Why 5 stars? Because this was one of the best brand new restaurants I've visited in a while. --- --- --- There's a reason that most locally owned restaurants have soft openings to work the kinks out. I can think of an infinite amount of new restaurants that have opened near me in recent years, where the feedback from people was, "ehhh... I'd wait a couple of months until they figure out their issues." This has been especially true for businesses here in Pine Market. Since we moved here in 2021, I think that has universally been how it's gone. But the Woodforest neighborhood Facebook page was the polar opposite for Amalfi Taste. I didn't even know this had opened, and then in the blink of an eye, I couldn't open Facebook without seeing someone raving about their visit. So we had to check it out for ourselves, and I have to say: the hype is real! And just as everyone else has said - you would never know that they had only been open for a week or two before we visited. I actually asked our server if the owners were also the owners of any other restaurants, but he said they actually own Harvest Market (which Amalfi sits on top of), but not other restaurants. He didn't seem 100% sure of that, but it's still pretty amazing that Amalfi Taste isn't a franchise with a tried and true plan for opening. But as for the food: Burrata Alla Parma: 5-stars. My favorite Italian appetizer (Prosciutto and Burrata) and I basically have no notes. It had these little mini balls of balsamic on top, and I guess it could have used a bit more of those, but I still loved this dish and would happily order it again. Parma E Prosciutto Pizza: 4-stars. High quality crust. I don't know if I would have to order it again, but it was enjoyable. Spaghetti Alla Carbonara: 4-stars. Similar to the pizza, in that, I really enjoyed it, but it wasn't necessarily the star of the show. Pollo Alla Parmigiana: 5-stars. May I introduce you to... the star of the show. If this wasn't the best chicken parm I've ever had in my life, I don't know what was. It was a bit crispier than normal around the edges, which I loved. But my favorite part were the giant globs of cheese on top - they looked like marshmallows and they tasted like heaven. Not only will we be back, but this will probably be our most commonly visited restaurant in the area. read more