We had barely made eye contact with the couple exiting Amore Italian Grille as we were entering before they began raving about how much they had enjoyed their meal. This doesn’t happen often and theirs was no paid endorsement.
The Menu
Amore’s bill of fare includes antipasti, pastas, entrees and more. Bruschettas easily could have been among the antipasti, but had a heading of their own; so did specialty pastas.
All 10 of the pasta dishes were complete meals as were the four entrees. That is, these were not primi (first) and secondi (second) courses.
Critic’s Tip
Make a reservation and arrive on time. We were a bit early, not expecting it to be an issue in the middle of the week, but it was. We had to wait for our appointed time. We understood once seated: Amore is popular.
On the Table
Our server offered several suggestions from each menu section. Although caprese bruschetta ($14) wasn’t one of them, that’s what we started with. Two thick pieces of bread loaded with creamy mozzarella, tangy tomato jam, fresh basil and heaps of grated parmigiana arrived on a thin slate plate. Somewhere in the mix was, according to the menu, “spicy everything bagel.” Initially, I thought chile oil provided the subtle spice element. It had to be the spice combination.
The recommendations made by the couple we encountered were for the chicken parmigiana ($33) and roasted Scottish salmon ($35). The woman said the chicken parm was the best she’d ever had. We were sure it was hyperbole. It wasn’t! We passed on the fish and instead opted for the aglio y olio pasta ($32).
The massive serving of chicken wasn’t picture perfect, but looks didn’t matter when it came to the flavors. Fresh, velvety mozzarella oozed out of the two thinly pounded layers of breaded chicken. This was spot on in terms of the rich vodka sauce smothering the entrée and the crispy breaded coating on the chicken. That can often be lost because of the sauce, but the crunch still came through. The chicken was pre-cut into bite-size pieces, although that wasn’t evident at first sight. This was served with a large serving of sun-dried tomato fettuccine.
Seafood aglio y olio was exactly that. Shrimp and clams in garlic and olive oil sauce. This was simplicity at its best with an impressive amount of shellfish among which were slivers of roasted garlic. Squid ink linguine can be off-putting due its dark color, but the savory, slightly briny pasta paired well with the seafood. (This is, unfortunately, no longer on the menu.)
I expected a surcharge, which was not mentioned when asked if we wanted bread with our meal, but was pleasantly surprised it was only $1 each. We would have been fine without it since the servings were so substantial.
The Venue
Amore Italian Grille is located in University Village. It’s large, dark and loud, yet the ambiance was classy.
Afterthoughts
Service was superb, something else the couple near the door shared as they walked away. Used plates and flatware were removed and quickly replaced. Tables were wiped down between courses. We had a primary server, but other staff members also checked in to ensure all was well.
Amore Italian Grille
Upscale, Italian cuisine
Location: 5278 N. Nevada Ave.
Contact: 719-308-5579;amoreitaliangrille.com
Entrée Prices: $12 to $52
Hours: 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday; 4 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
Details: Credit cards accepted. Wi-Fi. Alcohol. Patio.
Favorite dishes: Caprese bruschetta and chicken parmigiana
Other: Gluten-free and vegan options available
El Paso County Health Department Inspection: 51 of 56 areas in compliance (February 2026)
