Amali

I know I've been neglecting my beloved food blog.  Partly because I am swamped with work and dance but also because I haven't been inspired to write.  I am tired of saying "good food, bad service" or "average food, bad service".  Why is it so hard to find good service AND good food in NYC?

But alas, after eating at Amali, a charming Mediterranean restaurant near Bloomingdale's, I am once again inspired to pound the letters on my keyboard.  Amali's menu doesn't focus on just one country but instead incorporates Greek, Italian and other Mediterranean countries to create a diverse and delicious offering.

The restaurant is somewhat reminiscent of it's Greek sister restaurant Periyali, which I also enjoyed (reviewed here: http://forthefoodieinallofus.blogspot.com/2013/03/periyali.html).  The white walls are contrasted with red upholstery, hinting at the eclectic Mediterranean cuisine that will follow.  Also like Periyali, a medium sized bar area lines the front of the restaurant.

From the moment we were seated, we were promptly and warmly greeted by our server.  We had warned him we were in a rush and he made sure to bring out the food so quickly we had time to spare.  He had an impressive in depth knowledge of the menu and it's exotic ingredients.  You could tell from the moment you met our server that he took pride in providing impeccable service.

After discussing the menu with our server, Amali delivered a bowl of dense, thickly sliced seven grain bread with seasoned olive oil.  The hearty yet soft bread was a welcomed surprise/departure from pita typically served at Greek restaurants or Italian/focaccia bread served at Italian restaurants.

Amali boasts a large wine menu, with white and red options from all over the globe.  Because we were ordering a few seafood items (and it was over 90 degrees out), we went with a crisp bottle of Sancerre, which went perfectly with all of our food choices.  Amali allows you to bring "unique" bottles for a corkage fee.  Sadly, I forgot to ask what that meant but my inclination is that the restaurant allows corkage for bottles not featured on the menu, which if that's the case, I'm a fan (on my to do list to call back and inquire...seeing that I will be back).

What to Eat:

We started with one of the specials, the Heirloom Tomato Over Whipped Ricotta with Basil Leaves.  I hope this is a special that appears all summer because it certainly is worth repeating.  The large, colorful tomato slices where placed on top of a bed of airy, ricotta cheese.  The texture of the ricotta cheese was so light it was hard to believe it was ricotta.  The sweet tomatoes were then topped with different varietals of basil leaves.  We needed extra bread to ensure we did not leave a speck of the delectable cheese behind.

Another appetizer must is the Spanish Octopus a la Plancha, with olives, potatoes, celery and oregano.  You can see from the picture, it looks like the appetizer is lined up, inviting you to aggressively dive in to each bite.  The plump octopus tenderils were moist, which is not a term I would usually use to describe octopus, but they were.  The octopus was topped with a mixture of greens, olives, small diced potatoes, and slices of raw celery.  This was a fantastic light dish on a hot summer night.

Somehow, my picture of the Line Caught Local Dorade did not turn out.  Nevertheless, the dish was perfection.  The whole fish is grilled and then presented at the table so that the server could confirm that I would like the fish filleted.  Amali takes great pride in the quality and accuracy of its seafood.  The dorade was no exception.  I wish this simple, yet flavorful fish, was offered at more restaurants.

The fish does not come with sides, which was a bit strange for a Mediterranean restaurant.  Luckily, the Oven Roasted Broccoli 

with Pine Nuts and Salmoriglio appetizer seemed like a suitable choice for a side.  Salmoriglio is a mixture of lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, oregano, salt and pepper.  The broccoli was packed with so much flavor that despite not having cream, my husband was willing to eat it.

Looking to escape the Bloomingdale's chaos?  Amali will provide you with an inviting and enticing reprieve from your shopping madness,

Your foodie friend