Cucina South

If you’re looking for an incredible, authentic Italian dining out experience, look no further than Cucina South. I was skeptical about the restaurants in Amelia Island given our first several dining out experiences but this fantastic establishment truly restored my confidence and then some! Everything from our knowledgeable and personable server Elizabeth to the wine and menu options was out of this world! The chicken francese ravioli was one of the best meals I’ve ever had! Don’t miss out on wonderful service and food at Cucina South!

A really amazing Italian restaurant I've been here a couple times and honestly I haven't had anything bad the shrimp scampi being amazing along with their appetizers being really good all around I would recommend the scampi or diavolo

Wonderful place to eat. Great ambiance, lighting and mood. Servers were absolutely amazing Cathy was on point and Tanner was a gentleman and greeted me with class. Food was amazing and I'm very picky. Please try this place out.

The best dinner and atmosphere we've had in years! They went above and beyond to help us celebrate our anniversary and we truly appreciate it. Everything was perfect!

One of the best pasta dishes I have ever had, the sauce was bursting with flavor. The Shrimp Fra Diavolo (without red pepper flakes) was simply amazing.

Found this place last minute and loved it, Service was excellent, ambiance was great, and food portions were plentiful and food was super tasty. Special was rack of lamb which was cooked perfect. Zuppa de Mare was full of flavor with plenty of seafood. Veal was super sized and tasty with desserts just as great

Good food, great service, quant and cozy atmosphere in a small building resembling an old Southern style swamp/bayou house...make reservations. The meatballs under the Anti Pasta section were absolutely our favorite dish. The meat within the meatball itself had an elegant mixture of herbs and spices homogeneously mixed throughout which made sure each bite was full of Italian pizzazz and flavor. They were so good, they could stand alone without the sauce. However, the sauce really complemented and elevated the already amazing meatballs to a higher level of awesomeness! We appreciated swiping up the remaining sauce with the bread provided. 🤤 They offered chef's specials which were worth going with the flow and trying. They really know how to cook fish correctly. The sea bass special was absolutely phenomenal! If we had one minor complaint it was that the risotto in the Scallop Porcini Risotto ate more like wild rice but the charred brussel sprouts and perfectly cooked scallops made it worth it. The atmosphere is cozy and intimate like dining in someone's house for dinner. There is outside seating but check the weather before you decide to ask for outside dining. Our waitress was friendly and helpful which made the experience all the better. The lemoncello marscapone cake was amazing although we do wish the slice was bigger considering it was $12. Overall we had a wonderful experience and are excited to go back again and try the other dishes.

The salmon was cooked to perfection and the meatballs were moist and delicious. The Diavolo was spicy, but it never crossed over to too spicy. Everything was beyond expectations. We will definitely return.

Well all I can say is WOW WOW WOW! We had a great experience at Cucina South, the food was fantastic from the appetizer all the way to the Tiramisu. My wife enjoyed the Seared Scallop Carbonara and I had the Shrimp and Scallop stuffed Flounder with Gnocchi and Arugula. The atmosphere was relaxing and Sandra took such great care of us that we felt like family. She was awesome! I would highly recommend stopping by and visiting Cucina South.

Favorite Italian place so far in Fernandina Beach! Service was friendly, food was amazing. Get the meatballs.

Didn’t have reservations but was seated right away. The Cesar salad was delicious and lightly grilled giving it a unique flavor. Salmon was on point and grilled to perfection. Will be back.

I must say today is October 8th and I just walked out of Cucina South right now. Celebrating my sister's birthday tonight and the food was absolutely just the best . The service was great what can I say 5 stars all the way

Service was AMAZING! My friends and I ate here and all got Alfredo. Bonus points for the fine ahh bus boys who killed all the caterpillars at our table. Keep them hired and you will for sure stay in business.

What a wonderful dining experience. Not only were the food, service, and atmosphere phenomenal, but the attitude of the waitstaff was unsurpassed. They truly care about the customers and want them to come back.

Food was delicious! Service was exceptional! Loved the Lobster Piccata and the Chicken Parm. Their chef’s homemade Marinara sauce is really good. They sell it in house. Definitely recommend dining here. You won’t be disappointed.

Our server Liam was attentive, friendly, and informative about the menu. The chef Luke stopped by our table which was a delightful surprise. They both mentioned that within a few weeks or so they will have tiramisu made in house. Can't wait to come back and try the rest of the menu.

From the time me and my wife walked in. Smiles and friendly atmosphere. I sometimes forget names but, Alyssa was great. They treated us like family and not for a tip. We drove from Jacksonville to eat great food and left with friendship. They deserve more than just a 5 star restaurant status. Me and my wife thank you all for this celebration of our 24th Anniversary. We pray 🙏🏿 that your workers and restaurant keeps thriving. See yall next year.

We had a delicious dinner Wednesday 8/14 Liam our server was fantastic. Knowledgeable and friendly. We had an appetizer 3 meals and glass of wine . The Tiramisu .. omg that deserves its own review. It was the best I have ever had . I am Italian and do not eat out Italian much , and this was well prepared and wonderful from start to finish. We had Chicken Alfredo, Zuppa de Mare and 2 specials that were wonderful. The Chef and Manager checked on us as well. Great staff all around. We will be going back . Check them out!

Never disappoints! We recently introduced 3 couples to the Cucina South dining experience. Shared comments ‘this feels like we are in Italy!’ ‘These are the best meatballs I have ever had!’ The desserts are over the top! Chattanooga/Atlanta family always have Cucina South on their restaurant list when visiting. Looking forward to our next visit… PS don’t skip the salad…

Great dinner! Exceptional service, nice wine list with reasonable prices, the Cappellini with meatballs and Chicken Parmigiana were some of the best we’ve had! The bread accompanying our meal was the perfect touch. Thank you for a delicious and memorable evening!

I had a great time at Cucina South yesterday evening. The service was great. Our server Marissa was very accommodating. The food was also great. I ordered a spaghetti and meatballs, and both the pasta and meatballs were cooked to perfection. This was a wonderful experience with my friends and I will definitely be dining here again.

A hidden Dimond on the island Limited menu but good food, I would suggest to the house cook your fish a bit more hard. Tuna works well for raw But not grouper, the waitress offered to send it back to cook more, I refused it was hot enough so it was safe to eat. Besides you can't undo what you set on the table the 1st time. I'd go back to this place and I intend to often. Our anniversary and the waitress offered to buy dessert and we said no. She was very good at her job. She also knew where kennebunk is...

Absolutely some of the best food on the island. You have to try the beef short rib. Pair it with a glass of Malbec wine

We started with the ricotta with honey and pistachios. Unforgettable. So delicious. We had carbonara and bolognese pappardelle which were absolutely fabulous. We are so glad we dined here and will definitely be back.

Found this little gem out of nowhere - almost didn't go because they seemed not very busy. That changed after we sat down. People came flooding in and we know why. Food was fantastic, wine was great, service amazing we were very happy.

Randomly found this place on the way home and absolutely loved it. Our server, Liam, was amazing and made the experience even better. Would 100% come back especially because of Liam and the food!

I live on the south side of the island and love driving 5 minutes to eat dinner. First time back to eat at Cusina South since they changed the Chef and added a new menu. I was impressed. Good food with large portions. Pork belly appetizer special was out of this world and was recommended by our waitress. Caesar salad dressing was excellent. I got the pasta alfredo with shrimp added and my wife got angel hair pasta with fresh tomato sauce. Both were very good. Will return again.

We had such an amazing experience tonight! The ambience was absolutely perfect — warm, inviting, and beautifully set. It made the entire evening feel special from the moment we walked in. The food was incredible. Every dish was full of flavor, fresh, and clearly made with care. You can tell they take pride in what they serve. And our waitress… truly beyond outstanding. She was attentive, friendly, knowledgeable, and made us feel so welcome. Honestly one of the best dining experiences we’ve had in a long time. We will definitely be back!

From the moment we were seated, Benji made our entire dining experience outstanding. His professionalism, warmth, and genuine attentiveness immediately stood out. He struck the perfect balance of being friendly and approachable without ever being overbearing, which truly elevated the atmosphere of our meal. Benji was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu and offered thoughtful recommendations that suited our preferences perfectly. He anticipated our needs before we even had to ask—whether it was refilling drinks, checking on how we were enjoying our food, or ensuring everything came out at just the right time. His attention to detail showed he takes great pride in his work. What impressed me most was how effortless he made it all seem. Even though the restaurant was busy, Benji treated us as though we were his only table. His upbeat energy, patience, and genuine kindness made the entire evening not just a meal, but an experience worth remembering. It’s rare to find someone who can combine efficiency, charm, and genuine hospitality so seamlessly. Benji is a true credit to the team, and it’s clear he goes above and beyond to make guests feel valued and cared for. I would absolutely come back just to be served by him again!

Food was amazing and our server Max was attentive and friendly It was a bit on the dark side and small with not many parking spots up front I had scallops with Mushroom risotto and my wife had spaghetti with clams

The food was GREAT! And the service was medicore. The atmosphere was very nice at the beginning of our dinner. It's a very small and cozy restaurant, and they sat us upstairs. We were up stairs with only one other couple having dinner. Then comes a party of 15 with 6 of them being children. Extremely loud and rude. Kids were running up and down the stairs and staff did nothing to ask them to quiet down. We were visiting from NH and this was supposed to be a couples night out just my wife and I. I'm sure this isn't the norm for Cucina, but staff should have asked politely to control their kids and quiet down while people are trying to enjoy their dinner. It turned out to be a McDonald's atmosphere in the end. Very nice and relaxing in the beginning. Just could have been handled a bit better by staff.

Our server was amazing. Walter understands what it means to execute excellence customer service. Food was awesome. Some gluten free options. Wine was well paired.

We dined at Cucina South in January 2026. The meal was excellent, the service was very nice, the price was very fair. However, it is an acoustic nightmare. My wife and I could barely hear each other talk and we had a two-person table.

Restaurant week menu was nice. Erica our server was great! While they ran out of Tiramisu, they made things right! We will try another time!

excellent pasta! twice in one week and both times a hit. carbonara was so good i asked where they source the pasta (and then immediately ordered some for my house) the marsala was equally great, perfect sauce that seemed made to order. prices are more than reasonable, for Amelia this is way under-priced. highly recommend

Thought the food was good, but this new menu, nope... How do you get rid of chicken parm and bolognese at an Italian restaurant?! Go back to traditional dishes, disappointing.

We (wife & I) have had dinner there several times and have always enjoyed the menu. This time we were very disappointed. With two glasses of wine and nothing extravagant on the menu, the bill was $117. I’ll have to say the food was mediocre at best and for that price, one would expect much more. I am afraid that will be our last venture.

Update as of 1/18/2026: We have been here many times and loved it each time in the past! I have recommended countless people we know and bring family when they are visiting. However, we are NOT a fan of the new menu. There is no longer chicken Parmesan, bolognese, or carbonara which is extremely disappointing. I ordered the Alfredo and it was incredibly bland. We are not loving the way our experiences have been trending and would highly encourage ownership to return to the original menu. We also feel there is room for improvement in the ambiance. The music could be a little louder, lights lower, and/or some flowers on each table would be nice.

This was the second worse place I have eaten. The salad was not fresh. The entree was halibut with risotto with asparagus red pepper sauce. Halibut was so dry and the asparagus it was overly cook to the point of being slimy. Very sad dining experience. Obtw outside dining in right beside a busy road with continuous traffic

Stood at the hostess station (right next to the front door) for 15 minutes. Finally someone came over and asked if we had checked in. We said “no, no one has been by”. She asked for our name, I assumed to put us on a waiting list to be seated. She said “I don’t see your name”. I said we don’t have reservations. “Oh I can’t seat you. The best I could do is for you to sit at the bar”. If you are that busy, why not put a note on the door or have a hostess say something when she walked past us? The lady said “good luck girls” as we walked out. First, I’m 46 and my mother is 72. We are not “girls”. 2nd, it was said in such a snarky tone as if we would be lucky to find a restaurant to eat at. Well, we drove right across the street to Baxter’s. Had a fantastic Ribeye Steak with Bleu Cheese crumbles and an Old Fashioned. Skip the wait here and go across the street. Your taste buds and pocketbook will thank you.