Suburbia In The City, It Sucks.
Just what we've all been waiting for - a chain-suburban restaurant in the city. For the same $20, I can get some four- to five-star cuisine at Barbette across the street or Lucia's around the corner. Instead, I get an oversauced salad out of a bag (except for the sliced mango and apple), soup made from package tortellini and canned chicken broth that would have taken me two seconds to make at home, and a waitress calling me "darling." It's telling when the staff is eating their lunch (Brueggers Bagels) at the bar! Hell, they won't even eat their own food. The restaurant's ONE AND ONLY saving grace is the half-price bottles of wine on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. Otherwise, the soup and salad at Brueggers is a much better deal. So, perhaps the staff was on the mark. The people who like this place and call it "gourmet" (?!?!) must have had their palates refined at the likes of the Olive Garden, TGIFridays or, most likely, Old Country Buffet.    [27 Mar 2006 16:20:35]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Torchy   

You Gotta Go.
Amazing food. Unforgettable atmosphere.    [02 Apr 2006 23:03:57]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: mushroom passion, carpaccio

     ­nick   

Love This Place!
Ok I have to correct the reviewer who calls him/herself Torchy. I eat at Amore 2 or three times a week, and have gotten to know the chefs quite well. The main chef is the owner--I don't think you would find this at a chain. Their pastry chef, Roberto, is a baker from Rome, Italy who orders fresh produce daily, including spring greens, romaine, and arugula, and bakes the bread from scratch. I know because he lives next door to me. Also, this is one of the only places in uptown where everything IS made from scratch. The soups are made fresh everyday and they take hours. I would recommend all diners take a tour of their kitchen--it's amazing how much prep these chefs do in one single day, simply because the food IS made from scratch. I think Barbette is a great restaurant as well. Even their chef is impressed by the amount of work that goes into the dishes there.
The ambiance is the best in uptown-and the chef/owner did all the work himself.    [13 Apr 2006 13:49:58]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Carpaccio/gnocchi pistaccio

     ­Gary   

Chefs Can't Possibly Taste Their Own Food.
This was the worst dining experience I've had in a very long time. The Bruschetta was so full of raw garlic you couldn't eat it. I sent back my carpaccio the first time because between all the lemon juice soaking it. It was entirely covered with capers. The second round was no better because I scrapped off a fist full of parsley and garlic and still soaked with lemon. You could not taste the meat at all as that is what true carpaccio lovers enjoy.

The main dishes it is not worth it for me to even go into how tough even the chicken was. I spent a 125.00 there and I can tell you it wasnt worth 10 bucks. There is no possible way that the cooks sample their dishes. DISGUSTING!!!    [27 Jun 2006 20:51:08]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes:

     ­Carmen , Minneapolis   ccarett at yahoo dot com

Very impressed
This is the best Italian fare in the city. I can't believe they've been here a year and I didn't even know it! I love that it is not pretentious. a very lovely, romantic, fun vibe with great food!! We even got to meet the lovely couple that own the restaurant. They built the whole restaurant!
The food is fabulous, and the wine list has impressive wine at very reasonable prices. And they have $2 tap beer anytime!!

Demitri    [04 Sep 2006 17:59:18]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Pollo Portabella, Tiramisu

     ­Anonymous   

Gone Are The Days Of Customer Service.
Let me start by saying before my visit to Amore Victoria last evening – I would have nothing but pleasant remarks, having frequented the restaurant on several occasions. Unfortunately with one visit and this experience I will never return.

THE STORY: My significant other and I stopped in for a couple of drinks and ordered dinner. We decided on trying something new to share - which came with high recommendations by the waiter. When we tried the "ciopinno" it was very bland in taste, had very little seafood within the dish and the seafood in the dish was overcooked and dried out. We each had a couple of bites and upon discussing the matter decided that we were really disappointed in the dish and shared our disappointment with the waiter. The waiter indicated that he would remove the dish from our bill and that we could choose to order something else or receive a certificate for our next visit. We opted to order something else. However, upon receipt of our bill noticed that the original dish was still included on the bill. We questioned the waiter on the matter and he indicated that the manager had instructed him to keep the dish on our bill. At that point - we decided to bring the matter up with the manager directly.

When we brought the issue over to the manager. He was on the phone and proceeded to make us wait 5-10 minutes. During which time he WAS aware that we were waiting to discuss a matter with him, because he asked the waiter dismissively "Are these people waiting to talk with me?" And while he continued to have his conversation on the phone the hostess wrote a note and held it in front on him telling him that we were waiting to talk with him. At this point I decided that I no longer had the patience to deal with the arrogant manager and would prefer to discuss the matter directly with the owner - stopping another waiter who was walking by to ask for the owner directly. The waiter at this point indicated that the individual we were waiting to discuss the matter was actually the owner.

My boyfriend realizing that I had lost all patience, proceeded to approach the manager/owner and indicated that we were highly disappointed with our visit and proceeded to be accused by the owner/manager that we had in fact eaten over half of the entree and that he himself had tried the dish and found nothing wrong. Unfortunately the owner/manager was not willing to do anything for us. During this discussion we mentioned that his customer service was unfortunate because now we were going to go and tell 10 individuals/friends of our bad experience and the owner/manager snidely remarked "You'll do that anyway".    [08 Sep 2006 13:00:13]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Anonymous   

Pretty Darn Good.
Very quaint and romantic, however can get bustling on some nights which brings up the noise level. Great music though so no worries.
Food was scrumptious!! Best homemade bread I ever had    [04 Oct 2006 20:05:30]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: tortellini alla Panna

     ­Dale   

Best addition to the neighborhood
this place is just what we needed on this corner--Great food , great prices, and such a vibrant, yet romantic setting. My girlfriend and I dined in the "Love cove" one night and had the best damn Tortellini alla Panna I ever had. The Lasagna is also incredible, as well as the Tiramisu--I took these recommendations from Jeremy Iggers review in the Star Tribune. He was right! (I don't normally agree with their food critics). The main dining room is a very happening place. Great bar specials including $2 premium taps and $5 Martinis. HH is also fab!

Amy and Mario    [11 Oct 2006 13:46:28]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: torellini all panna, Lasagne, Tiramisu

     ­Anonymous   

Fabulous restaurant
Wonderful food, romantic and elegant atmosphere. We'll be back!!
Had a wonderful little Italian waiter with an accent.    [20 Oct 2006 14:17:40]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 

     ­Anonymous   

Lovely experience
Amore Victoria was worth the 30 minute wait last saturday night. My friend and I sat in a little candlelit corner and had the best food and wine I've had in years. The Mushroom Passion is incredible! My friend had the Gorgonzola stuffed Veal which I sampled and was delicious. We shared the bruschetta. It was so flavor intense with lots of fresh garlic and basil..mmmmm.    [23 Oct 2006 18:12:26]

Food:    Service:    Ambiance:    Overall: 
Recommended Dishes: Mushroom Passion, Gorgonzola Veal

     ­jennifer c