Restaurants - Amici - July 14, 2006

THE DISH; Casual Italian

Sharon and Scott Risinger, former owners of Third Avenue Cafe and present owners of the BBC on Theater Square, have opened the new casual American-Italian restaurant Amici at 316 W. Ormsby Ave. in Old Louisville.

Chef brings family recipes to Amici

Chef Andrew Turner brings some of his family recipes, like penne alla Lorenzo (with fried green tomatoes, prosciutto, sardines and G orgonzola) to the casual, moderately priced menu.
Turner, who was the chef at Third Avenue Cafe, is known for his vegetarian dishes, and there are plenty of those on the menu.
In addition to grilled chicken capellini, veal piccata and meatball panini, there are vegetarian lasagna; a delicious gnocchi with spinach, olive oil and onions; and the ever-popular pizza Margherita. The restaurant's pizzas are made with house-made crusts.

When you go...

Entree prices range from $17 for grilled shrimp and scallop risotto to $10 for the gnocchi and include salad. Sandwiches, in the $7 to $9 range, come with a side, and the restaurant happily makes substitutions.
The wine list includes bottles from Italy, California, Argentina and Chile, and prices range from $20 to $28 per bottle ($4.50 to $7 per glass).
Amici seats 80 indoors and 50 more in the courtyard and on the sidewalk.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
For more information, call (502) 637-3167.

Sarah Fritschner's "The Dish" runs Fridays in EXTRA. Her "Drink" column runs Saturdays in SCENE. You can call her at (502) 582-4203, fax her at (502) 582-4665

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