Amalfi Cucina Italiana - Carmel Valley

Take out this time. The soup of the day, a vegetarian lentil soup, was delicious, if fairly traditional and straightforward. The pizza of the week was my fave the Pizza Toto (which I got with extra eggplant instead of sausage). I love this pizza and wish they had it regularly! My SO got rigatoni Bolognese which he really likes from here. Another great thing about this restaurant is that they answer the phone! No voicemail numbers when you call, just a human. And Katie took our to go order and was wonderful. Thank you!

I hovered between giving them a 3 and a 4 because I would ideally give them a 3.5 stars if possible. I ended up rounding down, just because I feel like overall my experience leaned more towards, "ok." The vibe of the place was cute though!What we got:- Salmon gnocchi: this was good. The salmon added a good flavor to the gnocchi, the pistachio gave it a nice crunch here and there, and the gnocchi wasn't too hard or anything. I do think the flavor could have been a little more overall though- La vita e bella (pizza): a decent pizza, a little on the plain side for me as far as it was lacking in flavor a little, but not the worse. Red pepper flakes kind of helped- Capricciosa (pizza): this was my favorite of the four items we shared. The flavor was there, and the mushrooms and everything was really good. I have noticed though that artichoke on pizza can get a little tough or hard.- Amatriciana pappardelle: this one was ok. The flavor was there, but the thing that threw us all was the little tiny pieces of the meat that the dish has. They were just so small! (See photo attached lol)Overall, this place was ok. The service was alright as well. We asked for a booster or a high chair and the hostess said she would get right on it, then went to touch up her lip gloss and check her phone and I guess she forgot about it lol. I would say our service that day was effective, but not really the best. Also would like to note that it was not a terribly busy day.

We stopped by this stylish yet casual restaurant for an early dinner before catching a movie, and it didn't disappoint.The waiter was funny and yet knowledgeable about the menu. We started with the octopus, which was tender and flavorful. The baked Branzino filet was perfectly cooked, flaky, and well-seasoned. The standout, though, was the ossobuco--rich, hearty, and melt-in-your-mouth tender.Overall, this dining experience was the perfect prelude to our night out. If you're looking for a spot that combines elegance with a relaxed vibe and serves outstanding food, this restaurant is a must-visit.

I brought a friend here recently for a birthday dinner and to see Roman palacios. I made the reservation easy enough through open table and noted the birthday celebration in the comments. I called to confirm and reminded them of the birthday celebration and that we would like to be able to see the performer. When we arrived we were seated close to the band. Our server came by to check with us several times but we couldn't make up our minds of what to order. Finally we settled on the linguine alla vongolé, puttanesca pizza and a bottle of wine (Wednesday is half off wine night - but only 2 bottles to choose from apparently). The pizza was good, the linguini was bland (happy they have salt and pepper at the table) and the wine was fine. The bussers kept offering to clear our plates before we were finished. Our server didn't wish my guest happy birthday until I said something. When he brought the check he announced the total in front of my guest which was super awkward since I was paying for our meal. He also hovered over whilst I put in the tip, again awkward. I live near the San Marcos location and frequent it. I will stick to that location, the service is better and it feels far more upscale in both service and appearance.

This place is stunning! I loved the food, service, and the live entertainment.... everything! All dishes had beautiful presentation and tasted great, like the Branzino, Pork and Polenta dish, and my Linguine alle Vongone. We tried the octopus to share, which again, was presented and cooked so nicely with the octopus wrapped around the toasted bread. I was relieved the texture was not chewy at all, which I thought it would be. My Linguine alle Vongone had sooo many clams and everything was full of flavor. I demolished the whole dish, no leftovers. Mathieu offered the best service! He was super friendly, always had a smile on his face, and gave us everything we asked for. We went on a Wednesday evening and they have Roman Palacios + band perform live music for a few hours every week. He's amazing! You have to go when he's there. This restaurant itself is pretty. Surprisingly has a lot of seating with both indoor and outdoor (outdoor patio just as stunning). Nice and clean. Highly recommend!

This is my favorite Italian restaurant! I've hosted a few MeetUp events for my Fun Diego Ladies group and recently celebrated my daughter's birthday here. The service has always been top notched and the food phenomenal!Amalfi never disappoints! Our server Vincenzo took excellent care of us during the most recent visit. My family was really impressed with how thoughtful he was in making sure our water glasses were always filled, food was brought out piping hot, dirty plates were switched out, and he brought a tiramisu for the birthday girl and one for the family to share! We all agreed this was the best tiramisu! My family normally doesn't venture out to new restaurants, so they were so thankful that I introduced them to Amalfi.

Summary: customizable pasta dishes, nice atmosphere, room available for large party, affordable price, $5 water bottleWe made a reservation couple of weeks in advance for 9 people (you will have to call to make a large party reservation) on a Sunday for 12pm, right at opening time. Part of our party arrived 15 minutes prior to 12 but since it wasn't open yet, they waited out the door but it started to rain. They were so kind to let everyone inside to avoid getting wet. There are street parking, outdoor parking lot and also a parking structure close by. But you might circle around the building a couple of times if looking for a close parking spot. They have their regular menu but also their special menu for the week. We ordered a couple of custom pastas from their regular menu and couple of dishes from the special. All dishes were seasoned perfectly and not too salty. Everyone really enjoyed their meals. It is a perfect place for a celebration as it is not too pricy but still classy. One thing concerning was that we asked for plain tap water but they brought out the bottled waters and charged us for 3 bottles. I just wish they gave us a heads up.

DATE WORTHY OR NOT?Absolutely! Bring your Date here, the servers are so friendly and our server today is originally from Amalfi, Italy so he recommended authentic dishes that made me feel like we're in Italy, not San Diego lol. There's a bar on the right hand area as soon as you walk in. If it's crowded, you can sit at the bar with your Date, grab a drink to get to know each other FOODCarpaccio Bresaola Rucola & Grana- I love carpaccio. The greens (arugula) was fresh - the cured beef was a little too salty for my taste. Would I order it again? I wish it was less salty and not as gummy like Brios. My husband liked his linguini ala vongole, the mussels were large. Whew! PARKINGExcellent. No need to find a spot in a huge parking structure so if you're in high heels like I always do, you'd love how close you can park to the restaurant.

Fantastic bar, nice pizzas. We usually have a big party so help can get a bit backed up with all the drink orders but all is good. Nice big bar, not always super friendly help. They have sauces they serve with bread which I think is strange. I got the bolognese sauce which was sub par. No chunks of meat at all. Was a stretch to call it a meat sauce at all. I took home, added meat and put it over some pasta for my kiddo. The ambience is nice, beautiful, clean and they have music on some nights too. A nice patio out front with heaters. Hit or miss I'd say..

Vincenzo is absolutely amazing! He has served me every time I've gone and the service is incredible. I went to celebrate my birthday with some friends and the experience was divine. The food is delicious and the vibes are immaculate. I highly recommend this place