Exquisite food and ambience that combines Portuguese delicacies with Italian food. Fresh, locally-sourced with some outstanding new Portuguese dishes that are mouth-watering. Casual atmosphere, music. Tito & Liana are the owners and they are passionate about their business (it shows, too). Support them by making a reservation and see for yourself why they are one of the most popular independently-owned restaurants in Sarasota. read more

Amore Restaurant - Table for 8: "We'll be BACK!" - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

We had an hour and a half wait for Owens and no room at their bar so we meandered over to Amore - thank goodness! We had the most romantic night and best, most memorable meal! Thanks to Elena, the bartender, for explaining the Portuguese part of the menu - the amazing seafood copper pot in broth ($56 for 2?? Lobster, shrimp, scallops, calamari... wow!) A lovely Frenchman was playing guitar, singing and cajoling the diners to dance while the owner was bringing special Portuguese wine... it was like a dream. Just the very best night in Sarasota and we ate at the best restaurants all week. Oh, and order the creme brulee! Thank you, Amore! And did I mention how reasonably priced the meal was? It was perfect on all measures! read more

See all

Small restaurant and not much to see from the outside. Once inside though it has a great atmosphere. It is and Italian and Portuguese fusion that serves great food in both categories. Staff is extremely friendly and food was awesome. Would highly recommend. read more

Amore Restaurant - a plate of food on a table - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

The are entrances on two sides and she on the third telling you to enter at either of the other two. As you enter you'll see a covered outdoor room that seems to be the entirety of the restaurant. There are ceiling fans aplenty. There is a live band playing dinner music. Once seated the servers are attentive. But wait! There's more! If you follow the signs you discover a second indoor room complete with folded mirrors, fancy chandelier and air conditioning. Also a full bar is nested in this secret room. The menu is standard orientation fare, a little on the pricy side but not crazy. The servings are generous and it's clear that the kitchen cares what they're putting out. There is a well considered wine list with something for everyone over a range of prices. We finished our evening with a shot of Limoncello. Would definitely return. read more

.food wasnt very.good.service was slow will not be returning.thearea isntvery good.will be going elsewhere

Dinner tonight was very good. I had the lamb shank , cooked to perfection, with roasted potatoes and mixed vegetables. My wife had the rice dish, I can't spell with mixed seafood, with shrimp, scallops, clams and mussels . A Portuguese dish, She said it was great. We had the salt cod appetizer which also was good. For dessert I had another Portuguese dish of pistachio cream with a layer of cake and cream-wonderful. My wife had tiramisu also very good. The service was spot on. The hostess could not be nicer and more accommodating . All in all a great evening. read more

I have had dinner here before, several years ago when Amore was located out on Longboat Key. Amore relocated to downtown Sarasota 1 1/2 years ago. At the old location, this was an inside restaurant; it now has a tent like roof with ceiling fans. It is open on all sides, so it can be warm. No a/c. I made a reservation on Open Table where the early bird menu was listed at $25.00 for appetizer, main course and dessert. When we got to the restaurant the early bird menu had a few more choices in each of these categories. I had the Caesar salad, the Shrimp Fra Diavolo and the tiramisu. The Shrimp Fra Diavolo was not on the menu I saw on Open Table. Glad it was a choice as it was very good. It had a nice amount of heat in the sauce and the 5 shrimp were really large, BUT once again, with the tails on. This makes for a really sloppy dining experience, picking up each shrimp out of the saucy dish to eat it. My Caesar salad was good and the tiramisu was a nice finish to the meal and was beautifully presented. The surprise was on the check. The early bird is from 4:30-seated by 5:30. The early bird price was $27.00 on the check. We called over the manager. He said that was the price and then said he gave us a deal as the happy hour prices are(supposedly) only at the bar, but he told us happy hour prices were in effect right when we sat down. I told him their web site said $25.00. I checked when I got back to computer. Their web site does say $27.00; it is the Open Table site that says the early bird is $25.00. Disappointing price change. read more

Wonderful! Food was delicious. Our server was great. Not only did they suggest a great bottle of wine we were able to taste it before we bought the bottle. There was no wait at the time we came . The pastas and the sauces are home made. The gnocchi and sausage was AMAZING. The bread is served with a homemade garlic butter. The tiramisu was to die for. Really glad we found this place. read more

Great location, good ambiance, mediocre food, bad drinks. The wine was served late and is overpriced. The beer selection is very poor. The soda was really bad. It had no carbonation and was watered down with melted ice by the time it got to the table. Was expecting more for the price we paid. The place seemed understaffed, the service was bad. read more

First went to fish camp and left when told it was a 90 minute wait. This place was across from where we parked, so we gave it a try. Atmosphere was good, music was OK(had live jazz) and the service was good. That's where it ended. My lobster ravioli was bland and tasted like canned meat - very disappointed. My wife got chicken Marsala that again was bland, but helped some with a little salt. I really believe I would gave gotten a better meal at Olive Garden. The next night we went earlier to fish camp and thoroughly enjoyed the low country boil! read more

The restaurant serves Italian and Portuguese food. Having just returned from Portugal, we were craving Portuguese. I absolutely love their cod appetizers: little fluff pillows of yum! In Portugal, we encountered bones in this typical food but not at Amore! Had pulpo (octapus) last night. So tender and flavorful! Best ever! I shared with others at the table who raved. Another typical dish is the cataplanca which can be made with pork or seafood. It's served in a metal dish with potatoes and other veggies. Unique. Tito and Liana (hope I spelled it right. ) are owners and both hail from Portugal. Tito cooks; Liana hosts. Do have some Portuguese wine. Delicious! Others at our table had pasta and a HUGE chicken parm with calamari and another dish of Portuguese sausage for appetizers. They also have entertainment at the piano. Go ahead and sing along. Another nice thing about Amore: you can have a conversation without shouting. Now go make a reservation! Italian or Portuguese, you can't go wrong. read more

Delicious authentic Portuguese food. We had croquettes, chorizo and salted cod. Everything was fantastic. The owner brought us a delicious dessert to try as well. Great service and good wine at a reasonable price. Don't underestimate this place. It's unassuming in a little strip mall, but a 5 star experience. read more

The restaurant have moved a few times. Tonight we went there and it was great! First parking was easy. And then the service and food was great. Ahhh... John, the live music was amazing. We will definitely be back! read more

Enjoyed a special dinner at Amore with my sister tonight. Fun entertainment by pianist, excellent food, and a flaming desert. Fish bisque was out of this world. Service was perfect; attentive, and timely. So glad we decided to go to Amore. And, we made reservations for Friday night to take others. read more

See all

My husband surprised me and took me here for Valentines dinner. I got the salmon piccata and it was to die for! The service was absolutely exceptional and I would highly recommend this place anyone looking for a nice place to eat some Italian food! read more

We had such a wonderful surprise when we found Amore. Frustrated by an hour wait at a seafood shack, we set out to find a better option. The outdoor dining with Xmas lights and live piano music at Amore was charming. The service was absolutely exceptional. The red snapper was the best I've ever had. My son thought that his tomato caprese salad was the best he ever had. I thoroughly enjoyed the wine. I am a tough critic and this place was special. read more

See all

Food excellent. Ambiance lovely. Live piano. Eddie plays here also! He is fantastic. Barbara gives a great bar! Pasta is fabulous read more

Amore Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

We really try never to go to the same restaurant twice, because there are so many in Sarasota. But, we would absolutely come back to Amore by Andrea. To start off, the service was outstanding. Not only our waitress, but everyone that we dealt with. Our waitress, Monica, however, was wonderful. She gave us enough time and space for everything, but never too much. The food, was delectable. We had many things, some of which included, lamb meatballs, beef carpaccio, fried zucchini, just to name a few. The presentation of the food, was equally as good as the taste of the food. It was evident that they wanted you to be happy with everything, from the taste of your wine to the taste of your food. And we were happy with everything. We look forward to returning to Amore. read more

Besides the beautiful waters of Sarasota this restaurant was the best experience ever! Looking for a place to eat, today a week ago from our anniversary we spend a great time eating amazing food and high quality customer service. Our waitress Anthony treat us amazing, making us feel at home, not to mention the manager made us a delicious dessert that we will never forget! Thank you Amore Restaurant! It was definitely una Amorosa experience. We will go back soon! Gratzie read more

Right in the heart of Burns Court. You eat in but you're actually outside -walk through breezeway covered seating -totally cool bar. Excellent piano player most nights and some terrific singers. The food is good -they make an excellent cocktail/great wine list -the service is attentive. You must get the table side Caesar salad. read more

Amore Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Everything about my first visit was great! It's summer, so we didn't have to wait for a table and what that also means.... they have 50% off their pastas all summer long! I love the open air vibe, it almost feels as if you're not in Sarasota anymore, but at one of the restaurants you'd find if you were roaming around Parma or Naples or any other lovely town in Italy. Our waiter, which I wish I could remember his name now because he was fantastic, was doting but not to the point of hovering too much-just right! I ordered the gnocchi, my favorite. I'm Italian, so often times when I eat at Italian places, I'm often disappointed-I wasn't! It was like heaven on a fork. One of the owners took time to come and ask how we were doing and offered us homemade Limoncellos! Yum! Live music was being played and it was at just the right volume. All in all, a nice evening. Can't wait to return. Salute! read more

A cool find. We couldn't get into Owens fish camp and started walking when we saw this place. It had a kind of good fellas vibe. Not a fake good fellas vibe either. People were friendly and the setting was nice in an outdoor breezeway that was covered. There was a piano man and some older folks dancing. The food was good and the service was very nice. An enjoyable place and a very nice place for our family! read more

Amore Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

Amazing meal! Every bite was delicious. First class service. Beautiful ambiance. Highly recommend! read more

Amore Restaurant - Veal parmigiana! - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

See all

Was a perfect evening! Company, cuisine, entertainment was beyond expectations! Thanks

The most amazing eggplant parm on Earth. Very friendly staff! Beautiful and clean establishment with many different spaces to dine. read more

Had an amazing meal at its previous midtown address awhile back but unfortunately time and new location have proven to be its undoing. The venue is now unexceptional (a strip mall) and the food is "meh" at best. Frankly the Portuguese entrees we tried were probably frozen and re-heated and nothing like the original dishes. Maybe the Italian selections are better but unlikely as Sarasota is a proverbial wasteland for real Italian cuisine with a few notable exceptions. read more

When a Resturant (Italian) serves potatoes as The side dish and not pasta there is a problem They remodeled the bar which was gorgeous and not the Resturant Needs work in all areas. Shame as we were hoping for a Great neighborhood casual Resturant read more

Amore Restaurant - Italian Near Me - Sarasota, Florida

I was looking to surprise my wife with a night out and away from our kids. She wanted live music, exotic cuisine, and a nice atmosphere. Walking in the door at Amore checked off all three boxes from the start. Live piano music playing softly, nice quiet ambiance, and a friendly staff offering us our choice of new dishes from Portugal and Italy. We had a LOVELY night sharing new experiences over a bottle of moscato, being serenaded by some of our favorite songs. The Pork Trasmontana is everything I never knew I wanted in a dinner dish. It was HEAVENLY. We want to tell our friends all about this place but we're tempted to keep it a secret so we'll have all the ravioli to ourselves! This place is EXCELLENT and we have now become regulars. If ever you're in the mood for some some good music or a nice plate of calamari, AMORE is your next stop. You will LOVE it. read more

The WORST restaurant we have ever eaten at, bar none. Disinterested service. Disappointing food. Good valet parking. We have been there on more than one occasion, always hoping for some improvement, but as of yet, haven't seen any. Don't waste your time or money here when Sarasota has so many better places to eat. read more

Great service. Caesar salad made table size ! Food amazing. Will go back!!!! Good prices! Glad we can make a reservation!

What a great atmosphere and group of dedicated staff. The food is reasonably priced and tasty. I've had better but I'm sure others would argue with me. We were immediately seated and greeted by management before our server arrived. The place is busy which tells me they do a good job of attracting and retaining customers read more

Friday, 1/13/17 (I guess the date should have been an indication). The absolute worst Italian meal I've had in my life. Party of 6. Three ordered the shrimp and crab meat Fra Diavolo, One Fettuccine with veal, one fettuccine with scallops, and one fish "special", Grouper. The shrimp and crab meat dish was gross. Tomato sauce straight out of a can, with dried herbs and not cooked. I am not exaggerating, it could not be eaten. It was horrible. Oh, and by the way...neither of the three of us could find a single piece of crab meat. The fettuccine with veal, was cold, a big ball of glued fettuccine with cold chewy veal. The fish "special" was like eating rubber.... This chef must go. He should be lucky to cook at a McDonald's.... Very, very disappointed as we live at the marina for 4 months. You know it's bad when on the check there is a line item for "Food complaint".... Not going back. read more

The food is amazing and the service is impeccable. Locally owned restaurant specializing in true Italian and Portuguese food. Delicious every time! read more

Decided to try Amore for our last night of vacation and what a perfect evening! We were lucky enough to be there on a Tuesday night for the Skip's Dixie Mix trio- they were so good and created such a fun atmosphere- the food was delicious from the wine to the lasagna to the tiramisu and coffee and house limoncello. I didn't want to leave and will definitely be back next time I'm in town- hopefully on a Tuesday to enjoy the band again! Service was friendly and excellent and the decor mixed with the live music made me feel like I was living on a 1940s Italian movie set. Loved every minute! read more

This is our favorite place for Italian food. We celebrated an anniversary there and they treated us very special. We also went to the New Years event, also a great experience. Lastly we have been there for their happy hour and early bird special. Anytime you go and for any occasion you will be treated well and be glad you went there read more

Very disappointed. When Amore was on LBK, it was truly a gastronomical experience and we went there often. The first time we tried the new Sarasota location it was just okay. It lacked that upscale feeling and the food wasn't quite as good, but it was acceptable. After tonight's meal and dining experience, however, I will not return. The service was horrible and our meals were drowning in salt. The place was nearly empty when we arrived at 7:30 on a Wednesday evening. We were originally planning to have dinner at Owens Fish Camp but the wait was over an hour so we decided to go to Amore's instead. The lack of customers at Amore's should have tipped us off. Live and learn. Never again. read more

The place is a little rundown, could use a facelift. Waitstaff was pleasant and attentive. The food was disappointing. One of us ordered the grouper which was salty and the other the shrimp and scallops which was also salty. The chef should try his food before he sends it out. It was almost inedible. read more

Attended a dinner function with my wife and friends and found this newly opened restaurant in need of a major intervention. Despite a significant amount of design and decorating, Amore's food is characterized by average to below average ingredients, prepared poorly and overpriced. Service was friendly but generally reflected an inexperienced staff. I was hoping that this newly opened restaurant was merely experiencing start up issues but the food and service was beyond a simple repair. read more

The spaghetti and meatballs were so bad we sent it back and asked for the lasgna which was ok but would never go back. The waiter never asked how everything was. read more

We had a great dinner for six last night! We tried a mix of appetizers including calamari, pizza, and eggplant parmigiana. All were terrific. The dinners included the ravioli special, salmon, and pasta. We all loved the meals. Great Wine selection and a tray of desserts really topped the night off right. Tito and Liana are the owners and are great hosts! Definitely a must go! read more