This is more like a 3.5 star rating. Ambience and service - 5; food and price - 3. But this is a restaurant, when everything else is better than the food, I think I'm allowed to be a little disappointed, right? We went on a Monday night and there weren't many people. The corner seat we were led to gave our dining experience a touch of intimacy. The interior was neat and relaxing, the waitress was friendly, and the manager was not only very chill, but also obviously a fun guy. Everthing was impeccable before it came to the food. Before ordering anything, we asked about the portion and the answer was that all pasta and meat entrees are a good one person meal size but the fish entrees can be smaller. So we had the expectation to have small portions. We ordered the octopus appetizer (Spanish octopus a la plancha), the halibut (North Atlantic halibut) and the swordfish (Grand banks swordfish a la plancha) entrees. Having had many octopus appetizers in different mediterranean restaurants, this is the smallest I've seen. I really liked the veggies with the dressing on top, but the octopus tentacles were surprisingly small. Then when the entrees came up, I was surprised again, in spite of the reminder of small fish entrees. I'll say the size of the swordfish looked ok since it's thick and dense, but the halibut... I think at least twice the amount of food is what people would normally call a "one person meal" portion. To me, personally, the Slytherin color scheme of the halibut entree was a bit off-putting. Besides that, the dish was very salty too (I was in need of water the entire night). Because of the tomato broth and roasted pepper, I think I liked the swordfish entree better, although it was salty as well. We added a side of roasted broccoli to complement the small entrees and it turned out to be quite a delight. The decision to have dessert here was correct and successfully cancelled part of my disappointment from the entrees. The size of the desserts (hazelnut brown butter cake & galakto boureko) were incredibly large compared to the entrees and I think in the end my stomach was more like filled by the cake rather than anything else. Galakto boureko was recommended by the manager, and it was good, but I was more impressed by the figs on top of the cake. I might come back just for the dessert one day. read more

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Excellent service and the food is really good. We had the feta cheese spread and the piquillo peppers spread, which were delicious. The tuna carpaccio and the Tagliatelle Vongole also pretty good. Overall good valúe considering location. read more

Delicious 5 Stars and more! But I did feeling like the female staff was way more attentive then the male staff. Overall the food was amazing! read more

Had a wonderful business lunch. We ordered the octopus appetizer, lamb burger, and pasta bolognese. Everything was fantastic and the service from the front desk to our waiter was excellent. It was a bit loud, but the food and service made up for it. read more

Cozy and classy find in midtown. Great for a date, dinner with friends, small work dinner, I even saw a young family of four nestled in the corner. Delicious food. Enough options to satisfy many palates but not an overwhelming menu. Loved the whipped/spicy feta starter. Cauliflower Croquettes were interesting, though a tad on the sweet side. The mixed greens was simple - but appreciated the large portion and tangy vinaigrette. Pasta dish was small (def not entree size, though combined with other small dishes would be okay). Halibut was perfectly cooked and flavorful - just wish there were more pieces of artichoke on the side. Exhaustive wine list and friendly service! A nice gem. read more

Yum! This is a great little spot hidden amongst a sea of overpriced, banal restaurants that crowd this part of town. A friend and I spent the morning walking around, museum hopping, and ended up here for a late lunch. We shared the farro salad to start; it was fresh, balanced, and delicious, especially thanks to the bursts of tart sweetness of pomegranate seeds. For her main, D got the risotto carbonara, which we both thought was an innovative recipe that totally made sense. The arborio was cooked perfectly until tender, the seasoning was on point, and there were giant pieces of pork throughout. The poached egg on top was a nice touch too. For my main, I had the shakshuka. The portion size was humongous and the flavors were great. It was well spiced, made with whole tomatoes, and two perfectly baked eggs sat in the middle of the dish. The staff were v. accommodating and friendly and we enjoyed our meal immensely. The ambiance is also really sweet and there was a bridal shower upstairs (which we only recognized as the members of the party started making their exit) so I'm assuming it's a great place to host more intimate events. read more

Amali is my spot- hands down. Their Greek and Mediterranean cuisine is divine, savory, and unforgettable. The ambiance is great, and they take every measure to make you feel comfortable and cared for. I for one, cannot wait to go back soon. Thanks to the chefs and the staff for creating a one of a kind experience for us! read more

Amali is one of the best meals my wife and I have had on the UES. It's definitely not a cheap place; with drinks and tip, you can expect a dinner for two here to run you on the order of $100 per person. But both the food an the service were excellent. We showed up a bit early to our reservation, and while we were hanging out by the bar waiting for our table, the hostess handed us two small flutes of pre-dinner port, on the house. That was a really nice gesture which we definitely had no reason to expect, and it really set the tone for the evening. Their drinks are also quite good. We started with the beef tartare and the radicchio, which were both great. The tartare especially was superbly seasoned and came with plenty of wonderful bread. For our mains we had the grilled fish, which was a dorade, and the quail. The dorade was tender and flaky and came with a delicious thyme-flavored sauce, while the quail was likewise tender and accompanied by a polenta souffle, which was one of our favorite sides. We also got an order of the potatoes, which I thought would just be pretty ordinary but which ended up being really great: tiny potatoes smothered in delicious herbed butter and topped with grated cheese. The place itself is a very pleasant interior with great lighting. One thing that we really liked about it was that despite being fairly small, it wasn't particularly noisy even when it got crowded. I attribute this to the fact that they don't do the exposed brick thing which is so popular these days, but which makes it impossible to hear yourself speak. Sadly we were unable to stay for dessert because we had a movie to catch, but I'm sure it would have been very good. Both vegetarians and meat eaters are likely to find something they'll love here, so it's probably a good place to come with someone who has dietary restrictions. Overall just a really pleasant experience from beginning to end. read more

Was in town for work and we went here with our gracious host for the day. Him and his wife frequent here quite often, so I knew we would be in for a treat. Service was outstanding, I wish I had the name of our server, but I would like to give credit to the whole FOH staff, everyone seemed to be on their game that evening. For an appetizer we got the Warmed Feta, which was delicious, it had some sweet components, that I liked, but for an appetizer it got to be too much. I would more enjoy this for a dessert. But, that is just me, it is an excellent dish, well done and executed. We also got the Mussels and Octopus for a starter, both were great. Coming from Boston, I know my mussels, and this made this Boston girl very happy :) For dinner, I wanted comfort food. So, pasta, of course! Spaghetti alla Chitarra was what I decided on. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the cured tomatoes added a great dimension of flavor, and the basil gave it some freshness. I want to try to recreate this at home! I was not drinking that evening, but the wine list was extensive, I would love to come back and sample that. Amali, next time I come to NYC you will see me! read more

Absolutely loved this place. The place is located in a great are, its chic, and relaxing. Great customer service, food is amazing; we had the octopus and tagliatelle bolognese, and both were great. Highly recommend if you are looking for great food. read more

Our company works with Amali Mou, and so I wanted to take my fiance and two friends who just got married to the flagship Amali restaurant. We made an easy reservation for Friday at 745 for 4. And were seated in the front. I'd been upstairs before for a meeting and must say sitting upstairs is definitely most impressive. The restaurant is pretty big. We started off with a bottle of rose - I forget the name of it per se but it was definitely of the Greek variety (they're having a rose month so lots of selection- overall there are a ton of wines to choose), it started with an L and was medium bodied.. Lokonikto? Honestly, something like that. Our service was great, very prompt, polite, attentive, gave good recommendations and was good with water refill and communicative. For dinner we shared the grilled octopus (very tasty, well cooked), and farro salad (simple, tasty ingredients). Two of us (myself included) had the famed chicken under a brick- tasty seared chicken breast and leg under pita crackers and Greeks salad (cucumber, olives, etc). My friend had the deep fried rabbit which was not my thing; it was fried well but had a sweet ihs/spicy taste which I didn't love. My fiance had the whole brook trout which was a $42 special and probably the most delicious thing I tried all night - perfectly cooked, tender, juicy with lemon, very healthy and fresh. He ordered a side of delicious roasted broccoli... the dishes are sort of steakhouse style where you get your main meal and have to order sides if you want. For dessert we shared the special cherry pie which I am not sure was made in house but still good (it was a perfect looking tart) -came with some good ice cream, forget the flavor but it was kind of periwinkle in color. They do also have good after dinner coffee- inclusive of a $12 French Press batch for the table. While the food is expensive, it's finer dining NYC prices (high 20s, low 30s) I do think portion sizes are fair. Esp the entree- they give you a lot of food. read more

So disappointed. For some reason this restaurant came up on a search for great restaurants. With the exorbitant prices, we were excited for having a great meal on date night. We got nervous when placing our order when our waiter seemed unfamiliar with the menu and how to properly take an order for steak. When the appetizers came, the lamb was very good and the tomato salad was just okay. The fish was supposed to be amazing - there was this whole backstory to how it got to the restaurant from the fish market...blah...blah...blah: It was a piece of overcooked fried fish. Same thing with the steak: a "special cut" of meat that tasted like a standard steak - nothing special about it. Bottom line: for these prices, we expect experienced waitstaff and food that impresses. We were let down and won't be back. read more

My husband and I, recently had our wedding dinner reception (we got married on Sunday) at Amali and we are sooo happy with the decision. We had a small dinner reception with 15 people, immediate family and close friends. From the start, the staff was friendly, helpful and overall great. Steve, the events manager, helped us with planning and organizing our dinner weeks in advance. Emily, our main server the day of, helped us settled in our private room as soon as we came in. We felt so comfortable, it felt like we were hanging out in our home with friends and family. For appetizers, we started with the grilled octopus salad (which was delicious -the best octopus salad, I've ever had!!) and the white bean hummus and grilled pita (also super delicious). We had the unlimited drinks package and trust, my family was not shy about ordering drinks lol....we were very impressed with all the drinks and cocktails. For the main course, we went with the Dry Aged Grass Fed Beef and the Roasted Chicken with roasted broccoli, asparagus and roasted potatoes served family style - two words to describe everything: awesomely delicious!!! My favorite part of the night, however, was the cake (that's because I have a major sweet tooth :-) The baker, Anna made a coconut cake for the occasion and let me just say that we are ready to order another one. A week has passed since our dinner and my family is still asking for more cake. The cake was sooooooo good! Overall, our experience at Amali was great. My husband, family and I were very happy with everything and soooooo thankful for all the staff and their assistance in making our special day a wonderful one! read more

Amali has an amazing menu. It's probably considered Mediterranean but for the wide they have a every dish is cooked perfectly. It's one of my favorite restaurants! All of their pasta dishes are homemade and delicious. They also make a excellent brick chicken it's like no other dish in NYC. This is a hidden GEM! read more

This review is about holding a private event at Amali. The restaurant at Amali is fine, but our experience hosting our rehearsal dinner there for 65 people was something we've never encountered before. Here are the number of things that went wrong: 1. My wife went to the restaurant about 3 weeks before the actual dinner to go over final details and see the table layout, as she was getting escort cards printed. When she got there, the manager showed her the space as if he was trying to sell her on the restaurant. This was quite confusing as we had the dinner coming up in 3 weeks, and was reflection on the lack of preparation on their part. 2. The tables weren't set out at the time, and when she asked if they could be set up (to find out how many fit at each table) he said they couldn't do that but instead told her how many people fit at each table. This turned out to be incorrect. We received an email from the restaurant 2 hours (YES, 2 hours) before our dinner was to begin stating that the information we received 3 weeks ago was in fact incorrect. The manager stated that this was "his bad". My wife had to cancel her hair appointment, head over to the venue early to straighten things out, and shuffle people around to different tables. The owner had the nerve to tell us we were "lucky" that his staffed noticed the error... 3. We received an email from the restaurant the night before (YES, the night before), stating that we hadn't pick appetizers yet. Six months prior to this, my wife coordinated for there to be passed apps during the cocktail portion (and it was agreed to in writing), that would cost $320 total. Since the restaurant didn't realize that we hadn't picked apps until the night before (even though she was in there 3 weeks prior), they put out stationary apps in the corner of the room, at a charge of $640 (yup - double the cost of what was agreed to). We would have never ordered stationary apps, as it is our experience that no one eats them. The owner blamed us for not picking an appetizer far enough in advance, so he had to go with what was available, and we were lucky that they could scramble. Had I been told that was the only option at that point, I would have canceled the order. Some might disagree, but I'd leave the onus on the restaurant for making sure that they had everything they needed to prepare what we requested, not blame us after the fact and place an item on our bill that we didn't want. 4. It had always been discussed that we'd have our event from 6:30-9:30 and that we'd have a 3 hr open bar package. My wife and I had to show up early to try and fix the seating arrangements. We were offered drinks when we got there, so naturally we had a beer at 6 when we arrived. Amali decided that was a good time to start the open bar, so our guests were ordering on a per item basis for 30 minutes more than planned (from 9-930), and at no point was this brought to our attention, until of course we saw the bill. The owner was sure that other people were there at 6, but the only people that were there were 4-5 family members who went with us to help since we were stressed out about the seating arrangements. 5. We had two small children as part of the rehearsal dinner party. When we asked to have them removed from the open bar package ($55 each), this was refused, "per the terms of the contract". Per the terms of the contract, sure the restaurant probably could charge this, but in the spirit of the good faith, this was shocking to us. Really? You're going to charge my 3 year old nephew a $55 bar package? Thanks. 6. Our microphone did not work for 80% of the speeches, which I'm sure you can imagine, is a huge deal during your rehearsal dinner. We never received even an apology and were told that "per the contract" they were not responsible for technical difficulties. The owner said he was there for the speeches and that it "wasn't a big deal" as he remembered it... The owner offered to reimburse $250 for the apps, which doesn't even get us back to the original agreed to price. When I responded saying that I wasn't following his math and that I'm extremely surprised that they are not reimbursing us for the bar package they charged the children, I received an extremely abrasive response telling me that I will not be reimbursed any longer. I'll finish by saying that it's not about the cost of things that really irritates us here, it is the owner's attitude. Amali is unprepared to host large events, and impossible to deal with before and after the fact. What should have been a fantastic evening turned into a massive headache due to management/ownership of the restaurant. read more

Abagale and Israel took great care of us for brunch on Sunday. We started with handcrafted cappuccino and Americano then moved to carrot walnut dip, The cast iron feta and crispy eggplant. We shared eggs Florentine with a side of broccoli. As usually, we ordered too much food but it was amazing. We tried to forgo the fresh crispy bread dripping in olive oil with a texture of air; however, it went so well with the cast-iron feta, that the plate was empty by the end of our meal. In all my dinning experiences in NYC, Abagale is the most friendly waitress. This was a great way to start our day. read more

Everything here was really good. I had the cauliflower and artichoke dip (4/5), octopus appetizer (5/5), pasta bolognese (6/5), branzino (5/5), and almond cake for dessert (4/5). The only thing that was not good was the decaf coffee-would not recommend getting that. The ambiance was nice and dimly lit. We had an 8pm reservation, but they didn't seat us for a while, so they let us wait at the bar and gave us free veuve. Definitely go here if you're looking for fresh, delicious food! read more

I have been reading some of these reviews and have come to the conclusion that people use Yelp as a venue to jot down their deep, emotional disappointments and the letdowns of their desires. This isn't diary time, people. Was the food, service, and atmosphere good or not? Amali has been great all 3 times I have been there. Comforting food that still shines with creativity. If you ask Executive Chef Rachel, she will gladly tell you where and who they buy their food from. She has literally visited the farms in which they get their stuff. That kind of thing is important, not the crabby mood you're in when you decide to rip a restaurant in exhausting detail that could literally affect their business. I would recommend this to anyone and clearly, so would lots of other people :) read more

I came back here and I feel like each visit gets better and better. The staff was super patient with us when 2 of our party got stuck with train delays and didn't show for 30 minutes. Our waters were always filled. I also like to come here a bit on the early side as it gives us a nice and quite ambiance to hang in, the restaurant does fill up as brunch progresses. GET THE KALE SALAD. I didn't like kale salads until I ate their kale salad. I also got the lamb burger this time (after jealously watching my husband eat his last time). The burger is great, really large portion, it did get a little too greasy after a while so I had to cut the bun. read more

We'd had a long morning of meetings, my client and I, and since this particular engagement was soon to end, I figured we deserved a lunch on the slightly more upscale end of what might be permissible by the expense department. Amali promised a sustainably sourced, classically Mediterranean meal. It delivered. Over the course of 90 minutes (a pace set by our lack of an early afternoon meeting, the quite professional waitstaff certainly could have gotten us out of there much earlier) we worked through three courses, dominated by seafood and olive oil, each with an expertly prepared but not overly fussy presentation. I started with far too much of the lane, a house made chesse originally from Lebanon, dusted with za'atar, one of the best masalas in the entire world. Fo an appetizer I went with Spanish octopus, which came with the perfect amount of crunch and chew and a brush of a red wine vinaigrette. Our main course - the blog recommended lamb burger - was superfluous but exemplary, a masterclass in upscaling the humble ground meat sandwich. If this wasn't a business meeting I would have used the second half for dinner, but unfortunately decorum meant that I forced to eat what I could and send the rest back to the kitchen. A glance at the dinner online seems to suggest that the most interesting fare is actually served during the day, so to those that work or have clients in the area, I suggest coming at around 12:15. We walked in to no line and were given a bright table near a window. This client and I might not work together forever, but I certainly will remember this lunch for quite some time. read more

The attitude from the restaurant's owner towards poor ratings just speaks to the character of this establishment. Apparently the owner can find an excuse for every bad experience (including justifying costs and a mediocre dining experience with the restaurant's location). This is not to say that my experience was horrible, since the taste of the food was not bad and the somber ambiance did not affect me. However, I do not think the portions, the descriptions of entrees on the menu, the price, and the attitude of the owner toward dissatisfied Yelpers deserve anything more than one star, by giving it two stars I would be generous. My recommendation to Yelpers is: Do not go to this restaurant and be very careful and selective when using Yelp or any other review service in Manhattan. Some restauranteurs are used to mob tactics and bullying against reviewers that give them poor ratings. Do not be fooled by fancy menus and excessive costs, sometimes money cannot buy class or quality. read more

Outstanding dinner. The pastas are to die for. I had the best mussels of my life here (maybe because of the pita soaked up all the delicious sauce). I was sad when they took away the mussels plate because I wanted to lick the bowl clean. The chocolate beet cake was very moist and delicious. I liked that it was very much a dark chocolate dessert, but not extremely concentrated. I saw they had donuts - I will be back! The atmosphere is very elegant and the service was excellent. They had delicious cocktails and a nice wine selection. The menu changes regularly. I haven't been excited by a restaurant in a long time. I will definitely add this into my usual rotation of restaurants. read more

I'm fighting the urge to give this place one-star because the food was that bad. Stopped in here for a couple of drinks with the mrs. We figured we would order some food. The bartender, who was very nice (and he gets the +1 here) notified us of the 'special' - burrata cheese. Hands down the worst I've ever had. Hard little bits showing the age coupled with an odd flavor actually had me thinking I might get sick from it. Luckily not the case, just crappy food. It was so bad that we passed on ordering food there and headed somewhere else. Maybe it was just the small sample size, but that was awful, awful cheese. read more

Was surprised that this place doesn't have a 4.5 stars rating. Wanted to eat in the lower UES and never been here before so figured why not give it a try. Almost cancelled last minute as was tempted to get japanese instead. But stuck with it and we were rewarded. Started with the octopus and the cheese / salumi plate. Thought a little pricey for appetizers but were very good and well portioned. Moved onto the pasta special (peas ravioli of some sort) and the chicken with brick under (or over I can't remember)... Both were really tasty. Finished up with the mint panna cotta with pea sorbet? Yummy as well. So yeah, wonderful experience. read more

Lucky for us we were in the area and we tried someplace new. In addition to excellent food and the nicest wait staff, they had a very classy live string trio playing contemporary hits. We had a lovely dinner on all counts. For us, the chilled vibe and relaxed decor was perfect. I would add another $ to the listing. The check was up there. We felt the prices were fair but this was not a cheap meal. We would definitely return it was very enjoyable. read more

First time I came here in Summer 2014 (lunch), we had had an amazing lunch in the back room....(sky room + gigantic beans). Second time in Fall 2014 (lunch) - it was ok eating roast chicken and potatoes....no access to the back room. Third time, food was good....but I ordered a few bottles of Sancerre Pinot Noir, I was served Sancerre Sauvignon Blanc (corrected them before corking), and they served us Sancerre Pinot Noir. When I received the bill, they charged me $90 per bottle (not $60 per bottle) and I corrected them that the Sancerre was $60 per bottle....I was told that I ordered the wrong bottles (rosé vs red) and I was the one who made the mistake (in front of a big client....BOOM). No problem - I'll never bring a client or myself to you again....goodbye. I hope the $30 per bottle was worth it! read more

Food was good here, liked everything we order. My friend and I came in on a Sunday around 12:30pm. Considering the lunch hour it wasn't too busy and we were seated right away. We ordered a pasta dish, fried eggplant, and house fries (fingerling potatoes...a bit spicy with the jalapeno). More people started trickling in after us and we ended up having to wait about 40min for our food to come out. Took off one star considering the slow service. We had to ask multiple times for some items and it even took a while to get our check in the end. If you have the time to sit down and wait, then I'd definitely recommend it. Interior is cute but on the smaller side (but I'm from the suburbs in CA so size may be average for NY). Probably not the most kid friendly restaurant. Overall it was a good experience and pricing is reasonable, was about $60 for 2 people including tax and tip. read more

My boyfriend and I popped into Amali the other night and were expecting good food and nice ambiance. What we actually got was remarkable food and superb service. The craziest thing about Amali is that it's not even expensive. There are starters for as low as $7 and entrees for $15. I definitely recommend the grilled octopus (so fresh, crispy and meaty) as a starter and the spaghetti (it's not like other spaghetti you've had before) and the lamb as main dishes. More pics and details about the food and green features of the design: http://inhabitat.com/nyc/amali-is-the-upper-east-sides-newest-and-greenest-mediterranean-dining-experience/ read more

Amazing restaurant with great pasta and wine selection. We got there late and they were so courteous, letting us take our time with our meal. Really friendly and caring staff. Would come back again 100% read more

We reserved for 4 people (1 baby), but half the party was 45 minutes late. Baby was rowdy and cried a bit, but the employees were awesome and understandijg. Not once were we reprimanded or even given weird looks. 10 star seevices. The ingredients were really fresh as well. So pretty hard not giving them 5 stars. read more

My girlfriend and I had dinner here recently after a show at the nearby 59E59 Theater. Everything about our meal was excellent. The Spanish octopus appetizer was probably the best dish of the meal, but the house made labne appetizer as well as the halibut and Montauk dorade mains were all exceptional. You can tell that the chef has a genuine appreciation for quality fresh seafood, and it showed in all of the dishes we sampled. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I also would like to single out the sommelier. I don't typically ask for recommendations for wine, but the wine list at Amali is so extensive and so full of unfamiliar choices that I decided to ask for advice on picking out a bottle. After asking a few questions he recommended a bottle of white wine from Santorini that was not terribly expensive, but that was absolutely delicious and paired perfectly with our dishes. I was so impressed with the wine that after the meal I asked for the name of the wine and he provided me with all of the necessary information on a business card. We now keep a few bottles of that particular wine on hand at home. Truly a great experience. From the service to the food to the decor this restaurant is top notch. read more

Honestly, this was a 5 star meal through and through. Who would have guessed that such a fabulous dining experience lay just a stone's throw from Bloomingdales?! It's an odd part of town for dining out but Amali is well worth the trip. The interior is dimly lit and furnished with recycled, re-purposed wood - love it. There are even foam cushions under the table to keep you from bumping your knee when you cross your legs. Brilliant. Why haven't more people thought of this?! Our service was perfect. Our waiter was attentive and funny. We started with the ricotta crostini with peppers and vidalia onion. The ricotta was divine; so creamy, and the bread was perfectly toasted. Next we had the winter squash with sage and balsamic. Who knew vegetables could be this phenomenal?! We were so blown away by everything from the texture of the squash to the flavor profile. Amali brings in whole animals (grass fed naturally) and butchers them in house (responsibly using every part) so we knew we had to try the steak. I am not a steak girl and let me tell you. This steak was out of this world. It was the best I've had in years; surpassing even Peter Lugers. Yea. I said it. We also ordered the house-made spaghetti with cured San Marzano tomatoes. It was perfection. The pasta melted in your mouth and the sauce had a wonderful kick to it. I cannot wait to go back to this restaurant. read more

I am very fortunate to work around the corner from Amali, so I am able to enjoy their exceptional cuisine regularly. My first impression upon walking into Amali, was how much it aesthetically reminded me of seaside tavernas I visited while Greek island hopping (minus the seaside). Although, I do think Amali's fish dishes are as fresh and as flavorful as those I enjoyed in Mykonos and Santorini. Their intimate restaurant features white washed wood with a nice bar area and a communal dining table in the front and cozy tables and private dining rooms in the back. They offer annual dining events such as a Charles Dickens' dinner series in December with a menu inspired by Dickens' classic, "A Christmas Carol." I also enjoy their annual '21 Days of Rose,' a magical time for rose wine lovers at the beginning of summer when they spotlight roses from around the world thru tasting flights and glass/bottle specials. The food at Amali is Mediterranean with a farm-to-table concept using locally sourced ingredients. I've savored every bite of each dish I've tried over the years and I've never tasted anything less than sensational. I particularly love their linguini carbonara and veggie sides (they offer the best oven roasted broccoli I've ever had). Their wine list is superb and both their bartenders and Michael, their Sommelier are true experts and I've enjoyed every wine I've ordered there. The service has always been impeccable- very welcoming, knowledgable, and attentive. With 1000's of restaurants in NYC, it speaks volumes when patrons decide to return to the same restaurant again and again and Amali definitely has many loyal regulars. I am excited to try "Sopra," their upstairs communal dining concept where a multi-course tasting menu is prepared in front of diners via an open kitchen. I plan to make a reservation soon! If you haven't been to Amali definitely try it soon. You won't be disappointed and you will likely find yourself becoming a regular! read more

Oftentimes Americans will prejudge "Mediterranean" food as hummus, pita, olives, and dolmas. It is restaurants like Amali that smack some sense into your senses that "Mediterranean" cuisine describes a food lifestyle. A lifestyle that spans as far East as Lebannon, West as Spain, North as France, and South as Morrocco. Bright, fresh, simple and cooked painfully perfect. We dined at Amali as our company of 4 completed our time in the greatest city in the world. Happily hungry after drinks at Apothke, we were all pleased to be welcomed in the bright Cape Cod styled dining room. As the sommelier interviewed us on our wine preference, and our first course plans, I knew we were in for something special. The four of us devoured the eggplant, cured meats, octopus, spaghetti, salt baked sea bass, risotto with spring vegetable, and roasted steak and potatoes. Three full days post dining I remember vividly each dish - it was that good. I cannot even remember what I ate for breakfast this morning! At the end of our meal, we were complemented by a dessert, and dessert wine on the house. We met the chef, our waiter was amazing. Thank you Amali for providing us with a meal we wont soon forget. read more

I was looking for a nice place to host my husband's surprise birthday party.. and honestly, Amali was not my first choice... or my second.. but after extensive research, I finally found this place. I made reservations through OpenTable. To begin with, I emailed James and Michael (got their emails in the OpenTable confirmation) to ask a few questions related to the menu. I heard back from James promptly, along with attachments of the menu. When I called, I spoke with Jason and Daniella and we decided that I would send my menu selections before hand so that my lunch party would go seamlessly. And I called once more to confirm the plans, but every time I called, the staff was friendly and courteous, answered all my questions and offered to help any which way. I ordered the following items - and my review of each Appetizers: EGGPLANT - This was one of my favorites. Everyone in my party enjoyed it as well. CALAMARI and CHICKPEA SALAD - The Calamari was grilled. The Squid was a little charred for my taste, other than that it was very delicious SMOKED TROUT - Also very delicious. Really recommend ordering this one as well OVEN ROASTED BROCOLLI - Broccoli with pine nuts - so delicious. Entree: FRESH SPAGHETTI - Really good.. small portion though. LINGUINI CARBONARA - Very creamy - least liked item on the table. Good portion. ROASTED CHICKEN UNDER A BRICK - The chicken skin was a little salty but it was really well cooked and the potatoes were really crunchy. MERGUEZ SAUSAGE - Delicious, small portion Overall, everyone enjoyed the food. My husband was very surprised and loved the party. The waiting staff was very friendly, attentive and helpful. They also placed us in the back room with sun roof where we had an intimate setting as well. We brought our own cake and they served it in nice slices as well. Excellent service, great food, I will definitely come back and try other things on the menu. The food is a little pricey for the portions, but you get what you paid for. Oh, another thing, the restaurant is not easily spottable on the street, we had to get closer to see we were at the right place. Thank you chef and staff at Amali for making my husband's surprise birthday party a day he will remember...! read more

Ugh. We went for lunch with a reservation, which we obviously did not eat because it was completely empty. I should know better than to eat at a place completely empty, but I was trusting Yelp. Bad move. The atmosphere was overly stuffy and pretentious. There was no music, so it was silent as the grave and you just wanted to whisper the entire time. The menu items had a bunch of weird names, with ridiculous prices and not enough choices on the lunch menu. My husband ordered a pasta plate and the portion was so small that I almost laughed when the waitress put it on the table. Then, in contrast, I had the chicken which was pretty much almost an entire chicken. The best part was that my plate was cheaper, but I had to end up giving some chicken to my husband. We both admit that the actual taste of the food was good, but the atmosphere, the portion size and the price was just a huge disappointment. read more

Amali is excellent. I have dined here several times for lunch and dinner, but for business and pleasure. The food is consistently excellent, with an ever changing menu. The ability to mix and match the various plates, makes for a different dining experience every time. The grilled octopus for a starter is tasty with just the right char. The kale salad is dressed just right. Bring back the escarole salad! The lamb burger is especially juicy. I do not generally order chicken at nice restaurants as it is usually on the menu as a "safe" choice for those who are not adventurous, but the chicken under a brick is well composed, succulent inside with the right amount of crisp outside. The wine list is deep and exceptional, with some surprising choices worthy of exploration. The wait staff is attentive, but not overly so. You can tell they are well trained. One of my few go to places. read more

Came to Amali for the first time two years ago and have been back multiple times since. This is one of my favorite spots in the city. Their menu is always changing and I have been blown away by everything that I have ordered! Service is spectacular; the wait staff is professional and friendly, bartenders are very knowledgeable, and last time I was in the manager even stopped over to check on us. The drinks are delicious and the wine selection is exceptional. This a great place for a date, dinner with the family, lunch with coworkers, or a small bite & drink before a night out. read more

Expensive. Expensive. Expensive for salty food and ok service. They also charge an "admin fee" of 18 percent??

Amazing meal, from start to finish! Nothing failed to impress . . . Did a tasting and had Arctic Char Crudo, Arahova Feta, Octopus a la Planche, hand cut Steak Tartare with Crisped Bone Marrow & Lamb Shoulder. All were superb. Cute little place, great staff . . . a little noisy, but worth the price of admission! Get there and enjoy! read more