Restaurant: AMARI
Amari restaurant, Uncommons business park across from the Stations Durango Hotel & Casino.
In keeping with the Italian theme of this edition, Vegas Wine News tried the recently opened Amari restaurant, situated in the Uncommons business park across from the Stations Durango Hotel & Casino.
Amari casts aside traditional notions of an old-school Italian eatery; no red-checkered tablecloths here. Instead, think modern, sleek and chic. The modern bar has lots of seating around a display island containing every manner of alcoholic beverages. At night mood lighting gives the place a sensual impression. Tables are spaced out enough to allow for intimate conversation. Some tables are situated along a high-ceilinged corridor where diners can observe cooking activities. Although the overall Las Vegas dress code always seems informal, you wouldn’t feel out of place dressing up for Amari. It has that stylish kind of vibe.
*The bar also features a host of televisions set above the island, which I’m sure could be dialed into important sporting events if the customer requested. All televisions operate without sound so as not to disturb the overall ambience.
Food wise, the restaurant promotes a daily happy hour from 3-5:30, featuring a number of interesting appetizers priced between $5 to $15, and some discounted cocktails and glasses of wine. I ordered a side of arancini, which were very tasty, with a glass of Sangiovese. Other appetizer options on the menu include focaccia bread, shrimp scampi, meatballs, a house-made salumi and cheese bread and pepperoni pie.
Moving on to the main meal, Amari offers the diner a host of options. Main meat dishes include Chicken Cacciatore and Parmesan, short ribs, and New York strip steak. Fish options include pan roasted branzino and Atlantic salmon. These entrées range from $29-$41, except for the steak, which goes for $69. Five different pizzas range from $23-27. The five pasta offerings are all freshly made in house, and range in price from $25-$32. I enjoyed the Campanelle pasta dish with lump crab, tomato and a light pesto sauce. I found it both tasty and filling. I enjoyed the dish with a glass of an Italian white wine from Sicily that included a blend of three grapes I had never heard of, and found it paired quite well with the pasta and crab. Amari also has a plethora of sides and decent array of dessert options.
As far as wine options go, Amari has an interesting array of somewhat basic wines that will satisfy the palate of most casual wine drinkers. There’s a plethora of wines by the glass, including 7 reds, 5 whites and 3 sparkling wines, with most prices in the $13-$15 range. Amari’s selection of wines by the bottle focuses, appropriately enough, on Italian red wines, and offers a good variety of these. The mid-range price wise is about $75. There’s also a good smattering of white and sparkling wines offered in the same general price range. That’s quite reasonable considering the venue and the quality of the wines listed. They don’t specialize in high-end wines, so if the customer needs that treat for a happy dining experience, Amari allows carry-in bottles for a corkage fee of $35. That’s fair enough!
I just want to add a few details about a visit to Amari. The Uncommons complex provides an interesting setting for a number of new restaurants. It’s located right near the Durango exit off Interstate 215, and provides plenty of parking options, including two hours free parking in covered garages and after that at only $3.00 per hour; quite a bargain these days! Amari unfortunately has a “no cash” policy, so get your credit card ready. I find this policy somewhat annoying, but it’s become all too common in our modern world.
All in all, I found Amari very satisfying, in terms of food quality, wine options, service and ambience. I’m looking forward to a return visit soon.