I heard Amelia's was recently bought by new owners and had been closed for a while, so I wanted to stop in and see how it was after reopening. The inside looks really nice after the remodel. I liked the black decor and black table cloth, and the atmosphere was nice overall. The staff were very friendly. You can tell they're still new and getting settled in, but they were nice and things picked up as the night went on. The food was the main thing, and it was very good. One of the managers said they didn't change too much on the menu and that the chef is still the same, but everything tasted better than the first time I went. The calamari special was really good and not greasy at all. The chicken parmesan was also surprisingly good. It wasn't like a typical flattened chicken cutlet, and you barely needed a knife because it was so tender. Overall, I like what the new owners are doing, and I hope they do well. I'd definitely go back. read more

The location of Amelia's is fantastic, especially if you are staying in a nearby hotel. It was a quick and easy walk for us, which saved the headache of navigating tricky downtown parking. The atmosphere is another major highlight. They have very nice patio tables in shaded areas that make for a pleasant, relaxing meal without the typical crowds. The staff were also incredibly kind and attentive throughout our visit. Unfortunately, the food itself was "meh" at best. For the price point, we expected much higher quality and more flavorful dishes, but everything felt fairly mediocre. Pasta noodles were definitely not freshly made. Sauces lacked flavor and finesse. Most of us make better pasta at home... While the service and setting are nice, the value just isn't there for the cost of the meal. For us, it was a miss. read more

We went to this restaurant for our granddaughter's graduation dinner from UF with nine family and friends. We were given menu's and when ready to order we were told they gave us the wrong menus and took them back and said they were "printing new ones" about 20 minutes later got the new menus and ordered. When the food arrived two of our nine people in our party were served cold lasagne, seemed like taken our of a cooler and not warmed up. Waitress who was very good took back to the kitchen. Fifteen minutes later returned with one plate of piled up Lasagna. Take took both dinners and warmed up and combined on one plate for two people. Note this was two seperate orders they piled on one plate. Both party members refused to eat this pile of warmed up lasagne and the waitress said would not be charged and if wanted to order something else but would take a while since they were busy and other party members were done eating so these two did not eat but she offered one free desert item, to share? Our family was very upset the graduation dinner was a disaster. The manager never came over, walking around the restaurant but avoided our table and the issues they caused. Also the "new menu that night had basically the same items all with an increased price. One table was told it was graduation night so it seems took advantage of UF families with higher prices but nothing special except to increase their profits. Other family members that did get served, meals ok but quality not much difference than any basic Italian restaurant including chains. Waitress was very good and we felt sorry for her having to try and handle while management did not take ownership of the issues in the restaurant. Would not recomend and advise avoiding eating here. Very disappointing ending to the graduation day. read more

Amelia's was a favorite of mine when I was at UF back in the 90's and I was saddened that it closed not too long ago. Taking my daughter, Amelia, to UF Preview I checked online and saw Amelia's had reopened! (Nicole and her husband loved it as well so they recently bought the restaurant and just reopened it!) It's everything I remembered it to be.... A quaint, upscale, family owned gem with excellent food and friendly service. If you're looking for a bit of culture and a departure of sports bars and chain restaurants in a college town; Amelia's is your answer! read more

The ambiance is wonderful. The new owners put a lot of thought and effort into the renovations and the feel is upscale and very classy. My lobster ravioli was so flavorful and delicious. Mia, our server, was very friendly and attentive to our needs. We had a great experience. This is a wonderful addition for a great dining experience in Gainesville. I'm so happy they're back and better than ever! read more

Excellent dinner! We tried the chicken piccata, manicotti, and penne with vodka sauce with chicken. The chicken piccata was cooked tender and had a delicious flavor with tons of capers. The manicotti was made from scratch, delicate noodles, creamy filling, with a well-balanced marinara sauce. The vodka sauce was also fantastic and was a very large serving. The atmosphere was classic Italian with an upscale vibe. The entrees were reasonably priced ($20-$30 range) for the quality of the ingredients used. We also had the limoncello cream cake for dessert which was outstanding! We can't wait to return to Amelia's sometime soon! read more

Simply some of the best Italian food I have ever had. Nice atmosphere, great service. We will be back

Nicole, I hope you have time to read this review because it could probably help you be a nicer person and a better restaurant owner. We couldn't even experience the food or the restaurant because of the owner. Nicole had the right to refuse our reservation because we added one more person to our already big party of 6 people, after we gave her notice of one extra person. But not only did she refuse our reservation for our special occasion, she made us wait 15 extra minutes to let us know she wasn't going to seat us at all. She also told us to have fun elsewhere, after I did threaten to review her restaurant. That showed that you lacked class and no appreciation for your customers. We were looking forward to dining at "her" restaurant, but she didn't allow us to enjoy it. Our special occasion was still celebrated elsewhere much more accommodating and welcoming. We do wish her well and hopefully she treats others better than she did our party. Maybe if you allow us to dine at your establishment we can review the food, but your customer service definitely needs adjusting. I would give you a zero for that alone. read more

Amelia's - Cancelled reservation by restaurant owner - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Leadership is rather crass and rude. Food is okay but was better under previous leadership.

Tucked just off the main road in downtown Gainesville. Everything tastes like a home cooked meal and they have a great wine options. Servers are attentive and pace out the dinner quite nicely. Overall I would say this would be a good place for an early Sunday dinner or a nice date. read more

Amelia's - Linguine Vongole - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

We were glad to have made a reservation on open table because the restaurant didn't look full but they were turning people away without a reservation. I'm guessing it was because the were short staffed. We ate outside on a lovely evening and had great service. We shared a delicious bottle of wine and a couple of appetizers- the eggplant rollitini was fabulous!! read more

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Lovely hidden place in GNV that I've been waiting to try for years! The hours are bit odd - opening for reservations only from 5PM to 8:30PM on 5 days a week. But definitely make your way here if you haven't already! The restaurant is more of an upscale Italian place - perfect for a nice date night. Our server was incredible and properly spaced out our dinner between the appetizers and our entrees. The white wine clams were fresh and perfectly cooked. The two pasta dishes we had were well-flavored, but the chicken in the linguine pesto was a bit dryer than I would've liked. Overall, it was a great experience and I'd make a trip back for a nice celebration. read more

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For being hyped up as the best Italian restaurant in Gainesville by many people, I was left sadly disappointed. Since Leonardo's 706 closed down during the pandemic I have been searching for solid Italian food in gnv, and I'll have to keep searching. Came in for dinner and ordered a burrata appetizer, eggplant parmigiana, and the lobster ravioli. The burrata was a reasonable size, however was placed on a piece of bread that just left the entire bread soaked and soft by the time we ate it. The lobster ravioli was probably the highlight of the meal for me, it was tasty and the sauce was well made. The eggplant was not bad, but the side of pasta that was given was penne with a splash of house red sauce. The main issue with the main courses was that they came out lukewarm. Finally, to finish off we ordered a tiramisu. They stacked ladyfingers and used a decent bit of whipped cream to hide the fact that the tiramisu piece was maybe 1.5 x 1.5 inches. To pair with our dinner, we ordered a bottle of wine. When it was mentioned that the wine bottle we were served was not the same as was ordered on the menu, we were offered a $6 discount on the bottle price (instead of replacement of the bottle with another wine, etc). I'm not exactly sure what I was looking for, but this level of service was not what I expected. Considering that and the lackluster food, I don't expect to be heading back soon. read more

Amelia's - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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Just delicious! Okay now that that is out of the way I'll break down the important stuff! Parking: downtown is messy, but there is pay for parking right near by that they will validate your ticket! Make sure to mention it! Seating is plentiful! We went on a Sunday evening and had no problem getting a table an hour out. There is both indoor and outdoor seating, however we chose inside due to terrible Florida heat. Give yourself an extra ten minutes because due to the construction jn the area it took us a second to figure out where it was. The staff were so friendly! Very helpful and happy to help navigate their menu. Cocktails could have used some help which is why I dropped one star on this, the old fashioned was not true and the cosmo was very watered down. The food on the other hand was delicious! We started with bruschetta and my main course was the lobster ravioli, my only complaint was that I wanted more! Everything tasted fantastic We spent approx $50 per person on dinner with one drink each. While their cocktails could use some work (they did have an extensive wine list but we are not wine people) the food was certainly worth the evening spent for dinner with their location. Would come back!! read more

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The food was fresh and flavorful. Well prepared with good flavor pairings. The service was well done and attentive. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming. The tables are cafe size, so dinner is a table ware juggling act. The wine list is a bit lacking for my taste. Don't drive to the listed street address as the restaurant entrance are 3/4 of a block to the North. read more

Amelia's is an upscale Italian restaurant in downtown Gainesville. Their menu offers a wide variety of delectable pastas. This is definitely a fancier dinner restaurant. It is important to note they close early, so make reservations and arrive on time! read more

It's been a while since I have been here and eaten inside. The space is very small and the tables are crowded together so it is difficult to get out from the seat and leave without rubbing on the people at the next table. I had a 6:30pm reservation and they were already out of three things that affected 6 menu items. The menu was so old and worm the print was almost erased making it very hard to read. I ordered the spinach soup, house salad and chicken piccata. Ah the meal! The soup, I had never tried before, was great. The salad was wonderful too, although I had to special order a few extra cucumbers. The chicken piccata, some of the best I have ever had. The chicken was butterflied to a perfect thickness. It was tender and moist. The piccata sauce was heavenly and I used every last piece of my loaf of bread to soak up every drop. The service was great. Attentive and prompt. read more

Very excellent experience! We were a party of 3 there to celebrate my son's birthday. I made a 5pm reservation (on a Tuesday) as that's when they opened that day but we could have just walked in as they didn't get busy for another hour to an hour and a half. Our server was Dylan, and he was very professional, Pleasant, attentive, and help us with the menu and daily specials. We all ordered a round of drinks that were listed under their specialty cocktail menu options that were absolutely delicious and very easy to drink. He then brought us some warm bread and help guide us through their menu. We ordered the fried calamari as an appetizer, which was a perfect amount for all three of us. They make their own tomato sauce, which was extremely thick, extremely flavorful, and extremely delicious. Our Andrea all came with salads and all three of us ordered the Caesar salad. The salad was very delicious and Dylan told us that they make their salad dressing and croutons in house. My only feedback on the salad, which was chilled and served on a chilled plate was that there should have been a little bit more dressing served on it. For entrées, we ordered a veal Parmesan, chicken Parmesan, and Veal Piccata. All three entrées were awesome! They were very nice portions and served with a pasta. The size of the portion and served with the pasta and salad made a dinner there a very good value. As I mentioned, the portion of protein served in the entrées was delicious and very satisfying. Although I would like to try other things on the menu, next time I go back, I would have no problem ordering the same entrées. As it was my son's birthday, they brought out a huge delicious piece of chocolate cake with a candle for him and we enjoyed that with some cappuccino with a shot of Frangelico. I compliment the owner and management of this restaurant, as they did an excellent job for our experience, and I will definitely go back for another meal when I am back in Gainesville visiting my son. read more

best part was the service! our waiter was so nice and informative and fast! drinks were good... there wasn't a formal cocktail menu but they definitely made a delicious Cosmo. They have a good selection of beer- some of it local. we got the spinach and artichoke appetizer, it was pretty good, a little watery, mildly on the salty side but not too bad and definitely has some good flavor. it comes with some bread and you get some complementary bread too! we also got the lobster ravioli which was good, not my fav but not bad. but I liked the shrimp Diablo! The portions are amazing and the prices are very reasonable. the entrees also come with a side salad. they provide plenty of food for reasonable prices. It's a great place to bring a date or family. They do have a small bar as well. Tiramisu is homemade and good as well. read more

Amelia's - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

Amelia's is a long time Gainesville local business. You'll find it in a cute cozy courtyard. You'll be able to dine inside or outside. Our server made good recommendations and suggestions We had clams. They were local and delicious. We enjoyed our mains. The grouper was a huge portion. The veal was tender. One dish and the pasta came to the table cold. Our server got things heated up quickly. We were very satisfied at that point. Amelia's has a nice wine list. Lots of options at all price points. There is also a full bar. I'd recommend making reservations. read more

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I had been here a year ago, and was desperate to go back. Little did I know, I would be disappointed when I returned. Firstly, our waiter told us that they were out of shrimp, fish, filet, a soup, and other items. It was a struggle to find items to order. The bread was pre made white bread that was not very good, however the olive oil was amazing and saved it. Our initial appetizer, a soup, was so salty that it was difficult to eat, but we ate the gnocchi in it. Our bolognese pasta was also extremely salty, and we had to send it back. However, the eggplant rolatini was SPECTACULAR and so was the calamari pasta they were able to whip up for me. Service was AMAZING. Our water glasses were always full and our waiter was very cheery. He was kind enough to remove the soup and pasta from our bill. I am not sure if i'd return after that visit, but I hope it gets better. read more

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The food was average, very understaffed. enjoyed the ambiance but for the price it was not worth it.

I was visiting Gainesville on my way to New Orleans from Miami for a night, so I found this restaurant on Google. It had pretty good reviews, so I went ahead and took the 15-minute drive there. What the reviews online didn't mention about how racist this place was... I walked in into a 1/4" full restaurant, so I requested a table for one, and the lovely gentleman on the front host/server (whatever title he poses) asked me if I had a reservation, so I said no; the server proceeded to tell me he couldn't accommodate me because the restaurant was full. I looked around, and again, 1/4" of the restaurant was seated. When I got to my vehicle, I tried to reserve a table online. To my surprise, there was plenty of time for the same night. I want to think that in this modern age, racism is part of the past, but, in Trump land, we still have discrimination and disgusting people like the server mentioned above. I would do anything in my power to make sure this place shuts down there doors and nobody has to go through this embarrassing moment again. read more

Amelia's - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

EXCELLENT! Amelia's is probably one of my all time favorite restaurants period. I highly recommend the Shrimp Amelia, the Surf n Turf, and the Linguini and Clams. My husband really enjoys the eggplant. I often get the shrimp cocktail followed by the Shrimp Amelia because there is something about that shrimp that is absolutely delicious. These aren't the shrimp you buy from Publix or even your average seafood market. The owner and chef Andy makes a point to greet customers every night. If a customer has a birthday we comes out and plays Happy Birthday on the saxophone (and that customer gets a free dessert--I highly recommend the almond custard--it is heavenly) We have dined here several times and Amelia's NEVER disappoints in either food or service. I recommend making reservations since tables do fill up pretty quickly. read more

This place fucking sucks. I waited over 2hrs for my food. Wasn't great tasting either. I will never be coming here again. The restaurant also had a strange smell. read more

Service was so slow. They kept telling us about a private party backing up the kitchen. We waited over an hour and they only slightly discounted or meal. Food absolutely nothing special. Pass. read more

We went to Easter brunch. It was the worst meal I have ever had. We started off with the omelet station. The omelet ingredients were rudimentary at best. There was only one choice of eggs that were scrambled. For the price we expected eggs Benedict. The sausage was precooked. The bacon was so thin you could see through it. The ham should have been at a carving station not drying out in a chafing dish. The dessert was cut from sheet cakes. Over processed and overly sweet. Expected more from the caring station. Perhaps poultry, fresh ham or even lamb. Very disappointing especially for the price. I must say our server was very good. That was the high point of a very disappointing meal. Avoid this place. read more

Amelia's takes a shot at a mostly lacking genre in Gainesville (upscale Italian dining), and while they don't hit it out of the park, it is not a swing and a miss either. Started with some fried calamari which was tasty but had a bit too many tentacle parts for my liking. Also had a spinach crostini dip which was amazing! That dip is a MUST HAVE if you come here. The main entrees however were slightly underwhelming and really just average. I went with the chicken parm which came with a tiny amount of side penne pasta. The chicken had good flavor, there needed to be more pasta with the meal. My S/O ordered the tortellini Alfredo with chicken. Her pasta was really good quality, but had an excessive amount of pepper that left an unsatisfying aftertaste in your mouth. All entrees came with a house salad which was nothing special, but still nice to have included. The atmosphere was very nice and what you would expect of fine Italian dining with white table cloths, classy music, and Italian decor. Service was very good and personal with the chef/owner coming out to check on everyone's meals. Overall Amelia's done a fine job in general. It will give you just about what you expect out of a restaurant in this class, doing a lot of things well without doing anything exceptionally above the bar. read more

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If you're looking for reasonably priced Italian lunch downtown, Amelia's is you're spot. I've only been here for lunch and they have a reduced menu, but still they still have a good variety of selections. I've tried their Tortellini Pesto and Chicken Parmigiana. The Tortellini Pesto is very creamy and heavy, so if you're having this for lunch, you're going to want to take a nap afterwards. The Chicken Parmigiana is just your standard chicken parm, nothing special. They're good dishes, however if you're expecting Italian food like what you find in the northeast, this is not the place to go. Service is great and always friendly, however there is only one server during lunch time and if it's busy or there's a big party, it can be a bit slow. read more

Amelia's - Chicken Parmigiana - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

I was pleasantly surprised by Amelia's. I passed by it many times but never got the chance to try it until now! Right when you walk in, you get a feeling that it is a fancier restaurant as there is soft music playing and when you are seated the waitress (or waiter) will light a candle to set the mood. The restaurant only had about 3 groups of people, which is understandable during this pandemic, so there were plenty of seats available for social distanced dining in. The waiters and waitresses were all wearing masks, which was good. I got the lobster ravioli and my friend had the clam linguini. They bring you out some fresh bread, which was a nice touch and although the bread was a bit on the harder side, I appreciated how they give you three different types -what seemed like tomato basil, herb bread, and a standard baguette-along with butter. The entrees also came with a house salad and the waitress kindly ground some fresh pepper into mine. Once we finished the bread and salads, our food arrived. I really enjoyed the lobster ravioli, as I could visibly see and feel chunks of lobster in the ravioli, although the portion was not super big, and the sauce was creamy and delicious. I also tried my friend's clam linguini, which had fresh clams from cedar key! The pasta was cooked well also. While we were eating, Alan, the chef came out and welcomed us, although he was not wearing a mask. Overall, I was happy to come across a good italian restaurant and support a local business during these tough times. Amelia's is on the pricier side (pastas were above $20) but would be a nice choice for a fancier night out or just if you want to treat yo self! read more

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We made a reservation for our sons graduation, they charged us $165 to hold a table for 11 people. Imagine our surprise when we got there after graduation, and the restaurant was CLOSED. No notice, no return of the deposit funds, nothing at all. Ruined the day and we had to scramble around to try and find a place to eat for that many people, it was a disaster. Shameful that they are willing to take peoples money for a reservation, and then not even tell them they are closing or return the funds. The worst! read more

I've always heard about Amelia's but until recently hadn't found the time to get there. Parking was interesting to say the least but the waitress went out of her way to explain it and got us sorted out. Food was good, got to us in good time and was hot and tasty. Melissa went above and beyond to accommodate us in every way. She made everything light and easy. Now that I know, I know and I'll be back. read more

Great, cozy restaurant. My family went to celebrate my 21st birthday, and the owner/chef played "happy birthday" on a saxophone for us, which was very special. Normally I'm not a big fan of Italian restaurants, but Amelia's is one of the rare exceptions. Everything was really yummy. The bruschetta does not hold a candle to the crostini NY, and the linguini pesto was so good that I had the leftovers for breakfast. The cheesecake duo was some of the best cheesecake I have had, with the chocolate one being very similar to a fudge brownie. WARNING: the shrimp fra diavolo is very spicy. Our waiter tried to warn us, but ordering it at "medium" was still too spicy for my mother who had to dilute it with regular marinara sauce. It was delicious though, so if you can handle spicy, go for it. read more

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We had an overall good dinner experience here. We did our reservations online through their website (OpenTable) and there were no issues. The restaurant is small and cozy. There is a small bar on the side of the dining room. The hostess was quick to seat us and our waitress was right behind her. The menu is big, which always worries me. It's hard to make everything fresh and keep up on top of quality with a big menu. I stuck to one of the specials which was recommended by our waitress. I ordered an appetizer of mushrooms for our appetizer and grouper for dinner. My date ordered a veal specialty. All in all it was good. The mushrooms went nicely with the bread that was served. My grouper was very good. Unfortunately the marinara was salty. It detracted from my fish and the penne side that came with it. My date's veal was good but a smidge tough - requiring a steak knife. For dessert we had some sort of custard with cherries on a waffle cone. It was excellent. Really excellent. Parking is typical Gainesville. Park in the Sun City Center lot. The restrooms needed some work. They were recently remodeled but not that clean. I prefer porcelain that sparkles. The doors that lead to the restrooms and the restroom doors themselves need an extreme cleaning and a fresh coat of paint. Our waitress was awesome. We used her knowledge extensively for ordering and recommendations of the menu. She was spot on. We enjoyed having her help us with our dinner. The chef/owner is a pretty decent sax player. If you come here for your birthday you may be celebrated with a pretty good version of "Happy Birthday" on the alto saxophone. Wow - thats a lot to read. Thanks for making it this far. Do me a favor and let me know what you thought of this review by clicking one of the buttons below. read more

Amelia's - Portabella appetizer - Italian Near Me - Gainesville, Florida

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It was just ok. When we got there, they were a little busy but the hostess cleaned off our table and got us seated pretty quickly. It was right on time with our reservation time. I did notice that there was some debris and stains on the table clothes but I just avoided those areas and we carried on. Our waitress was not very attentive and didn't have my drink order correct (twice) nor did she bring plates out for the bread. We were going to ask for plates when we saw her again but by the time she got back, we were done with the bread. Not a huge deal, she said earlier that she was busy. We gave her the benefit of the doubt. Even though the drinks were not prepared to my preferences, they were still good. We ordered our entrees and just as quickly as she left, the waitress came back and asked me what she thought I ordered, which was wrong and I had to remind her of my order. Again, I get she is busy. I tried to be understanding that she was a young college student trying to make money. Another server came over to our table to check on us and refresh our water. The other server was attentive and had a great personality and apologized for the delay in service. Our food was alright. I wouldn't say it was the best Italian that I've ever had but it was alright. We had the baked ziti and the chicken parmigiana. Both were fine. Not the best but not the worst. We did order dessert to-go and those were alright as well. That being said, we had 4 containers of food. That same attentive server that was not our main server ran over and gave me a bag so I didn't have to carry the containers in the rain like that. I didn't catch her name, but she was the rockstar of the night. read more

Ambiance and food were good and the service was good. I enjoyed everything but I'm not sure that the high price of everything meets expectations. read more

Service was terribly slow, over 30 min to get bread on the table. Over an hour for apps. The food was terrible. The pasta al vodka sauce was definitely out of a can. The Caesar salad was watery and bland. Our experience was D-. Staff was nice despite bad food and bad service. read more

12-4-21 8:50pm on a Saturday night a party of 5 restaurant looked promising only to be tainted by the attitude of the hostess! Closing was at 10pm we walked in and she said that they could accommodate us. Then 5 minutes later decided the restaurant was closing early! Thanks for a disappointing experience.... read more

It's really a shame to have to give such a bad review to a restaurant that had pretty good food, but the service was some of the worst I have ever experienced. It seems like the waiters are also the ones who have to make the drinks, so they're always at the bar instead of coming to check on the tables. We had to waive our waiter down multiple times just to get some more water. The food took over an hour to come out and while it was good, it wasn't anything that should've taken that long. Everything just took so long. We could literally see all the tables around us waiting forever for everything to come out. It would be understandable if the place was packed and they were short staffed but that was certainly not the case. The restaurant was maybe half full. They must've also been having problems with the AC because it was so warm in there that one person from our table had to step outside because he felt kind of sick from the lack of air. Overall, it just seemed like they weren't efficient at what they were doing and there are better Italian places with much better service. read more

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I wanted to try something different and had a taste for lasagna. i googled best lasagna in gainesville and Amelia's popped up. My lasagna to go and an extra $ 3.00 for s ceasar salad instead of a house salad was a waste of my 25.00 dollars. i received 11 pieces of lettuce with 4 croutons for $3.00, ridiculous!!! Amelia's lasagna was dry, salty and a bitter taste of tomatoes throughout the dish. i will never eat at Amelia's again, now im made i actually left s tip!!!!!!! read more

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