Amelia's Italian Cuisine

Italian restaurant · Gainesville

Amelia's Italian Cuisine

Italian restaurant · Gainesville

1

Behind the Hippodrome, 235 S Main St #107, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA

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Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null
Amelia's Italian Cuisine by null

Highlights

A charming bistro with an old-world vibe, where homemade pasta and classic Italian dishes are served with generous portions in a relaxed atmosphere.  

Featured in Eater
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Behind the Hippodrome, 235 S Main St #107, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA Get directions

ameliasitalian.com

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

Information

Static Map

Behind the Hippodrome, 235 S Main St #107, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA Get directions

+1 352 373 1919
ameliasitalian.com

$30–50 · Menu

Reserve

Features

wifi
Tap to pay
reservations
payment credit card
outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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"In the heart of downtown Gainesville lies this small Italian-style restaurant with more veal dishes than any other in town: Amelia’s. A tiny gate opens to just a few tables and string-light decor, while inside diners find warm-colored walls and small round tables making this restaurant the go-to for dates and family gatherings. To kick off the meal, start with he Crostini NY topped with spinach and artichoke cream sauce, and the fried calamari for just $10. For less than $30, the restaurant serves a chicken, veal, or vegetarian entree along with a house salad, a choice of any marinara-garnished pasta, and bread. And the restaurant’s pasta dishes and eggplant parmesan don’t price over $20." - Jared Teitel

Where to Eat, Drink and Play in Gainesville, Florida
View Postcard for Amelia's Italian Restaurant

Scott J

Google
Best Italian in Gainesville! The restaurant was extremely booked for graduation parties when we arrived without reservations, however, they were able to fit us in. The staff was great and we got our food quickly despite how busy the restaurant was. The waiter answered all our questions and made great recommendations. In addition to great food and service the prices were lower than expected for a fine dining type of atmosphere. I would definitely go back and recommend this place to anyone looking for great Italian in Gainesville.

Mallory Martino

Google
Omg all the reviews are correct. This place was amazing! Must do! I loved the food! Was in town for the weekend. From Orlando. And I wish I could come back more often. I'm not a sea food person. But my mom who got the steamed clams and the calamari were the best she has had in a long time.

Kristina Crawford

Google
We really enjoyed our dining experience here. Melissa was out server and she was phenomenal. All her dish recommendations were spot on. Food was delicious and portions were generous. We'll definitely return!

MJ Colors

Google
This evening broke my heart. My wife and I had tried for several weeks to get a reservation here. She loves fettuccine Alfredo. Finally got a reservation for 8 p.m. we showed up 15 min early, as you should, and let them know we were there. The hostess said give me 10 min and I'll get you seated, so we waited in the courtyard. Beautiful brick courtyard with jasmine growing everywhere. Just romantic. We get taken through the restaraunt to a room way in the back. It was romantic and quiet. Our table had just been reset. We were sat and received fresh ice water and hot bread with butter. Unfortunately the bread, butter and drinks were the only thing worth bragging about. We sat in a room with 3 dirty tables and a long party table full of dishes napkins and drinks from the time we got there, till we left. The poor waitress was so frazzled. I will not name her because she was kind and did her best and was apologetic. She was the only waitress for 7 tables and a huge party. Probably understaffed, like the rest of most business today so we have become accustomed to long waits, that wasnt the problem. I ordered chicken parmesan with a Ceasars salad $25+ and she ordered fettuccine alfredo $22+. Not bad for fine dining. I'd say we waited 40 min for the food to come out. I got my salad as a precursor and it tasted like lettuce mixed with mayo and parmesan. Not Cesar. The chx parm came out piping hot, but burnt.. super burnt. They took it back, then my pasta came out. So I had pasta and no parm lol. The pasta sauce was so salty, I couldn't even swallow it. So my pasta sat for another 5-7 min before my new chicken parm came out. It wasn't burnt. It was beautiful, piping hot with sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese dripping off of it...except it was the super salty sauce. The waitress automatically took off my meal and offered a free dessert. I didn't come for free food lol. . Came to a fine dining restaraunt to treat my wife to a delicious meal. Her fettuccine waslike marshmallows with pepper over noodles lol. Very bland. We never got our free dessert. We were never served oil for our bread, no little plates for our silverware, and the candle on our table wasnt lit. Sadface. This was our last hope for a decent Italian restaraunt in Gainesville.

Britney Megnath

Google
I got the fettuccini Alfredo and my boyfriend got the lobster ravioli which we both enjoyed our meals. The lobster ravioli was a small portion size which is why I’m giving 4 stars. The Alfredo was much bigger and it was super creamy. Our waiter was very nice and attentive, and our food came out quickly. The restaurant is very nice inside and decorative, also very clean. It is definitely a nice establishment and I would return but be prepared it is really pricey

Amanda Hamm

Google
Went two weekends ago and sat outside. It was perfect. Food was delicious! From appetizer to dessert. Fresh bread also! Amanda, our server, was awesome. Very personable and on top of things!! Definitely be back!!

Mark Chamberlin

Google
This is how authentic should be. Small intimate atmosphere. Exceptionally professional wait staff in white shirts and black ties. Very fair pricing. And some really tasty delicios dekicacies including deserts! 5-2023. Another FABULOUS meal.

Pete Previte

Google
Delicious food and terrific service. Everything was great. Italian food at its finest. Very fresh and cooked to order. Only thing better would have been if we were able to sit outside on the patio on this beautiful day. Definitely give them a try.

Nevin H.

Yelp
Very excellent experience! We were a party of 3 there to celebrate my son's birthday. I made a 5pm reservation (on a Tuesday) as that's when they opened that day but we could have just walked in as they didn't get busy for another hour to an hour and a half. Our server was Dylan, and he was very professional, Pleasant, attentive, and help us with the menu and daily specials. We all ordered a round of drinks that were listed under their specialty cocktail menu options that were absolutely delicious and very easy to drink. He then brought us some warm bread and help guide us through their menu. We ordered the fried calamari as an appetizer, which was a perfect amount for all three of us. They make their own tomato sauce, which was extremely thick, extremely flavorful, and extremely delicious. Our Andrea all came with salads and all three of us ordered the Caesar salad. The salad was very delicious and Dylan told us that they make their salad dressing and croutons in house. My only feedback on the salad, which was chilled and served on a chilled plate was that there should have been a little bit more dressing served on it. For entrées, we ordered a veal Parmesan, chicken Parmesan, and Veal Piccata. All three entrées were awesome! They were very nice portions and served with a pasta. The size of the portion and served with the pasta and salad made a dinner there a very good value. As I mentioned, the portion of protein served in the entrées was delicious and very satisfying. Although I would like to try other things on the menu, next time I go back, I would have no problem ordering the same entrées. As it was my son's birthday, they brought out a huge delicious piece of chocolate cake with a candle for him and we enjoyed that with some cappuccino with a shot of Frangelico. I compliment the owner and management of this restaurant, as they did an excellent job for our experience, and I will definitely go back for another meal when I am back in Gainesville visiting my son.

Alexa R.

Yelp
Amelia's is an upscale Italian restaurant in downtown Gainesville. Their menu offers a wide variety of delectable pastas. This is definitely a fancier dinner restaurant. It is important to note they close early, so make reservations and arrive on time!

Joe P.

Yelp
Very slow service we only had a party of three and ordered dinners only no appetizers and place was empty less than 15 people but took one hour to get food. Overpriced and overrated

Sarah B.

Yelp
We were glad to have made a reservation on open table because the restaurant didn't look full but they were turning people away without a reservation. I'm guessing it was because the were short staffed. We ate outside on a lovely evening and had great service. We shared a delicious bottle of wine and a couple of appetizers- the eggplant rollitini was fabulous!!

Cait S.

Yelp
The food was average, very understaffed. enjoyed the ambiance but for the price it was not worth it.

Beth A.

Yelp
We went to Easter brunch. It was the worst meal I have ever had. We started off with the omelet station. The omelet ingredients were rudimentary at best. There was only one choice of eggs that were scrambled. For the price we expected eggs Benedict. The sausage was precooked. The bacon was so thin you could see through it. The ham should have been at a carving station not drying out in a chafing dish. The dessert was cut from sheet cakes. Over processed and overly sweet. Expected more from the caring station. Perhaps poultry, fresh ham or even lamb. Very disappointing especially for the price. I must say our server was very good. That was the high point of a very disappointing meal. Avoid this place.

Kirk M.

Yelp
Service was so slow. They kept telling us about a private party backing up the kitchen. We waited over an hour and they only slightly discounted or meal. Food absolutely nothing special. Pass.

Jessica W.

Yelp
I went to this restaurant last month and really enjoyed my chicken Marsala. My only complaint is that sometimes it takes awhile for food to come out and some things on the menu are better than others.

John M.

Yelp
I've always heard about Amelia's but until recently hadn't found the time to get there. Parking was interesting to say the least but the waitress went out of her way to explain it and got us sorted out. Food was good, got to us in good time and was hot and tasty. Melissa went above and beyond to accommodate us in every way. She made everything light and easy. Now that I know, I know and I'll be back.

David M.

Yelp
This place is terrific: Legit classic Italian with a great location. We've been coming here for years, and the food is excellent.

claudia galindo ..

Yelp
Worst experience ever. Same situation already described by other people. Slow service, lack of attention by server and management. Place half empty, same excuse story about attending a big group.. Once we complained, 3 minutes after ( we had waited for over 35 min already) manager was pushing us to take the food to go no charge. Like it was a big favor and about having the food for free. We were clear we were cancelling the order. Unacceptable mistreatment

Daniel H.

Yelp
Just delicious! Okay now that that is out of the way I'll break down the important stuff! Parking: downtown is messy, but there is pay for parking right near by that they will validate your ticket! Make sure to mention it! Seating is plentiful! We went on a Sunday evening and had no problem getting a table an hour out. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, however we chose inside due to terrible Florida heat. Give yourself an extra ten minutes because due to the construction jn the area it took us a second to figure out where it was. The staff were so friendly! Very helpful and happy to help navigate their menu. Cocktails could have used some help which is why I dropped one star on this, the old fashioned was not true and the cosmo was very watered down. The food on the other hand was delicious! We started with bruschetta and my main course was the lobster ravioli, my only complaint was that I wanted more! Everything tasted fantastic We spent approx $50 per person on dinner with one drink each. While their cocktails could use some work (they did have an extensive wine list but we are not wine people) the food was certainly worth the evening spent for dinner with their location. Would come back!!

Jerry S.

Yelp
It's been a while since I have been here and eaten inside. The space is very small and the tables are crowded together so it is difficult to get out from the seat and leave without rubbing on the people at the next table. I had a 6:30pm reservation and they were already out of three things that affected 6 menu items. The menu was so old and worm the print was almost erased making it very hard to read. I ordered the spinach soup, house salad and chicken piccata. Ah the meal! The soup, I had never tried before, was great. The salad was wonderful too, although I had to special order a few extra cucumbers. The chicken piccata, some of the best I have ever had. The chicken was butterflied to a perfect thickness. It was tender and moist. The piccata sauce was heavenly and I used every last piece of my loaf of bread to soak up every drop. The service was great. Attentive and prompt.

Vyshak C.

Yelp
For being hyped up as the best Italian restaurant in Gainesville by many people, I was left sadly disappointed. Since Leonardo's 706 closed down during the pandemic I have been searching for solid Italian food in gnv, and I'll have to keep searching. Came in for dinner and ordered a burrata appetizer, eggplant parmigiana, and the lobster ravioli. The burrata was a reasonable size, however was placed on a piece of bread that just left the entire bread soaked and soft by the time we ate it. The lobster ravioli was probably the highlight of the meal for me, it was tasty and the sauce was well made. The eggplant was not bad, but the side of pasta that was given was penne with a splash of house red sauce. The main issue with the main courses was that they came out lukewarm. Finally, to finish off we ordered a tiramisu. They stacked ladyfingers and used a decent bit of whipped cream to hide the fact that the tiramisu piece was maybe 1.5 x 1.5 inches. To pair with our dinner, we ordered a bottle of wine. When it was mentioned that the wine bottle we were served was not the same as was ordered on the menu, we were offered a $6 discount on the bottle price (instead of replacement of the bottle with another wine, etc). I'm not exactly sure what I was looking for, but this level of service was not what I expected. Considering that and the lackluster food, I don't expect to be heading back soon.

Sonia K.

Yelp
I had been here a year ago, and was desperate to go back. Little did I know, I would be disappointed when I returned. Firstly, our waiter told us that they were out of shrimp, fish, filet, a soup, and other items. It was a struggle to find items to order. The bread was pre made white bread that was not very good, however the olive oil was amazing and saved it. Our initial appetizer, a soup, was so salty that it was difficult to eat, but we ate the gnocchi in it. Our bolognese pasta was also extremely salty, and we had to send it back. However, the eggplant rolatini was SPECTACULAR and so was the calamari pasta they were able to whip up for me. Service was AMAZING. Our water glasses were always full and our waiter was very cheery. He was kind enough to remove the soup and pasta from our bill. I am not sure if i'd return after that visit, but I hope it gets better.

Lara S.

Yelp
It's really a shame to have to give such a bad review to a restaurant that had pretty good food, but the service was some of the worst I have ever experienced. It seems like the waiters are also the ones who have to make the drinks, so they're always at the bar instead of coming to check on the tables. We had to waive our waiter down multiple times just to get some more water. The food took over an hour to come out and while it was good, it wasn't anything that should've taken that long. Everything just took so long. We could literally see all the tables around us waiting forever for everything to come out. It would be understandable if the place was packed and they were short staffed but that was certainly not the case. The restaurant was maybe half full. They must've also been having problems with the AC because it was so warm in there that one person from our table had to step outside because he felt kind of sick from the lack of air. Overall, it just seemed like they weren't efficient at what they were doing and there are better Italian places with much better service.

Chaleen C.

Yelp
I have never taken the time to write a review on a restaurant, but I have also never left full plates of food and not even wanting to take them due to being so gross. I personally feel everyone has very different expectations in dining but this restaurant can't claim to be "fine Italian". The price yes, over $100 bill after getting 25% taken off for the food we didn't eat! Started off ok, the warm bread, that was great and well cooked. Then moved on with grouper appetizer and bruschetta. My son enjoyed the grouper bites despite finding a bone in one. Bruschetta was fine, nothing spectacular but tasted good. Caesar Salads were once again just fine, but nothing I would order again or rave about. The pasta dinners, gross and unable to eat, my penne Al la vodka had store bought undercooked penne pasta with a flavorless sauce. The two teens with me got the tortelloni Alfredo. Store bought tortelloni was ok, but was too much sauce and super thick and weird consistency. Also, didn't have a great creamy flavor like most Alfredo has. Overall, I could made a better dinner with $20 at the grocery store. I didn't see anything "fine" except for the service and enjoyed the ice tea! $100 for some iced tea and bread. The waiter was great and attentive. Feel bad he has to serve such crappy food.

Uma P.

Yelp
best part was the service! our waiter was so nice and informative and fast! drinks were good... there wasn't a formal cocktail menu but they definitely made a delicious Cosmo. They have a good selection of beer- some of it local. we got the spinach and artichoke appetizer, it was pretty good, a little watery, mildly on the salty side but not too bad and definitely has some good flavor. it comes with some bread and you get some complementary bread too! we also got the lobster ravioli which was good, not my fav but not bad. but I liked the shrimp Diablo! The portions are amazing and the prices are very reasonable. the entrees also come with a side salad. they provide plenty of food for reasonable prices. It's a great place to bring a date or family. They do have a small bar as well. Tiramisu is homemade and good as well.

Eddie B.

Yelp
I had a couple of dinners at Amelia's when my mom was alive. She paid my way as I was unemployed, and continued that way. I was also a vegetarian. I think, maybe, it was a long, long time ago, I had meat, sausage, but then telling the waiters of my vegetarianism they said they could remove the sausage. I was somewhat suspicious as I know some things are made with meat, like the sausage may have flavored the marinara. What upset me most though was that they did not lower the price for no meat. Very nice place, though, a wonderful date place, if you ask me, a place for romantic persons. They had not particular dishes that were designed to treat the vegetarian which is why Amelia's gets this low, to my thinking, grade. The food was obviously of a fine quality. Are they against the whole vegetarian thing and so refuse to design dishes for us?

Carol C.

Yelp
The food and service was awesome! Chicken tortellini, the best I have tasted, well seasoned and a good portion!

Susan D.

Yelp
Amelia's is a long time Gainesville local business. You'll find it in a cute cozy courtyard. You'll be able to dine inside or outside. Our server made good recommendations and suggestions We had clams. They were local and delicious. We enjoyed our mains. The grouper was a huge portion. The veal was tender. One dish and the pasta came to the table cold. Our server got things heated up quickly. We were very satisfied at that point. Amelia's has a nice wine list. Lots of options at all price points. There is also a full bar. I'd recommend making reservations.

Raven M.

Yelp
Great, cozy restaurant. My family went to celebrate my 21st birthday, and the owner/chef played "happy birthday" on a saxophone for us, which was very special. Normally I'm not a big fan of Italian restaurants, but Amelia's is one of the rare exceptions. Everything was really yummy. The bruschetta does not hold a candle to the crostini NY, and the linguini pesto was so good that I had the leftovers for breakfast. The cheesecake duo was some of the best cheesecake I have had, with the chocolate one being very similar to a fudge brownie. WARNING: the shrimp fra diavolo is very spicy. Our waiter tried to warn us, but ordering it at "medium" was still too spicy for my mother who had to dilute it with regular marinara sauce. It was delicious though, so if you can handle spicy, go for it.

Keesha C.

Yelp
DELICIOUS ITALIAN FOOD!! Date night- party of 2! You should plan to get there early because there aren't any parking spaces for the restaurant so we chose to park in the nearby parking garage which is two short blocks over and they kindly validated our ticket for us. It was a Saturday night and the streets weren't overly crowded and it felt plenty safe. The ambiance was very cozy with the muted walls, dark ceilings, white linen tablecloths, and a flickering candle at every table. The small old venue gave off a "hole in the wall" vibe promising tasty food of which it did not disappoint! They provide a Bread Basket (just okay) and olive oil (amazing EVOO but sadly, no herbs- fresh nor dried) but then we decided to try some appetizers. The Bruschetta was some of the freshest and tastiest I've ever had and the Crostini NY (a spinach artichoke dip) was so amazing that we asked to take home what little bit of it was left! As if we had any room left in our stomachs, My husband ordered the Chicken Parmigiana and I had the Grouper Mugnaia (with a lemon butter caper sauce) both of which were timely delivered, hot, and cooked to perfection and the pasta was cooked slightly passed 'Al dente'... not overcooked, perfecto! Disappointments but not deal breakers: They were out of the Portobello appetizer we originally wanted. The service was just okay but not terrible and we weren't acknowledged for a while when we initially walked in. Maybe they don't have a hostess because our waitress is the one who finally greeted us... but no matter because the delicious food more than made up for it! We will be back for more food!!

Patrick K.

Yelp
This is a nice Italian restaurant in the heart of downtown Gainesville. They will start you out with some fresh warm homemade bread. Then, you will have an abundance of entrees to choose from. Our server was friendly. The portions were more than generous, along with a delicious salad. Amelia's touched all of the bases for me.

Wilmothy X.

Yelp
People in Gainesville think this is a nice restaurant. By Gainesville standards, I guess it's nicer than Applebees. Downsides: astronomically priced (for the quality), terrible service, mediocre food, and a run down interior. I brought my family here to eat because my kids wanted spaghetti. Memo to anyone with kids: this is not a kid friendly restaurant. No options for kids and the staff were really annoyed they were in the restaurant. Most people there were on dates, so I wouldn't recommend this as a family spot. If I had gone without kids, I can't imagine it would have been any better. I think it will continue to be well reviewed by people who have never left North Florida. For anyone who has eaten good Italian food or been to a nice restaurant, you're going to be really disappointed with this place. Fair warning: you'll pay through the nose for a disappointing meal and poor service. Two entrees, one coke, and a soup ended up setting me back $85.

Kristin H.

Yelp
It was just ok. When we got there, they were a little busy but the hostess cleaned off our table and got us seated pretty quickly. It was right on time with our reservation time. I did notice that there was some debris and stains on the table clothes but I just avoided those areas and we carried on. Our waitress was not very attentive and didn't have my drink order correct (twice) nor did she bring plates out for the bread. We were going to ask for plates when we saw her again but by the time she got back, we were done with the bread. Not a huge deal, she said earlier that she was busy. We gave her the benefit of the doubt. Even though the drinks were not prepared to my preferences, they were still good. We ordered our entrees and just as quickly as she left, the waitress came back and asked me what she thought I ordered, which was wrong and I had to remind her of my order. Again, I get she is busy. I tried to be understanding that she was a young college student trying to make money. Another server came over to our table to check on us and refresh our water. The other server was attentive and had a great personality and apologized for the delay in service. Our food was alright. I wouldn't say it was the best Italian that I've ever had but it was alright. We had the baked ziti and the chicken parmigiana. Both were fine. Not the best but not the worst. We did order dessert to-go and those were alright as well. That being said, we had 4 containers of food. That same attentive server that was not our main server ran over and gave me a bag so I didn't have to carry the containers in the rain like that. I didn't catch her name, but she was the rockstar of the night.

Robert B.

Yelp
Ambiance and food were good and the service was good. I enjoyed everything but I'm not sure that the high price of everything meets expectations.

M J.

Yelp
This was our first visit at this restaurant. The food was OK. Some of the dishes were way too salty. It took over two hours to get our food. Because it was so late we were not about to send any dishes back. Unfortunately, we will not be back.

Lulu G.

Yelp
Our first and last time to Amelia's. We were a party of 18 including a toddler with a reservation. When reservation was made, they should have said they could not handle a party that size because they were completely in the weeds. But first the parking.... horrible! We had to park in front of an office building and trek about 1/4 mile past dumpsters and a homeless couple having a melt down then around the corner to a nice courtyard. Difficult for the elderly and disabled. We had parked closer at first but then were told by staff we had to move our veheicles to the front of the office building. The service was terrible! About 30 minute wait for drinks and orders taken, then another 40 minutes before salads were sporatically served and all were warm (everyone was done when I got mine). The hungry toddler was finally served a small over-filled bowl of pasta. About the time we expected to see entrees, three of us were told "sorry no grouper"... very disappointing. A chef and/or manager came out to apologize for the long wait and said quality was more important. About another 45 minutes, food came out very sporatically with the excuse of a small kitchen (they shouldn't have taken the reservation if the kitchen couldn't handle it). Quality was NOT as expected for the astronomical prices. One person who had ordered grouper, then got lobster ravioli... only 4 regular size ravioli and a plate full of sauce. I ordered veal Sorrentino... supposed to be veal, proscuitto, eggplant and basil w/red sauce. I couldn't find any eggplant (if it was there, it dissolved), the veal was bland, basil was substituted with baby spinach and all was under seasoned. On a good note, my fiance's steak was very good. We had a 7:30 reservation and finished our meals around 10:30. My fiance and I had a bill of $150.00 plus tip (we each had 3 drinks - domestic beer and house wine, no appetizers, no desserts). Then a trek in the dark back to our vehicles. BTW... the ambiance was ok but the place looked like it needed a real good sprucing up and how about some matching lightbulbs... some were bright some were soft. The ceiling had peeling paint etc. To sum up: Don't waste your money or time!!!

Patti M.

Yelp
EXCELLENT! Amelia's is probably one of my all time favorite restaurants period. I highly recommend the Shrimp Amelia, the Surf n Turf, and the Linguini and Clams. My husband really enjoys the eggplant. I often get the shrimp cocktail followed by the Shrimp Amelia because there is something about that shrimp that is absolutely delicious. These aren't the shrimp you buy from Publix or even your average seafood market. The owner and chef Andy makes a point to greet customers every night. If a customer has a birthday we comes out and plays Happy Birthday on the saxophone (and that customer gets a free dessert--I highly recommend the almond custard--it is heavenly) We have dined here several times and Amelia's NEVER disappoints in either food or service. I recommend making reservations since tables do fill up pretty quickly.

David V.

Yelp
Amelia's takes a shot at a mostly lacking genre in Gainesville (upscale Italian dining), and while they don't hit it out of the park, it is not a swing and a miss either. Started with some fried calamari which was tasty but had a bit too many tentacle parts for my liking. Also had a spinach crostini dip which was amazing! That dip is a MUST HAVE if you come here. The main entrees however were slightly underwhelming and really just average. I went with the chicken parm which came with a tiny amount of side penne pasta. The chicken had good flavor, there needed to be more pasta with the meal. My S/O ordered the tortellini Alfredo with chicken. Her pasta was really good quality, but had an excessive amount of pepper that left an unsatisfying aftertaste in your mouth. All entrees came with a house salad which was nothing special, but still nice to have included. The atmosphere was very nice and what you would expect of fine Italian dining with white table cloths, classy music, and Italian decor. Service was very good and personal with the chef/owner coming out to check on everyone's meals. Overall Amelia's done a fine job in general. It will give you just about what you expect out of a restaurant in this class, doing a lot of things well without doing anything exceptionally above the bar.

Carmen V.

Yelp
12-4-21 8:50pm on a Saturday night a party of 5 restaurant looked promising only to be tainted by the attitude of the hostess! Closing was at 10pm we walked in and she said that they could accommodate us. Then 5 minutes later decided the restaurant was closing early! Thanks for a disappointing experience....

Minji K.

Yelp
I was pleasantly surprised by Amelia's. I passed by it many times but never got the chance to try it until now! Right when you walk in, you get a feeling that it is a fancier restaurant as there is soft music playing and when you are seated the waitress (or waiter) will light a candle to set the mood. The restaurant only had about 3 groups of people, which is understandable during this pandemic, so there were plenty of seats available for social distanced dining in. The waiters and waitresses were all wearing masks, which was good. I got the lobster ravioli and my friend had the clam linguini. They bring you out some fresh bread, which was a nice touch and although the bread was a bit on the harder side, I appreciated how they give you three different types -what seemed like tomato basil, herb bread, and a standard baguette-along with butter. The entrees also came with a house salad and the waitress kindly ground some fresh pepper into mine. Once we finished the bread and salads, our food arrived. I really enjoyed the lobster ravioli, as I could visibly see and feel chunks of lobster in the ravioli, although the portion was not super big, and the sauce was creamy and delicious. I also tried my friend's clam linguini, which had fresh clams from cedar key! The pasta was cooked well also. While we were eating, Alan, the chef came out and welcomed us, although he was not wearing a mask. Overall, I was happy to come across a good italian restaurant and support a local business during these tough times. Amelia's is on the pricier side (pastas were above $20) but would be a nice choice for a fancier night out or just if you want to treat yo self!

Regine M.

Yelp
If you're looking for reasonably priced Italian lunch downtown, Amelia's is you're spot. I've only been here for lunch and they have a reduced menu, but still they still have a good variety of selections. I've tried their Tortellini Pesto and Chicken Parmigiana. The Tortellini Pesto is very creamy and heavy, so if you're having this for lunch, you're going to want to take a nap afterwards. The Chicken Parmigiana is just your standard chicken parm, nothing special. They're good dishes, however if you're expecting Italian food like what you find in the northeast, this is not the place to go. Service is great and always friendly, however there is only one server during lunch time and if it's busy or there's a big party, it can be a bit slow.

Liz G.

Yelp
Should be a 5. Apparently the owner just died. Nice setting but some junk on one end of the terrace. Bread just a cheap frozen loaf tossed into the oven. Bruschetta appeared to be served on appropriate bread. Caesar salad tiny, not great and a $3 upgrade. Skip it. No clams. Had shrimp and linguine. I'd give it a 2.5. Also very small portion. Chocolate mousse cake was good but obviously not made in house and the cake part was dry. Hey I like to eat! This place needs new management asap. You could have a better Italian meal by far at Maggianos. They did cook chicken for my dog. For $30 ish plus entrees it needs a huge upgrade. Sorry!

Jim W.

Yelp
We had an overall good dinner experience here. We did our reservations online through their website (OpenTable) and there were no issues. The restaurant is small and cozy. There is a small bar on the side of the dining room. The hostess was quick to seat us and our waitress was right behind her. The menu is big, which always worries me. It's hard to make everything fresh and keep up on top of quality with a big menu. I stuck to one of the specials which was recommended by our waitress. I ordered an appetizer of mushrooms for our appetizer and grouper for dinner. My date ordered a veal specialty. All in all it was good. The mushrooms went nicely with the bread that was served. My grouper was very good. Unfortunately the marinara was salty. It detracted from my fish and the penne side that came with it. My date's veal was good but a smidge tough - requiring a steak knife. For dessert we had some sort of custard with cherries on a waffle cone. It was excellent. Really excellent. Parking is typical Gainesville. Park in the Sun City Center lot. The restrooms needed some work. They were recently remodeled but not that clean. I prefer porcelain that sparkles. The doors that lead to the restrooms and the restroom doors themselves need an extreme cleaning and a fresh coat of paint. Our waitress was awesome. We used her knowledge extensively for ordering and recommendations of the menu. She was spot on. We enjoyed having her help us with our dinner. The chef/owner is a pretty decent sax player. If you come here for your birthday you may be celebrated with a pretty good version of "Happy Birthday" on the alto saxophone. Wow - thats a lot to read. Thanks for making it this far. Do me a favor and let me know what you thought of this review by clicking one of the buttons below.

Kim M.

Yelp
Wonderful food and ambiance. The restaurant was in such a beautiful area with extremely kind employees. Brit provided great service and the tiramisu was unbelievable. The chicken parmigiana was incredible with lots of flavor and high quality. Amazing place! Would come to eat here again!

Gwen W.

Yelp
Wonderful in every aspect except parking. The food and service were excellent. House salad was lovely. Enjoyed the complimentary bread and butter. Had chicken Marsala as entree. It was rich, plenty of chicken and full of mushrooms. The eggplant rollatini as an appetizer was cooked perfectly. Thin slices of eggplant with mozzarella and a delicious marinara. As for parking... we parked behind the Sun center because of rain. The signs say scan the sign, pay, and your ticket will be validated in the restaurant. ($11. ) it wasn't . It's out of the restaurants control. Side note- a local who walked by said he's been parking there for years without paying the online parking fee and he's never had a problem. Who knows? We will go again but park somewhere else.

Melanie M.

Yelp
This place was recommended to me by so many people, but I don't think I would go back. I think it is a bit overpriced and the service was average. I tried a couple of appetizers and deserts apart from my main dish. The food wasn't bad, but also wasn't extraordinary. It definitely did not live up to my expectations.

Sharon K.

Yelp
Delicious Italian food in the heart of town. Great veal piccata. Nice "white table cloth" dining.

Morgan F.

Yelp
service was great and the food was great! the bread was very good and i loved the ambiance and the lighting was pretty

Cautrese A.

Yelp
I wanted to try something different and had a taste for lasagna. i googled best lasagna in gainesville and Amelia's popped up. My lasagna to go and an extra $ 3.00 for s ceasar salad instead of a house salad was a waste of my 25.00 dollars. i received 11 pieces of lettuce with 4 croutons for $3.00, ridiculous!!! Amelia's lasagna was dry, salty and a bitter taste of tomatoes throughout the dish. i will never eat at Amelia's again, now im made i actually left s tip!!!!!!!

Brandon G.

Yelp
Wanted to try this restaurant and it said they opened at 5pm. Showed up at 5:10pm and asked if they were opened. I only got an answer outside the restaurant from one of the servers who said "In a bit" with a snarky tone. Won't be back, as it seems the staff doesn't care about customers here. Sad because it did look nice.

Isabella N.

Yelp
(English) Classic Italian dishes that will leave your palate wanting more. Amelia's offers a variety of different dishes with a special touch. Sauces and pasta made from scratch, which makes this place so special. We ordered the Supreme di Pollo Inverno which was absolutely delicious, the lemon sauce, white wine and caper sauce was spot on! In addition, the Cheese Tortellini with creamy pesto sauce was delicious, the pesto was creamy but not too strong, which complemented greatly with the pasta dish. For dessert, we ordered the cheesecake duo that was sweet and delicious. Also, each dish comes with a Caesar Salad as an appetizer.  Not only do you feel in a different city as soon as you walk-in, but this place offers a cozy seating area inside and outside. Chef Andy greets you politely as soon as you finish your meal to make sure everything is up to his standards. I will definitely be back, the service, the atmosphere, and the food are amazing. Highly recommended.  (Español) Platos clásicos italianos que dejarán tu paladar deseando más. Amelia's ofrece una variedad de platos diferentes con un toque especial. Salsas y pastas hechas desde cero, lo que hace que este lugar sea tan especial. Pedimos el Supreme di Pollo Inverno que estaba absolutamente delicioso, la salsa de limón, vino blanco y alcaparras fue la combinación perfecta! Además, el queso Tortellini con salsa de pesto cremosa estaban delicioso, el pesto era cremoso pero no demasiado fuerte, lo que hacia que el plato se complementara con respeto a la pasta.  Para el postre, pedimos el dúo cheesecake que estaba dulce y delicioso. Además, cada plato viene con una ensalada César como aperitivo. No solo te sientes en una ciudad diferente tan pronto entras, sino que este lugar ofrece una acogedora sala de estar dentro y fuera. El chef Andy te saluda cortésmente tan pronto como terminas tu comida para asegurarte de que todo está a la altura de sus estándares. Sin duda volveré, el servicio, el ambiente y la comida son increíbles. Muy recomendable.

Patricia P.

Yelp
First time at Amelia's and I assure you we will return soon. Food: fabulous! Service: impeccable. Marie was our waitperson (and is also the pastry chef!) and she was just delightful.

Alex L.

Yelp
It took a while to receive any service after being seated. I'm used to Italian food and this wasn't good at all. The appearance was very unappealing. Our waiter had some mistakes with our order and when corrected started having an arrogant sense. The bathroom was disgusting. I've been here a few years ago and the service and food were excellent, must be new ownership.

Chip B.

Yelp
This restaurant has been one of our favorites for numerous years. Excellent food, excellent service, and a very cool atmosphere. Chef Andy never fails to deliver.

Christopher M.

Yelp
Went here for my birthday dinner and my fiancé and I found our place to celebrate birthdays & anniversaries. Everything we got tasted amazing and seemed extremely fresh as Italian food should be. We got bruschetta as an appetizer, I got the tortellini Alfredo and chocolate mousse cake for dessert. Chef Andy came out with our dessert and played Happy Birthday on his saxophone. It was an amazing, special touch that made the night very memorable.

Vickie S.

Yelp
I'm from out of town, Charlotte, NC, and was looking for a nice, reasonably priced, authentic restaurant to celebrate my Grandmother's 95th birthday. Amelia's fit the bill. Andy, the owner and Chef accommodated our reservation, even though, I admittedly dropped the ball by failing to call back and confirm reservation. He was really chill out about it. We had a party of 10 and were sat in the jazz room.The food was fresh and very authentic tasting. I was allowed to customize my vegetarian dish - Black and Blue Oyster Mushrooms with penne and spinach, scampi style. Absolutely delish. I ate it all and didn't feel weighed down, lol. And then he remembered that it was a special birthday and came out and played Happy Birthday on his sax. What a special touch. Thank you Andy. SN: Parking can be tricky. Dont park in numbered spots in funeral home. Hostess will tell you where to park for free if you call.

Gaby M.

Yelp
Yum!! What a perfect place to go if you are wanting the upscale feel! The food is fabulous and our waiter was the perfect amount of attentive. My boyfriend and I went for our two year anniversary and we were treated with free Prosecco to celebrate when we arrived! I had the daily special salmon and he had the lobster ravioli! We also got the calamari app! 10/10 recommend.