robert Smith
Occupation: Structural Engineer
Lives In: West Palm Beach
Restaurant Pick: Riley McDermott's
Reviewed Amante Italian Cuisine: May 10th, 2008
This restaurant is located near the ocean in Deerfield Beach. It is a popular area, with a fishing pier, shops and restaurants located in the area. Parking is limited, though there is some additional parking behind the building.
The interior is nice, with a comfortable atmosphere and friendly staff and patrons. My wife and I came here for dinner on a Saturday evening, and were seated in the restaurant portion (Bob’s Pizza is in a connected but separate space) at a table along the back of the restaurant where there is a combination of bench seating and chairs. We had a great seat for watching the people, both in the restaurant and on the sidewalk.
We ordered bruschetta and a slice of cheese pizza as appetizers, both of which were great. The bruschetta had wonderful toasted bread with lots of fresh tomatoes and balsamic. The pizza had a thin, crispy crust with just the right proportions of sauce and cheese. As an entrée, I ordered the homemade cheese ravioli with marinara sauce. Unfortunately, this was less satisfying. The raviolis were pasty, and the marinara lacked flavor. I did sneak a bite of my wife’s entrée, lemon martini chicken, and it was very good. For dessert we shared the house special, tiramisu, which was also very good. Overall, I like the restaurant, but will stay away from the pasta in the future.
One of the more memorable parts to dining there was the entertainment. The singer did a great job entertaining and engaging the restaurant patrons.
Name: Addie Keeler Smith
Occupation: Interior Designer
Lives In: West Palm Beach
Restaurant Pick: Belle & Maxwell's
Reviewed Amante Italian Cuisine: May 10th, 2008
Located a block from the beach, pier, and casual shopping, we enjoyed dinner at Amante’s. My husband and I were seated in a cozy corner on a richly upholstered, perimeter booth overlooking the main dining area. The staff and owners were warm, friendly and I was impressed by their flow, perfect pace and efficiency of our dining experience.
We enjoyed the best bruschetta here in all our diverse travels. …Farm rich, red, firm, lightly seasoned and delicately tossed chopped tomatoes on fabulous fresh Italian bread! We also sampled a slice of cheese pizza for future dining. The crust was moist yet crisp, but not soggy. Their sauce was mild with high quality cheese browned to perfection. We were impressed and waited in anticipation for the next course. And we were not disappointed!
The lemon martini chicken I ordered was juicy, lightly-breaded, and pan-fried in a delicate flavorful sauce. The entrée presentation included carrot and boiled potato surround. For dessert, I was treated to the owner’s homemade tiramisu and serenaded “Happy Birthday” by staff and Caribbean R & B rising star, Roger George.
We had a lot of fun and felt right at home. Should you enjoy authentic, well-prepared and quality Italian bill of fare at reasonable prices…do try Amante’s! While we live 72 miles north round trip from the restaurant; we will be back. It is well worth the trip on occasion to enjoy this casual and charming dining destination.
Restaurant Information
Location: 2068 NE 2nd St, Deerfield Beach, FL 33441
Phone: (954) 426-1030
Parking: In rear
Restaurant Owner: Robert & Christina Amante
Executive Chef: Walter Faria
Type of Cuisine: Southern Italian
Signature Dishes: Seabass Bruschetta, Chicken Martini, Ossobucco
Vegetarian Options: Yes
Alcohol Served: Full Bar
Corkage Fee: $35.00
Bottle Limit: None
Restaurant Hours:
Monday – 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Tuesday – 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Wednesday – 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Thursday – 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Friday – 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Saturday – 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 a.m.
Sunday – 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Meals Served: Pizza, pasta, fish, veal, chicken, salads, subs
Prix Fix Menu: No
Take-Out: Yes
Delivery: 2 mile radius
Average Dinner Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, %15 gratuity, w/o alcohol):$25.00
Average Lunch Price Range (per person, full meal, tax, %15 gratuity, w/o alcohol):$10 to $12
Payment Options: do you accept credit cards and if so, which ones? All major credit cards
Accept Reservations: Yes
Need Reservations: January through April
How far in advance do you require reservations be made: 2 days
Accommodations for Children: Children menu and highchairs
Dining Style: Pizza room casual, dinner room business casual
Disabled Access: Yes
Restaurant Size: 200 seats
Accommodate Groups: Yes
Private Dining Room: Yes
Tables with Scenic Views: No
Outdoor Dining: Yes
Entertainment: Yes