The Amalfi Llama - San Diego

I went there for a business event and we got the outdoor area for our large group. The temps were perfect and the space was nice and open. The seats were comfortable and the retractable walls made it nice so that we could talk to our other coworkers. The service was a little slow with the drinks in the beginning, but they caught up. The food was delicious and well presented. Paid parking was nice because it meant the spots that were close to the restaurant. I will have to bring my wife back for a happy hour .

Food was decent overall. The pizza had great flavor and a nice kick from the peppers, definitely a highlight. However, the steak arrived cold, which was disappointing for the price point and presentation. The lobster and lamb chops looked impressive but didn’t quite deliver the wow factor. Service could use some improvement. It took longer than expected to get basic attention from staff, and the pacing of the meal felt off. Atmosphere was stylish and upscale, with beautiful décor and energy, perfect for a night out. Just wish the service and execution matched the ambiance.

Came for Mother day dinner. They were busy at 5:45PM. Every mom was given a red rose. Nice gesture from the restaurant! Service was good. Food: ordered 1)Tomahawk cooked medium but came out medium rare and cold; 2)truffle tagliatelle - everyone loved this but felt there should be more truffle than 3 small pieces for the $58 price; 3)Maine lobster roll, short rib empanada, and focaccia are decent. Value is 3 star because the lack of truffle pieces on the pasta, $195 for the 32oz Tomahawk not cooked to the preferred temperature, bread was not free at a restaurant for this kind of pricing.

The place was open in March last year 2024, we started with the Grilled tomato and Burrata cheese and the bread which was excellent starter. I ordered lamb chops it was cooked perfectly with smoked taste. We also ordered Milamessi which was perfectly done. The kids got the spaghetti and they liked it as well. The food was awesome. The service was great. The owner offered the kids, free dessert and everyone was nice. The place is highly recommended. But I agree with previous reviews that said it’s overpriced. I didn’t order the traditional Italian dishes like pasta and pizza so I’m not quite sure. How do they taste but the orders that we went through were really good.

Beautiful restaurant. Great food. We came in for a nice lunch and enjoyed it completely. The salads were a little small and the prices a little high but I think that's normal for the area. The sandwiches were great and the drinks were very creative and delicious. Definitely would go back when in the area again.

I love going to UTC and have always seen this place at the mall and thought how funny the name is. So, for my birthday I went ahead and tried it. This is a more "high-end" restaurant, so pretty expensive. We got there pretty much when they opened at 11. I believe we were greeted by the manager and he sat us to our table. Right off the bat atmosphere is amazing. It's very beautiful inside and the lighting had a warm hue making it have a more welcoming approach. The manager(?) was very nice as well. Menu wasn't too big, but it had a lot of variety. Again, prices were not nearly as bad as I was expecting. Expensive for sure, but now how I thought. Our waiter was good too. Explained to us about the menu and checked up on us accordingly. I was debating on getting the pizza, which was 21 dollars or the half chicken which was 36 dollars. I ended up getting the half chicken. It was good! But I wouldn't get it again. The chicken was juicy and tender, and had a really great texture but the overall flavoring was just a little weird for lack of better words. Starts off tasting very good and savory and then it kind of turns into a sour taste. Just interesting. My mom got these shredded beef sliders, I don't remember their name but they were like Bánh mì sliders. And they were AMAZING. The whole time I was literally thinking that I should've gotten those. Again, the chicken was good but all I could think about was how much better the sliders were. They came with side fries which were also amazing and the sauce for dipping the sliders was just a cherry on top. Bill came out to roughly around 70 bucks for two people. I would recommend this place if you wanna go somewhere nice or if your in the area. Very nice place, food was good and I will be returning.

We dined at Amalfi Restaurant in UTC Mall last month (June), and it was a fantastic experience for our whole family. The atmosphere was warm and welcoming, making it a great spot even with our toddler in tow. The absolute standout of the evening was the rib eye steak--incredibly flavorful, perfectly cooked, and infused with a rich smoky taste that elevated every bite. It was tender, juicy, and had just the right amount of char to bring out that deep, savory flavor. Hands down one of the best steaks I've had in San Diego. Our toddler also had a great time and absolutely loved their cheese pizza--freshly made, cheesy, and just the right size for little hands. The staff was kind and accommodating, making sure we were comfortable throughout the meal. Whether you're looking for a date night or a relaxed family dinner, Amalfi really delivers. We'll definitely be coming back!

This was an experience I was hoping for… from the girls at the front to the beautiful and comfortable outdoor seating. I was so impressed. The wine the food and service was fantastic. I didn’t get a chance to review Danny R our server at the restaurant… so I will do it here. Impeccable. Thank you ::chef’s kiss:: I will be back!

I've always wanted to try this place but had stayed away from the prices and the appearance of tge portions. My wife booked a reservation without looking at either of those and Im glad she did! Ambiance is fancy yet comfortable, the modern yet coastal, felt like a vacation vibe. Service was amazing, the staff is well experienced and never felt like I "needed" something, it was always noticed before I had the chance to speak. FOOD: Cacio el pepe - extremely creamy, moderate peppery kick, pasta cooked a bit past al dente but fine with me. The portion is more of an appetizer portion, i dont think someone can be full on this only. 4/5 Calamari - this has been the best calamari ive had in san diego. Its extremely tender, light yet satisfying crunch, the fried peppers with the sauces elevates this simple dish into a 5/5. Lamb chops - simple seasoning, complex flavors. the flame cooked lamb chops were amazing. The chef frenched these chops perfectly, clean bones and just the perfect amount of fat left one. Cook was perfect and portions reasonanle! 5/5 Ribeye - it looks small in the pic but thats because they cut it in huge slices! Its around 1.25 inches thick, the flame cooking gave it an amazing crispy sear. I was doubtful of the fire cooking style that was marketed but i realized there is a difference! Oscar style was done right, Personally i dont think its worth the addition, steak is amazing on its own. 5/5 Potato puree - staple go to. Done well, one side is enough to share with 2 people. 5/5 Flame cooked cheesecake - its not too sweet, an egg custard like taste. Savory, slight sweetness and a tart kick from the fruits. We had some coffees and vailla ice cream with this and it was the perfect end. Only -1 star is the price. I think if it was 20-25% lower, itd be a restaurant i'd frequent more often. Otherwise it'd only be for very special occasions.

Came here for my birthday dinner with the husband and acouple of friends. Very nice place inside and the service by Sergio was wonderful. We started out with a Positano pizza for our appetizer and then ordered our entrees. We ordered the Lobster Arrabbiata, Milamessi, New York Strip, and the Baked Tagliolini. Can't forget a bottle of wine and a few cocktails. Everything was fairly well made. Wish the Lobster Arrabbiata had more pasta but you do get a good amount of lobster meat. The Positano was one our favorites, especially with the hot honey. Milamessi was similar to a snizcthel and came in a big portion. The other didn't really care for the New York Strip but I found it tasted simple but just not worth the price. Baked Taglioni had a very similar taste to Cheez its! It's worth trying out if you're in the area and feel like splurging for a fancy dinner but honestly, not a place I'd go to often.

I have been wanting to check this place out, it's located inside of utc and looks super cute and nice. Came here with group for birthday celebration and the restaurant is very clean and nice. The server was very nice in the beginning but after he took our order... he kinda disappeared and never really came back to check up on us?! lol ok??! Food was really tasty but portions were veeyyy small. Maybe the rent is high inside of utc so they have to make up by charging us super high with tiny amount of food?!!! Good thing there are boba and ice creams nearby... Food was good but I think its way overpriced.

Had a great experience here on Valentine's Day. We ate off of the Prix Fixe menu they were offering and everything was delicious. We shared the short rib empanadas and hamachi crudo for starters. Both were perfectly sized for starter dishes and set up the rest of the meal nicely. We also enjoyed the salads that came next. The highlights of the evening were the mains, and they didn't disappoint. My wife loved her branzino and my ribeye was one of the better ones I've had. Tasted really good. Finished off the meal with tiramisu and cheesecake with blueberry compote and both were delicious. Service was on point the whole night and all of the staff were courteous and helpful. Looking forward to our next visit.

We were shopping at UTC and of course spent more time at the mall than intended. So hunger strikes. In comes Amalfi Llama. Such a beauty from the outset. Love the decor and dim setting inside with the center trees. The service was attentive. George helped us and he was excellent. Great recommendations and hospitality to me, my husband and our 2 young kids. We had the kids cheese pizza, butter pasta, filet, and a hot honey pizza. The pasta was perfect with only 3 ingredients: butter, cheese, and pasta made in house. Pizza was a hit with my daughter and husband. The steak is cooked over wood fire oh my! We could taste the char. Since our food came out longer than anticipated, George gladly treated us to a complementary chocolate cake was so decadent and gone in 60 seconds. We will definitely be coming back after dry January as we saw great cocktails on the menu.

I was blown away by the baked carbonara. We've never had anything like it! The dish is topped with a nice, cheesy, toasted crust, waiting for you to dive into the pasta underneath. So yummy. The margherita pizza was also *chefs kiss.* I highly recommend both! The main downside was service. It took about 10-15 minutes for someone to give us menus and water. It wasn't busy either when we dined (this was late November), so the slower service was a bit of a disappointment. However, my tune changed once the food arrived. Greg (or was it "George"? Oopsies lol) was our server and the manager also came to our table to help. Ambience is casual but classy. Outdoor has a nice, green, and lush patio, perfect for posh pics. We look forward to coming back but hope their customer service experience improves!

Transparency and a way to contact the restaurant via website would have probably made this rating higher, as I would have preferred to reach directly to the restaurant to express my concerns than have to post my experience over Yelp. Rewind it back to when they opened, since spring of 2024, I was going frequently and highly recommending to others since the food, drinks and service have been superb. I would have considered this restaurant fine dining. However, we decided to try something new and do their prefix ($95/pp) dining for Valentine's Day 2025. All the offerings in prefix are things we would have enjoyed to eat. Prefix was also PREPAID to make the reservation. Waiter explained the prefix dining and noted how the flow would be so seamless because he's taking our order for 4 courses up front. GREAT! We love not sitting around waiting for our food. We placed our order, but then learned that The Woodland Place (Smoky Old Fashioned) was no longer available. Bummer. Didn't know they stopped serving it especially since it's still on their online menu but settled for the regular OF. As we're waiting, before I set the white napkins in my lap I request for black dinner napkins since my dress was black. IYKYK. They didn't offer black dinner napkins (at least to the person I asked, they only had black paper napkins). In my brain, I'm like wait the Cheesecake Factory offers black linen when requested. I thought Amalfi Llama would be on par or above this. As appetizers arrive the Hamachi Crudo was tasty, but the short rib empanadas were dry, hard and flavorless even with the chimichurri sauce. Went to order second round of drinks to try the Purple Orchid, but then learned one of the ingredients to the drink was sold out. Ugh. Ok. Settle for a glass of wine. As we're trying to eat our appetizers the wait staff are quickly trying to clear off the table while we were still mid eating our appetizers. AWKWARD. Even when we said we were still eating they were still trying to grab or take away things. Our first and second course came out quickly within about 5 minutes of each other. Now here comes the slower service. Our beer order and main course comes out 20 minutes after 2nd course/order and my center cut filet is dry and medium well (I ordered med rare) and the cut of meat for the prime rib eye was more in the choice category than prime. The broccolini and potato purée were prob the highlight of the main course. Our plates were quickly taken away and waited another 15 min for our dessert that looked haphazardly plated. We take a few bites because at this point we're over it and just want to go home. We get the check on the handheld POS and I reminded my husband that I PREPAID our prefix and we should only be paying the difference of our add ons + our 20% tip for the TOTAL tab (prefix and add ons). NO WHERE on the prefix menu on Open Tab (can't recall the paper menu) saying it would AUTOMATICALLY charge 20% tip to our meal. So not only did we get charged 20% for our meal but here I am trying to be a good patron and pay the tip on our prefix service to learn that we ended up paying a 35%+ tip on a $400 tab. I think 20% was generous enough considering we were rushed to eat but also rushing to slow down later in our meal. This could have all been an email directly to TAL management but their online contact link is broken. I'm sad to say this one experience erased all of the previous great experiences we had in 2024 and likely won't be returning.

This place is beyond exceptional. Incredible atmosphere, tasty appys and a stacked entree menu. Happy hour is from 3pm - 6pm and 9pm till close. The happy hour menu has a ton of food and drink options, as well mocktail options. You can't miss. I was greeted at the front by warm hosts and sat at the bar. My bar tenders were Megan, Nick and June who went well above board to welcome me and dial me in with some incredible cocktails . Thank you Megan, Nick and June, you are both rockstars. This is a full bar and it's loaded to the gills with your favorite spirits. Mezcal, Ochoa tequila, Hennessy, Louis XIII, the list goes on and on. Everything is priced so well and the portions are on point. Dino, Luciana, Hector were also so hospitable and made sure I was taken care of. Unbelievable customer service. Thank you Dino for the delicious short rib empanadas, my god they were tasty. I am now a regular. This place is a hidden gem and if I could give it more than 5 stars I would. Come support this place, enjoy with your friends and family. I'll be back. Thank you Alamfi Llama. 10/10 What a gem . Epic!!!

Imagine my surprise to find the best tasting steak in San Diego at Amalfi Llama! No really, I'd rank this as my number 1 and I've tried a lot of different steakhouses. The staff were friendly and attentive, the food was delicious...what more can you ask for? We made a reservation for an early dinner at 5PM. I was surprised that it was as empty as it was at 5PM because they have happy hour from 3PM-6PM everyday. It's not the cheapest happy hour in SD but it's great way to try some of their food if you're on a budget. Unfortunately, we couldn't enjoy happy hour because it's only served at the bar or the outside patio tables. As the night went on, the place filled up so make sure you make reservations. Our server explained the entire menu and we learned that their specialty is a Patagonia-Italian fusion, where the wood fires are with white oak and cedar wood. I don't think I've had anything like this before so I was very excited to try everything. We ordered a lot to share and our server recommended bringing our meals out in courses. Hamachi Crudo: This came highly recommended by our server. It comes with 5 pieces and at a fairly steep price. The pictures looked like decently sized pieces but I thought ours came out a lot smaller than expected. It's a little salty and despite the portion size, I thought it tasted pretty good with the yuzu sauce. Calamari: Comes with tartar and a chipotle aioli. Crispy and tender meat. Can't go wrong with this to share with the table! Caesar Salad: Our obligatory salad at a steakhouse but the portion size is kind of small for the price. It was a good salad though, just wish it were a little cheaper or they gave more. Prime Ribeye: The star of the show! You could smell the smokey flavor coming off of the steak and it had this beautiful sear with charred edges. If you're averse to salt, this steak might be a bit too salty for you but I thought it was so good. The ribeye was also very good quality and had the right amount of fat to meat ratio. It was so tasty that I didn't even need to use the chimichurri sauce! Sides: We ordered two to share...the Roasted Vegetables and Oregano Parmesan Fries. The fries were good but very small portion. The vegetables had bell peppers, onions, brussels, and zucchini. I feel like the mix would change depending on the fresh produce and seasonality. I actually really liked these vegetables because they had this smokey but slightly sweet flavor. Truffle and Mushrooms Pizza: You can add truffle flakes for an additional cost, which is what we did. This is a thin pizza and the mushroom flavors are not subtle but that's the whole point. The truffle flavors were a nice complement to the ribeye steaks and really elevated our meal even more. Baked Carbonara: This either takes a long time or they forgot to put the order in because it was the last thing out. It's got this amazing crust covering everything and it's really cheesy and creamy. I think it could've used some more flavor and between everything else we ordered, this was something I could've done without. Despite the portion size issues, the taste and flavors made the experience wonderful. I highly recommend dining in and giving their steaks a try and at least you can avoid several of the items that aren't portioned well. Can't wait to comeback!

This was our first visit. The patio is beautiful, the food is amazing, great wine list. Will definitely be back!

I was invited to 2 foodie events at The Amalfi Llama (late April 2024 for their grand opening and in early November 2024 for their Happy Hour menu). They are located in the UTC Mall (La Jolla, San Diego). According to their website, their story is "Patagonia Meets Amalfi Coast". Their focus is cocktails and being a steakhouse with Mediterranean & Italian influences. The story is as follows on their website - "The Amalfi Llama has set out to merge the rustic live-fire cooking of Patagonia with the fresh traditional flavors of Italy, where genuine cooking, down-to-earth cuisine and scorching embers intertwine. The Amalfi Llama kitchen revolves around an open parrilla grill and wood-burning oven, harnessing fire, smoke, and coals to craft delicate and sophisticated dishes. We want to bring you the love and warmth of both the southern Andes and Italian dining room while you sit back and sip handcrafted cocktails or discover your new favorite wine." I recently went on a Wednesday night with my roommate for dinner. My roommate really liked their pizza (which he stole my leftovers and ate them). In any case, for this visit, we tried the following: - Pizza (Prosciutto & Arugula) - Short Rib Empanada (Chimichurri) - Bone in Center Cut Steak (Wagyu) - Medium Rare - Grilled Branzino - Side Asparagus - Side Oregano-Parmesan Fries For cocktails, we tried: - Purple Orchid - Corazon Butterfly Pea Tea infused tequila, Mal Bien Mezcal, lavender, italicus rosoliodi bergamotto - Aperol Spritz - My Go To Fave! - Hugo Spritz - made with Elderflower Liquer (suggested by our waiter after I ordered Aperol Spritz) For dessert, we tried: - Taylor Fladgate Tawny Port (30 year) - I was so excited that this place has 30 YEAR PORT! I usually only see 10 year or 20 year on menus. Goodness, the 30 year was SO SMOOTH! All in All? Perfect Dinner! I'm glad I was introduced to The Amalfi Llama via foodie events. The food is perfectly cooked, perfectly presented, great service, with perfect atmosphere (classy). Our waiter's name is "Eugen" - professional, attentive, knowledgeable! The Amalfi Llama at UTC Mall is 100% worth the place to go. Definitely worth the money! Go for Happy Hour Menu (3 to 6pm) & (9pm to close) at the bar or go for dinner to celebrate a special occasion (outside patio dining and indoor dining). Also, their original location is in Miami, FL. ENJOY!!

Pizza, Steak, and Pasta? I'm in! Italy meets Argentinia in this delightful gem of a concept that even has a sister resto in sunny Miami. Claiming Amalfi Coastal fare and Patagonia cooking, you walk into a golden yet subdued ambiance that just sucks you right in with your first step. We came in for dinner on a Saturday night and got seated early in the posh bar area, which was very nicely done with cozy seating in the corner. Server was decent but seemed to be a bit spread thin over a few tables, forgetting my request for chimichurri sauce. But was it worth it? Heck yes! Let's dive into the courses: Chicken. Wood-grilled. While we couldn't detect the wood they were using, this was, by far, the star of the show. Meat was tender and juicy enough while the skin was just a touch crispy where needed for some texture play. But the brown sauce had just the right savory salty combo that just made this dish. Combined with the perfectly salted chimichurri (normally not a fan, so this won me over), and this is a winner chicken dinner. And the extra carb from the crispy thin potatoes just elevates this to gold medal status. You can judge a restaurant by the chicken they serve; and because of this nearly perfect execution, we will come back. Recommend with enthusiasm. Prime Ribeye. A fantastic cut. However, sorely lacking in the expected flavor. While I'm not familiar with Patagonian fare, I have been to many a damn good steakhouse. Pete Luger's, Cut, Hy's Hawaii, Fogo, etc. Steak needs salt, and this needed it in much greater quantities. A delicious, fatty cut like this has great potential, but without salt, it might as well be dead. This was supposedly wood grilled, but I have had great wood grilled steak (the kiawe at Hy's comes to mind), and whatever they were trying to impart in flavor got lost in translation here: no hint of it on my palate. Sadly, can only recommend if you can convince the kitchen to add extra salt before grilling. Positano pizza. Finocchiona salumi and soppeesseta cheese. And hot honey. I know that this is some trendy thing with the honey, but it's not for us. Our tastebuds were immediately fighting our brains, resulting in a cognitive dissonance that registered poorly. While the super thin and crispy dough made me realize the potential of eating pizza here that doesn't taste like it's candy, I cannot recommend this particular item. However, I am sure I can recommend the other pizzas without even trying them. We'll get the margherita next and try to add some salumi for the next visit. Chocolate gelato with raspberry sauce. Wow. So good. The chocolate is a nice rich flavor and pairs well with this berry sauce. Many times, you will order such a berry sauce and be destroyed by its sourness because some idiot failed to add enough sugar and taste test it. But this was a rock solid food combo. Definite recommend. Overall, a great experience with awesome potential for repeat business. Assistant manager and server were both very nice. I can tell they put some effort into this concept, and I just love the idea that I can get a steak and pizza at the same place. Will try the pasta next round. Cheers!

Everything from start to finish was great. The host sat us down right away. I love the aesthetic of the restaurant and the food was amazing. I loved all of it!

We went as a large group to celebrate our friend's birthday. The ambiance was nice and the servers were attentive. The food menu wasn't very extensive, and the meat prices were quite expensive compared to other steak restaurants. The margarita pizza wasn't very crispy and was a bit greasy. Since the restaurant was very busy, the pizza wasn't served hot. I didn't really like the tiramisu, it tasted like an ordinary cake. The cocktail was good.

Looking to grab a bite after shopping? Then you've find your place. The Amalfi Llama is an extensive Italian menu and offers seatings for all sizes. It seems to be a popular place for work happy hours, so if you're looking for a quiet environment, then plan accordingly. I visited during restaurant week, but decided to keep it simple and order off their main menu. I started off by ordering their Sauvignon Blanc, which they kept generously topping off since my food was a tad delayed. Don't be shy, order their bread! The focaccia was so good and is perfect for dipping in pasta sauce. For my main entree I enjoyed the Cacio e Pepe. If I wasn't in public then I would've licked my bowl...

We stopped in for dinner after running some errands at the mall. The ambience and decor of the restaurant is very nice and feels upscale. The service was fantastic. For me, the food was only okay especially considering the price (14$ for a smallish plate of focaccia?! And 21$ for a small beet salad?!). Everything tasted good, particularly the focaccia. Pizza was just okay. Would only recommend coming here for special occasions since the price is so high, but I would rather go elsewhere (not in the mall) if I'm going to spend that much.

Wow! Let me first start off by saying John was an incredible server. Personable, attentive, knowledgeable of the menu, and really friendly. I told him I felt like I was being served by Tyra Banks' cousin lol and his response was so kind. We had no expectations dining here and I walked away feeling satisfied. The focaccia bread was perfect with lots of flavor and was served with olive oil, balsamic vinaigrette, and John cut up fresh rosemary right on top. The puccia bread was interesting and came with a whipped eggplant that honestly tasted and looked like hummus and was really good. The calamari was good and came with two sauces. Oysters were fresh and shucked well. The crab cakes were good and a decent size. The hamachi crude was refreshing and had a nice flavor, but only comes with 4 pieces. The grilled asparagus was okay and nothing special. The tomahawk and NY strip were both good. We requested medium rare on the tomahawk and unfortunately, it was more rare so I ended up eating the NY strip instead since it was the perfect medium rare and seasoning. They also came with 1 shishito pepper each on top but I wish they had a shishito pepper appetizer on the menu. I forgot what cocktail I had because it was something listed on the menu as nonalcoholic and I added tequila, but it was delicious. Over $800 for 4 people before tip and it was worth it!

Came here for a double date with some friends and had a fantastic time. Staff was great and the decor was nice. Food was fantastic! Ribeye was cooked perfectly and had a ton of flavor. All of the appetizers were great and drinks were good as well. Highly recommend a try!

I went here with some friends to check it out when they first opened, back in April. We had reservations and were seated out in the patio. We started with a couple of spirit free cocktails- the pineapple sour and mojito! Both drinks were pretty and refreshing. Then we shared some calamari, beef carpaccio, yellowtail, pasta, and steak! We thought that everything was okay. The steak had no flavor, so that was the most disappointing dish. I heard great things about this restaurant, so maybe it was an off night. I wouldn't mind trying their pizzas and other menu items next time!

**NOT FOR SPECIAL NEEDS** Not sure how many stars to rate. I called ahead to ask if they're able to accommodate special needs kids, more specifically with ASD whom are prone to be picky eaters so we'd be bringing their food to eat at the restaurant. Was told, "No" due to health reasons. I get it... Just want to let all families know in case you're in the same boat.

WOW! This place was such a gem. The decor was modern and immaculate. My bf and I decided to check out this place for restaurant week and so glad we did. There's both indoor seating and outdoor seating with fire pits which made it feel so cozy. We ordered 2 different drinks, 2 apps, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts to share so we can try a variety of items. My lychee martini was perfect, on the stronger side and not sweet which I liked. My bf also really enjoyed his expresso martini. Tuna tartar was good but the crackers it came with was meh, perhaps try changing it to taro chips or something. The calamari was perfectly fried and we appreciated the light batter. I got the center cut filet and my bf upgraded to the ribeye. Both were cooked to a perfect medium rare as requested. The staff stayed and asked us to cut it when the steaks arrived to ensure it was cooked properly. Onto desserts, I wasn't a huge fan of the chocolate sin cake but the cheesecake was delicious !! The only pet peeve was probably how they arranged reservations. We were only able to reserve a table for 2 on a high top table. It was a bit uncomfortable but unfortunately there were no regular tables left at the time of booking. However when we were at the restaurant, we saw many regular height tables available that seats 4-6 people. They were pretty much unoccupied until we were leaving. Wished that they had more regular height tables available for parties of 2.

My husband and I had dinner here last night to celebrate our Anniversary. We've gone to high end restaurants and apparently this place fall short on our expectations. Cocktails: The Woodland ( 4 ) my husband ordered this and he liked it. Presentation is awesome. Amount of alcohol is solid. Purple Orchid- (4 ) I liked it although it game me a headache after 2 hours of consumption. Food: Hamachi Crudo- 4 very light and flavorful. And very expensive for 5 tiny pcs. Calamari- 5 This is by far the BEST Calamari I have eaten in my life. Cooked perfectly! Lightly seasoned , soft and slightly crunchy. HIGHLY recommended! You have got to get this. Rib eye - ( 4 ) great size. Season well and cooked perfectly. Truffle Tagliatelle- 3 I think it's overpriced. I got 6 pcs of truffle over the noodles. And it's bathed in truffle oil. Side of roasted veggies- 2 some of the veggies are uncooked. Lack of seasoning. Burnt cheesecake- 2 it's not smooth at all. It tasted like a homemade cheesecake that anyone can do. Berry compote is alright. Service- 4 Our server is attentive and gave us recommendations which we considered. Ambiance- 3 noisy and the music is too loud. I feel like I am shouting at my husband the whole time. It's difficult to have a conversation because the music is on blast. Sadly we won't return. If we want to enjoy a pricey restaurant but good food, we'll rather go to Juniper and Ivy.

Here visiting from Los Angeles and we stayed at a hotel nearby. We wanted something in walking distance and set off on a quest to find dining. While walking we passed by this establishment and were greeted by the assistant manager outside. He told us all about the restaurant and gave us a complimentary coupon for dessert. So here we are. The vibe is amazing and lively. It was packed but we were seated immediately. We were greeted by Cesar and he took our orders for appetizers and drinks. We ordered the short rib empanadas and the calamari to get started. For our entrees I ordered the lobster pasta and my husband ordered the Panko Milamessi. We also enjoyed the complimentary dessert.Everything was delicious and Cesar was quite helpful.

Came here for a work dinner and it was so good! Very pricey but the service, food, and ambiance make the experience a little more worth. I got the center cut filet with chimichurri sauce (SOO GOOD) and it filled me up a good amount even though it looked tiny. My co-workers ordered some sides of the mashed potatoes and lobster mac and cheese which were very solid. The cheesecake after the was probably my favorite, especially with the raspberry sauce it came with. Even with our party of 10, the servers were attentive and checked in often. The seating outside is very nice as well, with strong heaters. I would definitely come back- maybe if it was for a date LOL.

I think we ordered wrong, so I'd give this place another try. We had the hot honey pizza and a salad. The pizza was HOT as it had peppercinis or peppers of some kind on top of the hot honey. My husband got insane heartburn from it. I thought it tasted good, despite the heat. The salad was good, but didn't blow my mind. Like I said, maybe we ordered wrong because other people rave about this place. Service was fast, and we were seated by a fireplace on a cold night which was nice. I'd give it another chance.

This was an experience I was hoping for... from the girls at the front to the beautiful and comfortable outdoor seating. I was so impressed. The wine the food and service was fantastic. I didn't get a chance to review Danny R our server at the restaurant... so I will do it here. Thank you ::chef's kiss:: I will be back!

This is a great find in San Diego. Amazing food amazing service and really good environment. The service was exceptional, and the staff were extremely attentive and helpful in many selection and overall demeanor. Yes, expensive, but the portions are very large. If you don't want to eat the whole rack of lamb, which by the way is superb then share it. For some reason, the restaurant is exceptionally noisy, especially when full which it invariably is. Wonder if they could do something to buffer the noise a bit. Otherwise a great place.

Our server, Brian, was great! attentive without being overbearing. There wasn't a bite I didn't love. The extra dirty martini was the perfect amount of dirty. Ribeye well seasoned, good char, and medium rare with a nice truffle mash. My favorite was definitely the roasted burrata. Even the bread paired with it was sensational. Don't miss out on the happy hour. Prices are phenomenal and some apps half off. And since the food gives you an extra pep in your step, you can power shop knowing you can try on clothes with a little extra room for the long haul wear

We went to the Amalfi Llama for restaurant week and loved it!! It was a great deal at $60 for a starter, entree and dessert. We just got home and I'm already looking forward to the next time I can go back! The staff was so nice to us. They even brought out a fancy water bowl for our dog. The restaurant is decorated very nicely and the outdoor patio is so clean. Often times when we bring our dog to a restaurant she's covered in dirt afterwards but she was spotless after this meal. They must do a great job sweeping the patio. I got the Caesar salad to start and it was great. The dressing was perfect. I got the branzino as an entree and it was very light and tasty. I got the cheesecake for dessert, which wasn't my favorite. The waiter described it as a classic NY cheesecake but it was pretty fluffy and reminded me more of a basque or Japanese cheesecake. My husband got the empanadas to start. I tried them and they were amazing! This chimichurri was very nice too! He got the filet for an entree and it was cooked perfectly. For dessert he got the chocolate sin cake. We were both so stuffed that we boxed up most of our dessert. I'm looking forward to trying their happy hour at a future visit!

Came back since they dropped their prices on their happy hour menu, which is greatly appreciated and shows that they're trying to reach a broader audience. Too bad that can't even execute calamari well. It was under fraud so it didn't hold on to the oil and seeped all over the plate. It was plated without an app and underneath which I understand the restaurant does not want to do because it doesn't scream high-end food. It was quite unappetizing. In 2024 this would be quite a nice deal had it been prepared correctly. Fried food is very simple stuff - fry it to the right level of doneness and make sure it is in greasy on the plate.

Best happy hour in all of UTC ! Great food, great service and just a fun place to be for happy hour !!! With friends!

I have to say this place is amazing. It is pricey for italian but all of it was well worth it. The quality of the food. The level of service. Jesse was an amazing waiter!. He was well spoken and knew the menu well. He made very good recommendations. Made a good choice when me and my friend asked him to suprise us with a red wine. Place is very clean and well maintained. Clean. I will definitely come back.

I would always pass by this place and it looked so cute! I heard it opened not too long ago and I was excited to try it. Very open and I loved the atmosphere, very Mediterranean. Loved the open fire in the back as well which added to the ambience. The food is on the nicer side, and as we went for lunch we went for the pizzas. The mushroom truffle was delicious and rich. And we had the Margherita, recommended and classic. Attentive service and the manager walking around was very friendly.

I've been here about 2 or 3 times, and I what stands out is their consistently good service, friendly front of the house hostesses, and delicious food. I think the interior and restrooms are pretty, and it helps they are relatively new. I think some seats are better than others especially the comfy half moon booths. I recommend any of their pastas, calamari appetizer, fresh oysters, and salads. It is a mix of casual and slightly more upscale. Great happy hour choices to try a few different things. This isn't a huge portion type of place and the prices are just slightly steeper than what you might expect from a mall restaurant. I think the patio is dog friendly, and yet still gives a fun chic energy. It feels like you stepped into a vacation portal right in San Diego, and I think the feeling of getting away and indulging but not having to get on a plane, is what I like most about this place.

The Amalfi Llama has a delightful modern farmhouse interior design. There were elegant high end finishes throughout giving the restaurant a sophisticated feel. The menu is a fusion of Italian and Patagonian cuisine. Pastas and wood fired pizzas form the foundation of the Italian menu section. The steaks and meats section are all prepared Patagonian style on an open flame grill. I ordered the Pizzelle espresso martini ($18) which had a lovely presentation, complete with a coffee bean garnish. The cocktail was just the right balance of sweetness, coffee, and liquor. We ordered a calamari appetizer ($19) for the table and it did not disappoint. The fried squid was crispy and savory and the fried octopus were crispy on the outside and has a nice subtle chew on the inside. For my main, I ordered the Lobster Arrabiata ($48) which is a spicy tomato spaghetti dish. I was pleased at the quantity and quality of lobster in my dish. The sauce was rich, and I enjoyed the fresh cherry tomatoes. Service was very friendly and attentive. Our waiter Sergio explained the menu in great detail and offered recommendations for each section of the menu. The Amalfi Llama is located on the less busy side of UTC. I recommend entering the parking lot from Town Centre Drive. The ambiance, service, and food were all top notch culminating in a 5 star experience. Looking forward to coming back to try the steaks!

I tried their special offering Menu mini empanadas and chicken sandwich. It was a fantastic combination and plentiful food. Service was good and check-ins were in great intervals giving you space while enjoying your food. The restaurant's decor was very nice and chic.

loved the ambiance here, it was so pretty and nice!! staff was very friendly as well. food was delicious and we all enjoyed our meal :)

I attended a work holiday party here and really enjoyed this venue. It's VERY big but still has a cozy, pretty feeling. The toast points and empanadas were to die for! I def want to go back for a personal experience :)

I picked up a lobster roll to go and was so excited to try it - I used to live in Boston and loved a cold lobster roll. This was so drenched in mayo that you could barely see the lobster. For $40 dollars, this was super disappointing. Maybe it would be better if I was eating in rather than taking out.

We came to try their happy hour. It runs from 3-6 and 9-close. Full size portions at half price. Service was attentive and relaxed. George our waiter was fantastic . The ambiance is warm and pretty Would recommend:l.

As always the food is delicious. I'll start with the cheese cake for desert. A must. The pizza with prosciutto, arugula, and goat cheese it melts in your mouth. The Greek salad with anchovies was very tasty. We had a bottle of wine that was. Service was top notch and the ambience is classy and modern.

Ribeye steak was very cold when served and was also chewy. Asked server to heat it up but even after that it was still cold. Pasta was okay but the steak was so disappointing that ruined our night. That's the worst a restaurant can do to you... To ruin your night.

From the second I walked in, the staff is nothing but friendly. I sat at the bar and enjoyed their happy hour oysters, charcuterie board, puccia, and tuna tartare. Everything tasted great and was plated beautifully. Shoutout to bartenders Nick and Camilla for being so helpful and attentive! Plus, I'm absolutely OBSESSED with the decor here.

The name of the restaurant is unique, of course, and I understand the restaurant group has other restaurants in Mexico, as well as Miami, Florida. I like the way The Amalfi Llama is located on the "quiet side" of University Towne Center, which makes for easier parking without all of the frenzy. There was a moment of confusion when I arrived and the hostess thought I had requested the patio, which I did not. Nonetheless, I found a table in the dining room which was comfortable. Rodrigo was my assigned waiter, and he was kind and efficient. Sommelier Matt poured the Spanish Vina Arana wine. There are special wine glasses available, but they are on request only. Rodrigo gave me a personalized little tour of the restaurant when I had concluded my meal, and I also chatted with friendly and welcoming Luciana.

I celebrated my friend's birthday here at The Amalfi Llama and she decided on this spot for lively atmosphere and menu options of Italian cuisine. It is located on the other end of UTC where Corner Bakery Cafe, which means more open parking! I loved the interior of the restaurant and the greenery near the tables! The vibe is loud though so I would not recommend for big groups because you will not be able to hear anyone except the person besides you. The downfall was unfortunately the food, as our Lobster Mac and Cheese was not in fact cheesy and tasted quite fishy. I wasn't a fan of the choice of elbow macaroni and the lobster pieces were plentiful but were just dry. I had a bite of my friends filet that she did not finish because it was quite salty. It was tough to cut but extremely rare on the inside. I will say the pizzas are great, just nothing spectacular. The calamari were a favorite at the table, but I thought they were soggy throughout. Service from our waiters were friendly and kind! Wait time for the food was longer than expected. Upon tasting what we ordered, we were disappointed but too hungry wait longer for any adjustments. I think the menu could use a change of items and provide more specials to make their story more unique.

Park near Crate & Barrel, which has plenty of spaces and you can see the restaurant right in front of you on the corner--easily visible. Beautiful restaurant--lovely decor with indoor and outdoor seating. Service was great. Unusual to have a steakhouse and Italian food (pizza and pasta) but cool concept. I went against my normal routine where I would a meat appetizer and ordered the wood fired burrata with tomatoes along with toasted bread. We enjoyed it a lot. I had the short rib sandwich. It had a good flavor but I did not care for the texture--it was too mushy; seemed to have consistency of tuna; I prefer my meat to be shredded or have chunks. The bread was fresh; the crust was nice and crunchy, and the bread was toasted/grilled. Fries were good, crispy and fresh. Got some chocolate gelato for my birthday that was rich and tasty.

Near perfection is the key here. AL opened only a few months ago and I have to say Molly and here crew have 99.9% of a fantastic service dialed in. Were we greeted with energy and the restaurant was abuzz with happy people. We were seated within two minutes of arrival (we had a reservation) and Rama (pronounced Hama) was there almost instantly with a smile amd warm greeting. He gave us the run down on the menu and he knew the information spot on. I had the 1/2 chicken and my dining partner had the spaghetti and half dozen oysters. We also ordered the fresh baked focaccia and - wow.... Every flavor was perfection. The Al dente pasta was perfectly seasoned. My chicken was juicy and filled with flavor. We had drinks after at another local spot but had to come back for a nightcap and the bartenders didn't disappoint. Great drinks, a DJ and stil at 10:30pm a full house of happy diners. We had the tiramisu for dessert and it was a top three tiramisu we have had. I was in the restaurant business for years and Amalfi Llama does it well, and it more than worth your time and money to go. A must go place of ever there was one.

The food was actually decent but the service was terrible. We came in with a reservation for a party of 10 and requested to sit inside.. we were seated outside anyways. Not a big deal, it was kind of cute out. We were greeted by our server who then disappeared for 20 min without bringing us water or offering anything to drink. He finally reappeared with waters, then took our orders and drinks came out shortly. After that, we didn't see him or another server again for 40+ minutes while we waited for our food. In this time, we had several empty water glasses and a few empty wine glasses that no one stopped to refill or ask if we wanted another. We tried to flag someone down on multiple occasions to no avail. Several servers looked right at us as we tried to grab someone's attention and still walked past us. 1 hr and 15 min into dinner at this point and the food finally arrives. Several people ordered the pizzas so we asked for some crushed red pepper. 10 min later, nothing. Ask another server. Still nothing. Magically, it's time for the check and the server reappears and is prompt to bring out the credit card machine. Truly a disappointing dining experience. I might've called it an off night for our one server but the fact that the entire wait staff seemed to ignore us all night was absurd.

I don't even know where to begin. The bartenders are incredible and made some tasty beverages before our meal. We got sat with John and we can say enough good things about him! He was so friendly, so helpful, and all around a pleasure. He wanted to do everything in his power to make sure our experience was amazing. The flavors from all of the dishes were immaculate and tickled the taste buds! And the tiramisu at the end of the meal was creamy, fluffy perfection! Can't wait to go back!