Take your friends to III Amici
From the warm, Old World style dining room to the tempting
classic Italian dishes, dining at III Amici is like coming
home to all your favorites. The building, is a stand-alone
structure with ample parking, offers a main dining room
on the first floor, separated from a private dining room
by a row of French doors, and a bigger room downstairs
for larger parties with a full bar and sound system.
On the main floor the décor is luxurious. Full
crystal chandeliers and wall sconces accent the oil paintings,
which hang on terra cotta stucco walls. The potted plants
that dot the floor and light Italian music over the speakers
only add to the feeling that one is at an outdoor café
in Italy. The room is wonderfully situated for both, a
business lunch or an intimate dinner. The main floor bar
area is also separate from the main dining room and has
several tables which work well for more casual dining.
One is often likely to see owner Giovanni Lavorato at
one of these tables, chatting with customers or having
a bite to eat.
Our waiter was prompt and friendly, refilling glasses
without being asked and taking his time with us. Bread
arrived right away and it was warm and thickly crusted,
accompanied with butter and olive oil.
We started with a Bruschetta ($4.95), which arrived with
a handful of delicious Kalamata olives. The chunks of
tomato, onion, garlic and herbs flooded the senses as
we chewed, trying to take it all in at once. The bread
was toasted but served with the perfect amount of oil
so that it was extremely easy to eat. Sometimes Bruschetta
is served on bread so hard that you can’t chew it
= not so at III Amici.
The Linguine al Pesto ($10.50) came with lots of fresh
basil, pignoli nuts, cheese and herbs. Fresh grated Parmesan
arrived at our table with our meals and our waiter was
generous with it. The Linguine was cooked perfectly with
just the right amount of body to it. The Ravioli Bolognese
(also $10.50) arrived as six full pillows of ricotta cheese,
again perfectly cooked and piping hot, served with very
thick, but light, and a little sweet, meat sauce.
The portions were manageable, but with enough left over
to take home and enjoy again, and the pace was leisurely,
with no one rushing us from appetizer to dessert. We enjoyed
each bite thoroughly and when it was time for dessert
had a tough time choosing from all the possibilities.
In the end, the slice of seasonal pumpkin cheesecake and
the plate of vanilla ice cream pie with pecans and caramel
glaze were just right. Light and refreshing and washed
down with a cup of strong, hot coffee or cappuccino (which
arrived in a tall, clear glass mug with foam on top and
sprinkled with cinnamon). Dessert at III Amici was absolutely
decadent, but also absolutely not-to-be-missed.
III Amici Ristorante is a family-owned and operated business
situated on Elizabeth Avenue in Linden, New Jersey. Excellent
for both business and pleasure, III Amici has long been
a staple for Linden residents and business-owners. Simply
put, in Linden III Amici’s is the place to eat.
III Amici Restorante, 1700 W. Elizabeth Avenue, Linden,
NJ 07036, 908-862-0020.
