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Mid Rivers Newsmagazine is St. Charles County's
exclusive direct-mailed community newspaper. |
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Restaurant Spotlight Archive |
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A’mis Offers ‘Simple, Yet Elegant’ DiningBy Mary Ann O'Toole Holley
Pronounced “AH-mees,” this new establishment has more than fabulous food. It has heart, it has spirit and it has an innate ability to envelop diners into a relaxing world that leaves all your troubles behind. Wait staff smiles and walks with a spring in their step; co-owner Shabtai Moria greets you as though he’s known you all of his life. There’s no ranting about how much you’ll love his food, there’s no raving about the 20 years of tried and true restaurant savvy A’mis brings to this northern spin off of one of the south side’s most popular restaurants. Oh, he might tell you a popular reader’s poll dubbed their thin crust pizza 2006 Queen of the Hop, best of the best in St. Louis, an honor that’s no easy task. He might mention the kids from Papa John’s (next door) eat lunch at his place, and he’ll likely tell you there are no shortcuts when it comes to creating the best. But that’s only if you ask. “I love the food; I love the business, and I love everyone who works here,” Moria said. “We work together, and everyone knows that. A month after we opened and I found myself breaking even, I went into the kitchen and said ‘healthcare insurance for everyone.’ I told them if I do well, I will do right by them.” A’mis is a demure little restaurant situated in Monticello Plaza at Hwy. K and O’Fallon Road. This sister to the A’mis Manchester Road location is simple, yet elegant, with prices lower than restaurants at the bottom of the heap. A’mis offers four pizza styles: St. Louis (crust as flaky as your mother-in-law’s ideas, a mixture of mozzarella and provel cheeses and a light mellow tomato sauce) $8.10-$11.25; Chicago (deep dish) $11; New York (hand-tossed) $9.45-$12.15; or New York-Manhattan (a giant 19-inch family-sized delicacy with a semi-thick crust and pure mozzarella cheese) $14.95. A choice of toppings may be added ($.85-$1.15), and if you can’t decide on a type, you just don’t like pizza. “There’s no ‘commercial’ pizza here. No cardboard, prepackaged crusts” Moria said. “Managers, cooks and I… We make everything by hand. Our cheese is ground by hand, our hamburger is hand-seasoned, our sausage is made here and our crust is made fresh. Pizzas are baked in a brick oven.” The jam-packed menu is filled with exquisite entrees of steak, pasta, seafood and more, all made from scratch and from the heart. Waiter Jamie White says he can’t decide what he likes best, but he says he’s most impressed with the fettuccini. “You can get fettuccini anywhere, but making it the right way is something special,” White said. “The pizza, the rigatoni con broccoli (featuring noodles, broccoli, mushrooms, butter, cream and a blend of cheeses with a touch of tomato, $10.75), the linguini with clams (gently seasoned and served in a rich cream sauce $11.95)… They’re all my favorites.” A minute later he returns. “Lasagna (served in a casserole, topped with meat sauce, ricotta, provolone and mozzarella cheeses and baked, $10.95),” White says, and walks back into the kitchen. Black Angus steaks are served in various cuts, from the 12-oz. sirloin ($17.85) to the 16-oz. super sirloin strip topped with mushrooms, onions and green peppers ($23.85) The entrees — seafood, salads and light fare — go on and on, with a full line of luncheon specials from roast beef sandwiches with a luncheon salad ($6.75) to home-made ravioli ($6.35). Lunch pizza is available by the slice. Add any salad for $1.60. The creamy Italian house dressing is to die for, and the combination salad will give any area restaurant salad a run for its money. Mixed drinks, wine and beer is available. Don’t miss A’mis Italian Restaurant at the south, less developed end of Hwy. K. It’s worth the drive, and a great place to take the family, enjoy a quiet dinner for two, or for the consummate mid-day meal.
A’mis Italian Restaurant
3728 Monticello Plaza (Hwy. K and O’Fallon Road) O’Fallon, MO Phone: 636-329-8787
Carryout, delivery or dine-in Hours: Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday noon – 9 p.m.
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Mixing great food, great friendship and a great atmosphere is certainly a recipe for success, and A’mis has it all.
