Amalfi's ~ Adelaide CBD
Some things NEVER change. Aren't we happy about that?
Late appointments in the city yesterday; traffic was the usual - aggressive and busy. Tinto dropped me off and went searching for a newspaper (a real, live newspaper!) - HA! - I love that he refuses to read the world or local news from his phone. See? Truly. Some things NEVER change...but, that is not what this is about.
12th of December, 2013 - the date I left Australia for 'Mighty Memphis, Tennessee'; 4 years IS a long time to be gone from your home.
After conducting business, Tinto met me and when we hopped back into the car, I smiled and said (knowingly) 'Where are we headed?' Tinto chuckled and said, 'Amalfi's'. I asked him if he made reservations. I got THE look...you know the one. I replied, 'We'll never get in.' I added to that, well I pointed out, that he had been sitting in the reception area for quite some time and that gave him ample opportunity to ring them. I got THE look AGAIN. Amalfi's was always overflowing with guests. That's the way it used to be and I can't understand why it would be any different now unless Hell froze over. We arrive; Tinto pulls over to the front door and I hopped out to see how we would score. PACKED. Loaded to the brim with 2 tables set and people already sitting outside; it is cool, but not terribly. There's that guy. The same guy that had just started working there in 2013 and he raises his finger - smiles - and says I'll be with you in a minute. My Gosh. He is grinning from ear to ear with an air of importance about him. Apparently, 'the guy' has worked his way up to management. There is not a chair or a table that is not filled with a body or bodies. I point outside. He says, 'Are you sure?' YES! I run to tell Tinto. By now, drivers are pissed off and honking at him and he's in a bit of trouble. When I share the news I could tell he really did not want to sit outside, but he was being kind. I dash back and 'the guy' had already set our outside table. What a STAR! At that moment an elderly couple leave Amalfi's. While they were leaving a very posh couple head to the front door: OH, NO. They are going to get the table that I know Tinto will want. Wait. The posh woman was young and unsure so...she stepped back and grabbed a menu from an outside table. YAHOOOOOOOO! Our guy quickly comes towards me as I'm getting up and heading to him and he says, 'You'd much rather be in, am I right?' Rightio. The young and upbeat couple did not have a clue what just happened behind their trendy backs.
THEY had to sit outside. I was shown to a sweet little table in a corner.
'The guy' even kept walking to the door keeping a look out for Tinto; he found my man and escorted him to our new table. HOW IS THAT FOR SERVICE? Didn't cost a dime and everything was taken care of perfectly.
Beautiful, blonde server with gorgeous hair in a braid and top unbuttoned (just enough) - (don't you hate that sometimes?) - bends over towards us and asks if she could get us a glass of wine. Well, she hears my Amercian/weird accent and proceeds to tell us that we couldn't go wrong with ANY glass from the Barossa Valley. She said it so perfectly, in THE BEST Australian accent, brimming smile, white, perfect teeth that she sounded as if she had just made a commercial. The Barossa would have been proud. And, Tinto and I could not help but love her. She was confident and happy in her work. I told her I could not see the specials' board. You know what she said? You won't believe this. She pointed out that IF I had ever read the specials' board in the past that is WAS THE VERY SAME THAT IS HAS BEEN FOR OVER 35 years WITH A HUGE GRIN ON HER FACE, LAUGHING! Well, I'll be damned. The only thing they change (besides the writing and the colour chalk they use)...is the monthly wine specials. I had/we had NO clue. Amalfi's specials' board is as large or larger than their actual menu!
GO. GO. GO. Tinto had been since I had, but returning to Amalfi's after a 4 year absence was like going home.
You will not get a table on Friday or Saturday without a booking. Thursdays are packed, too. You can get in (eventually) because the staff truly tries to accommodate everyone. Eating outside is divine in perfect weather. It's not on the main drag - it is in the CBD, but on a side street.
Amalfi's Ristorante - Est. 1981 - www.amalfipizzeria.com.au
Phone: 08 8223 1348
Fresh, yummy food, most importantly local food, outstanding wine list with great Australian varietals, lots of Italian wine, and others, too. Amalfi's is opened for lunch and dinner Mon - Fri - DINNER ONLY SATURDAY - and closed on Sunday.
Ring them before your next trip to the city. You'll run into someone you know, I promise. Everyone's laughing and having a great time while dining.
IT IS LOUD. You will hear glasses clinking and cutlery clanging, but in the end, you will have a delightful time and you will leave with your happy FACE.
Thank goodness some things NEVER CHANGE.
Late appointments in the city yesterday; traffic was the usual - aggressive and busy. Tinto dropped me off and went searching for a newspaper (a real, live newspaper!) - HA! - I love that he refuses to read the world or local news from his phone. See? Truly. Some things NEVER change...but, that is not what this is about.
12th of December, 2013 - the date I left Australia for 'Mighty Memphis, Tennessee'; 4 years IS a long time to be gone from your home.
After conducting business, Tinto met me and when we hopped back into the car, I smiled and said (knowingly) 'Where are we headed?' Tinto chuckled and said, 'Amalfi's'. I asked him if he made reservations. I got THE look...you know the one. I replied, 'We'll never get in.' I added to that, well I pointed out, that he had been sitting in the reception area for quite some time and that gave him ample opportunity to ring them. I got THE look AGAIN. Amalfi's was always overflowing with guests. That's the way it used to be and I can't understand why it would be any different now unless Hell froze over. We arrive; Tinto pulls over to the front door and I hopped out to see how we would score. PACKED. Loaded to the brim with 2 tables set and people already sitting outside; it is cool, but not terribly. There's that guy. The same guy that had just started working there in 2013 and he raises his finger - smiles - and says I'll be with you in a minute. My Gosh. He is grinning from ear to ear with an air of importance about him. Apparently, 'the guy' has worked his way up to management. There is not a chair or a table that is not filled with a body or bodies. I point outside. He says, 'Are you sure?' YES! I run to tell Tinto. By now, drivers are pissed off and honking at him and he's in a bit of trouble. When I share the news I could tell he really did not want to sit outside, but he was being kind. I dash back and 'the guy' had already set our outside table. What a STAR! At that moment an elderly couple leave Amalfi's. While they were leaving a very posh couple head to the front door: OH, NO. They are going to get the table that I know Tinto will want. Wait. The posh woman was young and unsure so...she stepped back and grabbed a menu from an outside table. YAHOOOOOOOO! Our guy quickly comes towards me as I'm getting up and heading to him and he says, 'You'd much rather be in, am I right?' Rightio. The young and upbeat couple did not have a clue what just happened behind their trendy backs.
THEY had to sit outside. I was shown to a sweet little table in a corner.
'The guy' even kept walking to the door keeping a look out for Tinto; he found my man and escorted him to our new table. HOW IS THAT FOR SERVICE? Didn't cost a dime and everything was taken care of perfectly.
Beautiful, blonde server with gorgeous hair in a braid and top unbuttoned (just enough) - (don't you hate that sometimes?) - bends over towards us and asks if she could get us a glass of wine. Well, she hears my Amercian/weird accent and proceeds to tell us that we couldn't go wrong with ANY glass from the Barossa Valley. She said it so perfectly, in THE BEST Australian accent, brimming smile, white, perfect teeth that she sounded as if she had just made a commercial. The Barossa would have been proud. And, Tinto and I could not help but love her. She was confident and happy in her work. I told her I could not see the specials' board. You know what she said? You won't believe this. She pointed out that IF I had ever read the specials' board in the past that is WAS THE VERY SAME THAT IS HAS BEEN FOR OVER 35 years WITH A HUGE GRIN ON HER FACE, LAUGHING! Well, I'll be damned. The only thing they change (besides the writing and the colour chalk they use)...is the monthly wine specials. I had/we had NO clue. Amalfi's specials' board is as large or larger than their actual menu!
GO. GO. GO. Tinto had been since I had, but returning to Amalfi's after a 4 year absence was like going home.
You will not get a table on Friday or Saturday without a booking. Thursdays are packed, too. You can get in (eventually) because the staff truly tries to accommodate everyone. Eating outside is divine in perfect weather. It's not on the main drag - it is in the CBD, but on a side street.
Amalfi's Ristorante - Est. 1981 - www.amalfipizzeria.com.au
Phone: 08 8223 1348
Fresh, yummy food, most importantly local food, outstanding wine list with great Australian varietals, lots of Italian wine, and others, too. Amalfi's is opened for lunch and dinner Mon - Fri - DINNER ONLY SATURDAY - and closed on Sunday.
Ring them before your next trip to the city. You'll run into someone you know, I promise. Everyone's laughing and having a great time while dining.
IT IS LOUD. You will hear glasses clinking and cutlery clanging, but in the end, you will have a delightful time and you will leave with your happy FACE.
Thank goodness some things NEVER CHANGE.
My relaxed Tinto...
LOOK! There is the ENORMOUS BOARD
filled with SPECIALS!
Chatter, chatter, chatter, clang, clang, clang!
Celebrating the simple pleasures in life.
Cheers~!
From Tinto & Blanco
From Tinto & Blanco
Awesome Amalfi's of Adelaide...
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