Amarone Cucina Italiana Lunch Special

Lunch Special $9.95 (soup or salad included)

VERONA - homemade focaccia filled with prosciutto, mozzarella, arugola and pesto sauce

ROMA - homemade focaccia with italian sausage, eggplants, mushrooms in tomato sauce with melted cheese

FIRENZE - homemade focaccia filled with grill vegetables, scamorza and sliced tomatoes

VENEZIA - homemade focaccia filled with breaded organic chicken cutled and sautéed spinach and scamorza

CALAMARI FRITTI - calamari rings fried and served with tartar sauce

INSALATA DI CALAMARI - grilled marinated calamari over a mixed greens salad

BRUSCHETTA MISTA - toasted bread with mixed vegetables and tomato dressed with extra virgin olive oil

INSALATA CON SCAMORZA - grilled smoked buffalo mozzarella over a mixed greens salad

ZITI AL FORNO - ziti pasta baked  with Bolognese sauce, besciamella , topped with mozzarella and parmigiano

LINGUINE 4 FORMAGGI - linguine pasta in four cheeses sauce: gorgonzola, fontina, parmigiano and mozzarella

PENNE ALLA VODKA - penne in a vodka pink sauce

PIZZA MARGHERITA - italian pizza with mozzarella and tomato sauce

Amarone Cucina Italiana - Pleasanton, CA

Amarone Cucina Italiana
680 Main St
Pleasanton, CA 94566
(925) 270-0500
amaronepleasanton.com

Tonight was the perfect evening to dine al fresco as the hot afternoon began to cool off, so we returned to Amarone, home of the best gnocchi alla bolognese in the San Francisco Bay Area. We started out with focaccia bread served with an olive tapenade...delicious!

Insalata Noci e Gorgonzola: Fresh mixed greens with arugula, gorgonzola cheese and caramelized walnuts in a light creamy dressing. $9.95. We split this salad, which was good, but just a little sparse on the walnuts and gorgonzola.

Gnocchi alla Bolognese: Fresh potato dumplings in a fresh veal, pork and beef Bolognese sauce. $16.95. This was exactly as divinely comforting as I remember the dish to be...it's almost as if I had a nonna cooking for me! 5 stars for that...and for the service...and for the owner Matteo!









Insalata Noci e Gorgonzola (split plate) $9.95


Gnocchi alla Bolognese $16.95


Dinner for two including tax and tip: $35.32
(courtesy of a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate)

Amarone Cucina Italiana - Pleasanton, CA

Amarone Cucina Italiana
680 Main St
Pleasanton, CA 94566
(925) 270-0500
amaronepleasanton.com

We were pleasantly surprised that the restaurant seemed almost full at 8pm on a Monday evening, as we find most places normally aren't that busy lately. There were two large groups and a four-top and several parties of two when we walked in, but we were seated right away at a vacant table. The server was very polite and attentive and the owner Matteo was a delight as I got to practice my limited Italian with him. :)

I ordered the Gnocchi alla Bolognese and DH went for their special, Rack of Lamb. Wait...backspace. They offer a plain focaccia bread, served at room temperature with a typical olive oil and balsamic dipping sauce. Now, back to the good stuff. I had almost given up on my search for good Gnocchi. I've had it any many places and was always disappointed, but was willing to give it a try here...well let me just say that not only did my husband "help" me eat it, but I could totally go back tomorrow for some more!!! His rack of lamb was delicious as well, cooked perfectly and served over mashed potatoes and a vegetable medley.

For dessert, we shared a lemon cheesecake. I didn't know it was going to be a ricotta cheesecake when we ordered it (which is dense and firm) otherwise I probably would have ordered the creme brulee since I prefer the creamy, non-ricotta American version of cheesecake. There was a strong presence of lemon rind in the cheesecake, just so you know if you're thinking about ordering it. When I make lemon cheesecake, I add lemon zest and I take great care not to go into the rind because of the bitter taste I'm not particularly fond of. Anyway, enough of my baking tips!

Love the Gnocchi alla Bolognese, love the owner Matteo, love Amarone...where else can you get awesome yummylicious Gnocchi, such attentive and caring service from both the server and the owner, asking for your feedback and satisfaction throughout the entire meal and even a "buona sera" and a handshake as Matteo walks you to the door?

Dinner for two including tax and tip: $42.02
(courtesy of a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate)