"AMA signifies our love for food, while also being short for AMAtriciana, a classic Italian sauce" reads the menu of this newish Italian restaurant steps from our home in Wan Chai. The food is classic, rustic fare from Rome, and you almost feel like you are in Rome when you are there.
They have a HUGE screen that just shows a video of a person wandering the streets of Rome. Because I've been to Rome before, the video evokes memories of our times in Italy. For me, it's a bit nostalgic, and just brings back pleasant memories in general.
We love this place because the food is great, the ambiance is very cozy and comfortable, and it's very, very close to our home (less than 5 minute walk). It's the type of place we can go to, even on a weeknight, and get out with plenty of time to spare.
This restaurant is also a dream come true for Chef Paolo Monti, who finally open his own restaurant after working for 20+ years at Gaia Ristorante in Sheung Wan. He took the plunge during the pandemic to secure a space, and opened up this restaurant in February 2022.
Salads + Starters
We like the salads, and we've tried many different kinds. Lately, we've been enjoying the spinach salad with hard boiled egg and feta (not pictured), but most of the salads are nice.
Pasta
The signature dish (and also something we order every single time), is the signature "Maccheroni Amatriciana" made with “Cacio di Caterina il Fiorino” (cheese) $288. Apparently, it became famous through social media as an off-menu item at Gaia Ristorante, where Chef Paolo used to work. It's served in an old iron pan and made with pork cheek, tomatoes, garlic and olive oil.
It is really, really good! They used a high quality al dente dried pasta that works really well with this dish.
We've tried a number of other pastas, and they are all good. However, overtime we just keep gravitating towards the Amatriciana.
Angel hair pasta with tomato sauce.
Main Dishes
General Thoughts - Ristorante Ama Wan Chai
This is a place we visit regularly because it fits a number of our criteria: delicious food, nice ambiance, close to home, one of Bryan's favorite cuisines, and typically not too hard to book. We're fans, we're regulars, and we really hope it does well and stays right where it is!
Ristorante Ama by the Amatricianist
AMA Ristorante
25F, 208 Johnston Road,
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (852) 2117 9789
WhatsApp: (852) 3702 0809
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