Amano Bistro

I didn't feel rushed but everything happened quickly, for no good reason. The pacing was way too quick and not at all in response to me not being in any rush. This alone was disappointing as I mentioned I wasn't in a hurry and wanted things one at a time (fyi, I came at a very non-crowded time and not close to closing time). My drink came with my salad-no pause to just sit and enjoy my wine. My next course arrived moments (under a minute) after my salad plate was cleared. My check came shortly after I declined another drink. I was seated, ate, and headed home, within 45 minutes. My server and staff were quite nice; it's that the pacing of how things came out wasn't what I wanted. The food was also meh. The cornbread muffins were tough and not very flavorful. The Caesar salad was not appetizing. It had so much dressing on it-more like a mayonnaise in consistency-drowning the lettuce. The crouton 'crisps' weren't crisp and so were hard to manage/difficult to eat. The octopus was tasty and itself had a nice texture and flavor, but the purée under it was watery and more like soup than a purée. This was a big disappointment based how cute of a spot this is, and how I'd hoped to enjoy a quiet and relaxed meal.

This is an absolute gem! Charming and warm. The staff is wonderful and the owner Nick was so attentive. Our sever, Emily was lovely as was our bartender Jelica.The food...FABULOUS! The octopus was so delicate and flavorful and the gnocchi is the best I have ever tasted. It was like little pillows that melted in your mouth! Nice wine selection too! And I am lucky enough to live near this delish destination!

This is a great new addition to the Northcenter neighborhood! It is a very small space so definitely make a reservation. There's also a lovely outdoor patio. Service was very good all night. Our table shared the fritto misto and celery chips for appetizers. Both were very good. I really liked the two different sauce options for the fritto misto and the celery chips were very unique and also had an awesome sauce, though I wish the chips themselves were a bit crispier. For dinner, I had the pappardelle short rib ragu, which was outstanding. My husband had the pork chop, which he liked but didn't love, although I think his opinion says more about his preferred style of pork chop than anything bad about the dish itself. We enjoyed wine and cocktails throughout the night, all which were very good. Perhaps the most awesome thing about this place is the value: frankly, I think everything on the menu is actually underpriced considering the quality of the food. I can't wait to go back here.

AMAZING! Great food, wonderful service, sweet vibe! Definitely try the grilled octopus ... potato leek base delish! Mussels good. BRANZINO a must!! !! Over all - awesome!!

Very nice restaurant. Our waiter recommended the specials, so, hey, why not. Appetizer, pasta, lamb chops. The wine choices are excellent. The staff is excellent. Lincoln Square is blessed to have several excellent Italian restaurants. Molto bene!!!

Ordered the bruschetta, Greek salad, branzino and tiramisu. All were delicious! Would definitely come here to eat again and will be recommending to friends!

What a gem in the neighborhood! The atmosphere was so pleasant and laidback, one of rare places that doesn't rush you out to get another customer in. The food was so fresh and well paired with cocktails and wine, truly an excellent experience. Definitely one of our new favorites in the neighborhood. Can't wait for them to add brunch on the weekends so that it becomes a family outing too.

Food was terrific with fresh pasta and many wonderful options. Dessert consisted of hand-picked fruit.Service was wonderful. Zorana provided excellent service and the owner made two trips to check on us as well as providing a glimpse into future feature selections.On a perfect su.mer night, sitting in a quaint patio area made it feel as I had returned to Europe.We are local and plan on frequent returns.

I was excited to try Amanos for the first time and ordered the Filleto steak medium-well. When I received my order the steak was cooked well done and very chewy.Steak reminded me of Jewel Osco selection meat. Hoping to forget about the Filleto we also ordered the Gnocchi which I absolutely love. For the second time I was disappointed with the Gnocchi, as instead of a creamy dish I was placed a soggy and more soup-like plate. For almost $100 a person for dinner I rather keep going down the street to IL Milanese, for a more authentic and budget friendly experience.

We loved our meal at Amano Bistro. Everything was wonderful from the service to the food and drinks. Highly recommend trying this cozy spot.