Amarena

Italian restaurant inspired by the coast and palaces of Italy offering pasta dishes and other Roman fare.

Amarena is a $$$ Italian restaurant with a polished, cozy room that reviewers describe as “beautiful,” “upscale,” “uplifting,” and, in one account, tucked away under a staircase. One reviewer called it a pleasant spot for a date or cozy chat. On Blackbird, it has logged 2,245 all-time check-ins, with Friday and Saturday as its busiest days.

The food read is more textured than a simple rave. One 5-star review calls the cooking “fresh,” “delicate,” and “mouth melting,” while another praises risk-taking, high-quality ingredients, octopus, and duck. But a 4-star review loved the atmosphere and service while finding the pasta and panna cotta underwhelming. Translation: go for the room, the mood, and the dishes reviewers are actually naming.