FOOD + DRINK
AUTHENTIC ITALIAN CUISINE AND A VERY WARM WELCOME AWAIT AT
AMICI , ASHFORD
BY OLIVIA RICCINI
Upon first stepping into Amici , with its pretty , vibrant front that sits neatly in the town centre of Ashford , guests will be greeted with a welcome so warm they will feel as though stepping through the doors of home . Matching this sensation in true Italian style , is the traditional décor and charming interiors of this family run restaurant , which provide an intimate setting perfect for guests to enjoy delicious drinks and marvellous meals with friends , family or even a candlelit date .
The insideKENT team were lucky enough to experience this for ourselves when we visited for a weekday lunchtime treat , each of us feeling that we had been momentarily transported to the romantic streets of Tuscany for a taste of authentic Italian culture .
Upon being seated we were immediately offered drinks by Justyna , Amici ’ s glowing hostess who is also wife and co-owner with head chef husband Massimo . With an extensive cocktail menu crammed full of fruity , spicy , salty , and sweet concoctions you may find it hard to decide on just one refreshment from Amici ’ s brimming bar , but whatever you choose it is sure to quench your thirst and ease your taste buds into what is sure to be a glorious meal .
To start , we shared a platter of some of Amici ’ s most popular favourites , including golden fried calamari fritti complimented with garlic and lemon mayonnaise ; homemade arancini made from Sicilian smoked salmon , peas and rice with arrabbiata sauce on the side ; fresh mozzarella , basil and cherry tomatoes ; as well as a scrumptious bruschetta with Salsiccia sautéed spicy Italian sausage combined with fried red onion , garlic and cherry tomatoes , served on grilled bread . The mouth-watering starters made way for four delectable main meals , all handmade with passion , craft and an original touch .
Chef Massimo is the perfect matching half for hostess Justyna . If his cooking allows , he will leave the kitchen to greet guests and discuss their food before he prepares it , in order to cook it especially for each diner so that extra care and individuality is thrown into the preparation of each dish . This was the case with the locally sourced steak which Massimo presented to us before frying to perfection and serving up with skinny chips and a mixed salad . Our other choices included a real assortment of dishes from across the menu , such as the ‘ gamberi linguine ’ a sautéed king prawn linguine with cherry tomatoes , garlic and chilli in a white wine and tomato sauce ; ‘ caprino salad ’, grilled goat ’ s cheese on a bed of mixed leaves with caramelised red onions , drizzled in balsamic and served with toasted pesto ciabatta ; as well as ‘ pollo crema e funghi ’, a grilled chicken breast topped with a creamy mushroom sauce , sauté potatoes and fresh green beans .
With dishes so rich in flavour and uniqueness , and showcasing the chef ’ s sheer skill for creating delicious food with what seemed like such ease , we could not leave Amici without sampling the dessert menu too . Homemade vanilla panna cotta served with summer fruit coulis ; a traditional rich and creamy tiramisu ; as well as raspberry and lemon sorbets were laid out across the table , alongside strong cappuccinos and dreamy espresso martinis , the perfect end to a magnificent meal .
Amici 30 North Street Ashford TN24 8JR amici-ashford . co . uk
amici . ashford amici _ ashford
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