Amalia's Authentic Italian Restaurant

If the perfect family business could be defined in restaurant form, it would be Amalias authentic Italian Restaurant in Wake Forest. Run by Filippo Fanfani. It is not only a restaurant serving Real Authentic delights from Tuscany; but true dishes that elevates you with flavors that you would not find anywhere else in North Carolina. The food and wine alongside exceptional service, is welcoming that it might as well be having dinner in the owners living room. Add to that the influence of great service that is rare to find. However; the service was astonishing from Gaetano. His attention to details that fail at other establishments demonstrates the true meaning of “Camerieri.” The coursed out dinner was marvelously executed with a great touch of his recommendation for an aromatic Barolo. We had no hesitation and asked if he would choose appetizers to desert; “I rarely do this”; but with his experience and knowledge of food and wine; who can resist. We will be returning as we are relocating from NYC. This will be one of the finest dinners and service. Recommend highly for an experience that is phenomenal.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Service was exemplary. It was obvious that the staff take great pride in what the restaurant is doing, especially in sourcing unusual wines to pair perfectly with the food. And the food itself was wonderful. We went for every suggestion from the waiter/ Maitre D’ as his descriptions were mouthwatering and enjoyed every course immensely. The food was on point and great value for a starred restaurant that Amalias is. Great little restaurant. Every course of the tasting menu is a journey of discovery. The cook is someone who has an idea and takes me on a journey. And the journey takes me mentally to faraway places. The wine list is well-maintained and the prices are very fair. The atmosphere is very pleasant, the room is full of history and has an unobtrusive, simple design. We celebrated a birthday and visited this jewel of a restaurant in Wake Forest. We had the full menu and wine pairing for the four of us. The ambiance and seating was great. We felt welcome. The food was absolutely amazing! So tasty and beautifully prepared. Art on the plate, it truly was. Our favourite was the cheese platter; Burrata; Shrimp scampi.We shared the pasta; AH!! the wild boar and the wine pairing overall was greatly paired from Gaetano for us. The wine was great with the food, and gave it our best experience with dinner. The wines are all from small local vineyards, so we were told. Not the usual French or Italian blends. Maybe our pallet is not used to this adventure. The desserts are a highlight, but I won’t give away the surprise! Go check it out yourself. The service was outstanding and competent. We even got a small birthday gift. Thank you ! Our evening at Amalias was a happy and memorable one. The food was delicious but more than that, it was exciting and different and had us talking and thinking about it all evening and beyond. The decor isn’t typical for this calibre of restaurant in Raleigh- it has a relaxed modern rustic vibe much cooler than the usual, and it chimes with the food. This is a Top class and friendly service. 100%

We went for our anniversary. I wanted to rate them because they are that good but we don’t need anyone else showing up with their kids or on days where we are celebrating something. Stay away from we don’t have any nice places in wake forest but this one and a good review brings people who push us out. Stay away if you don’t live here please. The place is amazing. It’s all we have.

Gaetano at Amalia’s restaurant was sensational; he provided an extraordinary dining experience, combining authentic Italian cuisine with outstanding hospitality that makes every meal special. Gaetano’s professionalism, and deep menu knowledge guided us through dish selections, offering thoughtful wine pairings. The personal attention and enthusiasm elevate the experience that we had. Gaetano’s recommendations for a Sardinian wine was truly outstanding with our dinners lead to stand-out dishes like veal and pork and a yummy lamb and pasta. Gaetano is a reason that we are returning with close family and friends; He is genuinely passionate for what he does.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟+

Dining at Amalia’s Restaurant is nothing short of a journey to the heart of Italy, without ever leaving your seat. From the moment you step inside, you feel transported. The warm glow of the lights, the hum of conversation, and the subtle scent of fresh basil and simmering sauces create an atmosphere that’s both inviting and authentically Italian. Gaetano himself is the soul of the experience. His passion radiates through every detail—from the impeccable wine pairings to his charming stories about Italy’s culinary traditions. Each dish feels personal, like a love letter to his roots. When he presents a plate, it’s more than food; it’s a moment of connection to the old-world kitchens of Tuscany or the sun-soaked terraces of Sardinian. The menu is a masterpiece of simplicity and depth. Every bite—from the delicate handmade pasta like pappardelle to the perfectly cooked brasato that Gaetano described so well and echoes the flavors of Italy as if they were brought straight from grandma’s kitchen. What truly sets this experience apart is how it blends authenticity with warmth; it never feels staged or flashy, just beautifully genuine and we felt like we were dining at his home. Dining with Gaetano at Amalia’s isn’t just a meal—it’s an immersion into Italian culture, a celebration of family, flavor, and hospitality. It’s the kind of experience that lingers, not only on your palate but in your heart. This is probably the best dining experience we have ever had in many years.

What a hidden gem! So quiant and unassuming if you drive by, the surprise as soon as you enter let's you know you're in the right place. So refreshing to enjoy truly authentic Italian cuisine rather than a chain restaurant posing as such. The owner genuinely cares and is often in the entryway, yet not intrusive, but rather a caring one who truly wants everyone to enjoy the experience. Our you server was incredibly knowledgeable, professional yet friendly, and most of all genuine and sincere. He took time to provide an overview of the menu and make expert recommendations, which we accepted and not disappointed! Interesting how he was able to present right when needed, yet we could not tell he was nearby! Cannot say enough good, you simply must try it. It was our 40th wedding anniversary, and we certainly will be back soon. Amazing food, service, atmosphere, and fairly priced!

It was cute inside, service was great very attentive and did great job at explaining and offering suggestions. Wish ground pepper was offered as that would have set few of the dishes off perfectly. My lamb was well seasoned and cooked perfectly but but tough. The veal was melt in your mouth and OMG that portion. Truffle sauce elevated the ribeye and of course was cooked to perfection. Wish we saved room for dessert - can't wait to go back!

Located in a historic home in the Wake Forest area, the second into the restaurant, every corner exudes this old-world charm with the wooden doors, the Italian-themed décor, and the multiple rooms providing an intimate dining experience setting the tone for the evening. SERVICE Logan provided an exceptional dining experience, embodying professionalism, warmth, and depth of information about the entire menu to help us make the best choices for our tastes. He was extremely attentive throughout the entire night, providing a consistent and elevated level of service that one would expect in a fine-dining restaurant. FOOD Antipasti: Variazione di Parmigiano - Parmigiano Reggiano cheese variation. 24 months aged Flan, 30 months aged Fondue, 18 months aged crisp. The trifecta of Parmigiano was a journey of silky smooth, velvety, creamy, and crispy textures, coupled with the flavors that include sweetness, tangy, and savory flavors coming together as an outstanding homage to the different ages of the cheese. Unfortunately, visually, the dish was very simple and somewhat plain, providing a very disappointing first impression. There did seem to be something missing. It was difficult to break the crispy Parmigiano, leaving it difficult to get the three elements together. I believe having toasted baguette slices would have added a compliment to the dish, allowing the consumer to spread the soft parmigiano cheeses on another crispy element. Primi (Pastas): We had two pasta dishes 1 - Bucatini all'Amatriciana - Imported Bucatini pasta served with classic guanciale, tomato and pecorino romano sauce. Having traveled to Italy 13 times, this dish was truly an exceptional display of the heart of Italian cuisine. Bucatini pasta, one of my favorite pastas, was cooked al dente with a rich, savory, tangy, and sweet tomato sauce coupled with guanciale which provides a salty richness. 2 - Orecchiette Pugliesi Imported fresh Orecchiette pasta with homemade italian sausage, sautéed broccoli rabe. Both these dishes were nothing short of perfection. The ear-like pasta was cooked al dente mixed with the sauce, sausage herbs and spices, and broccoli rabe providing a complex depth of flavors, making the dish well-rounded and resulting in an expertly executed dish with both tastes and textures. Entrees: 1 - Branzino arrosto oven-roasted with olive oil, garlic, lemon and fresh herbs, toasted Fregola. The simple word to describe this dish is horrible. I have eaten Branzino all over the world at some of the top restaurants around the globe, and this dish was by far the worst rendition of Branzino I have ever seen. The fish was in no way a traditional branzino. It was the size of a tilapia, dry as could be, and the breading they were using on the outside was a reminiscence of a fried fish you would get a local fish fry. If the Chef knew what was good for them, they would 86 this dish and try again. 2 - Agnello Scottadito - Domestic lamb chops marinated with anchovy fillets, mustard, lemon zest, garlic, and sage; served with almond gremolata. The lamb chops were tender and succulent and cooked to perfection with a slight char on the outside that enhanced the richness and flavors of the marinade. The anchovy fillets are subtle and not at all noticeable. The blend of flavors of the mustard, garlic, and sage really created the right aroma and taste to compliment the chops. The almond gremolata layered under the tent of the lamb chop and the lemon zest bring together crunchy texture and citrus to compliment the main. Dessert: Lavender-infused Crème Brulee with Blueberries. This was a delightful portrayal of a classic dessert; the floral and fruity flavors truly elevate this dish and truly differentiate the dish from any classic crème brulee. This dessert really brings in an element of surprise to cap off an amazing evening.

We had high hopes for Amalia's but left disappointed. In the end it was a $40-50/person meal that cost us over $100/person. The food was well prepared, but the service was confounding. We had an incredibly elaborate description of everything on the menu from our server, detailing the quality of the ingredients, their provenance, and the great care they took in sourcing them. But the same server consistently could not remember who ordered what, drinks arrived out of sync, and one of the entrees was entirely wrong. Our meal took nearly three hours. And the bar... One other diner and I ordered the Old Fashioned that was on special based the server's recommendation. All of the cocktails on the menu are $14-18 (not unusual). The drink was no better than average. When we got the bill I realized why the server recommended it - they were $30 each (more than the price of an entire bottle of the Buffalo Trace they were made with). Finally, you should never be surprised when you receive the bill at a restaurant. If there are specials and they are priced at 2x the other items on the menu, the restaurant should disclose the price - when they don't, the appearance is that they are deliberately gouging, which is exactly what happened here. There is no other rational way of arriving at that price for that drink. In the end, this is the kind of experience that leads me to dine at home.

First impressions.... not so authentic Italian. After being seated for an 8pm reservation at 8:30, we were finally seated only to sit there for another 30+ minutes waiting for something good to eat. They brought us bread with nothing. No oil, no parmesan or chili flakes to dip what should have been crispy bread. I had a shrimp app which was ok. 24 dollars for 6 jumbo shrimp. And my wife ordered some goat cheese app on the bread they should have served us from the beginning. A little burnt on the edges too. It was like biting into a brick. I only tried one thing since it was my first time. The branzino. Anyone who had ever eaten this knows is a whole fish with the head. Authentic!!! Nope. I got a poached piece of fish with 5 sautéed mushrooms on top and a so called garlic broth that tasted like garlic dish water. And to top it all off, I found 3 spine bones in a 54 dollar piece of a portioned fish with no head. There shouldn't be any bones in that at all. Just saying. My wife had some ravioli which weren't terrible, but didn't knock my socks off for the 35 dollar price of 5 ravioli. Also on her birthday, no cake, no pie, no dessert whatsoever for my wife's birthday. They brought us 2 glasses of gas station champagne. It was nasty. 228 dollars was the bill. Service was pretty good, we had a very nice waitress. And we tipped her well. The so called Italian authenticity was something to be desired. I am from an Italian town in South Jersey. I have Italian cousins. I've eaten at some of the most authentic Italian restaurants in Philly and Manhattan. I sure would spend that money there, but this place..... let's just say, I don't feel like I need to try anything else. Wasn't great at all. Beware, overpriced, and mediocre at best. Just one guys opinion.